Although we will be shifting from summer to autumn this month, this is still prime time for your garden and there is a lot of planting to be done before the season’s end. In fact, the fall is a “second season” for gardeners. It’s the ideal time to plant trees, shrubs and hardy flowers, plus it’s your only window to get those spring-blooming bulbs in the ground. As you enjoy the last few weeks of your summer flowers, make some room for blooms that love cooler temps, such as mums and asters. … [Read more...] about Celebrating Fall and Some Last-Minute Gardening
Misti Warner-Andersen
The Latest Buzz on Bees
It’s a complicated time for bees. They are some of the hardest pollinators around, playing an outsized role in sustaining about 85% of all the plant species on the planet. One out of every three bites of food you consume is made possible by pollinators. In fact, blueberries and cherries are 90% dependent on honeybees, while almond crops depend entirely on the honeybee at bloom time. But this year, bees are facing two very different challenges. First, let’s talk about honeybees. Populations … [Read more...] about The Latest Buzz on Bees
A Firefighter’s Perspective on Firewise Gardening
One of the many joys of living in Northern Arizona is being surrounded by the beauty of ponderosa pines and aspens. Our forests offer peaceful trails, vibrant wildlife and a stunning landscape to call home. But living in the forest also means accepting the responsibility of wildfire risk. Although this year’s prediction is that Flagstaff will experience a normal monsoon season (which officially started June 15), we are coming off one of the driest winters on record. High temps, low moisture and … [Read more...] about A Firefighter’s Perspective on Firewise Gardening
Tomatopalooza: Tips, Trivia about Growing Tomatoes
Northern Arizona’s unpredictable high-desert climate means cultivating tomatoes can be both a unique challenge and a deeply satisfying success. Whether you’re cultivating a backyard garden or container plants on your patio, the key to a thriving tomato harvest lies in choosing the right varieties, using proper techniques, and understanding local conditions. And if you’re passionate about tomatoes, there’s even more to love: these garden staples have a fascinating history and global footprint … [Read more...] about Tomatopalooza: Tips, Trivia about Growing Tomatoes
Extend Your Gardening Season
As summer winds down and fall approaches, there’s still plenty of gardening to do and exciting ways to celebrate the upcoming season. With the cooler temperatures and the benefits of monsoon moisture, this time of year is an excellent time to plant trees and shrubs. Your soil temperatures are actually warmer now than in spring, which helps tree roots acclimate more easily and reduces the risk of “transplant shock.” The cooler air temperatures also mean less stress on your new trees. Next, … [Read more...] about Extend Your Gardening Season
Make Your Garden Firewise
One of the benefits of living in the greater Flagstaff area is being surrounded by gorgeous forests. Acre upon acre of ponderosa pines and aspens provides us with rich scenery, phenomenal hiking and biking, and an extraordinary opportunity to be close to nature. There is a downside to this arboreal splendor, however, and it comes in the form of wildfires. Our forests are densely packed, there have been historic droughts and every year, temperatures have been rising. According to the National … [Read more...] about Make Your Garden Firewise
Composting from Landfill to Landscape
Composting is nature’s process of recycling decomposed organic materials into a nutrient-rich soil – yet another way in which we see that Mother Nature wastes nothing. Anything that was once living will eventually decompose, and as it decomposes, the energy that was once held within that life is converted into a substance that aids in the growth of new life. Backyard composting is an acceleration of the same process nature uses. By composting your organic waste, you are returning nutrients … [Read more...] about Composting from Landfill to Landscape
Dottie’s Bru: Making Magic from Coffee Grounds
In 2017, Warner’s Nursery launched a project that was near and dear to our hearts: a coffee shop to honor our grandmother, Dorothy Warner, who founded Warner’s Nursery in Page back in the 1960s. Dottie’s Garden Coffee Shoppe is right in the middle of our nursery, a relaxing place to enjoy coffee drinks, Italian sodas, and other refreshments is right in the middle of our nursery, a relaxing place to enjoy coffee drinks, Italian sodas, and other refreshments. Now, one of our employees has … [Read more...] about Dottie’s Bru: Making Magic from Coffee Grounds
Protecting Your Garden from Spring Frosts
As the winds die down and the temperatures climb this spring, it’s rewarding to see how wonderfully your veggie plants are beginning to grow, unfurling their leaves and forming delicious edibles. It’s also easy to forget that late spring frosts can jeopardize your young plants. This isn’t as much of a challenge for cold season veggies – frost-tolerant plants such as peas, broccoli, kale, cabbage, spinach, carrots, radishes and scallions that can withstand the vagaries of Flagstaff’s … [Read more...] about Protecting Your Garden from Spring Frosts
The History of Christmas Trees
Every year around this time, the holiday season begins in earnest for Warner’s Nursery, as our Christmas trees arrive. It’s really rewarding to help families find that perfect tree that will be the centerpiece of their holiday décor. But have you ever wondered about why our decorations are centered around having a tree in our living room? Although most people credit 16th Century Germans with popularizing the Christmas tree, the use of evergreens to symbolize eternal life dates back to ancient … [Read more...] about The History of Christmas Trees
