Nancy's Blog

I actually remembered to take my camera to the greenhouses today. I want you to see how full they are already. These few sunny days have helped the plants to really start growing.

I actually set the cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower plants outside today to start hardening them off (getting them acclimated to outside weather). It is really great to have some green on my outside benches. It makes spring seem closer all the time!

Greenhouse #3 on March 8

Greenhouse #2 on March 8

Greenhouse #1 March 8

Here are some of the coleus cuttings being rooted.

It always amazes me how quickly the greenhouses fill up once the plants start arriving. Each tray of plants that comes in may make 10 flats or more of “finished” size plants once we pot them up. It doesn’t take long to fill up benches that way.  I’ll include a picture from last week with this post, and hopefully add a new one soon so you can see how quickly the greeenhouses fill up. Most of the Hanging Baskets are planted by now, so even that space is full.

The coleus cuttings came in this week. It’s always fun to see what varieties we’ll have each year. We have 51 varieties of sun Coleus! There are also some really cool succulent type plants waiting to be potted. It seems like we have a larger number of different or new plants this year. I can’t wait for you to get to see them!

I used to love a big snowfall like we just received…..before having greenhouses, that is. Actually, this snow, even though it was big, light and fluffy,  presented no problem. The problem with snow is if the snow accumulates on the greenhouse, the weight can collapse it. Mike and I have spent many nights over in the greenhouses with brooms jumping up to punch the plastic on the inside to bounce the snow or ice off of the outside. It is an extreme aerobic workout, to say the least. Last year’s ice storm was a prime example. All that ice was very heavy! I’m just glad this was a light, fluffy snow!

One of the fun activities I do in the off season is attend conferences and trade shows. Lots of these are held in the summer, but I just returned from one last week. One day was filled with perennial talks. I’m always inspired with these and come home trying to add to my plant orders before they are shipped in these next few weeks. The other day was spent roaming the trade show. I saw some great fountains, purchased a stake that allows you to stack flowerpots, and came home with some great information, ready to grow for another year!