What’s Blooming…

Driving around the yard and noticing something in bloom and then running back to get the camera!  That has been me this week! I am always surprised one day you go by and it is green and then the next day it is in bloom.  The Viburnam standards are a sea of white blooms.  The Lilac Standards ‘Miss Kim’ are all in bloom.  We have two by the front door and every time it opens the waft of Lilac fragrance comes in and it is wonderful.  The peonies are just starting to open.  There are white and pink ones but I am partial to the red ones.  The rhododendrons are a fantastic show of colour and I am tempted to pull the one I have out at home and replace it the lovely red ones.  It has taken me forever to write this blog, I just went out with customer and noticed the Dogwoods are in bloom – and you guessed it – didn’t have the camera.  Next time I go out I will take the camera and come back to the them.  They are one of my favourite plants.  We have had some unique specimens come in and I will keeping adding a few every time I blog.  Take a look at the Sculptured Pines we received!  And the Japenese Maples…my next blog I will include more of the Maples…ahhh – so many plants – so many pictures…

 

PAO
Sculptured Pine
PAO
Japanese Maple
PAO
Rows of Viburnam Standards
PAO
Viburnam Standards
PAO
Viburnam Blooms
PAO
Lilac Standard
PAO
Lilac Blooms
PAO
Trunk Full of Blooms!

 

PAO
Rhododendron ‘Roseum Elegans’
PAO
Rhododendron ‘Nova Zembla’
PAO
Peony ‘Karl Rosenfield’
PAO
Sculptured Pine

 

The Perennials have arrived….

It is lovely to work in a nursery (some days – today being one of them).  I love all the different vibrant colours of all the different leaves on the trees.  The lime greens of the beech trees, the yellow green of the maples and the bright reds of the Japanese Maples.  The light green new growth on the yews an spruce.  I was out on the farm taking pictures of the Crabapple blooms and some Robins are busy building a nest nearby. They certainly didn’t want me near them as they were doing close fly bys around my head! I can move on you crazy birds – there are other photo ops out here!  The tri-colour beech are starting to leaf out – got a neat picture of that.  And the lilacs – I know there are a billion pictures out there of them but the frangrance lured me to them.  Due to the mild winter everything is coming back so nicely. It is nice to see.  However, along with the leaves and blooms – out come the bugs.  I am not a big fan of flies.

Some of our perennials are doing their thing.  I like the ‘Touch of Class’ Jacobs Ladder we received – as well as some cool sempervivums.  See the pictures below.  So many pictures to take and not enough time.  The Hostas and the ground covers have arrived and and are now sitting beside the ferns that are just starting to show green.

 

Acer palmatum ‘Crimson Queen’
Acer palmatum dissectum ‘Verdis’
Acer ‘Princeton Gold’
Acer ‘Princeton Gold’

 

Tri-colour Beech
Lilac
Malus ‘Candied Apple’

 

Heuchera ‘Midnight Rose’
Dicentra
Vinca

 

Ajuga
‘Touch of Class’ Jacobs Ladder
Sempervivum ‘Dark Cloud’

 

Sempervivum tomentosum

 

Tree Transplanting – It is time to move…

We are busy getting our nursery in order and are bringing in fresh plants almost everyday.  Surprisingly our crews are busy on job sites moving and transplanting large trees.  It seems like homeowners and developers are looking for that instant garden feel.  Although I am very familiar with the ‘Moving Tree’ process – I am still awed by the sight of a 50 foot tree leaving our yard and driving down the high way!  The end result is truly amazing!  One day there is nothing on the client’s house or business and then it is transformed into a space that looks like this tree had been there for years.  I have inserted some pictures for your interest.  However, there is more on our website if you would like further information.  I have been taking pictures all week – but the ones I took this morning are the best.  I decided to go to our other nursery facility to see the ‘sights’.  Although my job is take pictures of our nursery material I couldn’t help but a take a few photos of the Trillium’s and Violets that cover the forest floor as well.  In the early morning the rows of Serviceberries and Ornamental Pears looked stunning – covered with masses of blooms – all in white.  The Dawn redwoods are just starting to send out their new growth and it is that beautiful chartreuse colour.  The Red Japanese Maples are just leafing out and are the most brilliant red.  The Redbuds are in bloom with the best fuchsia colour – the pictures don’t even come close to doing them justice!  I have taken so many pictures (74 this morning alone) – it will be hard to decide which ones to share with you!

Deceived By A Balmy March!!!!

Spring was here last week but it is gone this week!  What a tease!  Our magnolias did not reach their peak magnifigance due to the frosty nights.  The beautiful blossoms that I was anxiously waiting to photograph have withered and turned brown.  With the cold days this week I have been hestitant to go out and take photos of what is coming on and what is not.  It is funny how nature is though – and as with all things botanical – the plants are fighting to push their leaves and flowers out into the longer daylight hours.  But we must remember that this is only the beginning of April and perhaps we expecting too much. As much as we love the sunshine – we do need some rain!  The ground is dry and and it is a worry for us farmers!  We need some water so that we don’t stress out the trees (But not as much as last year!!).  The landscapers are calling and we are digging as many trees as we can – as I guess they are being inundated by calls from homeowners.  We are making a first delivery of big trees to cottage country tomorrow – more than a month before Victoria day weekend!  Thaty is early for us – who knows what this Spring will provide us with.  I have ventured out into the wind and took some pictures of our first performers.