Browse Month: February 2018

Roots of a moth orchid before repotting

Orchids 102: repotting to keep them happy

Have you ever been to a gardening workshop where one attendee seems WAY too into it, asking a million questions, furiously taking notes, and snapping pictures of every little thing?  Well, perhaps that weirdo is a gardening blogger, because I’m sure that’s exactly how my classmates at a recent orchid workshop would have described me.  In my last post, I covered my notes on basic orchid care from the workshop;  in this post, I’ll share my step-by-step notes (and pictures) on repotting orchids. Continue Reading

Light pink moth orchid in greenhouse

Orchids 101: the basics of orchid care

You know how I say I’m a gardening enthusiast, not expert?  Same thing with orchids — I adore them, but I’m far from an expert.  After all,  I purchased my first orchid 6 weeks ago, so I’ve only kept an orchid alive for 6 weeks at this point.  However, I did attend an orchid workshop at Powell Gardens earlier this month where I learned from someone who is an expert —  and I took a ridiculous amount of notes to share with you. Continue Reading

Leu Gardens - TriColor Camellia - GardenTails blog

A winter visit to Leu Gardens

Pro tip: always grab a bottle of water before you start your tour of a 50-acre botanical garden in central Florida, even if it is February.  Otherwise, you may end up at the opposite end of the garden — surrounded by stunning Camellia blooms — when a part of your brain starts whining, “Are we done yet? I’m thiiiirsty.”  Trust me — it’s a tough task to fully appreciate the 230+ cultivars of Camellias Leu Gardens has on display when your brain is acting like a three-year-old at an art museum, so just make sure to bring water along. Continue Reading

Greenhouse in winter - GardenTails

A gardener’s February survival plan

Is it just me, or is February the toughest month for a gardener?  Spring, summer, and fall are all great seasons with plenty to enjoy in the garden–but winter seems to drag on forever.  My mental state definitely declines through the winter months:

December: “Whoo hoo, I love this time of year!  Snow is great–it makes it feel like Christmas!”

January: “Alright, new year, fresh start, stuff to do.  It’s cold, but no problem–I’ll just water my houseplants!  That’s all I need, right? ………Right?”

February: “AAAGGHHGH!  WILL WINTER EVER END?!?!”

In an attempt to maintain my sanity this year (what little I have anyway), I’ve developed an 11-step February Survival Plan.  I share it with you in hopes it helps you create your own sanity plan: Continue Reading