Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Saturday, April 19, 2014
New Redbud Ruby Falls
The gorgeous Cascading Redbud 'Ruby Falls'.
We challenge you to describe it!
The NEW cascading Redbud 'Ruby Falls'
exhibits an excellent branching structure. The weeping tree reaches a
moderate height of 4 to 6 feet and a spread 6 to 8 feet. Ruby Falls
blooms profusely in early spring with clusters of tiny hot pink
rose-purple, pea-like flowers before the foliage emerges. Flowers are
attractive to hummingbirds (and other birds as well), butterflies and
bees.
The rich, purple, heart-shaped leaves open bright ruby-purple in spring, then gradually mature to deep purple, and ultimately change to a burgundy green in the warmest climates as the season progresses. The weeping branches on the 'Ruby Falls' gives it a very different color effect than the 'Forest Pansy' redbud. The overlapping leaves weeping down the tree give it a three-tone effect - reddish purple the new leaves, purple the older leaves, and finally the burgundy-green color on the innermost leaves.An absolutely stunning tree that will spotlight your garden. Fall color on this deciduous ornamental is yellow until leaf drop in early winter.
If elegance is part of the look you are trying to achieve in your garden, then 'Ruby Falls' is a must. Rarely are plants as well suited to be a specimen or garden feature plant as well as the elegance and small stature of 'Ruby Falls'.
The cultivar benefits from an exposure of partial sun to shade and is easily grown in a range of well-drained soil types. Careful not to overwater as it does not like wet feet.
Try it in a border and add that special something! You'll be the envy of your neighbors.
NOTE: The 'Ruby Falls' is in high demand and and has limited availability. It sells out quickly. Please put in your order as soon as possible to avoid the disappointment of being sold out.
Yes, I want a Ruby Falls before they are sold out. Click on this link.
Bihou Japanese Maple
Bihou translates into “beautiful mountain range”. The Bihou Japanese Maple tree is a
gorgeous little tree. It grows between 6-10 feet high and grows upright. The
average width is between 4’-6’, so it will fit well in small spaces. The
Japanese Bihou Japanese Maple has leaves which appear in the spring
as chartreuse edged in red. The leaves then turn a delicate shade of medium
green for summer. In the fall, yellow leaves blend with orange for a truly
lovely display. But, believe it or not, for the Bihou Japanese Maple the true breathtaking display is in
winter. The bark of the tree turns orange and yellow and glows with color
against the dull winter landscape.
The Bihou Japanese Maple prefers sun to partial shade. It can
be grown in Zones 6-9. It enjoys morning sun, evening sun, dappled light and
filtered shade. The Bihou Japanese Maple likes its soil well drained. It’s
resistant to deer and heat. With this tree in your yard, it will attract visual
attention as well.
This lovely little tree is perfect along woodland borders. Bihou Japanese Maple can also be used for focal point, to
frame the corners of your home, or in a theme garden. The Bihou Japanese Maple breathes life into small spaces with
its delicate, colorful beauty. Plan to plant one in area of your choice, we
have Bihou Japanese Maple trees in stock
today!
Sunday, April 13, 2014
The American Elm, Tree of the Future
The American Elm, Tree of the Future
If you are a gardener, you plant for the future. Every time
you put a seed, bulb, plant or tree into the ground, you’re putting your belief
in something special’s future growth and development. You understand with perennials,
for example, they may spread and grow long after you’re gone. So why not invest
in an American Elm, a tree for the future?
History of the
American Elm
When the early settlers first came to America, they
discovered the American Elm tree. Through trial and err, they found its
extremely hard and durable wood could be used both for lumber and furniture
making. The wood was flexible enough, when steamed and bent, to even be used to
make rocking chairs, barrels and wheel hoops. The Native Americans in the area
also used the American Elm to build canoes for their forays on the water.
Unfortunately, in the 1930’s, beetles infected the American
Elm with Dutch Elm Disease, a deadly fungus. When the fungus enters the tree,
it reproduces in the parts of the tree which conduct water to the stems and
branches. The fungus works by blocking water movement to the leaves of the
tree. Consequently, the leaves wilt and die. This nasty fungus can kill a
mature tree of 100 feet within a time span of two or four years. Also because
of the shallow root system where the roots of other elms can touch in the
American Elm, Dutch Elm Disease can spread to other elms very easily. So the
American Elm was almost wiped out.
Facts about the
American Elm
The American Elm is a beautiful majestic tree. It’s a fast
growing tree and can reach up to 100 feet in height. The width of a mature elm
in its glorious branches is almost as wide. An elm at the height of its
maturity can have a trunk span of almost 7 feet around. It has a shape like an
urn, with a spreading crown of symmetrical branches at the top. The bark is an
interesting feature, dark grayish brown in color with many broad ridges and
unique diamond ahead fissures. The leaf of on an American Elm is about 3-5
inches long. It has double serrated margins, 1 to 3 inches wide and has about
15 pairs of veins. The front of the leaf is green and smooth to the touch,
while the underside is pale and has a downy feel to it. The American Elm does
have fruit which develops in clusters on long brown stems. The seed from the
elm is oblong with notches at the peak and it’s covered in a papery skin. An
American Elm prefers a PH of 5.5 to 8.0 and rich, well-drained soil. However,
it will also grow in compacted soil or soil which is poorly drained and in full
sun or part shade. It does like wetlands and moist areas but will adapt and
thrive in urban conditions. It will grow in Zones 2 through 9.
A New Future
Although the damage to the American Elm was massive and
almost wiped the species out, there is hope. The Princeton American Elm is breathing new
life back into the species. DNA tests have shown the Princeton Elm has come
from a 280 year old American Elm tree. This tree is in the Princeton cemetery
and Vice President Aaron Burr rests beneath it. This American Elm is highly
resistant to the Dutch Elm disease. The Princeton is also resistant to the elm
leaf beetle, another pest. So there have been cuttings taken to start new elm
trees to spread the American Elm. A cutting is used because the Princeton Elms’
genetic resistance can be passed down through the lineage. If seedlings are
used, there is a chance the resistance wouldn’t be passed down otherwise. The
Princeton has the beautiful American Elm urn shape and has the best form of all
the Ulmus cultivars.
What can you do?
You can plant an American Elm tree for the future. These
trees are extremely large so give it plenty of room. If you plant several,
space them 20-50 feet apart. Use 3-6 inches of organic mulch to help maintain
moisture levels. Avoid placing the mulch against the tree truck so the tree
doesn’t rot. Prune the tree once a year and remove dead or dying branches when
the tree is young. As the tree matures, prune it less and don’t prune it all
during growing season. Use the correct fertilizer and if you’re not sure what
that is, ask a professional.
Gardeners are the caretakers of the past and the guardians
of the future. Please do your part by making sure this beautiful tree is here
for generations to come.
Friday, April 11, 2014
Osmanthus Fragrans - Fragrant Tea Olive, Sweet Olive
Common Names: Sweet Olive,
Fragrant Tea Olive.
Small creamy-orange flowers of
this delightful legendary plant from China fill the air with a rare perfume
that surrounds you and penetrates deep into your heart, bringing a touch of
floral mystery. The allure of tea made with Osmanthus blossoms is perfect for
those times when you want something seductive yet satisfying.
Osmanthus is one of the 10
famous flowers in China and Taiwan. A traditional symbol of Love and Romance,
Osmanthus was used in old wedding customs in Taiwan, when the bride prepared
Sweet Osmanthus and Pomegranate pot plants and carried them to her new family.
The fragrant plant symbolized True Love and Faithfulness and the fruit tree -
Fertility and Peace, and the custom had the meaning of "giving birth to
noble children" and "many children and many grandchildren".
For modern people the plant is
still very much welcomed. Slow growing and easy in cultivation, Osmanthus makes
a good container plant. In the ground it can grow into a small tree or shrub
that will take a wide range of conditions, from full sun to shade, requires
minimum care and is relatively cold hardy at least to zones 8-9.
Osmanthus fragrans, or Sweet
Olive (Tea Olive), belongs to Olive Family (Oleaceae) along with numerous
jasmines. It is evergreen tree or shrub with a moderate growth rate, native to
China. It has glossy dark green leaves 2"x-4" with toothed edges and
small 0.5" flowers usually hidden by foliage, with a strong apricot-like
fragrance that can be smelled from a distance.
The plant prefers reasonably
good soil, but is adaptable to different kinds of soil, including sandy and
alkaline. Young plant needs regular watering and once established, little water
is required and the plant will thrive well almost with neglect. The tree may be
pruned to maintain size or formed as a smaller shrub, and to encourage
branching.
Plant Sweet Olive where its
lovely fragrance can be enjoyed, wherever there is foot traffic near windows,
doors or by outdoor sitting areas. Keep it in a pot if you have limited space,
and provide just a little care and Love. This slow growing Plant of Romance is
very long-lived and will lighten your winters for a very long time.
Sweet Olive is especially
valued as an additive for tea and other beverages in the Far East. The Chinese
discovered that the Osmanthus can be used to enhance the natural fruitiness of
some of their finest green and black teas. The result is similar to fine
jasmine tea (flavored with Jasminum sambac) but lighter and much fruitier. The
leaves from the osmanthus are sometimes mixed in with partially fermented green
tea to produce a lovely aromatic tea. Osmanthus flowers used to scent tea are
known as Kwei Hwa (Kwei Hua).
A scented tea can be made by
adding into regular black or green tea a small amount of dried flowers of
Osmanthus and Jasmine. The jar with this mix should be sealed for a few weeks,
and then used for brew.
Osmanthus blossom scented tea
with fresh flower petals has an unforgettable scent that can just draw you into
feeling a bit drunk...
Medicinal Use:
Osmanthus fragrans flowers
(know as Gui Hua, or Kwei Hwa) are widely used in Chinese medicine. There are
many medical products made out of sweet osmanthus buds, leaves and bark. They
are said to protect against coughs and used to flavor other medicines, and in
cosmetics for the hair and skin.
A decoction of the stem bark is
used in the treatment of boils, carbuncles etc. A decoction of the lateral
roots is used in the treatment of dysmenorrhoea, rheumatism, bruises etc. An
essential oil obtained from the flowers is used as an insect repellent for
clothes. They are also added to herbal medicines in order to disguise obnoxious
flavors.
Both the blossoms and the
leaves of this plant are used in the production of some of the world's rarest
and most expensive perfumes. Because of its scarcity Osmaunthus Absolute oil is
very expensive, up to $3000 per lb, and its use in commercial perfumery is
restricted to small quantities.
The Osmanthus scent is often
referred to as "the Perfume of Perfumes" due to its pure and
intoxicating floral redolence. The fruity notes are a bouquet in themselves as
they partake of apricot, plum and raisins. Its most intense aroma is floating
and dancing on whispers of breeze, touching the hearts with nostalgia and
remembrance of things past.
The Osmanthus flower itself is
simply radiant, and some perfumery experts admit that there is not any other
perfume that so perfectly catches the beauty of the flower and call it
"the reminiscence of a Chinese garden".
Osmanthus perfumes are
delightfully fruity, floral fragrances - and yet supremely sophisticated and
elegant, rendering the delicacy of the distant land and the mysteries of its
most prized flower...
What Are Other's Saying:
"Mine is blooming now. One
of the most wonderfully powerful fragrances I've ever had the pleasure of
smelling. Year in and out, always incredible. How can such small orange flowers
put out such a massive scent? When it's in bloom, everyone in the area knows
it, even if you can't really see the flowers unless you're standing beside the
shrub/tree. Mine is about 8-10 ft high. I do prune it to keep it from getting
too wide, but I don't try to control the height. Absolutely bullet proof: no
problems of any kind and no drought or winter has changed its appearance or
hardiness an iota. No supplemental watering period, ever." (From
Birmingham, AL)
Don’t miss an opportunity to
inhale the heady aroma of fresh osmanthus flowers. It is one of the true
delights of the Earth.
DESCRIPTION:
Height: 8-15 ft.
Flowers: Late Winter/Early
Spring, Late Summer/Early Fall, Blooms repeatedly.
Bloom Color: Coral/Apricot,
Orange.
Foliage: Evergreen, Aromatic,
Smooth-Textured.
This plant may be attractive to
bees, butterflies and/or birds. Flowers are VERY fragrant.
Sun Exposure: Sun to Partial
Shade.
Irrigation: Water regularly; do
not overwater. This plant is suitable for growing indoors.
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