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!