In less than two weeks it will be Mother's Day. Have you thought about what you want to get your mom this year? Maybe a bouquet is your usual gift. This year, make your gift dollars go farther--buy her a growing gift! We have plenty of gift ideas at the nursery, and for over 70 years, we've been warming the hearts of mothers just like yours! Here are a few ideas:
-Lynden baskets (which we'll hold for you until Mother's Day weekend--free!)
-Jackson & Perkins roses
-Flowering shrubs
-Gift certificates
-Garden tools
We have many more ideas in-store, and we'll be happy to help you pick out the perfect gift for your mom. Mother's Day is almost here--make mom feel loved with a gift from Vander Giessen Nursery!
April 28, 2009
April 24, 2009
Primetime
It doesn't get a lot better than this! This time of year, Vander Giessen Nursery is bursting with color, from our fully-stocked greenhouses packed with color to the many flowering shrubs and trees coming into bloom in the nursery display yard. This truly is a magical time of year.
Spring is here--yes, we're still getting some cool evening temperatures, so we recommend that you wait another week to put your annuals out--but now is a great time to browse the nursery and pick out some shrubs to bring color to your garden.
Speaking of color for your garden, if you haven't had a chance, take a few minutes to read the "Early spring color for your garden" post (below). Tired of having a blah landscape? Give it a dose of spring with some of the suggestions listed.
So stop by the nursery--even if you only have time to quickly walk through. You'll love what you see!
Spring is here--yes, we're still getting some cool evening temperatures, so we recommend that you wait another week to put your annuals out--but now is a great time to browse the nursery and pick out some shrubs to bring color to your garden.
Speaking of color for your garden, if you haven't had a chance, take a few minutes to read the "Early spring color for your garden" post (below). Tired of having a blah landscape? Give it a dose of spring with some of the suggestions listed.
So stop by the nursery--even if you only have time to quickly walk through. You'll love what you see!
April 17, 2009
Early spring color for your garden
(Originally published in the April 8 Lynden Tribune.)
Spring is a magical time of year for gardeners. The cold, dark days of winter fade and warmer weather gradually returns. With the warmth comes a profusion of color, and the breathtaking transformation to spring begins in the Pacific Northwest.
As I write, the calendar shows that we officially began spring nearly two weeks ago; this year, however, spring is coming much later than in recent years. Though we had a very pleasant—and even warm—start to the year, the last month brought many days of cold, wet weather. That said, the early-blooming shrubs and trees that often flower in mid-March are just beginning to show their color.
So, as a gardener, what can you look for to brighten up your garden at this time of year? First, let’s go over a few flowering trees. Around Whatcom County this time of year, you’ll see many flowering cherry and plum trees. One garden favorite for many is the ‘Thundercloud’ flowering plum. This small- to mid-sized tree is a great garden accent or focal point with its beautiful pink flowers in early spring. Later, when it leafs out, it has deep purple foliage that lasts all summer long.
Dogwood, another popular flowering tree, blooms later in spring and comes in various shades of pink and white. For small gardens, kousa dogwoods—available in pink or white—provide abundant color in a compact form.
For people who want a wider array of color in their flowerbeds, flowering shrubs come in just about every color of the rainbow. Late in winter, many varieties of heather begin to bloom, heralding the coming arrival of spring. ‘Mediterranean Pink’ heather blooms in a carpet of soft pink flowers and is a seasonal favorite for many gardeners. Another harbinger of spring is forsythia; this deciduous shrub catches the eye with a profusion of golden yellow blooms that cover the stems. Still another early-blooming shrub is pieris, which comes in various pinks and white. While pieris certainly offers color with spring flowers, most varieties provide colorful foliage throughout late spring and well into summer as the new growth comes on in shades of bright red and bronze.
For visitors to the Pacific Northwest from warmer, drier climates, rhododendrons are a showstopper. While many of us yawn at the mention of another “rhody,” there are many beautiful varieties available for today’s gardeners. A few personal favorites are ‘Hotei,’ with yellow blooms, ‘Aloha,’ a rhododendron that blooms with mottled pink and white flowers and stays compact, and ‘Vulcan,’ with its deep crimson red clusters of flowers.
The smaller cousins of rhododendrons, azaleas provide an equally beautiful and diverse array of color in spring. ‘Hino Crimson’ has striking red flowers set above glossy green leaves and scarlet-tinged stems. ‘Mothers Day’ traditionally blooms on and around its namesake holiday and has purple-tinged foliage to provide interest year-round. For gardeners who wish to have orange or yellow azaleas, deciduous exbury azaleas have bloom clusters similar to rhododendrons and flower with eye-catching vividness.
Soon, temperatures will warm, and with the chance of frost behind us, it will be safe to plant your annuals and put hanging baskets outside—then you’ll be able to enjoy the full array of colors in your garden. In the meantime, stop at your local nursery to browse the fresh selection of spring-flowering shrubs and trees, and take a walk through the greenhouses to begin planning your flower garden. And remember, spring is coming—plant now to make it colorful and a season to enjoy for years to come!
Spring is a magical time of year for gardeners. The cold, dark days of winter fade and warmer weather gradually returns. With the warmth comes a profusion of color, and the breathtaking transformation to spring begins in the Pacific Northwest.
As I write, the calendar shows that we officially began spring nearly two weeks ago; this year, however, spring is coming much later than in recent years. Though we had a very pleasant—and even warm—start to the year, the last month brought many days of cold, wet weather. That said, the early-blooming shrubs and trees that often flower in mid-March are just beginning to show their color.
So, as a gardener, what can you look for to brighten up your garden at this time of year? First, let’s go over a few flowering trees. Around Whatcom County this time of year, you’ll see many flowering cherry and plum trees. One garden favorite for many is the ‘Thundercloud’ flowering plum. This small- to mid-sized tree is a great garden accent or focal point with its beautiful pink flowers in early spring. Later, when it leafs out, it has deep purple foliage that lasts all summer long.
Dogwood, another popular flowering tree, blooms later in spring and comes in various shades of pink and white. For small gardens, kousa dogwoods—available in pink or white—provide abundant color in a compact form.
For people who want a wider array of color in their flowerbeds, flowering shrubs come in just about every color of the rainbow. Late in winter, many varieties of heather begin to bloom, heralding the coming arrival of spring. ‘Mediterranean Pink’ heather blooms in a carpet of soft pink flowers and is a seasonal favorite for many gardeners. Another harbinger of spring is forsythia; this deciduous shrub catches the eye with a profusion of golden yellow blooms that cover the stems. Still another early-blooming shrub is pieris, which comes in various pinks and white. While pieris certainly offers color with spring flowers, most varieties provide colorful foliage throughout late spring and well into summer as the new growth comes on in shades of bright red and bronze.
For visitors to the Pacific Northwest from warmer, drier climates, rhododendrons are a showstopper. While many of us yawn at the mention of another “rhody,” there are many beautiful varieties available for today’s gardeners. A few personal favorites are ‘Hotei,’ with yellow blooms, ‘Aloha,’ a rhododendron that blooms with mottled pink and white flowers and stays compact, and ‘Vulcan,’ with its deep crimson red clusters of flowers.
The smaller cousins of rhododendrons, azaleas provide an equally beautiful and diverse array of color in spring. ‘Hino Crimson’ has striking red flowers set above glossy green leaves and scarlet-tinged stems. ‘Mothers Day’ traditionally blooms on and around its namesake holiday and has purple-tinged foliage to provide interest year-round. For gardeners who wish to have orange or yellow azaleas, deciduous exbury azaleas have bloom clusters similar to rhododendrons and flower with eye-catching vividness.
Soon, temperatures will warm, and with the chance of frost behind us, it will be safe to plant your annuals and put hanging baskets outside—then you’ll be able to enjoy the full array of colors in your garden. In the meantime, stop at your local nursery to browse the fresh selection of spring-flowering shrubs and trees, and take a walk through the greenhouses to begin planning your flower garden. And remember, spring is coming—plant now to make it colorful and a season to enjoy for years to come!
April 2, 2009
Listen to the corn grow!
In the Midwest, where I went to college, they say you can actually hear the corn growing in the summer. I believe it--the growing season they have there is shorter and more intense than here in the Pacific Northwest, so the corn has to grow at breakneck speed in order to be mature by harvest.
In our greenhouses right now, the hanging baskets, bedding plants and basket stuffers are growing just as fast as the Iowa cornfields in July. Now, you may not be able to hear the plants growing--although I haven't tried (so maybe you can!)--but you can certainly see the difference from day to day. It's really an exciting time of year, seeing the fresh green foliage and the first blooms of the season.
It's still too early to put any annuals outside, but if the dreary, cold rain is getting to you, stop by the nursery. You're more than welcome to walk through our greenhouses and enjoy a taste of spring! And don't be surprised if you can hear the plants growing--it's just that time of year.
In our greenhouses right now, the hanging baskets, bedding plants and basket stuffers are growing just as fast as the Iowa cornfields in July. Now, you may not be able to hear the plants growing--although I haven't tried (so maybe you can!)--but you can certainly see the difference from day to day. It's really an exciting time of year, seeing the fresh green foliage and the first blooms of the season.
It's still too early to put any annuals outside, but if the dreary, cold rain is getting to you, stop by the nursery. You're more than welcome to walk through our greenhouses and enjoy a taste of spring! And don't be surprised if you can hear the plants growing--it's just that time of year.
March 26, 2009
March 17, 2009
Tell Us What You Think
If you follow our blog with any regularity, you'll notice that we've recently updated the appearance of the blog; we haven't really changed any of the actual content--we simply gave the blog a fresh look.
That said, we're always looking to improve how we can serve you better, and our blog is no exception. So, tell us what you think! Please feel free to e-mail us at info@vandergiessennursery.com to let us know what you'd like to see more of (or less!) on our blog. Maybe it's plant suggestions for the northwest Washington region, maybe lawn or garden care tips...whatever it is, we'd like to be able to serve you better!
Looking forward to hearing from you,
David
That said, we're always looking to improve how we can serve you better, and our blog is no exception. So, tell us what you think! Please feel free to e-mail us at info@vandergiessennursery.com to let us know what you'd like to see more of (or less!) on our blog. Maybe it's plant suggestions for the northwest Washington region, maybe lawn or garden care tips...whatever it is, we'd like to be able to serve you better!
Looking forward to hearing from you,
David
March 14, 2009
Making a List, Checking it Twice
The last time I wrote, I noted the beautiful weather we'd been having, saying that you wouldn't know it's still winter. Well, since that time, we've had our fair share of crazy winter weather, with a couple dustings of snow and several nights of sub-freezing temperatures. With that kind of weather, you'd think Santa was on his way again!
But, fortunately, it looks like we're beyond the cold temperatures and snow--our typical spring rain appears to be here to stay (at least for awhile!). So, while you wait for temperatures to warm up a little bit more before you head out to your garden, now is the time to start making some lists.
When you have a moment, take some time to walk around your house and examine your shrubs and trees. This winter was particularly hard on many plants. Why? It's not uncommon for us to have cold temperatures or wind storms, but this year, we were hit with both--at the same time. The combination of cold and wind left many plants essentially freeze-dried. As you look around your house, you may notice several plants--especially those with a northeast exposure--damaged or dead. Those plants which are evergreen may look wilted or have crispy leaves; deciduous plants may have blackened stems or fail to produce new buds in the next couple weeks.
So, what should be on your "To Do" list this time of year? Here are a few items to plan for as you gear up for spring:
But, fortunately, it looks like we're beyond the cold temperatures and snow--our typical spring rain appears to be here to stay (at least for awhile!). So, while you wait for temperatures to warm up a little bit more before you head out to your garden, now is the time to start making some lists.
When you have a moment, take some time to walk around your house and examine your shrubs and trees. This winter was particularly hard on many plants. Why? It's not uncommon for us to have cold temperatures or wind storms, but this year, we were hit with both--at the same time. The combination of cold and wind left many plants essentially freeze-dried. As you look around your house, you may notice several plants--especially those with a northeast exposure--damaged or dead. Those plants which are evergreen may look wilted or have crispy leaves; deciduous plants may have blackened stems or fail to produce new buds in the next couple weeks.
So, what should be on your "To Do" list this time of year? Here are a few items to plan for as you gear up for spring:
- Prune your roses. For shrub roses (Hybrid Tea, Grandiflora, Floribunda, etc.), prune back to 12-18 inches, assuming you already pruned them halfway back last fall. If you don't normally prune your roses back that far, use your best judgement for how much to prune, remembering to leave an open center. Roses don't like to have crowded canes (i.e. stems).
- Apply a systemic insecticide with fertilizer to any Spruce or other evergreens that may be susceptible to insects or disease. Bayer Advanced Tree & Shrub is an excellent, easy to use product that only requires application once a year.
- Watch your deciduous shrubs and trees closely to see if they bud. Spring is coming a couple weeks later than usual this year, but you may need to replace some of your plants after the hard winter. Make notes of which plants you will need to consider replacing.
- Prune any damaged-but-salvageable plants. Pruning before they put on their spring growth will allow them to rebuild the lost plant structure sooner than later.
- Prepare to prune your topiaries! The best time of year to prune topiary form shrubs and trees is early spring, before they put out their new growth. If you're daunted by the prospect, give us a call--we can recommend a landscaper to trim them for you or schedule it ourselves.
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