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GrassSolutions™
An e-newsletter from Hoffman Nursery, Inc.
April 2011
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For archived editions, click here.
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Follow John Hoffman  @wegrowgoodgrass as he explores grasses and the green industry.
HNI Website Username: great Password: grass
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 In this Issue
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Expand Your Palette
You may never have heard of the grasses that John Hoffman suggests. Find out which grasses deserve a further look.
In the News
Native grass lawns beat traditional Bermuda grass for lushness and weed resistance. And see what consumers are learning about grasses in Fine Gardening.
New Plants
Skyrockets in flight? Explore a new kind of delight with this snazzy Pennisetum.
Comments
Heaven comes through in a quick slideshow, and our customers give us the scoop.
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Browse our Current Availability
To sign up for periodic availability emails or adjust your email preferences, click here.
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| Expand Your Palette with Underused Grasses | |
 Last month we heard from designer Stephanie Cohen about grasses she thinks are underused. We continue the series with our own John Hoffman, President of Hoffman Nursery, Inc.
John's passion for ornamental and native grasses began over twenty-five years ago and continues today with the 45-acre Nursery he founded with his wife, Jill. Currently serving as President of the Perennial Plant Association, John also serves on the board of several horticultural organizations. He's known as "The Grass Guy", and he has some favorites that don't come up as often as he'd like. That's a shame, because they're worth a look.
Andropogon ternarius
"Striking fall color and shiny white blooms."
Spodiopogon sibiricus
"A graceful bamboo look and great fall color."
Bouteloua gracilis
"Tough little grass with cool seed heads."
For photos of these and other grasses, go to our website and log on (username=great; password=grass) to view our Catalog of Grasses. For a current availability, click here. 
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| In the News |
 Native Grass Lawn Beats BermudaWant a lush lawn that has fewer weeds and is better for the environment than traditional turf grass? A mix of regionally native grasses can give you just that. In a recent study from University of Texas ecologists at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, a lawn of native grasses beat out Bermuda grass for lushness and weed resistance. Read more.
We've begun trying out native grass lawns here at the Nursery, but haven't done mixed lawns yet. Guess this means more planting... Consumers Goin' Grassy What are retail customers hearing about grasses? We recently cruised the websites of several popular consumer publications to find out. There are plenty of articles steering the public toward grasses. Here's a quick sampling from the Fine Gardening website:
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Spotlight on New Plants for 2011
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 New plant preview!
Pennisetum 'Sky Rocket' PP21497 Sky Rocket Fountain Grass - Long, elegant plumes
- Arching, bright variegated foliage
- Vigorous grower for quick containers
- Adapts to varied conditions
When you have skyrockets, you've definitely got a party!
Pennisetum 'Skyrocket' boasts bright white and green longitudinal stripes that create a brilliant cascade of foliage. Dazzling white plumes tinged with purple-pink on the bristles appear in May and last throughout the season until frost.
Sky Rocket Fountain Grass is a vigorous grower, filling out containers and mixed plantings quickly and easily. Because it is hardy to Zone 10, it is best treated as an annual. A culm sport of P. 'Fireworks' PP18504, it was selected from stock plants at ItSaul Plants in Georgia.
Quick facts: Green with white variegated foliage, 3.5 feet, 4 feet with flower, sun, average soil, flowers summer, Zone 10, Origin: Tropical Africa, SW Asia, Arabia
Call (800-203-8590) or email us for more information or to book your order.
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Comments & Features
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A Heavenly Show
Little Bluestem sneaks up on you during the season. It starts out a little shy in the spring but soon develops amazing pastel colors in summer, culminating in a coppery fall show. One of our favorites, Blue Heaven™, was developed by one of our favorite grass people, Dr. Mary Meyer of the University of Minnesota. She posted a slideshow earlier this month that shows Blue Heaven™ struttin' its stuff. Take a quick peek to remind yourself how showy this grass can be.
What our Customers Say...
During this time of the year, we appreciate everyone's patience as we handle a heavy shipping volume. Recently, we've enjoyed the positive comments from our customers:
Jill Crosbie from Jacquelyn Nooney Landscape, Inc. reported that our grasses look great upon arrival.
Marlin Hurst from Conestoga Nursery told us our plants looked awesome. He said they were full, well rooted, and better than ever.
Allen Austin from A Wildlife Nursery in Virginia received a shipment from us just last week. When we called to make sure it had arrived, Allen told us it had and "... as always, looks great."
While we love hearing the positive comments, we also appreciate knowing when something isn't right. All feedback is important and helps us improve, which ultimately helps our customers. If you like the plants you get from Hoffman Nursery, tell your colleagues. If you don't, please tell us!
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