The flutter of butterfly wings can transform your garden into a sanctuary for vibrant life. Differing milkweed varieties serve as the nurturing backbone of your butterfly haven. Milkweed is very important for the endangered species of Monarch Butterflies. It is the...
Tips for a Thriving Pollinator Garden
It’s that time of year again gardeners! Once you finish your "honey-do" list, you can focus on how to keep your "honeybees" happy! Check out these six tips to make your friends jealous of your pollinator garden. Avoid double flowers Although they may look pretty,...
Get your garden started now!
While the days are cold and dreary and maybe even a little snow on the ground; now is actually the time to start thinking about starting your own garden vegetable plants indoors from seed. Many vegetables have suggested indoor seed starting dates in the date range...
Late to the party- our favorite “late” bloomers
In most cases, mid July isn't considered late summer- technically it's still the first month, but a gardener's calendar and mind can look at time a little differently. Even though there's a full two months until the first official day of Autumn, we're now in what can...
Jumping in June for pollinator perennials
June is a big month for gardeners. Spring gives way to summer, it's National Pollinator Month and June is also Perennial Gardening Month. This month is a really great time get your perennials in the ground, and be sure to include some native pollinator plants to also...
Don’t forget your medicine
Most of us know by now how beneficial gardening, plants and growing your own food can be. First and foremost are the improvements to your mental and physical health. Improving environmental conditions, benefits to the economy (local and at large,) and strengthening...
Oh, deer….
Picture it, 2020, Cincinnati, (not Sicily 😉 ) you're in your garden...it survived the post Mother's Day frost, it's surviving COVID-19, and therefore, it's *probably*surviving you obsessively checking each sprout, bud, new leaf or growth every day, multiple times a...
What to do with late season frost damage
It's *almost* hard to believe we're still contending with frost warnings around and AFTER Mother's Day, but then we remember: we're in Cincinnati, it's 2020, we're in the middle of a global pandemic, and just about anything seems possible. It does seem like we're in...
To Prune, or Not To Prune
We'd like to chat about pruning your flowering spring bulbs, plants & shrubs for a minute. You may notice some of your daffodils, jonquils, hyacinths, tulips, and other spring bulbs have given you a few weeks of beautiful color, but are now starting to look a...
Spring is marching in: Pansies, trees & shrub prep, pest plans
With the official arrival of spring, we've had a lot of happy goings on at the Farm this week. Pansies, fruit & edible trees, deciduous trees, shrubs, seed potatoes, onion sets, garlic & horseradish have all arrived and are ready for you to pick up! The clocks...
National Garden Bureau’s 2020 Flowering Shrub of the Year – Hydrangea
Hydrangeas are one of the most sought-after shrubs in North America! Known for their nostalgia as well as their modern design appeal, hydrangeas are a perfect fit in the landscape, a container garden or used as cut flowers. The word origin of hydrangea comes from the...
National Garden Bureau’s 2020 Bulb Crop of the Year – Iris
Add beautiful flowers to your garden! Irises are among the easiest of perennials to grow from bulbs, roots or rhizomes. The genus includes some 250-300 species featuring showy flowers. In fact, the iris takes its name from the Greek word for a rainbow, which is also...
National Garden Bureau’s 2020 Perennial of the Year – Lavender
The “Lavender Lifestyle” is real! Everywhere you look, people are incorporating this multifaceted plant into their daily lives: It’s seen in gardens, as well as in kitchens and décor. It’s even a special part of health and wellness routines. The texture, scent,...
Zoo’s Best Plants for Pollinators!
After more than 25 years of trialing plants, The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden knows which plants grow and look best in our region. By focusing that list to the plants that benefit pollinators the most, they have created the Zoo’s Best Plants for Pollinators...
Spring Time Pruning
How and When to Prune Which Plants BY MARIE IANNOTTI Updated 11/27/17 Chris Clinton/Digital Vision/Getty Images Most plants benefit from some sort of regular pruning and maintenance. It keeps them healthy and encourages fresh, new growth. The trick is in knowing when...
Lenten Rose – Nature’s early bloomer
Helleborus, aka Lenten Rose, are one of nature's early bloomers. These deer resistant perennials are perfect for some spring time beauty in your garden. They do well in full sun to partial shade locations and prefer well drained soil. If you would like to learn more...