Do you have the post-holiday blues? With the tinsel and decorations packed away, your home might feel a little bleak and bare. You need something pretty and festive to help endure gray, cold winter days. And as we count the weeks until the first … [Read more...]
Stop before you lop – a quick guide to winter pruning
To prune or not to prune? That is the question. Homeowners may want to take advantage of the milder temperatures and get a head start pruning trees and shrubs in the landscape. Continued: … [Read more...]
TREES OF LIFE
American Beech - Fagus grandifolia The American Beech's symmetrical, stately bearing makes it a great native choice for a landscape that needs shade and beauty. It also features a muscular trunk with smooth gray bark said by some to look like … [Read more...]
Winter Bird Feeding: The Basics
Action, color, drama, song; it's all there at your backyard bird feeder. Feeding birds is a great way to brighten a dreary winter day. It's also a never-ending source of entertainment and enjoyment. Read on: Source: … [Read more...]
Native and Invasive Plant Legislation in the 2024 General Assembly
The Virginia General Assembly convened January 10, 2024 and several bills were introduced in the Senate and House of Delegates that deal with native and invasive plants. MORE … [Read more...]
Winter’s impact on insects and plants
A common question after such a hard winter is how it will impact pest levels this summer. My answer is usually not as positive as some people want it to be. Contrary to common belief, a hard winter does not have much impact on most insect levels. … [Read more...]
Planning the Vegetable Garden
Plan the garden on paper first. Draw a map showing the arrangement and spacing of your crops. To keep the garden growing all season, make a spring, summer, and fall garden plan. Read more: … [Read more...]
~ TREES OF LIFE ~
A monthly exploration of native small trees, focusing on their beauty and benefits. FRINGE TREE (Chionanthus virginicus) kee-oh-NAN-thus ver-JIN-ih-kus My sister and I saw Fringe trees in full bloom while hiking the AT; so now there is one … [Read more...]
As temperatures fall, home-invading insects come knocking
Chilly mornings and shorter days signal to humans an impending winter. Bugs get the same message, and they head out to figure out where they are going to settle in for the winter. Continued: Source: … [Read more...]
Gardening In The New Year: Monthly Resolutions For The Garden
At the start of the New Year, many people make resolutions in search of peace, health, balance, and for other reasons. Often, these are tough promises to adhere to and studies show that only eight percent actually stick with their vows. So why not … [Read more...]