Mixing Up the New Edible Landscape
Functional landscapes have been trending in the background for a while now. But as we look at the landscape of 2026 and peer into emerging trends, functional designs are becoming an expectation among homeowners. Clients want low-maintenance gardens that look good and are multi-purpose. The integration of cottage-style aesthetics and high-yield edibles allows landscape contractors…
Building a Landscape that Works
Landscape contractors and garden center professionals operate in a marketplace driven by plant purpose and resiliency. High-performance selections provide site stability while standing up to heat. They manage water wisely and support local wildlife while providing curb appeal. Intentionally creating a landscape that functions as a living ecosystem while maintaining a clean, professional aesthetic is…
Elite Landscape Performance
Back in Victorian times when gas lighting and postage stamps were new, the spectacular species of hydrangea was considered a symbol of pure vanity. The legend goes that anyone who would plant such a shrub was simply being boastful. This, of course, is on account of hydrangea’s spectacular, showy blooms. Today, you’d be hard-pressed to…
Peace in White Blooms
A season of quiet reflection arrives with the introduction of Cloud Dancer, the 2026 Pantone Color of the Year. This “billowy white imbued with serenity” provides gardeners and plant industry professionals with a reliable foundation to brighten landscapes and provide an exciting backdrop for pastel- and neutral-toned companion plants. The following selections represent relevant varieties…
Retail and Landscape Picks
There may be snow on the ground and holiday cheer in the air, but planning for the next planting season is already in full swing. We know you’re eager to stock your shelves and design your landscape projects with exciting, high-performing plants. So, we sat down with Taylor Feuerborn, inside sales representative at Loma Vista…
Structure Defines the Seasons
Autumn brings quiet brilliance to the Midwest landscape. Few plants embody the seasonal transitions as gracefully as perennial grasses. These fall favorites lend dynamic movement and a sophisticated backdrop that persists well into winter. Shenandoah Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah’) Switch Grass Varieties Among the varieties we grow at Loma Vista Nursery, switch grass stands…
Autumn Color Palette Inspires
As temperatures turn cool, the Midwest’s seasonal shift delivers dramatic waves of color that boosts the human spirit and enhances landscape projects. We have compiled a list of eight trees and shrubs specifically chosen for their reliability and their spectacular fall performance. All of these are grown at Loma Vista Nursery. Autumn Blaze Maple (Acer…
Cultivating Pollinator Spaces
Pollinator-friendly landscapes are no longer a niche request. Increasingly, clients are asking contractors to include plants and design elements that attract bees, butterflies and other beneficial species. Beyond consumer demand, municipalities and corporate campuses are also prioritizing pollinator health in landscape plans. For contractors, this shift presents a responsibility and an opportunity: to design,…
Plants They Love
The United States is home to about 4,000 species of native bees. Many are solitary, nesting in the ground or inside hollow stems. Some bees are generalists, foraging widely. Others are specialists whose survival depends on a single genus. When landscapes include the right mix of plants, bees thrive. At Loma Vista Nursery, the native…
Colorful Choices for Dry Days
Water-wise plants are gaining in popularity – and for good reason. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), nearly 30% of household water use is devoted to outdoor purposes like lawn and garden irrigation. More than 50% of that is lost due to evaporation, wind, runoff or inefficiencies in irrigation systems. Water-wise plants are…