Friday, October 08, 2010

A Re-Do For The Front Garden

I usually write about what I have blooming around the garden for Fertilizer Friday but today I am going to show you what I bought on my trip to the nursery.  This nursery is the farthest from my home so I have not been there since the spring.


We're here and I am ready to buy because I have changes to make.


Our host was waiting for us!

Take a look at those spheres and obelisks and grasses.



It was a beautiful day, perfect for choosing some plantings for my front garden renovation.  As I looked over the shrubbery there was a person behind me with a name badge.  I asked her if she worked there, so I could ask her for a recommendation and she informed me that she owned a garden center in Milwaukee and was there for a group meeting.


The asters always look so good in the pots, but I have never had much luck growing them in the garden, except for my Purple Dome.



We talked about hydrangeas and all of the different varieties.  We both said we were not thrilled with Endless Summer and she said the growers are now suggesting that it not be cut down and mulched up to eight inches in the fall.  I was looking for Incrediball but she suggested I wait on that one because in her nursery they were very floppy in the pots, maybe they would be more upright when in the ground!


We both fell in love with a new hydrangea called Tickled Pink, beautiful color pink - bright, not faded.

I wanted a small shrub for in front of my evergreen plantings and she recommended Weigela Dark Horse, 2-3 feet tall and wide with dark bronze leaves and bright pink flowers.  I bought two of them, a little pricey but I think they will add some color out in front.




Foliage of Weigela Dark Horse from spring through fall.

I walked over to the the grasses with a real employee of the nursery looking for a small miscanthus that would stay about three feet high and I loaded two Miscanthus Little Kitten on to my cart.  I just love that name! 


Miscanthus Little Kitten

I couldn't pass up that new, most mildew resistant phlox called Candy Store Bubblegum.  Well, now I have to do all of the grunt work, pulling out and replanting.  Isn't this what gardening is all about?

Candy Store, Variety Bubblegum Phlox







This is a great time of year to purchase containers, fifty percent off at this nursery!

A sea of mums 

 I love those earth tone pots!

I hope you have enjoyed my trip to Planters Palette in Winfield, Illinois.  They are an upscale nursery that has a close relationship with the Morton Arboretum, located about thirty miles west of Chicago.

35 comments:

Granny Lyn's Garden said...

Loved the tour, makes me want to hop in the car for a road trip. Your choices will look great in your garden.

Dave@TheHomeGarden said...

It looks like a good nursery! You are making me think of taking a trip to one...not a good thing for the budget!

Larry said...

Looks like you're going to be busy! I'll have to check that place out sometime when I'm in the area. Our gardens are being ravaged by coons and possums again... this gets old after awhile! L

Thoughtfully Blended Hearts said...

What a fabulous nursery!!! It just puts joy in my heart to see all the beautiful plants...even if it is in photos!!! Thanks for sharing this trip with us!!!

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Lynn, it is a great nursery, many unusual plants, too bad it's so far!

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Dave, this is a pricey nursery but they do guarantee all of their plants for one year, including perennials.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Larry, you would love this nursery. They grow most of their own perennials and work with the arboretum in regard to what is hardy for certain areas. The owner teaches classes at the arboretum and each spring they host a large symposium.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks TBH, looks like you had a great trip also. I do also collect just about anything vintage.

Eileen

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Eileen girl it is a GOOD thing I can't get to THAT nursery .. I would bankrupt us with falling in love and buying everything I see here !
Seriously .. I am not near any kind of a nursery that could hold a candle to this one, it is gorgeous !
I love that you are a grass person too and Little Kitten sounds perfect : ) .. I did by a pretty pale orange pansy in a vivid blue pot yesterday and I admire it from my "office" here in the kitchen : )
I would SO love going shopping with you at this place !!
Joy : )
PS .. Canadian Thanksgiving here this weekend and I haven't really decorated .. jeez !!

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Joy, you would love this nursery! They have so many other things that I didn't even photograph, you should see their shade garden area and stepping stones, etc. I guess I will have to go back before next spring.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Eileen

Lisa ~Suburban Retreat~ said...

Thanks for the trip to the garden centre. Looks like you had a nice, bright sunny day! Love all the varieties of pumpkins! I purchased an Endless Summer 2 years ago which is doing fabulous but my 2 new ones I purchased this year have struggled along all summer. They're actually blooming profusely right now. Can't wait to see your front garden re-do with your new plants.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Lisa,

Maybe it was the heat we had this year because last year they were great. However, I did cut them down this spring, so this year I will leave them and mulch, not sure about 8 inches.

Eileen

Becca's Dirt said...

I love your selecion. What a beautiful phlox. I am loving those earth tone containers. I enjoyed my cruise with you.

Beth said...

The garden center pictures are lovely. I especially like the pumpkins, gourds, and asters. Thanks for sharing this autumn beauty today.
Beth

Anonymous said...

Dear Eileen, Yes, I am sure that I should like this nursery very much indeed. Such a wide and interesting range of plants and everything seems to be growing so well. Your purchases sound most exciting so I am looking forward to reading of the finished front garden.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Edith, I am trying Weigla again in the hope that this new minature version will be more carefree than the ones I had at my last home. I do love that bronze color to the leaf with the pink flower. I am doing some Blue Hill Salvia and more daylilies that I have ordered. After the heat we had this summer, I need to go with it.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

I know Beth, I love those lumpy designer pumpkins, but I didn't buy any. It is a great nursery, lots more that I didn't photograph.

Eileen

Jennifer@threedogsinagarden said...

Enjoyed the shopping trip. I love the opening shot of the "host", and those cool lumpy pumpkins. I think I might have wanted to buy one of those spheres if they were on sale!

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

I enjoyed shopping with you at this nursery - lots to see and buy!
The staff gave you good suggestions too.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Jennifer, they even had those lumpy pumpkins this year at Home Depot but I have not bought any yet. I wonder if the squirrels would leave these alone?

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Lavander Cottage, the staff at this nursery is better than most. They advised me on the grass but were leary about me buying the phlox because it is new. I bought it anyhow beccause they guarantee for one year.

Eileen

Jim Groble said...

Been there! now I want to go back. jim

meemsnyc said...

What an amazing nursery! It's hard not to take home one of everything!

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Jim, I knew you would know wheere this one was, great selection of hosta.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Meemsysc, I know it's all like plant candy!

Eileen

Balisha said...

I've heard of the Planter's Palette
and have always wanted to go there. Now, with your pictures, I feel like I've done just that. Can't wait for the pictures of your "re-do" Balisha

Karen said...

Hi Eileen, what a great tour! I love how the nurseries line out their plants in groupings like that, oh, if we only had that much room (and money!) but how beautiful. I can see you are going to have a lot of work to do yet this fall, and I'm sure it will pay off. Thanks for keeping us up to date on the latest and greatest plants for the garden.

Unknown said...

What a great nursery Eileen. I'd be in BIG trouble there - probably have to take out a loan.
The dwarf Weigela you bought looks just like my Java Red. And I just love the Miscanthus Little Kitten
grasses that you purchased. I can hardly wait to see your gardens after all is done.
Fantastic post - I really enjoyed this. But then I always enjoy reading yours.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Balisha, I had forgotten how hard it is to plant those five gallon containers. I hope it is all worth it when we're done.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Karen, I hope you are feeling better. Don't work too hard in the garden.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi RG, I think it was Java Red that I had at my other home. It was white brick and the color looked great along the side. This is a much smaller variety so we'll see how it looks in the spring.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Becca, those pots were calling to me, but I really don't have room for any more. I had such a hard time keeping them watered this summer.

Eileen

Gloria Bonde said...

I enjoyed by nursery visit with you! What a variety!

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks Gloria, they have a lot to choose from, too much!

Eileen

garden girl said...

looks like a wonderful nursery Eileen!