Many of our garden perennials can be used to brighten up the indoors in various arrangements. For some perennials you may get weeks of enjoyment from a cut bouquet. For others it may be a matter of days. Experiment. Try different combinations. Add personal touches from things you find around the house.
The following is a list of perennials that can be used to extend the growing season (at least indoors) and bring some autumn color into your home. The first name will be the Latin name followed by the common name. Latin names are used because people may know the plant by several common names. However, there is only one Latin name for each plant.
If you are interested in ideas for putting together Fall flower arrangements, stop in and talk to David in the Design Center - he'd be more than happy to help you put something together. Enjoy!
- Aster (Aster)
- Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed) pods can be used in dried arrangements
- Chelone (Turtlehead) also for dried arrangements
- Chrysanthemum (Garden Mum)
- Echinacea (Coneflower) also for dried arrangements
- Grasses-many different species are good for cut & dried flowers
- Hedera (English Ivy) foliage
- Physostegia (Obedient Plant)
- Sedum (Sedum)
- Solidago (Goldenrod)
- Tricyrtis (Toad Lily)
Vande Hey Design Center
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
September maintenance tips
We know you may not be ready to embrace the tips of the Fall months just yet, but be prepared - September is just around the corner!
September:
• Divide Spring and Summer flowering perennials now. These include peonies, daylilies, irises, phlox and others. Note: perennials that are flowering should NOT be divided at this time.
• Prune “bleeder” trees such as Maple, Elm, Birch.
• Fertilize lawn with a slow release fertilizer, spot spray broadleaf weed control.
• Plant Spring flowering bulbs (Tulips, Daffodils, Crocus, Hyacinth)
• Last month to plant evergreens until next spring.
September:
• Divide Spring and Summer flowering perennials now. These include peonies, daylilies, irises, phlox and others. Note: perennials that are flowering should NOT be divided at this time.
• Prune “bleeder” trees such as Maple, Elm, Birch.
• Fertilize lawn with a slow release fertilizer, spot spray broadleaf weed control.
• Plant Spring flowering bulbs (Tulips, Daffodils, Crocus, Hyacinth)
• Last month to plant evergreens until next spring.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Ask the expert - Lawn repair
Question: Some of my lawn died this season from the dry, hot weather. Do I still have time to seed in the dead areas or do I have to wait until spring?
Answer: Lawns have once again started to green up due to recent rains. With this, dead and insect damaged areas have also once again become noticeable. The month of September and the early portion of October are the BEST times for starting a new lawn or renovating an old one. Cooler temperatures, more reliable rain patterns and our lawn’s propensity to establish strong root systems in the fall are the reasons we strongly recommend fall lawn renovation. Remember that for proper germination grass seed must be in good contact with the soil, not be buried too deeply in the soil as light is also required for proper germination and it must remain moist. Good luck with your project & let us know if we could be of assistance!
Have a question for the expert? Leave a comment below and we'll feature your question in one of our upcoming posts.
Answer: Lawns have once again started to green up due to recent rains. With this, dead and insect damaged areas have also once again become noticeable. The month of September and the early portion of October are the BEST times for starting a new lawn or renovating an old one. Cooler temperatures, more reliable rain patterns and our lawn’s propensity to establish strong root systems in the fall are the reasons we strongly recommend fall lawn renovation. Remember that for proper germination grass seed must be in good contact with the soil, not be buried too deeply in the soil as light is also required for proper germination and it must remain moist. Good luck with your project & let us know if we could be of assistance!
Have a question for the expert? Leave a comment below and we'll feature your question in one of our upcoming posts.
Friday, August 12, 2011
August random trivia
1. The Daisy got its name because the yellow center resembled the sun. It was commonly known as the "day's eye" and over time, was eventually called daisy.
2. There are about 200 varieties of watermelon throughout the US.
Watermelon, considered one of America's favorite fruits, is really a vegetable (Citrullus lanatus). Cousin to the cucumber and kin to the gourd, watermelons can range in size from 7 to 100 pounds.
3. One ragweed plant can release as many as one billion grains of pollen.
4. 84% of a raw apple is water.
5. Corn is one of the most widely grown crops in the USA. Only about 10% of the corn grown ends up on the dinner table as a side dish, while over 50% of it is used for livestock feed. The rest of the crop is used to make everything from syrup and starch to whiskey and oil. Corn flakes were so popular in the early 1900's that there was over 40 companies producing this breakfast cereal in and around Battle Creek, Michigan.
2. There are about 200 varieties of watermelon throughout the US.
Watermelon, considered one of America's favorite fruits, is really a vegetable (Citrullus lanatus). Cousin to the cucumber and kin to the gourd, watermelons can range in size from 7 to 100 pounds.
3. One ragweed plant can release as many as one billion grains of pollen.
4. 84% of a raw apple is water.
5. Corn is one of the most widely grown crops in the USA. Only about 10% of the corn grown ends up on the dinner table as a side dish, while over 50% of it is used for livestock feed. The rest of the crop is used to make everything from syrup and starch to whiskey and oil. Corn flakes were so popular in the early 1900's that there was over 40 companies producing this breakfast cereal in and around Battle Creek, Michigan.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Featured plant of the month: Shasta Daisy
Common Name: Becky Shasta Daisy
Latin Name: Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Becky’
Family: Asteraceae (Compositae)
Native: Hybrid
Height: 36-40”
Spread: 18-36”
Growth Habit: upright
Flower: 3-inch wide, white flower with yellow center from July to September
Exposure: full sun to partial shade
Soil Preference: moist, well drained
Growth Rate: fast
Texture: medium
Preferred Uses: perennial mid-border, cut flower
Becky Shasta Daisy was chosen as the Perennial Plant of the Year in 2003. It received this honor because of its hardiness, disease resistance, dependability and long season of bloom. Plants attract butterflies and are great for garden bouquets. Plant with Russian Sage (Perovskia) or Pincushion Flower (Scabiosa) for companion plants. Removing spent flowers will extend bloom time. Plants are available in 1-gallon pots.
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