We got in some beautiful Dragon Wing begonia hanging baskets and I bought one and hung it by the front door last week. Two days later, as I was walking in the door from work. I saw a few bits of debris on the ground. I sighed, knowing what I was going to find—the beginnings…
STACHYS ‘HUMMELO’ IS THE CHOSEN ONE. SOME GARDENERS MAY CALL IT BETONY. Many of you may not know that every year the Perennial Plant Association selects a perennial to highlight. The chosen perennial is voted on by hundreds of growers, designers, and perennial plant geeks. The winner is a good plant that is hardy in…
Okay, so I’ve got all my veggies planted. I can put up my feet and relax now, right? Not exactly. Here’s what I need to do now: Stay on top of weeds Right now, weed seedlings are already popping up in my freshly planted raised beds. If I slack off, they can quickly get out…
HANGING BASKETS ARE A STAPLE WHEN DECORATING PORCHES, PATIOS, DECKS. Now that it is May, blooming and foliage hanging baskets are very popular with most all homeowners and with people living in apartment complexes. And, for good reason: Hanging baskets are an instant way to add color and pizzazz to your outdoor spaces. There are…
Considering the number of customers I’ve had looking for plants to repel mosquitoes, I thought I’d repost this blog from a couple of years ago… Swirling cloaks, spooky music, and a voice with a Hungarian accent saying “Good E-e-e-vening.” Or incredibly annoying little insects buzzing around your face and feasting on every square inch of…
Wow!! Thank you, April!!! Now on to May with needed gardening chores. Let me take a minute to re-cap April. I have been in this business for a “few” years and I do not recall ever having an April where we did not experience a frost. We went the entire month of April without any…
There are so many peppers to choose from that it can be overwhelming to pick one. What are the differences? Sweet peppers have a nice earthy flavor but no heat. Traditionally called green peppers or bell peppers, they usually mature to a totally different color. Green pepper is basically an unripe bell pepper. If you…
PLANTS FOR GOOD NECTAR SOURCES. Now that we are approaching the end of April and summer will be here before we know, it’s that time of year when butterflies begin to visit our gardens to feed and help pollinate our plants. Matter of fact, I am seeing quite a few butterflies in the nursery enjoying…
Tis the season—to plant tomatoes Tomatoes are native to the Americas, like peppers, and were grown by the Aztecs who called the fruits “tomatl”—meaning “plump thing with navel.” Tomatoes are botanically berries, believe it or not! So which one is the best? Well, I can only tell you my favorites because there are tiny nuances…
Virginia is bursting with color right now!! Here we are in mid-April and what a beautiful time to be living in Virginia with all the shrubs and trees in bloom or coming into bloom. Just to re-cap our weather: Approximately, April 20, is our average last frost date. So far in April, we have not…
