What's in bloom?

German Irises.


Yarrow, Gailardia, and salvia (all deer-resistant).


Lupine.


And the star in the nursery right now: Dictumnus (with the unfortunate common name: gas plant). However, admirers beware, Dictumnus can cause skin irritation, so it is best handled with gloves and not planted where anyone will rub against it accidentally.

New in the nursery: May 29, 2009

Trees in Bloom

In a previous post we featured some of our favorite trees. The Japanese Silver Bell is in bloom in the shop and even more beautiful than the picture.


Japanese silver bell in bud at the nursery.

And then in bloom.

And the fringe trees are also in bloom. Come in and see them for yourself.

Sophora davidii (Pagoda Shrub)

This delicate yet cold hardy shrub is blossoming right now, and we just had to share.
If you have an extra 10' in your garden, consider this subtle beauty.
Here are its stats:

Sophora davidii (Pagoda Shrub)

Height:
8-10 ft. (2.4-3 m)
10-12 ft. (3-3.6 m)

Spacing:
6-8 ft. (1.8-2.4 m)
8-10 ft. (2.4-3 m)

Hardiness:
Coldhardy to -20 degrees F

Sun Exposure:
Full Sun

Bloom Color:
Light Blue
Blue-Violet
White/Near White

Bloom Time:
Late Spring/Early Summer
Mid Summer

Foliage:
Grown for foliage
Deciduous

Other details:
Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping
Provides winter interest

What is that plant?

Every spring we get asked over and over again, "What is that plant?"

It is an Ivory Queen allium. We planted three bulbs in this spot three years ago, and every year they have multiplied and the foliage and flowers have gotten bigger. They are very happy in full sun, and they are deer-resistant!

We carry these as bulbs in the fall, but everyone always forgets to come back for them. So, this year we are making a list of people who want to preorder the "Ivory Queens." You can call us (845-658-9007), stop by, or email us and let us know how many of these stunning spring-blooming bulbs you want.

Annuals: Big Blooms and Bold Colors

Non-stop tuberous begonias in splashy colors can be in sun or shade.




The exotic blooms of the lotus flower stand up like miniature flames from the soft blue/green foliage.


This coleus has been flying out of the nursery. Come in this weekend and get some while they last!


Oxalis and geraniums can both be used as annuals for the summer and then brought inside as house plants for the winter. This pair is a great combination of unusual colors and delicate texture, and can be in sun or shade.

Annuals: It's Time To Plant Annuals

We arrange our greenhouses into full sun annuals and part shade annuals, and we color block them for your convenience. Here are some luscious purples:





Now that the threat of frost has past and it is finally warm, it's time to plant up your containers and add some sparkle to your garden beds.

Why annuals? Annuals provide a garden with blooms all summer long, and they fill in space while you wait for shrubs and perennials to grow to their full size.

Many new gardeners make the mistake of planting things too close together (because we all want our gardens to look full right away), but then two seasons later are digging up and moving around crowded plants.

Annuals are the answer.





Heliotropes - lovely vanilla scented flower that attracts butterflies. Best in full sun.





Mexican Heather - full sun to part shade this delicate flower is a great addition to container planting.

We Have Heirloom, Organic, Locally Grown Vegetable Starts!

There is nothing better than a garden fresh tomato with all its summer sweetness. Now more than ever people are growing their own. Heirloom varieties, like the Green Zebra Tomato, offer more flavor and fruit through out the growing season.

We are lucky enough to have a wonderful organic farm, Regeneration CSA, down the road from us in High Falls. Sarah and Kevin grow heirloom seeds organically, and we're selling these great varieties:

Tomato Varieties - All Indeterminate

Brandywine- A favorite. Meaty with the perfect hint of tartness. Beefsteak fruits average 1 lb.

Rutgers- Famous New Jersey tomato. Outstanding slicing, cooking, and canning variety. Rich red fruit 5- 8 oz.

Green Zebra- Starts out green with dark green stripes, turns yellow when ripe. 4- 5 oz.

Garden Peach- 2 oz. yellow fruits, blush pink when ripe. Relatively early and prolific. Sweet, curious and delicious.

Fargo Yellow Pear- Yellow plum shaped fruit. Prolific!

Black Cherry- Sweet yet rich and complex fruit. Abundant, vigorous, tall plants.

Be My Baby - Red cherry tomatoes.

Principe Borghese- Small fruit will turn into sun dried tomatoes right on the vine! Perfect for the lazy gardener.

Paul Robeson - This famous tomato has almost a cult following among seed collectors and tomato connoisseurs. Sweet and smokey. 7-10 oz. fruit are a black-brick color.

Rose de Berne- Beautiful pink tomato. A favorite!

Mama Leone- Great tomato for canning and sauces.

Eggplant Varieties - These Varieties are well suited for areas like ours with a relatively short growing season.

Casper Eggplant- This delectable ivory-white skinned eggplant is a very early producer of 5-6 inch long fruit. Will provide you with lots of fruit.

Thai Green- Light green, long fruit. Light flavor, not bitter like the more common eggplant. Perfect in asin curries.

Ping Tung- Light Purple, long Chinese variety. Vigorous and stress tolerant. Harvest before full maturity. Sweet!

We also have beets, kale, lettuce, Swiss chard, sweet peppers and hot peppers, and we have more vegetable starts arriving weekly.

Vegetable starts are heirloom, organic and locally grown.

Mix-n-match 4-packs

for $3

3” pots $3

Great Shade Perennial Combo

Most shade plants bloom in the spring, but you can still give even the darkest corners of your garden great color all summer. Pick plants with colorful foliage and contrasting textures. This combination is Trifolium 'Dark Dancer', Heuchera 'Midnight Rose' (Coral Bell), and Athyrium 'Ghost' (Ghost fern). Dark purples of the Heuchera and Trifolium contrast with the light green of the Ghost fern, plus the distinct textures of the leaves create a rich garden tapestry.



You can of course add flowering plants to the mix. This Aquilegia 'Swan Burgundy and White' is a perfect color match to the combo.

Trifolium and Athryium are both deer-resistant, but the Heuchera and the Aquilegia are not. A deer resistant substitution for the Heuchera could be Black Mondo grass.