Closed for the Season

Well, we're packing up for the season!

Another Christmas is already gone... at least in the greenhouse!  We are so thankful for your patronage and your friendship.  Have a wonderful winter.  We'll see you in the spring!

-Anna Mary

Open House Eve

We've all been both hustling and bustling in preparation of tomorrow's Annual Poinsettia Open House.  Even the green roof is in on the fun... can you spy the tiny tree?

See you tomorrow!

-Anna Mary

A Very Colorful Christmas!

When you think of poinsettias, what color comes to mind?  Don't know about you, but I automatically think... RED!  Red is such a great color- it's festive, it's traditional, and it's a vibrant contrast to those dark winter days.  I love it!

...But.  As wonderful as the traditional red can be, there's something to be said for the funky new varieties in the greenhouse: 

Last year, we really went off the rails when we introduced Ecke's poinsettia hybrid Luv U Pink, the hottest of hot pinks we've ever seen on a poinsettia!  Along with the Luv U Pink, this season we were able to add two more funky colors into the mix, Suntory's 'Princettia' Soft Pink and 'Princettia' Max White.  'Princettia' is a euphorbia like the traditional poinsettia, however it is a different hybrid.  In appearance, the two are noticeably different, but still noticeably similar.  We love the unusual colors that are offered in this plant!

'Princettia' Soft Pink is such a sweet color!  These petite plants are sure to catch your eye in the sea of all the red poinsettias.  They're noticeably different in color from the Luv U Pink, but are beatiful alongside that hot pink color.

It is so unusual to find a true white poinsettia!  The traditional whites are definitively white, but do tend to have an ivory or yellow tint. The 'Princettia' Max White is by far the truest white we have ever seen in a poinsettia.  Certainly not ivory, and definitely not yellow! They're truly as white as snow. (Or as white as a sheet of printer paper, though that's a less romantic description.)

These three hybrids are a great alternative to the red poinsettia!  I can see them grouped as a trio in terra cotta or with pink or silver foil.  And if you like to keep your poinsettias well into the winter, the nontraditional colors would be lovely in the new year too!    

-Anna Mary

2014 Christmas Hours

Henrys' Greenhouses

1258 Oregon Hollow Rd, Holtwood, PA

2014 Christmas Hours

November 18- December 20

Tuesday 9:00- 5:00

Friday 9:00- 5:00

Saturday 8:00- 12:00 Noon

Christmas is coming!  The seasons always seem to get ahead of us in the greenhouse.  We're so excited to open back up for the holiday season!  Greens, wreathes, berries, bulbs, and poinsettias... plus gorgeous new pottery, garden decor, and more that I'm probably forgetting about.  And don't forget to swing by for our annual Poinsettia Open House on December 6 from 8- 12 Noon!

See you soon!

-Anna Mary

"Luv" It!

It's always exciting to watch the poinsettias come into full color!  The past few weeks we've been enjoying the sea of green plants turning white, burgundy, red (of course!), and all sorts of variations in between. This season we've been especially enjoying the transformation of the "Luv U Pink" euphorbia hybrid.  Technically this isn't a poinsettia, it's a euphorbia hybrid (but still in the poinsettia family).  

You can see some slight differences from traditional poinsettias in its bract shape and coloring; it also had been bred to eliminate the little yellow centers, called cyathia, like you will see on traditional poinsettias.

The pictures barely do the electric pink color justice.  I don't know about you, but I think they're pretty irresistible!

-Anna Mary

P.S.  We're officially on facebook!  I'll continue keeping up with the blog, but plan on sharing some extra tidbits on our new facebook page too.  

Check us out here: 

www.facebook.com/henrysfarmandgreenhouses

2013 Annual Poinsettia Open House

Poinsettia Open House

December 7, 2013 from 8:00- 12:00

*Coffee, treats, & surprises!*

There's nothing like December in the greenhouse!  The poinsettias are flushed with color, the bulbs are beginning to show, and the berries and greens are too lovely to be ignored.  We'd love to have you join us for our annual Poinsettia Open House to kick off this vibrant season!

-Anna Mary

Shifting Seasons

Fall brings us gorgeous foliage as well as beautiful berries!  Our Winterberry bushes are becoming quite spectacular, and the Beautyberry is certainly nothing to sneeze at.

Of course, you can't ignore the color in the greenhouse!  

The most photogenic today was this traditional red, but I'm always fascinated how different types of poinsettias can be so distinct before there is any color to them.  Get a good look- they won't stay like this for long!

-Anna Mary

Planning Ahead

Planning ahead?  We are!  

Our calendar is already marked for this years' Poinsettia Open House and we would love for you to join us!

2013 Poinsettia Open House

Saturday, December 7

8:00- 12:00 Noon

Henrys' Farm & Greenhouses

1258 Oregon Hollow Road

Holtwood, PA 17532

Regular retail hours will begin in November.  More details to come... for now, enjoy this beautiful fall!

-Anna Mary

Fall Foliage

It's beginning to look a little like Christmas!  The poinsettia "leaves" are just beginning to change in the greenhouse.  Not your typical fall color, but we're loving it!

-Anna Mary

Poinsettias 101

"So just how often does my poinsettia need watered?"  That's probably the most common question (and very valid, too!) posed to us this time of year.   There's two answers to that question, the long and the short.

Of course, the long answer is a little more fun!  You get the bonus of a little context and history, like knowing that the poinsettia plant is a euphorbia native to Central America.  Another common euphorbia is one of our spring staples, Diamond Frost.  Historically, the Aztecs extracted dyes from the poinsettia and used its white milk for treating fevers.  It wasn't until the early 19th century that the poinsettia was "discovered" and brought  to the United States by Joel Roberts Poinsett.  (In addition to propagating and becoming the namesake for the poinsettia, Mr. Poinsett also served as a U.S. minister to Mexico, a member of the House of Representatives, and was a co-founder of the predecessor of the Smithsonian Institution.  And yes, his list of notable accomplishments continues!)

So even though we associate the poinsettia with Christmas and cold weather, it's actually a relatively drought-tolerant plant from Central America.  Of course, it does need water!  Maybe it's time for the short answer...

The short answer?  Not too often.  Water the soil well and then let the soil dry out before watering again.

Best of luck with your poinsettias!

Seeing Stars

There are oodles of gorgeous poinsettias to be found in December! Two of our current favorites are "Cinnamon Star" and "Marble Star". A far cry from the traditional red poinsettia, they're too fun to not share with you!  

They're each certainly a conversation piece- and a pretty one, too! Tradition tells us that "Nothing says Christmas like a red poinsettia!". But the fun and funky colors have something to say, too... perhaps "Happy New Year!"?

Double Take

So Christmas-y!  Our growing greenhouse is just stuffed full of red poinsettias... or is it?

Can you see them?  Take a closer look on the right:

There they are!  These red begonias are being grown for a contract customer so we only have them for a short while.  So many begonias are an unusual sight for us in November (well, anything other than poinsettias, really!) but we can't complain.  Such a pretty sight in a sea of poinsettias- we just had to share it with you!

Christmas is Coming...

We're only halfway through October and the poinsettias are happily growing in the greenhouses (and have been since mid-September). They've just begun to show color, but it's coming... after all, December is only six short weeks away!  

The Ice Punch poinsettias are starting to flush out, but you don't have to wait for them to color up to tell the differences between varieties:

The contrast between the rich, dark green foliage of the Red Glitter poinsettias makes the Snowcap White look almost chartreuse! Another fun little reminder from Mother Nature for us to "stop and smell the roses"... 

Mark your calendar!

December 2011 Retail Hours

**December 1- December 23**

Monday- Friday 9:00- 5:00

Saturday Mornings 8:00- 12:00

Don't miss our annual Poinsettia Open House on Saturday, December 3, 2011 from 8:00- 12:00!  There will be plenty of coffee and cookies to go around- we can't wait to see you!

Seeing Pink

Watching the poinsettias turn colors is a treat every year and this year we're especially enjoying a new, fun color pattern! Ice Punch seems to be the star of the season with it's bright bracts. Take a look for yourself:

For those of you on our mailing list, keep your eyes open for our postcards. We'll be mailing them out ASAP!