Category Archives: Landscaping

Hot Ornamental Picks this Season!

If the day and night be such that you greet them with joy,
and life emits a fragrance like flowers and sweet-scented herbs,
is more elastic, more immortal – that is your success.
All nature is your congratulation, and you have cause momentarily to bless yourself.
~Henry David Thoreau

Here’s a few of our hot picks for landscapes and gardens this season.

Check back often as we photograph how we used them to create color, texture and interest!
Little Lime™ Hydrangea
Arctic Sun ™ Dogwood
Black Beauty™ Elderberry
Brandywine™ Viburnum
Coppertina™ Ninebark
Fine Line® Buckthorn
Black Lace™ Elderberry
Incrediball™ Hydrangea
Midnight Wine™ Weigela
Invincibelle®Spirit Hydrangea
Summer Wine® Ninebark
My Monet™ Weigela
Little Henry® Sweetspire
Arctic Fire™ Dogwood
Bloomerang™ Lilac
May all your gardens grow!

*Photos by Proven Winners®

The Oakleaf Hydrangea

There are only two ways of spreading light – to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.

~Edith Wharton, American writer (1862-1937)

Well-known for its oak-shaped leaves, this hydrangea ranks high on my favorite plant list! Native to the United States, the oakleaf offers four seasons of beauty, interest and more! Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) varieties ‘Alice’ and ‘Pee Wee’ are most popular in my 5b Zone.

The graceful ‘Alice’ grows to 4-5’ tall and will spread 5-6’ wide. If you have the space, this is an excellent selection as a single specimen or in mass! A hedge of the gorgeous ‘Alice’ is a guaranteed show stopper! The smaller, more petite ‘Pee Wee’ will grow 2-3’ tall and spreads 3-4’ wide. A perfect choice for any size garden, even smaller ones! ‘Alice’ and ‘Pee Wee’ share many similar characteristics. My favorite is watching the deep green foliage as it changes to a brilliant orange, red, burgundy, and yellow in autumn; the colors are amazing and quite unexpected for a hydrangea!

The abundant flowering display of the oakleaf is lovely in summertime and the beautiful blooms attract butterflies. The white cone-shaped blossoms on ‘Alice’ are large and magnificent! ‘Pee Wee’ is considerably smaller, but it is absolutely adorable! Everything about the ‘Pee Wee’ makes my heart sing. ‘Pee Wee’ is the mini-me version of ‘Alice’ and the foliage and blossoms blend perfectly in small settings!

During the winter months, I enjoy the spent flower blooms on all my hydrangea varieties until spring time. The dried flower heads are gorgeous along with another big winter interest bonus for the oakleaf hydrangea – its peeling bark! Admittedly, the cold winter weather rushes me indoors while my gardens are under snow, but the peeling bark of my ‘Pee Wee’ hydrangeas stop me dead in my tracks!

Once again, I’m reminded to take time to appreciate and enjoy the great gift of life and the bountiful earth that sustains us. Just like the oakleaf hydrangea, we have the privilege to make memories all year round!

May all your gardens grow!


Inside Looking Out!

Inside yourself or outside,
you never have to change what you see,
only the way you see it.

 ~Thaddeus Golas

I am a die-hard gardener and can never get enough! For me, it is equally important to enjoy my gardens inside as well as outside – especially on rainy days or while laboring in my kitchen. If you’re like me and just being in your gardens is not enough, follow these simple steps and enjoy them all the time, every time!

Before you head to your favorite garden center, take time to sit (and stand) in the rooms that face your gardens. It is wonderful to enjoy your gardens (a labor of love) from many different views. Move around your rooms and look out all the windows to decide where and what you want to see.

Bonus: Fragrant plants are awesome when placed by windows, patios, sitting areas, or porches. There is simply nothing lovelier than a hint of lavender, lilac, or honeysuckle to name a few!

Double bonus: there are many plants that offer winter interest so be sure to include them in your thought process!

To keep a clear view of your gardens from inside your home and to help promote sustainable practices, remember “right plant, right place.” Proper plant selection allows you to clearly view your gardens from the inside and avoids unnecessary pruning.

More importantly, have a ball as you stroll around your house and decide what tickles your fancy! Gardens are such wonderful gifts to be shared and enjoyed by you and your family while inside looking out!

May all your gardens grow!