There was an important week-long celebration last month that you might have missed. Tucked in between the new federal Juneteenth holiday and the 4th of July is Pollinator Week, an international event to spread the word about bees, birds and butterflies and their importance to all of us. How important are they? It’s estimated that more than 85% of Earth’s plant species require pollinators to exist. One out of every three bites of food you consume comes from plants made possible by honeybees … [Read more...] about Keeping the Buzz Going for Pollinators
Misti Warner-Andersen
Tips and Tools for a Bumper Tomato Harvest
With a short growing season, Northern Arizona is often tricky for garden edibles. But, with a little planning, the right selection, and an eye on protecting your crop, there’s no reason why you can’t grow juicy, delicious tomatoes straight from your backyard or patio. Step one is taking care to select a seed or tomato that either grows quickly or does well even in cool climates. Some of our favorites live up to their names, like Early Girl, which produces meaty tomatoes early in the … [Read more...] about Tips and Tools for a Bumper Tomato Harvest
Christmas: From Our Families to Yours
This year has been a hard one for family gatherings. For several months we’ve been limiting big get-togethers out of concern over the coronavirus pandemic. It’s likely that COVID-19 will be impacting your Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, too. With lots of families foregoing travel and staying put for the holidays, it’s time to capture the spirit of the season in our homes by decking them out with as much holiday cheer as possible. The centerpiece of that décor, of course, is your … [Read more...] about Christmas: From Our Families to Yours
Pollinators Still Need Our Help
Flagstaff should give itself a pat on the back. A few years ago, the National Pollinator Garden Network (NPGN), a group of stakeholders in the gardening, pollinator and conservation communities, challenged Americans to create one million gardens rich in pollen and nectar-filled flowers to help out our pollinators like bees, birds and butterflies. In three short years, the NPGN reached that goal. When they announced their success last year, the NPGN called attention to a handful of communities … [Read more...] about Pollinators Still Need Our Help
How to Water Well
Here is a scene that plays out pretty frequently at the nursery: A gardener comes in to ask about his or her dying outdoor garden – trees, shrubs, veggies or flowerbeds. In the course of conversation, it will become apparent that the problem is the plants simply aren’t getting enough water. The gardener is shocked. “But I water my plants all the time,” he or she will insist. While we don’t doubt our customers’ sincerity – it really might feel like they are watering all the time – we … [Read more...] about How to Water Well
Gardening Sustainability: The Greener Good
This past April, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Now, it is possible you missed it, since coverage of the anniversary got swallowed up by the coronavirus pandemic, but it is an important milestone. Think about how much has changed in our view of ecology in the past five decades. The message of reduce, reuse and recycle is now standard; we are all looking to lower our carbon footprint; and water conservation is understood to be incredibly important. That extends to our … [Read more...] about Gardening Sustainability: The Greener Good
Time to Bring Back the ‘Victory Garden’
Over the past few weeks, we have been told we are on “war footing,” with all the nations of the world battling an invisible enemy called coronavirus. It’s probably the most unconventional war we’ve ever waged; instead of taking up arms and gearing up to fight, we’re asked to stay home, self-isolate and do a lot of handwashing. In the spirit of this, I think we might want to bring back one of the staples of the previous century’s war efforts – the victory garden. If the phrase is new to … [Read more...] about Time to Bring Back the ‘Victory Garden’
Decorating Your Tree Like a Pro
One of the joys of the season for many of us is finding the perfect Christmas tree and decorating it as the centerpiece of our home. From selecting your tree, to attaching lights, to adding baubles and finally the topper, each step is vital to creating your holiday masterpiece. If you are looking to up your Christmas tree game, here are some strategies pulled from the world of professional decorators and set designers who have created amazing holiday trees. Your first step is picking … [Read more...] about Decorating Your Tree Like a Pro
Warner’s Nursery Participating in the Community
Next year, Warner’s Nursery celebrates a pretty big milestone. Our company will have been in business for half a century. Started by my grandmother, Dottie, Warner’s began in 1970 in Page. By the end of the decade, her sons expanded the businesses into a landscaping and maintenance division serving Northern Arizona, and in 1990, our family made the big leap and moved to Flagstaff. Now, I am part of the third generation running our family’s businesses. With my husband and sister (and … [Read more...] about Warner’s Nursery Participating in the Community
Houseplants: Good for Your Physical, Mental Health
If you think you’ve seen more philodendrons, orchids, succulents, snake plants, pothos and fiddle-leaf figs inside homes, offices and social media feeds, you aren’t imagining things. Demand for indoor plants and a chance to bring a little bit of nature inside our walls is a growing trend. In fact, in response to the renewed interest in houseplants, we’ve begun offering a series of free seminars at the nursery to help “plant parents” with their greenery. We have sessions on plants that are … [Read more...] about Houseplants: Good for Your Physical, Mental Health