Oh My – Just Magnificent – Spectacular

Posted on by Marietta Buchner

These are just a few words to describe what our nursery looks like.  It is now filled with plants, shrubs and trees and some blooming plants to feed the hummingbirds.  We have lantana trees and lantana pots to give the hummingbirds some appreciated nectar when they arrive here after their long journey.  Chances are good that if you put a lantana tree or pot on your deck or wherever you sit outside, hummingbirds will fly to it.  We also have blooming roses that are quite spectacular.  There are too many things to describe so we suggest you stop in and check us out.

               Wagon full of rose plants

                    Wagon full of lantanas

 

                                                                              Rose marvel salvias

 

Drift of Fragrance – Lilacs

Posted on by Marietta Buchner

Close your eyes and imagine the drift of fragrance from lilacs.  Very soon they will be everywhere, blooming in shades of deep purple to light pink to white.  Lilacs have come a long way since our grandma’s lilacs, most often the common purple.   Short lilacs to tall lilacs to tree lilacs to reblooming ones have been developed.  At our nursery we carry many varieties of lilacs.  Below is a list of some of the lilacs we have. Keep in mind, though, that we may be out of stock for some lilacs and new ones may be added.  Click on the lilac name below and you will be taken to a page describing that lilac.

Albert Holden
Beauty of Moscow
Bloomerang, Dark Purple
Charles Joly
Common Purple
Common White
Donald Wyman
Dwarf Korean
Ludwig Spaeth
Miss Kim
Mount Baker
Pocahontas
Scent & Sensibility
Sensation

 

Honeyberry: The Second Bloom of Spring

Posted on by Beth

A well-versed plant enthusiast will tell you that forsythia is the first blooming shrub of the season. But, do you know of a flowering shrub that soon followings? Its the honeyberry! As we begin our pre-season set up at the garden center, we were amazed to find that our Berry Blue, Borealis, and Cinderella honeyberries in full bloom. Click on the links to view each variety and their need to know information.

In normal Wisconsin spring weather, one can expect to see the honeyberry bloom mid to end of April and fully ripen by early summer. The honeyberry fruit, as was once noted, looks like a grape in shape but tastes sweet like a blueberry. Honeyberries are great for fresh eating and are also great for making jams, jellies, and baking. Honeyberries do require a pollinator so make sure you have the space to bring at least two plants home.

Let 2024 be the year to try something new! Stop at the garden center and give it a try, or just come and say ‘hi’!

 

 

 

Dream On, then Plant!

Posted on by Marietta Buchner

Now that the holidays are over and we are entering the winter months of January and February, it is time to dream about planting a new garden or redoing our present garden(s). It is so much fun to look thru all the garden pictures on Pinterest and other sites. Sit down and start drawing or writing notes of what you would like your garden to look like. Colorful? Calm? Shady? Sun? there are so many types of plants available to help you get the garden you dream of. You can do all the reading you want to do, but what it comes down to is to plant YOUR garden, a garden that YOU like. Yes, there is advice out there to plant in three’s, to mass plant, to color coordinate, etc. These are just ideas to aid you, but in the end your garden should reflect you! On our website, under Plants and Products, we have a huge selection of some of the plants that we have carried in the past. We have not updated it yet this year, but this can give you a pretty good idea of most of the plants that are available at our nursery, from perennials to shrubs to trees. Sketch a design or jot notes down and bring them to our garden center this spring and one of our sales staff will be happy to tell you if these ideas will work or perhaps suggest alternatives. So dream January and February away and come visit us this spring.

My Monet Purple Effect Weigela

Posted on by Marietta Buchner

We have a new weigela in stock. My Monet Purple Effect Weigela gets abundant pink flowers in late spring. Its’ neat variegated leaves start off green with white edges and eventually takes on purple tones as the growing season progresses. This plant is great for borders, mass plantings and containers as it only grows to about a foot and half in height and two feet wide.  Click here for more information on this plant.

My Monet Purple Effect Weigela.   Photo courtesy of Proven Winners or www.provenwinners.com

 

 

My Monet Purple Effect Weigela.       Photo courtesy of Proven Winners or www.provenwinners.com

 

 

 

 

 

Rose Care

Posted on by Marietta Buchner

Do your roses look as good or better then the following pictures?   If not, perhaps next year, or even this year yet, give them a scoop or two of Fertilome Rose & Flower Food.  I was always skeptical about using fertilizer, except for Miracle Grow, as a waste of money.  Well this spring when it was time to prune my roses, I put two scoops of this fertilizer by each rose bush and what a difference!   My roses, and I have about 15, all look wonderful this year and as of today, June 5th, they have started blooming.   I also used this same fertilizer around many of my perennials and they, too, are looking fantastic.  At first I was wondering why everything looks so good this year, then I remembered that I used this fertilizer.   Well from now on I am a believer and will be using this every spring and whenever else I think a flower needs a boost.  It is recommended to reapply every 30 days.   Stop in at Trees Today and pick up a bag of this fertilizer.  It is a systemic, meaning that it is taken up by the roots of the plant, PLUS it is an insecticide.

Fertilome Rose & Flower Food

 

Red Double Knock Out Rose

 

Pink Double Knock Out Rose

 

Niitty Gritty Yellow Rose

 

The Itoh Peony

Posted on by Marietta Buchner

Have you seen the new Itoh peonies yet?  They are a cross between the tree peony and the common herbaceous peony.   The main differences are that the Itoh stems are much sturdier, the Itoh’s bloom for 3-4 weeks and can have 30-60 blossoms per plant and up to 6″ wide,  depending on the variety.   Itoh blossoms are exquisite, coming in more colors like yellow, apricot, coral, purples and then the usual array of pinks.  If Itoh flowers are protected from the hot afternoon sun, they can last as long as 14 days in your garden.  They are very fast growing, maturing to about 3 ft tall by 3-1/2 ft wide.  Planting in the morning sun is preferable although they can be planted in filtered to full sun.  The lush mound of Itoh foliage is another plus as it makes a nice looking shrub and often turn color in fall.  Deer generally avoid them.  It is recommended that for a real WOW, plant 3-5 in a cluster although one single specimen alone, or in a pot puts on quite the show also.   The downside is that they are more expensive then the herbaceous peonies, but once established they viturally are carefree and can last up to 50 years.  Consider them an investment.

 

Itoh Takara Treasure peony

Itoh Keiko pink peony

 

Itoh Cora Louise peony

Itoh yellow peony

 

Itoh Singing in the Rain peony

Itoh Julia Rose peony

Lenten Rose / Hellebores

Posted on by Marietta Buchner

Hellebores, or Lenten Roses, typically bloom late winter or very early spring in Zone 4. They are among the very first flowers to bloom, sometimes around the time Lent starts, thus the name Lenten Roses. The foliage is thick and very low to the ground. Flowers are about 2″ wide and the thick foliage is pretty much deer and rabbit resistance which is good, as the foliage tends to stay green year round. When planting, it is important to keep the crown of the plant above ground. If the crown is planted below ground, there is a good chance the plant will die. Once established, hellebores live up to the sleep, creep and leap motto. The first year planted they do very little, the second year they are establishing roots, and the third year and beyond they really start leaping, providing tons of flowers. Plant them close to your house so you can appreciate their beauty. They will bloom even if there is snow on the ground.  A few of the Lenten Roses we carried last year are below:

          Cascade Picotte Lenten Rose
Photo courtesy of Monrovia Nursery

 

First Kiss Moondance Lenten Rose
Photo courtesy of Monrovia Nursery

 

Winter Jewels Black Diamond Lenten Rose
Photo courtesy of Monrovia Nursery

 

Forst Kiss Pennys Pink Lenten Rose
Photo courtesy of Monrovia Nursery

Jane Magnolia Tree

Posted on by Marietta Buchner

This is the first year we are carrying the Jane Magnolia tree. It is quite similar to the popular Ann Magnolia tree, but there are some differences. The Jane Magnolia tree has larger flowers with more purple-pinkish-white petals whereas the Anne Magnolia flowers have fewer petals and are deep pink. Jane Magnolia blooms in late spring which is a bonus as earlier blooming varieties may have their buds nipped by late frost. Magnolias bloom before foliage appears so you will see a tree in blossom with no leaves to hide the flowers. The leaves are large and deep green in summer, turning to yellow in fall. The growth rate is about a foot a year but I have seen magnolia trees grow much more then a foot per year. Usually this tree produces sporadic blossoms throughout the summer. The tree does best in morning sun and filtered afternoon shade and will grow in just about any type of soil. In spring, when you see the Jane Magnolia tree in bloom and smell the perfume of the flowers, you will be extremely happy you purchased this tree. Please “Google” Jane Magnolia tree and you will see how beautiful this tree is in bloom.

Blooming Azaleas in Stock

Posted on by Marietta Buchner

Several varieties of blooming azaleas have arrived.  If you have been thinking about getting an azalea now is the time to stop in and purchase one as you can see what the bloom color looks like.   Either a single specimen or several planted together will put on show-stopping site in spring.  Azaleas generally prefer morning sun and afternoon shade with moist and acidic soil.   If your soil is not acidic, we sell a product to help make your soil acidic.   Just ask one of our salespersons for help.

Azaleas photo taken 4/26/21 by Trees Today Nursery on their lot

MAGNOLIAS IN BLOOM

Posted on by Marietta Buchner

Everywhere you look, magnolias are putting forth a beautiful display of pink and white (some yellow). If you have not seen them, take a drive around La Crosse and we are sure you will find trees or shrubs in full bloom or will be soon. At Trees Today we have a good supply of magnolia shrubs and trees that range from 8ft to 35 ft at maturity.

Royal Star Magnolia
Photo courtesy of Monrovia Nursery

Leonard Messel Magnolia Tree
Photo courtesy of Bailey NurserieS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blossom of a Centennial Blush Magnolia
Photo by Trees Today Nursery

 

 

Magnolia trees in stock at Trees Today Nursery

 

 

 

Velvet Viking Japanese Maple Tree

Posted on by Marietta Buchner

Finally, a Japanese Maple that is a zone 4.  This is a dwarf maple that was discovered growing in a yard in Minneapolis by a landscaper. The maple was about 4 ft tall and 8 ft wide. Obviously this tree survived some very harsh winters, even the polar vortex.  The Velvet Viking was named for its rich velvety color and after the Minnesota’s Viking football team.  Monrovia Nursery received some cuttings and began the long process of bringing this plant to market. (-MPLS Star-Tribune 6/13/20) Presently there is only a limited supply of these trees available to the public.  Be the first in your neighborhood to plant this tree.  Since they are a dwarf variety, they also make beautiful patio plantings in a pot.