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Fall Planting Facts & Fiction

Last week, we discussed the science behind the rainbow of colors that adorn our trees, shrubs, and some of our perennials this time of year. Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, many people don’t know that autumn is a fantastic time to get things planted. In our mild winters here in the Mid-Atlantic, it’s not uncommon to be popping plants into the ground all the way up until the first frost – and these days, we’re sometimes able to extend that timeframe even further. So, this week, we’re bringing you a boatload of invaluable information about the dos and don’ts of fall planting (plus, of course, some pertinent and timely pictures to get your brain noodling about some potential candidates for your next project).

By Kate Irvine Woody Ornamentals · Read More

The Art of Senescence

As with all cycles of life, everything must come to an end. Some things go out softly like a candle flame, others in a chaotic blaze of glory. Autumn is a time of slowing down, of things beginning to move inwardly for the winter; autumn is a reminder that all things are transient, ever-evolving from the richest and most spirited of life’s delights to eventually undergo the process of inevitable, quiet decay. While this sounds a bit ghastly, in reality renewal, regrowth, and regeneration are not possible without the turning of tides, so to speak. It may seem like there is a larger metaphor at work here, and you’d be right in thinking so. After all: trees lose their leaves to protect themselves through harsh environmental conditions and to continue their growth process the following year, much like we human beings sometimes must shed some of the outgrown parts of ourselves in order to persevere through difficult moments and come out stronger on the other side.

By Kate Irvine Read More

Double, Double, Soil and Rubble…

Although the witches in MacBeth were known to use yew and poison hemlock in their wicked brew, they could have considered several other plants with high toxicity characteristics that are perfect for spiritually infiltrating the souls of Scottish monarchs… uhh… that are perfect for jazzing up the landscape with their beautiful (but somewhat deadly) ornamental features. While we don’t necessarily recommend nibbling on random leaves and berries that visually appeal to you without knowing exactly what they are, here are three plants that you most definitely do NOT want to experiment with culinarily that still make for lovely specimens in the garden.

By Kate Irvine Perennials · Woody Ornamentals · Read More

Flowering Fall Favorites

With fall festivals, haunted hayrides, bonfire gatherings and shorter daylight hours upon us, the Nursery is once again beginning to brim with color. And we’re not just talking about the pending foliage changes on our various trees and shrubs (although that’s pretty great, too). It’s time to celebrate a few last hurrahs for our fall flowering favorites here at Pleasant Run. Now’s the time to be planting, and what better to use than some beautiful late bloomers to wow and intrigue onlookers? This week, we’re going to talk about five of our seasonal favorites that are currently showing us what they’ve got, starting with an oldie-but-goodie: Viburnum macrocephalum.

By Kate Irvine Fall Bloom · Perennials · Woody Ornamentals · Read More

What the Hellebore?

It’s almost Halloween, so you know what that means – it’s time to get ready for the holiday season! While you’re stocking up on Twix and Snickers bars for the neighborhood kids, most of Corporate America is already glittering with multi-colored string lights, sparkling tree ornaments, and jolly ol’ yuletide merriment. We figure if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. After all, the holidays will be here before we know it, so the least we can do is get you prepared for all of your winter projects with our massive stock of hellebores.

By Kate Irvine Deer Resistant · Evergreen · Perennials · Winter Bloom · Read More