Salix integra ‘Hakuro-nishiki’ is known by many names: Japanese Dappled Willow, ‘Albo-maculata’, ‘Albomarginata’,’Fuiji Nishiki’, Variegated Willow – they all describe the fast growing, tri-colored Willow that turns heads in any landscape. Yellow catkins appear in April, then pink leaves as seen here, begin to open turning to a dappled mix
Read more
Spiraea is often thought of as a shrub for tough, sunny spots – a filler. Much like the Japanese Andromeda we wrote about a couple of weeks ago, it has a lot to offer throughout the seasons – more than just eating up garden real estate. -One of the earliest
Read more
Dan, our perennial propagator, is very excited about the growing selection of native woodland plants including the Spring Ephemerals like the Dutchman’s Breeches (Dicentra cucularia) seen here. These perennials take advantage of warming spring soil temperatures and the abundant sunlight available before the tree canopies leaf out. Once they are
Read more
It’s hard to get excited about Japanese Andromeda, it’s just so common place, but when its features are listed in black & white you realize there aren’t many other plants that can measure up to its versatility. -Evergreen that tolerates a good amount of shade -Deer resistant! -Colorful emerging foliage
Read more
Lilacs are an ever-popular spring bloomer that always seems to excite the homeowner. The large clusters of purple flowers with their well-known fragrance have made them a must-have for many years. Most New Englanders are familiar with the Common Lilac (S. vulgaris), but please consider the Preston Lilac Hybrids (cross
Read more
The change of season is a yearly opportunity for us to improve, and optimism runs high as the days get longer and warmer. Like most, we struggled during and immediately following the recession that started in the fall of 2008, but we made it through some very lean years thanks
Read more
Did anyone plant Witchhazel last year? If you did, be on the lookout soon for Vernal Witchhazel (Hamamelis vernalis). Their trademark flower and fragrance are coming up at the end of this month. They’ll bloom for weeks and then the hybrids like this Arnold’s Promise (Hamamelis x) will take over,
Read more
We have a nice selection Persian Ironwood (Parrotia persica) in sizes ranging from 3-3.5″ to 5-6″. They make a beautiful 4-season tree that’s not at all common to see. It starts off early spring with small pink flower clusters (more noticeable up close, but very interesting), then it leafs out
Read more
Many people are missing out on enhancing their spring gardens by worrying about spring bulb’s fading foliage. We all know that cutting the leaves back after flowering is a no-no; they should be left up to die back naturally, sending energy back to the bulb for next year’s show; but
Read more
Here’s a new addition to our ever-growing native assortment, Eubotrys racemosa a.k.a Feter-bush/ Swamp Sweetbells/Swamp Dog-Hobble. It’s basically a deciduous Leucothoe that’s found in, or near wetlands throughout the eastern half of the U.S. The flowers resemble lily-of-the-valley and open in groups along the stem in late spring. The leaves
Read more