Looking for early impact in your flower beds? Here is a list of early blooming perennials, based on the time they start to bloom. April Ajuga Arabis Bergenia Brunnera Candytuft Creeping Phlox Helleborus Lilly of the Valley Mukgenia Pasque Flower Pulmonaria May Allium Anemone Amsonia Baptisia Bleeding Heart Columbine Cranesbill Dianthus Heucherella Iris Jacobs Ladder Lamium Lupine Peony Pincushion Flower Poppy Salvia Solomons Seal Vinca Viola Flowering Spring Bulbs Daffodils Hyacinth Snowdrops Tulips These are c ..read more

Containers are a really fun way to garden! You can bring annuals, perennials, or even include your houseplants in them! Even the pot you choose can bring character to your garden. Sometimes container gardening can be a mystery though, getting plants that will work well together aesthetically and care-wise! I will go over general design tricks to make your container look its best today, and even suggest some unique ideas to spice up your container designs! The most important part of container gardening is to use plants that YOU like! You wont enjoy your creation unless you like the plants ..read more

April 2024 Caladiums are an awesome tropical looking foliage plant that acts as an annual here in Minnesota. Sunlight - Caladiums like to be in a shady area outside. Avoid direct sun beams, because the sun can burn their delicate leaves. If you have a caladium inside as a houseplant, it'll do best in bright indirect light. (See our blog about indoor light requirements to learn what that can mean!) Water - Caladiums are a plant that doesn't like to dry out. Keep the soil of your caladium evenly moist. Temperature - Caladiums like it warm and pleasant. They prefer it between 60 and 80 deg ..read more

Definition: Composting is a process that allows naturally occurring microbes to convert yard waste, such as leaves and grass clippings, to a useful organic soil amendment or mulch. This blog will be broken into serval parts to cover the basics of composting. Structures, location, materials, preparing and maintaining. There are a few key points to remember while composting: The smaller the plant pieces, the more rapidly they will break down. Do not compost diseased or insect infected plants & weeds. Do not compost pet feces, meat, bones, grease, whole eggs and dairy products. There is lit ..read more

Today we will talk about how to introduce your early spring annuals and other plants to the temperatures outside in a gradual way so they don't get shocked! I don't know about you, but I am eager to get gardening! However, while the temperatures are still cool or cold overnight, there is only so much we an do, especially with annuals, who are more sensitive to the cold. Hardening Off Greenhouses are great places for plants. The temperatures are warm and constant, and there is freedom from wind. Plants need to be gradually acclimated to the realities of the garden. “Hardening Off” is the proces ..read more

He Is Risen! A phrase full of significant purpose and meaning. Today, I am here to share the story of He Is Risen, and the craft themed after this wonderful Easter story. At Green Valley, one of our all-time favorite crafts is He Is Risen. This craft has been a part of Green Valley for many years. It is themed after the Easter Story and the Resurrection of Jesus. The Easter Story The Easter Story is a story about love. God sent his one and only son, named Jesus, to give up his life through death on a cross to pay the penalty of sin. The Bible teaches that God did this because of his unfathoma ..read more

Full sun, part sun, part shade or full shade?? There are a lot of vague words used in the gardening industry to describe sun exposure for certain plants. I am here to shed some LIGHT on what these terms mean and where in the landscape they would thrive best. It is helpful to keep an eye on the area you are wanting to plant to see how much shade or sun it receives throughout the day. Is it next to your house where it will get shaded at times? Is it in the middle of the yard with no barriers around it? Is it beneath a large tree where it will get shade from the branches during part of the day? K ..read more

Basics of seeding, transplanting, and growing your own vegetables, herbs, and flowers. We are quickly approaching spring! How exciting. In preparation, I'll be going over the basics on starting your seeds indoors. Advantages of starting your seeds indoors: The main advantage to starting your seeds indoors is getting a head start on your growing time. Instead of waiting to direct seed into the ground, starting your seeds indoors will give you at least a few weeks of extra growing time which helps with our cold weather. Getting a head start on seeding also gives you an earlier harvest. Crops to ..read more

March 2024 Tulips, tulips, tulips! Tulips are beautiful early spring bulbs! Often planted in the fall, before the ground freezes here in Minnesota. As we begin to thaw in the early spring months (or sometimes April/May) they emerge, showing us their beautiful colors. Sun- Tulips prefer full sun for optimum growth. When tulips receive the right amount of sunlight, they grow larger and have the best display of flowers. Watering- Tulip flowers don't need much water. Just water them very well when planting and you won't have to worry about them until the spring. Once the leaves appear in the spr ..read more

Do you have some trees that need to be pruned or are you unsure if they should be pruned? Well, that's what we are here for, to boost your confidence, increase your knowledge, and learn about the objective of tree pruning! The purpose of pruning is to promote better growth, stronger, healthy and attractive plants. Three main reasons for pruning Safety: remove branches that could fall or cause damage. Aesthetics: keeping the natural form of the tree. Health: improving the overall health of the tree. Types of pruning Crown thinning: removing branches to increase light and air movement in the ..read more