Holiday GrassSolutions 2011 from Hoffman Nursery

For archived editions,

click here.

HNI Website

Username: great

Password: grass

Welcome to our holiday issue. The entire staff at Hoffman Nursery wishes everyone a joyous holiday and a prosperous New Year.

In addition, special thanks to you, our readers, for your time and attention. With all the info that's out there, we appreciate your choosing to spend time with us.

Browse our Current Availability

To sign up for periodic availability emails or adjust your email preferences, click here.

In This Issue

Expand Your Palette

Bob Henrickson of the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum thinks Juncus and Carex should be on everyone's wish list. Find out why in our feature on underused grasses.

The Latest at HNI

Substrates are little more interesting these days, our grasses show off their dance moves on American Nurseryman's website, and tractors get their due at the Nursery.

In the News

A tour of some of this year's best residential landscapes, 'Little Kitten' makes the Favorites list, Texas breezes are perfect for grasses, and more.

Comments & Features

We mourn the passing of a grass great, trade shows are upon us, and Hoffman Nursery's getting a makeover (of sorts).

Expand Your Palette with Underused Grasses

Carex muskingumensis showing off its palm-like foliage

Bob Henrickson of the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum kicks off this issue with his thoughts on underused grasses. Bob's responsibilities as the Horticultural Program Coordinator include managing the GreatPlants® for the Great Plains program. That makes him an excellent resource for recommendations on reliable and easy-to-grow grasses.

When we asked him which grasses he thought deserved more attention, Bob immediately went to two of our favorite genera, Juncus and Carex. Why? Read the full article to find out.

The Latest at HNI

Getting the Scoop on Substrates

Dr. Brian Jackson shows the differences between substrate production methods.

In an attempt to go local and address media shortages, NC State researcher Dr. Brian Jackson has moved to trees. Pine trees, that is. Brian came out to the Nursery last month to tell us about his research. He has been processing whole pine trees to produce amendments to traditional potting media.

He's found that he can add up to 40% pure wood to the media and produce a healthy plant without the need for additional fertilizers. The mix is comparable to traditional mixes using peat, and because it utilizes local materials, is less expensive to produce. His and others' work is mentioned here on the Greenhouse Grower website. We hope to focus more on his research in an upcoming issue.

Dance Moves

In our last issue, we showed you a short video featuring fall-blooming grasses. We had a lot of fun with it, and Nursery Management picked it up. You can see the reprise on their website. These grasses definitely have the moves.

Shipping Manager, Scott Stirrup (L), makes a point during the tractor training.

Tractor Class

Hoffman Nursery staff were recently treated to a "tractor training". We're committed to being safe, and one of the best ways to protect our employees is to train them properly on the equipment. While anyone using the heavy equipment must be trained before starting, this was a refresher course. It turned out to be a beautiful day, and the crews got to drive heavy equipment. What more could they ask?

In the News

Muhly Grass

'Little Kitten' showing off in the Hoffman Nursery gardens

With its fall fluffs of pink panicles, we've all been taking notice of Muhlenbergia capillaris. Garden writer Carol Cloud Bailey takes time to note its many desirable qualities to Florida gardeners. Take a peek for yourself.

Still Going Strong

Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster' celebrates 10 years since being named Perennial Plant of the Year, and its popularity hasn't waned. Along with versatility and hardiness, this favorite cultivar has much to offer. Get design tips and the full story here.

Little Kitten Makes the Favorites List

Miscanthus sinensis 'Little Kitten' is a Community Favorite at UC Davis. This means it makes their list of 75 can't-fail, easy-care plants that are well-adapted to the region surrounding Sacramento and recommended by local gardeners. The Sacramento Bee posted a quick profile. This grass has made a splash in the California community, and as you can tell by our photo, it's a show stopper here too.

Mexican Feather Grass (foreground) and Lindheimer's Muhly (behind) are both mentioned in the Austin Stateman article on grasses for Texas.

Billowy Breezes in Texas

Texas loves grasses, and with good reason. Grasses can withstand the harsh climate and do so with little fuss. They also take full advantage of the breezes that whip across the landscape. This short article in the Austin Statesman outlines caring for grasses and dealing with cool season selections.

A Gorgeous Tour (with Grasses)

Garden Design magazine recently posted a slideshow of the Best Residential Landscapes of 2011. These landscapes are judged by The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) as part of their annual professional awards. It's a feast for the eyes, and many of these award-winning sites feature grasses. We couldn't resist sharing such beauty. Take the tour.

Comments and Features

The Passing of a Visionary

Renowned landscape architect, Wolfgang Oehme, passed away late last week. Wolfgang was a champion of grasses, and nurseries like ours have him to thank for bringing grasses to the forefront of American design. He and collaborator James van Sweden transformed current thinking about landscapes with their New American Garden style. Employing large sweeps of grasses and other perennials to paint beautiful visual compositions, they influenced a whole generation of designers.

Wolfgang always made a point of stopping by the Hoffman Nursery booth at MANTS to chat about grasses. He was interested in hearing about new varieties and always shared his latest projects. He will be sorely missed for his vision and his friendship. For more on Wolfgang Oehme's life and legacy, see his obituary in The Baltimore Sun or The Washington Post. To see tributes and personal messages to Wolfgang, visit his website.

Holiday Hours for HNI

At noon the Friday before Christmas, our staff will be gathering for a holiday meal together and then departing for the holidays. The Nursery will be closed the afternoon of Friday, Dec. 23 and the week of Dec. 26-30. We'll reopen on Monday, Jan. 2, 2012. It's hard to believe it's almost here, but 2012 feels like it's going to be great!

New Website for 2012

www.hoffmannursery.com is getting a new look in 2012! Stay tuned...

Great news for the New Year! We're renovating the Hoffman Nursery website. You can look forward to:

A complete redesign, with better user interface and dynamic content
No username/password required for most info
Extended searches on multiple features
Cultivar comparisons for popular genera
More articles, growing info, and advice

We will keep you posted on our progress. This opens up a whole, new world of grasses, and we couldn't be more excited.

See you at the Shows

Traveling to trade shows this winter? We'll be in Baltimore, Greensboro, and Columbus in January, and we would love to see you. New plants are always a hit, and we'll have several for you to preview at the shows. Come by our booth and let us know what's new for you.

Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (MANTS), Baltimore, MD

January 11-13, 2012, Booth 412

Green & Growin' Trade Show (NCNLA), Greenboro, NC

January 19-20, 2012, Booth 533 & 535

Central Environmental Nursery Trade Show (CENTS), Columbus, OH

January 23-25, 2012, Booth 2108