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Hellebores |
Helleborus hybrids 'Royal Heritage Strain'  |
Each year, around this time, our Hellebore fans come to the nursery to pick out a few hybrids for their collection, mostly looking for whites and dark maroons. They are among our first plant aficionados coming to take a look while they are in bloom. I guess they are getting their plant fix after months of plant starvation. Hellebores are commonly called Lenten Rose - they're not big fish as far as perennials go - no huge splashes of color, and the neighbors can't see them during a drive-by, so why all the fuss?
Maybe this is why:
Helleborus x hybrids are evergreen perennials that are among the very first to bloom in late winter/early spring. The nodding flowers come in a variety of muted creams, pinks, maroons and everything in between. They reach about 15" tall and slowly form mounds of great texture and awesome flowers. Best of all they're deer resistant and very low maintenance!
Hellebores are acaulescent, or stemless, so the flower stalks and leaves come straight from the rhizome. The large dark green leaves are palmate and persist up to a year, and are best trimmed back at winter's end. The flowers are very long lasting, fading to green over time. They are shade tolerant plants, but flower best with some sun as long as the soil contains a good amount of organic matter. Moisture is necessary when newly planted, but once established they can take some drought.
Gary suggests paring them with variegated Lamium (Deadnettle), Acorus 'Ogon', Phlox stolonifera or divaricata (Creeping, Woodland Phlox) - anything that would give you color and textural change. You can also use them to underplant upright shrubs and small trees. Mix with other early flowering bulbs for a welcome sign of spring. Give them a warm micro-climate like against a stone wall or foundation where the snow is first to melt, and they will reward you with early blooms right when you need them most - late winter!
Read more about them at Hellebores.org (or click on the picture above). It's a great website with gorgeous images. You'll definitely learn a lot!
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NOW
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Planters' Choice Grown
Looking fresh and ready to pop right now are our own Pieris(Andromeda) in bud and some in full bloom. There are many varieties to choose from including P. japonica 'Dorothy Wyckoff', 'Mountain Fire', P. taiwanensis 'Snow Drift', and some nice dwarf varieties like P. x 'Cavatine' and 'Pygmaea'.
A fantastic value because they are grown right here at home!
Check out what the trucks brought in this week:
Acer palmatum 'Seiryu'
Betula nigra 'Dura Heat', 'Heritage', nice sizes
Carpinus betula 'Fastiagata' (European Hornbeam), nice sizes, like these (seen at right). Many to choose from!
Chionanthus retusus (Chinese Fringetree) limited
Clethra barbinervis (Japanese Clethra) limited
Corylus avellana 'Contorta' 5/6' (Harry Lauder's Walking Stick) Daphne x burkwoodii 'Carol Mackie' Euonymus alatus 'Compacta' (Burning Bush)
Hydrangea paniculata Tree Form (Pee Gee Hydrangea)
Koelreuteria paniculata (Panicled Goldenraintree)
Magnolia virginiana (Sweetbay Magnolia) and M. x 'Jane'
Prunus 'Thundercloud' (Purple-leaf Plum)
Quercus alba 4.5-5" (White Oak)
Styrax japonica 3-3.5" (Japanese Snowbell)
Ulmus americana 'Princeton' (Elm)
Viburnums! 5/6' Carlesii, 'Cree', 'Mariesii', 'Popcorn', 'Shasta', 'Shoshone'
Stop by and take a look! |
Need a Quote?
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Hopefully your phones are ringing off the hook with this nice weather! Let us help price out your jobs so you have an accurate, organized quote to help you with everything from small jobs for your neighbor to large commercial projects . Don't forget our wetland and native plant material - just what towns require for remediation work. Fax or Email your plant lists over to Drew in Newtown, or Liz in Watertown. They'll be happy to price it out in quote form in a timely fashion. Remember to send along your company's name, name of the project, estimated planting date and most important your contact information. Drew - fax 203-426-8057 acantrell@planterschoice.com
Liz - fax 860-945-9282 lbette@planterschoice.com |
Finally...
Happy Spring!
Spring hours: Monday - Saturday 7 am - 4:30 pm
Our first Saturday is tomorrow March 20th!
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 Planters' Choice, LLC
Visit our two locations:
140 Huntingtown Rd. Newtown, CT 06470 Tel. 203-426-4037 Fax 203-426-8057
496 Bunker Hill Rd. Watertown, CT 06795 Tel. 860-945-6588 Fax 860-945-9282
Hours:
March 15th - June 26th Mon.- Sat. 7 am - 4:30 pm
June 28th - Nov. 20th Mon. - Fri. 7 am - 4:30 pm & Sat. 7 am - 1 pm
Winter Hours Mon. - Fri. 8 am - 4:30 pm | |
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