Recent Posts

Growing Succulents and Cacti

Wednesday February 22, 2017

Growing succulents is one of the most popular trends in gardening right now – and it’s easy to see why. Not only do these unusual plants grow in a kaleidoscope of shapes and colors, they are almost completely fool proof! With just a few easy steps, you can grow beautiful succulents and cacti just about anywhere. What is a Succulent …

Creating a Pebble Tray

Tuesday February 14, 2017

So, you’ve watered, fed and pruned your houseplants with loving care, and they still look like they’re struggling? An often-overlooked aspect of indoor gardening is humidity. Most houseplants are native to a wet, tropical climate and they need moisture in the atmosphere to really thrive. This is a challenge for us Mile High gardeners, because Denver has one of the …

7 Garden Design Tips from O’Toole’s Early Spring Garden Show

Thursday February 9, 2017

We’d like to give a great big “Thank You!” to everyone who made our Early Spring Garden Show such a success! All of the gardens were spectacular and gave us a little bit of spring fever to go along with this spring-like weather. If you missed out on the show, or would just like a little review, here are the …

Choosing the Right Light for Your Houseplants

Tuesday February 7, 2017

When choosing a houseplant, one of the most important things to consider is proper lighting. Lighting in the house can sometimes be tricky to determine, but here are some things you should keep in mind. Direct vs. Indirect Light Direct light is when the rays of the sun hit the plant directly. Indirect light is anytime the light rays are …

Top Six Health Benefits of Houseplants

Wednesday February 1, 2017

Houseplants are more than just pretty decorations. Study after study has shown that living with plants provides real, measurable health benefits. Houseplants can improve your health, lift your mood and even make you more productive. With a houseful of plants around you, you’ll be able to…

Poinsettia

Poinsettias: Flowers of the Season

Friday December 9, 2016

Poinsettias are the quintessential Christmas flower. Though they are famous for they brilliant reds (almost 80% of commercially grown poinsettias are red), they also come in beautiful yellows, whites and pinks as well as variegated varieties. History & Lore Poinsettias, or more scientifically Euphorbia pulcherrima, are native to Mexico and can be found growing wild in tropical forests down the …

Paperwhites and Amaryllis

Wednesday November 9, 2016

Paperwhites and Amaryllis have become a holiday tradition for many gardeners and it’s easy to see why. They are easy to grow, they bloom fast and they make beautiful homemade decorations and gifts. And right now is the perfect time to start amaryllis and paperwhites so they’ll be ready for the holidays. Paperwhites Paperwhites are one of the easiest bulbs …

Ask a Gardener – Winterizing Clay Pots

Wednesday November 9, 2016

Yes, clay pots can crack during the winter. As water freezes, it expands causing fissures and cracks in your pots. It’s the same thing that causes potholes to form in the road. Though it can happen to just about any material, the most susceptible pots are those made of terra cotta and clay. In fact, the very thing that makes …

Spring Cleaning for Fall 2016

Thursday November 3, 2016

Do you spend the first warm weeks of May just cleaning up the wreck winter has wrought? Well, this year get out ahead of the mess with some simple housekeeping now. Remove any plant debris including any old fruits or veggies bugs and disease love old rotting produce left on the ground or on plants. Rake up leaves Dead leaves …

Why Do We Carve Pumpkins on Halloween?

Friday October 21, 2016

The practice of carving pumpkins on Halloween originated in Ireland during the Celtic festival of Samhain. According to legend, on Samhain night the door between the world of the living and the world of the dead was flung open and sprits and ghosts were thought to walk the earth. People would hollow out turnips to create makeshift lanterns, often carved …