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…
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…
Conserving Water in Summer
Do you have an efficient landscape? You know, one that kicks in when temperatures soar and there isn’t a rain event in the forecast for days. As our climate changes, it’s more important than ever to conserve water into the soil so healthy plants can continue to grow and thrive. Healthy plants are the backbone…
Delightful Daylilies
Bursts of color provide visual excitement when daylilies are planted in the landscape. Serving an aesthetic purpose in a variety of warm, cool and neutral colors, daylilies also offer practical solutions in problem areas where mowing is a challenge and soil erosion is present. Because they are easy to care for, daylilies can be left…
Horti-futurism is Now
With the 2024 growing season at the starting gate, the question is naturally, “what’s new?” Experts (and history) tells us that trends are defined by the generations with buying power. Horti-futurism, they say, is now. While we value those Boomers who are still out there gardening along with their Gen X neighbors and Millennial children,…
Add These to Spring Planting Projects
Now, we’re not going to say that we’re annual snobs – annual plants have a place in the landscape, too. But we will admit to having perennial preferences. And that’s because with so many benefits to our gardens and landscapes, perennial plants pack a powerhouse of positives. With spring selling season coming into view, landscape…
Our Favorite Holiday Selections
We love December because it’s fun, festive and all about tradition. So many of our beautiful trees and shrubs add natural style to outdoor holiday arrangements and decorations. After the holidays, they provide color and interest through the winter. Plant small specimen evergreens in holiday containers, then transfer them to the landscape in spring. We…
Season to Season Color Consistency
When planning designs for 2024 gardens and landscapes, consider the following plants for staggering color consistency. From spring to summer to fall, they work together to transition the seasons in living color. We are now taking professional trade orders for the spring 2024 growing season. Click here for our container order form. Click here for…
These Shrubs Give and Give
For bountiful blooms, easy care and pollinator support, these garden and landscape shrubs give and give. Royal Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata ‘Royal Star’) Royal Star Magnolia Once it’s established in the landscape, this reliable early- to-mid-spring bloomer is one of the most breathtaking sites of spring. Large, 3 to 4 inch flowers have fragrant, double-white…