It's May and we're really cooking here at the nursery. I'm already out of room in the greenhouse and I'm hardening off these zone 3 hardy perennials outside. Let's hope the weather stays on our side and we have a nice long growing season with warm weather and just enough rain to keep our gardens lush and vigorous.
The nursery will be open by May 16th this year. We'll be taking our plants to downtown Palmer's Friday Fling open air market starting May 15th - August 14th.
I can't be in two places at once, so, the nursery will be open tues-wed-thurs-saturday from 11 to 5 or by appt. if you call ahead 24 hrs. in advance (746-3606 or woolwood@mtaonline.net).
We'll see you at the Botanical Garden's Fair June 20-21 and the Garden and Art Festival, at the state fairgrounds, July11th.
This year we have plenty of new perennials for you and we've added herbs to our repertoire. Watch for our herbs in pots or as fresh cut greens at the Friday Fling this year. We'll have recipes on hand as well. Remember, your vegetables are ornamentals as well, so, plant some flowering kales in among those trollius and lilies!
New Plants for 2009
Lilies Galore!
All our lilies are hardy to zone 3 and potted with slow-release organic plant food. Planted 3 to a pot all one variety. So, you can be the designer!
America - Elodie (double) - Lollypop - El Grado
Fata Morgana (double) - Jive - Brasil
Black Out - Cocktail Twins (double) - Loreto
Cecil (LA Hybrid)
Get blooming early with trollius!
Cut these beauties back after blooming and you'll have another fabulous show by fair time!
Alabaster - Lemon Queen - Cheddar
Pair this lovely Astrantia 'Ruby Wedding' with trollius for a shadier garden area. They'll take the sun, but, trollius and astrantias like more water and a bit of shade.
Got the sunshine blues?
Veronica 'Royal Candles' - Veronica 'Eveline' - Anchusa azurea (Italian Bugloss)
The Delphiniums win again!
Last year Palmer's own Pat Tremaine took Grand Champion Delphinium with her New Zealand hybrid. Give her a run for her money this year with one of these beauties.
Blushing Brides - Black-Eyed Angels
If we get lucky we may have Pink Punch as well!New Penstemon 'Prairie Dusk'
Gardeners have been growing Penstemon 'Husker's Red' in our zone and now they've finally bred a Penstemon with the colors we've all been waiting for in zone 3. Another full sun, long-stemmed perennial for the floral arranger. 24 to 30 inches tall, June/July.
Eat Beautiful Food!
Don't forget that herbs are beautiful as well as edible. One of the easiest flowering annual herbs to grow is the Nasturtium. As a substitute for watercress, you can't beat the hot, peppery tang of Nasturtium leaves. Put some colorful punch into those summer salads with Nasturtium flowers, leaves, and pickled flower buds. Stay tuned for plenty of recipes using our herbs and flowers!
