Lilacs.....the beauty of spring.

 Lilac seem to be a 'standard' in the old fashioned garden and in older neighborhoods. Lilacs are some of the first bloomers in the spring, the same time as iris and peonies. Those are some of my favorite bouquets to make.

 Lilacs are tought, hardy perennial plants and need little care. Some are more vase shaped and others can sucker and create a hedge. Make sure you ge the type you want when purchasing.

 As you see here, they come in a wide variety of pinks, blues, purples and also not shown - whites & creams. Some dwarf plants are only a few feet high, while tree lilacs can be up to 25' tall. The Japanese tree lilac is hardy here, creamy colored fragrant flowers, bloom after the shrub lilacs.

 Pruning lilacs is when the usual mistake gets made. They need to be pruned shortly after they are done blooming within 2 weeks.  After the bloom, the buds (next years flowers) are set for the following year. So prune back before this happens! If you prune back in late summer - fall, you will be cutting off next years blooms. =( 

Lilacs really need no extra fertilizer, prefer full sun - but will tolerate some shade & normal water.
I have some full grown plants for sale  that bloom too early for my bouquet use. Please contact me if interested, they will have to be spaded out. I also have a variety of full grown viburnums, dogwoods & sharp leaf willow to be spaded out as well.   507-382-9337 They will be ready to move in early April, get 'em in time to bloom in your yard!

Tradescantia aka Spiderwort

Spiderworts are making a comeback in the landscape. Another old plant that is 'new' again! Above and below is 'Concord Grape.' This plant blooms early to midsummer for about 8 weeks. Blossoms are small, about 1.5" across, but plants are loaded. Like dayliles, blooms only last one day. Blossoms are 'self cleaning' meaning the spent blooms will drop off on their own so no need to deadhead.

Above you can see the foliage which looks similar to daylilies, but leaves can be jointed and change direction, so more like a crazy daylily! Plants get 15-18" tall with a wider spread. Spiderworts do well in full sun or part shade. They also prefer a moist location (or extra water) and are tolerant of wet, boggy soils - think edge of pond , low spot or rain garden. Mid-summer if too stressed from low water, plants may look raggy, cut back hard - like almost to the ground (yes, that's right) and they will re-flush and bloom again in fall. They are very hardy here in zone 4. 

Above is 'Osprey,' so pretty! Soft blue petals with darker center. Spiderworts are good companion plants with dayliles, sib iris, coral bells and

Lady's Mantel. Earthworks will have both of these ready for spring sale, start compiling your list now!  

Echinacea, some new looks!

 Talk about any easy plant to grow! Above is 'Raspberry Truffle.' Deliciously fragrant, it is described a strawberry-peach smoothie colored. Very robust grower and is 28 - 32"tall. They don't look your grandma's coneflower, but they are!

 Check out 'Solar Flare.' Enormous 5-6' flower, strongly fragrant, deep magenta red blossoms have outward petals. Thick, near black stems that age to a smokey rose color. This plant is 24 - 36" tall.

Above is 'Irresistible.' Very cool looking! Flowers begin to emerge yellow, than transform into double, coral blossoms with a deeper coral rose pom pom. As the flower ages, the center lightens to citron yellow. This plant gets 32" tall.

Caring for echinaceas is simple. They need very little care after getting established. It would be helpful to winter mulch the first year. Echinacea prefer dry to wet locations, remember they are a 'prairie plant.' Great to combine with other perennials that are prairie types, as they all prefer lean rather than rich fertilized soil, well draining soil, dry over wet, (allow to dry out between waterings.) Other plants that they would work well with echinaceas and prefer the same conditions; iris, daylilies, sedum, daisy, perovskia, asters, grasses & sedums. Earthworks will have these 3 new guys for sale this spring in addition to several other pinks, purples & whites.