Sweet Daphne are Here!

by | Nov 6, 2023 | Front Page News, General

It’s that time of year- fragrant Daphne are here!

We have lots of these old-fashioned beauties in stock right now!

I can’t get enough of the potently fragrant flower clusters, reminiscent of citrus blooms. Mmmmm- heavenly! I cut new bouquets every few days, putting them where the scent can be enjoyed the most. I’ll even bring some along when I go to visit friends and neighbors- perfect little hostess gifts.

Plant it in a spot that gets partial sun. Use Master Nursery Planting Mix straight out of the bag for containers, or mix it 50/50 with the native soil back into the hole. Don’t forget the Masterstart- it gets those roots growing quick.

There are more reasons to love this old-fashioned beauty than just the flowers:

Deer resistance. This is one plant that is reliably impervious to deer, regardless of where you live. Yay! No fences or sprays needed!

Drought tolerance. Not only is daphne tolerant of drought, but it prefers low water (especially in the summer months). Wow, no problem- I like to keep that water bill down.

Evergreen. The glossy leaves are showy on their own, true green with nicely contrasting cream margins. Each leaf is somewhat different than the next, so you’ll see variations in the pattern of color. It really pops next to deeper tones- I have it against a dark wooden fence.

Daphne is a moderate grower, topping out at about 4’X4′ over time. It does well in a fair amount of shade, but also in a fair amount of sun, so where you plant will perhaps depend more on daphne’s water needs than the sun exposure. I have mine planted beside my front walkway, to best enjoy the delicious fragrance.

We have a great selection of nice and healthy daphne plants right now, so stop by.

Hello, Gorgeous!

Exotic Clematis

by | Apr 1, 2023 | General

The vine of the times right now is clematis. Our customers will really be snatching these up!

Winding, twining, lacy tendrils adorned with masses of tropical-looking flowers. Clematis is one vine that gets noticed…..

We love the look of this when it’s allowed to clamber up through climbing roses, creating a bouquet effect with the two types of flowers blooming together. Try it spilling out of a hanging basket, where it can mound, cascade and wind upward all at once. Use it to fill up sections of chainlink fence for a spectacular ‘living wall’ of color, or guide it up a post for a fountain effect. Add even more ‘wow’ when you blend several colors and styles in the same area.

Grow clematis anywhere that you’ve got some sun. It’s happy in the ground or in containers, especially when there’s something planted beneath that will keep the roots nice and cool. The only maintenance it generally requires is once a year pruning; some types don’t even need that. Provide the usual good drainage (as with most things you plant).

There are so many kinds available, most with large flowers- some can get 10″ across! We’ve got lots in stock right now, soon-to-be setting flowerbuds and ready to climb. Come check ’em out!

Old-Fashioned Lilacs

by | Feb 20, 2023 | General

Our huge selection of Lilacs are here!

Nothing sweeter than fragrant lilacs in spring. Just snip a few of the clusters and bring them inside- mmmm….

This is the perfect time of year to get lilacs from the nursery. Look for sizeable plants with even, vigorous new buds and thick, strong branches. The flowers are traditionally lavender, but you also see them in pink, white, blue, wine red and even dark purple with white edges.

There are several reasons we love them:

Butterflies and other pollinators love the flowers as much as we do.

Deer tend to leave them alone.

Watering is minimal once established; I have one mature specimen that does beautifully with no irrigation at all.

Sun Exposure is something lilacs thrive upon. Bring on the heat! You can also grow them in partial sun.

Size is not massive, and easily controlled by pruning right after the bloomtime.

These can be really versatile, too. Grow them as a hedge to get masses of color, or feature a single specimen as a focal point in your landscape. Mix them into your butterfly garden. Put a few in pots to brighten up the deck in springtime. Harvest the flowers for plentiful bouquets, since they last quite long when cut.

Use Master Nursery Planting mix right out of the bag for container planting; mix it 50/50 with the native soil when planting in-ground. Don’t forget to add a dos of Masterstart to get those roots growing.

There’s even a dwarf variety, ‘Bloomerang’,that will bloom in flushes through spring and summer. What will they think of next?

Ours are extra fat this season, having had some exceptional chilling this past winter. Lots of flowerbuds on these vigorous shrubs, and great selection of different sizes and colors right now, so stop by!

 

 

2023 Roses Coming Soon

by | Dec 6, 2022 | General

Roses are incoming soon!

 

about face

‘About Face’

grandiflora

bush

 

 

 

about face

‘Abraham Darby’

English

Bush

 

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‘All Dressed Up’

grandiflora

bush & 36″ tree

about face

‘All My Loving’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Angel Face’

floribunda

bush & 36″ tree

about face

‘Anna’s Promise’

grandiflora

bush & 36″ tree

about face

‘Apricot Candy’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Arctic Blue’

floribunda

bush, 24″ tree & 36″ tree

about face

‘Autumn Sunset’

climber

about face

‘Barbra Streisand’

hybrid tea

bush & 36” tree

about face

‘Baronne de Rothschild’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Bewitched’

hybrid tea

bush & 36″ tree

about face

‘Boscobel’

English

bush

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‘Brandy’

hybrid tea

bush & 36” tree

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‘Brilliant Pink Iceberg’

floribunda

24″ tree only

about face

‘Brother Cadfael’

English

bush

about face

‘Burst of Joy’

floribunda

bush, 24″ & 36″ tree

about face

‘Candy Land’

climber

 

 

about face

‘Cecile Brunner’

climber

 

about face

‘Carding Mill’

English

bush

about face

‘Celestial Night’

floribunda

bush, 24″ tree & 36″ tree

about face

‘Charlotte’

English

36″ tree only

about face

‘Ch-ching!’

grandiflora

bush

about face

‘Cherry Parfait’

grandiflora

bush

about face

‘Chicago Peace’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Chihuly’

floribunda

bush, 24″ & 36″ tree

about face

‘Chris Evert’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Chrysler Imperial’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Claire Austin’

English

climber

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‘Cloud 10’

climber

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‘Colorific’

floribunda

bush

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‘Crimson Bouquet’

grandiflora

bush

about face

‘Crown Princess Margareta’

English

climber

about face

‘Desdemona’

English

bush

about face

‘Dolly Parton’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Don Juan’

climber

about face

‘Doris Day’

floribunda

bush & 24” tree

about face

‘Double Delight’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Dream Come True’

grandiflora

bush

about face

‘Drop Dead Red’

floribunda

bush & 24″ tree

about face

‘Easy Does It’

floribunda

bush, 24″ & 36″ tree

about face

‘Easy Spirit’

floribunda

bush

about face

‘Ebb Tide’

floribunda

bush & 36″ tree

about face

‘Eden Climber’

climber

about face

‘Eglantyne’

English

36″ tree only

about face

‘Elle’

hybrid tea

bush & 36″ tree

about face

‘Falling in Love’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Fallstaff’

English

bush

about face

‘Firefighter’

hybrid tea

bush & 36″ tree

about face

‘Fourth of July’

climber

about face

‘Fragrant Cloud’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Fragrant Plum’

grandiflora

bush

about face

‘Frances Meilland’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Frida Kahlo’

floribunda

bush

about face

‘Fruity Petals’

climber

about face

‘Full Sail’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Gemini’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘George Burns’

floribunda

bush

about face

‘Gingersnap’

floribunda

bush

about face

‘Girl’s Night Out’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Golden Celebration’

English

climber

about face

‘Golden Showers’

climber

about face

‘Gold Medal’

grandiflora

bush

about face

‘Good as Gold’

grandiflora

36” tree only

about face

‘Graham Thomas’

English

bush

about face

‘Grande Dame’

hybrid tea

bush & 36” tree

about face

‘Heirloom’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Henry Fonda’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Honor’

hybrid tea

bush & 36″ tree

about face

‘Hot Cocoa’

floribunda

bush

about face

‘Iceberg’

floribunda

bush, 24” & 36” tree, and climber

about face

‘Ingrid Bergman’

hybrid tea

bush & 36″ tree

about face

‘Ink Spots’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘In the Mood’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘In Your Eyes’

shrub

bush

about face

‘Intrigue’

floribunda

bush & 36″ tree

about face

‘John F. Kennedy’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Joseph’s Coat’

climber

about face

‘Jubilee Celebration’

English

bush

about face

‘Julia Child’

floribunda

bush, 24” & 36” tree

about face

‘Just Joey’

hybrid tea

36” tree only

about face

‘Ketchup and Mustard’

floribunda

24” & 36” tree

about face

‘Kiss Me Kate’

Arborose

climber

about face

‘Lady Emma Hamilton’

English

bush

about face

‘Lady in Red’

climber

about face

‘Lady of Shalott’

English

bush

about face

‘Lasting Love’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Let Freedom Ring’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Life of the Party’

floribunda

bush, 24″ & 36″ tree

about face

‘Life’s Little Pleasures’

miniature

bush & 24″ tree

about face

‘Livin’ Easy’

floribunda

bush & 24″ tree

about face

‘Liv Tyler’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Love’

grandiflora

bush

about face

‘Love & Peace’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Love at First Sight’

hybrid tea

bush & 36″ tree

about face

‘Love Song’

floribunda

bush & 36″ tree

about face

‘Marilyn Monroe’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Marmalade Skies’

floribunda

bush

about face

‘Mary Rose’

English

bush & 36″ tree

about face

‘Memorial Day’

hybrid tea

bush & 36″ tree

about face

‘Michaelangelo’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Midas Touch’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Miss Congeniality’

grandiflora

bush

about face

‘Mister Lincoln’

hybrid tea

bush & 36” tree

about face

‘Moonstone’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Neil Diamond’

hybrid tea

bush & 36” tree

about face

‘Neptune’

hybrid tea

bush & 36” tree

about face

‘New Dawn’

climber

about face

‘New Zealand’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Octoberfest’

grandiflora

bush

about face

‘Oh My!’

floribunda

24” & 36″ tree

about face

‘Oklahoma’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Olympiad’

hybrid tea

bush & 36” tree

about face

‘Oranges ‘n’ Lemons’

shrub

bush

about face

‘Orchid Romance’

floribunda

bush

about face

‘Oregold’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Over The Moon’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Parade Day’

grandiflora

bush

about face

‘Peace’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Pearly Gates’

climber

about face

‘Peter Mayle’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Perfect Moment’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Perfume Delight’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Pillow Fight’

shrub

bush

about face

‘Polka’

climber

about face

‘Polynesian Punch’

floribunda

bush

about face

‘Pope John Paul II’

hybrid tea

bush & 36″ tree

about face

‘Pretty Lady Rose’

hybrid tea

bush & 36″ tree

about face

‘Princess Alexandra of Kent’

English

bush

about face

‘Princesse Charlene de Monaco’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Purple Splash’

climber

about face

‘Purple Tiger’

floribunda

bush

about face

‘Queen Elizabeth’

grandiflora

bush

about face

‘Queen of Elegance’

floribunda

bush

about face

‘Queen of Sweden’

English

bush

about face

‘Radiant Perfume’

grandiflora

bush

about face

‘Red Eden’

climber

about face

‘Rio Samba’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Rock & Roll’

grandiflora

bush

about face

‘Rosie the Riveter’

floribunda

bush

about face

‘Rouge Royale’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Sally Holmes’

climber

about face

‘Scentimental’

floribunda

bush, 24″ & 36″ tree

about face

‘Secret’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Sedona’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Sexy Rexy’

floribunda

bush

about face

‘Sheila’s Perfume’

floribunda

bush

about face

‘Shockwave’

floribunda

24″ tree only

about face

‘Sky’s the Limit’

climber

about face

‘Sparkle & Shine’

floribunda

bush

about face

‘St. Patrick’

hybrid tea

about face

‘Stainless Steel’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘State of Grace’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Strawberry Hill’

English

bush

about face

‘Strike it Rich’

grandiflora

bush

about face

‘Sugar Moon’

hybrid tea

bush & 36” tree

about face

‘Sunflare’

floribunda

bush

about face

‘Sunset Celebration’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Sunsprite’

floribunda

bush & 36″ tree

about face

‘Take it Easy’

shrub

24″ tree only

about face

‘Tamora’

English

bush

about face

‘Teasing Georgia’

English

bush

about face

‘Tess of the D’urbervilles’

English

climber

about face

‘The Fairy’

shrub

bush

about face

‘The Lady Gardener’

English

bush

about face

‘The Pilgrim’

English

bush

about face

‘The Poet’s Wife’

English

bush

about face

‘The Wedgewood Rose’

English

climber

about face

‘Tiffany’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Tropical Lightning’

climber

about face

‘Tropicana’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Trumpeter’

floribunda

bush & 36” tree

about face

‘Twilight Zone’

grandiflora

bush

about face

‘Vavoom’

floribunda

bush & 24” tree

about face

‘Veteran’s Honor’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Violet’s Pride’

floribunda

bush, 24″ & 36″ tree

about face

‘Voodoo’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Westerland’

climber

about face

‘White Dawn’

climber

about face

‘White Licorice’

floribunda

bush & 24” tree

about face

‘White Meidiland’

shrub

bush

about face

‘Winchester Cathedral’

English

36″ tree only

about face

‘Wollerton Old Hall’

English

climber

about face

‘WWII Memorial Rose’

hybrid tea

bush

about face

‘Zephirine Drouhin’

climber

Fabulous Early Bloomers to Plant Now

by | Feb 2, 2020 | General

Pieris Japonica- showy!

Most days, while driving frantically to and fro, I don’t pay much attention to things that are growing within my view. The occasional bright yellow daffodil flower, orange poppies or glowing red leaves in the vineyard might catch my eye, but most days I’m focused on my destination rather than the journey itself.

Lately I’ve been noticing several of those kinds of plants- splashes of flowering glory……what I am talking about are early-season flowers, those newly opening signs of spring, many of which are really spectacular!

Gorgeous magnolias (tulip trees), pink and white flowering plum and cherry, brightly-colored quince, golden forsythia, potently fragrant wisteria. Lilacs for sweet-smelling bouquets. Old fashioned dogwood trees, covered in perfectly-formed flowers. Bare branches suddenly burst open with color, a dazzling display that is starting right now.

‘Amethyst Falls’ wisteria

In the shade garden are helleborus that are fully bloomed out, sturdy white flowers that will age to a wine color. Pieris are dripping with strands of hanging ‘bells’, and the camellias are going full blast, with new flowers opening every day.

And DAPHNE! The perfume alone stops me in my tracks, but the pretty evergreen leaves and girly pink flower buds are equally inspiring.

Black Tullip’ magnolia flower

Out front there are some evergreen vines that are starting to pop, like evergreen clematis and jasmine. Hardenbergia, or lilac vine, is also in full glory, with plentiful lavender sprays.

We have all this and more starting to bloom now in our nursery- come by and check out all your options for a show-stopping addition to your garden!

‘snow fountains’ weeping cherry

Peonies are Here!

by | Feb 2, 2020 | General

We’ve got a nice big crop of peonies here! They will be sprouting buds and foliage very quickly! Our peonies are big and full and will bloom beautifully this season- no waiting for years to see a flower. Ready to spring forth with lush foliage and plump buds, and ready to take home now so you can enjoy the unfurling springtime show.

Never grown peonies before? If you like to cut bouquets you will LOVE them! You gotta see these things in bloom…..

‘Takara’ Itoh peony

We are thrilled to grow peonies every year. Lush plants that have ripe, colorful buds, exotic leaves and breathtaking flowers.

‘Pink Double Dandy’

The peony has always been my dream flower, with it’s distinctive petals and sweet old-fashioned perfume- almost too perfect looking to be real! A photo doesn’t do this beauty proper justice, and if you’ve seen these blooms in reality you know how breathtaking they are.

We’ve got several different kinds right now, grown in large enough containers so as to readily bloom this year. They’re long-lived perennials that can give you lifelong bouquets, and will thrive here in Sonoma County with minimal care when planted properly.

Fat juicy buds

To start, choose a spot that gets full (or at least afternoon) sun. If you’re putting your peony in the ground, work lots of rich compost like Paydirt into the hole, and add some starter fertilizer like Masterstart. This will not only add proper nutrients like nitrogen and phospherous, but will also break up heavy clay soil and promote good drainage. If you’d like to plant in a container, that’s fine- just use Planting Mix straight from the bag, but don’t forget that starter fertilizer.

‘Bowl of Beauty’ bush peony

The most recently developed peonies are exceptionally lush and leafy, with loads of flowers and a more extended bloomtime than old-fashioned kinds. These are the intersectional hybrids called Itoh (eye-toe), a vigorous cross between bush-type and tree-type. You really get the best of both worlds here- flower colors and foliage like the exotic tree peonies, but with the bushier habit and sun tolerance of standard bush peonies.

Cut flower aficionados are just wild about the blooms- extra-large, long-lasting, fragrant, and just downright show-stopping! When you cut a budded stem that is beginning to open, it will continue blooming in the vase for quite a while. Gorgeous!

Cruise on in to check out of our peony selection, and while you’re here we can certainly answer your questions and/or help you pick out the right one for your garden.