This month we're introducing the Northampton Nursery Video Series, in which we show how we work and share our ideas for creating home masterpieces. Click the link at the end of Tailgate Talk to view.

Tips from the Pros
Watering Wise in Summer Heat
The heat of summer is upon us and - whew! - you're worried about keeping your yard alive. You've put a lot of effort into making it beautiful, and it's hard to watch all that landscaping shrivel in the sun. Until temperatures drop back to reasonable levels, "watering wise" can make a big difference keeping things fresh and green. Before we get to that, though, let's address everyone's biggest fear: If a heat wave browns the lawn, is the grass gone for good? In most cases, you'll be happy to hear the answer is "No." Grass that turns brown in the heat is reacting to the stress by entering a kind of dormancy until temperatures cool and moisture returns. Until then, here are some things you can do to boost your landscape. It's best to water your plants and lawn deeply but not frequently once they are established. It's also better to water in the morning or, if you can't do that, in the evening. Avoid midday waterings, as the moisture evaporates quickly.

Plant of the Month
Japanese Bloodgood Maple
The Japanese Bloodgood Maple is one of the most popular cultivated Japanese maples - and with good reason! Its leaves are beautiful three seasons of the year, it's easy to grow and its form is an attraction in any yard. In spring its leaves are wine-red or burgundy, but in fall they kick into overdrive, turning a brilliant crimson or scarlet. Bloodgoods are compact and shapely, making them a good choice for smaller yards at just 15-20 feet in height at maturity. They do best in partial shade - they are "understory" trees - but they need partial sun to develop the red leaves for which they are known. Interestingly, the "Bloodgood" name is not a reference to their color, but to the nursery that first sold them in in the United States - the Bloodgood Nursery founded on Long Island in 1793. And if you're dying for another fun fact about this popular planting, the "whirligig," winged seeds they give off are called "samaras."

Landscaping Trend
Bright Ideas About Landscape Lighting
From dawn until dusk, landscaping is a source of beauty and pleasure for homeowners. But why restrict the enjoyment to when the sun is out? One of the hottest trends in landscaping is providing innovative ways to show off gardens, patios, fountains and gazebos at all hours of the day. Let there be light! And let it shine on all the things you've done to beautify your home. Once upon a time, landscape lighting consisted of floodlights under the eaves to light up the yard. Not any more. Landscape lighting can be as sophisticated as the plantings and terraces and water features you install. It can spotlight individual plants or distinctive architectural features. It can showcase walkways or works of art. It can make stairs and surfaces safer, while adding warmth to outdoor spaces. New low-voltage wiring techniques make it possible to bring light to all corners of a yard, and solar LED options can create dramatic effects, save on power and not require any wiring at all.

It's Time To ...