SEDUMS 30% OFF

August 5, 2024 Karen Logan

SEDUMS 30% off

There are over 400 species of sedums, in the family Crassulacea. They are known for their succulent foliage and drought tolerance. Sedums are easy to grow, hardy perennials that come in a range of sizes, colors and shapes and flower beautifully. Plant them in full sun and well drained soil and they will be happy campers. Some even do fine with afternoon shade.

Sedums are terrific low maintenance plants which really stand out in late summer to fall.

Sedums grown at our on site production location

SEDUM PLANT TYPES

Creeping Sedum: Groundcover that can spread up to 3 feet. This low growing sedum usually spreads quite wide like a carpet. Many of them have little rosettes for foliage which look like flowers but are actually foliage. The Sedum major is a great example of foliage that resembles flowers.
Tall Sedum: Upright habit that can reach 2-3’ tall and wide. These taller sedums are like small shrubs. They can even work as hedges.
Trailing Sedum: Used in containers, hanging baskets or spill over rock walls.

Vineyard Gardens usually divides Sedums into the low growing, spreading type referred to as rock garden sedums and the taller more upright type many of which are in the species spectabile, which means showy.

SEDUMS AT VINEYARD GARDENS

Sedum rupestris Angelina: A rock garden spreader with yellow foliage and yellow flowers.
Sedum reflexum Blue Spruce: Great in rock gardens and have bluish gray foliage.
Sedum Steel the Show: This sedum is the perfect ground cover for a sunny garden. It has bright blue green foliage.
Sedum dasphyllum Major: A rock garden type whose foliage looks like tiny little blue flowers.
Sedum Sunsparkler Series: This series is medium size and the foliage ranges from plum purple to green with cream variegation.
We carry Dazzleberry, Plum Dazzler, Cherry Tart, Lime Zinger, Firecracker and Blue Elf.
Sedum Munstead Dark Red: A spectabile type that grows 15-18” tall with greenish foliage and dark red flowers.
Sedum Mojave Jewels Saphire: A plum colored upright sedum.
Sedum Night Light: Flower color in shades of yellow to gold. 22-26” tall; 30-36” spread.
Sedum blooms attract pollinators. Birds, butterflies and many insects love them!

Flowering yellow sedum with Butterfly Bush and Hydrangea paniculata

ECHINACEA 30% OFF

August 1, 2024 Karen Logan

*Echinacea purpurea illustration by karen blackerby logan*

ECHINACEA 30% OFF

CONEFLOWER

Echinacea comes from the Greek word echinos meaning hedgehog or sea-urchin in reference to the spiny central cone.

Natives Vs Hybrids

We grow several species of Echinacea, such as Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea pallida and Echinacea paradoxa. Starting plants from seed adds new DNA combinations to the species and the population. This is thought to increase chances of populations being able to adapt and fight off disease. Thus the hybrids may not be as adaptable. The native cone flowers exist in pink and yellow.

We sell countless hybrids that the horticultural industry has created from mostly Echinacea purpurea. It can take several years for a hybrid to be stable enough to be sold in the market. It is possible that some of the hybrids, which are mostly asexually propagated by cuttings or tissue culture, may not be as adaptable or hardy as the species but boy are they beautiful. The hybrids now exist in all sizes and colors including orange, red, pink, yellow or even bicolor. We carry the Sombrero series, like Salsa Red and Adobe Orange which are two of our favorites. We love many of the Echinacea hybrids like Green twister and White Swan.

*If food for pollinators is your #1 reason for planting Echinacea, either plant the native species or pick the single hybrids. The doubles are not believed to be good food for pollinators. Many of the doubles are sterile and produce no seed.

Coneflowers come in a rainbow of colors!

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ECHINACEA AVAILABLE AT VINEYARD GARDENS

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SOMBRERO SERIES
*(Continues to be one*
*of our favorites!)*
**Salsa Red**
**Adobe Orange**
**Hot Coral**
**Lemon Yellow**
**Rosada**

**Summer Solstice**
**Tres Amigos**
**Sangrita**
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SUNSEEKER SERIES
*(Tall with beautiful flowers that*
*often transition to other colors as*
*they mature. Some can be*
*double.)*
**Rainbow**
**Salmon**
**Perfection**
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**Green Wizard**
*(The flower petals are*
*yellow-green*
*on the tips and*
*bleed into a pale*
*pink closer to*
*the cone.)*
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**Old Fashioned Hybrid**
**Ruby Giant**
*(Quite tall with*
*large pink flowers)*
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**Ruby Giant**
Green Twister
*(Very hardy)*
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*New this year!*
*We are testing for hardiness.*
**Dark Shadows Wicked**

**Orange You Awesome**
**The Fuschia is Bright**

**One in a Melon**
**Summer Song**
**Fire Finch**
**Baja Burgundy**
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USES

Attracts all types of butterflies, birds, bees and other pollinators!
Let the later blooms stand throughout winter, where the characteristic central cone swollen and full of seed offers an excellent food source for birds. Once spring arrives, simply cut back your coneflowers to the ground.
Medicinal use: to help boost the immune system and shorten the duration of the common cold and flu. Echinacea flowers are often associated with health and healing.

GROWING CONDITIONS

Herbaceous perennial that is native to the mid west prairies of the US.
An adaptable plant that is tolerant of drought, heat, humidity and poor soil.
Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soil in full sun.
Coneflowers are not fussy. They aren’t particularly bothered by pests and do not require fertilizer.
Mid-summer bloom

An excellent, long-blooming flower for massing in the border, meadow, native plant garden, naturalized area or wildflower garden. Often massed with black-eyed Susans.

NATIVE SUMMER BLOOMING SHRUBS

July 26, 2024 Karen Logan

Native summer blooming shrubs offer immeasurable benefits. Shrubs are considered the bones of the landscape, creating habitat for birds and small mammals in all four seasons. Shrubs offer protection, nectar and pollen for a wide range of fauna, bees, butterflies, insects and nesting and feeding songbirds. Growing season is lengthened from the early bloomers through the fall berries. In Nature’s Best Hope and Bringing Nature Home, Doug Tallamy describes keystone plants as “native plants that are essential to our ecosystems because they support 90% of the caterpillar species that enable our terrestrial birds to reproduce, as well as all of our specialist native bee species.”

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Cephalanthus occidentalis

BUTTONBUSH

If you live along a wetland, have a soggy area in your yard or are considering a rain garden then buttonbush is the shrub for you. It is an excellent wetland shrub that requires consistent moisture, can tolerate clay soil and standing water.. They flower abundantly in the summer with fuzzy ball shaped flower clusters backed by glossy leaves. Their aromatic flowers attract bees, hummingbirds and butterflies, such as tiger swallowtails. Nearly two dozen butterfly and moth larva are drawn to buttonbush. Bright red seed heads that follow in the fall provide food for songbirds, small mammals and waterfowl.

USES: Rain gardens, retention ponds, erosion control

Its fast-growing root system helps with water quality near marshes, streams or wetlands. Since it can grow in water it is a favorite for wetland conservation.

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Hydrangea arborescens

SMOOTH HYDRANGEA

Hydrangea arborescens, our native hydrangea, is found along rocky wooded slopes, ravines, streambanks, and bluff bases in the eastern United States. Smooth hydrangea is the host plant of the hydrangea sphinx moth and attracts butterflies, moths, pollinators and songbirds. The blooms are on new wood and can be pruned back close to the ground in late winter. Several cultivars have flowers that make a ball-shaped bloom. This low growing hydrangea fits nicely beneath taller trees and shrubs.

USES: Mass planting, native specimen, pollinator garden, rain garden, shade garden, grows well on a slope, naturalized area or in a woodland

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Clethra alnifolia

SWEET PEPPERBUSH

Clethra is a wonderful addition to any garden, a versatile shrub that can thrive in most conditions. Typically found in open woodlands or swamps along the Atlantic coast this workhorse can flower from full sun to shade. Clethra prefers moist soil but can even adjust to dry, compact soil. It is a sweet scented native shrub that is a pollinator magnet. The white spire blooms lure butterflies, bees and hummingbirds. In addition, to being a hardy shrub, Clethera has year round interest. The deep green summer leaves turn yellow in autumn and in winter clusters of attractive seed pods remain.

USES: Seaside plantings, mass plantings, hedges or rain gardens

[PLANT PROFILE] HYDRANGEA PANICULATA

July 24, 2024 Karen Logan

Hydrangea paniculata[illustration by karen blackerby logan]

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HYDRANGEA PANICULATA

Panicle Hydrangeas

Panicle Hydrangeas are the no fuss hydrangea with long lasting blooms. They range in size from large to compact depending on variety, allowing for many planting options in the landscape. A late blooming shrub, they become the autumn stars when most other shrubs are no longer blooming. Triggered by air temperature fluctuations and day length Hydrangea paniculata go through a color transformation starting with an early summer white that fades to shades of pink or red before drying to beige in the winter. Their nectar-rich flowers attract butterflies and bees late into the season, providing them with a vital food source.

PXL_20240724_152235117%2B%25281%2529.jpg

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HYDRANGEA PANICULATA ATTRIBUTES

Panicle Hydrangeas thrive in full sun or morning sun, a place in the garden that mophead hydrangeas don’t flourish.
They bloom on new growth each summer so prune early in spring. There is also no risk of flower buds being harmed by the cold winter or late frost because they bloom on this years growth.
As the rest of the garden winds down, the fall panicle hydrangeas take center stage.
Flowers can even be left to dry on the plant in the fall and can stay looking good into the winter.

hydrangea paniculata

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Limelight
Limelight Prime
Little Lime
Quick Fire
Little Quick Fire
Bobo (dwarf variety)
Grandiflora
Phantom
Fire Light

USES

____________
* Variety of sizes means
there’s a perfect fit for
most situations
* Smaller specimens
ideal for foundation,
mass or container
planting
* Larger specimens ideal
for hedges and
back of the garden

EVERGREEN TREES AND SHRUBS FOR SHADE

July 19, 2024 Karen Logan

Camellia illustration by Karen Blackerby Logan

EVERGREEN TREES AND SHRUBS FOR SHADE

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Broadleaf Evergreens are known to tolerate shade and many will also grow well in full sun. With their year round foliage they can add interest to your beds, woodland borders or create screening in a shady spot between you and your neighbor. Broadleaf evergreens can give you the privacy you need. They can also create fabulous backdrops to deciduous plants that flower. Plant them young and they will grow larger every year. We also carry several species of smaller broadleaf evergreen shrubs that can take shade. These work well in foundation plantings or in your shrub or perennial beds.

Deer resistant broadleaf evergreens we like to recommend are Pieris japonica, Mahonias and Osmanthus heterophyllus.

Pieris japonica illustration by karen blackerby logan

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EVERGREEN TREE & SHRUB VARIETIES

Azaleas
Leucothoe
Osmanthus heterophyllus (False Holly) : Seldom severely damaged by deer. Looks like holly. We have found the species heterophyllus to be hardy, able to survive in dense shade and they are deer resistant. The flowers are fragrant! We carry a popular variegated variety called Goshiki.
Pieris japonica (Andromedas): Blooms in spring with panicles of beautiful bells mostly in white. We do carry a pink blooming one. Can grow 6-8ft tall and 5-6ft wide. We carry dwarf ones as well. Deer resistant.
Skimmia japonica: Needs a male and a female to be planted together for the female to berry up.
Skimmia reevesiana: Rarely damaged by deer. Does not need a male to cross pollinate like Skimmia japonica.
Prunus schipkaensis (Skip Laurels): They will easily get 6-8ft tall. Good for flowers and for screening.
Photinia fraserii: At the margins of its hardiness zone. It has handsome evergreen foliage. The new growth is reddish and in cold weather the leaves turn reddish again. It can grow over 6ft tall and wide.
Leucothoe, Skimmia and some Pieris japonica are examples of smaller broadleaf evergreen shrubs that can take shade.
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CAMELLIAS & AUCUBAS

Camellias and Aucubas should be planted near foundation plantings or by a stone wall for the heat they absorb during a sunny day. They may get some die back during a very cold winter. Prune the dead ones out in the spring. Camellias have shiny lovely evergreen foliage and flowers that look like Peonies. Aucubas need a male to berry up. Aucuba Mr. Goldstrike will pollinate Aucuba serratifolia, which is known for producing large red, berry like fruit.

Aucuba japonica
- serratifolia
- Mr. Goldstrike
Camellia April Pink

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BUXUS

(Rarely damaged by deer)

Buxus Winter Green
Buxus Green Beauty
Buxus Variegata

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RHODODENDRONS

Roseum Elegans & Catawba Rhododendron get over 10ft tall. Plant them young and they will grow larger each year. Great for flowers and for screening.

Catawba Rhododendron (Native)
Maximum Rhododendron (Native)
PGM Rhododendron
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MAHONIA

(All Native) (Rarely damaged by deer)

Mahonias are also known as Oregon Grape Holly. They bear panicles of purple fruit after flowering that look like grapes.

Mahonia repens
Mahonia Winter Sun
Mahonia Charity
Mahonia Arthur Menzies
Mahonia nervosa
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HOLLIES

Hollies are always a good choice for shade. We carry American, English, Japanese Chinese and hybrid Hollies. Several of the Japanese Hollies (Ilex crenata) are smaller shrubs. Blue Hollies (Meserve Hybrids) are like shrub Hollies instead of tree Hollies and can be pruned and kept a bit shorter. The Hollies need a male to pollinate the female to get the berries. We also grow specialty Hollies from cuttings. Ask at the nursery about our collection.

Meserve Hybrids (Blue Hollies)
Ilex Dragon Slayer

Ilex mes Blue Maid
Ilex Robin
Ilex x Greenleaf
Ilex crenata
- Ilex Steeds (Ocassionally severely damaged by deer)
- Hoogendorn
- Soft Touch
- Sky Pencil

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Pieris japonica

Ilex Dragon Slayer

Ilex Robin

Azalea 'PJM'

Rhodendron screening

Winter Sun Mahonia

Buxus

Skip Cherry Laurel

Camellia

Camellia sasanqua

In general we do not recommend you plant conifers in shade. They may not die but they will grow long and leggy. Your much better off planting a Holly, Mahonia or Osmanthus (if you have deer).

native plant finder

for trees and shrubs

[PLANT PROFILE] HIBISCUS

July 16, 2024 Karen Logan

Rose of Sharon illustration by karen blackerby logan

HIBISCUS

Hibiscus plants add a bold, tropical effect to the garden with their huge, dinner-plate colorful flowers.

There are over 100 species of Hibiscus in the family Malvacea. They are mostly found in tropical areas but a few are hardier and will overwinter in our climate. Due to their tropical nature they are later to emerge and most bloom in mid to late summer. We grow both annual, perennial and shrubs in the hibiscus family. We carry other popular ornamental perennial plants in the Malva family that have similar flowers to Hibiscus, such as Hollyhocks (Alcea)and Sidalcea.

*Jazzy Jewel Ruby Hibiscus (Tropical Hibiscus)*

Hardy Hibiscus, Shrub Hibiscus & Tropical Hibiscus

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HARDY HIBISCUS

Hardy Hibiscus primarily includes the species native to North America such as Hibiscus moscheutos. These plants are true perennials, tend to have the largest flowers and die back to the ground each year. The species Hibiscus is known as Rose Mallow or Swamp Mallow and is native to Martha’s Vineyard. They are highly valued for their beautiful flowers late in the season. The pink flowers grow around ponds on the south shore and bloom profusely in mid to late summer. At Vineyard Gardens, we sell the species, as well as many hybrids with a wide range of flower colors (pink, purple, white, red & bi-color), large flower sizes and green to deep dark foliage. These perennials die to the ground in winter and emerge from the crown of the plant the following season.

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CARE OF HARDY HIBISCUS

Hardy hibiscus needs frequent watering, especially when young and new. When watering, do so deeply and thoroughly, drenching the plant.
Mulch around the plant to retain moisture and to provide winter protection for the roots.
To encourage rebloom, either remove the spent flowers before they form seed heads or prune plants back by one-third after a flush of bloom is finished.
Perennial hibiscus will freeze back to the ground each winter; cut old stems to the ground.
Hibiscus bloom on new wood (this year’s growth), so pruning is best done in the spring.
In early spring, remove dead stems from established plants and apply a balanced fertilizer.
Mature plants can be divided in the spring, not fall.
Plant them in full Sun.

Varieties available

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***Hibiscus mosheutus***
***Kopper King***
***Perfect Storm***
*Berry Awesome*
*Holy Grail*
*Candy Crush*

Hibiscus 'Berry Awesome' [photo credit Walters Gardens, Inc]

Hibiscus 'Candy Crush' [photo credit Walters Gardens, Inc]

Hibiscus 'Dark Mystery' [photo credit Walters Gardens, Inc]

Hibiscus 'Holy Grail' [photo credit Walters Gardens, Inc]

Hibiscus 'Marshmallow Moon' [photo credit Walters Gardens, Inc]

Hibiscus 'Midnight Marvel' [photo credit Walters Gardens, Inc]

Hibiscus 'Perfect Storm' [photo credit Walters Gardens, Inc]

[1. Hibiscus ‘Berry Awesome 2. Hibiscus ‘Berry Awesome 3. Hibiscus ‘Candy Crush’ 4. Hibiscus ‘Dark Mystery’ 5. Hibiscus ‘ Holy Grail’ 6. Hibiscus Marshmallow Moon’ 7. Hibiscus ‘Midnight Marvel’ 8. Hibiscus ‘Perfect Storm’ 9. Rose Mallow ‘Mars Madness’ . All photos above credit to Walters Gardens, Inc]

***Midnight Marvel***
*Dark Mystery*
*Marshmallow Moon*
***(LUNA SERIES)***
***Luna Red***
***Luna White***
***(DISCO BELL SERIES)***
*Pink*

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SHRUB HIBISCUS

The most popular shrub is the Rose of Sharon also known as Hibiscus Syriacus. Rose of Sharon has a woody habit and bloom on the same structure each year. It has beautiful hibiscus like flowers in mid to late summer and is valued as an ornamental in landscapes. These tend to be the largest in size with some varieties getting 15′ tall.

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CARE OF ROSE OF SHARON

Full Sun woody shrub
A little late to emerge in spring because of its tropical roots
Blooms on new growth, therefore best pruned in spring when buds start to swell and plant comes to life
Prune out a few of the biggest oldest stems as low as possible. Encourage young stems as these will produce the most flowers, and growth from down low in the shrub. That helps keep it looking full. Rose of Sharon grow from the tips so they can lack growth down low if not pruned properly.
Fertilize new plantings with a slow release complete fertilize

Varieties available

***____________***
***HIBISCUS SYRIACA***
***(ROSE OF SHARON)***

***(Single Flowers)***
***Diana***

***Aphrodite***
***Fiji***
***Red Heart***
***Minerva***
***Blue Satin***
***(Double Flowers)***

***Chiffon Blue***

***Chiffon Lavender***

***Chiffon Pink***

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TROPICAL HIBISCUS

The annual hibiscus we carry is the tropical hibiscus also known as Hibiscus rosa sinensis. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, are from southeast Asia and are technically a shrub but less hardy than Rose of Sharon. This plant makes a lovely garden or container plant and will bloom all summer long. We usually carry it in both shrub form and as a topiary patio tree. The tropical hibiscus is not frost tolerant.

Varieties available

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***HIBISCUS TROPICAL***
*The Path*
*Cherie*
*Hula Girl*
*Red Dragon*
***
*Jazzy Jewel Series*
*Opal*
*Ruby*
*Amber*
*Gold*

Hibiscus illustration karen blackerby logan

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GROWING CONDITIONS

Prefer full sun. They will grow in partial sun but will not flower as well.
Prefer well-draining soil with plenty of organic matter, and neutral to slightly acidic soil.
To avoid breakage of the long stems, plant hibiscus where they won’t be exposed to strong winds.

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[PLANT PROFILE] ASTILBE

July 9, 2024 Karen Logan

ASTILBE

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GROWING ASTILBE

Astilbe are perennial flowers that bloom in spring and summer. They grow well in shady areas where other flowers won't thrive. They add swaths of color to shade beds with their plumed flowers available in many colors and sizes. Their soft feathery blooms come in shades of purple, lavender, red, white or pink. Their glossy fern like foliage comes in shades of green, bronze or deep brown. Astilbe are usually deer resistant but we are finding that at times deer are snacking on them as well.

ASTIBLE ATTRACT BUTTERFLIES!

COMBINATION PLANTINGS

We recommend planting Astilbe in combination with plants that have similar cultural requirements. Astilbes require plenty of water and some afternoon shade. Some combinations we recommend are shrubs like hydrangeas or Hypericum and perennials such as Rodgersias (Roger’s flower), Snakeroot, Cimicifuga, Thalictrum or ferns.

PLANTING TIPS

____________
* Plant in shade to
***part shade***
* Plant in a loamy
***humus rich soil***
* Water deeply
***to promote***
***deep roots***
* Protect from hot
***afternoon sun***

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CARE

Regularly check Astilbes to make sure they are moist.
Astilbes spread quickly and form broad clumps.
Apply organic fertilizer in the spring.
Divide the overgrown clumps every 3 to 4 years in the spring.
Typically you can remove spent flower blooms to encourage
more blossoms but Astilbe are the exception.
Astilbes spent flowers have ornamental value.
They can be left standing if desired or cut down at any time.
Astilbes continue to provide attractive foliage until fall.

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VARIETIES

Vineyard Gardens we carry 25-30 different cultivars.

Astilbe chinensis Pumila: Forms a ground cover. Height: 10” tall.
Astilbe Hennie Graafland: Dwarf Astilbe. Height: 12”-18” tall.
Astilbe Superba: One of the tallest pinks. Height: 24”-48” tall.
Astilbe Mighty Red Quin: Height 39”-47” tall
Astilbe Montgomery: Height 20-24” tall
Other Varieties we carry:
Astilbe Erika, Mighty Pip, Purple Candles, Bressignham, Beauty, Delft Lace, Little Visions in Pink, Straussenfetter, Dueschland, Visions & Mauve
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PERENNIAL GROUNDCOVERS

June 28, 2024 Karen Logan

Virginia Bluebells [photo by keith kurman]

PERENNIAL GROUNDCOVERS

Low-growing, ground-hugging perennial plants are the best low-maintenance ground coverings. Groundcovers bring color, textural interest, plant food/shelter for insects and a great replacement for mulch. They can even be an alternative to lawns. Native groundcovers require no fertilizer and only supplemental watering. There are evergreen groundcovers that cover throughout the winter and help with erosion control. Some groundcovers thrive under canopy of shade others do well in full sun.

WOOD SPURGE (Euphorbia Robbiae): A deer-resistant evergreen groundcover that is spread stoloniferously. A vigorous spreader, blooming in spring on 18” tall stalks. They prefer a little afternoon shade.
PERSICARIA: A taller groundcover with late season flowers, spanning four months from July to October. A vigorous, stoloniferous spreader. We have available Alba, Amethyst Summer and Fat Domino.
SWEET WOODRUFF (Galium odoratum): Sweet Woodruff is a lovely plant that will spread like a groundcover in your garden. It has small white flowers in spring through early summer. It’s vigorous but not aggressive and can coexist nicely with bulbs that will come right up through it. They spread stoloniferously by sending out stolons or side shoots just beneath the soil surface. An ideal ground cover around shrubs and/or as a border accent in woodland gardens. It thrives in rich garden soil, in part to full shade.
HYPERICUMS CALCYNUM (St. John’s Wort): A ground cover with large yellow flowers. It can take partial shade but likes a little afternoon shade. With this groundcover more sun equals more flowers! Hypericums calcynum spreads stoloniferously (through underground stems). If it likes the spot, it will spread vigorously. A pollinator magnet!
PACHYSANDRA: We carry the Japanese spurge, pachysandra terminalis. Our favorite is the native one, Pachysandra procumbens. Pachysandra is considered an evergreen groundcover.
VINCA: We carry Vinca minor Bowles, with the early summer blooming blue flowers and the white flowering Vinca minor. We also carry Illumination, a vinca cultivar with yellow variegated foliage and a blue flower.
EPIMEDIUM, BARRENWORT: A less common groundcover that thrives in shade. This year we have Sunny and Share, Ellen Willmot, Pink Champagne, Red Beauty and Nanum.
FERNS: Ferns can spread nicely like ground covers such as Matteuca struthiopteris (the Ostrich fern), Dennstaedtia punctiloba (Hay Scented Fern) and Onoclea sensibilis. Dennstaedtia punctiloba and Onoclea sensibilis are both hard to find. We don’t have either in stock right now.
GEUM: The native Geum is a good ground cover. Geum triflorum has beautiful seed pods.
THYME: Creeping and wooly thymes are ground covers we like to recommend for sun. Creeping thyme comes in white flowers (albiflorus), red flowers (coccineus) or pink chintz with pink flowers. We also carry creeping lemon and Elfin thyme.
LAURENTIA fluviatilis ‘BLUE STAR CREEPER’ and PRATIA: Two other interesting plants that spread like ground covers.

Wood Anenome Vestal

Sweet Wooodruff

Sweet Woodruff and French Lavender

Virginia Bluebells

Fern

Epimedium new growth

Epimedium x Domino

Viinca, white flower

Pachysandra

Bearberry (native)

Myrtle Spurge

Brunnera macrophylla

Wild Strawberry (native)

Veronica Speedwell

Mayapple

Gingers bloom in early spring. The flowers are hidden beneath the foliage, rarely seen and are pollinated by ants! They are grown for their foliage which spreads and in certain species is evergreen, like the europeum.

EUROPEAN GINGER (Asarum europeum): a spreading perennial ground cover with shiny rounded leaves.

In my opinion there isn’t a prettier flower than a Blue Bell. They spread and form large clumps with beautiful blue flowers in spring. They don’t bloom all summer so it’s a good idea to plant in combination with a later emerging and blooming perennial. The later blooming perennial will fill in the space nicely when the Virginia Blue Bells are past their bloom and dormant until the following spring.

MERTENSIA virginica ‘VIRGINIA BLUEBELLS’: They do best with a little afternoon shade.

Try planting ground covers at the base of your shrubs instead of mulching. Ground covers are very effective at keeping weeds out!

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SUCCESSION GARDENING

Succession Gardening is a new concept in groundcovers where one plant replaces another one that is gone by in the same area. These ‘groundcovers’ may not spread stoloniferously but they will cover the ground where another plant has passed.

Alchemilla, Perennial Geraniums, Hostas, Euphorbia, Lupine, Rodgersia, Cimicifuga, Aruncus, ornamental rhubarb (Rheum), Bronze Fennel, (Foeniculum vulgare), Sanguisorba , Aconitum, Foxgloves and Thalictrum, can all be used as plants that emerge late and will cover up earlier blooming plants. They will grow up, over and fill in the space when early bloomers and cool weather annuals finish blooming and go dormant, like Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica)or Bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis).
Enjoy the bulbs in spring and then cover up their foliage with Ladies Mantle(Alchemilla mollis) or Geranium sanguineum album.
Hostas are late to emerge and are also often planted in areas where you have early bloomers that don’t last all summer, like Trilliums, Shooting Stars(Dodecatheons) or bulbs like Crocus or Chionodoxa.
It may take larger plants such as Thalictrum to cover up larger bulb foliage like daffodils or Fall crocus (Colchicum). Even Cammasia foliage can be hidden away after it’s done blooming! The Thalictrum will come right through the messy bulb foliage and cover it right up. You don’t even have to cut it back.

This is an old concept that is being perfected at Great Dixter House and Gardens in England, where Andrew did an internship. This concept also serves to increase the biodiversity of the garden.

PXL_20240517_172236156.PORTRAIT.ORIGINAL.jpg

Geranium 'Cranesbill'

Foxglove Apricot

Foxgloves

Lupine

Lady's Mantle

Hosta

Thalictrum

Cimicifuga Brunette

native groundcovers

for beauty & biodiversity

ecological gardening

share your habitat

[PLANT PROFILE] ECHINACEA

June 18, 2024 Karen Logan

ECHINACEA

CONEFLOWER

Echinacea comes from the Greek word echinos meaning hedgehog or sea-urchin in reference to the spiny central cone.

Natives Vs Hybrids

We grow several species of Echinacea, such as Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea pallida and sometimes Echinacea paradoxa. Starting plants from seed adds new DNA to the species and the population. This is thought to increase chances of populations being able to adapt and fight off disease. Thus the hybrids may not be as adaptable. The native cone flowers exist in pink and yellow.

We sell countless hybrids that the horticultural industry has created from mostly Echinacea purpurea. It can take several years for a hybrid to be stable enough to be sold in the market. Then it must be propagated asexually, by cuttings or tissue culture to become that hybrid. The hybrids now exist in all sizes and colors including orange, red, pink and yellow. We carry the Sombrero series, like Salsa Red and Adobe Orange which are two of our favorites. We also carry the shorter Pow Wow series, Pow Wow Wildberry and Pow Wow White. We love many of the Echinacea hybrids like Green twister and White Swan.

If food for pollinators is your #1 reason for planting Echinacea, either plant the native species or pick the single hybrids. The doubles are not believed to be good food for pollinators. Many of the doubles are sterile and produce no seed.

Coneflowers come in a rainbow of colors!

GROWING CONDITIONS

Herbaceous perennial that is native to the mid west prairies of the US.
An adaptable plant that is tolerant of drought, heat, humidity and poor soil.
Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Best in full sun.
Coneflowers aren’t fussy. They aren’t particularly bothered by pests and do not require much fertilizer.
Mid-summer bloom

USES

Attracts all types of butterflies, birds, bees and other pollinators!
Birds also enjoy coneflowers in the garden. Let the later blooms stand throughout winter, where the characteristic central cone swollen and full of seed offers an excellent food source for birds. Once spring arrives, simply cut back your coneflowers to the ground.
Medicinal use: to help boost the immune system and shorten the duration of the common cold and flu. Echinacea flowers are often associated with health and healing.

An excellent, long-blooming flower for massing in the border, meadow, native plant garden, naturalized area, wildflower garden or part shade area of woodland garden. Often massed with black-eyed Susans.

[PLANT PROFILE] HYDRANGEA

June 12, 2024 Karen Logan

Nikko Blue Hydrangea [illustration by karen blackerby logan]

HYDRANGEAS

If you have a garden then most likely there is a good spot for a hydrangea. There are so many different varieties, sizes and light requirements that there is something for everyone. Panicle hydrangeas are your late bloomers that can withstand full sun; mopheads are shade loving hydrangeas; there are dwarf options for smaller gardens; large ones for back of garden; and most of them do well in containers. Oak leaf hydrangeas are bee magnets and there is even a northeast native that provides a valuable food source for the hydrangea sphinx moth. Hydrangeas mix well in both the cultivated and natural garden with their broad leaves complimenting the finer foliage textures of other plants and shrubs.

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HYDRANGEA MACROPHYLLA

Big Leaf, Mophead or Lacecap

The genus name Hydrangea comes from hydor meaning "water" and aggeion meaning "vessel", in reference to the cup-like flower.

A deciduous shrub with a rounded habit that typically grows 3-6’ tall and as wide unless damaged by harsh winters or pruned smaller.
Mophead Hydrangeas produce ball shaped flower clusters
Lacecap Hydrangeas produce small flowers surrounded by a ring of larger flowers

Endless Summer, a newer macrophylla(mophead) that blooms on new growth instead of last years stems, so flower buds don’t get frosted in a severe winter or late spring frost.

GROWING HYDRANGEA MACROPHYLLA

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Best grown in rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils in part shade. Tolerates full sun only if grown in consistently moist soils.
Soil pH affects the flower color of most cultivars except white (blue in highly acidic soils and lilac to pink in slightly acidic to alkaline soils). Add aluminum sulfate to the soil to make the flowers bluer or add lime to the soil to make the flowers pinker. Begin soil treatments well in advance of flowering, as in late autumn or early spring.
Plants generally need little pruning. If needed, prune immediately after flowering by cutting back flowering stems to a pair of healthy buds. Prune out weak or winter-damaged stems in late winter/early spring.
Best to mulch plants year-round with 3" of shredded bark, peat or compost.
Winter hardy but planted in sheltered locations gives additional winter protection. Regardless of protective measures taken, most bigleaf hydrangeas simply will not bloom (or will bloom poorly) in some years due to a variety of winter conditions. Some newer cultivars have been selected that flower on both old and new wood.
'Hydranges Bloomstruck' blooms on both old and new growth, has strong stems and is resistant to powdery mildew.

hydrangea macrophylla

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Nikko Blue
Endless Summer
Bloomstruck
Blue Enchantress
Penny Mac
Glowing Embers
Lanarth White
Blushing Bride

USES

____________
* Group or mass in the
shrub border.
* A specimen or accent
for foundations and
other locations
near homes or patios.
* Hedges
* Containers

Late season spent flowers of Hydrangea macrophylla

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HYDRANGEA PANICULATA

Panicle Hydrangeas

Panicle Hydrangeas are the no fuss hydrangea with long lasting blooms. They range in size from large to compact depending on variety, allowing for many planting options in the landscape. A late blooming shrub, they become the autumn stars when most other shrubs are no longer blooming. Triggered by air temperature fluctuations, hydrangea panicle go through a color transformation starting with an early summer white that fades to shades of pink or red before drying to beige in the winter. Their nectar-rich flowers attract butterflies and bees late into the season, providing them with a vital food source.

HYDRANGEA PANICULATA ATTRIBUTES

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Panicle Hydrangeas thrive in full sun or morning sun, a place in the garden that mophead hydrangeas don’t flourish.
Bloom on new growth each summer so there is no risk of flower buds being harmed by the cold winter or late frost.
As the rest of the garden winds down, the fall panicle hydrangeas take center stage.
Flowers can even be left to dry on the plant in the fall and can stay looking good into the winter.

hydrangea paniculata

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Limelight
Limelight Prime
Little Lime
Quick Fire
Little Quick Fire
Bobo (dwarf variety)

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HYDRANGEA QUERCIFOLIA

Oakleaf Hydrangea

Oak leaf hydrangeas have beautiful large leaves similarly shaped to an oak leaf. The flower panicles are large, white and attract many bees. In autumn the leaves turn to a reddish hue. foliage transitions from green to maroon, falling off in winter to reveal beautiful exfoliating bark. Beyond its impressive foliage, the flowers also put on an exquisite show, changing from white to a stunning pink or red as the plant matures. Oak leaf hydrangeas prefer partial shade.

Oak Leaf hydrangea on the highline in NYC vibrating with bees.

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HYDRANGEA ANOMALA PETIOLARIS

Climbing Hydrangea

“First it sleeps, then it creeps and then it leaps.” This old adage seems to speak directly to the climbing hydrangea. This vine is slow to start but once it gets establish after a couple years it leaps! A vigorous vine with lush green foliage blanketed by beautiful lace cap white blooms. This hydrangea has year round interest, with their long lasting summer blooms that dry beautifully on the vine in autumn and when the leaves have fallen gorgeous exfoliating bark is revealed. Climbing hydrangea can thrive in full sun to shade. It can be planted on sturdy structures, like stone or brick walls, chimneys, and houses

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HYDRANGEA ARBORESCENS

Smooth Hydrangea

Hydrangea arborescens, our native hydrangea, is found along rocky wooded slopes, ravines, streambanks, and bluff bases in the eastern United States. Smooth hydrangea is the host plant of the hydrangea sphinx moth and attacts butterflies, moths, pollinators and songbirds. The blooms are on new wood and can be pruned back close to the ground in late winter. Several cultivars have flowers that make a ball-shaped bloom. It is low growing and stacks well beneath taller trees and shrubs.

Hydrangea arborescens cultivars we carry:

Annabelle and the newer Invincible Spirit

USES

———————
*Planted in mass
*Native specimen
*Pollinator garden
*Rain garden
*Shade garden
*Grows well on a slope,
naturalized area or
in a woodland

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FERTILIZE HYDRANGEAS IN EARLY SUMMER

All hydrangeas tend to grow better when they are fertilized, even the native ones.

If you missed feeding your plants early in the season when you did your spring clean up, you can make up for that now (before August 1). The plants that respond best to fertilizer this time of year are the rebloomers: big leaf (macrophylla), mountain (serrata) and woodland/smooth (arborescens) varieties. You may want to help them produce those reblooming flowers to carry your garden through to the end of the season

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Hydrangea [illustration by karen blackerby logan]

[PLANT PROFILE] SALVIAS

June 5, 2024 Karen Logan

SALVIAS

Salvias are North American natives in the mint family. There are over 900 species, both annuals and perennials and a few biennial.

GROWING SALVIA

Salvia flowers come in a variety of colors, but mostly blues and purples. There are some varieties of pinks, fuchsia, white, red and a yellow one we are trying this year. They are easy to grow, easy to care for, deer resistant, bloom abundantly and have long lasting blooms. They do best in full sun and well drained soil. We have a wonderful selection of perennial and annual salvia at the nursery.

THINK OF LATE SUMMER AND FALL EFFECT WHEN PLANTING NOW. THE LATER BLOOMING SEASON EXTENDER SALVIAS CAN DO THAT FOR YOU!

**PLANTING**
**——————**

- Salvias prefer full sun
and well drained soil.
- Dig a hole twice the
diameter of the
container the plant is in.
- Mix in a 3-inch layer of
compost. (Mix the
compost in with the
existing soil.)
- Remove the plant from
its container and place
it in the hole so the
top of the root ball is
level with the soil
surface.
- Space plants 1 to 3 feet
apart, depending on
the variety.
- Carefully fill in around
the plant and firm the
soil gently.
- Always water thoroughly after
planting!

**CARE**
**——————**

- Add a thin layer of
mulch around the plant
to retain moisture
and control weeds.
- Water often and
deeply.
- Dead heading will lead
to more blossoms. Follow
the flower stem all the
way to the base and
cut there.
- Wait until new growth
begins in early spring
to remove old stems.
- Divide every 3 years.
The best time to divide
is in early spring, before
new growth begins.

Salvia are pollinator magnets! Wonderful plants for hummingbirds, bees, butterflies and other pollinators.

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PERENNIAL SALVIAS

The perennial salvias mostly bloom in early summer and if deadheaded will give a second flush of bloom that same year. The perennial Salvias are blooming now!

Perennial Salvias Available this Year:

Salvia Wind Walker Red

————————
*A perennial species of*
*Salvia that is majestic*
*for it’s size, 4’ tall.*
*Graceful arching stems*
*with brilliant red flowers*
*bloom from late June*
*through fall. Cut this*
*Salvia back to 6” in*
*early summer to keep*
*stems shorter and*
*stronger. Hummingbirds*
*love it! On the Plant*
*Select Program, a native*
*plant group out of*
*Denver Colorado.*

Salvia nemorosa Species

Savatore Blue: Aromatic royal purple/blue spikes adds depth and upright interest to garden beds and planters
Dark Matter
Caradonna
Feathers Peacock
White Profusion
Blue by You
Violet Riot
East Friesland
Blue Marvel
Rose Marvel
Snow Hill

Perennial salvia

Salvia greggi Mirage. A new perennial salvia series we are carrying. We have Mirage Salmon and Mirage Blue
Salvia Midnight Model : striking violet blue flowers in a round, dense clump.
Salvia Evening Attire : Huge, vivid violet blue flowers are packed tightly into a refined habit.
Salvia Moulin Rouge : Huge, rosy pink flowers.
Salvia verticillata ‘Purple Rain’: An oldie but Goody
Salvia sclarea ‘Clary Sage’ : A biennial species of Salvia that we grow from seed. This one is native to the Mediterranean basin. It is very showy with big spikes bearing large colorful bracts that seem to last all summer. This is a big plant! The straight species is pink with darker pink edges.
- Salvia sclarea turkestanica : this variety has white flecks with pink.
Salvia argentea : Commonly called silver sage is a clump-forming biennial with silvery leaves and white flowers
Salvia Lyrical Blue : meadow sage, indigo-blue petals and burgundy accents
Salvia Lyrical Rose
Salvia Rhythm and Blues

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ANNUAL SALVIA are SEASON EXTENDERS

Plant them now and they will be gorgeous in the fall!

We also carry a vast selection of annual salvias. They are considered season extenders because they bloom all summer and into late fall. Sometimes the Pineapple Sage is still blooming in November! They benefit from being planted early so they can reach full size. Annual Salvia do great in containers or in your garden beds but remember they are annuals so will not come back next year. This year we have a wonderful stock of Salvia Indigo Spires, Salvia guaranitica Black and Blue, Salvia leucantha and Salvia uliginosa. They are referred to as tender Salvias and are good season extenders!

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Annual seed grown Salvias are fabulous garden performers.

(4” and larger pots)

Clary sages (salvia) are grown from seed . These Salvias are a Vineyard Gardens favorite. The bracts are prominent making the flower large and exotic looking. Long lasting blooms. It grows at Monticello.

Salvia horminium Blue Monday (a VG favorite)
Salvia horminium Rose Sundae
Salvia patens Patio Sky Blue

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Salvias grown from plugs

Salvia guaranitica Black and Blue

Salvia Indigo Spires: A deep blue. Will still be blooming in your gardens with the asters and mums in fall.
Salvia Amistad (Andrews recommendation)
Salivia Skyscraper Orange
Salvia Skyscraper Pink
Unplugged Pink
Salvia Rockin Deep Purple
Salvia Rockin Blue Suede Shoes
Salvia Rockin Fuschia
Salvia Wendys Wish: A customer favorite. A hot pink flower.
Salvia Love and Wishes: A customer favorite. Antique shade of pink
Salvia leucantha ‘Mexican Sage’: great season extender. Blooms in October.

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Salvias (sage) in the herb house

Salvia elegans ‘Pineapple Sage’ (annual): Elgens means it is tender and will not overwinter. A great season extender. Does especially well when planted in spring or early summer and allowed to reach full size before bloom. A 4” pot of Pineapple sage will reach 4-5 feet tall and wide in one season. It bears beautiful red spiked flowers in late summer and into the fall. It’s foliage smells like pineapple and can be brewed into a tea.

Salvia officinalis or the culinary sages (perennial)
- The species and Bergarten are the two most popular ones used for culinary purposes.
- Purple Leaf Sage
- Golden Sage
- Tricolor Sage: An very ornamental sage with purple, pink and white leaves.

POLLINATOR-FRIENDLY PERENNIALS, SHRUBS & TREES

May 31, 2024 Karen Logan

St. John’s Wort & Cleome (pollinators and deer resistant) photo by keith kurman

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JOIN US THIS SATURDAY MORNING

_______________

GARDEN WORKSHOP

BIRDS, BEES & BUTTERFLIES

SATURDAY JUNE 1ST // 11:00AM // VINEYARD GARDENS NURSERY

Please join us to learn about pollinator plants. Chris Wiley will discuss the best plants to include in a pollinator garden to attract birds, bees and butterflies. We look forward to seeing you there!

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[Videos] Allium buzzing with bees. Oak Leaf Hydrangeas on the Highline in NYC.

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FLOWERING PLANTS ARE POLLINATOR PLANTS

Do you want your garden to come alive this summer with bees, butterflies, birds and beneficial insects?!

The good news is all flowering plants attract pollinators. Flowers are their food source. While they are feeding, pollinators distribute the pollen within the same flower and from flower to flower. The pollen grains stick onto the pollinators feet and body and then stick to the female stigma part of the flower. The pollen grain then grows a tube that travels all the way down the stigma to the ovary of the flower where it then fertilizes the female ovule(egg) inside the ovary. It will then develop into an embryo within a seed. The flower is the reproductive structure of flowering plants. The fruit is the swollen ovary of the female reproductive structure. And inside the fruit are the seeds. If you look closely at a strawberry you will see the seeds on the outside of the berry with all the stigmas (the little hairy things) still attached. Pollination truly is a magical process!

Some pollinators need very specific plants to complete their life cycles. We, at Vineyard Gardens, encourage customers to plant native plants that have evolved together with the existing fauna. There has been a surge of understanding around the importance of caring for the native ecosystem through native plants to protect our pollinators. Horticulturalists are continually doing research and trials on plants that stand out as pollinator favorites. More and more customers are looking to grow pollinator friendly gardens and to cultivate a healthy native landscape. Cape Cod Native Plants.org has a wonderful online tool that helps you select the native plants best suited for your specific site.

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native plant list

cape cod & the islands

native plant finder

national wildlife federation

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POLLINATOR FRIENDLY PERENNIALS

Perennial POLLINATORS

Agastache
- kudos Coral, kudos ambrosia, kudos Mandarin, Blue Fortune, Black Adder & Little Adder
Bluebeard (Caryopteris)
Coneflower (Echinacea)
- Sombrero series, White Swan & Green Twister
Coreopsis
- Solanna™ Bright Touch & UpTick™ Gold & Bronze
Goldenrod (Solidago)
Lavender (Lavandula)
Milkweed (Asclepias)
Phlox (Phlox paniculata)
Salvia
Perennial Sunflower (Helianthus)
Stonecrop (Sedum)
Yarrow (Achillea)

native pollinator perennialS

Ageratum (coelestinum)
Aster ‘Aromatic’ (Symphyotrichum oblongifolius)
Aster ‘Woods Purple’ (Eurybia divaricata)
Baptisia (Baptisia australis)
Beebalm (Monarda didyma)
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida)
Coneflower (Echinancea purpurea)
Cutleaf Coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata)
Foam Flower (Tiarella cordifolia)

Goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis)
Joe Pye Weed Gateway (Eutrochium Gateway)
Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum)
Blazing Star (Liatris spicata)
Mallow ‘Rose’ (Hibiscus moscheutos)
Milkweed ‘Butterfly’ (Asclepias tuberosa)
Perennial Sunflower (Helianthus)
Primrose ‘Evening’ (Oenothera biennis)

Native Eastern Red Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)

Sedum, Butterfly Milkweed, Quickfire Hydrangea

Goldenrod, Rudbeckia photo by keith kurman

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POLLINATOR FRIENDLY SHRUBS

native pollinator shrubs

Blueberry, Lowbush (Vaccinium angustifolium)
Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)
Beach Plum (Prunus maritima)
Arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum)
Inkberry (Ilex glabra)
Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia)
American Elderberry (Sambucus nigra L. ssp. canadensis)
Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum)
Sweet Fern (Comptonia peregrina)
Willow (Salix)
Viburnum (Arrowwood)
Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)

additional POLLINATOR shrubS

Butterfly Bush (Buddleia)
Double File Viburnum (Viburnum plicatum)
Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)
Lilac (Syringa vulgaris)
Ninebark (Physocarpus)
Fothergilla
[VIDEO] Oak Leaf Hydrangea full of bees on the Highline in NYC.

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POLLINATOR FRIENDLY TREES

NATIVE POLLINATOR TREES

Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)
Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)
White Oak (Quercus alba)
American Holly (Ilex opaca)
Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
Magnolia virginiana
Dogwoods (Gray, Silky, Red-twig, Pagoda, Flowering)

Additional POLLINATOR treeS

Magnolias [ViIDEO]Magnolia grandiflora Little Gem is full of pollinators and a deer resistant tree!]
Stewartia

Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis Pendula) photo by keith kurman

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Visit Vineyard Gardens to see all the different pollinator friendly varieties we carry!

[PLANT PROFILE] AMSONIA

May 29, 2024 Karen Logan

AMSONIA

The Amsonia tabernamontana was brought to my attention long ago with it’s recognizably distinct shape and blue flowers. That year I noticed the shape of the Amsonia again, in it’s beautiful yellow fall color. Their stupendous rounded form originates from the central crown of the plant. It’s rounded shape and sturdy form result from many individual stems with the exact right length to round it out. When in bloom, a cluster of small blue, star shaped flowers adorn every tip. Hence the common name, Blue Star.

THE AMSONIA TABERNAEMONTANA WAS ON THE LIST AWARDED BEST 75 GARDEN PLANTS BY AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY!

AMSONIA WE CARRY AT VINEYARD GARDENS

Amsonia has multi season interest with it’s blue spring flowers, fall color and interesting texture. Amsonia’s texture contrasts beautifully with the plants around it, in particular the hubrichtii with it’s long needle like foliage. Amsonia offers a lot in the garden plus it is deer resistant!

Amsonia tabernamontana: the species
Blue Ice: a more compact cultivar
Amsonia hubrichtii is another species of Amsonia we carry. It is quite different than the tabernamontana. It has very narrow, needle like leaves that line the stems, which again originate in a central crown. Tips lined with blue flowers. Amsonia hubrichtii was awarded the Perennial Plant of the Year Award in 2011.

PLANTS ARE CLASSIFIED BY THEIR FLOWERS. IT’S THE FLOWERS THAT HAVE TO BE SIMILAR FOR THE PLANTS TO BE RELATED.

CARE

Amsonia are easy to grow. They are US prairie plants so they are not fussy.
They prefer well drained soil
They prefer full sun, but tabernamontana does ok in a partial shade. It just won’t bloom as well.

Since that first encounter long ago I have grown to love the Genus!

Amsonia hubrichtii in Vinieyard Gardens garden bed

pollinator plants

perennials, shrubs & trees

DEER RESISTANT PLANTS

May 24, 2024 Karen Logan

Vineyard Gardens garden bed. Amsonia hubrichtii (center with blue flowers) and Bronze Fennel, a perennial herb (in the background) are both deer resistant perennials

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DEER IN YOUR GARDEN

Deer show distinct preferences to certain types of flowers. Plants that are soft to the touch with high water content (like hostas) are favorites, as well as buds and rhododendrons. Deer don’t seem to like plants with coarse, bristly, fuzzy, or spiny textures, nor do they enjoy those with intense aromas. That said, if hungry enough, deer will eat anything. They will leave jagged damage on your plant leaves so you will know they have been to your house for dinner. The heaviest browsing by deer will occur from October through February, especially during difficult winter months.

Note: Even “resistant” varieties can be vulnerable in the first few weeks after planting. If you have major deer problems, we recommend spraying new plants with a deer-repellent for 3 to 4 weeks after planting to prevent them from being nibbled on and damaged. The plants should survive even if they are feasted on, as long as the root systems of the plants are not damaged.

*Black Chokeberry, a deer resistant native shrub*

Forget Me Nots & Bleeding Hearts are both deer resistant plants.

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CONTROL AND PREVENTION

How to Get Rid of Deer

There are many techniques you can try to deter deer from munching on your plants. Try some of these methods for your garden:

Spray flowers and shrubs with a deer repellent that contains a mixture of dried bovine blood, sulfured eggs, and garlic. These repellents are available at most home and garden stores. They will not harm your plants and are usually effective in deterring deer.

Scatter or hang bars of deodorant or cheap motel soap around the garden; if you leave the wrappers on, the soap will last longer. Irish Spring is particularly recommended.

For your garden, choose flowers and shrubs that are unpalatable to deer, such as forsythia, lilac bush, marigolds, zinnias, daffodils, lavender and snapdragons. Contact your local cooperative extension for suggestions in your area. Here is the Almanac’s list of deer-resistant plants.
Put strong-smelling plants that deer don’t like on the outside of your garden and smaller plants that need more protection on the inside. Deer tend to stay away from poisonous plants, strongly flavored plants, and plants with hairy or furry leaves.
The most reliable method is to fence in your garden. We sell a black vinyl fence for keeping deer out. The fence needs to be at least 8ft tall. A strong 8ft metal fence would work nicely but that can get quite expensive.

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DEER RESISTANT ANNUALS

Calendula Bon Bon mix. A dwarf Calendula. Blooms all summer in full sun or part shade.

DEER RESISTANT ANNUALS

Acroclinum (Paper Flower)
Ageratum
Angelonia: Dwarf Serena, tall Angelonias and our favorite tall one is the Angel Face Series
Bachelor Buttons (Corn Flowers)
Bracteantha (Strawflower)
Brugmansia
Calendula (Angel's Trumpets)
Cleome (Spider Flowers)
Cosmos sulphureus: Cosmos Xanthos,Cosmos Apricotta and our new Cosmos Diablo
Datura (Trumpet Flower)
Delphinium (Larkspur)
Dusty Miller (Silver Ragwort)
Euphorbia marginatá ‘Snow on the Mountain’

Geraniums (Crane's Bill)
Geraniums (scented)
Gomphrena (Globe amaranth)
Gypsophila (Baby's Breath)
Heliotropium (Heliotrope)
Herbs (annuals): cilantro / parsley / dill / chervil / lemon grass / lavender / lemon verbena / marjoram
Lantana
Limonium (Statice) (Sea lavenders)
Lobularia maritima (Alyssum)
Papaver (Poppies)
Salvias
Tagetes (Marigolds)

Salvia “Amistad” (annual and season extender)

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DEER RESISTANT PERENNIALS

Pennisetum Moudry-black fountain grass blooms in late summer

DEER RESISTANT PERENNIALS

Achillea (Yarrow)

Aconitum (Wolf's bane)
Agastache (Anise hyssop)
Allium Ornamental Onion)
Alpestris (Forget-Me-Nots)
Amsonia (Blue Stars)
Ariseama (Jack-in-the-Pulpit)
Arum (Arum Lilies)
Aruncus (Goatsbeard)
Artemesia (Mugworts)
Asarum (Wild Gingers)
Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed)
Aster
Astilbe (False Goatsbeard)
Baptisia (Wild Indigo)
Borage
Bronze Fennel
Cimicifuga (Bugbane)
Coreopsis verticillata ‘Zagreb’ and ‘Moonbeam’ (Whorled Tickseed)
Corydalis
Dicentra (Bleeding Heart)
Digitalis (Foxglove)
Dryopteris (Wood Ferns)
Echinops (Globe Thistle)
Epimedium (Barrenwort)
Euphorbia (Spurges)

Festuca glauca (Blue Fescue)

Helleborus (Hellebore)
Herbs (perennial): Rosemary / thyme / sage / tarragon / mints / Rue
Iris: Bearded, Japanese and Siberian Iris
Kirengeshoma (Yellow Wax Bells)
Lavandula (Lavender)
Liatris (Blazing stars)
Lily if the valley
Marrubium vulgare (Horehound)

Melissa officinalis (Lemon balm)
Mint family perennials
Monarda (Beebalm)
Narcissus (Daffodils)
Nepeta (Catnips)
Oregano Drops of Gold Jupiter (new)
Oregano: ornamental and edible
Ornamental Grasses
Osmunda Fern (Royal Fern)
Pachysandra
Paeonia (Peonies)
Papaver (Poppies)
Perovskia (Russian Sage)
Salvia
Stachys bizantina (Lambs Ears)
Teucrium (Germanders)
Yucca

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DEER RESISTANT TREES & SHRUBS

DEER RESISTANT TREES & SHRUBS

Abelia
Acer (Maple)
Aesculus (Horse Chestnut)
Amelanchier (Serviceberry)
Aralia (Spikenards)
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Bearberry)
Aronia (Chokeberry)
Aucuba (spotted laurel)
Betula (Birch)
Buddleja davidii (Butterfly Bush)
Buxus (Boxwood)
Callicarpa (Beautyberry)
Calycanthus floridus (Sweet Shrub)
Calycanthus virginicum (Carolina Allspice)
Caryopteris (Bluebeard)
Cercidiphyllum (Katsura)
Chaenomeles (Flowering Quince)
Chamaecyparis (False Cypress)
Chionanthus
Clerodendron trichotoma (Harlequin Glorybower)
Clethra (Sweet Pepperbush)
Cotinus (Smoke bush)
Cornus (Dogwood)
Cotoneaster (Bearberry cotoneaster)
Cryptomeria (sugi)
Daphne
Deutzia
Enkianthus
Forsythia
Fothergilla
Gleditsia
Hamamelis (Witch-hazel)
Hibiscus syriacus (Rose of Sharon)
Hypericum (St. Johns Wort)
Ilex opaca (American Holly)
Ilex verticillata (Winterberry Holly)
Illicium floridanum (Florida Anise)
Itea virginica (Virginia sweetspire)

Juniperus (Junipers)
Kerria japonica
Kolkwitzia (Beauty Bush)
Symphoricarpos (Crepe Myrtle)
Leucothoe fontanesiana (Fetterbush)
Lindera (Spicebush)
Liriodendron tulipifera (tuliptree)
Magnolia
Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon Grape Holly)
Mahonia nervosa
Mahonia repens
Metasequoia (dawn redwood)
Microbiota decussata (Siberian Cypress)
Myrica pensylvanica (Bayberry)
Nellia sinensis
Osmanthus (Devilwood)
Oxydendrum (sorrel tree)
Philadelphus (Mock oranges)
Picea glauca (Alberta Spruce)
Pieris japonica (Andromeda)
Pines
Potentilla (Cinquefoil)
Prunus laurocerasus (Cherry Laurel)
Prunus maritima (Beach plum)
Prunus serrulata (Japanese Cherry)
Rhus (Sumac)
Rubus (Trailing Blackberry)
Salix (Willows)
Sambucus (Elderberry)
Sarcococca hookeriana (Sweetbox)
Skimmia
Spirea (Meadowsweets)
Symphoricarpos (Coralberry)
Syringa vulgaris (Lilac)
Viburnum dentatum (Arrowwood Viburnum)
Weigela
Wisteria

********************************************************************

oh deer!

Monrovia deer resistant plants

[PLANT PROFILE] ROSES

May 23, 2024 Karen Logan

ROSES

With all the beautiful varieties out there, how do you choose which rose fits your landscape?

Vineyard Gardens can help you choose the perfect rose for your desired location! Here is a breakdown of the types of roses and a sampling of what we carry.

David Austin Roses photo by keith kurman

ROSE VARIETIES

CLIMBING ROSES
Climbing roses work great on fences or a trellis. You can train your rose to climb in any direction that you choose by tying it in that direction.
David Austin Climbing Roses we carry:
New Dawn Roses: One of the most popular roses that climbs is the New Dawn Rose. It is a pale pink climber that is very popular on the white fences in Edgartown. We have large 9 gal trellised New Dawns for $149.95 and 20 gal for $239.95
Tess of the D’Urbervilles: A compact climbing rose with Crimson red blooms. A medium Old Rose fragrance
Bathsheba: A climbing rose with apricot flowers. Myrrh fragrance.
Zephirine Drouhin: A climbing rose with deep rose pink flowers. A strong fruity fragrance.

Climbing New Dawn Rose (David Austin Roses)

SHRUB ROSES:
Knock Out Roses: Have you ever heard of a Knock Out Rose? They have a traditional rose bloom. They are great repeat bloomers and tend to bloom longer than most other rose bushes! They hold a mounded shape if pruned correctly but they DO NOT climb. We have the double pink knockout, the red knockout and the double red knock out for $49.96.
Rosa palustris Marsh: Swamp Rose is a native multi-branched perennial shrub with extremely fragrant pink blooms. The rose hip fruit is red and fleshy. Birds love the seeds inside.
Julia Child Rose: Pale yellow flowers with licorice clove scent
Seafoam Rose: Creamy white blooms with a light fragrance.
Blanc Double de Coubert: Intensely fragrant pure white blooms.

David Austin shrub Roses we carry:
** DAVID AUSTIN ROSES: These are large shrub roses known for their double flowers and fragrant blooms. Plus they are disease resistance! We sell them for $54.95.
Vanessa Bell: Pale yellow flowers with a fragrance is similar to green tea. It forms a bushy, upright shrub. 4’ x 3’
Desdemona: White with pinkish hue blooms. Old Rose fragrance with hints of almond blossom, cucumber and lemon zest.
Gertrude Jekyll: Large shrub with bright pink blooms. Old Rose fragrance.
Olivia Rose: Medium shrub with mid pink flowers and fruity fragrance.
The Fairy: Small shrub with light pink flowers and mild fragrance.

GROUND COVER ROSES
Ground Cover Roses are great for border planting or erosion control. They will add color to any full sun area. They are best planted in the front of the garden as they stay low and sprawl!
ROSA RUGOSA
Our naturalized beach rose. The most drought tolerant rose I have ever come across. We have 3 gal pink and 1 gal, 3 gal and 10 gal alba or white.
MINIATURE ROSES
Do you want a rose bush but don’t have the garden space? We have brought in a few different varieties of dwarf roses to give you the opportunity to grow these great cut flowers in containers!

ROSE CARE

Roses love full sun, well drained soil & manure!

Apply a fertilizer now. The recommended fertilizer would be Plant-tone.

Looking for something different? We have just touched the surface on rose varieties. To learn more come visit us at the nursery and we will surely find the perfect fit for your property!

TOMATOES

May 16, 2024 Karen Logan

TOMATOES

(Solanum lycopersicon)

History of the tomatoes goes back to 500 BC. Apparently many different cultivars were displayed at an Aztec Market in Tenochtitlan, ranging in color from the brightest red to the deepest yellow.

Tomato season is upon us and there are so many varieties available. How do you choose which to grow? At Vineyard Gardens we are very proud of our heirloom selection that we grow from seed. Fedco is one of our major sources for heirloom tomato seeds. We grow disease resistant tomatoes as well. We order our cherry, grape tomatoes, mid-size sandwich tomatoes and the big extra large tomatoes.

PLANTING TOMATOES

Right now, we recommend you start with a plant because it’s too late in the season to start tomatoes from seed.
It is best to start with a young plant that has been greenhouse grown because of the long growing season needed.
It is a heat loving plant that likes rich soil and lots of sun.
Plant it after the last frost.
If you are going to grow it in a pot make sure it is a big pot with good drainage.
Cherry tomatoes do well in large pots. Coast of Maine potting soil is a good choice because it has some compost in it. Potting soil has been developed to have good drainage so always use potting soil in pots.

Heirloom vs Hybrid Tomatoes

At Vineyard Gardens we carry both hybrid and heirloom tomatoes. A few of the hybrids we carry are Burpees Big Boy and Big Beef, two of the largest ones, and Celebrity, a mid size disease resistant tomato.

HEIRLOOM TOMATOES

Heirloom tomatoes have been grown for around 40 plus years without crossbreeding. They are open-pollinated, which means pollinated by insects or wind without human intervention. That allows them to remain stable in their characteristics from one year to the next. Gardeners appreciate their consistency in taste and agree that most heirloom varieties tend to have greater flavor than hybrids. Heirloom tomatoes are often grown locally and allowed to ripen on the vine, then harvested. This method enhances their flavor. They often produce only a small number of fruit. Since they have not had the selective crossbreeding as hybrids, Heirloom Tomatoes tend to be more susceptible to pest disease, especially fungus, which makes them crack and split. **

HEIRLOOM PLUSES

STABILITY: Heirlooms produce large numbers of seeds and bear tomatoes identical to parents
TASTE: Heirlooms are considered flavorful, and even superior to commercially-produced varieties
INDIVIDUALITY: Many heirlooms have unique shapes and sport a variety of colors, including purple, yellow, white, orange, pink, red, green, black and striped.

HEIRLOOM MINUSES

INDIVIDUALITY: Unusual, misshapen or inconsistent tomatoes.
PRODUCTIVITY: Heirlooms take longer to mature and produce fewer tomatoes than hybrids.
DISEASE-RESISTANCE: More susceptible to disease.

HYBRID

Hybrid tomatoes typically yield a crop that is uniform in both appearance and timing. Typical supermarket tomatoes are hybrids that have been carefully crossbred to achieve a desired combination. Some of those characteristics may be bigger in size, better disease resistance, dependability, less required care, early maturity, higher yield, and/or specific plant size.**

HYBRID PLUSES

PRODUCTIVITY: You'll harvest more tomatoes
DISEASE-RESISTANCE: Hybrids have a reputation for not being as susceptible to diseases and pests as their heirloom counterparts.
STRENGTH: Hybrids are known for yielding tomatoes of similar size and with fewer blemishes.
LONGEVITY: Harvested hybrid tomatoes have staying power. They endure the long hours on at the roadside farm stand better than heirlooms

HYBRID MINUSES

FLAVOR: Most gardeners agree that hybrids are not as flavorful as heirlooms
INSTABILITY: Long term hybrids don't produce seeds as strong as what birthed them- according to experts. However, many gardeners claim they save hybrid seeds year to year which produce seedlings and fruit that is true to the original hybrid.

HEIRLOOM TOMATOES VARIETIES at VINEYARD GARDENS

COSMONAUT VOLKOV - ORGANIC (65 days) What makes Cosmonaut so special is it’s sweet, rich and full bodied juice. Fedco catalog editor noted her “Cosmonauts ripened nice fruits outdoors into early October one year, weeks after her other slicers had croaked.” (*Fedco)

BIZHIKI - ORGANIC (75 days)

RUTGERS 250 TOMATO - ORGANIC (75 days) This ½ lb deep red slicer is smooth, solid, blemish and crack free. It’s a perfect palm size, holding and ripening off the vine for at least 10 days. And a real sandwich-maker: tangy-tart with tomato-y depth, and lightly sweet. But it’s also meaty, juicy and firm without being hybrid fiberboard dry or grainy. (*Fedco)

ROSE DE BERNE TOMATO - ORGANIC (80 days) It is widely considered in France, Germany and Switzerland to be the best-flavored tomato. Only medium-sized yet delivers the robust flavor of the bigger types. A recent taste test confirmed it’s the "best pink for it’s size unblemished globes are perfectly round. The only “heirloom to resist the onslaught of tomato diseases in the cold of August 2017 and then ripen beautifully in the warmth of Sept”. (*Fedco)

GERMAN JOHNSON - ORGANIC: An heirloom known for it’s copious yields of pink meaty fruits often exceeding 1lb. Mild with some sweetness.(*Fedco)

PINK BRANDYWINE TOMATO - ORGANIC (82 days) Pink Brandywine is the heirloom that launched a movement, leading many gardeners to be flavor-positive preservation-aware seed-savers. Oblate meaty beefsteak with deep flavor and perfect hints of tart. Fruits average right around a pound, ripening unevenly throughout the season, often preferring cool early fall to peak heat of August. (*Fedco)

WEISNICHT'S UKRAINIAN TOMATO - ORGANIC (85 days) In 2015 it won first prize in the heirloom category in Boston. The oft-bi-lobed medium large 8-18oz scrumptious pink fruits are sparse seed bearers. The flavor is sweet rich and complex with delicious acid overtones. (*Fedco)

GARDEN PEACH TOMATO - ORGANIC (71 days) Yellow fruits blush pink when ripe and have thin fuzzy skins somewhat like peaches, soft-skinned, juicy and very sweet. Light fruity taste is not what you’d expect in a tomato. Burpee in 1893 called it “delicate, melting in the mouth like a grape.” Jim Stockwell from North Carolina would not be without it. “Not only are they early and prolific but their unusual flavor and no core sizes make them perfect for grilling without falling apart.” (*Fedco)

GOLDIE - ORGANIC (75 days) Deep orange beefsteak fruits. Several people who grew our Heirloom Mix said Goldie was their favorite. (*Fedco)

CHEROKEE PURPLE TOMATO - ORGANIC (77 days) Said to have originated with the Cherokee Indians. Best tasting heirloom. Dusky brownish-purple skin, dark green shoulders and brick-red flesh. The real attraction is their rich taste, described as “sweet rich juicy winey,” “delicious sweet,” and “rich Brandywine flavor”. (*Fedco)

BLACK KRIM TOMATO - ORGANIC (80 days) At half green and still firm they are already dead ripe and perfectly delicious. Iridescent purple on the outside usually with dark green-black shoulders.an unusual juicy yet meaty taste and texture. (*Fedco)

PINEAPPLE TOMATO OG (85 days) ”I roast these exceptionally sweet red streaked yellow tomatoes in a hot oven, then saute with garlic, rosemary and extra virgin olive oil and throw over pasta.” Michelle Owen garden author. Pineapple may be the best striped tomato. Typically grows huge fruits in excess of 1lb. Cut in half it looks like the interior of a pineapple except with yellow and red marbling. Doesn’t taste like a pineapple, unique, mild, low, acid fruity sweetness. (*Fedco)

AUNT RUBY'S GERMAN GREEN TOMATO - ORGANIC (85 days) Until you try it, you won’t believe a green tomato could be this good. I rate it second only to Brandywine for flavor and it is on just about everyone’s top-ten list. Don’t allow them to get too soft before picking. The green flesh of this beefsteak is faintly marbled with pink. Flavor sweet and tart, rich and spicy. Flavor deteriorates when cold weather sets in. (*Fedco)

AMISH PASTE TOMATO - ORGANIC (85 days) Listed members’ comments tell all: “large red meaty fruit,” “wonderful paste variety,” “great flavor for cooking, canning or fresh eating,” “the standard by which I judge canning tomatoes,” “huge production,” “great for sauces, salsa, canning.” Larger and better than Roma. Wisconsin heirloom from Amish farmers in the 1870s.(*Fedco)

BEEFSTEAK POLE - ORGANIC “Century-old favorite not only for sandwiches, but also any dish calling for rich, tomato flavor. Vines are so vigorous (up to 6' or more) you will need a sturdy wire cage to support them and the 1–2-pound fruits! Produces summer to fall.” (Botanical Interest)

WATERMELON BEEFSTEAK “Perhaps the best-tasting pink tomato we have ever eaten, this variety is a winner for its refreshing flavor. Super prolific, easy to grow and mighty fine flavor! We love to scoop the firm meaty flesh with a melon baller for salads and snacking.” (Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds)

MORTGAGE LIFTER- Huge heirloom beefsteak. Mild sweet flavor.

ROMA -

CHERRY TOMATOES

HONEYDROP CHERRY TOMATO - ORGANIC (62 days) Honeydrop’s sweet juicy fruity honey-colored treats taste almost like white grapes. They are much less prone to cracking in wet weather than Sun Gold. Great for earliness, sweetness and complexity. (*Fedco) According to Fedco Honeydrop Cherries are better than Sungold.

BLACK CHERRY TOMATO - ORGANIC (75 days) Dusky color and complex flavor typical of the best black tomatoes, juicy and delicious. Somewhat late for a cherry tomato, fruit ripens slowly and individually until frost, but worth the wait. (*Fedco)

PRINCIPE BORGHESE - ORGANIC (75days) Used for sundried tomatoes as it has few seeds and little juice Bears small red fruits in prolific clusters over a long season. (*Fedco)

AOSTA VALLEY We had seed from 2021

HYBRID CHERRY TOMATOES

SUN GOLD CHERRY TOMATO (57 days) To quote one customer, “Without these little babies, there’s no summer.” A perfect combination of deep sweetness with a hint of acid tartness. They ripen very early to a rich apricot color and keep producing till frost. Very prone to split so pick early when rains are forecast. (*Fedco)

JULIET (60days) Little plum shaped fruits come in clusters everywhere, each truss bearing 6-8 of the 1-2oz grapes. “Juliet is my favorite tomato for drying. Cut them in half, flip out the seeds and dehydrate…they are like tomato raisins, chewy and sweet to just eat or on a pizza” Lynn Sagalyn (*Fedco)

SWEET TREATS (75days) Large fruits come in clusters of 12-15 per truss. Ripens from pink to deep rose. Wait for full color to harvest. (*Fedco)

SUPER SWEET 100 CHERRY TOMATO (78 days) Like the famous Sweet 100, but with more disease resistance. Very popular hybrid cherry tomato ripens clusters of 1" round sweet fruits. Should be staked. Will split in rainy conditions.

YELLOW PEAR FARGO - (82 days) About twice the size of regular pear tomatoes, the meaty morsels are crack resistant. (*Fedco)

HONEY BUNCH GRAPE (62 days) Crack resistant. Sweet with honeyed nuance. Wait until it ripens fully to a bright red in the field. (*Fedco)

HARTMAN’S YELLOW GOOSEBERRY (70-75 days) Sweet, mild, tasty and light golden-yellow in color.

SEEDS

“Saving Tomato Seed is easy. Remove stem-end and crush the fully ripe fruit into a container. Ferment uncovered for a few days until slurry forms a moldy cap. Rinse in a fine strainer and dry seed on a coffee filter. To ensure true-to-type seed, grow open-pollinated varieties and separate by 50ft.” (*Fedco)

We had seed left over from last year that we have planted out. Tomato seed can last up to 5 years!

________________________________________________

REFERENCE

*Description of tomatoes comes from the Fedco Catalog

WARM WEATHER VEGETABLES

May 16, 2024 Karen Logan

WARM WEATHER VEGETABLES

As we slowly move into the warmer season, it is safe to plant out your warm weather vegetables. Stake vines and veggies as needed. Mulch or top dress around vegetables to prevent weeds and conserve moisture.

All the warm season vegetables can go in now: tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, beans, corn and squash.
The tomatoes, eggplants and peppers are growing in small pots. Cucumbers, zucchini and summer squash are growing in little peat pots that can go directly in the ground.
Beans and corn should be planted from seed directly in the ground now. Remember to keep them moist until they germinate.
We also have in stock annual herbs including Parsley, Basil, Dill, Rosemary, Chervil, Fennel, Summer Savory and Marjoram.
We have a nice selection of perennial herbs including Thyme, Tarragon, Sage, Oregano, Sweet Woodruff and Lavender
We also carry edible flowers including Violas, Bachelor Buttons, Calendulas, Borago and Nasturtiums.
A second crop of the spring cool weather plants can also go in now. Carrots and beets should be seeded again. We have packs of lettuce and arugula and it is still a good time to plant those.

Plant now and enjoy the edible bounty of your efforts later!

*******************

TOMATOES

Tomato season is upon us and there are so many varieties available. How do you choose which to grow? The first step is to understand the differences between heirloom and hybrid tomatoes. Both varieties have their strengths and weaknesses.

[HEIRLOOM VS HYBRID TOMATOES]

HEIRLOOM

Heirloom tomatoes are varieties that have been grown without cross-pollination for at least 40 years. They are open-pollinated, which means pollinated by insects or wind without human intervention. That allows them to remain stable in their characteristics from one year to the next. Gardeners appreciate their consistency in taste and agree that most heirloom varieties tend to have greater flavor than hybrids. Heirlooms are often grown locally and allowed to ripen on the vine which affects their flavor. They often produce only a small number of fruit since they have not had the selective crossbreeding as hybrids, Heirloom Tomatoes tend to be more susceptible to pest disease, especially fungus, which makes them crack and split.

HYBRID

**TOMATOES**
**——————**

*Pink Brandywine*
*Amish Paste*
*Black Krim*
*Cherokee Purple*
*Patio Choice Yellow*
*Bush Ace*
*Prudence Purple*
*Jetstar*
*Black Prince*
*Green Zebra*
*Watermelon*
*Candyland*
*Beefsteak*
*Gold Metal*
*Golden Yellow*
*Better Boy*
*Celebrity*
*Early Girl*
*Roma Plum*

**CHERRY TOMATOES**
**——————**

*Supersweet 100*
*Sungold*
*Tropical Sunset*
*Honeydrop*
*Moby Grape*

***************************************

PEPPERS

We carry a variety of different peppers from sweet bell peppers to a range of hot peppers and Shishito Peppers

**HOT PEPPERS**
**——————**

*Early Jalepeno*
*Chili Peppers*
*Czeck Black*
*Jaluv an Attitude*
*Red Long Slim*
*Annaheim*
*Banana*

***************************************

BASIL

***************************************

SQUASH & CUCUMBERS

Cucumbers have made it to the Nursery, We have pickling & slicing varieties & Japanese Cucumbers. to highlight some specific varieties we have Marketmore, Painted Serpent, & Pickling. We are selling a nice selection of squashes, zucchini and cucumbers in peat pots.

SQUASH
——————

*Honeynut Butternut*
*Squash*
*(chefs go crazy over*
*this squash because it*
*has a soft skin that*
*can be eaten, unlike*
*most butternut*
*squashes)*
*Spaghetti Squash*
*Summer Squash (Yellow*
*Crookneck &*
*Straightneck)*

***************************************

NASTURTIUMS

We carry a variety of colors.

NASTURTIUMS
——————

*Milkmaid (white)*
*Troika Mix*
*Moonlight (white)*
*Jewel Cherry Rose*
*Whirlybird Tangerine*
*Whirlybird Cream*
*Troika Cream*
*Jewel Primrose*

***************************************

OTHER WARM WEATHER EDIBLES: ZUCCHINI, EGGPLANT & MUSKMELON

DIGITALIS [FOXGLOVE]

May 11, 2024 Karen Logan

Foxglove illustration by karen blackerby logan

Digitalis purpurea, Foxglove

Digitalis purpurea is a stunning species of Foxglove with many cultivars to choose from. They are beautiful right now at the nursery!

Digitalis purpurea is considered a biennial, which means they produce leaf and root in their first year and flower and seed in their second year. They contain both characteristics of annuals and perennials, as well as being over zealous seeders.

Other perennial foxglove species include the Strawberry Foxglove (Digitalis mertonensis), the Rusty foxglove (Digitalis ferruginea) and the pale yellow Digitalis grandiflora.

Digitalis purpurea cultivars
available

*____________*
*Digitalis Alba
*Digitalis Apricot Beauty
*Digitalis Excelsior
*Digitalis Pam’s Choice
*Camelot Series: Cream,
*White, Lavender & Pink*
*Dalmation Series:
*Purple & Peach*
*Digitalis Artic Fox Rose

A Foxglove in its second year presenting a spectacular spike of flowers.

**************************

GROWING DIGITALIS

Deer Resistant!

Digitalis prefers moist, organically rich, acidic, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Soil must not be allowed to dry out. They bloom in late spring. Removal of flower spikes is not recommended if you want reseeding and colonizing. You will get smaller side spikes but it’s that primary spike that is most impressive. Since they are biennials, Digitalis reseed and colonize in the most interesting and beautiful ways.

Digitalis has striking colors and good architectural height in garden beds.

Some cultivars grow to 5 ft tall while some grow between 3-4ft tall (Camelot Series).

info

___________
Bloom Time: *May to June*
*Full sun to part shade*
Height: *2 to 5 feet*
Attracts: *Hummingbirds*
Tolerate: *Rabbit, Deer*
Suggested Use: All kinds
of ornamental beds & gardens.
*Also, great in naturalized areas*
*& woodland gardens.*

**************************

DIGITALIS: HISTORY AS A MEDICINAL PLANT

A SOURCE FOR DIGOXIN USED TO TREAT CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA

Vineyard Gardens front bed with many biennials on display; Angelica, Echium, a couple types of Digitalis and Fennel.

Digitalis is commonly used as an ornamental plant for gardeners but it has a long history for medicinal use as well. Their dried leaves contain the drug digoxin that is used to treat cardiac arrhythmia. It was popularized in 1785 by a British physician that spoke of Digitalis purpurea helping the heart work more efficiently. A curious story revolves around Vincent Van Gogh and his connection to the use of digitalis to treat his epilepsy. The over use of the chemical digoxin found in digitalis can affect one’s eyesight, by tipping the vision color scale to a yellow tint and seeing halos around objects. People have theorized that Van Gogh was affected by these side effects, alluding to his yellow period and his frequent use of halos in his paintings. In a self portrait Van Gogh is depicted holding a foxglove plant and two paintings of his doctor holding digitalis. However, this may be pure speculation about Van Gogh’s color palette choice but what is known is digitalis has been used for centuries for medicinal purposes.

**************************

PEONIES

May 10, 2024 Karen Logan

Peonies are a genus of woodland plants which are prized for their exceptionally large, showy flowers in late May and June.

brief timeline

*____________*
*Peonies are thought*
*to have originated*
*in China.*
*Before the 10th century*
*they were introduced*
*in Japan.*
*During the 15th century*
*Paeonia officinalis was*
*introduced in Europe,*
*originally for medicinal*
*purposes.*
*In the nineteenth*
*century Paeony*
*lactiflora was*
*introduced from its*
*native China to Europe.*
*One was planted at*
*Kew Gardensin 1789.*

care

___________
Peonies prefer rich well
drained soil.
They do not need much
fertilizer.
A top dressing of
compost in the spring
is enough.
Watch for a black
fungal growth
called botrytis.

Carefully cut it out
immediately and throw
in the garbage. It will
cause stems to wilt.

**************************

PAEONIA LACTIFLORA (HERBACEOUS)

There are two distinct types of Peony. Paeonia lactiflora is a herbaceous species which is a low growing (1-2') clump-forming perennial. Commonly called garden peonies, they are ideal for mixed perennial beds in full to part shade (that's 3+ hours of direct sunlight). With may being a windy month, I would be remiss to not mention that garden peonies require support. They become top heavy with their giant flowers and liable to snap when rain or wind disrupts their ornamental show. Vineyard Gardens carries specifically designed peony cages for this purpose. Make sure to pick some up with your next purchase. We carry Herbaceous peonies that are priced as low as $29.95! In the winter these die to the ground.

Paeonia lactiflora we’d like to highlight:

Moon River (double soft cream and pink fragrant flowers)
Sarah Bernhardt (double pink flowers)
Coral Sunset (semi double coral blooms)

Jan Van Leeuwen (single white flowers)
Laura Dessert (double white flowers)
Paul M Wild (double ruby red blooms)
Lady Orchid (double pink flowers)

**************************

PAEONIA X SUFFRUTICOSA (TREE PEONY)

THE SECOND MAJOR TYPE OF PEONY

It always surprises me how early the Tree Peony’s flower. If you haven’t tried them you might want to. They are an easy plant to grow, slowly becoming a fairly substantial shrub with huge single or double flowers opening in May. The Tree peony, Paeonia x suffruticosa, solves the support concerns of garden peonies with it’s persistent, slow growing, woody structure. Ideal for mixed borders and woodland edges these peonies feature the same large blooms as the garden variety, but can reach up to 6' tall with time. Our Tree Peonies are priced as low as $39.95!

**************************

ITOH PEONIES

This year we are carrying the inter-sectional hybrid, or commonly know as Itoh peonies. During the 1940’s Toichi Itoh from Tokyo crossed the herbaceous peony with the tree peony to create the intersectional hybrid peonies, the Itoh peonies. Their characteristics are intermediate between herbaceous and tree peonies, featuring strong stems which do not require caging or other support.

These 2 cultivars are priced at $39.95

Paeonia Itoh 'Yellow Crown': Beautiful, fragrant double yellow flowers with a hint of red at the base of the petals.
Cora Louise: An Itoh Peony with giant double flowers with white petals and glowing dark red centers.

We carry a smaller quantity of the following:

Itoh Old Rose Dandy
Itoh Misaka
Itoh Takara

**************************

PEONIES

*__________*
*CUT FLOWERS*
*EASY TO GROW*
*LONG LIVED*
*FRAGRANT &*
*DEER RESISTANT!!*

premier cut flower

__________
The Netherlands are
the number one
producer of cut flower
peonies.
Alaska has developed a
cut flower market with
an extended season
due to long hours
of sunlight in summer.

[PLANT PROFILE] LAVENDER

May 1, 2024 Karen Logan

LAVENDER

Fragrant, deep blue spikes that stick straight up above the grey green foliage. Lavender thrives in full hot sun, in well drained soil. It is drought tolerant once established and deer resistant. They are highly effective in mass plantings. We sell most of them in both 1 gallon and 4” pots. A few varieties we sell in only one size.

Perennial Lavenders

Lavandula angustifolium: These are the hardiest species of lavender. All of these lavenders should overwinter if they have good drainage otherwise they will rot when it is cold and wet. We sell several of these varieties.

Munstead and Hidcote are the oldest varieties and still two of our favorites.
Provence has become very popular.
Phenomenal is a newer cultivar, showing a lot of promise.
Blue cushion and Super Blue are a few newer cultivars that we are trying out and testing their hardiness. They claim to be hardy.

Annual Lavenders

The annual lavenders bloom longer than the perennial lavenders but they will not overwinter and come back year after year.

Goodwin Creek
Grosso
Elegance Purple
Lavandula dentata, the fringed French lavender
Lavandula stoechas: This year we are growing a Spanish Lavender from seed in two colors, deep purple and deep rose. , They will not overwinter.
Lavender pinnata: Also known as French Fringed lavender
Lavender multimodal ‘Torch Blue’: We grow this lavender from seed

SEDUMS 30% off

Sedums are terrific low maintenance plants which really stand out in late summer to fall.

SEDUM PLANT TYPES

SEDUMS AT VINEYARD GARDENS

Sedum blooms attract pollinators. Birds, butterflies and many insects love them!

ECHINACEA 30% OFF

CONEFLOWER

Natives Vs Hybrids

Coneflowers come in a rainbow of colors!

ECHINACEA AVAILABLE AT VINEYARD GARDENS

USES

GROWING CONDITIONS

An excellent, long-blooming flower for massing in the border, meadow, native plant garden, naturalized area or wildflower garden. Often massed with black-eyed Susans.

Cephalanthus occidentalis

Its fast-growing root system helps with water quality near marshes, streams or wetlands. Since it can grow in water it is a favorite for wetland conservation.

Hydrangea arborescens

Clethra alnifolia

HYDRANGEA PANICULATA

Panicle Hydrangeas

HYDRANGEA PANICULATA ATTRIBUTES

EVERGREEN TREES AND SHRUBS FOR SHADE

Deer resistant broadleaf evergreens we like to recommend are Pieris japonica, Mahonias and Osmanthus heterophyllus.

EVERGREEN TREE & SHRUB VARIETIES

CAMELLIAS & AUCUBAS

BUXUS

RHODODENDRONS

MAHONIA

HOLLIES

In general we do not recommend you plant conifers in shade. They may not die but they will grow long and leggy. Your much better off planting a Holly, Mahonia or Osmanthus (if you have deer).

HIBISCUS

Hardy Hibiscus, Shrub Hibiscus & Tropical Hibiscus

HARDY HIBISCUS

SHRUB HIBISCUS

TROPICAL HIBISCUS

GROWING CONDITIONS

ASTILBE

GROWING ASTILBE

ASTIBLE ATTRACT BUTTERFLIES!

COMBINATION PLANTINGS

CARE

VARIETIES

PERENNIAL GROUNDCOVERS

Try planting ground covers at the base of your shrubs instead of mulching. Ground covers are very effective at keeping weeds out!

SUCCESSION GARDENING

This is an old concept that is being perfected at Great Dixter House and Gardens in England, where Andrew did an internship. This concept also serves to increase the biodiversity of the garden.

ECHINACEA

CONEFLOWER

Natives Vs Hybrids

Coneflowers come in a rainbow of colors!

GROWING CONDITIONS

USES

An excellent, long-blooming flower for massing in the border, meadow, native plant garden, naturalized area, wildflower garden or part shade area of woodland garden. Often massed with black-eyed Susans.

HYDRANGEAS

HYDRANGEA MACROPHYLLA

Big Leaf, Mophead or Lacecap

GROWING HYDRANGEA MACROPHYLLA

'Hydranges Bloomstruck' blooms on both old and new growth, has strong stems and is resistant to powdery mildew.

HYDRANGEA PANICULATA

Panicle Hydrangeas

HYDRANGEA PANICULATA ATTRIBUTES

HYDRANGEA QUERCIFOLIA

Oakleaf Hydrangea

HYDRANGEA ANOMALA PETIOLARIS

Climbing Hydrangea

HYDRANGEA ARBORESCENS

Smooth Hydrangea

Annabelle and the newer Invincible Spirit

SALVIAS

GROWING SALVIA

Salvia are pollinator magnets! Wonderful plants for hummingbirds, bees, butterflies and other pollinators.

PERENNIAL SALVIAS

Perennial Salvias Available this Year:

Salvia nemorosa Species

Perennial salvia

ANNUAL SALVIA are SEASON EXTENDERS

Plant them now and they will be gorgeous in the fall!

Annual seed grown Salvias are fabulous garden performers.

Salvias grown from plugs

Salvias (sage) in the herb house

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