Stargazer Perennials Garden Journal

GARDENING FAQ'S: DEER RESISTANT LANDSCAPE TIPS

2010-03-12T15:57:00Z

Without a doubt one of the most common questions we get at Stargazer Perennials is “What can I grow that the deer won’t eat?”. Unfortunately the answer to that is “Not very much!”. When deer pressure is high they will browse just about anything. However, there are some effective garden design strategies and some plants that we consider to be “bulletproof” in a deer country garden. Remember, there are no “deer proof” plants. However, there are many garden plants that have degrees of deer resistance. With a combination of smart gardening practices and the right plant selection you can enjoy a lush landscape in areas of even very high deer pressure.

Strategy #1: Don’t grow the plants that you like; Grow the plants that deer don’t like! This probably sounds like common sense, but you’d be surprised at the number of gardeners who decide that they just have to have a certain plant and go shopping for it without doing their research. There is also the impulse buy: Go to the local box store for groceries and come home with a carload of beautiful flowers. Both the “impulse” and the “must have” plants go into the ground and the next morning they are in the digestive tract of a deer. To sum it up: Stop buying pretty flowers and make a plan!

Strategy #2: Establish your plantings with deer resistant plant varieties: Don’t mix! To establish a newly planted border, plant with Tier 1 plants: Plants with proven deer resistance. Don’t mix in other non-resistant plants in the hopes that the resistant varieties will protect them. As deer browse the plants they like they’ll also browse nearby plants, and may develop a taste for ones that were previously resistant. As your gardens mature and the deer lose interest in the plantings then you can begin mixing in Tier 2 type plants: Those that are only minimally browsed, or ones that can sustain some browsing without affecting their garden performance.

Strategy #3: Protect new plantings, even those of proven resistant varieties. There is a “curiosity factor” with deer, which tend to sample everything new. If you foil them until the plant roots are established, they may have moved on to your neighbor’s petunias. After plants are established, Tier 1 and Tier 2 plants can withstand occasional browsing.

Strategy #4: Use a Low-Nitrogen fertilization regime; Save the Miracle-Gro for hanging baskets. There are several methods of achieving healthy plant growth and extended bloom period without resorting to high-nitrogen synthetic fertilizers (deer candy):
·   Use low-nitrogen organic fertilizers and amendments. Example: 4-8-4 NPK
·   Deadhead more often. This will promote new blooms without additional fertilizer and the plant will be “harder”: Less succulent and more resistant.
·   Improve soil tilth with compost and mycorrhizal and bacterial inoculation.
·   Watering deeply and infrequently (after young plants are established) will result in harder plants with less succulent growth.
Using these methods will promote plant health, increase deer resistance and, as a bonus, will naturally prevent outbreaks of insect pests which tend to multiply rapidly on unnaturally lush green new growth.

PARTIAL LIST OF TIER 1 (Very deer resistant) PERENNIALS

PERENNIALS
Agastache species and varieties
Ligularia dentata
Dicentra spectabilis
Nepeta species and cultivars
Baptisia australis
Salvia nemorosa
Stachys byzantina
Lavandula sp.
Pulmonaria sp
Helloborus sp.
Mentha sp
Eupatorium sp.
Potentilla sp.
Artemesia sp.
Echinops ritro
Coreopsis verticillata varieties
Thymus sp.
Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm'
Perovskia atriplicifolia
Echinacea purpurea
PARTIAL LIST OF TIER 2 (Somewhat deer resistant) PERENNIALS
Astilbe sp.
Aster sp.
Monarda sp.
Rudbeckia hirta
Liatris sp.
Achillea sp.
Aquilegia sp.
Delphinium sp.
Alchemilla mollis
Lupinis sp.
Veronica sp.
Digitalis grandiflora
Helenium autumnale
Gaillardia sp.
Echinacea sp.
Scabiosa sp.
Papaver sp.
Cerastium tomentosum
Boltonia asteroids
Saponaria ocymoides

GARDENING QUOTES: RALPH WALDO EMERSON

2010-03-11T19:54:00Z

A garden is like those pernicious machineries which catch a man's coat-skirt or his hand, and draw in his arm, his leg, and his whole body to irresistible destruction.
Ralph Waldo Emerson from The Conduct of Life (1860)

News From the Farm; Visit our New Organic Recipe and Cooking Site!

2010-02-28T18:21:00Z

Visit our brand-new organic recipe and cooking site filled with organic fast and easy recipes that we developed on our farm using fresh produce, whole grains, herbs and spices.

As foodies we love to cook and what better way to cook fresh than to use fresh, organic herbs and produce that we grow right on our own farm. Our recipes include new creations and fresh adaptations of old favorites.

We are constantly adding new recipes, so check back every week as we offer new cooking ideas on tips on how to cook fresh, fast and healthy!

Our recipe site is: FreshOrganicRecipes.com

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Spring is the Time for Garden and Yard Perennial Clean up!

2010-02-27T01:45:00Z

Spring is the ideal time to clean up your garden, your yard and your perennials! At our farm we prefer cleaning up our perennial gardens and raised beds in the spring just as the perennial plants start to break dormancy. Cleaning up in the spring rather than in the fall provides perennial plants with necessary crown protection over the winter in case of a heavy snow load or freezing temperatures.

The photo at the right is a clump of Achillea 'Terra Cotta' yarrow just starting to break dormancy. The blue arrow points to the new growth and the pink arrow points to last years dead top growth.

For soft perennial plants, smaller ornamental grasses and herbs we use large shears to trim back the dead growth from last season while leaving the new growth. When cleaning up ornamental grasses in the spring trim last years foliage growth back to 2 inches to 3 inches just as the new green shoots are visible. Leaving several inches of last years foliage acts as a florist frog and helps to hold young ornamental grasses upright in windy conditions.

When cleaning up perennial plants in the spring be careful not to damage the new shoots that are just emerging. Once the dead foliage is removed apply an application of organic fertilizer, a light layer of mulch and you are done!

News From the Farm | Organic Tomato Plants and Organic Pepper Plants ship for as low as $1.37 each!

2010-02-18T18:45:00Z

New for 2010 - all of our healthy heirloom tomato plants, hybrid tomato plants, hot pepper plants and sweet pepper plants are being grown certified organic! We just started seeding our pepper and tomato plants for shipping this April, May and June. Did you know that when you order 12 organic vegetable plants from us we will ship anywhere in the continental U.S. for just $16.45 - that is only $1.37 per plants. Despite the rising fuel and shipping costs, we have kept our shipping prices the same as they have been for the past few years.

Order your organic tomato plants and organic pepper plants early for best selection as we always sell-out and this year we expect to sell-out of the popular tomato and pepper varieties early!

Browse our varieties here:
Organic Heirloom Tomato Plants
Organic Hybrid Tomato Plants
Organic Pepper Plants
Organic Vegetable Plants

Gardening | Gardening Articles by the Horticultural Staff at Stargazer Perennials

2010-01-27T23:26:00Z

Like most gardeners we enjoy talking about gardening and sharing our knowledge of gardening tips with others. Our small staff is passionate about gardening! On any given weekend during the gardening season, our garden center and farm is filled with plant lovers and gardening devotees. If you live near our farm and nursery be sure to check out our weekly gardening classes.

You can access our Gardening Article Index on our main website by clicking on the button at the top left corner or just click on any of the article links below. We are constantly adding new gardening articles to our index. Below are some of our informational gardening articles on a wide variety of garden topics brought to you by the horticultural staff at Stargazer Perennials Farm and Nursery.

My Monet^TM: The Only True Dwarf Weigelia

Incrediball TM Hydrangea: The new, amazing hydrangea from Proven Winners Color Choice Shrubs

How to Make Fresh Holiday Wreaths and Swags

Sunshine Blue^TM Caryopteris: A deer resistant, fall blooming shrub from Proven Winners

Black Lace^TM: The hottest new Elderberry

Coppertina^TM Physocarpus: The best native Ninebark for modern gardens

Learn All About the Wonderful Family of Knockout Roses

Lavender Chiffon^TM: A Vigorous, Heavy Blooming New Rose of Sharon

How to Grow Healthy Roses Organically

How to Grow Betty Boop Rose

How to Grow Alpine Strawberries

Black Beauty^TM Sambucus: An Exciting New Elderberry from Proven Winners

How to Grow Organic Onions From Sets

How to Grow the Stargazer Lily

Hydrangea 'Limelight': A Stunning Hardy Hydrangea from Proven Winners

How to Grow Dahlias

Ebb Tide Rose: A Top Selling Rose at Our Nursery

Deer Resistant Gardening Techniques

How to Divide Perennials

Proven Winners Color Choice Shrubs

How to Grow Asiatic and Oriental Lilies

How to Grow German Iris

How to Grow Gladiolus

DIY: How to Build a Waterfall

How to Select the Right Pond Pump

DIY: How to Build a Pond Free Waterfall

DIY: How to Build a Pond or Waterfall

Geranium Rozanne: Perennial Plant of the Year 2008

How to Grow Amaryllis

Walker's Low Catmint: Our Favorite Perennial and the Perennial Plant of the Year 2007

All About the Shasta Daisy

Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola': Perennial Plant of the Year 2009

Blue Muffin Viburnum: A Lovely New Viburnum from Proven Winners

How to Grow Blueberries

Bloomerang Lilac: New Reblooming Lilac from Proven Winners

How to Grow Peonies

Invincibelle^TM Spirit Hydrangea: The First Pink Mop-head Hydrangea from Proven Winners

Pruning Clematis | When to Prune Clematis Vines

2010-01-27T22:18:00Z

Clematis are a versatile group of climbing garden vines that can add color and height to your garden. Clematis, like most flowering vines, are best displayed when trained over a trellis, planted adjacent to another climbing plant such as a climbing rose or encouraged to grow through a large garden shrub or on a tree.

Clematis are easy to grow if you just remember that they perform best when the majority of the vine is in full sun while the base of the vine and the roots are in the shade. Pruning clematis is essential to encourage new growth which in turn translates into more flowers. The easiest way to determine when to prune your clematis is to keep track of when it blooms. The three general clematis pruning categories are:

GROUP 1: Clematis in Group 1 flower in the spring on old wood, or the previous season's growth. Very little pruning is needed except for occasional light shaping which can be done immediately after the main bloom is finished.

GROUP 2: Clematis in Group 2 bloom in early summer on last year's growth, and often have an additional bloom flush in the fall on the current year's growth. Group 2 Clematis only need to be pruned lightly by removing the top 10-12" of each shoot back to a firmly swollen bud in late winter or very early spring.

GROUP 3: Clematis in Group 3 are typically very vigorous vines that bloom on new growth of the current season. To promote heavy blooms every year the entire vine should be pruned back to about 2' from the ground, making sure to leave some healthy-looking new growth buds.

Clematis are easy to grow and will typically bloom for you the first year they are planted in your garden. Stargazer Perennials offers hardy clematis vines in 1 gallon nursery trade containers. We ship our hardy clematis vines throughout the United States May through October.

BEST VEGETABLE VARIETIES FOR ORGANIC CONTAINER GARDENING OR SMALL VEGETABLE GARDENS

2010-01-16T19:53:00Z

You can successfully grow a wide range of vegetables and small fruits organically in containers on your patio or in a very small garden space.
Many vegetables and small fruits lend themselves well to organic container gardening. Even at our farm, we tend to prefer to grow many small fruits such as dwarf blueberries and alpine strawberries in containers that are adjacent to patio areas rather than out in the main vegetable garden. With some thought to selecting bush or dwarf varieties, almost any vegetable or small fruit can be adapted to growing in a pot. When you think about what container to use, don't forget to keep in mind that many vegetables and small fruits also grow well in hanging baskets. Ideal hanging basket varieties include: Supersweet 100 Cherry Tomatoes, Sunsugar Cherry Tomatoes and Alpine Strawberries. Vegetables that take up little space, such as carrots, radishes and lettuce, or crops that bear fruits over a long period of time, such as Early Girl Tomatoes and peppers, are perfect for container vegetable gardens.

What you decide to grow in a container vegetable garden is limited only by the size of the container, the time you have to care for your plants and your imagination. A few of our favorite container vegetable gardens that we grow at our farm are:

Garden in a Barrel: Requires 1 whiskey barrel or similar size container. Fill container with organic potting soil for vegetables and work in a small amount of Down to Earth All Purpose fertilizer. Plant one 4" plant of each variety: Bush Early Girl Tomato, Cal Wonder Pepper, Purple Basil, Chives and Oregano. Water well. Fertilizer every 2 weeks with Maxicrop Liquid Kelp Fertilizer.

Carrot, Radish & Herb Combo: Requires a container with a minimum size of 24" or a whiskey barrel. Fill container with organic

potting soil for vegetables and work in a small amount of Down to Earth All Purpose fertilizer. Plant in the center of the container one of each variety in a 4" plant size: parsley, sage and oregano. Sprinkle the carrot seeds around the parsley plant, then sprinkle radish seeds around the outside of the container staying 1" inch away from the container wall. Top lightly with soil and mist. Keep moist until seeds germinate, then thin as needed. The radish plants will mature and be harvested first leaving room for the carrots which can be harvested as baby carrots for salads or stir-fry. The herbs are hardy perennials which can be left in the pot to over-winter with adequate water.

Salad Greens to Go: Use any size or shape container. Fill with organic potting soil for vegetables. Sprinkle salad greens, spinach or mesclun seeds and cover 1/4". Mist and keep moist until seeds germinate. Cut as needed for fresh, organic salad greens!

We you think of container gardening don't forget about including small fruits. Two of our favorite small fruits for container gardens are Northcountry Blueberry Bush and Alpine Strawberry Plants. Northcountry Blueberry was bred specifically for use in container gardening or very small gardens and is hardy to USDA zone 4. Alpine Strawberries are runner-less strawberry plants that produce all season long and are ideal for containers or hanging baskets.

NEWS FROM THE FARM: VIEW OUR NEW PHOTO SLIDE SHOWS OF OUR FARM, NURSERY, GARDENS AND PLANTS AT STARGAZER PERENNIALS

2010-01-13T16:42:00Z

Years ago we started taking high quality photos of our plants and our farm to use in our plant products at our online store, to use in our blogs and for use in our garden articles. This winter while searching for a photo we decided it would be nice to put our images in slide shows so other gardeners could view them also, thus started the major project for this winter! We started cropping and uploading a nice selection of the thousands of original photos that we have taken of our plants, our farm and our nursery over the past few years. We have organized our photos into 2 different slide shows for your viewing pleasure. One slide show is just plants and the other slide show highlights pictures of our farm, our nursery and the surrounding countryside where we live. You can access our photos from our homepage by clicking on the link button shown here or through this blog. The plant slide show is at the top and you can view the other slide show by scrolling down just a bit. To start the slide show just click on any image and a larger photo will appear and the slide show will begin.

We were amazed at the amount of photos that we have accumulated over such a short span of time! Each week we will be adding new photos for your viewing pleasure. Click here to View Our Slide Shows!

NOTE: Please respect our request that all of our original photos are copyrighted and are not to be used for any purpose, and we mean any purpose, without our expressed consent in writing.

Happy Gardening, Karyn & Nick

WISTERIA AMETHYST FALLS IS A WELL-BEHAVED, REPEAT BLOOMING WISTERIA

2010-01-13T16:00:00Z

Wisteria frutescens ' Amethyst Falls ' is a popular wisteria vine at our nursery partly because we are always recommending it! Unlike most wisteria plants, Amethyst Falls Wisteria is a non-invasive native wisteria that will rebloom in late summer. A polite climber, Wisteria Amethyst Falls will not destroy your arbor or pergola or choke out neighboring trees. A vigorous grower, Amethyst Falls will begin blooming typically the 1st or 2nd year that it is planted in your garden. The lovely, fragrant true blue pea-like flowers are produced on 8 inch racemes that cascade down the wisteria. A compact grower for a wisteria, Amethyst Falls will eventually reach 20 feet in height and width. This is an ideal wisteria to drape over an arbor, a pergola or train over an archway. A light mid-summer pruning will encourage a burst of new blooms in the early fall. Other notable attributes of Amethyst Falls wisteria are: high deer resistance, drought tolerance, disease resistant foliage and a bloom time that starts 2-3 weeks late than most wisterias to avoid the later spring freeze.

You can buy Wisteria ' Amethyst Falls ' at our online store in 1 gallon pots or you can purchase it at our farm and nursery.

Why will my wisteria vine not bloom? To ensure that your wisteria will bloom for you always purchase Wisteria plants that have been grown from cuttings or grafted rather than seed grown plants. Wisteria vines grown from seed typically will remain in a juvenile stage for 10 to 15 years or longer during which time they will not bloom. Wisteria plants that are grafted, and plants grown from cuttings or layered from a flowering plant will usually begin flowering within 1-2 years.

Browse all of our hardy wisteria vines here..

KARL ROSENFELD PEONY AND MORDEN CENTENNIAL ROSE MAKE A STRIKING COMBINATION IN THE GARDEN!

2010-01-09T17:22:00Z

Peonies are breathtaking plants to have in your garden in the early spring when they are in full bloom and covered by 5 inch and larger, colorful blooms. After they are done blooming, peonies take on the role of a medium sized background shrub in your garden displaying large, deep green leaves that are attractive and deer resistant. To keep your garden in full bloom throughout the growing season, try experimenting with companion planting.

In this picture taken at our farm in Summerville, Oregon we planted Karl Rosenfeld Peony at the base of a Morden Centennial Rose. One of the first roses in our nursery to bloom each year, Morden Centennial rose keeps up the display all season long producing double red-pink flowers all along the long arching canes. In the fall, Morden Centennial produces lovely bright red hips. Morden Centennial Rose starts out blooming just after the flowers of Karl Rosenfeld Peony are open and keeps going long after the peony blooms have faded. The lush, green foliage of the peony plant makes for a nice backdrop for the red flowers of Morden Centennial rose.

EBB TIDE ROSES OVER-WINTERING IN THE SNOW AT OUR NURSERY

2010-01-06T19:03:00Z

This year the snow has been ideal for over-wintering many of our hardy perennials and roses including this group of our 2 gallon container grown Ebb Tide Roses that are enjoying a fresh snow from last nights storm.

We believe in growing tough, healthy plants that will thrive in your garden and frankly we just decided a few years ago to cease growing plants that were marginal or fussy! The cornerstone of our successful rose growing program centers on growing our roses without any chemicals or pesticides using only sustainable and organic methods.

Ebb Tide rose is a cold hardy rose that is ideal for northern gardens. This tough , yet beautiful rose thrives on cold winters and warm summers. A top seller at our farm we paired it last year with Vavoom, a saucy rose with vivid orange-juice colored blooms, for a drop dead combination. So if you live in a colder climate zone such as ours which is a USDA Zone 5, don't shy away from roses, just make sure you select only cold hardy roses and you will be amazed at the results that you have.

You can browse our entire selection of cold hardy roses here...

Here's a picture of Ebb Tide rose in full bloom:

NEW ROSE FOR 2010 - PUMPKIN PATCH ROSE IS AVAILABLE AT STARGAZER PERENNIALS!

2010-01-04T14:54:00Z

Pumpkin Patch rose is another delightful rose developed by the master horticulturists at Week Roses. A new rose for 2010, Pumpkin Patch Rose produces lush 25 petal flowers in a delicious shade of buttery caramel with just a hint of pumpkin-orange. A very floriferous rose, Pumpkin Patch reblooms all summer long, is an excellent rose for cutting and floral arrangements and has a very pleasing moderate fruity fragrance. Flowers are produced in clusters on strong, straight stems. Unlike most roses, Pumpkin Patch desires a little shade in the afternoon.

Although Pumpkin Patch rose has disease resistant foliage, roses still take some care. At our farm and nursery in Eastern Oregon we only use organic and sustainable methods when growing and caring for our roses. Our sustainable, pesticide-free approach results in beautiful roses and perennials that are virtually disease and pest free!

For information on growing pesticide-free roses, view our gardening article on our main website: How to Grow Roses Organically, for tips and information on an easier way to grow beautiful roses without chemicals!

You can purchase Pumpkin Patch Rose online or at our farm and nursery. Pumpkin Patch rose is grown 100% pesticide-free at our farm using only sustainable, organic methods. We start shipping this delightful, new rose in the late spring in standard 2 gallon nursery trade containers.

NEWS FROM THE FARM: FARM FRESH LIVING LAUNCHES USDA CERTIFIED ORGANIC ARTISAN SOAP LINE!

2010-01-03T18:38:00Z

We are excited to announce our new product line of USDA Certified Organic Artisan Soaps now available at our farm and nursery in Eastern Oregon and on our sister website FarmFreshLiving.com! Not only are our exclusive soaps 100% organic they will pamper your skin and treat you to an invigorating aromatherapy experience in the shower or bath. Not all organic soaps are alike and in fact most are not truly organic although they claim to be. Find our more about what makes our soaps so great and why purchasing USDA Certified Organic products is superior to those labeled 'natural' or 'organic' by reading our information article.

Our USDA Certified Organic Soaps come in 10 unique blends or in assortment collections including:

You can buy our organic soaps online here.

DWARF GALLERY DAHLIAS ARE THE IDEAL DAHLIA FOR CONTAINER GARDENING!

2009-12-31T01:44:00Z

Gallery Dahlias or dwarf dahlias as they are sometimes referred to, are a petite dahlia that blooms like crazy all summer long. Available in a wide assortment of colors, the Gallery Series of dahlias are one of the most popular at our farm for their non-stop blooms, attractive dark green foliage and petite size making them ideal as container plants or to use in the front of a perennial border. A few of our favorite Gallery Dahlias are:

We ship our premium dahlia tubers in the spring after freezing weather has ceased. Dahlias need to be planted after the last hard frost in the spring to bloom properly that summer.

Where to buy dahlias: You can purchase our dahlia tuner at our online store or at our farm and nursery in Eastern Oregon in the early spring. We only offer a limited number of dahlia tubers for each variety every year, so for best selection we recommend that you pre-order for best availability. Visit our online store to browse all of our dahlia varieties including dinner plate dahlias and cactus dahlias.

A quick background on dahlias: Native to Central America, the genus Dahlia was named in honor of Anders Dahl, an 18th century Swedish botanist. From just a handful of original species Dahlias have been hybridized over the centuries into an amazingly diversified genus, with plant sizes from 1 ft. to 7 ft. tall, and flowers in almost any color imaginable from 2 to 12 inches across. Dahlias are tender perennials, and should not be planted out until the danger of heavy frost is gone, but they can be given a head start in pots and set out after the last frost. The soil temperature should be at least 55 °F. Bulbs planted before this temperature is reached may rot before they can sprout.

For more information about How to Grow Dahlias, visit the Gardening Article section on our website by clicking on the Garden Article button on the top bar.

BLUEBERRY PLANTS AND BLUEBERRY BUSHES: STARGAZER PERENNIALS NOW GROWS 9 VARIETIES OF BLUEBERRIES

2009-12-29T19:12:00Z

For 2010, we have expanded our varieties of hardy, container grown blueberry plants to nine different blueberry varieties including Northern High Bush blueberries and a dwarf, patio container blueberry ideal for small gardens or apartment living. At Stargazer Perennials our container grown blueberry plants are one of our top sellers year after year. We grow our blueberry plants sustainably using only organic methods and they are 100% pesticide-free.

You can purchase our blueberry plants in a variety of sizes at our nursery in Eastern Oregon or online. Our current available varieties include:

Please note that we ship blueberry plants throughout the continental United States April through October, but we take pre-orders all year long. To learn about each variety or to learn How to Grow Blueberries, visit the Garden Article section of our website.

DIY: HOW TO BUILD A PROFESSIONAL POND AND WATERFALL IN A WEEKEND WITH A SAVIO POND KIT!

2009-12-28T19:24:00Z

Yes, you can build your own water feature, pond or waterfall yourself with DIY SAVIO pond packages. For

years we have been installing and selling Savio pond products to our local customers in Eastern Oregon, now you can also shop for a complete DIY Savio Pond Package online with Free Shipping!

Savio Pond Packages are so easy to use and come complete with everything you need, including easy to follow instructions. Even if you have never built a pond before, you can successfully build your own pond like the one in the picture with Savio Professional Pond Packages!

Browse our expanded online Pond and Water Garden Store for quality pond, waterfall and Koi pond companies that manufacturer professional grade equipment that is ideal for the water gardening enthusiast.

Informative Pond and Waterfall Articles by Stargazer Perennials:

If you have a question about which product to use of what you need, please drop us an email and we will answer your question.

HARDY HIBISCUS OR ROSE OF SHARON ARE EASY TO GROW FLOWERING SHRUBS THAT ARE ALSO DEER RESISTANT!

2009-12-19T21:36:00Z

Hibiscus syriacus, Rose of Sharon or hardy hibiscus as it is commonly known, is a versatile, low maintenance flowering landscape shrub that comes in a variety of bloom colors and sizes. At our farm we grow a variety of Rose of Sharon flowering shrubs both for sale and to grace our display gardens. Deer resistant, low maintenance and dependable, Rose of Sharon is a favorite of ours and our clients alike. Pictured here are a few of the varieties that we currently grow including Lavender Chiffon, White Chiffon, Lil'Kim and Blue Satin.

Easy to care for, all Rose of Sharon varieties with the exception of the dwarf Lil'Kim, can be planted into a landscape to mature as a large flowering shrub reaching up to 8 feet in height or and can be trained easily into a gorgeous small tree form that you can plant a perennial garden beneath. Hibiscus Lil'Kim is a new introduction from Proven Winners Color Choice shrubs and reaches only 3 feet in height and width making it ideal for small gardens or as a flowering patio container plant.

Rose of Sharon can be heavily pruned in the fall or spring since it blooms on new growth. The newest Rose of Sharon cultivars, the Chiffon Series pictured here have a superior growth and flowering habit when compared to some of the older cultivars. Tolerant to many soil types they prefer moderate watering once established. Avoid planting hardy Hibiscus in soil that is boggy or saturated especially in the winter, or consider planting in a raised bed or berm to improve drainage.

Nomenclature notes: Hibiscus Greek for mallow-like and syriacus: of Syria.

STARGAZER PERENNIALS FARM AND NURSERY EVENT AND CLASS CALENDAR FOR 2010 NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE AT STARGAZER PERENNIALS!

2009-12-18T16:53:00Z

With the completion of our new farm stand and garden center, Stargazer Perennials is now offering garden classes and farm events all season long. View our easy to use event and class schedule online at: Nursery Event & Class Schedule on our website www.StargazerPerennials.com.

Classes scheduled for April and May include such topics as: Organic Lawn Care, How to Grow Organic Potatoes, How to Grow Heirloom Tomatoes, Fruit Tree Care and Information and How to Grow a Beautiful Garden Organically.

Events for April and May include: 3rd Annual 4" Perennial Sale, Potato Days - learn all about potatoes and save 20% at the farm on all organic seed potatoes, Plant Your Own Mother's Day Hanging Basket or Herb Bowl and much more!

Check back frequently to view newly added events and classes. Most garden classes are free and seating is limited. You may email us ahead of time to reserve seating.

BLOOMERANG REBLOOMING LILAC NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER FOR SPRING 2010 SHIPPING!

2009-12-15T01:43:00Z

Wow! Bloomerang Lilac has just become a new favorite plant at Stargazer Perennials. We were so impressed with this new Proven Winners Color Choice flowering shrub that we gave it a prominent place in our display gardens.

Bloomerang Lilac is an attractive and tidy flowering shrub that grows to just under 4 1/2 feet tall and 4 feet wide with glossy green foliage. Deep purple, fragrant buds open up in the spring and again in the summer after a brief rest and continue blooming until the first frost. Deer resistant and mildew resistant, Bloomerang Lilac works well planted en masse to form a flowering hedge, as a specimen shrub or mixed in a perennial border.

You can pre-order Bloomerang Lilac now for spring 2010 shipping in 1 quart or 1 gallon nursery trade container size.

To learn more about Bloomerang Lilac, read our information gardening article at StargazerPerennials.com.

EASY DOES IT ROSE, THE 2010 AARS WINNER IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER FOR SPRING SHIPPING AT STARGAZER PERENNIALS!

2009-12-10T15:54:00Z

Easy Does It Rose, the hot new 2010 All-American Rose Selections winner is now available in 2 gallon pots for spring shipping at Stargazer Perennials! Easy Does It Rose is a very hardy own root floribunda rose well suited even for Northern cold climate gardens and landscapes. Easy Does It Rose produces a profusion of ruffled multi-colored mango, orange, pink, peach and apricot blooms all summer. A delightful, strong citrus fragrance adds to the appeal of this highly disease resistant rose. Easy Does It Rose is a dense, shapely rose shrub that matures at only 3-4' depending on your pruning, and has deep green glossy disease resistant foliage. Easy Does It Rose is outstanding in the mixed perennial and shrub border. Here at Stargazer Perennials we use Easy Does It Rose in our landscape designs in many different ways:As a gorgeous single specimen in a mixed perennial and shrub border, as a stunning low hedge along a long driveway (spaced one every 4') or flanking a sidewalk or garden pathway, and especially in mixed patio containers where you can enjoy the rich fragrance as you relax on your patio or dine outdoors.

Pre-order Easy Does It Rose now for Spring 2010 shipping. We grow and ship all of our roses in 2 gallon nursery trade containers.

TOP GROUNDCOVER PLANTS FOR WALKWAYS, LAWN SUBSTITUTES AND EROSION CONTROL

2009-12-08T20:37:00Z

Groundcover perennials can be used to replace or substitute for a lawn, fill spaces between stepping stones in a pathway, soften the edges of hardscapes like patios and walls, control erosion, or just for creating a dramatic rock garden. Here at Stargazer Perennials Farm & Nursery we grow hundreds of plants that can be used as groundcover in various applications, and we are often asked which ones will bear the most foot traffic as a substitute lawn or pathway plant. You can't go wrong with any of these these tough, beautiful and fragrant lawn alternatives.

For areas of heavy foot traffic, many of the creeping Thyme varieties are great survivors. One of our favorites and the fastest spreading Thyme is Woolly Thyme, or Thymus pseudilanuginosus. It has a soft fuzzy leaf texture that is quite distinct in the Thymus genus, with a nice mid-summer pink bloom. Other great choices are Red Creeping thyme, white creeping thyme, pink creeping thyme, Elfin, or miniature thyme, and Thymus x citriodorus varieties like 'Doone Valley' or 'Archer's Gold', which have brightly variegated foliage and give off a lemony citrus scent when crushed underfoot.

Two other great tough lawn substitutes or stepping stone fillers are Scotch Moss and Irish Moss, or Sagina subulata.
These two softly textured plant relatives are a lot tougher than they look and can take foot traffic much like a traditional lawn, and are much easier to maintain than turf, as they require less water once established and never need to be mowed or fertilized.

DRIFT GROUNDCOVER ROSES ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT STARGAZER PERENNIALS!

2009-12-08T19:01:00Z

Stargazer Perennials is now growing the all new Drift Groundcover Rose Series available in 2 gallon nursery trade containers for 2010 shipping starting May 15th! Drift Groundcover Roses are the newest family of high-performance roses developed by Star Roses. These tough, floriferous roses are low maintenance, disease resistant, repeat blooming spreaders that will fill your garden with an explosion of color all summer long.

For maximum impact, plant Drift Roses en masse across open beds, along a walkway, as an entry planting or along slopes to help prevent soil erosion. At only 18 inches tall by 36 inches wide, Drift Groundcover Roses are a very versatile garden plant that can also be used in container plantings or in a hanging basket. For spots of color all summer long, tuck a Drift Groundcover rose in amongst herbs, perennials or at the base of standard size roses. After growing these, tough little roses we are confident that you will be as pleased with them as we are!

Browse all our container grown groundcover roses at our online store. As with all of the plants that we grow, we grow our Drift Groundcoverroses using only sustainable, pesticide-free methods. Drift Roses are available in 4 lovely and distinct colors:

Coral Drift Rose Peach Drift Rose Pink Drift Rose Red Drift Rose

SAVE 10% OFF ALL GIFT CERTIFICATES AND ALL SPRING 2010 PLANT PRE-ORDERS!

2009-12-07T19:30:00Z

Shop for your favorite gardener and SAVE 10% until 12/14/2009. To redeem your coupon enter the code WINTER09 in the shopping cart. Our 10% off offer includes everything in our online store including Certified Organic Seed Potatoes, Organic Seed Garlic, Organic Onion Sets, Perennials, Proven Winners Shrubs, Garden Gloves, Gift Certificates, Roses, Organic Fertilizer our SALE BARGAIN BIN and much more!

This offer expires December 14, 2009.

WHERE TO BUY HYDRANGEA INCREDIBALL? STARGAZER PERENNIALS IS NOW GROWING QUART, GALLON AND TWO GALLON INCREDIBALLS!

2009-12-03T07:00:00Z

This is the new hardy Hydrangea that gardeners are talking about, and for good reason. Hydrangea arborescens ( Smooth Hydrangea ) Incrediball is now available in quart pots, gallon pots and in two gallon nursery trade pots. Unlike its parent 'Annabelle', Incrediball Hydrangea produces huge 12" blooms with stiff stems that won't flop even in heavy rain and wind. Each bloom has about four times as many flowers as 'Annabelle'.

At 4-5 feet tall and around, Incrediball Hydrangea will take sun or partial shade. The Hydrangea species arborescens is native to North America. Here at Stargazer Perennials Farm/Nursery in Zone 5a we find that smooth Hydrangeas do best with an eastern exposure with some protection from the afternoon sun and harsh winds. Rich, well-drained loamy soil helps, too! Read more about Incrediball Hygrangea here. Another great shrub from the Proven Winners Color Choice Shrubs program and from the breeding program of our friends at Spring Meadow Nursery.