Seeding underway.

The seedlings are starting to appear, a few days after they were planted.  We will be continuously seeding as the weeks go by.  We sort our seed packages into groups of time frames.  Some seeds need to be started 8-10 weeks before planting, some 6-8 weeks, some 2 weeks and so on.  By sorting the packages, all seeds are started at the time intervals that are needed for transplanting into the gardens.

Castor Beans (my favorite)

 Hydrangea a. Invincibelle Spirit

The picture above is a new Hydrangea we will be offering for Spring sales.  It is hardy and as adaptable as the Annabelle, but produces loads of hot pink flowers from early summer to frost.  Dark pink buds open to hot pink flowers which then turn soft pink as they mature, finally changing to green at the end of their life cycle.  Deadheading not necessary.  Grows to 36-48" and spreads 36-48" with a mounding habit.  Blooms on new wood and requires full to part sun.  Hardy to Zone 3 and is an excellent cut flower.  May be pruned back in late winter to encourage strong new growth and blooming.  Adaptable to most, moist well drained soils.  Bloom colour is not affected by soil pH.

Rosa 'ChewperAdventure'  

The picture above is called Mango Salsa from the Oso Easy Series, another shrub available at the Saskatoon Farmer's Market in May.  The Oso Easy Series of roses are the results of years of searching and testing to produce a rose that grows like any other shrub and doesn't require any pesticides to keep it in prime condition.  These new developments bring disease and pest resistance together with great cold hardiness to provide the perfect rose for the Prairies.  The blooms are shades of ruby red grapefruit and summer sunsets.  They bloom on new wood starting mid summer and continue into fall.  The plant height is 24-36" tall with a mounded habit.  They require full sun and average water needs.  Hardy to Zone 3. 

New shrubs.

The seed orders have all arrived now and we will begin planting this week.  We have a lot of varieties that are tried and true, but we also are trying many new varieties.  Some flowers are great for cutting, others are for growing in decorative pots.

For the next couple of months we will be showcasing perennials and shrubs that we will have available for sales this Spring.  Today we will begin with a couple of shrubs.

Physocarpus opulifolius 'Seward' 

The above picture is a SummerWine Ninebark.  SummerWine is an ninebark cultivar that is noted for its deeply cut, wine red foliage and its dense, free-branching, mounded growth habit.  It is the result of a cross between P.opulifolius 'Nanus' (seed parent) and P.opulifolius 'Diablo' (pollen parent).  It typically grows 4-6' tall and as wide, but, unlike the species, is noted for retaining compact form. It prefers full sun to partial shade.  The white blooms appear late Spring.  Foliage color tends to green up in hot summer climates as the summer progresses.  Ninebark is named for its exfoliating bark (on mature branches) which peels in strips to reveal several layers of reddish to light brown inner bark.  Bark provides winter interest but is usually hidden by the foliage during the growing season.  Hardy to Zone 3.

Berberis thunbergii 'Concorde'

Concorde is a small variety Barberry, standing about 18 inches tall.  Concorde has a rounded shape with deep burgundy purple foliage that turns reddish in fall.  A clipping in early Spring after blooming keeps Concorde growth dense and rounded.  Although they do produce yellow flowers in early Spring, the flowers are not very showy.  They tolerate full sun to partial shade, although foliage colour is always more intense in full sun.  Barberries do well as a focal point or make great sheared hedges.  All the Barberries have sharp thorns, so be careful when moving, pruning or weeding around them.  Pruning can be done at almost any time.  Hardy to Zone 3.

Few photos of lovely Jamaica.

We spent a couple of weeks in sunny Jamaica in January hanging out in Negril and spending a few days in Montego Bay participating in a family wedding.  Thought I would share a few photos of our adventures.

Montego Bay

Farmers Market in Negril

Wonderful assortment of fruits and vegetables.

Nutmeg

 The Farmer's Market is only held once a month in Negril, and we were fortunate it was taking place when we were there.

A glimpse of the 7 mile beach at Negril.

Pat all geared up to partake in a Canopy

Tour via a Zipline.