Our spring season is in full swing and our sales yard is brimming with beautiful conifers, Japanese maples, beeches, ginkgos and more. If you have trees that suffered from winterburn, we recommend waiting until you see new growth to determine how much of the tree is alive. Please call us at 815-338-7442 if you have any questions. We have a good supply of yellow pines for everyone who loved them at the Chicago Flower & Garden Show. There are several cultivars of Pinus sylvestris that turn a lovely gold color in the winter, and there are other pines with similar characteristics. For hosta enthusiasts, we will have our spring hosta event June 7, including a book signing with Mark Zilis. We look forward to seeing you at our nursery.

Great Trees for Every Garden

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We love getting in fresh nursery stock and having an abundance of new sizes and shapes to offer our customers. This spring we've also moved more containers from our farm to the nursery, so there is a great mix of plant material. A perennial favorite for narrow spaces is Picea omorika 'Pendula Bruns', a Serbian spruce with a whimsical upright habit.

Picea omorika 'Pendula Bruns'

It's the perfect time to start looking at Japanese maples, as they leaf out and show off their spring colors. Stunning palmate leaves in greens and reds, finely dissected crimson leaves or green ones with hints of pink edging, so many wonderful choices.

This year we have an extensive selection of dwarf mounding Pinus strobus (Eastern white pine), such as 'Blue Shag', 'Horsford', 'Merrimack', and 'Minuta'. Some cultivars have slightly twisted needles: 'Blue Twister', 'Diggy', 'Mini Twists', and 'Vercurve'.

Pinus strobus 'Horsford' and 'Mini Twists'

The vase-shaped Ginkgo biloba 'Jade Butterfly' is one of the slower-growing ginkgos and will work beautifully in smaller garden spaces. The fan-shaped leaves turn golden in the fall before fluttering to the ground.

This is just a tiny sampling of our available conifers and other trees. Come out to the nursery in Woodstock and make a day of it. Enjoy lunch on the historic Woodstock Square and visit the quaint shops too!

Hosta Sale and Bolivian Arts & Crafts Fundraiser

Saturday, June 7, 2014

9am - 4pm

9am-4pm The Hosta Sale

Over 500 varieties of Hostas for sale ($5 and up) to benefit Heifer International. This non-profit humanitarian organization works to end hunger and poverty worldwide. HI provides livestock, trees, training, and other resources to help struggling families build sustainable futures.

10am-11:30am Hosta Leaf Identification

Tom Micheletti, former President of the American Hosta Society and Midwest Regional Hosta Society, and founder and first President of the Northern Illinois Hosta Society, will be available to identify hostas for people who bring the leaves of unknown hostas.

11:30am Small & Miniature Hostas Tom Micheletti will do a short presentation.

11am-1pm Book Signing Mark Zilis of Q & Z Nursery will be on hand to sign his new book, Mark Zilis' Field Guide to Hostas. The book will be available for purchase - $44.95. Mark is president of Q & Z Nursery and has introduced over 400 different hostas.

1pm Hosta Highlights Mark Zilis will talk about different kinds of hostas.

9am-4pm The Arts & Crafts Fundraiser

Bolivian handicrafts for sale to benefit Mano a Mano International Partners. Their work in rural Bolivia focuses on building hospitals, schools, roads, and irrigation projects.

Cash or check only.

Refreshments will be served.

Speaking Engagements

It's been a busy spring for Rich Eyre, with numerous speaking engagements. Please call 815-338-7442 if you are interested in scheduling Rich for a talk for your organization.

And in September, Rich Eyre will be the Keynote Speaker at the ACS Northeast Regional Meeting in Rochester NY. Join the American Conifer Society to participate in the national and regional meetings. They always have great garden tours and interesting speakers!