Dear Gardener,
First, a great big thank you for all of your support this year! Amazingly, we sold out of 240 varieties between January and April. As of this writing, we have 107 varieties in stock and will continue to ship as long as weather permits.
A number of people have inquired about spring open garden days. As much as I would love to accommodate, getting the gardens ready in spring is just too much for this one-woman show. Between spring sowing, potting on (~4,000 seedlings already potted up for 2027!), fulfilling orders, and working the fields, I likely won't get a chance to begin garden clean-up for a few weeks yet. For now, the weeds have the upper hand.
I will aim to host an open day or two this summer/fall. Please keep an eye out for these newsletters. Dates will be announced as soon as the gardens begin to look again like gardens. For now, customers are welcome to peruse our gardens when they collect their orders. There are lots of great plants to see between the weeds.
Now for those early spring - yes, you read 'early spring' right - highlights! Spring has only just begun in our cold garden. At the front of our house, the tulips have nearly finished blooming. At the back (the nursery side), the daffodil show began only last week. Other than bulbs, we rely on a few special biennials and perennials to carry us through early spring. Keep scrolling to learn more.
EARLY SPRING SELF-SEEDERS
*We will be offering a limited amount of fresh seed this summer. Please sign up for the waitlist to be notified when available. Seeds should be sown in-situ from late-summer to early fall for the best display the following spring.
Dyer's woad (Isatis tinctoria) has been cultivated since ancient times for its indigo blue dye. In the garden, this biennial herb is known for attracting bees, beneficial insects, and other pollinators when its nectar and pollen rich yellow flowers appear in its second year. Frothy yellow spring flowers are followed by fascinating seeds. The seeds look like chartreuse confetti when they begin to form. As they mature, they slowly deepen to blue-black. Seeds should be promptly removed if rapid spread is not desired. I leave the seeds as I adore this plant and appreciate that it suppresses early spring weeds that would otherwise take over. Our honey bees love it too.
Honesty (Lunaria annua) is a biennial beauty for the part shade garden. Dainty flowers bloom heavily in spring and sporadically through summer. Large, heart shaped leaves form a nice clump in the first year. Flowers appear en masse early the second spring, but this plant is truly grown for the gorgeous silver seed pods that persist through winter.
We will be offering seed from three varieties this summer:
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'Chedglow' has rich, dark violet foliage and bright violet blooms. Silver penny seedheads are even more beautiful.
- 'Corfu Blue' is the first to bloom and will continue to do so sporadically throughout the year.
- 'Rosemary Verey' has beautiful purple, mottled foliage and bright violet blooms.
EARLY SPRING PERENNIALS
Cowslips (Primula veris) are semi-evergreen perennials that begin blooming in early to mid-spring. Happy little nodding yellow flowers are a delight to pollinators and humans alike. Plant in organically rich, moist soil in part shade for best results. Forms colonies over time.
Image courtesy of Hameltion, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Tall thimbleweed (Anemone virginiana) is a sweet, spring-blooming US native anemone. White flowers turn into adorable green seedpods that resemble thimbles, giving the plant its common name. Deep green foliage takes on nice plum tones as temperature drops.
Silene yunnanensis is a beautiful perennial Catchfly from Yunnan, China. Tall wands of magenta pink flowers rise above a rosette of grassy, succulent foliage in late spring. Easy to grow in moist but well-drained soil. Adored by bees and butterflies.
Gentian speedwell (Veronica gentianoides) is a delicate beauty. Tall spires of airy, light blue early summer flowers contrast beautiful with the dense mat of glossy green leaves. Easy to grow in moist but well drained soil in part shade or sun. Cut back spent bloom after flowering.
OTHER FAVORITE SELF-SEEDERS
Sulphur cinquefoil (Potentilla recta) is a European native that has naturalized in North America and can be found growing wild in many areas. It has simple, clear yellow flowers and five-fingered foliage. This is a great plant for wildflower gardens, cottage gardens, or low-maintenance areas where naturalization is not a concern.
Image courtesy of Robert Flogaus-Faust, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Jacob's Ladder (Polemonium caeruleum) has been cultivated since Roman times for its attractive ferny foliage and abundant blue, early summer flowers. Easy to grow in partial shade in most soil conditions. This is a good plant to grow beneath deciduous trees as it copes well with diminishing light and dry conditions.
Image courtesy of Cephas, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Oenothera versicolor 'Sunset Boulevard' is a short-lived perennial that is easy to grow in just about any soil in full sun. Large, incredibly fragrant saucer shaped flowers call in the pollinators. Pale salmon pink flowers deepen to orange-red. Greyish-green foliage forms an attractive rosette. Cut back hard at the end of summer for best results.
Image courtesy of Michael Wolf, Penig, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Meadow Rue are delicate yet stately plants that make a highly decorative, architectural statement in the garden. Easy to grow in sun or shade in fertile soil that does not dry out. Thalictrum rochebruneanum var. grandisepalum has particularly large, dense umbels of fluffy lilac flowers and stiff stems that do not require staking.
Image courtesy of Kor!An (Андрей Корзун),CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Oswego tea (Monarda didyma) is a native perennial that can be found growing in moist locations across much of eastern North America. This showstopper blooms for months on end is incredibly tough. It resists deer and rabbits and is tolerant of clay soil, wet soil, and black walnuts. 'Panorama' is a mix of lavender, salmon, magenta, and pale to bright pink blooms.
Image courtesy of Photo by David J. Stang, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Viper's bugloss (Echium vulgare) is a showy biennial with masses of charming blue flowers and a long bloom time. Some love the species plant, others deem it a weed for its ability to self-seed and its long tap root, which can be difficult to remove. 'Blue Bedder' is an exceptional variety that is much less of a thug. It is also more floriferous and the blooms are more brightly colored.
