Oak Hill Garden Center is a beautiful addition to the Somerset community. Our garden center offers annuals, perennials, house plants, succulents, ferns, and herbs. With three greenhouses, a vegetable garden, and a pumpkin patch, Oak Hill offers something for everyone throughout the year.
The garden center provides a service to the community and vocational opportunities for individuals with IDD who live at Oakwood and in the Somerset Community.
Barb Hettmansperger is the Garden Center Manager at Oakwood. This program provides individuals with IDD meaningful activity and engages the community.
Hours
Monday – Friday · Hours Vary
Saturday – Sunday · Closed
Off Season · Closed
Located on Oak Hill Road. Take Light 11 on US Highway 27 · 606.677.4195
Barb’s Gardening Tips- March 2024
Hello Gardeners,
We are starting to see the first signs of Spring here in Kentucky. It’s in the air, so to speak! And nothing says Spring like germinating your own seedlings for your garden and yard. Most gardeners are envious of a yard full of unusual and exotic flowers and vegetables. By growing your own seedlings, you can expand your garden’s variety for a fraction of the cost of purchasing ready-to-plant seedlings.
There are several benefits to growing your own plant material. Mainly, a gardener can choose from an endless variety of seeds to germinate. I belong to one horticultural organization, Seed Savers Exchange, and their master catalog lists over four thousand cultivars of tomatoes alone! Now that’s variety! Also, most gardeners feel a sense of satisfaction and empowerment when they rely on themselves to produce their own seedlings. I believe many are farmers at heart and gardening is one of the most basic human skills. Plus, seed germination comes at a time of the year when not much is happening outdoors, so it’s enjoyable to have something constructive to do about “Spring Fever,” a malady most gardeners suffer from. This is our chance to get our hands in some dirt!
Happy Gardening,
Barb Hettmansperger, Oakwood Greenhouse Manager
Barb’s Gardening Tips- February 2024
Hello Gardeners,
Crafting your own succulent wreath is a fun gardening project for the winter months. Succulents are sturdy, drought-tolerant, low-maintenance plants that can thrive in a moss-filled wreath. A succulent wreath is a great way to decorate your indoor space.
First, gather a moss wreath form, scissors, floral pins and the succulent cuttings. Cut a variety of succulent stems about two inches long and remove the lower leaves. Be sure to take the cuttings a day or two before crafting your wreath. The cuttings need to be exposed to air to develop a callus on the cut ends. This callus signals to the succulent to begin developing new roots.
Next, submerge the moss wreath form in warm water until it’s fully saturated, and then lay the wreath on a flat working surface. Make planting holes in the moss with scissors and insert the cuttings into each hole. Floral pins hold the cuttings in place and keep them secure. The succulents should root easily when the moss is kept moist. A daily, light spritzing with water over the wreath should be adequate. After planting, keep the succulent wreath out of direct sunlight for several weeks and then gradually increase light levels to full exposure.
Happy Gardening,
Barb Hettmansperger, Oakwood Greenhouse Manager
Barb’s Gardening Tips- January 2024
Hello Gardeners,
I realize it’s still very much wintertime here in Kentucky. We have already dealt with snow, ice, and frigid temperatures; I’m sure more severe weather will come. But Gardeners, that’s no excuse to ” rest on your laurels”! Spring is approaching, so now is the time to start planning your next garden.
First, you need to figure out what you would like to plant this year besides tomatoes. Unless you save your open-pollinated seed from year to year, you must procure several garden catalogs or visit the company’s website online. I enjoy browsing through actual seed catalogs during the winter months, and most companies are happy to send you a free catalog if you request one.
After you’ve made out your wish list, go ahead and get your seeds ordered. It would help to have your seeds delivered as early as possible, as many vegetable and flower seeds have long germination periods. Peppers and tomatoes, for example, can take several weeks to sprout, so they will need to be seeded indoors in March. Most gardeners already have an area set aside for planting. Now is an ideal time to graph or map out how your rows will be laid out and where each type or variety will be planted. By spending some time now getting organized, you’ll be better prepared once the busy Spring season arrives.
Happy Gardening,
Barb Hettmansperger, Oakwood Greenhouse Manager
