Gardening Tips: Bring Spring Indoors & Jump-Start Your Garden

Why does the shortest month of the year always seem like the longest? You can kickstart spring by starting herbs and vegetables indoors. It’s really simple—all you need is sunlight and some warmth with seeds, everything from heirloom (maybe your grandparents grew some of these) to certified organic seeds, along with a great selection of that Richmond favorite, tomatoes! Also try Asian seeds for different kinds of greens, herbs and vegetables. There’s Chinese cabbage, pak choi, heat resistant lettuce and spinach, and all sorts of other things. Read more

Theft Happens: Tips To Prevent Property Loss & Travel Safely

I was recently on a flight from Richmond to Denver on a major airline. The flight stopped at Charlotte for 90 minutes then continued on to Denver. I always carried my snowboarding jacket with me while travelling instead of packing it in the bags, just in case my bags were lost or delayed. I had even selected this flight so my bags couldn’t be lost switching to a connector flight. Read more

Health & Safety: Simple Things You Can Do To Prevent Water Damage

As my former wife screamed from the house for me to “get in here now.” I thought there must be a fire in the house, and I ran from the back yard. My dog was running along beside me enjoying the sprint as I looked for smoke. Read more

Tips For Helping Rescue Crews Reach You Faster In Emergencies

One of my last memorable calls as a fire captain and paramedic occurred last spring, and it turned out to be a career highlight! Our company was dispatched to a home a few miles away for an “impending birth.” As we approached the scene I was reviewing in my mind some of my training on labor and delivery. After all, this would be a first for me in my 32 years on the job.

The young mother was close to delivering her second child, she had no prenatal care, and when asked which hospital she wanted to be transported to, she picked the one furthest away. I asked if the closest hospital would be okay, and she insisted on her first choice, which was a good twenty-minute transport. Read more

Holiday Cooking: Safety Tips For Frying The Big Bird

You know the drill: Real men cook with fire. So he goes out and buys a turkey fryer, $30 worth of peanut oil, and lights the gas burner. The boys hang out waiting for the oil to heat up enough to drop the bird in for a 20 minute cookoff. Real men don’t read directions! Read more

Help A Neighbor Out This December: Adopt A Fire Station

December is a festive time of the year we all look forward to with much anticipation, but this year will be a little different. The economy and rise in unemployment makes this month especially challenging for many of our family, friends and neighbors. Could you imagine losing your belongings to a house or apartment fire? Read more

Whit Styles’ Fitness Video Series: The Truth Behind Interval Training

You might have heard of Interval Training, but what the heck is it?! Interval Training is a method of working out that integrates intense bursts of energy followed by rest periods. So for example, a 100 yard sprint, followed by a brisk walk back to the starting line is an interval. String many of these together, and you have a full workout!

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Fire Safety Tips For November

As the weather gets a little cooler it reminds me of some of the fires I’ve responded to as a firefighter. Each is unique but some have common causes, and I’d like to share a couple stories. Read more

Whit Styles’ Fitness Video Series: How Your Routine Has You Stuck In A Fitness Rut

After watching the video above, still not sure on how to change it up to stimulate your mind and body? Try some of the tips below! Read more

Gardening Tips: Fall Into Color

If that slight nip in the air has you thinking pumpkins and autumn leaves, then it’s time to incorporate some of those vibrant orange and amber hues into your perennial beds. A common misconception for the landscape gardener is the belief that color ends with the onset of September breezes. On the contrary perennial garden mums, winter pansies, blooming shrubs and evergreens provide wonderful staying power and visual interest through November until the bitter cold of early January.

“Violas and pansies are always one of my favorites,” says Strange’s greenhouse manager, Sunnie Caldwell. “While both offer a veritable range of color, violas provide strength in numbers with multiple blooms of tiny flowers.” These can be planted at any time as long as you can crack your spade into earth; however, soils that are warm and moist from summer temperatures and rainfall are always best for conditioning and fertilizing new shrubs or seedlings.

Other late season extenders include garden mums, perennial grasses and ornamental cabbage and kale. Muhlenbergia, better known as Muhly Grass, offers a vivid pink and purple color that tends to last into late December or January with a mild winter. Ornamental cabbage and kale are deer resistant and provide great white, pink and purple interest as background canvas. Layering this effect with bright yellow, burgundy and orange perennial mums will definitely draw the envious eyes of all your neighbors.

Choosing the appropriate blooming shrubs, deciduous trees and evergreens is also essential for autumn landscape design. Especially consider non-blooming foundation plants, which provide inspirational texture and interest. With vibrant scarlet hues the “true to its name” Burning Bush Euonymous and regal purple berries of Beautyberry Callicarpa are sure to attract the attention of birds and other wildlife seeking shelter from the oncoming winter winds.

Fall Blooming Camellia, Nandina and Pyracantha are also must haves for autumn design as their berries and blooms are proven winners throughout the cool season. During your latest visit to Lewis Ginter you may have recognized the Osmanthus Fragrans; with petite blooms and rich green foliage this evergreen provides a mildly sweet scent that will gently permeate any garden retreat.

Fall into color with these autumn knock outs and visit Strange’s trial beds at 12111 W. Broad Street in Shortpump for a display of these and other blooming shrubs, perennials and evergreens. P.S. Don’t forget to plant narcissus, tulip, hyacinth and crocus bulbs now for spring color and stay tuned for more info! Let’s love on and learn about gardening together!

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