Your home outside the city limits.
Looking out your window in January, the predominant colors you’ll see are shades of brown, gray and, if we have snow, white. Evergreen trees and shrubs provide some relief, but the view is still pretty neutral. An excellent way to brighten the dead of winter is to plant trees and shrubs that possess colorful fruit or bark,... Continue Reading →
Many people enjoy growing houseplants, watching them grow or bloom. According to WebMD, the following benefits are a few of those provided by houseplants. Add moisture to the air. Low indoor humidity increases your chances of catching a cold or flu, or having dry itchy skin. Purify the air by removing volatile organic compounds. Good... Continue Reading →
Pantone, a company with world-renowned authority on color, each year selects a Color of the Year. Living Coral, a vibrant warm coral hue with a golden undertone was the featured color for 2019, but for 2020 they have selected Classic Blue, a calming deep blue. Pantone forecasts global color trends and their Color of the... Continue Reading →
As acreage owners ponder the winter landscape, trying to answer the question – “Is now a good time to prune my shrubs?” – it’s wise to consider a few basic guidelines.
Christmas cactus, amaryllis and poinsettias are popular gift plants during the holidays. They are beautiful, and fortunately, are not difficult to grow. Here are a few tips for each, to keep plants healthy until next Christmas, if you gave or received one this year. Poinsettias Many poinsettias hold their leaves and remain attractive after the... Continue Reading →
Good tools make the work in my landscape much easier. I get the majority of my work done with just five tools, so if you have a gardener on your gift list consider one of these ideas. Hori-Hori - Garden or Soil Knife If there was just one gift I could give a gardener, this... Continue Reading →
Looking for an unusual gift plant for your gardening friend? Consider a potted citrus tree to grow as a houseplant and even produce edible fruits. But if you're curious to try and grow a plant from an orange or lemon pip (seed) for yourself, don't do it. Although the seeds will grow, they will produce... Continue Reading →
In December, we have a lot of great plants that are used for holiday decorations. We have the Christmas tree, wreaths, poinsettias, mistletoe, and holly. Holly is a fun plant we can grow in our landscapes for winter interest from the berries and evergreen foliage. Holly, Ilex x meserveae, is a broadleaf evergreen also called... Continue Reading →
Most plants are energized and invigorated by a summer outdoors. Even delicate plants like ferns have a growth spurt if placed in a shaded location and watered properly. While outside, houseplants require large amounts of water due to increased light levels, heat and wind evaporation. When houseplants are brought back indoors in fall, seasonal light... Continue Reading →
Moving from late fall into winter is a transition period for wildlife. Colder weather and declining food sources make damage to landscape plants and wildlife moving into our homes a significant possibility. Below are tips to help make the transition smoother for both wildlife and us, including tips for enjoying birds at your feeders this winter.... Continue Reading →
In November, cold weather starts to set in and plants move to their dormant state. It is hard to be excited about plant life in winter, but there are plenty of interesting aspects to the winter landscape. Grasses and perennials, if left overwinter, provide dimension and interest to our landscape. And, there are plants that... Continue Reading →
Master Gardeners Teach Youth, Adults and Create Beautiful, Sustainable Landscapes Soon the beauty of winter will be upon us, with frost on the trees and pristine snow-covered landscapes. It’s a time when many people prefer to stay indoors, enjoy a good book, a warm fire in the fireplace and a hot cup of cocoa, giving little thought to... Continue Reading →
