The Dog Days of Summer

It's been awhile since our last post. We had a beautiful early spring and have had a warm sunny summer so far. We are now into what some call "the dog days of summer".  Some of your plants look great and others look a little weary and wind blown. It is kind of a tricky time of year because we still have a lot of summer left but some of our plants and flowers don't look so hot. This is the perfect time to start working in some fall annuals. If you have a planter with a couple tired looking plants take them out and replace them with a rudbeckia or flowering kale. Mums are always an option too but just know that if you put your mums out now you will probably be replacing them a couple times before fall is over. Mums bloom only once and in this warm weather they will open pretty quickly and bloom for a shorter period of time then they would in the cooler weather. Fall combinations are on their way but in my opinion just wait a little longer. Give your summer flowers the life they deserve.

Should I plant yet?

Minnesota springs can be tough. One day it is beautiful and the next day it feels like December. It is so easy to want to plant that first nice weekend. A lot of stores will have their flowers out and for sale. That does not mean you should plant them yet. Retailers know that when the sun comes out and the weather gets a little warm we get anxious. Don't fall into that trap. The cardinal rule is wait until Mother's Day weekend and even then you are not always in the clear. Here are some tips to get you going. Plant cool weather plants to get you started. Use pansies, snapdragons, violas, and regal geraniums. Look at the 10 day forecast, that can help you plan accordingly. If you do plant, cover your pots during cool nights. In the end just be patient. The time will come, even though sometimes it feels like it never will.

Easter Gifts

Easter is almost here. Finding that perfect hosts gift can be tricky. We've got you covered. There are so many creative ideas out there. Some may be too expensive or some could be beyond your creative comfort zone. I am going to give you some ideas that are easy, affordable, and adorable. Your hosts will already have their table set with decorations, flowers, and bunny napkin holders. The goal for a hosts gift is to give them something they will want to use after everyone has left. Something for them personally. Fresh cut flowers are always a nice gesture but get creative with them. Tulips and lilies are beautiful and I always want to give them as a gift because I am a firm believer that you should have fresh flowers in your home year round. The trick is not making the flowers the gift. Make what you give the flowers in the gift. That way they can use it over and over. Give something different and unique. Everyone has a glass vase. One idea is giving your flowers in a moss purse or moss cowboy boots, yes cowboy boots. You will have to find some sort of vase or container that fits in the purse etc but once you do that it is so easy and fun.

Another idea is a hanging terrarium. You are seeing these all over pinterest and for good reason. They are adorable. You can make them with dirt, a little moss, and small houseplants or succulents. You can find the empty terrariums at floral shops or craft stores.  I personally buy them already made. I find by the time I get all the materials it is cheaper to buy it already made unless you are planning on making a bunch of them. We have the most adorable ones in our garden center right now.

The anticipation of spring & summer makes plants and fresh flowers so popular at Easter but don't forget about yard deco. A birdhouse, yard stake, solar lights, or chimes can spur that spring excitement just as much as plants and will be enjoyed all season! 

Whatever the gift have fun with it and don't forget to get yourself a little something in the process :) Oh, everything above we have in our Garden Center, come immerse yourself in spring!

Lynde Greenhouse & Nursery is Growing Spring!

It is 70 degrees and sunny in Lynde Greenhouse and Nursery. We have lilies waiting for easter, hydrangeas exploding in shades of pink, and annuals just popping up. We don't just put these plants in the dirt and hope they grow properly. We truly put our heart and soul into these plants. We take pride in what we grow and what we sell. Growers are pacing the isles checking the progress, watering, and pruning. We are planting everyday so our product is timed perfectly for you. This isn't just is a business it's a passion.

Winter Gardening and Decor Ideas

It is a long cold winter in Minnesota. We all get anxious for spring. We look out the window and see a color palette of white, grey, and brown. I think seasonal depression doesn't just from a lack of sun but also from a lack of color and visual stimulation. Don't get me wrong, I love a snowy landscape but weeks of clouds and grey sky takes its toll. On a day where the snow is blowing and the wind chill is 40 below we don't want to leave the comfort of our homes so my thoughts are bring the outside into your home. Not the winter outside of course but the summer outside. Fresh flowers for starters are a great and easy way to add color and life to your home. Just make sure you cover them up when they are outside, they are not a fan of the frigid air. Put them on the counter, the kitchen table, or in small individual vases around the house. Another way to bring green into your home is with fresh herbs. If you have a sunny window with an area for a small pot or a few small pots plant some herbs. Choose your favorite cooking herbs and you will always have fresh on hand. A cute way to have herbs is to hang small pots from the ceiling or attach them to the side of your cupboards in front of your kitchen window.  Remember however, if the window does not get sun the herbs will not be very happy. Succulents are another way to add color. Plant a combination of them in a pot or put a combination of small containers in an area and have a succulent collection. You can get creative with the containers by using mason jars with rocks and dirt, colorful pots, or a vintage jewelry box. Who loves fairies? A fairy garden is the perfect indoor garden. They take a little more maintenance but can be a fun winter hobby. Make them a little home with trinkets, moss, and plants. I also add color to my home with paint and decor. Paint an accent wall or piece of furniture, put up some temporary wall art, or add color to kitchen cabinets. It is amazing what a pop of color does to brighten your day.

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.)