Invasive honeysuckle increase risk of tick-borne disease in suburbs

Something to think about before putting invasive plants in your garden. More on what is invasive in the High Country later.

Invasive honeysuckle increase risk of tick-borne disease in suburbs

August Wedding Photos

Orange-salmon white and green wedding. Here's just a few photos.

Simple Table Arrangements

Big wide square vases are not the easiest to arrange in. You need big flowers or structure of some sort. Luckily we had green Annabelle Hydrangeas more than 6" across to use as the main support for these smaller bright flowers the bride requested.

Wedding Flower Arranging Workshops

These are photos from our latest arranging workshop. It's a great way to have all the space, materials and design advise you want to make flower arrangements yourself. We offer these Friday morning parties to brides that buy our locally grown flowers. Generally, the party is 10am-~12:30. We try to arrange as many different items as we can in that amount of time. The cost is $250 plus flowers.

Lesley and Peter's Wedding July 24th, 2010

This was a fun wedding at Eagle's Nest. The groom and family put together mason jars of flowers for the reception. They used 5 of our mixed flower buckets for a great show in the Bar-b-que pavilion.

Hydrangeas: Plants and Cut Flowers

Tardiva Hydrangea
QuickFire Hydrangea

Pinky Winky Hydrangea
Pink Diamond Hydrangea
Little Lamb Hydrangea
Limelight Hydrangea
Incrediball Hydrangea

We have the following Hydrangeas for sale in pots: Pee Gee Grandiflora,  'Lime Light' and  'Little Lamb'.  At the bottom you will see several Hydrangeas we have only as cut flowers this year, but if you like them keep in touch we may have some for sale next season.

INCREDIBALL^™

(H. arborescens ‘Abetwo’) A new and improved 'Annabelle' Hydrangea, Incrediball has beefy stems and massive blooms. The breeding goal was stronger stems to eliminate flop, but we got incredibly large blooms too! Each bloom has roughly 4 times as many flowers as 'Annabelle'! We recommend that this plant is sold in 3 gallon pots or larger. The propagation of, and or the sale of plant parts is prohibited without a license. Patent/trademark tag required. NATIVE: North America.

Zone 4, 4-5 feet, gr 1, Good for Cutting, Full Sun Partial Shade.

'Invincibelle Spirit''The world's first Pink Annabelle!

For years gardeners and landscapers have dreamed of an Annabelle Hydrangea with pink flowers. The dream has come true!

INVINCIBELLE™ Spirit hydrangea is the world's first every pink Annabelle. Unlike other selections it continues to produce new flowers right up until frost. It is very hardy and easy to grow. Unlike many hydrangeas, the flower buds are produced on new wood, so it will still produce flowers even if the stems die back to the ground by extreme weather.

It is useful as a specimen, mass planting or incorporated perennial gardens or into a woodland setting. The blooms are extremely attractive both in the landscape and as a cut flower. It is a durable choice for both fresh and dried arrangements.Hardiness: USDA Zone 3

Bloom Time: Continuous blooming, Mid-summer to fall

Bloom Color: White

Foliage Color: Dark green

Hardiness: USDA Zones 3-9 (perennial in zone 3)

Bloom time: Late May early June (earlier under poly). Reblooms until to frost,

Bud set: Blooms on new wood.

Bloom color: The flowers emerge a dark, hot pink color and mature to bright pink.

Bloom size: 6- 8 inches in diameter

Quantity of blooms: Often 100 or more corymbs per plant over the summer

Foliage color: Green

Fall Color: Pale Yellow

Plant size: 3-4 feet tall, 3-4 feet wide

Branching habit: Freely branching with as many as 100 or more terminal shoots per plant.

Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

Growth rate: Moderate to Fast

Soil: Very adaptable, but proliferates in rich, well drained, moist soil. pH adaptable.

Pruning: In late fall or early spring. Blooms on new wood and tolerates being cut back to the ground.

Watering: If planted in full sun, sufficient moisture is needed. Will require additional watering on hot dry summer. In South, should be planted in partial shade.

Wildlife: Habitat for songbirds and butterflies.

Native: Eastern United States. Florida to Maine. Kansas to Eastern Seaboard.Type: Deciduous

Fertilizing: Fertilize in early spring by applying a slow release fertilizer specialized for trees & shrubs. Follow the label for recommended rate of application.

Uses: Groupings or masses, perennial or shrub borders, specimen, winter gardens.

Breeder: Dr. Thomas Ranney, NCSU. Mountain Horticultural Crop Research and Extension Center. Fletcher, North Carolina.

'Grandiflora'

Pee Gee Hydrangea is the standard old fashion hydrangea with big white blooms which fade to pink. Train into a tree or grow as a shrub. This is the variety we think of here in the High Country when someone says "regular hydrangea". Newer varieties we use for cutting are listed below.

Zone 4, 8-12 feet, gr 1, Full Sun - partial shade

LIMELIGHT

(Hydrangea paniculata 'Limlight' PPAF)

An extraordinary new Hydrangea with exquisite bright lime-green flowers. The color is breathtakingly beautiful, and adds much needed color to the late summer landscape. Excellentvigor and floriferous blooming, Limelight presents itself well in a container and is certain to be a hit at retail. Hybridized by the noted plantsman Pieter Zwijnenburg Jr. Zone 4, 6-8 feet, Full Sun - partial shade.

‘Little Lamb’ ppaf A special compact plant with the most delicate flowers ever seen on a Hydrangea paniculata. The flowers are sterile like a Pee Gee but only much smaller andforming smaller panicles that look like little lambs dancing above the foliage. Hybridized by the famous plantswoman Jelena DeBelder of Belgium. Zone 4, 4-5 feet Full Sun - partial shade.

(H. ‘DVPinky’, ppaf)'Pink Diamond'A large flowered selection with broad 12" by 8" conical lacy blooms. Extremely large white florets transform to a rich pink not seen in other selections. Flowers are held distinctly upright. Degree of coloration is dependent upon climate. Introduced by the De Belders of Belgium. FIRST CHOICE AWARD '96. Zone 4, 6-8 feet, gr 1, Full Sun - partial shade

PINKY WINKY™
A real winner, this new Hydrangea from Belgium has indeterminate flowers. This means that the flower heads keep sending up new white flowers from the tip even while the older blooms at the base are turning a deep pink. The effect is a beautiful two toned flower unique to this plant alone. Strong upright stems. Zone 4, 6-8 feet, Full Sun - partial shade

QUICK FIRE™
(H. ‘Bulk’, ppaf) A breakthrough plant that blooms more than a month earlier than other varieties. For us it blooms in late May - early June and turns to a rich deep pink before Pink Diamond even begins to show flowers. Breed by noted plantsman Mark Bulk, Boskoop Netherlands. The propagation of, and or the sale of plant parts is prohibited without a license. Patent/trademark tag required. Zone 4, 6-8 feet, gr 1, Full Sun - partial shade




'Tardiva'
A heavy stemmed, late blooming selection with large lacy flower heads. AWARDS: AGM, PSC
Zone 4, 6-8 feet, gr 1, Full Sun - partial shade

Taking Peony orders now through September

We are now taking orders for roots of the following Peonies. Prices are listed. They will be available the very end of September-early October. It is an excellent time to get them established in the ground for a Spring show. Paeonia 'Bartzella'

Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Common Name: Peony-Intersectional

Considered by many to be Roger Anderson’s best Intersectional Peony introduction. We have to agree, this plant gets a gold star in our book!

A mature plant of ‘Bartzella’ is incredibly elegant looking, with flowers neatly spaced on the top and sides of the clump. Established clumps can produce 80 or more flowers apiece! The semi-double to double, pastel yellow flowers have a small rose purple flare in the center and a pronounced sweet fragrance. They measure 6-8 inches across on average.

Healthy green foliage similar to that of a tree peony forms an impressively sturdy clump to 3ft tall and wide. Unlike some garden peonies, the foliage of this plant looks great from spring through fall and is substantial enough to be grown in place of a small shrub in the landscape.

Intersectional peonies are a relatively new class of Paeonia created by crossing herbaceous garden types with woody tree types. They are often called “Itoh Peonies” because the original cross was first made successfully by Japanese nurseryman Mr. Toichi Itoh in 1948. Sadly, he passed away before ever seeing one of his crosses bloom. Since that time, other hybridizers have continued his work including American breeder Roger Anderson.

Intersectional Peonies offer the best qualities of both garden and tree peonies combined including:

• Very large, tree peony-like flowers in colors not previously seen in herbaceous types
• Healthy, herbaceous foliage similar to tree peonies but with a robust, bushy habit that does not require staking
• Strong, herbaceous stems that hold the flowers upright even after a heavy rain; makes a better landscape plant than older herbaceous peonies
• A longer bloom time due to additional flowers being produced on side shoots
• Extreme winter hardiness like herbaceous types but with increased vigor
• Price is $38 each these large unique roots- spring potted price ~$50

Paeonia 'Karl Rosenfield'

Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc. Common Name: Peony-Garden Brilliant, fuchia-red blooms are both sizable and fragrant. This double variety blooms from early to midsummer. Price for 3-5 eyes Bare woody root: $10.00  potted in the spring ~$16

. It blooms in early summer. Origin: Not Native to North America CHARACTERISTICS: Height: 30 Inches Spread: 24 Inches Flower Color: Red shades Foliage Color: Green shades Hardiness Zone: 3,4,5,6,7,8 Find Your Zone Sun or Shade?: Full sun (> 6 hrs. direct sun) Part shade (4-6 hrs. direct sun) Wet or dry?: Low water needs Average water needs Need critter resistant plants?: Deer resistant How fast should it grow?: Medium When should it bloom?: Early summer How's your soil?: Fertile Soil Sweet or Sour Soil?: Neutral Soil (pH = 7.0)

Dwarf Shasta Daisies- 'Snowcap' now ready for sale

These are great little daisies that don't set seed so they keep blooming for about 8 weeks in the middle of the summer. Their only real care requirement is division every 3-4 years to keep the clumps healthy and spread out. They are just 10" tall in our garden!

An outstanding cultivar! Pure white, 2-3in single flowers are produced in abundance atop bushy mounds of foliage. 'Snowcap' has sturdy, uniform habit. Due to its compact nature, it tolerates the weather (wind, rain, etc.) better than other Shastas.

'Snowcap' was introduced in the United States by Wayside Gardens in conjunction with English plantsman, Alan Bloom.

Shasta Daisies are all-time favorites for the perennial border. The cheery flowers begin to appear in late spring and continue on for several months if faithfully deadheaded. Shastas mix so effortlessly with other perennials that no garden should be without them!

Dwarf Shasta Daisy 'Snowcap'is now ready for sale @ $6.00

each.

Pollinators A Regional Guide for Farmers, Land Managers, and Gardeners In the and NAPPC Central Appalachian Broadleaf Forest Coniferous Forest Meadow

For National Pollinator Week. I thought I'd suggest this excellent 24 page guide to plants for pollinators. It's a great resource for farmers, gardeners and students alike. The regional guide offers nice illustrations, plant lists, seasonal charts to encourage you to have blooms throughout the season and descriptions of the various pollinators in our region.

http://www.pollinator.org/PDFs/CentralAppalachian.rx4.pdf

Below I've listed the plants we sell that are noted as good plants for our struggling pollinators.

Trees and Shrubs
▪ Clethra acuminata 'Vanilla Spice'
▪ Hydrangea arborescens 'Incrediball'
▪ Hydrangea arborescens 'Incrediball Spirit'
▪ Rubus odoratus - Flowering Raspberry
Perennials:
▪ Chelone lyoni - Turtlehead
▪ Geranium macutatum - Wild Geraniium
▪ Helianthus sp.
▪ Liatris spicata - Blazing Star
▪ Lobelia syphilitic - Great Blue Lobelia
▪ Monarda didyma - Bee Balm
▪ Penstemon small - Blue ridge Beards Tongue
▪ Thermopsis sp. 'Sophia'
▪ Vernonia noveboracensis - Ironweed
Vines:
▪ Aristolochia macrophylla - Dutchman's Pipe
▪ Parthenocissis quinquefolia - Va. Creeper
▪ Flower Habitat for Bees:
▪ Catnip - available some years
▪ Irises
▪ Lavender - great for bumblebees
▪ Penstemon
▪ Rugosa Roses
Garden Crops:
▪ Blueberries
▪ Eggplant
▪ Gooseberries
▪ Squash
▪ Tomatoes

USGS Release: Get the Buzz on Pollinators

USGS Release: Get the Buzz on Pollinators: (6/23/2010 4:01:27 PM)