Today’s Garden Ideas

A favorite of mine for holiday decorating (and gift giving as well) are tabletop evergreens. Tabletop evergreens are available in several varieties and can vary greatly in size. I like to use those in 4″ and 6″ pots. These tiny trees are perfect for a mantel or grouped together for an interesting centerpiece. They can be placed in attractive holiday containers or the plastic pots can be covered with cut evergreens. These trees are also fun for children to decorate and have in their rooms for their own special tree. (more…)

Very few of the holiday plants at today’s superstores cost more than $15, and most are much less. As for quality, many large retailers are purchasing plants locally if possible. Local plants are often of higher quality due to the shorter stressful shipping time. An extra bonus is that buying them supports our local economy. (more…)

Now is the time of year when we begin to see holiday plants and bulbs for sale all over the place - poinsettias, amaryllis, Christmas cacti, and others. Maybe you want to grow an Amaryllis bulb for bloom at Christmas, or perhaps you have a Christmas cactus that never blooms. We have talked about caring for pointsettias and the lovely amaryllis. Here you can learn how to care for your Christmas cactus. (more…)

Now is the time of year when we begin to see holiday plants and bulbs for sale all over the place - poinsettias, amaryllis, Christmas cacti, and others. Maybe you want to grow an Amaryllis bulb for bloom at Christmas, or perhaps you have a Christmas cactus that never blooms. Or do all of the leaves fall off of your poinsettia prematurely? Here are a few hints for caring for these plants. (more…)

The trees are bare and there is snow on the ground. This doesn’t mean that your garden has to become a winter wasteland. Evergreens can be quite stunning in the winter months. However, do not limit your landscape to these for winter interest. A well-planned garden should provide year-round interest and aesthetic entertainment. (more…)

When it comes to gardening, we like to carry this into every aspect of our life. And yes, that even comes to gift giving. So when we can’t be digging and hoeing and planting and pruning, we like to carry our love for the outdoors to our holiday season. There are many ways to enjoy gardening during the holidays, but one way you can take advantage of the season is to express your love for the living plant by passing them on as gifts. What plants then make the best holiday gifts? (more…)

If you are looking for something to cater to your gardening sensitivities, why not take your vacation to hot garden spots. Spots such as the Idaho Botanical Garden are open year round for today’s gardener that may not be able to enjoy the love of gardening in the long Winter Months. (more…)

But of course, it is the pretty violet flowers that are the piece da resistance for these shrubs If you are looking for things to fill up your winter garden with, you may want to consider the Duranta bush. The Duranta erecta is a fast growing shrub that will reach approximately 20-25 feet. If you like to prune, you can tame the height on the bush, and make it suitable for smaller gardens as well. (more…)

There is nothing like being stuck inside in the cold dreary months of Winter and Fall. If you are a gardener or a garden lover, why not bring the outside in and celebrate your love for gardening through a Zen Garden Party. Plan it to break up the times between the holidays, or just to have some fun socializing before the hectic holiday season. It will give you that extra boost you need to lift your spirits and cater to your outdoor sensitivities at the same time. (more…)

Many gardeners go through some sort of outdoor withdrawal when the temperatures start to drop, and gardener’s depression is very common. What can you do with your hands and your love for plants when it’s no longer official ‘gardening season’. Well, the first thing you need to do is get it out of your head that gardening season begins and ends. It doesn’t. Yes, you CAN garden all year round, and one way you can do that when it starts to get cold is to begin an indoor garden. (more…)