Welcome
to Spring:
What
an amazing winter we have had. We
came so close to breaking all records for the number of days with snow coverage.
It has been such a long time since we have been visited by so much of
that "white stuff" that I had almost forgotten where my winter boots
were located. Here's hoping that
spring continues to provide the necessary moisture to build up our water
supplies. This will be the first
spring in 3 years that John has been healthy so we are very thankful for that.
We have finally gotten our web site back up and running and it shows what
we have new this year but does not include what we are over-wintering.
We have plans to expand our tree and shrub areas as well our gardens. This will be an ongoing project that involves time, money,
and people. Doesn't everything?
We look forward to seeing you soon.
John, Mary & the Crew
Why
I Love Heuchera
Heucheras
-- or Coral Bells as they are commonly called -- make great garden plants for a
sunny or partly shady area in your garden. Coral Bells have been the subject of
much work by the nursery industry lately, resulting in some really interesting
hybrid plants. I really became
interested in them with the nomination of 'Palace Purple' as the Perennial Plant
of the Year in 1991. Since then,
they seem to have undergone a dramatic makeover in size, color and adaptability. With their new palette of silver, garnet, purple, black,
chartreuse, and ruby-red, there is a Coral Bell to fit in any garden.
Heucheras do more than bridge the seasons, they expand them. They act in
an almost evergreen fashion by retaining last season's leaves.
more than anything, Heucheras give us something to see in the depth of
winter. Whether they are used stand-alone or in mass plantings, Heuchera accepts
whatever role it is assigned. Heucheras
are perfect for xeriscapes. Although
can be stressed by a drier environment, the rhizome and strong stem base readies
them to produce an explosion of leaves and flower stalks.
The silver varieties are a powerful ally in beautifying harsher, more
exposed sites. Heucheras are even
used in cut flower arrangements (both leaf and flower) as well as in container
gardens. Heucheras can either echo
or contrast with bronze companion plants. (Echoing
is when an aspect of one plant is repeated in another nearby plant.
There are many purple or chocolate colored shrubs that can be echoed by
the under-planting of like colored Heucheras.
The amber colored Heucheras provide a striking contrast to bronze foliage
plants. Try some of the silver
Heuchera to echo some of the silver foliage plants or purple Heucheras to
contrast with the silver. Yellow
flowers and gold foliage plants are great complimentary colors with chocolate
Heucheras. Whether you have deep
shade or no shade, there is a Heuchera just waiting for you.
Japanese
Maples
I
was so impressed by the 2 varieties of Japanese Maples that we have tried, that
I am going to have 8 different kinds this year.
I was unable to make up my mind which to carry, so I went for a few of
several varieties. Ranging in size
from cascading dwarf and semi dwarf shrubs to stately 30-foot-tall trees,
Japanese maples can enhance any garden or landscape with their widely varying
leaf shapes and colors. They even thrive on patios and terraces when planted in
containers. Often planted as
specimen trees or nestled in a mixed border, they also bestow an ethereal beauty
when grown on a hillside or slope or near a pond.
You won't find Japanese maples difficult to grow. Japanese maples (Zones
5 to 9) can be grown in full sun to partial shade in any well-drained average
soil. Grow them in an area sheltered from heavy winds where they can receive a
little afternoon shade. Where summers are hot, some growers recommend that
Japanese maples receive only filtered shade after 11am. Red varieties are more
cold tolerant and color best with at least six to eight hours of summer sun.
Those with deeply divided leaves (lace-leaf types) need additional protection.
Water trees regularly in dry weather. Japanese maples need consistent
moisture throughout the growing season (even into late fall and early winter).
Mulching trees late in the spring with a three- to four-inch layer of organic
material will help to maintain an even soil moisture while insulating tree
roots. Re-mulch in the fall if necessary, especially in areas where winters are
cold, leaving a mulch-free zone encircling the trunk by about six inches. With
just a little attention, Japanese maples will soon provide you with a
multiseasonal display of beauty and interest.
Exotic
Species
In
horticultural terms "exotic" means not native to the local.
In recent years the term has at times been linked to invasive which is
most unfortunate. While increased
awareness and caution are need to prevent introduction or proliferation of
invasive plants or pests, exotic plants can and have been a great benefit to
horticulture. Mankind has been
moving species with excellent results for millenniums.
After all, tomatoes and potatoes were exotic species in Europe brought
from Central and South America. Even the Colorado Plant Select Program goes far
afield to introduce new plants to Colorado that are not native.
By extending our plant selections to non-native species, many more
choices are available for placing the right plant in the right place which is
one of the primary goals of Xeriscaping the garden.
The National Garden Bureau launched an initiative to encourage A Garden in Every Yard or Roof in an effort to encourage more gardening across the country. Here are some immediate ways you can have an impact on your own environment at home and in the garden.
Recycle. This includes not only bottles and cans but yard and garden waste, as well.
Minimize chemical use. Many new flower and veggie varieties have been bred for better flavor, color and growth with improved disease and insect resistance.
Encourage wildlife to visit the garden. Attracting birds, butterflies, bees and other creatures to your garden is not only fun to watch but also healthy for your environment.
Think green. Support companies that used recycled materials in their products and find uses for your own things that might otherwise be thrown out.
Save energy, get exercise. Push and reel mowers are making a comeback. For small yards, they make economic and environmental sense. Rakes and brooms are also better for the environment than leaf blowers.
Celebrate the environment. Earth Day, Arbor Day and National Gardening Month are all this spring and are ready-made ways to show appreciation for the environment at your stores.