Bill's Favorite Native Plants: February

Allen, Sterling & Lothrop's nursery manager Bill Kennie has been working with the Falmouth Open Space committee to help eradicate invasive plants from the Maine landscape. Bill believes that it is very important to include native species in ornamental landscape gardens. Indeed, the more native plants a garden has the better--native plants are typically low maintenance, they provide food and shelter for wildlife and are visually in keeping with our native "wild" landscape.

Microbiota Decussata " Russian Cypress"

Height: 1'      Spread: 4 - 6'

Not offically a native but it is one of the hardiest and most versatile evergreen.
Russian Cypress is one of my favorite evergreens (as many of you who know me know already!). It has soft cypress-like foliage that turns burgundy red in the winter.  I have planted several of these in my yard.  When they reach matuirty they can reqally fill a space and are good for sloping areas.  I have planted these in full sun & part shade and they have done great!  The only thing they don't like is wet feet; so be sure to plant Russian Cypress in well-drained soil. It is very hardy and wind tolerant.

Seed of the Month: American Broad Flag Leek!

February:

My mother used to say that her favorite garden was the one she planted in her head in January and February as she poured over her seed catalogs!

While it’s still too early to start seeds indoors, it’s good to keep in mind the seeds that need the earliest start: leeks, onion, thyme.

Leek are my favorite!!  The mild, non-bulbing member of the onion/garlic family, leeks are, seemingly, used everywhere in European cooking.  Their exorbitant price in the US makes them a great vegetable to grow in a kitchen garden.

At Allen, Sterling & Lothrop our leeks are American Broad Flag—an heirloom leek that is strong-growing with long, thick blanched necks and beautiful blue-green foliage.

Try this traditional French Soup, Bon Femme (from Epicurious.com):

• 8oz each of leeks, potatoes, carrots and onions.
• 1 oz butter
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
• 32 floz chicken stock (homemade or stock cube) - or water
• Salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Trim the leeks and wash thoroughly. Clean and peel the rest of the vegetables and cut into 1 inch chunks.

2. Melt the butter in a large saucepan or wok until it is hot but not brown.

3. Add the vegetables and stir-fry in a fairly high heat until sizzling and golden.

4. Add the salt and pepper - this gives a much more intense flavor than adding seasoning after the liquid - then add the chicken stock or water.

5. Simmer gently for 15-20 minutes.

6. When the vegetables are soft, mash gently with a fork or process quickly in a food processor or liquidizer until all lumps have gone, but the vegetables still have a little texture.

7. If necessary, reheat gently and serve this lovely, creamy soup in bowls with fresh parsley sprinkled on top.

Workshop 2/16: Magical Faerie Garden

Magical Faerie Garden

Saturday February 16^th at 11am

$40

Join Bill & Jess as they step from the “real” world of the greenhouse into the magical world of faeries! 

Using a beautiful, large  glazed bonzai pot (12” x 10” and about 4½” deep) and choosing from an extensive  variety of  delicate woodland plants (like ferns & moss),  you’ll create an unique garden that is perfect for local faeries looking to rest and relax!   

We’ll provide the glazed bonsai pot, soil, moss, natural elements (like river rock, tiny juniper branches etc.) and (of course!) plants!!  Bring yourself and any other miniature hardscape you’d like to add to your garden. We’ll have miniature furniture, wheelbarrows, tools, etc. available for sale.

This is a fun class to take with children; be it parents with children, grandparents with grandchildren, aunts with nephews or any combination thereof!

The class will meet in Allen, Sterling, & Lothrop’s greenhouse and should run about an hour.

 

Cost of the class is $40  

Space is limited. Please call 781-4142 to reserve your spot

Bill's Picks for September

Sassafras (albidum): 

This slower growing tree is one of my favorites for several reasons:  The irregular shaped fragrant leaves that look almost like small hands, the winter interest with its beautiful branching habit, but what really makes this tree great is its wonderful orange to red fall foliage.

 

 

 

 

Magician Deutzia (deutzia gracilis):  A frequently over-looked gem.  It has profuse pink flowers late spring with nice yellow foliage and is resistant to leaf scorch.  The pink hued fall foliage adds soft and subtle tones to the fall landscape.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Black-Eyed Susan’s (rudbeckia):  There are many varieties of these tough, long blooming plants which flower in yellow, gold, orange, etc.  When mixed with Cone Flower, Sedum, Joe Pye-Weed, Catmint, Russian Sage, etc. Black-Eyed Susan's will put some POW into your garden.  It will self-seed if you let it.  Many people leave the seeds for the birds, and winter interest.

Bill's Picks for August

Clethra Summer Sweet (Clethra Alnifolia): 

This plants name says it all it gives a fragrant abundance of cinnamon spice fragrance in you’re summer garden.  Most will tolerate sun to shade with varied heights of white and pink flowers that bees, humming birds and humans love.  This plant will naturalize but can be contained easily in the landscape.  The yellow fall foliage is a bonus!

Purple Leaf Birch (Betula Populifolia): 

I really like this tree, grown as a clump, in a summer garden with yellow foliage plants and hot colored perennials (purple, red, yellow, etc.).  The purple-red leaves against the mature, white bark makes this a stunning specimen.   

Cone Flower (Echinacea):

For a summer garden these plants are a must!  With their long bloom time and wide range of colors (pink, yellow, orange, red, white, etc.) all they need is some good sun and a little dead-heading and they will perform all summer long and well into the fall.  Some of the new varieties are really exciting!!

Bill's Picks for July

Bill's picks for July:

Hydrangea (Anomala, Arborescens, Macrophylla, Paniculata, etc.):

These beauties cover a wide range of placement in your landscape with size, sun exposure, and length of bloom.  Colors of pink, blue, white, etc., can add a blast of long changing bloom to your gardens.  Some of my favorites are “Twist-and-Shout,” “Limelight,” “Quickfire,” “Hydrangea Vine,” as well as the old stand-bys.  There are so many varieties coming out as well as the tried and true—hydrangeas are an excellent choice for any landscape. 

Katsura (Cercidiphyllum Japonicum):

This is a wonderful specimen tree with two-tone coppery heart-shaped leaves that seem to dance in the summer breeze.  I have found this to be a hardy, versatile tree which becomes quite large over time (60’ tall X 50’ wide).  If you were limited on how many trees you could have this would be one of my first recommendations.
(pictured here in all its fall glory)

Hyssop (Agastache): 

This fragrant plant will provide color all summer long and into the fall with spikes of blue/lavender flowers.  I love just brushing by it with its licorice scented foliage when working in the garden.  If you cut back lightly mid-summer it will reward you with a whole new flush in the fall.  An added bonus:  Bees and butterflies love hyssop!

Bill's Picks for June

Golden Vicary Privet (Ligustrum Vicaryi):

 I have become very fond of this plant over the past few years both in my garden as well as observed in other peoples landscapes.  It has fragrant sweet small white flowers against bright yellow foliage.  This plant makes a great lower hedger or a stand by itself.  It prefers full-sun for the best foliage color but I have this on the northwest side of my house and it does quite well.

Dogwood (Cornus Florida, Chinensis):  

These are truly a multi-seasonal tree with variations of key-lime flowers turning to white then to pink followed by red fruits.  Some varieties exfoliate their bark as they age.  These trees are great lawn specimen and will blend well in the wood-line border with part sun.  “Kousa” is one of the industry standards and I have become very fond of the variegated foliage of “Kousa Wolf Eyes”.   
 

Clematis:

I think a clematis can fit into any landscape. The varieties of color, size, and bloom time are endless.  I have several varieties in my garden that bloom from late spring well into the fall.  Some varieties bloom early then rest and bloom again.  I’m particularly fond of some of the smaller bell shaped forms.