TALKING GARDENING with DOUG – August Plant Highlight of the Month

Little Bluestem Standing Ovation

LITTLE BLUESTEM “STANDING OVATION” ORNAMENTAL GRASS Ornamental grasses are putting on quite a show here in August. Personally, there is one ornamental grass that is a standout above all other grasses. It is SCHIZACHYRIUM ‘STANDING OVATION’ or commonly called “Little Bluestem.” The name is very fitting for this grass because it does stand out amongst … Read more

TALKING GARDENING with DOUG – July’s Plant Highlight of the Month

Callicarpa dichotoma ‘Issai’ is my chosen plant for July The common name for Callicarpa is beautyberry.  Many of you may only know this plant by its common name.  This common name is very fitting for this beautiful plant.  I chose this plant because it is now in bloom and forming its berries.  We have one planted … Read more

TALKING GARDENING with DOUG – The Colors of Summer

Coreopsis, one of the great summer bloomers, up close in a field

TIME FOR THE TOUGH SUMMER BLOOMING PERENNIALS TO BE STARS IN THE GARDEN. Whether you like the colors of orange, red, yellow, blue, white, purple or just a rainbow of colors you can get it with beautiful blooming perennials this time of year. We are smack dab in the middle of summer.  We are challenged … Read more

TALKING GARDENING with DOUG – Gardening Safely in the Heat

Thermometer recording the heat

AVOIDING HEAT STRESS INJURIES IN JULY The dog days of summer have arrived.  As gardeners, we need to spend time outside tending to our landscape needs.  But, this past week was brutally hot and humid.  Thank goodness for this past weekend with us having much-needed rainfall and lower temperatures but more heat is on the … Read more

TALKING GARDENING with DOUG – NATIONAL POLLINATOR WEEK

JUNE 18 – 24 HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS THE WEEK TO CELEBRATE OUR POLLINATORS. In my blog last week I mentioned that June is PERENNIAL PLANTING MONTH.  Now, let’s take June to a higher level and think about what perennials are blooming right now, what perennials are considered native plants, and what perennials are considered … Read more

Have You Had Enough Petrichor This Past Week?

Rainfall through a window

By the way, PETRICHOR is defined as “THE SMELL OF EARTH AFTER RAIN”. To a gardener, rain is generally a welcome blessing.  Rainfall and plants are usually a match made in heaven.  We sure have had our share of rainfall, and petrichor,  this past week in the Richmond area.  Going into this latest rainfall, we were about … Read more

Hanging Basket Care

Hanging baskets on a stoop

Over the past month, The Great Big Greenhouse and Meadows Farms Nursery have sold thousands of hanging baskets.  Blooming hanging baskets are a staple for adding color to decks, patios, porches, and balconies.  Although they are an instant way to add color to our outdoor space, they do require a bit of care to stay … Read more

Mother’s Day = Flowers

Happy Mother's Day

Spring is finally here to stay and this is such a beautiful time of year for The Great Big Greenhouse when it comes to flowering shrubs, perennials, annuals, and hanging baskets.  Our selection is almost overwhelming with all this beauty.  And, what a perfect time to have so much color especially with Mother’s Day this … Read more

Plant a Tree, Create a Memory

plant a tree this arbor day

This Friday, April 27, is NATIONAL ARBOR DAY.  This is a day set aside to celebrate the value that trees add to our lives and to promote tree planting and care. Arbor Day began in Nebraska 145 years ago.  At the time Nebraska was mostly prairie land.  During its first celebration in 1872, it is … Read more

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