Our plants…
Our emphasis is propagating the plants we sell at our nursery either from seed or from strong locally acquired divisions. These plants are then grown out for several years. This allows us to sell plants that are proven for our long winters in addition to being selected for their garden worthiness and historical usefulness.
Scutellaria lateriflora, the mad-dog skullcap. The related North American species with very different medicinal uses.
Belamcanda chinensis. Commonly called blackberry lily because of the clustered black seed heads in the fall. The buds are twisted, and seem to unwind themselves open.
Ruta Graveolens. An attractive perennial with blue-green foliage that persists late into the Fall. A nice perennial that has a long history of use by humans.
Linum Perenne. The perennial form of flax. A nice tough plant, but with delicate looking foliage and blue flowers that persist all summer.
A treatise on seed…
My Favorite way to establish plants is from seed. Although sometimes a tedious process, especially for some of the best plants, the modern availability of unique plant seed with just a click of the mouse makes the world your oyster, especially for a “budding” horticulturist. Of course I have learned that all seed is not created equal. The harvest, processing and storage of some seed is very particular. Most seed catalogs are basically retail operations buying wholesale seed from many sources and it makes assessing the source and quality of the seed difficult. The best is your own seed planted fresh!
Finding good seed is often still just the first step. Many seeds require exacting conditions to bring about germination, some requiring up to two winter cycles to bring them to life. Some seeds germinate readily, but still take several years to become established, blooming and productive plants. To paraphrase an old punchline, “what’s a plant care about time”.
But that is the adventure! Seeds hold the rich genetic information of eons of evolution. The act of planting a seed puts you somewhere in that long process and the diversity of a given species will be revealed. As you grow out the plants we consciously, or unconsciously, make selections molding that evolutionary line. Establishing good sources of seed and bringing these important plants to life through trial and error not only creates strong established plants, it’s also just a lot of fun!
“…inside that speck upon your thumb is also found the embryo, a tiny mass of cells that can when awakened destroy concrete, melt hearts, and provide the stuff of honey.” Daniel Hinkley
Adiantum Pedantium, the maiden’s hair fern. One of our nicest native ferns. This is a clump of nursery grown stock from a local nursery.
The electric blue flowers of eryngium planum.
Spring hellebores! Though I had trouble germinating seeds, I found that they came up readily in established patches. I have been gathering seedlings from a local nursery for several years to establish my own stock.
Our own three year old stock from seedlings gathered at a local nursery. No flowers yet, but these plants are slow to get established. The best plants usually are.
