Monthly Archives: July 2012

Hydrangeas

Posted on July 17, 2012 | Leave a comment

Hydrangeas are a Pacific Northwest staple. They simply love our weather! With so many varieties available, it’s easier than ever to create gorgeous, lasting impact in your yard. And, by planting in summer when the garden is in bloom, it’s easier to see how the shrub will fit best in your landscape.

Lacecap Hydrangea in front of a Purple Smoke Bush

We have many to choose from, here are just a few we like:
Bombshell: This is a superstar of the “mini” variety, reaching only 2-3 feet in height. Flowers open white and mature to a rose-colored pink. This is a perfect hydrangea for a container. To view a growing tips video for Bombshell, visit the Ball Ornamentals YouTube page or watch the embedded video below.

Little Lime™: A new dwarf form of the ever-popular ‘Limelight’ hydrangea, Little Lime sports the same great flowers and coloration as ‘Limelight’ but in a smaller package. Summer flowers open soft green and turn pink and burgundy in fall.

Twist-N-Shout: Twist-n-Shout produces abundant blooms on both old and new wood all summer long. Lacy deep-pink centers are surrounded by gorgeous blossoms of pink or periwinkle blue, depending on soil type. Sturdy red stems and glossy deep green leaves turn red-burgundy in fall to offer year-round interest in the garden.

Little Lime Hydrangea, Proven Winners

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Nursery

Hummingbirds Have a Broad Palette

Posted on July 17, 2012 | 1 Comment

Guest Post by Jean Ann Van Krevelen of Gardener to Farmer

I have always loved hummingbirds. Last year, I more than doubled the flowers in containers on my patio. As a result, I saw the two small Rufous hummingbirds that call my yard home, more than any year prior. Don’t let the diminutive size of these guys fool you; they are very territorial and rather cheeky. If I happen to be out watering and one of them wants to feed, they’ll hover in front of me, engaging in a very intense staring contest.

The most I’ve ever known about what flowers attract hummingbirds, is that they like the color red and prefer tubular type flowers (think penstemon). This year, I’ve discovered that list is much broader than I previously thought. I had a very narrow definition of the color red. I’ve discovered that “red” also includes hot pink, vivid violet, bright corals…in other words, variations within a continuum of color. My understanding of the physical characteristics of the flowers was similarly narrow. “Tubular” includes fuchsias, petunias, and nasturtiums.

Planting a hummingbird friendly garden is super easy to do…and Bayview Farm and Garden has plenty of plants at the ready! Try grouping hot pink, red or bright orange colors together to draw the birds in. Then, make sure there are enough nectar flowers from which to feed. Keep an eye out, especially in early morning and late afternoon, for the hummingbirds to buzz in for a snack!

Other humming bird friendly plants include:
• penstemon
• lobelia
• honeysuckle
• columbines
• salvia
• hollyhocks
• nicotiana
• four o’ clocks
• foxglove
• hostas
• lantana
• snapdragon

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Hummingbirds

Tagged , ,