Posts made in May, 2009

Cherries are in the genus Prunus with a few other delicious fruit trees: almonds, peaches, plums, and apricots. The fruit of these trees is called a drupe or stone fruit, a fruit with a sweet fleshy outside and a hard, stony center or pit encasing the seed. Other plants that have drupes are coffee, olives, and coconut.

More than just a homegrown sweet summer treat, cherry trees make a great addition to any garden. They are usually the first fruit tree to ripen in the early summer. Many ornamental Japanese varieties are grown specifically for their dazzling springtime show of fragrant pink or white blooms. The blooms of cherry trees are also very attractive to pollinators like hummingbirds and bees, which means that having a cherry tree in your garden will benefit your other plants as well. The trees are very hardy – many varieties are grown in extremely varied climates from the tropics to the arctic tundra.

Viburnum are shrubs and small trees primarily used for their showy
fragrant flowers, seasonal leaf color, and ornamental fruit. These
deciduous shrubs provide a wonderful three-season show that creates a
dynamic quality for a year-round interesting garden.

They will
pollinate, bloom, and fruit individually, but they are much more
productive if planted in groups. They make excellent borders and
separating pieces for large landscape layouts. They also work well
along driveways and fences.

If given full sun and periodic
deep waterings Viburnum will become a very low-maintenance staple in
your garden layout. They are worry-free, hardy shrubs that are not
attractive to grazing animals like deer.

Flowering shrubs can really brighten up your garden's architecture, supplying height and structure along with a healthy dose of color. Many shrubs and trees will flower and seed in the early spring, leaving you with months of simple foliage and no flowers. Here is a list of three summer-blooming shrubs that will keep your garden bright and colorful until fall.

1. Hydrangea
   Hydrangeas are some of the most well-known flowering shrubs, and they come in many varieties. The most popular is probably the ever-blooming species, macrophylla. They will bloom from early summer to fall, and they are fairly easy to care for. They have the big fluffy, colorful blooms that gardener's have grown to expect from their hydranges.

   Some popular Hydrangea macrophylla varieties:
   Hydrangea 'Endless Summer'
   Hydrangea 'Alpengluhen'
   Hydrangea 'Nikko Blue'

2. Potentilla
   Potentillas are becoming more and more popular. Summer gardeners love their long-lasting bright blooms. They are great for rock gardens, and they are super low-maintenance. They bloom through the entire summer in distinct bright colors.

   Some popular Potentilla Varieties:
   Potentilla 'Arc-en-Ciel'
   Potentilla 'Hopwoodiana'
   Potentilla 'Mango Tango'

3. Roses
   Of course, Roses are the most popular shrub grown around the world. And, why not? They have beautiful fragrant blooms, and many of them provide wonderful color right up to the end of summer. Many new varieties are very hardy, resistant to pests and diseases.

   Try these hardy reblooming roses:
   Rose 'Double Knockout'
   Rose 'Beloved'
   Rose 'Cinco de Mayo'

We'd just like to wish all of you mothers out there a Happy Mother's day. I know I will spend this weekend, letting My mother, sister, aunts, and nieces know how much they are appreciated. I've got to make a last minute stop by the garden center before I leave work this afternoon. It's a good thing my family doesn't make me do a whole lot of guessing–Wayside Gardens is a really convenient place to work when Holidays roll around. I've a got a long list of roses, perennials, annuals, and even a few fruit trees I have to pick up.

Also, we are having a 50%-off sale on select roses until Mother's Day. Some of our favorite rose varieties are included — Knockout Roses, Floribundas, Hybrid Teas, Climbing Roses and many more. This is a great opportunity to get sweet deals one beautiful summer blooms.