I’m one of those people who believe that onions and garlic make everything taste better. If a recipe calls for half an onion, I figure adding the whole onion will make it better. Same with garlic. And since fall is a perfect time to plant onions and garlic—and we just got fresh garlic and onions … Read more
Did you know the Monarch butterfly population has declined by 90% in the last 20 years? The destruction of native prairies and grasslands, as well as the widespread use of commercial weed killers, has decimated the population of native milkweed, the only plant Monarch butterflies will lay eggs on. You can help. By incorporating milkweed … Read more
Is anything more summery than watermelon? I can remember as a kid sitting on the patio surrounded by family with watermelon juice all over my shirt and face, laughing while spitting seeds in the backyard. The only thing even remotely close to the sheer deliciousness was my grandma’s homemade peach ice cream. Yesterday, August 3rd, … Read more
I’ve enjoyed writing blogs for The Great Big Greenhouse for the past few years. One of the things I’ve enjoyed most is learning new and interesting facts. I thought I’d share with you 12 of the most fun and interesting things I’ve learned so far: There are several species of fireflies native to Virginia. Most … Read more
We recently got some beautiful Dragon Wing begonia hanging baskets, and I hung one by my front door last week. Just two days later, I noticed bits of debris on the ground—and sure enough, the beginnings of a bird’s nest. This has happened many times before, and from experience, I can tell you it’s not … Read more
‘Tis the season to plant tomatoes Tomatoes are native to the Americas, like peppers, and were grown by the Aztecs who called the fruits “tomatl”—meaning “plump thing with navel.” Botanically, tomatoes are actually berries—believe it or not! Finding Your Favorite Tomato Variety So, which tomato is the best? I can only share my favorites because … Read more
My granddad always planted his garden peas between mid and late March, so right now is the perfect time to get started! The first step? Decide which type of pea you want to grow. Which Pea Varieties Are You Planting? English (Shelling) Peas: These are the classic sweet, tender peas that need to be shelled … Read more
Right now is a good time to start thinking about starting seeds for outdoor planting. Seed packets will tell you to start a certain number of weeks before our average last frost date. Some people will tell you mid-April is our last frost date. I’ll remind you that last spring we had SNOW after mid-April … Read more
Every winter, I hear customers complaining about long gray winter days and bored kids. There are some fun indoor gardening activities you can use to occupy your kids, as well as teaching them a little something about gardening, and maybe even getting them to “know” their vegetables a little more. And, even better, they’re fun … Read more
Rosmarinus officinalis is native to the Mediterranean. It’s a member of the Lamiaceae family, which includes oregano, basil, thyme, and mint. Wild rosemary can be found growing on the rocky cliffs along the coasts of France, Italy, Greece, and Spain. The name of Rosemary originates from the Latin word rosmarinus, meaning “dew of the sea”. … Read more
