Easter Color

Our selection of Easter Plants are ready!

A new morning brings new color. Not only was the sunrise perfect and crisp, the bloom colors are crisp and rich as well. The lilies are budded and heavy and will be perfect for Easter Sunday. So will the Tulips and Hyacinths. The Garden Mums and Hydrangeas are in full bloom right now.

Special Mum Baskets and Small Desk Planters also are FANTASTIC!

More Sneak Peaks from The Greenhouses.

Begonias in Al's Pouches.

Wave Petunia Hanging Baskets

Mixed Perennials

Many varieties of Coral Bells...Showing off their Color.

Enjoy the beautiful weather!

Early Signs of Spring

I was out in the growing houses today and thought i'd share how the bedding plants are growing:

Impatiens - already showing color

Many, many varieties of Petunias

Marigolds just starting to greet the sun.

Plug and Seed trays ready for transplant

Baskets and Perennials picture updates to come soon.

Being Green and Receiving Green

Ever wonder how to harness the energy from the sun and put it to good use, but not want to put on those big solar panels? How about growing herbs in your sunny window.

Start with a Jiffy Seed Starting tray, complete with small pots. Add your growing mix, such as Pro-Mix, plant your desired seeds, and water. The sun beaming through the window will give you the heat and light needed to germinate the seeds. A bright, sunny window is best - usually a south or west exposure. The sun not only heats your seeds and plants, it also gives them the light they need for photosynthesis once they are actively growing

As the plants grow, you can transplant them to 4" pots or larger and enjoy homegrown herbs all season.

A simple way to get your spring started early and be beneficial to you and your family.

Happy Spring 2009

Happy Spring 2009!

We woke up to a brisk morning with a dusting of snow, but who could complain? Sunny days have been common and nice days are in the forecast for the weekend and beyond.

So how are you celebrating Spring? A simple way to get into that warm feeling is to display a flag. We have many types of Spring and Flower Flags, ready to brighten your front porch or entry. Mailbox covers also show your 'Spring Spirit'.

I've seen a few Robins at the feeder and the Canadain Geese are definetly starting to move. Definetly signs of the better weather to come.

Get out and enjoy the outdoors on Saturday - get those gardens cleaned and ready for planting. Sunday would be a good day to clean out the potting area and stay out of cool breeze.

Happy Gardening!

A Pot Is Not Just A Pot

While walking around the Gift Shoppe and Marketplace, I got a chance to preview some of the neat and really cool items for this spring. One display that caught my eye were the Self Watering Napa Pots.

I think what caught my attention first was the rich pastel spring (even Easter hued) colors.

The great thing about this pot, other than rich pastels and that they are lightweight, is that they have a built in self-watering system. No need for that ugly overspill tray under a pot. And if you're using this pot outside, you can remove the plug and overide the self watering system so that it can drain, in the event of overwatering due to rain.

For Easter, I'd use this pot and put in a cyclamen or hyacinth and use it for a table setting or a gift. It looks better than a pot cover.

The different possibilites for this pot are only limited by you imagination.

Spring is coming.....

Optimism is a state of mind, a way of life so to speak. We find it so easy to be pessimistic about just about anything. That's just simple human nature. If 'The Happy Train' doesn't seem to be going your way, than we just sit waiting for it, instead of putting forth the effort to find where it actually is.

I recall a song from a Christmas Special I adored as a child. There was a Wicked Warlock who's only reason for being angry and mean was because he didn't know any better. Kris Kringle goes on to sing and teach the old warlock a song. "Put one foot in front of the other, and soon you'll be walking across the floor. Put one foot in front of the other, and soon you'll be walking out the door. You never will get where you’re going, if you never get up on your feet...."

Here at Van Putte Gardens, we are embracing the joy of the upcoming spring and endless possibilities. We are enhancing the Garden Center right now, to make your visit even more enjoyable and gratifying than in the past. New plants, new garden products, and new gift items...all starting to arrive or delivery dates are being set for their arrival.

Its time to plan and think outdoor beauty. Its time to get outside and plan. We've sold a number of trees in the last week already.

I am not taking part in this recession. Van Putte Gardens is not taking part in this recession.

And neither should you. You deserve better!

Thinking Spring Green

As spring approaches, we noticed glimpses of Spring finally emerging from winter slumber this weekend. The snowdrops are out with crocuses and hyacinths just poking out of the ground in the real sunny areas. The ground is starting to thaw on the upper layers, so get out there and clean the debris out of your beds if you can.

With good weather, it won't be long before the Forsythia blooms in triumphant fashion. We have 75 plants here, ready for sale, FULL of buds.

Today marked the annual "Grand Statuary Parade". This involved moving it all from it's winter resting home in our greenhouse, to The Garden Gallery, where it will shine in the great outdoors. Nestled nearby are stacks and stacks of new pottery, in a variety of styles and colors. Once planted, they are perfect for a home entry or patio. Get a pot now and start to plan for May.

As sun and warmth returns this weekend, keep watch on hillsides and sunny areas for the first sign of early spring bulbs, such as Snowdrops. These small white flowers will start to emerge anytime now, giving a breath of freshness as we come out of a dreery winter.

This weekend looks like a beautiful time to just get out get an early start on garden and lawn cleaning. Simple garden tasks, such as cleaning out any weeds and debris in your beds, that were ignored last fall, will get you in that 'spring mode'.

If that doesn't seem appealing, just take a nice walk and enjoy the sun. As you're strolling, take time to look at other landscape beds in your neighborhood. You might just find a small idea that you can 'borrow' and use in your yard this year.

Enjoy the outdoors. It's an extension of your living space.

Color Your World For The Future

Busy lives bring on stress and fatigue. On any average day, you are just ready to get away from it all after that busy day at your workplace. You're driving in the driveway and what is your first impression?

Is it "Its great to be home, everything looks so beautiful. THIS is my oasis!"

Or is it "Oh my, this place looks terrible. Those shrubs are ugly and I wish I had some color."

Many of us come home and are greeted by the latter thought. Our home is our oasis. How our home greets us many times sets the mood for the evening (or day). We focus on creating a beautiful interior living room and completely ignore the outdoor living spaces that we have.

Simple upgrades to your landscape, either front entry or back patio/garden area, bring more opportunities for serenity and peace. Simply by adding color or functional areas for sitting and gathering.

We can help you Color Your World in a variety of ways. From our Full Service Design and Installation with our Design Team (many are Certified Landscape & Nursery Professionals) to our In-House Design Staff that can help you plan your new area and you can go home and start planting right away that day.

If you can dream it, we can help you create it. And by doing so, you will not only add value to your home with the investement, you will add value to your Quality of Life. It will also help your country's economy.

Color Your World

As I look out the window at the bright sunny afternoon, thoughts start running in my head about what a glorious day it is. Yes it's cold outside, but we just filled the Garden Center with an array of color! From the bold colors of the Kalanchoe, to the rich hues of the Cyclamen, to the vivid colored flowers just emerging from the Primrose. All here ready to go to your home and brighten your day.

If you're looking for the longterm companionship of an indoor plant, our African Violets offer longterm beauty. And we have the knowledge staff and health products to keep your violets the focal point of any room.

The 'Luck of the Irish' arrived as well. Both purple leaf and green leaf Shamrocks, in full flower, are perfect to brighten the table for a St. Patrick Day's Dinner.

It may be cold and wintery outside, but it doesn't have to be dull and drab in your home.