Butterfly Gardening! Tips for attracting pollinators

Hey there, fellow gardeners!

As plant lovers, we know how to get excited about new green shoots in the Spring and beautiful blooms in the Summer, and we know that all the wonderful things that happen in the garden wouldn't be possible without our good friends, the pollinators. So let's take a moment to get excited about the hardest-working visitors to our gardens--butterflies, bees, and other insects!

First up, the butterfly.

What a beautiful treat it is to watch these pretty little creatures flit among the blossoms of your garden!

In addition to adding color and fun to your garden, butterflies contribute greatly to the pollination that happens in nature. They typically like to pollinate bright, colorful blooms and they do most of their best work during the day.

Next up is the bee!

Talk about proficiency! Bees are the work horses of the pollinators; from dawn until dusk you can find more than a few bumbling buddies hard at work pollinating plants. There are several different species of bees that serve as pollinators, and together they are responsible for a good portion of the pollination that occurs.

Lastly, let's talk about other insects!

Though butterflies and bees are arguably the most easily recognizable pollinators, there are myriad other insects that play a huge role in pollination! Moths like the Cloudberry Clearwing Moth (pictured above) along with various flies, beetles and wasps are an integral part of the pollination team. Next time you're out in your garden, notice how many of these visitors are poking around!

As stewards of our environment, it's important that we actively encourage the success of the various pollination species in our own green spaces! Without pollinators, our plant culture (both ornamental and crop) would be in big trouble!

So what can you do to help determine the success of pollinators?

An easy (and enjoyable!) approach is to encourage the various members of the pollination team to visit your garden by featuring plants species that attract pollinators. Here are a few beautiful choices that do well in the Mid-Atlantic:

YARROW

Perennial

Full Sun

GAURA

Perennial

Full sun- part shade

LANTANA

Annual

Full Sun-Part Shade

ECHINACEA (Cone Flower)

Perennial

Full Sun-Part Shade

SPIREA

Shrub

Full Sun-Part Shade

For more great information on plants that attract butterflies, check out this page by Morton's Arboretum!

Happy [butterfly] Gardening!

Geraniums: the classic American flower!

We're back with another summer annual spotlight! This time, let's talk about geraniums!

If there's one flowering plant that every American recognizes, it's got to be the geranium. For many of us, those pretty poms of color floating atop frilly scented leaves evoke fond memories of summertime on Grandma's porch.

With so many virtues, annual geraniums (Geranium americana) are a timeless flower that everyone can appreciate and work into their own landscape-- grandma knew a good thing when she saw it!

Here are a few of the geranium's great traits:

- They bloom all summer long (just pop off the spent blooms as they die off to keep it re-blooming!)
- The leaves give off a quintessential summer smell!
- They play nicely with others- pair them with all sorts of annuals for fun, colorful containers or beds!
- They thrive in sun or part shade!
- And, most excitingly, look how many colors there are to choose from:

So go on, take a page out of grandma's book and plant a few geraniums in your landscape this year!

Coleus: The most versatile annual ever?

Hi all!

While, in truth, we love all plants over here, we're going to submit the claim that Coleus might be the most versatile annual ever! Why? Well....

                    -It comes in an ever-increasing collection of swoon-worthy color combinations (it's addicting, really)

                    -You can find a cultivar to match any plant combination you dream up (the perfect plant-cessory...)

                    -It thrives in both sun and shade (is that too much to ask for?)

                    -It can handle hot summer weather (a necessity for Richmond summers!)

                    -It's touted for its foliage, but it also flowers (that's like buy one, get one free, right?)

                    -It makes a huge impact in your flower beds or containers (love the big-bang-for-your-buck factor!)

                    -It is so easy to grow! (the beginning gardener's best friend!)

                    -And while in no way relevant to their versatility, coleus cultivars have some of the coolest               

                     names! (who doesn't want to be the one who gets to name plants? or crayon colors...)

With all that said, here's a little eye candy to support our bold claim; you tell us if you agree!

'Alligator Tears'

'Dark Star'

'Dipt in Wine'

'Florida Sun'

'Honey Crisp'

'Inky Fingers'

'Readhead'

'Sedona'

'Sky Fire'

'Wasabi'

Container Love

Hi all! Our container pros have been pretty busy lately creating beautiful containers for our customers' outdoor living spaces, so I thought now would be a great time to talk about the benefits of container gardening! There are so many reasons to work containers into your garden or outdoor space but to prevent me from writing a novel on the subject, let's stick to our top 5 reasons to love container gardening:

1. They make such an impact with little effort!

Isn't it incredible how much a container can do for a space? In the picture above you can see that a few simple planters potted with some petunias and sweet potato vine really dress up this outdoor dining space! It's such a simple combination of plants, with just a few containers, but the effect is beautiful.  

2. They are mobile!

Planting in containers allows for some serious flexibility, which takes the pressure off! Say you plan your front porch container vignette and once it's put together, you're not quite satisfied. No need to start over; since containers are mobile, you can move them around a bit until you find the perfect placement.

3. They can easily (and affordably, and temporarily...) change the whole 'look' of any space!

Hosting a get-together? Quickly dress up your entertaining area with containers from around your yard! No extra work planning decorations for you- just some quick shuffling for some instant impact. When the party's over, just return them to their original places.

4. They can be seasonal!

Since containers are small in scale (as compared with planting beds) they are so easy to tweak! I love to use my containers to decorate for the seasons and for special holidays. I typically pick a few standard plants that will go well with all of my color schemes for the year (like some ivy, sweet potato vine, or bacopa) and let them really establish during the year. Then, I rotate out some flowering annuals that help me achieve the look I want!

Yellows and whites are great for Spring- they make a fresh and subtle combination that blends well with new foliage.

For Summer I like to add in some richer colors like deep purples. Something about hot weather makes me want to add some saturation to my color schemes.

It's always fun to use your containers for festival holiday themes, too! Nothing beats a red, white and blue combination for Independence Day!

By the time Fall rolls around, I'm ready for some more change! I love to bring the golds and rusts of fall into my containers-- it's such a beautiful time of year and I love to mirror the color of the leaves in my own home.

5. They are easy to manage!

Watering and feeding is quick and easy with containers (who doesn't love that!?) Just grab a hose or watering can and a little plant food and in a few minutes, you are done.

What if one of your plants dies? No problem! Simply pop out the evidence with a trowel and plant a fresh new plant. Problem solved, and no one is the wiser! (This tactic also works if you want to switch up the color scheme a bit without replanting the whole container...see #4)


So there you have it, 5 great reasons to love container gardening as much as we do! If you're new to gardening and want some help with containers, stop by! We've got a talented team of plant enthusiasts who would be more than happy to help you get started- they'll even pot up your containers to get you going if you'd like!

Happy [container] gardening!

Father's Day Favorites

It's almost time for the great day in June dedicated to spoiling that favorite dude in your life- Dad!

Dads are great. They teach us valuable life lessons, provide for us for years, make us laugh with an endless stream of (sometimes corny) jokes, and above all are good men whom we love and respect.  

So in honor of all the wonderful fathers out there, we've compiled a 'Top Pick' list of Dad-worthy gifts to say 'thanks for being so great, Pops!" Check out our creative, Dad-Approved gift list:

1. Hops

For the Craft Brew Master Dad, how about a hops vine? From start to finish, his micro brew batches will be uniquely his own!

2. Pepper Plants

Home-grown peppers like habaneros, jalepenos and serrenos are a great way for the Kitchen-Savvy Dad to add some punch to his plates! Gift him a selection of pepper plant varieties to see if he can stand the heat!

3. Whiskey Barrels

There's nothing like a charred oak barrel to get the Whiskey-Loving Dad excited! A rustic half whiskey barrel is great as a planter, tool storage, or drink display at a cookout.

  

4. Bug Repellent Brewski

For the Patio-Partying Dad, pick up a six pack of these cheeky citronella candles. Dad can party on, mosquito-free!

5. Team-Themed Garden Gear

What Dad doesn't love taking every opportunity to tout his favorite team? For the Sports-Enthusiast Dad, pick up a fan flag for the flower beds!

6. Desktop Green Space

For the Dad with a high-stress job, add a calming desktop garden to his work space! A little green goes a long way in bringing down stress levels for the Hard-Working Dad, and a bonsai or topiary might be just the thing to brighten his day- everyday!

Here's to great Dads everywhere!
We're thankful for them!