Summersweet in all its native glory!

Clethra alnifolia, or Summersweet, as it is commonly referred to, thrives in wet soil and as a result, does extremely well along river banks and lakes or ponds. Pictured here is a bank of Clethra in full bloom taken from my kayak in Mansfield Hollow State Park. It's sweetly scented white flower spikes cover the plant in July to August. These native shrubs provide a wonderful nectar source for butterflies and bees. The dense and spreading form of Clethra, in addition to being visually appealing, provides great shelter for many birds. Tolerance of shade as well as a bright yellow Fall foliage show complete the package of a wonderful and hardy native plant.

Hardy Hibiscus...Hooray!!

Hibiscus moscheutos 'Chablis' is pictured here. Also known as perennial Hibiscus or hardy Hibiscus, not to be confused with tropical Hibiscus, this plant is a real winner! It thrives in full sun and fertile, but well-drained garden soil.

Hibiscus have some of the most amazing and huge flower heads out there in the perennial garden. Disc-shaped and generally 5-petaled with oftentimes a second layer of petals, Hibiscus blooms attract the attention of many a bee or butterfly passing by, as well as curious customers!

Chablis is a bright white with a hint of pink in the center and about 10-12" across. The plant itself is very full and compact, achieving 36" in height and about 24" in width. Most definitely, Hibiscus is a very impressive center showpiece or backdrop for any sunny perennial garden. It is hard to believe they reach this size in one growing season, if cut back in Fall!

Hibiscus come in a multitude of colors and varieties with different foliage, some dark red or 'black' and some green, some palmate and some more rounded in nature. We sold out of Hibiscus but have since re-stocked! Fresh plants arrived this afternoon and are looking amazing!!

Wow! Now That's a Big Daddy...Hydrangea!

We've got some amazing looking Hydrangea here in our nursery yard. Looking particularly healthy are our 'Big Daddy' Hydrangea, or Hydrangea macrophylla 'Big Daddy'.

'Big Daddy' has most likely gotten its name from the colossal flower heads which are a magnificent clear blue color. Often the size of a human head, 'Big Daddy' is a big leaf, or macrophylla-type hydrangea which blooms on sturdy stems from early summer through Fall. The leaves are thick and glossy and disease-free. The flower heads themselves are great for cutting and using in fresh or dried arrangements.

As is the case with most hydrangea, a part sun exposure is ideal as well as an acidic, well-drained soil. Feed in Spring with an Aluminum Sulfate or similar plant food to encourage blooms.

Fort Tryon Park, New York

After visiting Fort Tryon Park in New York this past weekend, I am newly inspired to spend time in the garden. Fort Tryon is a lovely spot to spend a day or even just a half-day. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., the son of the renowned architect of Central Park, it was a gift to the city of New York circa 1917 by John D. Rockefeller.

The park houses a gorgeous 'Heather Garden', which includes much more than just Heathers. A fine textural mix of perennials, shrubs and some annuals make a nice summer display. Photos are attached of this lovely garden space.

The Cloisters, perched high above the northern part of the park is a large medieval-style building. It is constructed from the stone of 5 European monasteries and houses close to 5,000 medieval works of art. The Cloisters is considered to be a part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and with its own herb garden and courtyard garden, provides a wonderful spot to spend time relaxing.

The Park grounds including its winding paths and open green spaces, provided for picnicking, sunbathing and hanging out, can be accessed for free. The view of the Hudson River from the Park is unbeatable, with ample bench space and many great viewpoints. Entry into the Cloisters building is a suggested donation of $20 for non-Met members, but any amount is accepted. I highly recommend a visit to this wonderful place!

Snowfountain Weeping Cherry

Pictured here is one of the trademark plants located here on our property along the river. It is a 30-35 year old weeping cherry tree, a Snowfountain Cherry or Prunus x 'Snofozam'. I have admired this tree with many customers and staff members alike. It stands strongly out by the roadside, where it receives ample doses of snow and ice, as well as salt and sand tossed out by town snowplow trucks, throughout the winter months.

This amazing tree has about a 5" caliper trunk and a nice tight habit. It maxed out at about 10' tall and about 6-7' wide. It's large umbrella shape is amazing. With beautiful horizontal striations on the bark and showers of white blooms all the way down the branches, it is a traffic stopper!!

We have the tree underplanted with tulips and various perennials. To me, a weeping cherry is a specimen tree which looks great in Japanese style gardens, as a focal point of a planting bed, or even on the corner of a house. It conveys a sense of safety and harmony due to its umbrella shape and embracing branches. I have actually crawled underneath and sat under its branches at the end of a long day, if only just for a moment.

We have younger specimens of Snowfountain Cherries for sale here at the nursery. In general, Ornamental Cherries need full sun and well-drained soil. Watch for Japanese Beetle damage into June. We carry products to prevent this damage or serve as a curative if needed.

Don't forget to prune suckers off the trunk and give your 'Snowfountain' Cherry a haircut every few years, when branches reach the ground!

Fine-Looking Forsythia!!

Forsythia, long a harbinger of Spring here in Connecticut, is doing its usual thing! Waves of yellow dot the landscape around town and in our nursery. We have 4 varieties of Forsythia in stock, including Lynwood Gold, Meadowlark, New Hampshire Gold and Kumson. Kumson is especially showy with green and gold variegated leaves and will tolerate a bit more shade than the other varieties.

Forsythia are extremely fast-growing and fill in an area of your yard in mostly sun, quite nicely. If left to their own devices, most forsythia will develop long, arching branches which eventually weep over. They are extremely hardy to cold, even at the bud stage in Spring, and are one of the most reliable plants in the landscape.

Remember with Spring flowering shrubs like Forsythia, it is good to practice renewal pruning from time to time in order to have a nice dense-looking plant. Forsythia bloom on old wood, so it is necessary to leave some old growth on the plant when pruning. Not a fan of the Forsythia pruned into a neat hedge, but to each their own!

We have plenty of Forsythia in full bloom to choose from, so add a splash of yellow to your landscape! Come visit us and see!

Survived Another One!

On an all too frequent basis here along the Farmington River, we are experiencing floods on an almost annual basis, since the '100 year flood' of 2007.

2011 has been no exception.

Earlier in March, we were once again deluged. The record-breaking piles of snow melted, the rains came, and we found ourselves underwater once again. Ugh!

We are constantly reminded in this business that we must respect nature and there are some things that we can not control. The river is powerful and we try to respect her and listen to her. We are unfortunately experienced at surving floods... and so we survived another one!

Happily, we are putting that nightmare behind us and gearing up for Spring!!

Brugmansia in Quito

Quito's Botanical Garden is a wonderful place to spend several hours. There is an amazing collection of orchids, succulents, bromeliads, cacti, grasses and other plants from highland areas (paramo) and cloudforest alike found here. All regions of Ecuador are represented and many plants are endemic to Ecuador.

Pictured here are some impressive samples of mature Brugmansia or Angel's Trumpet. The photo on the right is Brugmansia versicolor, a small tree or bush reaching 10-16' in height, bearing flowers that are 12-20" long. These flowers open white and age to pink, peach or apricot.

The picture on the left is Brugmansia arborea. Wow! Loaded with blooms, it was so cool to see these plants in their home country!

Angel's Trumpet is part of the Solanaceae family (tomato family). All parts of the plant Brugmansia are considered toxic and if ingested may prove fatal.

F.Y.I. Brugmansia can easily be grown in Connecticut for an impressive floral show on a seasonal basis (summertime). These plants thrive in fertile soil and average humidity and can survive moderate frosts. They do best in partial shade to full sun. Brugmansia will survive light frosts, moderate frosts will do significant damage to the plant.

Protea

While traveling in Ecuador...a Protea seen in the Botanical Gardens in Quito. Protea is a genus of plants which belong to the Proteaceae family. Named in 1735, Protea are found throughout parts of South America and Southern Africa.

Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg

Pictured here is a typical Colonial Williamsburg-style decorated wreath. This particular wreath is found outside the seamstress shop and is adorned with colorful balls of stuffed fabric. The woman dressed in period costume is a reminder of times past and the hardiness of our ancestors! No North Face down jackets or fleeces in the 18th century! Hope everyone's holidays were Merry!