Everyone knows vegetables are good for you. Just how good? I can’t answer that, but Burpee can with their BOOST collection showcasing six exclusive, delicious and nutritious vegetables. It’s hard these days to eat a healthy, balanced meal at each sitting, particularly when you don’t know how much goodness that little cherry tomato carries. That’s why I’m intrigued by this line of Burpee veggies that tell you — ‘right on the label’ — just how nutritious they are.

For example: Tomato, Solar Power Hybrid

According to its label, this tomato has ‘more than three times the level of healthy beta-carotene of the average tomato‘. Begging the question, why would you go with an ordinary tomato?

Are you excited yet? No?

Do you eat lettuce? What health-nut doesn’t? Could you see yourself harvesting mixed leafy greens weekly (with sufficient amount of plants and proper management) from your backyard or even apartment balcony? Introducing Burpee’s Healing Hands Mix of Lettuce packed full with ‘20% more lutein and 30% more beta-carotene than the average salad mix‘.

It just seems growing your own {healthy} grub just got a whole lot easier. I’m all about making things easier. This year I’ll be getting a BOOST by chomping down on the Power Pops tomato, Cherry Punch tomato, and the Hot, Sweet Heat Pepper. I’ll let you know how how much healthier I am by the end of the season.

If you’re interested–order your seeds (or plants) now!

I’m fairly certain heaven is laced with hydrangeas–at least that’s what my heaven will look like. Want a peek?

I cannot wait until these Limelight Hydrangeas fill in! Their blooms are magnificent and last FOREVER! Little Lime also has my interests peaked–would be perfect specimen for a smaller landscape or focal point.

Let’s not forget Endless Summer Hydrangea–tried and trued miracle plant that brought new life to the hydrangea world. Just a quick tidbit–don’t get too anxious this spring and cut back on your Endless Summer. Pruning could make or break your bloom period so be sure to trim appropriately.

Twist and Shout Hydrangea has yet to “wow” me contrary to other gardeners.  But I’m not giving up–I’ll try to give her a lil extra loving this year.

And finally–the last hydrangea piece of heaven (so far)….

Pinky Winky. Last summer I made this gal work too hard for her water–so that’s why you get only a bloom shot.

Today’s spring teaser has me dreaming of ways to expand my hydrangea collection and thanks to Ball Ornamentals, my wish list is off to a pretty good start. Check out their latest introductions and let me know if you’ve found a favorite!

Next Generation Pistachio Hydrangea

Fire and Ice Panicle Hydrangea

Double Delights™ Freedom Hydrangea

Last year I planted a European Cranberrybush Viburnum grafted tree.

It’s suppose to bloom in the spring…which it did….and then follow up with some nice red fall color.  However, I saw something today….mind you….it’s July 27th.

Was that suppose to happen?  Am I suppose to have blooms in the middle of the summer?  It’s okay..I’ll take them….but I’m just kinda curious…is this right?

kk

The Armeria packed a hellova punch this year.

just setting buds

in full flower power glory

This year the flowers lasted at least a month!  Couldn’t believe it!  There are a couple different varieties of Armeria but they are a great addition to any bed edge border.

But once the flowers are spent…what’s a girl to do?

blah

Usually I tell people not to bother with trimming the dead blooms…I’ve got too much other stuff to do.  But since I’ve got such a mass grouping of them, the front landscape would look much better without the spent buds.

Do you deadhead your perennials?

Once clipped (with no rhyme or reason)…they resemble a lil grass tuff…and I kinda think that’s cute.

Happy Planting!

kk

Every winter the cabin fever comes quicker, the tedious 8-5 runs longer, and the snow gets colder in anticipation of spring.

It’s the awakening of a new year.

The scent of a new era.

Spring is my favorite season.

But she’s  got me in a choke hold, sucking all  the life out of my creative cavity.  I can’t think past 10 minutes ago.  Where does a Garden Grunt go for inspiration?  Where do you go?  Sometimes I go to my google reader…and this is how she helps me……..Studio G

Rochelle always finds the coolest garden trinkets.  I anxiously anticipate her blog posts…always something to learn…always something to inspire you.

Go over and check out her blog…you’re going to feel inspired….I promise.

Happy Planting

kk

Today I got to take a trip to Napa Valley.  Not the Napa Valley that’s making your mouth salivating right now….not the Napa Valley that offers “grape punch” beyond your taste buds’ dreams.  No, I’m talking about the Napa Valley located just south of Waukee, nestled in a little piece of Iowa’s heaven.  These people got it growing on!  Here’s just a sample of the spring awakening in their landscapes:

Gro-Low Sumac underlying the Crabapple and amplifying the bed's edge

Gro-Low Sumac underlying Staghorn Sumac at the same residence

Giant patch of Ligularia basking in its shady glory

Ligularia patch on the opposite side of the drive

Pathway thru Dwarf Korean Lilacs and Ajuga

Mass plantings of Ajuga and Japanese Painted Fern

And finally..the one piece of Napa Valley that made me stop dead in my rubber tracks was this lil hut.  Too bad I couldn’t get a closer look

Lil garden hut...at least that's what I'm imagining.....Happy Planting!

Have you smelled what’s floating through the air lately?  No..I’m not talking about that occasional rancid odor that burns your nose hairs throughout the streets of downtown Des Moines.  I’m talking about the flower packed Crabapples peppered throughout this city.

This is one smell I’d be glad to have my sniffer stuck in at any time.

And with any luck, I can convince Jay to plant one in our garden.  I’m hoping for a Royal Raindrops Crabapple.

Go out and plant yourself a Crabapple!  You won’t be sorry!

Happy Planting!

Katie

Last week Jay and I hired our employer TimberPine to help get our Fort Knox off to a good start.  We really wanted large specimen trees that could create the barrier we were craving.  That being said, they were so large that we couldn’t handle them without a machine.  We were blessed to have gotten foreman Leroy Hall and his crew to plant our Autumn Brilliance Serviceberries.

Here’s how TimberPine does it:

A tracked skidloader augers the hole

Omar ensures the hole is dug to the depth of the tree's rootball

Leroy transports the tree from the truck to the hole

Omar looks for guidance from me to ensure he's got the right "face" forward

The crew works the same scenario for the remaining two trees and then return to each to backfill.

And water them in.

A look back at all three trees

And finally, an overview of phase one to our Fort Knox:

Previously I wrote about the initial steps I took to plan out these planting beds.  The Autumn Brilliance Serviceberries will plat a BIG role in Fort Knox.  We chose them for a couple reasons:

• It reached the ideal height and width (roughly 25ft tall and 15ft wide) that would provide privacy for the patio and deck
• They have a nice white spring bloom and awesome red/orange fall color
• AND…frankly we liked them because they already had some growth on them, versus starting at a smaller size.

I’m anxious to start filling in the gaps.  I believe the next insert will be some Flame Grass.  Any other suggestions?

Happy Planting!

kk

I fell in love with Bergenia last spring I believe.  And this year, I found one more reason to drool.

This is how my Winterglow Bergenia looked after being buried under 5-6ft of snow for the better half of the winter.

BLAH.

You’ll notice their fall color remained.  And it’s hard to miss the pancaked foliage.  I thought for sure I’d have to cut them back and start all over.  Thankfully I was lazy long enough to see this last week:

The foliage just bounced right back into place.  Didn’t have to do a thing.

Never mind the rough looking foliage…that’s as a result of the long winter.  New growth is already sprouting in good form.

AND! AND! Their buds are almost ready to burst!  They’re packing quite the punch this year.

The real reason I overuse the Bergenia is for it’s awesome fall color…..

Bergenia just setting on its fall color

the large, textured leaves and the petite little stature it retains.  This one is great for the border of any planting bed~AND works the best in the shade!  You can’t beat that.

Have you used Bergenia yet?  Might want to think about it…..just saying.

Happy Planting!

Katie

Spring seems to have come a little early this year?  I mean 70s in April?  We sure deserve it after the winter we struggled through.  So it’s Maintenance Time boys!

I suggest you do most if not ALL your trimming/pruning in the spring.  Most plants prefer a spring trim and in fact, if you cut back on plants such as roses, you may do worse by them.

Follow along as I make Jay get down and dirty in the garden…..while I film….him trimming back our ornamental grasses

and diagnosing what’s still alive after the rabbits had their way with the shrub roses.

If you have any specific questions about what to cut….what not to cut (the lilacs by the way…leave them alone until they bloom) just spill em!  I’ll let you know what to take the pruners to!

Happy Planting!