The Blooming Farmhouse

Fa, la, la, la, la…

How about this tree to bring out a little Christmas spirit for us gardeners? This tropical beauty made up of bromeliads and ferns is stacked 15′ high and is located at Mulhalls in Omaha, NE. It’s a colorful site and one tree that needs no ornaments. “Bromeliads are native to Central and South America and…

Poinsettia Care Guide

The most popular houseplant this time of year is the Euphorbia pulcherrima or poinsettia. They come in a variety of colors and sizes and are relatively easy to care for. They are one of the most popular potted flowers in the United States. Plant Care Poinsettias prefer a sunny location away from cold drafts or…

Christmas at Lauritzen Gardens

The holiday season has arrived at Lauritzen Gardens! Their beautiful displays of poinsettias, Norfolk Island Pine, Christmas trees and dozens of miniature Omaha landmarks, features the theme of The Year of the Bird. “Thousands of poinsettias bursting with rich, vibrant color fill the floral display hall in a glowing tribute to the holidays during the…

Let it Snow

We received around seven inches of snow last weekend that doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon. It’s makes for some beautiful scenes around the farm. I’m sure we will have a white Christmas this year as it’s only two weeks away! I loved the way the sunset sunlight was hitting the tops of…

Christmas at Sherbondy’s

We have officially entered the holiday season. One of my favorite events in November is Small Business Saturday. Each year, I try to go to my favorite local businesses searching for as many Christmas gifts as I can find. It is a day that I intentionally shop small every year and gets me in the…

Raising Ducks Part 4

If you missed Raising Ducks Part 1, 2 or 3, make sure to check them out. In this post I wanted to give an update on all of the things we’ve learned since the last post. Male vs. Female You can now really tell the male from female ducks. The males turned completely gray, have…

October Snow

We had our first frost and first snow here in southwest Iowa on Sunday, October 14. I wonder how often the first freeze and the first snow coincide? Makes for some ghostly pictures of flowers. They look healthy and colorful but are definitely toast. I’ve been in denial that this was coming but there is…

Garden Journal 9/5/2018

Vacation. Nine whole days at home on a staycation. Not going to lie, it would be much better if the rain would stop but I am still enjoying the break. I tried to move or cancel all of my commitments this week to truly separate from it all. I’ve done some biking, reading, errands and…

Flower Arranging Workshop

This week I hosted a flower arranging workshop for my coworkers where I work full time as a Director of Marketing. I pitched the idea of the workshop to our wellness committee as a “mental’ wellness event because I think everyone can use a little extra time for themselves and to learn something new. I…

Heron Haven

Last Tuesday, the West Pott. Master Gardeners met at Heron Haven in Omaha, NE for our monthly meeting. Heron Haven is a spring-fed wetland sanctuary. The sanctuary features one of the last oxbow wetlands of the Big Papillion Creek and it is within Omaha’s city limits. There is a butterfly garden near the entrance that was…

Flower Field Update

The zinnias look absolutely amazing right now and I could not stop taking photos the other night. I love the way the flower field looks with the blue coop in the background! Enjoy these beautiful pictures taken in the heat of August. What’s blooming in your cutting garden right now?

Raising Ducks Part 3

If you missed Raising Ducks Part One or Two, make sure to check them out. Otherwise, to catch you up to speed, only two out of six eggs in the incubator hatched. We have been raising two ducks for several weeks now but I knew we should have a bigger flock. Last Sunday, we went…