How are you going to handle your fall decorating this year? I always put in some fall flowers, real pumpkins, and scarecrows. I will carve some of the pumpkins into Jack O’Lanterns, but I’ll set uncarved pumpkins on the stairs and the sidewalk. Some of the most common flowers for fall are chrysanthemums, pansies, ornamental … Read more
Drum roll, please! INTRODUCING BLUNT MOUNTAIN MINT: THE 2025 PERENNIAL PLANT OF THE YEAR Pycnanthemum muticum is the botanical name for this powerful native. We received this perennial recently, and I immediately fell in love with it because of its looks and fragrance. Here are a few points of interest regarding why it was the … Read more
Yesterday, September 22nd, was the Fall Equinox—the first day of astronomical fall. For meteorologists, the first day of fall is the first of September. On this day, the days and nights are equal in length, like they are on the Spring Equinox in March. From here on out, the nights will be longer than the … Read more
Correctly placing trees and shrubs in the landscape can significantly reduce the energy required to maintain a comfortable home or office. With fall officially arriving this coming Sunday, September 22nd, you may be thinking and asking yourself, “What do trees and shrubs have to do with the amount of energy I use for my home … Read more
Pumpkins, whether you carve them or set them on stairs or a porch, are a great fall decoration. Here’s how to make them last their longest. How To Choose That “Just Right” Pumpkin When you pick out a pumpkin, make sure there are no cuts or gouges in it. These may have already exposed the … Read more
EXPLORING OUR NATIVE PLANT SELECTION My native plant highlight for this month is DOELLINGERIA umbellate, commonly known as the Parasol Whitetop Aster. I picked this native because of its late summer/fall blooming time. This beautiful native plant symbolizes fall here in Central Virginia. Parasol Whitetop is an upright grower with narrow oval leaves and clusters … Read more
Last week, we discussed what to do with indoor plants that have been summering outside. There are also some things you can do now for your outdoor plants. We mentioned pruning and replanting last week. This week, it’s about fall mulching! Is Mulch Needed? Why mulch? Mulch can suppress weeds. It helps to retain moisture … Read more
SEPTEMBER IS THE BEGINNING OF THE “FALL IS FOR PLANTING” SEASON FALL IS FOR PLANTING Yes, it is only the beginning of September. Fall is not officially here until September 22nd. However, in the plant industry, the whole month of September is considered the beginning of fall. Knowing that winter is next, you may ask … Read more
In 1882, a man named Peter J. McGuire, a Union Leader in New York proposed the idea of celebrating American workers. That year, the first Labor Day parade was held, sponsored by the Central Labor Union and Knights of Labor in New York. By 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed it into law. Happy belated Labor … Read more
IT’S IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR Fall will be here soon and the fall planting season is fast approaching. I mentioned a couple times in recent blogs that August is the month to get ready and plan your planting projects for fall. One big QUESTION that many homeowners ask themselves is “can professional … Read more
