Last Friday, a break in the cold, wet weather created a window to perform must-to-do chores. One such important duty is to spray the rhododendrons and azaleas with a solution of Deer Stopper which includes a solution of putrefied eggs with the nasty smell tempered… Weather is a factor in many businesses and especially the […]

Our weekly Saturday seminars continue with Carol Zeh’s presentation on Ohio Birds of Prey. Although the subject does not directly have an association with gardening, it will foster a better understanding of the operations of the natural world and how all animals are… Last autumn in the United Kingdom, strips of wild flowers were planted […]

The year went by so fast as we get ready to enter the cold and dark of December.  The first week of December seems quite dark as the sun does set earlier than during the winter solstice about 3 weeks later. Many deliveries of grave decorations have been already… As the holiday season fast approaches, the […]

As the seminars roll along, the winter weather although still cold seems to be abating.  Saturday’s seminar will be that of of Professor Laura Deeter of Landscape Horticulture and Horticulture Science at Ohio State ATI in Wooster. Professor Deeter will be… Today is the day that the well revered meteorologist Dick Goddard on Cleveland Television […]

December 23, 2016 Today is just a little brighter as the sunlight slowly returns after the winter solstice on December 21st.  With the long winter still ahead, another spray of a deer repellent on deer susceptible plants would be a good idea at the first thaw. In…

December 25, 2015 Today as we celebrate the birth of Jesus along with the miracle of his ministry some 2,000 years ago, miracles are all around us today of which a few include…   – Water expands as it freezes so that it does not sink to the bottom of…

The weather has been to say the least, enjoyable although it’s not typical for the end of February. Last week, the bud scales on the lilacs in the storage huts are already falling off which is definitely a sign of the plants wanting to push out growth. All the storage… While the weather department still […]

Contrary to last year, there is certainly no shortage of rain this spring. Many customers coming into the nursery have been more aware of wet areas in the yard and are wanting ideas for plantings which might include the Buttonbush (Cephalanthus), Calycanthus (Carolina… With the onset of warm days and more importantly warm nights, the […]

It finally happened; that is a killing frost with sustained temperatures of 32ºF or below.  Three earlier frosts were not enough to knock out the annual flowers around the nursery although last Saturday we removed and dumped about forty huge pots of tropical plants… After a cold, frosty night last Monday morning, the days became […]

This weekend is the opening of the main greenhouse of flower and vegetable plants, tropicals and herbs. To me, it is still too early to plant and if any of the customers do ask all salespersons as instructed the answer that “yes” it is too early to plant except for… The second half of April […]

The last week of March is when massive amounts of bare root trees and shrubs are received from a variety of sources such as Oregon, Lake County, Ohio and Michigan. The plants are bare root in order that they may be shipped at low cost and then are potted into our… This week is considered […]

Where did May go as we head into Memorial Weekend! Traditionally, Memorial Day was always on May 30th until Congress changed the date to always coincide with the last Monday of the month known as the Monday holiday bill. It was on May 30, 1889 that a dam broke during… After the Mother’s Day rush […]

December 31, 2010 With the end of 2010 upon us, my hope for you in the new year is that we will not have a repeat of last summer’s heat and drought.   Many plant problems I noticed started appearing in late August and September because of the lack of water….

December 28, 2012   While the clock starts winding down on 2012, the days now are slowly growing longer daylight hours so that when the Vernal Equinox arrives in March, the day length all over Earth will be equal.   Until March, plants will be in a state of…