The lily is a hardy perennial that we love. These tough perennials perform year after year providing beautiful blooms and fragrances. Lily, the genus lilium, are herbaceous flowering plants that are usually grown from bulbs and can be planted either in spring or fall, depending on the variety. They are great for cutting and create a beautiful show of flowers all summer long. They are easy to plant and care for and by utilizing a wide variety can augment an existing perennial garden or kick-start a new bed or landscaped area. One idea is to plant your lillies in odd groups of 3, 5 or 7 to maximize the color impact. Another tip is to plant different varieties of lillies together, playing with color and texture. For example, the asiatic lily planted with oriental lillies makes for an exciting combination. They bloom at different times, with the asiatic lily blooming early and the oriental lillies extending the blooming period into late summer, providing spectacularly vivid results.
At Oakridge we carry a showy selection of lillies that are looking especially beautiful right now. Our oriental lily varieties include the casa blanca, the cobra, the aftereight and the ever popular stargazer. One very popular asiatic lily is the black out. It has the warmest deep red color that you’ve ever seen. Of course, tiger lillies and daylillies are always a staple that we have on hand.
Father’s Day is right around the corner and when you think of Father’s day gifts your mind probably doesn’t immediately go to a greenhouse and garden centre. You start with the idea of power tools, or sports tickets and paraphenelia or carwash gift certificates. Now that I’ve given you ideas of what you can’t get at Oakridge, here are a couple of ideas of what we have to offer. Plus you get bonus points for thinking outside of the box.
A new tree or shrub for his yard is a great idea. We have found that shade trees and apple trees have always been a popular choice for a Father’s day gift at Oakridge. Gardening tools, birdhouses, birdbaths and to state the obvious, plants are great choices for the avid putter-around-the-yarder! (Not a work, I know) Our garden store also has some great ideas. We have plenty of masculine artwork for his study or den, or something as simple as a coffee travel mug and a card. Finally, as a last resort for the hard to hard to buy for Dad, we carry gift certificates.
A few words about my Dad. My dad is Terry, and I’m sure you’ve seen him around Oakridge. You may not have heard him….he’s the strong, silent type and wise beyond his years. He may be a little in the background, which is the way that he likes it, and Oakridge wouldn’t be the same if it wasn’t for him. You’ll see him clearing snow in the winter, loading trucks with soil and mulch and driving the skidsteer around trying to fix up the potholes in the parking lot. He also does most of the deliveries and pickups, general maintenance and even grocery shops for the cafe. Most of all, he compliments my mom beautifully and we all love him for everything that he does for us! Thanks Dad!
Please don’t just think about Mom when you think about Oakridge, women definitely aren’t the only ones that love to garden!
Marianne excitedly told me about one her favorite perennials yesterday, the filipendula rubra. She quickly went on about how it’s a showstopper with its cotton candy like blooms that are a sea of pink clouds in your garden. It’s a very sturdy upright perennial and multiples well, growing 4′-6′ tall and spreading up to 2′. It’s large heads or panicles of deep pink fragrant blossoms against the dark green lacey foliage is its claim to fame. Even the leaves are fragrant! The filipendula attracts butterflies and is a wonderful addition to your wildflower bed. It requires moist soil and to be planted in full-sun to part-shade, making it ideal for next to a waterfeature or pond.
We carry a few different varieties of filipendula at Oakridge – Filipendula Rubra (Queen of the Prairie) & Filipendula Rubra Venusta Magnifica to name a couple!
Annual flowers are among gardeners favorites. I think it’s because they flower all summer long and that you can start fresh every year. At least that’s why they’re my favorite. Or maybe it’s because I still consider myself an amateur, and that my perennials and shrubs are still developing in our yard. Confession time – I’ve spent many years relying on Erna (my mom) to help me plant and even choose what I should plant and decide where I should plant it. I used the excuse that she knows better than me (which she does), and for that reason, it’s only in the last little while that I’ve actually learnt to do this on my own. I’ve always enjoyed the planting, spending the time outdoors and of course, spending the alone time with my mom while she helped me. Even while I write these blogs I’m continually learning, and hopefully the blogs will evolve as well, along with the evolution of my knowledge of gardening.
The term “annual” describes plants that go through their entire life cycle – from germination to seed production- in a single year. Because they last only one growing season, they are versatile and offer a diverse palatte of color and come in a wide array of shapes and sizes. There are many uses of annuals other than the typical flower bed and really the sky is the limit. Plant annuals among your perennials or shrubs in a new bed to fill in the open spaces that are there among the small, developing plants. Grow them in a garden specifically for summer cutting or drying for winter arrangements. Or plant them over top of spring bulbs that are fading. They provide that all-summer-long color without interfering with next year’s spring flowers.
We still have a fantastic selection of annual flowers to choose from, and our hanging baskets are overflowing with cascading blooms. There is a wide selection of sizes, colors and styles to choose from. Come check it out!
Ninebarks are large, deciduous shrubs that are native to North America and a gardening staple due to their hardiness. Ninebarks get their name from the characteristically vertical exfoliating bark which has fostered a garden legend that the shrub has “nine lives”. This exfoliating bark peels away one layer at a time, revealing a new slightly different coloration in the layer beneath. This effect is very unique making it an interesting ornamental feature, even in the winter.
One of our favorite varieties of the ninebark is the Diablo. They grow to be 6′-8′ tall and their contrasting mahogany-purple leaves with the pinkish-white flowers creates a beautiful backdrop to your garden. The almost black cascading foliage, with the airy clusters of blooms gives the illusion that the flowers are floating mid-air. All ninebarks are fast growers and need to be pruned to maintain their shape. Some gardeners like to let them grow “wild”, while others prefer to prune them back. They also become a beautiful hedge, making it a very versatile shrub. One of the ninebarks greatest features is its flexibility. Although it will flower better in the full sun, it tolerates the partial shade really well. Likewise, while it prefers well-drained soil, it tolerates wet conditions as well. It is hardy shrub that is suited to any gardener, regardless of how green your thumb is.
At Oakridge we carry a number of different varieties of ninebarks to choose from:
Coppertina, Summer Wine, Dart’s Gold, Diablo and our newest addition, the Amber Jubiliee.
A classy tree to add to your landscape is the Colorado Blue Spruce. A magnificent sight of silver, blue-green, the blue spruce is a hardy tree, tolerant of many growing conditions, albeit prefering dry soil. It’s mature size is usually between 50-65′ tall and approximately 25′ wide. Smaller spruce trees usually come in a potted format and once they are over 4′ tall, they are typically sold in a wire basket or ball in burlap. You can currently get them at Oakridge as small as 18-24″. We also have them in 30-36″, 4′, 6-7′ and 8-9′. Check behind our sign! You can’t miss them!
Itoh peonies are a hybrid of a tree peony and a herbaceous (garden) peony, and is one of our favorite perennials at Oakridge. A Japanese breeder, Toichi Itoh, took the best qualities from each “parent” plant and it has produced exceptional results. The tree peony is a woody plant that can grow several feet tall and wide. While the tender shoots die back in the winter, the woody stems remain. The blooms on the tree peony are large, up to 10″ across, with exquisite colors and patterns. The other parent, the herbaceous peony has blossoms that vary across a density spectrum from a delicate single, to a double bursting with petals, and dripping with its delicious scent. The colors and perfumes are impressive but not as eccentric and varied as the tree peonies. Herbaceous peonies are all tender stem, which means that they die back to the ground every winter and they are top-heavy, requiring support to keep the blooms from drooping to the ground. With all this said, the best qualities from both of these plants have produced that ITOH PEONY (aka Intersectional peony – formal name) : the handsome foliage, strong supportive stems, and blockbuster bloom sizes and colors from the tree peony; and the manageable plant size that dies back to the soil each winter and the abundance of blooms from the herbaceous peony.
Perhaps the finest gift the Itoh peony could give is its long-lasting bloom time. Herbaceous and tree peonies alike bloom for only a recious few days, but because intersectional peonies have more than one bloom per stem, the plants will flower up to a month as one fantastic bloom opens up after another.
Care for your peony : They like a sunny, well-drained location – standing water is an enemy of the peony. Depending on the fertility of the soil, add a perennial fertilizer in the spring. If the plant is thriving and the soil is fertile, peonies don’t require regular applications of fertilizer. They are also very drought-tolerant, especially when they are well-established.
Resist the urge to cut the flowers from your peony, especially in the young plant. If you just can’t resist, take but a few flowers from each plant and be careful to leave as much foliage as possible. (the leaves contain the peonies food reserves) A general rule of thumb: In a 3yr old plant or younger, don’t cut any flowers. In a mature plant (5yrs old), about 50% of its flowers should be left.
At Oakridge we love the Itoh Peony. It is breathtaking and you’ll enjoy the tremendous blooms, over and over again as it transforms your garden.
The ladies flip-flop event was a great success! Everyone got pampered and enjoyed their evening out. There was lots of laughter and beautiful toes! A shout out to Tracey for organizing the event and we’re pleased to let you know that if you missed this one and would like to plan a girls’ night out, you’re in luck. Pull together a group of at least 4 ladies and give Tracey a call at 326-1015. We will gladly offer you the same deal and arrange a date that suits you!
To recap, the cost is $60 – which includes a partial pedicure, your choice of a pair of flip-flops, a choice of foot cream by Barefoot Venus, a beverage and small dessert. You can also upgrade to the full pedicure for an additional $10. A great way to spend a relaxing evening chilling with the girls!
The 3 numbers on a fertilizer package represent the percentage (by weight) of the 3 major nutrients required for healthy plant growth. These are always in sequence from left to right. For example 16-10-10 – this fertilizer contains 16% Nitrogren, 10% Phosphorus & 10% Potassium
Nitrogren stimulates vigorous leaf and stem growth as well as the deep green colour. It provides the plant with the ability to produce Chlorophyll, which in turn allows the plants to grow quickly. With each additional nitrogren application, the plants will grow taller and develop a deeper green colour. If you’re after a dark green lawn, use a lawn fertilizer that’s high in nitrogren, but then expect to mow more often!
Phosphorus helps in the development and growth of roots and increases flowering ability and bloom size. The fertlizer industry smartly markets high phosphorus fertilizer as “Bloom Booster”. High phosphorus fertlizer should be used when establishing your garden – sowing a new lawn or planting a new tree, shrub or perennial.
Finally Potassium is essential for many reasons. It guards the plant against diseases and aids in drought protection and cold tolerance. It also serves a role in improving root development and photosynthesis – the production of the energy foods for the plant. You might consider using a high-potassium fertilizer before winter to help provide cold temperature protection or when insects or disease have caused damage to your plants.
Now, if you’re a left-brainer, you’ve probably realized the numbers don’t add up to 100%. That’s because there are other nutrients and filler products in fertilizer mixtures. This filler helps to apply the nutrients evenly over the area of use. So no need to double check the math.
There are so many different types of plant fertilizers out there; here are a few examples to get you started:
Container Food 14-14-14: Perfect for hanging baskets, planters and containers. It’s slow release formula gives balanced feeding for lush foliage and blooms.
All Purpose 20-20-20: Water soluable. A complete plant food with all the necessary nutrients for healthy growth.
Growing Food 12-16-12: Organic based and easy to apply with delivered results. Great for all flowering plants and vegetables.
Bone Meal 2-13-0: A must have when transplanting. Completely organic fertilizer which releases nutrients slowly, ensuring vigorous growth.
Transplanter 5-15-5: Builds strong roots and reduces transplant shock. Use together with bone meal for spectacular results!
These are just a few of the examples of the fertilizer that we carry. The next time that you’re in selecting fertilizer don’t let the numbers on the package intimidate you. Just consider what your plants need and match those needs with the numbers. And of course we are always here to help!
With all of the springtime hype in the greenhouse, the garden store and cafe talk has been minimal from my end of things. Things are continually rolling here with new products being displayed, new jewellery and accessories layed out and artwork hung. There is almost too much going on in order to choose one thing to talk about, but I’ve been wanting to share with you my new desire. I’ve been eyeing up a wreath for the past few weeks and maybe a part of me is trying to justify another homedecor purchase!
Springtime wreaths are a great addition to your front door. Wreaths don’t have to JUST be a Christmas tradition and we have a simple and yet elegant array to choose from. I’ve added a couple of pictures to give you an idea of what a spring wreath may look like. There isn’t a picture of the one I want, I might add, I wouldn’t want to give you any ideas. There! Now I have no choice but to run and pick it up, before you get to it! What a relief.
We’re also carrying a great selection of purses, wallets, bags and what I like to call hobo bags to go with your spring wardrobe.
This Thursday, we are hosting our first Flip-Flop Event at the Garden Store and Cafe. It’s a fun evening of primping, pampering, goodies, eats and drinks. For $60, you receive a pedicure, your choice of a pair of flip-flops, a choice of foot cream by Barefoot Venus, a beverage and dessert. Call now to reserve your spot!
Bring out the capris, shorts and flip-flops! And Wreaths!
Our menu is also evolving and growing as time has gone on. We’re trying new recipes of homemade soups and sandwiches and we’d love to hear your feedback. The fresh pea and basil is light and flavorful while the mexican chicken and black bean continues to satisfy by being hardy and fullbodied. As always the gelato flavors change often and we like to mix things up with the hot and cold drinks as well. If you’d like to try something new, come for lunch and stay for dessert!
