Garden Center Blog

fall into winter

You probably planted beautiful annual containers for the summer, but with last week’s hard freezes and Saturday’s wet, windy weather, they are surely done for the year.  Correctly putting the pots into winter storage is crucial for the life of the container. Generally...

finally! frosty mornings

The crisp, white frost that we’ve seen on our lawns a couple of times is a sure sign that the planting season is waning. If you have the energy, you don’t have to put away your wheelbarrow, rakes and shovels yet. There are lots of important tasks to accomplish in the...

whatever happened to autumn?

Wow. We’re more than halfway through October and no sign of a hard frost! The old saying goes “No frost until after the full moon in October.” AccuWeather’s long range forecast doesn’t  predict under 40 degrees until the month’s last week. So, at least for this year,...

what’s all the fuss

If you aren’t a procrastinator and your gardens are cleaned up and plants are tucked in for the coming cold weather, you’re probably looking for something to do this weekend. So why not take advantage of the clement temperatures and get a head start on winter by...

the great pond tuck-in

Despite the warm days we’ve experienced, the night temperatures are cooling and green leaves are beginning to color. I think that we may be in for an extended autumn. Did you know that the average date for the first frost is October 4th and the first trace of snow is...

the last days of summer

At long last. It’s time to take a deep breath because a lot of the physical work, and often frenetic pace of the growing season is winding down. Even though the warm weather may mean that there will still be raking to be done in November! Not having a million things...

coaxing, not forcing!

Let’s start by saying that the word forcing may sound like a lot of work. It really isn’t. What you’re doing is tricking a bulb into thinking that winter is over and it’s time to flower. You could call it a little sleight of hand. And you reap the rewards of spring...

changing the season

Now that we’re getting ready to turn the calendar from summer to fall, we can all breathe a collective sigh of relief. Cooler temps. Lower humidity. And so many other reasons to love autumn! But a gardener’s work is never done. Let’s start by acknowledging that cold...

bulbs & corms & tubers oh my

Are you confused when it comes to fall-planted bulbs? Lots of gardeners are. What are bulbs, and how, and when should they be planted are questions that we often hear at the Plant Information Desk in late summer and early autumn. Adding bulbs to your borders is simple...

bring the outdoors in

September can be such a transitional time, especially for gardeners as our landscapes seem to teeter on the edge of a climatic cliff. Colors will begin to morph from deep green foliage to mellow butter yellow and fiery scarlet. Branching forms reappear as deciduous...
is spring here to stay?

is spring here to stay?

written by Lisa Briggs
Last weekend’s really warm days gave us a taste of the summer to come, but the unseasonably high temps should moderate for the next few days to something more seasonal.

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beauty can be fleeting

beauty can be fleeting

written by Lisa Briggs
Every spring, gardeners hold their collective breath as we wait for the first green shoots pushing through the warming soil. To be a perennial gardener in this climate requires great faith in your choices.

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bring the spring inside

bring the spring inside

written by Lisa Briggs
A beautiful vase of flowers is a perfect remedy for chasing away the late winter blues when all we really want is to see is the light of spring at the end of winter’s tunnel.

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now you see spring-now you don’t

now you see spring-now you don’t

written by Lisa Briggs
As winter recedes, each sign of spring seems more symbolic than the last. And this year’s teasing tone has made all of us more than a little crazy. Personally, I’m longing for thunderstorms instead of snow showers.

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