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| Looking for easy?
Five Shrubs that Work!
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l-r: Dwarf Korean Lilac, Wine & Roses Weigela, Sixteen Candles Summersweet,
Little Princess Spiraea and Coast Leucothoe
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Shrubs that pitch in with long bloom time, have more than one season of interest or an outstanding feature are a big plus for any successful planting. They make the A List for designers, landscapers and homeowners because they come to the rescue time and again. For those reasons we're big fans of the five following deer-resistant shrubs, all with good track records at being tough, good looking and low maintenance. - Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia 'Sixteen Candles') Glossy leaves, spikes of fragrant white flowers in summer, yellow fall color, takes wet soil, shade and shoreline conditions, compact grower 4-5' high and wide.
- Coast Leucothoe (Leucothoe axillaris) Evergreen, glossy leaves, red new growth, small white spring flowers, prefers some shade, 2-4' high 4-6' wide.
- Little Princess Spiraea (Spiraea japonica) Bright green foliage, long lasting pink flowers, tolerates hot sun & wind, 3 x 4' mound.
- Dwarf Korean Lilac (Syringa meyeri 'Palabin') Small, medium-green foliage with fragrant, long-lasting, lavender flower clusters, full sun to partial shade, grows 4' high x 5-7' wide.
- Weigela (Weigela florida) Dark red-tinged foliage,bright pink trumpet flowers late spring, full sun, grows 4-5' high and wide.
If you haven't already given these a try, you should! Especially when you are going in 5 different directions and have no time to fuss over Mrs. Smyth's plantings. Just grab a few of these and she (and you and we) will be thrilled.
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News from Watertown
 A Little Cold Doesn't Stop Us!
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| | Fertilizing - Receiving - Growing - Offloading |
When March temperatures are well above the norm and April's dip far below freezing, our focus is protecting our plant stock, specifically the fresh new young growth, from extreme and damaging cold. No technique is 100%, but Roger, Jamie and Sylvie won't sit idle and hope for the best. They grouped plants together, installed frost blankets, added minimal heat where needed and used misting nozzles on the newly arrived Japanese Maples.
The cold also affects production - the potting machine and planting of perennials comes to a temporary halt when the temperatures plummet. So, the potting crew may not be potting, but their work never stops. They are fertilizing, weeding and spacing the plants to insure successful crops. Patty, seen above, is using the long scoop for reaching each pot in the house. The snow cover on the houses may block the light some, but it actually helps insulate it from the cold. In the mean time incoming trucks are delivering fresh stock every day including the Pachysandra and Evergreens we received in this week. Most of our plants, however, are not affected by low temps, especially early spring bloomers like the Blue Ensign Pulmonaria (above). They are covered with small pink and blue flowers that are long lasting. These and many others are ready for your spring gardens whenever you are! Stop in soon! -Marnie
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Been on the hunt? Four Small Hard-to-Find Gems
Each spring as temperatures rise, we cut the plastic at the ends of the houses to help with air circulation. While this is not a pretty site to the untrained eye, it is to us - that means the days are getting longer, the air is warming up and the plants are growing.
As you can see through the 'window' at the back end of this house, there is a block of small 4" pots with colored tags. These hard-to-find gems are just beginning to push - check them out: Though limited in quantity, they may be just what you're looking for. Come see for yourselves! |
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NOW! Incoming This Week: Big Shasta Viburnum, Eastern Red Cedar cultivars and Specimen Grade Boxwood!
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| | The Specimen Grade American Boxwood have arrived! |
| Deciduous Trees & Shrubs | | | Acer palmatum 'Sango Kaku' 3-3.5" | Coral Bark Maple | | Cercidiphyllum japonicum | Japanese Katsura | | Cercis canadensis 'Lavender Twist', 'Forest Pansy', 'Hearts of Gold', 'Ruby Falls' | Eastern Redbud | | Liriodendron tulipifera 3-3.5", 4-4.5" | Tulip Poplar | | Parrotia persica | Persian Ironwood | | Quercus rubra 5-6" | Northern Red Oak | | Styrax japonicus 'Snowcone' | Japanese Snowbell | | Syringa reticulata 'Ivory Silk' | Japanese Tree Lilac | | Syringa x prestoniae 'Minuet' 4/5', 5/6' | Hybrid Lilac | | Viburnum plicatum 'Shasta' 6/7' | Doublefile Viburnum |
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| | 4/5' Gold Thread Cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera fil. 'Aurea') |
| Broadleaf and Specialty Evergreens | | | Buxus sempervirens (specimen grade) 24-30", 30-36", 36-42", 48-54" | Common Boxwood | | Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Elmwood Gold', C. pis. fil. 'Aurea' 4/5' | Hinoki and gold Thread Cypress | | Ilex opaca 'Jersey Princess', 'Miss Helen', 'Paterson' | American Holly | | Ilex x 'Blue Princess', 'Dragon Lady', 'Dr. Kassab', 'Green Princess', | Hybrid Holly | | Juniperus virginiana 'Emerald Sentinel' 8/10', 'Taylor' 10/12' | Eastern Red Cedar | | Pieris japonica 'Mountain Fire' 5 gal. 'Scarlet O'Hara' 15 gal. | Japanese Andromeda | | Rhododendron 'Boursault', 'Chinoides', 'Roseum Elegans' | Rhododendron | | Taxus x media 'Densiformis' | Spreading Yew |
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| | Emerald Green Arborvitae 5/6', 6/7' |
| Evergreen Screening | | | Abies balsamea phanerolepsis 6/7', 7/8', 8/10' | Canaan Fir | | Abies concolor 6/7', 7/8', 8/10' | Concolor Fir | | Picea abies 12/14' | Norway Spruce | | Picea omorika 7/8', 8/10' | Serbian Spruce | | Picea pungens 7/8', 8/10' | Colorado Blue Spruce | | Pinus strobus 5/6', 6/7', 7/8', 8/10' + | Eastern White Pine | | Thuja occidentalis 'Emerald Green', 'Nigra' 4/5', 5/6' | American Arborvitae | | Tsuga canadensis 8/10', 10/12', 12/14' | Canadian Hemlock |
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Last Week's I.D. Spiraea thunbergii 'Ogon'
Ogon Spiraea
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| | This Weeks I.D. |
Weekly Plant I.D.
Ogon Spiraea is one plant every landscaper should use. Why? Here's five reasons: 1. It's deer resistant (all Spiraeas are rarely, if ever, nibbled) 2. It has narrow, golden foliage (terrific for adding some contrast) 3. It blooms white (not the usual pink) 4. It's good for the middle tier of borders and foundation plantings (grows to about 4') and 5. It has good fall color (yellow tinged with orange). No wonder Ogon is a big seller!
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