To build awareness and show support for those affected by breast cancer, over 40 volunteers filled public gardens and surrounding areas with pink plants in downtown Haslett, a suburb of Lansing, MI. The Invincibelle® Spirit II hydrangeas are a beautiful reminder that we are not alone in our hopes and prayers for a cure. […]
Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
“Plant It Pink” Planting Program
Posted by Hugh on August 23rd, 2016
Posted in acidic soil, compact shrub, Container growing, container shrub, Disease resistant, Flower Arranging, Hydrangeas, mulching, Native Plant, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering hydrangeas, watering tips, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on “Plant It Pink” Planting ProgramSeeding Shady Areas Of Your Property
Posted by Hugh on August 21st, 2016
How many times have you been told: “you can’t grow lawn grass in shady areas”. Most lawn grasses perform best in full sunlight. Red or chewings fescues (Festuca rubra) perform under as little as 2-3 hours of direct or dappled sunlight. Shade fescues are relatively easy to maintain. Mowing height should be 2 inches high in […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing, Herbicide management, Irrigation, Kentucky bluegrass, Landscape ideas, Lawn Care, Mowing, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Red fescue, seeding lawn, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, watering tips Comments Off on Seeding Shady Areas Of Your PropertyFlowering Cabbage and Kale For Autumn Gardens
Posted by Hugh on August 18th, 2016
Creating both edible and ornamentally pleasing vegetables has been a goal of plant breeders. Flowering cabbage and kale (Brassica oleracea) are a new landscaping niche in the autumn garden. Plants develop huge leafy rosettes and eventually form heads. Color patterns on leaves include white, cream, red and purple shades. The […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Butterflies, Cabbage, Cold tolerance, Container growing, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Foliage plant, Heat Tolerance, kale, Landscape ideas, organic gardening, Pesticide recommendations, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, watering tips, Winter flowering, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Flowering Cabbage and Kale For Autumn GardensBroadleaf Weed Control Starts In Late Summer
Posted by Hugh on August 15th, 2016
Broadleaf weed control takes center stage for chores to tackle in home lawns and gardens in late summer. Many winter annuals like henbit and chickweed, common inhabitants in the early spring garden start to germinate on the early days of autumn. Perennial dandelions are poking their heads up after summer dormancy. Spring […]
Posted in Broadleaf weeds, Fertilizing, Herbicide management, Irrigation, Lawn Care, Mowing, Tall Fescue, Uncategorized, Weed management Comments Off on Broadleaf Weed Control Starts In Late SummerJapanese Asters (Kalimeris) Are Summer-blooming Gems
Posted by Hugh on August 12th, 2016
Double Japanese asters (Kalimeris pinnatifida) are not true asters. They bloom in summer unlike the more popular fall blooming asters (Symphyotrichum spp.). Essentially, the genus Kalimeris (from Asia) and Boltonia (U.S. native) are closely related and used interchangeably. ‘Pinnatifida’ is without question the best known cultivar. In August the plant is smothered with 1-inch diameter semi-double white daisy flowers […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Container growing, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Kalimeris (Japanese aster), mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Japanese Asters (Kalimeris) Are Summer-blooming GemsNew PG Hydrangeas Excel In Performance
Posted by Hugh on August 10th, 2016
Panicle, PeeGee or PG hydrangeas (Hydrangea panculata) brighten up the July and August garden landscape. They’re native to China and Japan. They grow and bloom almost anywhere in the U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 3 – 8). Unlike mophead hydrangeas (H. macrophylla), that often fail in full day sun, PGs excel in 6 hours or more of sun. PG hydrangeas are vigorous growers with upright branching and coarse textured […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, compact shrub, Container garden, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Hydrangeas, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness Comments Off on New PG Hydrangeas Excel In PerformanceJoe Pye Weed Is No Longer A “Weed”
Posted by Hugh on August 4th, 2016
U.S. native Joe Pye (Eupatorium spp.), formerly “Joe Pye Weed”, has been tamed. Modern day selections grow more compact compared to 8+ feet tall wildlings that inhabit fields across eastern North America (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). Huge, terminal, domed, compound flower heads measure 12-18 inches across (depending on cultivar) and make […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Eupatorium 'Gateway', Eupatorium rugosum 'Chocolate', Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Perennials, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Joe Pye Weed Is No Longer A “Weed”Chanticleer Garden – A Garden For Ideas
Posted by Hugh on July 30th, 2016
Chanticleer Garden is an estate and botanical gardens, that bills itself as a “pleasure garden”. Chanticleer is “a garden for ideas”. The property is located at 786 Church Road in Wayne Pennsylvania, approximately 30 minutes of Philadelphia. Chanticleer celebrated its 100 year centennial in 2013 as the […]
Posted in Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Container growing, Ferns, Foliage plant, Garden paths, Gardens to Visit, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, Native Plant, Ornamental Grasses, Planting tips, Shade Gardening, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), Uncategorized, Wildflowers, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Chanticleer Garden – A Garden For IdeasLong-Blooming Tennessee Coneflower
Posted by Hugh on July 24th, 2016
Native to a two-county area of mid-Tennessee, Tennessee coneflower (Echinacea tennessiensis) is a popular favorite among gardeners across the U.S. because of its long blooming season. It has also spawned a few hybrid selections. The pale pink, flat-topped flowers with green and burgundy centers (cones) follow the tract of the sun across the sky. From July […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Long-Blooming Tennessee ConeflowerSpider Flowers Excel In Summer’s Heat And Humidity
Posted by Hugh on July 21st, 2016
Spider flowers (Cleome x hybrida) are top performing summer flowering annuals. Each year plant breeders introduce compact varieties to beautify flower beds and container gardens. Select among vegetative and seed produced types. Spider flowers ask for weekly watering and full day sunlight (best) to achieve maximum blooming potential. They will grow in a partially shaded beds but bloom less and the plants tend to […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, compost, Container garden, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flowers, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spider flower (Cleome), Spring flowering, Staking, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Spider Flowers Excel In Summer’s Heat And Humidity
