After a normal winter, the tulips will start to grow and bloom once the snow melts and the ground warms. Many people enjoy tulips because they are the first color of the year signifying spring has arrived.
Given the warm air and ground temperatures this winter, some tulips are starting to use their energy to push up their leaves and blooms already. However, there are still 2 months left of our official winter season and it will very likely still snow a few times before spring.
Don’t worry, the tulips should be fine!! If the roots of the tulip bulb are well established, they should be able to easily tolerate the swings in temperature. If (or when) the temperatures become cool again, the energy the blooms are exerting should become stored again. Tulips are a ‘tough’ perennial and should be able to survive.
One way to limit the tulips exposure is to cover the little buds with mulch, which will act as insulation!
A great gardening resource is the Minnesota Horticulture Society http://www.northerngardener.org/ Barrett Lawn Care is a member of the horticulture society.
Earlier this week I volunteered for the Minnesota State Horticulture Society (MSHS) at the Minneapolis Home and Garden Show. While helping set up their two displays I had the opportunity to witness the building of some very elaborate garden displays and of coarse the Idea House! I had so much fun watching the plants go in and walls being built, a forklift drove down an aisle with a hot tub way up in the air! There is Magnolia’s, Forsythia, many great blooming houseplants, perennials, bulbs, evergreens and large potted containers – ahhhh spring!! There are many gazebos, arbors and water falls, who doesn’t love the sound of water in a garden? If you are in the area this weekend, I highly recommend a walk through the Minneapolis Convention Center to catch a glimpse of Spring before the next 10″ snow fall!!!!!
I have been working on a landscape design the last couple weeks and wanted to share some photos of the design process.
The first is the Base Map which includes the home, property lines, easements and any existing features already on site. After a couple visits to the site and an interview with the homeowners I have the information I need to create an awesome patio surrounded by the proper plant material!
The creative part begins with Concept Plans – as you can see in my creative beginnings it involves many layers of bumwad (basically tissue paper), the smell of Sharpie’s and maybe a colored pencil or two.
The final photo shows the patio design that will be the best fit for the area and includes all the space for the client’s entertaining needs!
The next step will be to choose plant material to soften the fence along the property line and create privacy for the hot tub area.
Here are a couple tips to keep us cold gardener’s moving!
Replanting those overgrown house plants is a good project to complete while the snow keeps falling, and falling. Gently wash off the leaves or mist lightly to wash off any dust that has settled. While dusting check for any insects that may have nestled in for the winter and treat accordingly. Your plants will be so happy!!
I always feel like I need a new blooming houseplant this time of year, especially when the Poinsettia and Christmas Cactus are looking less than desirable. Check out your local garden center for Orchids, Cyclamen, blooming Cactus or maybe a bright colored foliage plant! Creating a colorful mixed garden of blooming plants is a great way to get the kids involved!
Remember to feed the birds and if you have a heated birdbath make sure to refill!
Yesterday I was reading the Garden Minnesota newsletter and they have some great suggestions for annuals that I would like to pass on. As I am planning our annual containers I will definitely be looking for these at our local greenhouses!
Cleome Senorita Rosalita ® – 3-4′ tall with Lavender Pink blooms from late spring to hard frost
Petunia Supertunia ® Vista Bubblegum – Can be used in hanging baskets, containers and as a ground cover -no deadheading!
Impatiens Super Elfin XP ‘Violet Starburst’ - Petals have a beautiful violet color at the edges with a white center, create an awesome display by combining with a solid violet and solid white impatiens!
Verbena ‘Temari Blue’ – So far this is the best blue trailing Verbena and looks great in containers & hanging baskets.
Petunia Shock Wave ® ‘Coconut’ – Smaller flower than the Wave ® series but more blooms and the ability to fill up a 2′ section of garden space in full sun!
Lantana Bandana ‘Cherry Sunrise’ – Combines 4 different colors in the flowers from yellow to apricot to pink! Loves hot, dry, sunny spots & will fill in the front of the garden quite nicely.
Calibrachoa Cabaret ‘Mango Tango’ – Coral pink flowers on a trailing plant habit work great in hanging baskets and containers.
Torenia Summer Wave ‘Large Blue’ – Great for hanging baskets & containers in partial shade.
Pennisetum Graceful Grasses ‘Vertigo’ - Who doesn’t love Purple Fountain Grass? This one has a very dark purple color to the foliage and can be used in cut floral arrangements, dried for fall arrangements and of coarse as the accent we all love in our annual container’s!
Stipa tenuessima ‘Pony Tails’ – Common name is Mexican Feather Grass and looks spectacular in containers as well as the garden.
I looked on the following websites and also Google to see some awesome photos:
With all the snow on the ground, covering sidewalks, streets and basically everywhere we look – I realized how nice it was to come in this morning and see the awesome greens in our window boxes! This year I used window box spruce tips which worked like a charm and then I added in Magnolia, Incense Cedar, Oregonia (the variegated one), Eucalyptus and the shatter proof gold balls. In some of our other containers I also added Birch Poles and Red Twigged Dogwood to add to the Winter charm! Too make sure our greens stay healthy throughout the dry Winter air I will be watering once a month and removing the extra snow that accumulates on top of the greens. Enjoy the snow and holiday cheer!!
Outside our facility on Lyndale Aveune in Richfield we have enjoyed our pond all summer. However with the cooler weather it is time to make adjustments for the winter.
The roots of the plants started to grow into the rocks on the bottom of the pond, so Rachel needed to carefully remove the plants. She then put the plants in a large storage bin and covered the roots with moss for protection. The moss will also hold moisture. Over the winter, the plants will sit in a large window to make sure they will get enough sunlight. Rachel will watch them to make sure they are staying moist and staying warm enough to not freeze.
Watch in the spring when the pond is ready for another season.
This truck will be a used in the winter for salt applications at properties also for hauling snow after storms. In the summer, the truck will be used by the landscaping crews. Let it snow!!!
Barrett Lawn Care is excited to take part in the Lyndale Avenue Halloween celebration
Sunday, October 31, 2010 ~ 1 to 4pm
Along with our neighboring businesses, we would like to invite the little ghosts & goblins to celebrate Halloween. We will have treats to share and Kensington Park will have live music and face painting. Start at Postnet to pick-up a bag for your treats. Please join the fun!
Other Lyndale Avenue participants:
Dairy Queen, Kirby Vacum, BP gas station, Dairy Queen, Kensington Park Retail (Cornerstone Group, PostNet, Lamode Salon, Chiplote, Planet Beach)
Barrett Lawn Care, Inc. ~ 7524 Lyndale Ave South, Richfield, MN 55423
