Most people know what Annuals are—plants that grow from seed to flowers that set seed again but do not survive the winter. Most people know what Perennials are—plants that grow to maturity in one season and die down in the winter but do come back the following spring. There are even Biennials—plants that grow from … Read more
HERE ARE SOME SMART & LOGICAL WATER-SAVING TIPS It is now early to mid-July, and we all know what that means in Virginia regarding the heat and dryness. Here are some smart, logical water-saving tips to practice to keep all our plants happy and thriving: WATER INFREQUENTLY, SLOWLY, DEEPLY, AND THOROUGHLY This will encourage deeper … Read more
Why I Love Herbs I love herbs! I love the fact that deer and rabbits are put off by their strong scents. This means I can tuck a few in my flower or vegetable gardens and let them go to work by emitting their fragrances and deterring some critter damage. So, I use herbs a … Read more
WHAT GARDENERS CAN DO AND SHOULD DO THIS MONTH Here we are in July, the “DOG DAYS OF SUMMER!” You may be asking yourself, why summer is called the dog days of summer? Good question! This year, July 3rd through August 11th are the official dog days of summer. This period of time is in … Read more
We know gardening is creative. We visualize how those purple petunias will look with those yellow marigolds, how that pretty pink beebalm will look with that white Angelonia, or how that huge fluffy Boston fern will look by the front door. But how would you classify your gardening style? Mad Scientist Gardener Some of us, … Read more
WHAT TO DO ABOUT CONTROLLING THE DAMAGE Now that we are in late June, all of us have done a lot of new planting of shrubs, trees, annuals, vegetables, and perennials. In doing all this planting, what we did was to lay out the best smorgasbord of food for various insects. The BIG question is … Read more
Last week the EPA’s Administrator issued a proclamation announcing June 17th to the 23rd as National Pollinator Week. My thoughts? It’s about time! One third of our food supply requires pollination. And that’s not even counting food that our wildlife eats. How to Help Our Pollinator Friends We all know we should plant more pollinator-friendly … Read more
JUNE IS PERENNIAL GARDENING MONTH, SO SEEMS ONLY FITTING TO HIGHLIGHT A PERENNIAL Asclepias tuberosa – Butterfly Weed For me, this was an easy choice. The common name for Asclepias tuberosa is Butterfly Milkweed or Butterfly Weed. This very hardy, native perennial has become so popular with gardeners over the past decade. I have learned … Read more
This coming Thursday, the 20th, is the Summer Solstice—the first official day of summer. On this day, the North Pole is tilted toward the sun, creating the longest day of sunlight and the shortest night. In the Southern Hemisphere, it’s the beginning of winter. Meteorological Verses Astrological Summer However, meteorologically speaking, the first of June … Read more
HANGING BASKETS DO REQUIRE A BIT MORE OF OUR ATTENTION Over this past month, we have sold thousands of hanging baskets. Blooming hanging baskets are a staple for adding color to porches, decks, balconies, and patios. Although they are an instant way to add color to your outdoor space, they do require a bit more … Read more
