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
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
As I was going through the seed racks here to pick out a few favorites to start indoors in a couple of weeks, I decided to do a blog on my favorite varieties. Two words you need to know first—determinate and indeterminate. A determinate tomato is a BUSH—it produces a large crop in a shorter … 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
Paperwhites are members of the daffodil family, believe it or not. They’re native to the Mediterranean, however, so we can’t grow them in our yards. They do force easily and quickly inside, though. All you need are a few pebbles and a watertight container. You can get inventive and use almost any container that will … 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
Now that your houseplants have been inside for a few weeks, here are a few things to look for: Yellow Leaves Yellow leaves can be a sign of two very different problems. They are often a sign that light-craving plants are not getting enough light—weeping figs and citrus are famous for this. Moving to a … Read more
This past Saturday, October 29th, was National Cat Day. National Cat Day was established in 2005 and is sponsored by The Animal Miracle Foundation. I’m lucky enough to have several cats. I’m also someone who has had many cats since I adopted my first when I was 15. I also adopted my first plant when … 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
