DOG DAYS of Summer SALE!
It's our biggest Sale of the Year! Stop by and save from July 17 to July 31, 2009, while quantities last.
Flowering shrubs are 40% off, shade trees and perennials are 30% off and potted evergreens are 50% off.
Our
new canine gardening expert, Toby, has put his paw print of approval on
our selection and says you'll find lots more savings in the nursery,
so be sure to come and "sniff" out the best deals before they're all
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Raspberries & Peas, Summer Treats!
Our
raspberry canes are just beginning to ripen with beautiful juicy and
sweet berries and the pea picking is in full swing! Buy freshly picked raspberries and peas at the Market Shop or
come pick your own. Check the Pick Your Own page on our website for details on picking times and conditions.
Fresh
picked fruits and vegetables are available during the summer and fall
at the Market Shop, next to the Greenhouse and Nursery. Besides
raspberries and peas, look for new potatoes, fresh onions, herbs, and
coming soon...fresh sweet corn
and field ripened tomatoes! We also have our produce available at the
Orillia Farmers' Market every Saturday morning beside the Orillia Opera
House.
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July Hours
Ego's is open daily
from 9 am - 6 pm
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Weekly Specials
Check our website for our specials. We have great plants at even better prices to suit every budget! To see current specials Click Here or sign up for our weekly e-flyer and get advance notice of each week's items.
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Hydrangeas
 In the world of flowering shrubs, it's hard to top hydrangeas. Their popularity has skyrocketed the past few years causing a demand for information regarding hardiness and pruning techniques. The bad news is that in our climate (Zones 4 to 5) only 4 out of the 7 types of hydrangea are hardy. The good news is that there is more than enough variety within these three genuses to please most gardeners. Most thrive in rich porous, somewhat moist soils. Most prefer full sun; however, many will also grow and bloom in partial shade. The highlight of Hydrangea is its large flower heads and its long bloom time.
Climbing Hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala petiolaris)
This woody, self-clinging vine is considered by many to be the Cadillac of all vines. It has glossy dark green foliage and excellent shade tolerance. Its lightly fragrant, creamy white lace-cap flowers are 6-10" across. They stand well out from the plant, producing an excellent show in summer. It is at its best climbing up the trunk of a tree or covering the face of a brick wall. Young plants can be pinched to promote branching, but once established require little pruning. Variegated varieties such as "Firefly' add additional foliage interest, especially in spring.
Smooth Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens)
This popular group is the hardiest of all of the hydrangea and can be grown in virtually any light condition from full sun to full shade. It has a suckering habit leading to large clumps. The most common variety seen is 'Annabelle' with its large, tight, snowball-like flowers produced in summer. These persist until the following spring and add unique winter interest to the garden. Very large flowers can be produced by pruning last year's growth to 20cm from the ground in the spring. However, the larger the blooms, the more the stems will bend under the heavy weight. If left unpruned, the shrub will produce smaller blooms and less stem support will be required. 'White Dome' is a new lace-cap variety that has large lacy, dome shaped blooms. It has attractive large dark green leaves and strong flower stems that never flop. This plant is particularly attractive in the winter when the snow settles a top the dried flower heads.
Panicle Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata)
This group of hardy hydrangea is known for its elongated cone-shaped flower clusters and colour changing abilities. They are easy to grow and flower on the current season's growth late in the season. 'Peegee' is the old standard but there are many new exciting varieties worth a look. They are best pruned in early spring to promote new growth resulting in lots of blooms. This group is very tolerant of hard pruning and cutting the plant back by 1/3 will result in larger flowers.
The cultivar 'Pinky Winky' (shown in photo above) has very large but delicate, lacy flowers. It blooms early and the flower heads continue to grow during the season. This results in bi-colour effect as the new blooms emerge white as the older blooms turn dark pink. Very showy!
'Quick Fire' is the earliest blooming of all the paniculata-types with flowers appearing in early July. It has open, lacy cones that are first pure white but develop into a deep burgundy-pink.
'Little Lamb' becomes completely smothered with tightly packed white blooms in the summer. With the onset of cooler nights the blooms turn pink to create a breathtaking display.
 'Limelight' (in photo at left) is quickly becoming the new favourite of this group. It blooms continuously from mid-summer with lime green flower clusters produced on upright stems.
Big Leaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)
These bold and brightly coloured flowers are unrivaled in the plant world. Unfortunately, this is also the group that gives us the most trouble in our climate. Most of the cultivars in this group are hardy to zone 5. They set their flower buds in the fall and overwinter them. A hard winter (likely in a Zone 4 garden) can kill the buds and eliminate flowering. An early fall or late spring freeze (again, likely in Zone 4) may also result in a loss of flowers. The roots may overwinter here, but the plant tends to die right back to the ground, resulting in lots of lush, new growth, but no flowers.
The exciting news is that certain cultivars, such as 'Endless Summer', have the ability to bloom on old and new wood alike. If the buds are winter killed the plant will form new buds in the spring and still bloom. This is the safest bet for our climate.
Another interesting attribute of this plant is that its flower colour may change depending on soil p.H.. It is not the p.H. itself that changes the colour, but it is the availability of Aluminum ions that directs the color. Aluminum has greater availability in acid soils thus the blooms turn blue in acid soils. If the soil is either basic or high in phosphorous, the aluminum is tied up and flowers tend to be pink. The degree of colour change is dependent upon the amount of aluminum ions available and the cultivar itself. There are products available to help home gardeners adjust the pH of their soil. Dolomitic Lime will increase the alkalinity (for pink flowers), Aluminum sulphate will increase the acidity (for blue flowers).
These plants do not require much pruning, but if necessary it is best to prune directly after flowering.
Article & photos courtesy of Spring Meadow Nursery.
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