Where For Art Thou Tulips!?

Prepare Now for Simple Planting in the Fall…

The Scilla have grown and gone, Daffodils have sprouted and sung, and now the Tulips are in full regale. We have seen such an amazing show of color at such an early time this spring (and winter!)  And even though it may seem impossible to forget such stunning blooms, when September arrives, it will be hard to recollect just where those bulbs did or didn’t pop up this year.
So let’s nip this upcoming dilemma in the bud!

Set aside a few moments this week to photograph the blooming (or waning) bulbs in your gardens.  Mark and label dividable bulb patches with a stick or colored string, so you can locate them easily later.  (Note: Bulbs can be transplanted anytime after blooming!) Make a list of the areas that need more oomph next spring.  Take note of where you will transplant divided bulbs and jot down specifics about which tulips, daffodils, allium,
crocus, etc. you want to plant come Fall.
Lastly – be sure to put this list in a memorable place for when you need to reference your notes!

If you make your bulb list now, there will be less headache come fall!  And after effortlessly purchasing the bulbs you need, you will have a bounty of energy left-over to get them in the ground in no time at all!

 

Upcoming…Pictures and names of some of Blumen’s favorite bulbs that bloom in our Retail Garden Shop!

Published April 3, 2012.
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Categories: From the Garden Shop, Gardening Made Easy, You Might Find Interesting

Get Your Mulch While its Hot! MULCH MADNESS SALE

Take advantage of the spectacular weather and get your flower beds ready for the upcoming season!
Purchase your bulk Hardwood Bark Mulch for $5 OFF per Cubic Yard through March 31st.  (local delivery or pick-up)
Hardwood Bark Mulch is usually priced at $45/cu. yd.  Act now because our MULCH MADNESS SALE is coming to a close soon.

Please call 815-895-3737 to place an order.

 

Published March 27, 2012.

Categories: Blumen Events

Seven Sons Shrub

One of our favorite plants in September is Seven Sons Shrub (Heptacodium miconioides). It’s a plant with great qualities that is underused in the landscape. It was first collected in China in 1907, but didn’t make it’s way into horticulture until 1980 when it was rediscovered. With only a few specimens remaining in the wild at that time, the species would probably be extinct if it weren’t for it’s introduction into the nursery trade.

The small multi-stemmed tree grows 20′ x 8-10′. It’s unique characteristics include the attractive peeling bark and it’s late bloom. It produces a white flower in late August/early September, followed by dark pink-red catkins that are showy and unusual. The fall color is yellow, retaining it’s leaves into early winter.

Selective pruning in it’s early years helps the plant keep an attractive shape.

Published September 14, 2011.
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Categories: From the Garden Shop, You Might Find Interesting

Native Plants to Attract Butterflies

Did you know that the caterpillars of certain butterflies only eat specific plants?

The Monarch Butterflies, one of the most familiar in the Midwest, only eat leaves and lay their eggs on Asclepias plants, such as Butterfly Weed & Milkweed. As RoundUp-ready corn and beans have become more prevalent, the populations of these plants have decreased because of all the spraying of herbicides, in turn causing a decline in the amount of Monarch Butterflies in our area.

Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) is an excellent garden plant that loves a sunny area and is easy to grow. It has showy bright orange blooms in June & July. Garden-friendly varieties of Swamp Milkweed include Asclepias incarnata ‘Cinderella’ (pink) or ‘Ice Ballet’ (white). They do not spread, as you might expect, and combine well with perennials like Coreopsis, Aster, and ornamental grasses.

If you’re interested in learning more about Monarchs, The University of Kansas has been doing fascinating research on the life cycle of Monarch Butterflies, and recommends other ways to get involved with conservation at www.monarchwatch.org

Published September 1, 2011.
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Categories: From the Garden Shop, You Might Find Interesting

Planting Garlic in Fall

GarlicIf you haven’t started fall planting in your veggie garden yet, there is still time. Many crops can be repeat grown in Illinois’ climate, such as beets & broccoli. We’ve planted a few new crops in the last month, but my favorite is yet to come- Garlic! Mid to late September is the best time in Northern Illinois to plant garlic bulbs for the following spring.

Garlic is purchased as a bulb, and separated into cloves for planting. Plant the cloves about 1-2 inches below the soil, and approx. 4-6 inches apart. Each clove will grow into a bulb to be harvested the following year in late spring-early summer. As the bulbs are rooting and growing they’ll sprout green blades above the surface of the soil that rise about a foot. The blades can be left, or harvested for cooking. I have a friend that makes a tasty garlic pesto out of them each year.

When you harvest the bulbs, shake off the soil, but don’t wash them. They need to be left in a cool dark spot to cure for a couple of weeks. After that time, I put them in a paper bag in the pantry, and pull them out when I need them. This year, they were perfect when I was ready to make pickles with the abundance of cucumbers from my garden. I threw some freshly harvested jalepenos in the jars, too….. I’ll let you know how they turn out.

For more  info on planting garlic, refer to the U of I Extension Office http://web.extension.illinois.edu/state/newsdetail.cfm?NewsID=7833

Happy Gardening!

Published August 25, 2011.

Categories: You Might Find Interesting