As we all are being forced to stay at home and keep our social distance when out and about, it has become apparent to me that a heck of a lot of people are taking advantage of this time and working in their yards…
You Too Can "Bee" A Pollinator Gardener
Unless you have been living under a rock, you should be aware by now of the importance of bees (and insects in general for that matter) on our ecosystem. They are our chief pollinators, along with wasps and flies, some moths and butterflies, and even hummingbirds and bats. In the early season, one can observe our native mason bees and bumble bees working over early blooming shrubs, bulbs and perennial and later in the year, the honey bees are the dominate species in the garden. There are several things that home gardeners can do to encourage bees and other insects to come into their yard. Here are some things to consider…
The Joys Of Growing Your Own Veggies
Escape Into The Garden, It May Be One Of The Safest Places To Hang Out
Sometimes I feel like the world is spinning out of control. There is all the fear over… If you are feeling a bit overwhelmed, I think I have the solution for you: spend more time in the garden! The sunshine will do you good, working in the dirt will help you build up immunities, breathing the fresh air will clear your lungs, and just communing with nature will clear your mind. Here are some things you can do while you are decompressing from all that life is currently throwing you…
Wallflowers - So Much More Than The Name Implies
When I think of the word “wallflower” or “shrinking violet” for that matter, I conjure up an image in my mind of a timid plant that is shy and socially challenged. It is not very flashy and prefers to grow in an obscure location where it will be barely noticed by the passing visitor. In reality, nothing could be farther from the truth when we are talking about wallflowers….
Belarinas - Not Your Grocery Store Primroses
There is no doubt in my mind that spring has sprung. This indisputable fact lies in the discovery this week of the first white blooms on a wild plum tree that lives down the street from the nursery… The proverbial dam of winter has been breached and I, for one, am more than ready to start basking in the glow of spring floral color…
It's Time To Plant Roses
It’s that time of year again when garden centers fill their benches back up with a whole new crop of bare root roses. Our crews have spent the last several weeks carefully pruning and planting several thousand of them so they can be taken home and lovingly plunged into your gardens. Please remember that roses are seasonal and they are only ordered once a year, so when they are gone, they are gone until another year comes along. Here are some tips on how to grow fabulous roses in our maritime climate…
Valentine's Day Is Just Around The Corner
Growing Berries In The Northwest
Spring Is Fast Approaching - Time To Get Some Dirt Under Those Fingernails
Let’s face it, compared to other regions of our country, we have it pretty darn good when it comes to winter. Occasional snow rarely sticks around for more than a week or two, night time lows are usually above freezing and the day temps can even get up into the 50’s. Nothing stays dormant for very long, in fact we can have quite of variety of plants that actually bloom in our mild maritime winters. Life is good if you are a gardener in the northwest….
Here were are in the magical month of June with summer sunshine and the longest day of the year (the summer equinox) on the horizon. I always look forward to either golfing or gardening until…