Don't let cold weather stop you!

Feel the need to walk but too cold outside? Feel free to come use our dry sidewalks on Tuesday and Fridays anytime between 10 & 4. We've been opening in Jan and Feb on those two days for the last few years to encourage exercise. It's a little cool in the greenhouse right now so a warm sweater is recommended.

Danielle, a longtime employee, has now moved on to bigger and better things. She has met the man of her dreams, Christopher, and will be moving to Saskatchewan the end of March. We were honored that they chose to have their Engagement photos taken here at Huron Ridge. We will miss her but wish her all the best In life, love and happiness.

Post Christmas

Today as I left home home, I thought my red bows on the front porch looked a little, well, Christmasy. Mind you, they brighten up the dull landscape of brown and white! Why is it that as soon as the New Year has passed, we want to throw out our brightly coloured accessories and adorn our homes with everything that promises spring? I suppose a season has passed, the hype is over and we want a change, something new. We're tired of the coloured lights and stockings hung with care. If your home feels empty after packing away Christmas, try these suggestions.
*Give back centre stage to your houseplants, re wrap those colourful poinsettias with wicker or a clay pot, and keep those white mini lights out to add sparkle to your home on those cold winter nights. Change the bow on your front door wreath to a wintry purple or blue and rejoice that you have a pot of winter greens to enjoy on your front porch. Feed the birds, go to your local library, then snuggle up on your couch with a tea, gardening books and dream of spring.

                                                           http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/dec/09/best-gardening-books

Poinsettias & Fundraising

With a successful Poinsettia Festival & Candlelight Event in our rear-view mirror its time to start shipping out the plants that have been sold through the 34 different groups that we are partnering with to raise funds.  It will be a very busy few weeks.... two greenhouses full (well, still partly full) of plants have to head out our laneway in the next 3 weeks.  Exciting times.  If you are one of those groups, we hope it has been a big success for you to earn some money for your organization.
Information about caring for your poinsettia plants can be found on our website.  care of Christmas plants

3 tips on how to Grow Garden Mums

One of the questions we are asked most frequently when folks are buying mums to do fall decorating is, " Are these the hardy mums that will come back next year?"
The answer is "these are the hardy garden mums, but whether they come back next year is dependant on a number of things"
1. they need to be planted early in the fall - no later than Oct. 15th, and even then it depends on how soon freezing weather sets in.  The plants need opportunity to root out into the surrounding earth & get established before it freezes solid.
2. they need to be planted somewhere where they will have good snow cover in the coldest part of winter to give them some insulation.  In other words, on the lake bank where the snow is swept away, or on the south or west side of a building where the sun melts the snow in the daytime, but it freezes solid at night are not places to try and winter over a garden mum.  The lack of snow and the thawing & freezing conditions in those settings will ruin chances of a garden mum surviving.
3. leave the dried stems of the plant intact.  Don't trim them back until next spring when you see the new growth appearing.  The tall stems will help catch leaves, and accumulate snow that will also help to insulate the plants roots from the cold Ontario winter.
Some growers will say there's no such thing as a "hardy" garden mum in our area, but with a bit of special care, you will probably be able to winter some over for next year.
For more information on growing garden mums, visit our website
http://www.huronridge.ca/growingtips_chrysanthemum.html

Thanksgiving is on its way!

Thanksgiving is quickly approaching and with it the desire to decorate our homes for fall. We have lots of fabulous mums, pots of ornamental cabbage and kale, fall planters and lots of ideas!! Come visit us!