NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE A COMMITMENT TO THE FUTURE WITH RESOLUTIONS WE WILL CARRY THROUGH Again, Happy New Year! As gardeners, there are gardening trends that we can try to attempt in 2025. Here are a few resolutions I think about and talk to customers about weekly. Fight Inflation with Gardening Vegetable Gardening … Read more
Did you know January 10th is National Houseplant Appreciation Day? There are dozens of studies that show that having houseplants is good for us! They do help “clean” the air in our homes–although the more the better. One or two little pots of philodendron won’t do as much as a lot more plants. Plants Improve … Read more
It’s that time again—time to make my New Year’s Gardening Resolutions! So here they are: Even though it is tedious, I resolve to go through my plants and examine them top to bottom for insect pests that may have hitchhiked a ride inside for the winter and are now chowing down on my plants. Outside, … Read more
I am posting this blog in early January. Spring starts on Thursday, March 20, just over 70 days away. There are a lot of chores to do this month. For a good reason, January is National Garden Catalogue Month. The colder winter days of January are an excellent time to sit down and write down … Read more
Orchids are some of the most beautiful and intriguing plants you can add to your home. Whether you’re a seasoned orchid enthusiast or just starting out, understanding the basics of their care will ensure these stunning blooms thrive, especially during the colder months. Let’s dive into the fascinating world of orchids, dispelling myths, uncovering facts, … Read more
One of the most important things you can do is to learn which USDA winter hardiness zone you are in. In Central Virginia, we are in zone 7a, which means our winter lows can drop to around 5 degrees. To the west, in the mountains, some areas are zone 6, where their winter lows have … Read more
EXPLORING PLANTS NATIVE TO VIRGINIA My native plant highlight for this month is DOELLINGERIA umbellata, commonly known as the Parasol Whitetop Aster. I picked this native because of its late summer/fall blooming time. This beautiful native plant symbolizes fall here in Central Virginia. Parasol Whitetop is an upright grower with narrow oval leaves and clusters … Read more
DIVIDE IRISES EVERY FEW YEARS Here we are in late July in Virginia. If your irises are like mine, they’re starting to go dormant from the summer heat and showing yellow foliage. Now is the perfect time to divide your irises. These popular garden perennials need dividing every few years to prevent overcrowding, which reduces … Read more
It’s Mid-Summer. I just finished feeding my tomatoes, so what should I do with my indoor plants now? Let’s Put “Light” on Summer Plant Care In summer, light changes at a slightly different angle than just a few months ago. That means I need to double-check my light levels. In my house, once the trees … Read more
Most people know what Annuals are—plants that grow from seed to flowers that set seed again but do not survive the winter. Most people know what Perennials are—plants that grow to maturity in one season and die down in the winter, but come back the following spring. There are even Biennials—plants that grow from seed … Read more
