Have you ever used Myrica gale? Also known as Sweetgale, it’s a very cool (Zone 1!) native plant that could be useful in more than a few situations for its low habit, cold hardiness, salt tolerance, and wet or boggy soils. Growing 2-4′ it’s wonderful at the perimeter of a
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This time of year it’s easy to over look the foliage while only focusing on those fabulous spring flowers. When that happens you can end up with a group of plants that have a similar leaf size and texture without realizing it, making the garden look less than stellar after
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Japanese Tree Lilacs are one of the ornamental trees that make heads turn. Blooming after the Cherries, Pears and Dogwoods its a sign that says summer is almost here! The clusters of large ivory-white flowers are not as fragrant as their cousin (S. vulgaris), but the rest of their features
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Connecticut’s State Flower is in full bloom right now and so are ours here at the nursery. Kalmia latifolia is the native woodland shrub you’ve noticed in full bloom all over the eastern half of the U.S. It has the interesting cupped flower clusters we’re all familiar with. The stamens
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Among the Irish Moss, Sedums and Thymes in Newtown you’ll see a large group of Blue and White Creeping Mazus (Mazus reptans). Ever use it? People that do love it for several reasons: it’s a very low growing perennial that is covered in lavender-blue (or white) flowers from late spring
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Each year the Perennial Plant Association picks a perennial “to showcase a perennial that is a standout among its competitors. Perennials chosen are suitable for a wide range of growing climates, require low maintenance, have multiple-season interest, and are relatively pest and disease-free.” This year the winner is Geranium x
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We’ve been on the subject of perennials lately and now we can’t help but show off these Baptisia australis (False Indigo). It’s one of those plants that gets forgotten after they bloom, but hold their place in any garden the whole growing season. They’re a long-lived shrub-like perennial that grow
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When it comes time for the finishing touches, you can’t get much better than Barrenwort. It’s a shorter growing perennial that, with a little patience, makes a gorgeous groundcover. Small spring flowers on wire-thin stems add some subtle color mid to late spring, but it’s not like you even need
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We’re very happy to offer some native, home-grown Jack-in-the-Pulpits in 4″ pots – (Arisaema triphyllum), but not as happy as Peter, our container grower, who collected the seed here near our pond and has been watching these grow into a saleable size for the last three years! Arisaema are perennials
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You are all familiar with the Japanese Maple varieties we carry like the Red-leaf ‘Bloodgood’, Cut-leaf ‘Crimson Queen, Coral Bark ‘Sango Kaku’ and the Lion’s Head Maple ‘Shishigashira’ etc. They are all wonderful as focal points, each with their distinctive habit, bark and fall color. Here are two more to
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