PLAYING WITH PLANTS TO SHAKE OFF THE WINTER BLUES This time of year can be a challenging time for avid gardeners. We must find ways to “play” with plants, even if it means playing with our tropical indoor plants. Making a terrarium is a perfect indoor winter project. Miniature gardens or landscapes can be created … Read more
What’s better in the winter than a windowsill project that not only gives you something to do, but makes your food taste better? Try growing herbs indoors! And the fragrance in great, too…. How to Start Herbs From Seeds or Cuttings Many herbs start well from seeds–particularly basil, chives, parsley, dill, and cilantro. For a few herbs, like … Read more
GARDENING IS GREAT EXERCISE Gardening is excellent exercise, but it’s winter, which leads to spending more time indoors on the couch watching TV. I think I just described myself. If you are like me, you are already looking ahead to the start of the 2024 gardening season. Now is an excellent time to plan your … Read more
The days are short, and the sunlight is weak. So, what can I do with my houseplants this time of year? Remember that humidity is almost non-existent indoors, and lighting is much less than these tropical plants are used to. So here are some things to keep in mind. Because the light and day length … Read more
FIRST, HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU!!! I want to start by looking back on December. We were concerned about how dry we had become at the beginning of December. We were abnormally dry. But, on December 10th, we got a great soaking of rain that amounted to over 3 inches of rainfall. Great … Read more
So many people make New Year’s Resolutions, but how many of us keep them? I go to the gym in January, and people are waiting everywhere. Go in March, however, and there’s not nearly as long a wait. I’m going to make a few resolutions for my garden. We’ll see how I do. My 2024 … Read more
This coming Thursday, December 21st, is the Winter Solstice—the shortest day/longest night of the year. At this point, our north pole is tilted the farthest away from the sun. They’ll celebrate the first day of summer in the Southern Hemisphere. Christmas Day cookouts are relatively common—in Australia! From then on, the days will get a … Read more
WITH HANUKKAH JUST UNDERWAY AND CHRISTMAS COMING SOON, WE INVITE YOU TO SHOP AT THE GREAT BIG GREENHOUSE FOR UNIQUE GARDENING GIFTS The sky is the limit when finding new and unique gifts for that gardener in your life. So, let the fun begin by shopping for your favorite gardener. It can be as easy … Read more
The single most popular Holiday plant sold in America is—you guessed it—the poinsettia—with over 40 million sold annually! Chances are you’ve bought one already to decorate your house or been given one as a gift. So here are some things to know: Poinsettias are native to southern Mexico. The first U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Joel … Read more
EVEN THOUGH DECEMBER MARKS THE END OF THE YEAR, THERE ARE STILL PLENTY OF GARDENING CHORES TO WORK ON December marks the end of our calendar year and the beginning of winter. Winter officially starts on Thursday, December 21. It looks as though we will finish the year in a rain deficit. This is not … Read more
