Winter weather may be dreary, but your landscape doesn’t have to be. Cone-bearing trees and shrubs, known as conifers, can transform landscapes from ordinary to extraordinary with their assortment of sizes, shapes and textures. Conifers come in a variety of colors including green, yellow, blue, orange and purple. Some conifers are lacey; while others have rigid needles. Conifers that are hardy in the Hampton Roads area include: juniper, arborvitae, yews, hemlock, false cypress, and of course, pine, fir, and spruce.
Bird has become one of America's fastest-growing hobbies, and backyard bird feeding is a convenient way to enjoy these fine-feathered friends. Surveys reveal that nearly half the households in the United States provide food for wild birds.
Did you know that you should use rainwater to water your houseplants? Why you ask?
Our expert growers feel that rainwater is best due to the low pH in rainwater. The low pH makes it easily absorbed by a plant’s root system. Rainwater can also leach away excess salts and minerals that have built up in the potting soil.
Think orchids are too hard to grow? Well, think again. It doesn’t take a high-tech greenhouse or a horticulture scientist to successfully grow and bloom these exotic beauties. Growing orchids is no harder than growing any other houseplants - it's just different. But like most plants, you just need to give them what they need – adequate light, humidity, water and ventilation. With proper care, they will grow and re-bloom, rewarding you with their stunning color, form and, sometimes, fragrance. If you cannot identify your orchid, then start with these six basic care guidelines:
There is a special grace to the long, arching stem of the orchid. Each breath of air sends the graceful flowers fluttering and dancing in mid-air. Millions of people have been introduced to the beautiful and rewarding world of orchids. McDonald Garden Center has one of the largest collections of orchids in Hampton Roads. Below are some of the types you will find.
