January
1.25.10 - Yes, there is more daylight!
Have you noticed that the days are getting longer? This is always a good reminder for me that spring is coming. While you wait for spring why not enjoy a little indoor gardening with a few blooming or foliage plants to accent your décor. Plants provide the added benefit of a natural air freshener as well. Cyclamen have a very long blooming cycle indoors spanning several months if you keep the soil moist making them a very good value. Reiger begonias will bloom for a long time indoors as well. Then in mid May you can plant them in outdoor container gardens. They’ll bloom again & last all summer. Finally, my very favorite is primrose. Their bright bold colors & cheerful blooms just scream spring! Stop in & have fun putting several plants together in a basket or tray with ferns & ivy to create an indoor garden or just set a pot in a spot where it will make you smile.
Last Saturday over 50 people attended the Container Gardening seminar. It was great to see so many people excited about gardening & anxious for spring just like we are. Please join us on Saturday mornings from 10 – 11:30 for our Winter seminar series. The topic for January 30th is Small Space Gardening. It is a great way to overcome cabin fever, get ideas for your garden & share with fellow gardeners.
1.23.09 - A useful tip for 'Green' gardening!
We have been meeting this week to select new plant varieties & review what we have already ordered for the upcoming season. It has been incredibly fun to learn of all the new varieties & see industry trends. Shorter more compact plants & longer blooming times seem to be a common theme with new varieties. I can’t wait to tell you more about them in the coming months. There are also a number of new introductions that are more disease resistant which makes them more carefree & environmentally friendly. If you are considering ways to be more environmentally friendly planting disease resistant varieties & good cultural practices are one of the easiest ways to accomplish this however there is so much more to learn. Join us this Saturday morning for the seminar “Going Green” and learn other tips & how to compost from an experienced gardener.
1.16.09 - Are you hibernating indoors during this cold weather?
After the holidays when we put everything away & the garden is resting our homes can look very plain. Why not add a little life & help clean the air with a new house plant or a blooming plant. It is proven that plants clean the air naturally & they add beauty. It is an inexpensive way to brighten up your home & they are easy to care for. Check if the lighting is bright or lower light so you can choose the best plant for the location. If you are looking for a blooming plant I especially like Cyclamen because they bloom for an extended period of time (usually several months) & they’re beautiful. The key to keeping them looking their best is regular watering. Stop in & we’ll help you make selections that will work for you.
1.9.09 - Let's start planning for the new year!
It’s a New Year & a time of renewal as many are getting their house in order & spending time inside. At Graf Growers it is a time for planning & planting as we prepare for the upcoming spring gardening season. We spend a lot of time behind the scenes working on the business, attending educational seminars, ordering & growing new products and so much more! In addition, we get a little more rest & enjoy a less hectic pace. We are excited about new plant varieties & new products which I will be telling you more about in the coming months. I would encourage you to join us for the upcoming gardening seminars that interest you. It is a great time for a little arm chair gardening as you learn more & spend time planning to make your garden the best ever in 2009!
1.25.08- Tips from the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Show!
This week many of our staff members & I traveled to Columbus to the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Show where thousands of green industry professionals gathered to attend seminars & see new plant & product introductions. One of our newer staff members asked me how many times I had attended. Although I am not exactly sure, I know it has been more than 15 times. This really got me thinking about why I look forward to going to the show each year. I am always excited to learn new things & see the latest plant introductions as well as meet up with industry friends. This year was just as exciting as the ones in the past. I am thankful that after so many years in the industry I still have a great deal of enthusiasm for it. I decided that the reason the industry remains exciting for me is the same reason people enjoy gardening & spending time in their landscape. Every spring brings a new beginning as we look forward to bulbs popping, grass greening, emerging leaves on trees & spending time outdoors.
One trend that was mentioned often is that the landscape is really an extension of the home & is looked at as an outdoor room. I totally agree that many people use their patio & backyard as an extension of the home for entertaining & fun. Where meals are shared & many retreat after a stress filled day. Take advantage of these winter days to think about your outdoor living space & plan ahead to make changes to enhance your landscape. Look through books & magazines for ideas, walk through the landscape & look at the winter structure of the plants & beds to identify changes needed. Additionally, you may want to attend the seminar on Landscape trends that Tom Kriska & I will be presenting on Feb. 2nd.
1.17.08- It's time to spruce up your houseplants with a little TLC!!
Are your houseplants looking a little pale? If so, take time to trim thin straggly stems (depending on the variety), remove damaged leaves & fertilize them with a houseplant fertilizer the next time you water. Leaves will turn a darker green & as the days get longer the fertilizer will encourage new growth.
This coming week many of our staff members will be traveling to Columbus to the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Show where thousands of green industry professionals will gather to attend seminars & see new plant & product introductions. Additionally, some staff members will be taking tests to become certified landscape technicians. It is always exciting to learn & see what is new so we can provide you with the latest & greatest! I will share more upon our return.
1.11.08- Happy New Year!!
It’s a new year of gardening as well. A few days ago I planted tulip & daffodil bulbs that I didn’t get planted in the fall. It was a rare opportunity to dig in the dirt in January & it felt great! Another way to get a “gardening fix” in the winter is to attend the upcoming gardening seminars. It is a great way to learn more about your landscape & get ideas so you can try new things this year. The first seminar is on Native Plants & this is especially helpful if you have areas with special needs in your landscape.
As we look ahead to the spring season I am always amazed at the plethora of new plant varieties & gardening products available each year. This week we have had several meetings to discuss new plants, products & ideas for the spring season. Although we are still in the planning stages, I cannot wait to share them with you as soon as I can. Stay tuned…
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