Evergreen Dogwood

Mountain Moons are great compliments to Valley of the Moons.  Where you find one you usually find the other.

So it makes sense that Wildwood Nursery has added Cornus capitata Mountain Moon to its dogwood collection.

Even though capitatas are native to the Himalayas, the flowers more closely resemble American dogwoods; they’re huge.  They bloom in June/July so there’s no mistaking them.

Plus, they have leaves all year, something American dogwoods can’t match!

The Kousas Are Blooming

Just when people think dogwoods are finished blooming, a new wave starts.

The trees native to Asian have slightly smaller, pointier blooms.  More star shaped than their rounded American cousins, the flowers sit above the leaves. 

The sheer mass of flowers more than makes up for their smaller size.  Mostly white with some pale pink varieties, they can bloom into June in some shady spots.

Learn all about them at http://wildwoodmaples.com/dogwood.php

What's A Peony Look Like?

A lady stopped by the nursery last week because she saw the PEONY sign in front of the nursery.

She said she had read about them but never seen them in person.  She asked if she could look at them.

She bought a Scarlet Heaven Itoh Peony and a Red Charm Bush Peony.

Five Of A Kind

Looking through A.j. Attaryi

What do Jordan, Rhode Island Red, Purple Ghost, Autumn Moon, and Attaryi all have in common?

They all compliment each other. Reds, oranges, yellows, pinks, and greens liven up a shady oak glen. The different heights and layers also pair well with the twisting turning oak limbs.

With careful pruning, the space will become a living sculpture.

Daphne

The bees are buzzing around the Daphnes at Wildwood Nursery.  The deer are nowhere to be seen.  The scent carries for miles.  Well the last is a slight exaggeration but even with allergies they are noticeable.

There are three foot wide five gallons and cute one gallons available right now.

New Planters

Now that the Hardieplank siding is painted, the planters are nearing completion.

Despite their size [1.5 yards of dirt in each], they blend in with their surroundings.

New artificial grass allows easy access to all sides.

Anatomy of a Planter

There are all types of containers and planters available for outdoor use.  Choosing a style is half the battle. Creating the correct mini growing environment is the other half.

All containers need good drainage, especially if they are on the tall side.  The wood planter to the left will have pea gravel in the bottom 2/3rds.  For a tree, the middle third would be half gravel and half soil.

Great drainage means lots of water [galvanized liner] and loss of nutrients quickly.  The soil on the top third will have to be changed yearly to maximize plant health.

Look for the finished photo next week!