It’s Official…Christmas Season is Here. Let’s Keep It Real Thanksgiving has passed, and December begins this weekend. We have now officially entered the holiday season. Buying a Christmas tree is on everyone’s mind. It is fun to learn some background facts when it comes to the fresh trees and greenery that we all use for … Read more
I am thinking ahead a little bit. Yes, we are in August, but the fall planting season will soon be here before we know it. Adding manure to our soil when planting is not something new. Farmers have been using it to fertilize their crops for thousands of years. It is the oldest fertilizer known … Read more
ADDING LIVING DÉCOR TO A DORM ROOM It’s early in August, but many parents are preparing to pack their kids for college. Many kids are leaving home for the first time and will spend their first year of college living in a dorm room. We all know how small and cramped a dorm room can … Read more
In the last couple of weeks, I have had a handful of customers come see me with evidence of Crape Myrtle Bark Scale. It doesn’t surprise me that evidence is showing up this early. This is because so many issues are advanced due to our mild winter. Last year was my first year of experience … Read more
JULY IS NATIONAL BLUEBERRY MONTH July is an excellent month to enjoy the fruits of bounty from blueberries in the area. Our produce vendors with our farmers’ market can now provide fresh, locally grown blueberries. See and enjoy our farmers’ market every Thursday from 10 am to 2 pm. Not long ago, I did a … Read more
Should we be planting boxwoods, knowing that boxwood blight is prevalent in Central Virginia? My answer to customers who ask this question is YES, but with a different mindset when choosing boxwood varieties. There is no question that people need to be concerned about boxwood blight and how it has killed so many of our … Read more
ARE YOU READY TO START PLANTING? Here we are in mid-March. Up to this point, our winter has been the perfect storm. We have experienced a mild winter with just a few frigid days. And we have had weekly rainfall. Our ground soil is moist and warm for this time of year. So many of … Read more
Some people are freaked out when they see earthworms. Earthworms aren’t everybody’s favorite. I get that. But having earthworms in your soil is an excellent sign in many ways. Earthworms provide many benefits to healthy, productive soils, and wise gardeners do everything they can to maintain healthy populations of earthworms in the ground. There are … Read more
Why the Pawpaw Tree is Becoming a Favorite Understory Tree to Plant in Virginia Pawpaw, or Asimina triloba, is considered a native tree by the Virginia Native Plant Society. The fruit of the pawpaw was consumed by both Native Americans and early European settlers. At least two U.S. Presidents enjoyed pawpaw fruit. George Washington reportedly … Read more
The reason I chose Aloe Vera as my houseplant highlight is simple. Aloe Vera is popular with homeowners and relatively easy to grow. One reason for its popularity is its medicinal use. Aloe Vera plants have been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. Cleopatra is reputed to have used Aloe gel in her … Read more
