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      Behind the Scenes: Early Veggie Production

      March 18, 2024

      Knowing when to plant early spring vegetable plants can be tricky. Mother Nature does not always play nice, like this February & March. We have had days near 80°, then next night it is 15°, then near 80° again. How and when do I or don’t I protect my plants from Mother Nature? What do I need to do to prepare my garden for harvest success? This...

      Behind the Scenes: Flower Production

      February 26, 2024

      Have you ever wondered what it takes to grow the irresistible hanging baskets and planters you see at Colonial Gardens? In this blog series, I hope to enlighten you on the challenges and processes of growing quality healthy plants for you to beautify your home! There are many steps in the process of growing these gorgeous hanging baskets...

      Sowing Success: A Quick Guide to Planning Your Vegetable Garden

      January 20, 2024

      As winter's chill really begins to set in here in January some folks are thinking thoughts of sledding, ice skating, and keeping the steps by their front doors from being a death trap. On the other hand, us gardeners and farmers are eagerly turning page after page of seed catalogs, and binging reel after reel of our favorite green-thumbers...

      Is it Really Winter? And What Are these Plants Doing?

      December 18, 2023

      It is now the 3rd week in December and for the most part the grass is still green, and some of the shrubs and the underbrush still have not lost all of their leaves. There has been only one light snow event, and the coldest overnight low so far was in the low twenties. Many perennial plants still have some green leaves, and I have seen some...

      Landscaping: The Fifth Pillar

      November 27, 2023

      If you live in Kansas City, you live in a city within a forest. Just look up slightly beyond the horizon...oh wait, can't see the horizon? Well, all those trees do obscure views! We are a blessed gaggle of humans here in 'flyover country'. We dwell in one of the densest urban forests in the U.S. Promoting the diversity and the...

      All Potting Soils Are Not Created Equal: Part 3 in the Soil Series

      November 20, 2023

      There are potting soils on the market in almost every store you walk into, including supermarkets and sometimes gas stations. There are many varieties of potting mixes too. How do you know which one is right for your needs? What are the ingredients in potting soils and what is their purpose? Why is it important to your success in growing your...

      Landscaping: The Fourth Pillar

      November 14, 2023

      Color in the landscape is by far my client's most requested design element. I have been presented 1000's of Pinterest boards full of vibrant landscapes bursting with color. Hues that seem almost impossible. The expectation has been set by these examples of well-designed and tended gardens. My journey in refining my design palette...

      Watering in Winter: Trees, Shrubs & Perennials

      November 6, 2023

      As a gardener, the winter offers us a bit of a respite from our outdoor gardening chores. We have cleaned and sharpened our tools, raked or mulched leaves and look forward to poring over the internet (or seed catalogs, which I still receive and love) looking for what we’re going to be planting in the Spring. Most don’t think about the newly...

      Preparing the Garden for Winter

      October 30, 2023

      You may think that as the crisp autumn air starts to descend upon us there is little work to do in the garden, but now is the perfect time to get your garden ready for its long winter nap. The work you do now can have a significant impact on your garden next spring. Fall is a perfect time to take stock of which of your plants have done well...

      Prepping Indoor Plants for Winter

      October 17, 2023

      As cooler weather approaches, it is time to start thinking about bringing so many of our friends back into the home and transplanting any that may have stayed inside all summer. We are going to look at some of the things you will need to consider in making this transition, as well as some how-to's to make you feel confident about this move. ...

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