Flowering kalanchoes are staples of the Christmas season with their cheery clusters of blooms on compact, upright plants sure to brighten your windowsill.  

Pansies are cheerful, multi-colored flowers that among the first of the season to offer winter color and will continue to bloom into the early spring. Today’s hybrid versions are more adaptable to heat than those of the past with larger blooms displayed and more vigor. They prefer a full or part sun location and are happy in hanging baskets, combination containers and flower bed borders. Proper preparation of the soil goes a long way in helping keep your pansies happy. Work in organic material such as compost or well rotted leaves to a 4-inch depth before planting. This accommodates the growing pansy’s need for well-draining soil and provides nutrients as the organic material decomposes. When growing pansies in well-prepared soil, the need for fertilization will be minimal. Pansies also prefer acidic soil and for longer blooming periods and the equation is simple: water and deadhead them.

Dianthus, also known as “pinks”, belong to a family of plants which includes carnations and are characterized by the spicy fragrance the blooms emit which is hints of cinnamon or clove.   They can be found most often in pink, salmon, red and white hues.  Dianthus are small and usually between 6 and 18 inches tall and also called Sweet William.  The foliage is slender and sparsely spread on thick stems.  Blooming typically lasts from May to October but known to last much longer.  Plant in full sun, partial shade or anywhere they will receive at least 6 hours of sun and they need fertile, well-drained soil that is alkaline.  Water them only at the base of the plant to keep the foliage dry and prevent mildew spotting.  Deadheading is extremely important to reduce volunteer plants and to encourage additional blooming.

Cyclamen are part of the Primrose family and the plant was a favorite of artist Leonardo Da Vinci, who used them to decorate the margins of his manuscripts at the beginning of the 16th century. They are generally winter and spring flowering plants that are available in a wide array of colors including white, red and ranging from light to dark pink. It is a perennial plant that is versatile, as it can be used as an indoor plant or can form part of flowerbeds in the garden or containers. With flowers typically appearing between December and May, they enjoy potted positions with a good degree of light, but away from direct sunlight. They also benefit from adequate ventilation.

This popular, winter-flowering houseplant, one of the most exotic-looking flowers in the plant kingdom, makes a great addition to nearly any indoor setting by providing a burst of red color for the holidays. Christmas cactus is not only easy to care for but propagates easily too, making it an exceptional candidate for holiday gift giving. It is Christmas cactus performs well under average home conditions with moderate care. It will adapt to low light conditions, but the plant will produce blooms more readily if exposed to brighter light. That being said, too much direct sunlight can burn its leaves, so keep the Christmas cactus in an appropriate area to avoid this. Christmas cactus moisture is important as well. The plant requires frequent and thorough watering, during its active growth in spring and summer, keeping the soil slightly moist. Allow Christmas cactus moisture levels to drop and dry out some between watering intervals, but never completely, and never let the plant sit in water.

Chrysanthemums are a classic addition to brighten any autumn garden. Growing mums is not complicated once you learn the basics of chrysanthemum care. The right chrysanthemum flowers for your garden will come from a diverse selection of hardy or garden mums. When growing mums, you’ll find plants that are dwarf to giant, in colors from white and yellow to the deepest burgundy and purple. Mums may be planted in either spring or autumn, though fall offers the greatest benefit of avoiding summer heat and should be planted in well-draining soil. They are adaptable to soil types, but do best in organic soils and prefer a sunny spot in the landscape. The most important technique of how to care for mums is pinching expended blooms. This will ensure an abundant show of autumn color. 

Come and check out our colorful and festive pumpkin patch at the nursery that is worthy of a visit from the Great Pumpkin!  There are pumpkins of all sizes and colors that are perfect for decorating or carving for jack o’ lanterns.  In addition to the traditional orange, there are green and white pumpkins as well as the enchanting Cinderella variety.  A wide variety of gourds are perfect for decorating the front porch or inside the house to welcome the fall season.  There is also fun Halloween décor available so come by and see the large variety of pumpkins and gourds available and maybe even take a photo in the patch.

Violas are versatile plants with delicate yet colorful blooms that work well both indoors and out. Their size, compactness and long flowering period are perfect for containers. Trailing varieties are exquisite in hanging baskets and tumbling over the edge of containers and window boxes. The scent of violas will be more noticeable when they’re indoors.

Outdoors, the mounded plants make a lovely edging along a path or to define a garden border. Combine them with other cool weather lovers like snapdragons and dianthus or tuck them between spring flowering bulbs such as tulips and daffodils to fill the space as the bulbs fade. Violas are primarily cool-season bloomers and for perfect bridging autumn and spring where they can remain in bloom throughout the winter.