Home

2.02.10

'There will be growth in the spring.' We must keep that in mind even in the middle of winter. Longer hours of daylight means spring is growing nearer and typically a rush is eminent. Let me work with you to get you the plants you need ahead of the early flush and rush. Good inventories and beautiful plants are ready to satisfy customers and gardeners. Arnold's Promise witchhazels are opening even with the snow and brings a smile on a cold winter day. Send me your wish list and let's be ready to reap the benifits of a plan in action.

1.10.10

The past year I've been doing more consulting. Enjoying that part more and more I am always looking to add new ideas.My wife Leela and I completed an extensive course in permaculture design. What an expansion of view for landscape design! Now I see so many more effects and practical usages of nature and extended surroundings that need to be considered. Small efforts with proper planning can make more of a functional homestead than plants used for aesthetics alone. Having things serve multiple task is both smart and efficient. Let's work together to accomplish multiple goals.

10.01.09

Witchhazel blooms are opening up and bringing color and light scents to the winter landscape. Too often overlooked, witchhazels bloom when other plants take a snooze. We offer the native Common (Hamamelis virginiana) and Vernal (Hamamelis vernalis) along with Arnolds Promise (Hamamelis x intermedia). These are relatively pest/trouble free plants that make excellent hedges or use as a specimen. All these have yellow blooms with green foliage during the summer turning golden yellow in fall. Very durable and adaptable, these plants are able to meet the quest for a garden that blooms year around.

12.05.08

Japanese maples are a favorite around here and this year we have a good selection. Red laceleaf varieties include Crimson Queen, Inaba Shidare, Tamu ke yama and Red Dragon. Upright growing types include the well known Bloodgood (red leaves), Sango Kaku (coral bark) and Orido Nishiki. Orido Nishiki is a very interesting plant that has splotches of white, cream and pink in its rich green leaves. It also, with age, has streaks of white in the bark giving it a unique winter effect. Pick a spot suited for royalty in the landscape as any of these maples offer grace to any garden. If you are looking for some of the out of the ordinary Japanese maples we have several varieties growing and hope to be finished by next year. A landscape without a Japanese maple is like a forest with no trees.

10.03.08

Fall is an excellent time for planting most plants. An often under considered feature in selecting many plants is fall color. The orange tones of the sugar maple always come to mind for me as a favorite. Impacts can be made in small areas with Japanese maples which really stand out in the fall along with our native Sourwood Oxydendrum arboretum. I encourage you to enjoy fall as the season that remind us that everything changes and change is an event to enjoy.

08.07.08

Crape myrtles bring colorful blooms all summer long. Lavenders, whites, reds, pinks and shades in between. Dynamite and Red Rocket are fantastic for a much sought after cherry red. A favorite of mine is Sioux with its vibrant pink blooms and wonderful glossy green foliage. Group and individual plantings will give season long color. Many have exfoliating bark, adding visual interest in the winter season.

06.11.08

Spring turns to summer and along comes those dry periods. Newly installed plants need regular watering. This month the focus is on nandinas. Popular for good reasons, nandina is a highly desirable plant for the landscape. Firepower offers an evergreen effect, changing fall colors, and is easy to maintain. We have some very nice Gulf Stream nandinas that offer a different look while keeping their compact size. Standard nandina is a time proven classic and should be considered for challenging conditions.

04.17.08

'Wide open' is what we call it around here. Spring's the time all is growing and we have a lot of nice plants. Usual - boxwoods, Anna Belle, leylands +. Unusual - Japanese Stewartia, Dwarf Oakleaf. Miniature crape myrtle 'Chickasaw' is on special #5 $6.50 from now until end of May. We can get you in and out quick by calling ahead. Don't forget to tarp this time of year

03.17.08

Sweet bay magnolia: This semi-evergreen plant with its lush green foliage can be used as a screen or as a specimen plant. Its creamy white, lemon scented flowers begin in May and can continue until September, adding so much to the garden. A native of the south, it can tolerate moist soils once established, better than many plants. GVP has a good supply of different sizes at the moment. As with all spring plantings the sooner in the ground the better.