Festival of Trees and Traditions

A close up of the tree we decorated for the Festival of Trees and Traditions at the Wadsworth Atheneum, held in December each year! This year our theme was 'A Berry Natural Christmas'.

Gro-Low Fragrant Sumac

A great native plant that is low-growing and fast spreading...has phenomenal fall color, as you can see pictured here! At a mature height of 1-2'H x 5-6' W, it is perfect for covering banks, slopes and poor soil areas. The yellow fragrant flowers which show up in April, are followed by red fruits. This is a super hardy selection for a hard to fill spot in your yard! Come by the nursery for other native plant selections that would help fill gaps in your yard.

Sweetspire's Fall Color

Itea virginica 'Henry's Garnet' or Henry's Garnet Virginia Sweetspire has amazing Fall color and is a great Native substitute for Euonymus alatus 'Compactus' or Dwarf Burning Bush, which is considered to be potentially invasive. See it pictured here with its glorious red Fall coat on, and also contrasted with Chamaecyparis pisifera filifera 'Aurea' or Goldthread Chamaecyparis by its side.

Itea is extremely underplanted for such a great plant. It has a great tight and compact, yet spreading habit. It blooms in early June with fragrant white flower panicles, which attract butterflies and other pollinators. Its amazing bright reddish purple leaves in Autumn surely attract attention instantly. Itea tolerates a wide range of soils, from moist to dry and partial sun or shade will keep this one happy!

Twist-n-Shout

Anyone who's into gardening has heard of the Endless Summer Hydrangea by now!! A blue mophead hydrangea that blooms on new and old growth, how excellent!! We now have experience with another introduction to the same collection of Endless Summer Hydrangeas...this one is called Endless Summer Twist-n-Shout or, botanically speaking, Hydrangea macrophylla 'Phim'. Now that we have taken care of our share of these wonderful Hydrangea for several months, we can vouge for their vigor.

This is the first season we have carried this plant and it is looking particularly awesome right now. It is great to see its fall color coming out as of late. In the photo here, you can see this reblooming lacecap hydrangea's vibrant flower heads, which are a deep pink. Twist-n-Shout flowers all summer and well into the Fall. It prefers part shade and fairly acidic soil. Since these conditions are plentiful here in our area, this is a good grower for us. The glossy deep green leaves turn a beautiful burgundy-red in autumn. As with the Original Endless Summer Hydrangea, 'Twist-n-Shout' promises to be super cold (Zone 4) and heat tolerant in our humid summers.

Cool Weather Tolerant Herbs

Many herbs are very ornamental, in addition to being useful for culinary or medicinal purposes. Some herbs are fairly cold tolerant and look fantastic in mixed Fall planters with mums, pansies and ornamental cabbage or kale.

Pictured here are: Pineapple Mint (Mentha suaveolens 'Variegata'), Feverfew (Chrysanthemum parthenium), English Thyme (Thymus vulgaris), Golden Sage (Salvia officinalis 'Aurea'), Italian Parsley (Petroselinum crispum neapolitanum), Tri-colored Sage (Salvia officinalis). These are some of the hardier herbs we sell, which are very complementary in Fall gardens. Also pictured is a perennial with a dark burgundy leaf, Heuchera 'Palace Purple' and a Hardy Chrysanthemum.

Mixing Herbs with annuals, mums and perennials in containers or garden beds is a creative way to diversify your garden space and mixing foliage with flowering plants also reduces maintenance (i.e. deadheading)!!

Autumn Burns Me

Autumn Burns Me

Autumn burns me with
primaeval fire. Makes my skin
taut with expectation,
hurls me out of summer fatigue
on to a new Bridge of Sighs.

Somewhere I feel the heart
of the earth pumping, and down below
it bleeds in a million ripples.
I drop a sweet memory into
the flow and the cascading grips me with fascination.

Great trees in transit fall
are made naked in languor of shame
solitary like actors on a stage
like stars, orphans, celebrities,
politicians, uncomfortably mysteriously like you and me.

But I will not mourn the sadness.
I will go dead-leaf gathering
for the fire in a slice of sunlight
to fill my lungs with odours of decay
and my eyes with mellowed rainbow colours

I will go creeping down tasselled
latticed tree-avenues of light
and listen to squirrel tantrums
punctuate the orchestration of autumn silence
and hold in my hand the coiling stuff of nature

Then I will love
Yes love; extravagantly under
the flutter of dying leaves
and in a shadow of mist
in wonder; for autumn is wonder and wonder is hope.

-Lenrie Peters

Viburnum Rules!!

Pictured here are Mike, one of our salespeople, and a gorgeous 'Mariesii', or Doublefile Viburnum. Viburnum plicatum var. tomentosum 'Mariesii', to be exact. Gosh, those botanical names can be a drag...so we'll call it 'Mariesii' for short.

This particular type of Viburnum can reach 8-10' high and 10-12' wide. The leaves emerge early in April and its' white flowers come out in May. The bright red fruits come out in July and August, but are usually devoured by birds immediately. The Fall color, as you can see, is amazing!

The fall color comes out early and the leaves stay on the plant well into October, so it is a long-lasting focal point in the landscape. One of the best features of this plant, according to Mike, and myself, is the amazing horizontal branching. Viburnum is a native species here in Connecticut, so it is very winter hardy and does well in part shade. A must have in your yard!

Metasequoia Blues

We have mixed feelings here at Warner's this week. We've had 2 Metasequoia glyptostroboides, or Dawn Redwood, here for a few years and now they are gone, leaving a gaping hole in our tree yard! This week they sold to one lucky customer! We'd become quite attached to these beauties, that were well over 25'. This particular large-growing conifer can reach up to 110', with a width of a 30-40'. Their delicate finely textured needles which are medium-green, turn a beautiful orange to red-brown before dropping in late Fall. The shaggy bark with reddish highlights is quite attractive also. A nice specimen to have in the yard...if you have the room! We are, however, glad they went to a good home and are getting out of their containers!!

Cabbage Cure

If you're a cabbage aficianado and grow it for consumption, or, if you plan on growing decorative cabbage and kale this fall, here's a tip for you. To deter cabbage worms from eating the leaves, mix up a solution of 3 tsp cayenne pepper to 1 quart of water. Use a spray bottle and apply to leaves, stem and the ground directly surrounding each plant. This cure for the cabbage worm pest works for kale, brussel sprouts and kohlrabi also!

Purple Pods!!

Hyacinth Bean Vine or Lablab purpureus is

one of the coolest vines around.

These insanely deep purple pods come out on the plants around early September, as the plant blooms with a flower similar to a sweet pea. The racemes of small pink and white flowers stand out against vibrant green leaves with gorgeous purple veining and maroon stems.

The vines themselves can exceed 10' in height, in one season, so be sure if it is being used vertically, that it is well supported with a trellis, arbor, fence or wall.

Hyacinth Bean is a fun, easy to grow plant adaptable to most soils and if nothing else, an interesting conversation piece in your yard.

As an important side note...yes, the pod seeds are edible. However, due to the presence of cyanogenic glycoside, a toxic substance which can cause gastrointestinal issues, especially if ingested in larger amounts, the beans should be boiled thoroughly in water, which needs to be changed at least twice during the cooking process!

Containers Gone Wild!

Our gorgeous planters by the roadside are so full and bursting with color! We are proud of how they look and wanted to share this photo with you. Most of this material has been planted since May...so you can see it is possible to keep your containers going well into September, if you consistently water, feed and maintain your plants!!

American Toad

Bufo americanus, or American Toad, at the Nursery.

Porcupine or Zebra...what's the difference anyhow?

Miscanthus sinensis 'Strictus' or Porcupine Grass is a favorite of Warner Nursery staff member Jessica Duncan. She is pictured here with some samples of this seriously striped plant. Porcupine Grass is a 6-8' upright grass with alternating yellow-gold bands on its' medium green foliage. These can reach a height of 9', including the plumes, in the Fall. Porcupine Grass "gives great structure to a garden space due to its' non-floppy, upright habit" according to Jess. This is one of the reasons she loves it!

A close relative to Porcupine Grass is Miscanthus sinensis 'Zebrinus', another New England cold hardy species of maiden grass. Zebra Grass maxes out at 5-6' tall and its' foliage, similarly banded to Porcupine Grass, has distinct gold horizontal bands. It reaches 7-8' including its plumes or flowers in the Fall.

Zebra Grass does not have the same erect structure as Porcupine Grass, as it tends to want to fall outward from the center a bit. Both grasses have very sharp leaves and can be divided in early Spring once they have been cut back, for the least amount of contact with the foliage.

Fauna at Warner's

Daily life at Warner's has its memorable moments. Although it can be a calm place to work, every day holds something new and different. On one recent August afternoon, our neighbor Robb had to come and collect his chickens. They had gotten loose and wandered over to our perennial sales area, looking for food and a cool place to chill out! We were more than happy to host them for the time they were here!

Hanging Handiwork!

Pictured here see some of our hanging handiwork. These hanging baskets are located at Simsburytown Shops and the Fitzgerald's Plaza here in town. We are pretty darn good at putting together planter combinations for hanging baskets or patio pots. Whether you are a homeowner or a shop owner, let us help you adorn your indoor or outdoor spaces.

Hibiscus Heaven

Perennial Hibiscus, or Rose Mallow as it is sometimes called, has the largest, most luscious flowers of any perennial that will grow in this area!! These large, flying saucer sized blooms attract butterflies and make wonderful showy accents in any garden. Pictured here is Hibiscus 'Lady Baltimore', which blooms from August to October and reaches a mature height of 4'-5'.

We have plenty of Hardy Hibiscus here at our nursery to choose from, depending on your color preference, but one consistent necessity is full sun. In order for these plants to bloom well, they need full sun. They are, however, not so picky about soil conditions. Hibiscus will grow in average garden soil, but also do well in semi-moist areas or dry soils. They do prefer a well-drained spot. For late summer to early Fall color...try one today!

Beautiful Butterfly Bush!

There are lots of Buddleia, or Butterfly Bush, here at Warner's. They are butterfly magnets and wonderfully fragrant. So many colors and sizes to choose from! Buddleia are easy-care, fast-growing semi-shrubs which thrive in full sun locations.

Seen here in the photo is pretty much a constant at the nursery: adult swallowtails feeding on the often 6" long flower panicles of Butterfly Bush. Some of our strong and sturdy butterfly bush can have close to 30 blooms at one time!!

Buddleia are a must have for a sunny location in your yard...especially if you have nature-loving children interested in butterfly and bird-watching. It is so fun to learn about the different butterfly species in Connecticut and to see how they feed. Planting dill, fennel or parsley nearby is helpful in providing an important food source for butterfly larvae, which like to feed on such plants. Be careful before picking 'caterpillars' off of your herbs, sometimes they are butterfly larvae!!

A great resource for butterfly information is the Connecticut Butterfly Association. Check out there website at http://www.ctbutterfly.org/, where you can download a Connecticut butterfly checklist. This non-profit organization promotes the awareness and appreciation of butterflies and moths. They also encourage the presence of butterfly and moth habitat. For only $15 you can become a member!!

Collectibles, Vintage Items and Antiques

This year we have an expanded section of our store dedicated to collectibles, vintage furniture and antiques. We are always bringing in fresh items and unique treasures. There are some really great finds and most items are extremely affordable. Unusual vases, lamps and art to choose from...all of which make great gifts! Come see us next time you have an occasion and don't want to go empty-handed.

Lovely Lupines

Here is a photo of a Nursery customer's garden, featuring his lovely lupine.

Lupines belong to the pea family and are mainly native to North America, southern Europe and North Africa. They generally bloom from April - July and prefer open dry sites, sometimes woodlands. Lupines are beloved for their long, erect spikes of showy pea flowers. Lupines have the added benefit of being nitrogen-fixing plants.

I have some gorgeous memories of the wild lupine growing in Maine and Eastern Canada. What a lovely sight!!

Many thanks to Brian of Barkhamsted for sharing this photo of his gardens. Brian's Lupine is a Russell hybrid, which is a hybrid introduced by George Russell back in the 1930's.

Beetlemania!

We had an exciting find at the nursery yesterday, we found an adult "Eyed Click Beetle" or Alaus oculatus. It was about 2" long and liked to fly. This particular beetle has false eyes on its back, meant to frighten away predators. We thought at first that this beetle may have been the Emerald Ash Borer, an insect that is on the top of the 'Most Wanted' list in New England. But, thankfully, it was not.

The Click Beetle has the ability to flip itself over from their back to their front, sometimes going several inches into the air. It is quite an athletic beetle! The beetle arches its body, then snaps a pointed projection on the bottom of its prothorax into a small groove on the mesothorax. This movement causes a clicking sound...giving the beetle its name!!

Shopping Spree Winner!

Congratulations to Richard Stanley our $250 Shopping Spree Drawing Winner!! Richard, a resident of West Simsbury and a loyal customer for many years, is pictured here being congratulated by me. His first purchase...an extra large Rhododendron for his yard!

We want to thank all who filled out shopping spree entry blanks...better luck next year! Thanks for visiting us at the nursery over the course of the Spring and for being our customers! We appreciate your business.

Roly Pig Composter

Our friendly pink pig composter recently sold to one lucky customer!! Here you see a photo of the Roly Pig Composter and its new owner (sorry a bit blurry...in our excitement to give the piggy up for adoption, our hands were shaky!), as well as an exuberant Jessica.

As sad as we were to see piggy go, we are thrilled with the thought of the fabulous compost this people powered machine will produce for its new owner. If interested in a Roly Pig Composter of your own, check out this website: peoplepoweredmachines.com. Unfortunately, we will not be carrying anymore this season!

If you are interested in composting in general...please stop in and we can review with you how to create a compost pile or use different compost models, as we have sold many over the years! Handouts are available on composting at the nursery desk.

Iris in Full Glory

This has been a great iris year!

Driving by people's yards around town...it is evident that everyone's Iris germanica (bearded iris), Iris ensata (Japanese iris), Iris cristata (crested iris) have bloomed beautifully!

Here's a photo of an Iris pallida (variegated iris) in full bloom at the nursery...



This iris pallida (variegated iris) flower has a wonderful grape scent and striking lavender-blue coloration, while the leaves are a cream and blue-green vertically striped. Great low-maintenance, June-flowering perennial!

millions of reasons to visit our garden center

Million Bells Petunia...or Calibrachoa botanically speaking...blooms all summer and a favorite of hummingbirds and butterflies.

Spring is Here!!

Spring Flowering Hydrangea, Indoor Azaleas, Lilies and other gorgeous flowering plants are here at Warners. Pansies too! We have been anxiously awaiting Spring of 2009 and now our flowering friends have joined us. Photo documentation to prove it...Come visit us soon!

Spring Ahead

Greetings! Well, it's been awhile since my last post. I've been taking the necessary break that comes with working in a Nursery in the Northeast...however, my hibernation period is over! March is upon us and going quickly. As the snow melts away and our yards reveal themselves...wheels start turning!!

Above, I share a photo from a recent trip to Costa Rica, where I did some 'research' on our friends, the tropical plants...those that we can only grow indoors here in Connecticut, or in some cases, outdoors for about 3-4 months of the year, usually in containers. Pictured in flower is an impressive Bougainvillea glabra or paperflower. Although many of you may be familiar with this plant, it is a truly wonderful to see a full grown specimen in a tropical atmosphere. Native to Brazil, this plant can grow to 15' with lots of thorny stems bearing beautiful papery flowers.

Bougainvillea can be grown here in the Northeast in pots, but they needs lots of light!!!!

February Thaw

Greetings...Hope everyone is enjoying their winter. We are anxiously awaiting the coming gardening season, here at Warner Nursery!! Watching all of the ice and snow melting away in this February Thaw is very enlightening for the spirit. Getting out into the woods and looking at all of the winter interest nature has to offer, in the way of beautiful stem colors on birch and redtwig dogwood, among many other fine plants, is one way to clear the winter blues out! Lots of nice berry sets on the winterberry also brighten up the landscape!! The birds will be feasting in March!

We've also been busy visiting with many other folks working in the New England Green Industry in order to become informed of the new and exciting gardening trends for 2009, learn about new plants on the market and drool at the possibilities for our own garden shop. It is fun to get out and share information with those who have similar interests...namely plants and related subjects!

We are looking forward to sharing our finds with you, our loyal customers. Enjoy the thaw!