Santa Brought Snow Boots!

January 7, 2025
Stephanie Fleming
Behnkes History, Inspiration
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Snow Drift from the Blizzard of 2010 at Stephanie's wholesale nursery Hillside. Growers just hold their breath, turn up the heat and keep beating off the snow.

Santa brought me SNOW BOOTS! Boy, I was excited that he thought ahead and picked these nice warm boots back in the fall. With the snowfall this week, I have been pretending with my grandkids that I love snow. I really do not love the snow, but I won’t tell my grands that!

As many of you know, it won’t be too soon if I never see snow again. It could be 50-plus years of worry about greenhouses falling down from the weight of the snow (yes, I lost 3 greenhouses that way) and getting out there all night with long brooms to brush it off. Maybe it was watching the smoke come out of the propane heaters and knowing how much money it was costing to heat our greenhouses so the tender little annuals would not freeze. I have been thinking of all the independent growers and garden centers out there this week, and while I am happy I am not one of them anymore, our industry has some of the most dedicated, strong people I have ever met.

So this month, as you get out and visit your local garden centers and see all the beautiful plants, remember all those men and women who got out there during snow and ice storms to keep their greenhouses up. (The March Winds are another whole nightmare for growers.)

After just this first big snowstorm in the last few years, I cannot wait to visit a garden center. I will head up to Thanksgiving Farms in Frederick County first. I heard they were getting in some houseplants, and I need something green. And heads up to all of the Orchid Lady’s fans! I understand Carol Allen will be having her Orchid Clinic, Feb. 22 and 23 at Thanksgiving Farms. 1619 Buckeystown Pike, Adamstown, MD 21710

Please reserve an appointment with Carol at lovemyorchidsdc@gmail.com

What about you? What was something Santa brought you that brought you joy? Are you planning your Spring garden? Whatever it is, I wish you a very happy and healthy 2025!

Stephanie Fleming

Stephanie Fleming was raised at Behnke’s Nurseries in Beltsville. Her Mom, Sonja, was one of Albert & Rose Behnke’s four children. She was weeding from the moment she could walk and hiding as soon as she was old enough to run, so many weeds, so little time. Although she quickly learned how to pull out a perennial and get taken off of weed pulling duty.