Upright Junipers and Columnar Arborvitae
Upright evergreen trees are prized in the landscape for their reliability and stand-up coolness. Taylor Juniper (Juniperus virginiana ‘Taylor’) Like squirrels stock up on nuts for winter sustenance, upright juniper and arborvitae store water and nutrients in their roots. This enables them to slow their growth when the ground is frozen but not go dormant.…
The Year of Reset
It’s time once again for our annual year-end review and New Year forecast with Lyndsi Oestmann, Loma Vista Nursery’s president. We asked Lyndsi a few questions for this blog and hope you enjoy her insightful responses. Happy New Year to all! Q. What are key learnings from 2024 that you will carry over into 2025? …
Overwintering the Nursery
Mid-November is sleepy time at Loma Vista Nursery – but that does not at all mean our work is slowing down. In fact, it’s only just beginning as we prepare for Spring 2025. At Loma Vista Nursery, we overwinter our plants in 550 poly houses located throughout the site. During late fall – and for…
Loma Vista Nursery Tree Farm
Ever wonder what really happens on a plant nursery? In this installment of our continuing Site Tour Series, we will take you on a blog tour of various aspects of the Loma Vista Nursery growing sites. We produce in-ground trees for business-to-business sales at our tree production nursery in Willow Springs, Kan. Loma Vista Nursery…
Ornamental Grasses - the Stars of Fall
Long may they wave! Big on textures, colors, varieties and styles, ornamental grasses bring bold personality to landscapes large and small. And just when other plants begin to lose their summer appeal, grasses get going, unfurling their foliage and sending up creamy plumes, adding mystique to late-year seasons. Flame Grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Purpurascens’) – At…
Majestic Maples
In addition to majestic fall foliage in hues of red, orange, yellow and burgundy, maple trees give us numerous benefits. They are a source of syrup for our pancakes, lanes for our bowling alleys and sweet notes from musical instruments like violins and cellos. Maples are considered “tonewoods” – a family of natural hardwoods that…
All About Hostas
They run along the edges of sidewalks and lounge in perennial beds. Although some don’t mind sun, they relax when trees lend their shade. And sometimes, they offer shade, too – to a heat-weary frog or wayward toad, even to a few sleepy insects. They almost always play a supporting role, and won’t have dramatic…
Supporting Thriving Populations
It is beginning. Populations of monarch butterflies, traveling from as far north as southern Canada, are beginning their 3,000-mile-plus winged journey southward to roost in the fir forests of central Mexico. They’ll stay there through our Midwest winter until spring, when they begin their flight back to us. And, hopefully, they will do so in…
Developing a Culture of Coaching and Reinforcement
We take work safety pretty seriously at Loma Vista Nursery. Of course, there are Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) and Worker Protection Standard (WPS) rules that we – like all plant nurseries – must follow. Our nursery goes the extra mile to prioritize safety and training as part of a daily coaching and reinforcement program.…
Intern's Experience Helps Shape Her Career Path
Loma Vista Nursery’s summer-long paid internship program is a win-win for the company, the industry and for college students and young professionals interested in exploring a green career. The rotation-based program, which began in 2018, has contributed to the growth of promising futures in all aspects of horticulture. Each year at the beginning of summer,…