Put the screens aside: with school out of the way, the Christmas break is the perfect time for kids to play, make crafts, and explore the natural world around them. Here are some fun activity ideas to help you keep your kids active, outdoors, and creative this holiday season!  Make Your Own Wrapping Paper  Why buy wrapping paper when you can make your own? Give your kids a canvas of blank newsprint and let them color away with their favorite finger paints, crayons, and colored pencils. Ask them to conjure up their own Christmas patterns, or simply let their imaginations run r ..read more

When you’re as popular as poinsettias, you’re sure to generate a rumor or two. For centuries, people have thought poinsettias were poisonous to pets and children. As it turns out, however, they’re far safer than we realize. This guide will help debunk a few common poinsettia myths and show you the toxic and not-so-toxic truth behind a few other popular holiday plants!      Myth 1: Poinsettias are poisonous for pets and children  In 1910, a child died after reportedly eating poinsettia leaves. Even though poinsettias were never proven as the cause, it still inspired ..read more

When most plants are hibernating and our days are the darkest, the Christmas cactus, also known as Schlumbergera, blooms with bright pink, red, white, and yellow petals. These flowers are a highlight of Christmas and brighten our homes well into January and sometimes even February. Although they’re simple to take care of, it’s important to get the details right, so you can ensure successful blooming and enjoy them as a healthy houseplant year-round!  Not Your Average Cactus  Due to their pointy leaves, this plant has garnered the name “cactus,” but don’t let that fool you. Th ..read more

Food is one of the daily pleasures in the life of a cat or dog. Not only is it something they look forward to, but it’s also a source of good health, daily energy, and long life. As pet parents, we naturally want high-quality food that’s right for our individual pets. Here are our featured brands of high-grade food that we offer at our Greenpaws pet department in Lothian! VeRUS Wet and Dry Dog and Cat Food  VeRUS offers high-quality pet food made from whole meats and whole grains and supplemented with minerals. Their formulas offer holistic nutrition for your animals without any c ..read more

The dramatic seasonal changes of fall always bring about spectacular color. We’re all familiar with the vibrant colors among our trees, but there are many annuals and perennials that bloom this time of year as well. Here are some autumn beauties you can combine into beautiful displays for the fall! Coneflower – Stonecrop – Russian Sage  Coneflower is a native prairie wildflower that’s renowned for its late-season blossoms. They bloom profusely from late summer through September with vibrant varieties of yellow, orange, red, white, and, most famously, purple. Stonecrop, a type of sedum, i ..read more

Having too much garden produce is not a bad problem, but when the final harvest comes, it’s tricky to know how to preserve it. Fortunately, our ancestors figured out many methods long before the fridge was invented. If pickling, canning, and dehydrating are not your thing, don’t worry—there are several ways to preserve your garden vegetable harvest by simply storing them in the right place!  The Root Cellar  There’s nothing like the earthy smell of a root cellar to bring us back to the old days of food storage. This simple technology still works today, and you don’t need a sp ..read more

The harvest time is here, but with all of the tasty produce sitting in the garden, it’s our task to enjoy them before the pests do. Cooler fall temperatures cause some pests to slow down while others catch a second wind. Here is how to manage the common bugs you may encounter this fall!  Aphids  It can sometimes surprise you when you go to harvest a piece of kale and find it covered with aphids. No bigger than 1/8“, you’ll find these tiny insects on the underside of leaves, crooks of branches, and stems of vegetables and flowers. Over time, they’ll suck the sap out of a plant ..read more

Pumpkins are beautiful gifts of autumn that we only get to enjoy this time of year. Besides making pies and carving them into Jack-o-lanterns, we can also admire their beauty on the front porch and in landscape displays. Here are designs and ideas to bring the magic of a pumpkin patch right to your home! A Farmhouse Display  There’s nothing like a pumpkin farm to bring us into the spirit of fall. You can bring that festive warmth to your yard with straw bales, antique lanterns, planters in milking pails, and—of course—pumpkins. Set up an old pitchfork, hang a straw hat near the do ..read more

Back in the spring, you may have moved your tropical houseplants outside for a summer vacation. They no doubt enjoyed the sunshine and fresh air, but as the temperatures start to dip, it’s time to take them back indoors. Here are the essential steps for a careful transition and to ensure you leave any hitchhiking insects outside where they belong!      1. Repotting and Pruning Summer’s a time for growth, and your houseplants likely took advantage of it; they’ve probably grown substantially in both their leaves and roots with all of that direct access to the golden sunsh ..read more

Grass is a plant with specific needs just like any other garden perennial. Fall is the perfect time to check on the lawn, give it a little extra love, if necessary, and prepare it for spring. Take care of your lawn this fall with these simple steps!    Go Low on the Last Cut It’s best to keep your grass taller during the rest of the season. Higher grass requires less water because its roots grow deeper, and it prevents evaporation. Tall blades also shade out weeds. To prevent fungi and matts over the winter, cut your grass low on your last cut, around two inches. Check for Tha ..read more