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spider plant by Larry Hurley

Larry Hurley’s Photo Of The Week: Houseplants

Anyone can grow tropical plants indoors, you just need to be aware of the plant’s needs. Some are easier than others. I’ve never been able to successfully grown weeping figs or fiddleleaf figs in the house. They are, after all, large-growing trees that…

Lay's Potato Chip Super Bowl Commercial 2025

Stephanie’s Top 6 Super Bowl Commercials

Did You Watch The Super Bowl? Like many, last Sunday, we had the Super Bowl on in our house. And yes, my team won. If the Ravens could not be in it this year, I decided to go for another…

Ladies Tresses Orchids by Larry Hurley at Longwood Gardens

Larry Hurley’s Photo Of The Week: An Orchid for the Garden

I hope you have had a chance to visit one of the orchid shows around your area this winter. They are always a nice change from the cold, and bring thoughts of tropical travels. So many kinds and colors! You…

Terra Nova Nurseries

Photo Of The Week: Where do new perennials come from?

Where do new perennials come from? Many are grown in tissue culture by specialty growers. One that we worked with a lot when we were growing perennials at Behnke’s was Terra Nova Nurseries, in Oregon. They have an extensive breeding program for…

The Secret Behind Valentine’s Flowers: Not All Roses Are the Same!

The Secret Behind Valentine’s Flowers: Not All Roses Are the Same!

Today, while putting this email together, I thought about Valentine’s Day coming up. It was fun at Behnke’s when Evelyn, our Florist Shop manager, would have all the roses and carnations arrive so everyone could start putting bouquets together. She…

Dusit Park, in front of the Vimanmek Mansion 2006

A Tropical Break From The Cold

It’s winter, and I’ve been having “snowbird” thoughts of times spent in warmer climates. One photo is from Bangkok, Thailand. It was not only warm, it was very hot and humid, and this from a guy who was living in Maryland…

Stephanie's Peace Lily

Stephanie’s Peace Lily

One would have thought I would have had a Peace Lily after all these years. But one would be wrong. I am the one Behnke with a brown thumb, which is not from planting. Years ago, after killing so many…

Behnke's glass greenhouse filled with pots to be transpanted into

A Walk Down Memory Lane

This week, one of Behnke’s Best, Steve Gerwin, who worked at the Beltsville location in the 1970s (and possibly the 80s), shared a wonderful memory on our Behnke Alumni page. I wanted to share it with all of you because…

Marshall Fleming Raised Garden Bed

The Heart of Our Family: My Father in law, Marshall Fleming

Over the years, I have written many times about my father in law, Marshall Fleming. I have been blessed to live next door to my in-laws for most of my marriage and it has been wonderful. I grew up next…

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