Hand make Something this Holiday Season

So if you haven't already, take an hour or two and hand make something this holiday season. It could be a centerpiece, a wreath made of ribbon, an ornament, or a handmade tag and bow for a plant. It does take time and we all are busy but it gives our brain a rest from the craziness it usually resides in. It slows us down, gets our creativity flowing, and feels good. The best part about doing this is that you can make something unique and personal. If you really don't think you have anyone to make something for or you do not deem yourself and crafty, make yourself something. Even if it does not turn out how you were expecting it doesn't matter. It is all about the process. Get your supplies, turn on some tunes, and take your brain on a different path.

Everything You Dont Know About The Poinsettia

Time for a little history lesson. Not a boring one however, a really unique one that may be the game winning knowledge you will need in a bar trivia game. Today, December 12, is National Poinsettia Day so we are going to learn about it.


Although the poinsettia has been used in Mexico by the Aztecs to decorate churches, symbolize the Star of Bethlehem, and dye clothing since the fourteenth century, it is credited to be discovered by Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett a amateur botanist and first US ambassador to Mexico. He discovered a shrub on the side of the road in Taxco, Mexico in 1828. He thought it strange because the leaves of this shrub were so brightly colored rather than having any noticeable flowers. At the time many botanists brushed the plant off as being a weed. Poinsett did not agree. He took cuttings home and continued to study and breed this plant. At this time the plant had a very short bloom time of only a couple days in the month of December. Because of the time of year it bloomed it and its rich red color it quickly became a Holiday staple. It wasn't until the 1960's the plant was bred to bloom for more then just a few days. The popularity of this plant in the United States however, is owed to the Ecke's family. In the 1900's they developed the grafting technique which made plants full and compact rather than the weedy look they took on naturally. The Ecke Family did not just grow these plants. They went on a marketing tirade across the country sending free plants to news stations to display on air and went on the Tonight Show and Bob Hope's Christmas Special's to promote this Christmas wonder! They owned this market until the 1990's when a university researcher figured out the method the Ecke family had been using and published it in the name of education for all to see. The Poinsettia is known by many names worldwide. In the language of the Aztecs it is called Cuetlaxochitl, meaning "flower that grows in residues." The Aztecs appear to be quite literal. In Mexico it is known as the Flor de Noche Buena, meaning "Christmas Eve Flower," in Chili it is called the "Crown of the Andes," and in Guatemala it is referred to as "The Flower of the Holy Night." The poinsettia has significance around the world and here is the U.S. I think it is fair to say that it represents the holiday season with class.


(Thanks to Dr. Leonard Perry from the University of Vermont and good ole' Wikipedia for all this great information.)

A little thank you...

It is amazing how much a "thank you" means to us. We as humans need to hear it. It means we are doing something right. That someone appreciates us. It is a crucial yet often times forgotten part human interaction. The holidays are a perfect time to let the people in your life know how much they mean to you. The mailman, your hairdresser, your teachers, your childcare professionals, and your coaches. It does not have to be big. It can be a handwritten note or something you have made. A gift card or a plant. Anything that shows them that they are present in your mind. It truly means a lot. And when the holidays are over keep thanking the people around you. There are so many fun, easy, and affordable ways to show a "thank you". Type in "thank you ideas" on Pinterest and you will have days of ideas. At the Garden Center we have pixie poinsettias with a mini chalkboard and apple in it for the amazing teachers out there. Know an owl lover? Create a spruce tip planter with little furry owls and pinecones. Keep it simple yet classic like a wreath with a red bow. And if you are able, hand deliver your "thank you." It just makes it better. Have fun, be creative, and make it personal.

The Perfect Tree

The Christmas season is officially here. You now can blast Mariah Carey "All I Want for Christmas" without judgement...well with less judgement. One of my favorite parts of Christmas is picking out and putting up the tree. I don't know why but there is something I just love about this. First, I am all about real trees. When I lived in an apartment we were not allowed to have real trees which I hated but I bought a pine scented candle and pretended it was real. Now that I can have a real tree it is crucial that I pick the right one. Not too tall but not too short. Not too skinny but not too fat. It needs to have strong enough branches to hold the ornaments and support my cat. All this being considered I don't want it too perfect. It needs to have character and personality. There is something to be said about the "Charley Brown Christmas Tree." After being in the Garden Center this Holiday season I have noticed that everyone has their own process of picking out the "perfect" tree. Some walk around it again and again. Some go back and forth between flocked trees and natural trees. Others pace the aisles slowly eliminating certain ones until they come to last 2. This is where it gets difficult. They are so similar yet so different. They will walk back and forth between the last 2 trees. Committing can be so hard. Finally, a decision is made! They walk up to the counter with unwavering satisfaction. Now picking out the right tree is not the end. It must be decorated. What color lights? How many ornaments. Even for those that decorate their tree the same every year there are choices. Where exactly do the ornaments go? Who gets to put which ones on? But in the end, no matter which tree we choose, how many ornaments we put on, real or artificial, we all take a few steps back tilt or head side to side, move back in for one last ornament adjustment, and then finally make that nod of approval. Enjoy this process. It is that rare time, in our busy lives, that family and friends come together and create something beautiful. Make

Small Business Saturday

It really is an amazing thing when someone has a dream, puts it into action, and commits to making it successful. That is what small business owners do everyday. They turn a dream into reality. It is so hard to compare to the "big box stores" in todays world. They have lower prices, they are open long hours, and they can offer lots and lots of products. But, if you look deeper you may fine that all these perceived deals aren't so great.  Often times these small business not only trump their competitors quality they beat their prices. They have awesome products that are not found anywhere else. To me shopping is a way to express who you are.  Whether you are buying furniture for your house, clothes to wear, or flowers for your front porch planter.  Small businesses understand this. They create products for you. They take the time to talk to their customers to find out what they are looking for. They take pride and ownership in what they are selling so they truly care about how you feel about the product.  When you shop small businesses you get original product, you support local jobs, you keep the money in your local economy, you benefit from expertise, and you make your community a destination. Small business Saturday is important but what is more important is shopping at these businesses year round. Just give it a try.  I guarantee once you experience the small business atmoshphere, you will be hooked!

Farmers Markets

There are so many reasons to buy locally grown produce at Farmers Markets.  First, it is good for your community. There are a lot of big box stores out there and I know they can be super convenient but one day, instead, check out the local farmers market.  What is really cool about Maple Grove is they have an Indoor Farmers Market for local vendors to sell at in the winter.  Second, you know where it came from.  When you buy locally the people selling it are the people know where it came from.  They know what kind of fertilizer was used, where it was grown, how long ago it was harvested.  Those are things you should want to know.  Third, it makes you feel good.  The environment of the Famers Market is really quite refreshing.  They can be crowded but you are surrounded by people that care about the environment, care about their community, and care about their health. Fresh Produce is truly amazing.  It makes life better. Pineview Produce was created to provide you with fresh produce when you can't grow it yourself.  Grown in our greenhouses from start to finish with love.  We sell it at the Maple Grove Indoor Market November through the beginning of January. If you haven't been there check it out and if you are a regular, you know what I am talking about.

Hello Winter.

Winter has arrived with a bang.  Although it can be annoying this is when your winter decorations look the best.  Whether it is your snow covered spruce tip planters or your wreaths glistening with ice droplets, it really is beautiful.  If you haven't put together your winter decor, do not fret.  You still have plenty of time, I mean it is not even Thanksgiving yet.  The porch spruce tip planter truly is an easy way to add color to this white time of year.  Fill it full of red berries or add some glitz with glitter ornaments.  Whatever you do make it your own and try to enjoy this beautiful snow fall.

Natural Holiday Decorating

In today's world it is important to try to live in a green and environmentally friendly way.  With the Holidays coming up there is a influx of environmentally  harmful decorations, however there is a way to have beautiful decorations naturally.   Here are a few tips!

*Use what people grow.  It is so important to use greens from local growers.  Not only are your supporting your community but you are using product that can be composted and reused again.

*All the spruce tips and greens should be sustainably harvested. 

*It is fairly easy to create an entire spruce tip pot that is 100% compostable.

                -Use Fiber pots.

                -Use Rice Holes or another natural soil

                - Decorate with natural products such as Winterberry, Hydrangeas, curly willow,                    Roeships, cattails and birch. 

                  (some of this can be found already dried in the ditch or along a local path.

*Decorate with birch logs, ivy, and dried plants.

*Reuse products that you can’t compost such as ribbon and bows.  If your ribbon gets wrinkly you can always iron it.

*To lengthen the life of your dried plants  spray them with aqua net or a clear lacquer

*Always compost your plant material.  When you are finished with it for the season place it outside and compost it on your own in the spring or bring it to Lynde & Mcleod Waste yard located in Maple Grove.


Not only will you feel good about green decorating you will have beautiful natural decorations that will bring life to your Holiday Season!

Fall Planting Tips

Just because the weather has turned a little cooler and we’re headed toward October doesn't mean that it is time to put away those garden gloves.  October is still the heart of harvest season.  The cooler weather and rainfall also make October a great time to be planting shrubs, trees, perennials and tackling other transplant projects. 

Cooler temperatures of October encourage plants to slow their growth cycle.  Even though the air is a bit crisp, the ground is still warm, which is a great environment for plant root development.   You should keep watering everything in your yard until we have our first hard frost, which is generally around the second or third week in October. 

Take the time now to evaluate your garden so you are ready when fall project time arrives.  How do your perennials look? Daylilies or hostas getting too big for their homes? Now is a great time to split them up.  You can repurpose them in other places in your yard or even list them on Craigslist.  People in need love free plants!  Plan a garden day with friends and swap plants, you might end up with a unique new garden to take home at the end of the day.

There is no way to get around it: for your grass to look good, you need to take care of it.  By take care of it, we mean you need to fertilize it. Not only does it make your grass a luscious green, but it is also great for the environment, when done correctly.  Healthy grass has a dense root system that holds soil, which prevents it from running off and polluting the water.  Fertilizing on or after Labor Day is the golden star of best fertilizing practices, because nearly all of the fertilizer goes right into the soil.  Check out this link to determine which how-to is best for how you take care of your lawn.  Now is also a great time to lay sod and spread grass seed.

  You can also think about planting bulbs for the spring.  Tulips, crocus, daffodils and hyacinths are great choices that will produce bold color in the spring.  Look for firm, healthy looking bulbs when you are shopping.  

On a final note, make sure that you clean up your lawn at the end of the season.  Leaving mounds of grass clippings and leaves on your yard can invite diseases.

(all images via Corbis)

Garden Badges

Recently we had a local boy scout group into the garden center and greenhouse for a tour.  They had been working for some time now growing their own plants and vegetables before they came to us for their tour.  We had a great turnout, of both parent chaperones and boy scouts, and we toured the greenhouse for an hour.  Everyone was very surprised by everything that goes on behind the scenes in the greenhouse, and I think that we have helped shape some future gardeners!

Learning how to move our greenhouse benches

Christmas poinsettias in July!

Learning about shading plants

Cheesin' for a group shot!

Kids in the Dirt

One of my favorite times of the year is getting to be out of the office and working with families.  Every year we travel over to a local preschool and work with a 'mommy and me' type class to plant flowers.  It is a fun activity that gets everyone involved in the planting process.  

Kids say the silliest things and our days with them were just that, filled with silly things!  Every year we learn that some kids love the dirt and some kids are afraid to touch the dirt.  Below are some of our favorite shots of their completed projects.

Treat Mom Right

With Mother's Day right around the corner, check out a handful of our favorite items in the garden center.  Of course flowers are generally a safe bet for any Mother's Day gift, but these are fun little bonus items any mother in your life will love! 

We've got a great selection of items for fairy garden enthusiasts to create their perfect miniature landscape.  Maybe figurines for your garden are more your style, we've got some fun items in that area, too.

Gearing up for Spring!

Check out our latest Instagram video on our garden center. Things may be small but it's warm, it's growing, and it's green!

Check out the rest of our Instagram pictures
http://instagram.com/lyndegreenhouse

Holy Buckets We're Growing!

Pineview Produce...in pictures for 2014!

Tomorrow is our second Lynde Local Market and we will have: herbs, beans, peas, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, salad mix, spinach, arugula, romaine and butter lettuce heads. In addition to our offerings, there will be 10 other vendors with amazing things to sell! Stop by from 3-6.

Cukes, Tomatoes and Beans, Oh My!

Strawberry Flowers

Cherry Tomatoes

Tomato Jungle

We're looking forward to seeing everyone at the second Lynde Local Market happening tomorrow from 3-6pm!

Pantone in Minnesota

Pantone's Color of the Year is Radiant Orchid

This year's Pantone color is a great one in terms of landscaping.  This lavender color is found in a multitude of different places, from annuals and perennials to flowering shrubs.  These are a few of our favorite picks:

• Firewitch Dianthus 
• Dianthus have long been a garden favorite.  With almost a month of blooming period, the flowers are great for creating small bouquets.  Another great thing about Dianthus is that it is heat tolerant, perfect for our hot Minnesota summers.  Zone 3-9
• Lavender Bounty Iris
• This showy Iris is a great addition to a ground bed.  Boasting good height and attracting butterflies, this Iris makes for a beautiful cut flower. Very low maintenance.  Zone 3-8
• Gladiator Allium
• Alliums are stunning when planted in large clusters that bloom from late spring into early summer.  The fragrant globe shaped flower is a focal point in a bouquet. Zone 4-9, without a stroke of luck, you'll plant these bulbs each year.
• Dwarf Korean Lilac
• This fragrant little gem is smaller and denser than many other lilac bushes.  It blooms clusters of pale showy lilac flowers that cover the majority of the bush. Zones 3-7