Cyclamen

Cyclamen plants make excellent winter blooming houseplants with minimal care.  Cyclamen are typically available in a wide range of beautiful colors; pinks, reds and white. These beautiful colors are perfect for providing that jolt of color and life needed for the upcoming winter months and the silver marbling on the top sides of the leaves makes the foliage beautiful as well. The key to keeping cyclamen happy and healthy is to replicate their natural environment as closely as possible following these steps: …

Benefits of Snow Cover

Though most of us think of the hazards related to accumulated snow fall, as gardeners we need to look at snow a little differently and somewhat positively. Snow cover, similar to the 24-40 plus inches we had in 2007 provided benefits to our soil, plants and shrubs. Primarily, snow cover acts as an excellent insulator of the soil. Snow cover helps keep the soil from freezing deeper and deeper thus preventing root damage. Second, with enough snow to cover small …

Overwintering Rosemary Indoors

Most herbs taste much better fresh, and rosemary is no exception. That’s why every winter I try to keep my rosemary alive in a pot inside the house. Rosemary really pairs well with roasted lamb, garlic, and olive oil. It is also a nice addition to potatoes, bread, tomato sauce, pizza, and pork, but you might want to use a light hand because the flavor can be strong. Rosemary does best in a sunny, southern or possibly western window, where …

Houseplant Appreciation Day

January 10th is Houseplant Appreciation Day! You probably didn’t know that houseplants have their very own holiday, did you? It was established by The Gardener’s Network as a way to remind people about the benefits of having houseplants inside the home. If you are a gardener, houseplants give you an opportunity to play in the dirt, until spring arrives. Houseplants have been shown to be incredibly therapeutic especially during the winter months. Houseplants are completely dependent on us for survival …

Planting Spring Bulbs

A host of golden daffodils… Fluttering and dancing in the breeze. ~William Wordsworth Many of my early spring memories evolve around neat little gardens filled with hyacinth, tulips and daffodils. When I was just a kid, one of our neighbors prided herself on her selection of bulbs: one tulip, one daffodil and one hyacinth planted at 10 inch intervals along her walkway. I couldn’t wait to see those flowers bloom every spring. Times have changed and now I like to …