So Many Wonderful Varieties of Herbs Before I start this blog about herbs and how easy they can be to grow, I want to share some information with you. National Herb Day is Saturday, May 3rd. This day celebrates the importance of plants and herbs, particularly concerning health and education. The International Herb Association has … Read more
A few years ago, the bee population began to die out in a phenomenon called Colony Collapse Disorder. It is estimated that some areas have lost as much as 60% of their bee population! Experts point the finger at commonly used pesticides called neonicotinoids are likely the cause. Unfortunately, we compound the problem when we … Read more
OUR MISSION IS TO HAVE ALL YOUR NEW PLANTS PERFORM AND LOOK GREAT Hindsight is 20/20. I say this because I should have written this blog a few weeks ago. But, there is still a lot of planting going on for the next few months. So, I feel that this blog has merit at this … Read more
One of the most important things we can do in our gardens is to keep weeds out of our garden beds. Weeds can crowd plants and force them to compete for water and nutrients. When a plant is “fighting” to stay alive, they have less energy to put towards things like growing and blooming. Weeds … Read more
I heard the term Green Deserts from a long-time customer at The Great Big Greenhouse here in Richmond, VA. She was bemoaning the fact that she had a yard full of flowers, yet saw almost no bees or butterflies. She said she thought it was because she lived in the middle of a green desert. … Read more
Spring is now officially here. April is the first full month of spring. Our temperature is warming. As of this writing, our soil temperature is warming up as well. As we get farther into April and we warm more consistently, our butterflies will become more noticeable and more active. Why Native Plants Matter for Your … Read more
I’m forever trying to get an earlier tomato. I start my seeds indoors no later than the middle of March. Lacking a greenhouse or cold-frame, I start them indoors in a sunny window in my spare bedroom and have nice-sized transplants ready to plant outside—but when? Most people say our last frost is around April … Read more
Over the years, I’ve learned some weird, wacky, and strange facts about plants, so I thought I’d share some with you. Did you know that some of our favorite fruits are related to roses? That’s right—apples, peaches, pears, strawberries, cherries, raspberries, blackberries, and almonds are all members of the rose family! That broccoli you had … Read more
There is a definite connection between birding, beneficial insects, and gardening. In Virginia, that connection is rooted in native plants. Over the past few years, there has been an increasingly popular gardening trend of staying more connected with nature and appreciating wildlife in our landscapes. Have you heard of biodiversity? Biodiversity is the variety of different … Read more
THIS IS THE TIME TO PLAN YOUR STRATEGY It’s early March now. February was a cold and wet month that kept most of us out of our gardens. Now is the time to consider how you can be a part of this growing gardening trend. This trend is simple on paper – REDUCE YOUR LAWN … Read more
