GardenSpotlight

It's no doubt all this warmer weather has got us gardeners itching to get out and play in the dirt!  At the farm, we start in January sowing seeds for spring crops in the greenhouse, but the color starts around Easter time with the bulb crops.  Easter brings visions of Spring...a new beginning for us all.  Lilies are bursting with blooms in the stores and Tulips spring to life even though it is still a bit chilly outside.  Bulb crops are cold tolerant for the most part, but if you are thinking of planting those Lilies or other Easter plants outside in hopes of them growing back next year, think again as most of the varieties sold at Easter are not hardy in our area.  Bulb crops are very short lived as far as flowering is concerned as they quickly go into a phase known as senescense, where the leaves and stems yellow, or biologically age.  The longer they are kept at cooler temperatures, the longer they will last.  It i...

It's almost March 1st!  Feels like we just were celebrating the Holiday Season, doesn't it?  Well, I have to apologize for not writing much....it has been a very crazy past year.  My niece was married last summer, my dad had surgery in the fall (he's fine), and trying to keep up with our daughter's activities has been insane.  Insane but well worth it!  She sings quite well and takes voice lessons.  She would someday like to be a professional singer and wants to attend the Julliard School of Music. She participates every summer in the local theater and now this year, she joined the acting troupe at school.  And here's the kicker....she joined the boys wrestling team at school and won her first match a few weeks ago...against a boy!  It took her two solid weeks of her begging me to let her join; I was a nervous wreck!  When she won her first match, I jumped up and down and screamed so loud that I think I not only embarrassed her, but everyo...

Hi! Well, the weather in the Northeast certainly is spring-like, or close to it! It's 45 degrees today and rainy. We had thunder rolling across the farm this morning! It was so loud, I jumped out of bed and looked out the window to see what had happened. Then I realized what it was and the rain started to pour. We let the dogs out as usual in the morning, and they came in sopping wet. Thank goodness for the woodstove in the farmhouse, as it keeps us toasty warm and the dogs dried off quickly. We placed our seed order recently, and wanted to let you in on what to expect this season. I'll cover the annuals first. Ageratum Alyssum Angelonia Begonias; both fibrous and tuberous Browalia Celosia Cleome Coleus Dahlias Dianthus Diascia Dusty Miller Gazania Geranium Helichrysum Impatiens (both regular and double) Lobelia Marigolds (African and Dwarf) Nemesia Nicotiana Pansy Pentas Petunia (singles, doubles, spreading) Phlox (annual va...