Prepare for Seed Starting by Arzeena Hamir How do you satisfy the gardening itch in the middle of winter? Easily! Start plants from seed. Now is a great time to get a jumpstart on the gardening season. Just a little preparation will help ensure you seed starting success. Here is some of the equipment you’ll need: Containers Almost any type […]

  The selection of seeds available to start your own plants is unbelievable. With such a variety to choose from, and beautiful pictures on the packages, it is difficult to make up our minds which ones to plant in our gardens. Well, there are many that we can successfully grow in our gardens and even our planters. The old-fashioned varieties, […]

According to the National Christmas Tree Association (www.realchristmastrees.org), 25 to 30 million real Christmas trees are sold each year.   Of those with real trees, about three out of four bought them at retail outlets, the others cut their own at a tree farm—a trend that has been increasing in recent years.  If you get a tree, either way, this year, […]

Most people associate mistletoe with kissing, as it’s customary for anyone caught standing under a sprig of this plant (often strategically placed in a doorway) to receive a kiss. But did you know that mistletoe, now considered a Christmas plant, was used as a religious symbol in pagan rites centuries before the time of Christ?   To the ancient Druids of […]

Kalanchoe is a popular flowering indoor plant used year round but particularly found for sale during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons.  This succulent plant (thick, fleshy leaves) has bright flowers, coming in various colors, and with the proper care lasts for weeks.  Kalanchoe (pronounced kal-AN-cho or KAL-an-CO-ee) come with either red, pink, orange, yellow, or white flowers.  Often you can […]

Studies have shown that plants in homes and workplaces help reduce stress, increase productivity, enhance employee attitudes, lower operating costs, help in “green building” design, and improve air quality.  Although many of these studies involved workplaces, the principles apply to homes as well. A Human Spaces report in 2015 on biophilic design showed that, globally, nearly two-thirds of workers have […]

Rubber plants (Ficus elastica) are easy-to-grow houseplants and low maintenance, have few problems, and tolerate a wide range of conditions—just not cold temperatures.  For these reasons, they are good for beginners or those that feel “gardening challenged”, or good choices for tough indoor conditions such as in commercial and business settings. This native of southern and southeast Asia is neither made […]

These two garden critters have similar names, and even may look similar at a quick glance, but they really are quite different.  Knowing something about these garden pests—what they eat and where they live—may help in their control. Both these critters resemble large furry mice, but moles are quite distinctive with their large, paddle-shaped front feet with claws.  These are […]

If you’re looking for a fun bonding activity for you and your kids, you may want to consider planting a garden together. No matter the ages of your little ones, everyone can get involved in gardening. Most kids love playing in the dirt already, so why not put this to good use and grow something beautiful? As another added benefit, […]