Spring? Are you there?
It has been an awesome winter. I know most people are real tired of cold and snow. I also know that the last good snowy winter most of us remember was when we were kids, so it can't be all that bad. Good for the economy too.





And isn't spring so much better when you are about to completely lose your head with cabin fever and your car is about to give it up? (I've almost made it through Feb with my car still operable, falling apart, but running...knock knock)It is about time to get outside. I'm not sure I'll know what to do with myself. I would like to take my poor lonely dog for a walk once in a while. Soon enough...

March 2010 Newsletter

Whether you do your own gardening on the weekends, have a regular maintenance contract or just mow once a week, if you own a home your landscaping is part of that investment and can add considerable monetary and aesthetic value to your property.





Regular maintenance not only keeps your property looking good, it can save time, money, and heartache in the long run. Leaf litter, dead plants and other debris are perfect areas for insects, fungi and other diseases to overwinter preparing to thrive when the weather starts to warm up. Spring clean-up can go a long way towards keeping your established plants alive and healthy.







Proper maintenance, spacing, and fungicide treatment if needed can greatly decrease the occurrence of many insects and diseases on your plants and shrubs.

Check out the website for more WONDERFUL articles! www.arbormasters.com

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New Web Address

I just wanted to post a quick blog to say that I will be changing the address for this blog within the week. I am not sure what it will be yet, so please e-mail me or post a comment and I will give you the new url when it is set up.

Thanks for reading!

Perennial Fall Color

One Perennial that always stands out for it's fall color is the Geranium. Above is Johnson's Blue. The color is an outstanding brick red and it is still flowering above the foliage with bright blue-purple flowers.


Karmina (above) and Biokovo Geraniums also have the rich red fall color, but they have smaller leaves and mostly bloom in spring and early summer.



Purple Dome Aster is blooming very heavy right now, with nice purple clusters of Daisy-like flowers.


Red Shift Coreopsis is a new variety we have grown this year. It is a soft butter yellow with a deep red center (above) until the weather starts to cool off. The red gradually bleeds out until the flowers are completely red (below).


Red Shift Coreopsis

Groundcovers (and a Vine)

I've got quite a few pictures of perennials on here that make great groundcovers, but here are some of the 'true' groundcovers that we carry:

Kamschaticum Sedum did very well this summer in 2" pots. They cover pretty fast, have beautiful star shaped yellow flowers and excellent fall color. (see below)


Kamschaticum Sedum


English Ivy is an old standard that is evergreen and does well in part shade.


Ralph Shugert Vinca is a variegated variety with the typical blue, pinwheel flowers.


Ralph Shugert Vinca


I just had to add this one: Jackmanii Clematis is blooming heavily right now. Clematis is a vine with stunning flowers that are generally (depending on variety) at least 4-5" across, and they will bloom profusely covering the entire plant.

Some Shade

I don't feel like I have done the shade plants justice yet, so here goes:

Plumbago (Ceratostigma plumbagoides) is a very versatile perennial. It does well in full sun but will also thrive in shaded areas with some sun. It makes a beautiful taller groundcover. The bright blue flowers will bloom most of the summer and the foliage blazes bright red in the fall.


We recently started growing Midnight Rose Coral Bells and have been very impressed with the unique color patterns on the leaves. The leaves are very dark purple with bright pink specks.



Most of the Hostas are done blooming and starting to die back, but Guacamole is still shiny and green, and the large white blooms smell so sweet. (see below)


Guacamole Hosta



Bugbane (Cimicifuga ramosa 'Atropurpurea') also has a very sweet fragrance.

September Charm Anemone has large, soft pink flowers that are blooming heavy right now.

Chocolate Chip Ajuga is a nice groundcover for shaded areas. The leaves are narrow and compact and the flowers bloom purple on spikes in the spring.

Fall Bloomers etc...

Pink Ripple Thyme is still blooming sporadically, but the plants are incredible (see below). They could easily pass for a 2 gal plant


Pink Ripple Thyme



Hummelo Stachys is a Lamb's Ear that is quite a bit different. It has very showy flowers and smooth, medium green leaves. This is another that is thriving and totally dwarfing the little 1 gallon pot.

Hummelo Stachys


Yet another low, groundcover-type perennial that is doing exceptionally well this year: Georgia Blue Veronica


New England Aster is blooming now (photos above and below). It is a native species which shows in the flower color variations.


New England Aster



Fireworks Goldenrod just keeps getting brighter and brighter. It has such a nice form and gorgeous shot of color for the fall.



Tall Sedum are really blooming nicely right now. Above: Matrona


Neon Sedum


Autumn Fire Sedum with Matrona and Neon in the background