WOOD ASHES: GOOD IDEA OR A BAD IDEA? Quick answer to the question above is—GOOD IDEA, but to use IN MODERATION. Like with most everything, knowledge is key in doing it right and with success. After that cold spell over the holidays, many used their fireplaces and wood stoves to keep warm. As a result, … Read more
Year-round container gardening has become a strong and popular trend, especially here in Central Virginia. Each of our four seasons brings its own challenges, and with winter officially here, many gardeners are asking how to care for their container gardens during these cold months. Virginia winters can be quite fickle. It’s common to experience abnormally … Read more
Gertrude Stein used “a rose is a rose is a rose is a rose” in 1913 in one of her poems. It means “something is beautiful for what it is,” and “beauty has many different ways to display itself in life.” I don’t think Ms. Stein was thinking of the Lenten rose when writing her … Read more
Here we are in the middle of October. The air has cooled down. Leaves are changing color and falling. It’s a beautiful sight! I love fall. With the change in season, it’s tempting to grab our pruners and start tidying up the garden. We want to trim back shrubs and trees, eager to refresh the … Read more
ADDING A TASTE OF THE TROPICS INDOORS Here we are in fall. Our daylight hours are now shorter. Most of our shrubs and trees have stopped blooming and are in the beginning process of going dormant for the winter. Just because it may seem more gloomy outdoors does not mean your life inside can’t be … Read more
Do you have a hot, dry, very sunny spot in your landscape that you can’t seem to find any plant to live in? If you do, then I think you should consider planting some sedums—especially AUTUMN FIRE. Basically, all sedums could be looked at as being succulent. They need lots of sunlight and excellent draining … Read more
Fall is just around the corner, and for gardeners in Central Virginia, that means the best season for planting trees and shrubs is about to begin. Cooler air paired with warm soil makes fall the ideal time to get new plants in the ground with less stress, and Japanese maple trees are one of the … Read more
I am a nut when it comes to blueberries. I LOVE BLUEBERRIES!! I eat blueberries every morning mixed with my oatmeal and have been for years. And, I love buying fresh, locally grown blueberries that are available at our farmers’ market. Blueberries are labeled a superfood because the deep blue color comes from anthocyanin, an … Read more
JUNE IS PERENNIAL GARDENING MONTH I am going to continue spotlighting a perennial this month and take advantage of the fact that June is Perennial Gardening Month. My perennial pick is ASTILBE! Astilbe, sometimes referred to as False Spirea or False Goat’s Beard (don’t ask me why because I don’t know—does anyone know why Astilbe … Read more
DO YOU HAVE AZALEAS AND CAMELLIA SHRUBS? This past week, I have had two different guests come into the garden center with samples of gall on their azaleas. Not to make light of this disease, but I love using the tagline “you have some gall” with our guests. We both laugh. On a serious note, … Read more
