My favorite plant of 2008

My favorite plant last year was my 'Tiger Eye' Sumac. It had a pretty rough beginning. I picked it up in the spring of 2006 at Elsburys. Like most plants, it didn't do much that first year. In the early spring of 2008 it was only a couple of stubs sticking out of the ground. My dogs thought that I had planted them a chew toy tree and they worked it over pretty good. I guess they got bored with it and finally left it alone. Once it warmed up a bit I could see new growth coming on. It took off pretty fast; filling out nicely. I have it planted as a specimen plant just as you enter my back yard planting area. The color really catches your eye as you enter the area. It almost looks like it's lit up. The green is a brilliant, almost neon color. I used black mulch last year which really set off the color. I didn't have any trouble with pests which is a big plus. During the garden tour last year this plant got the most attention and had me wishing I had labeled it because I can't tell you how many times a visitor asked the name of it. Now, early spring 2009, it's back to being a few sticks coming out of the ground. Luckily my dogs haven't rediscovered it. I'm really anxious to see what happens with it this summer. Hopefully the old adage, 'The first year they sleep, the second year they creep and the third year they leap' rings true for my sumac!

The Grass is Greener in Brown County

Tanner and I took a little trip to Brown County this week. We spent a couple of days at the Brown County Inn and did some exploring and a little shopping. The first thing I noticed was the difference in the grass. It's green in them there hills! And the Magnolias, Mock Orange, Forsythia and daffodils are all blooming. It was a nice little get away. We even mangaed to do a bit of fishing at Brown County State Park. Didn't even get a nibble!
Of course I had to stop at one of my favorite greenhouses on the way down. Elsbury's Greenhouse and Garden Center in Hope, Indiana is a great place to spend the afternoon. They've made a few changes since I lasted visited. The herb house has been moved and is exceptionally organized and labeled. The perennials were still inside one of the many hoop houses and they looked great. I think the first trip to a nursery each year is like seeing old friends! They have a great variety growing. According to the spring newsletter Elsbury's buys over 100,000 rooted cuttings, 60,000 unrooted cuttings and 150,000 starter plugs. They will produce 20,000 potted geraniums, 7,000 hanging baskets, 23,000 potted herbs and on and on it goes. Additionally, each time I've been there the service has been exceptional. So do yourself a favor and take a little trip south on highway 9 to Hope, Indiana. Say 'Hi' to Dave Elsbury for me.
The trip to Elsburys leads me to my first confession. Yes, only a few days from making my annual vow of not buying more plants until blah, blah, blah....I bought a few plants. But it was Elsbury's! Not too many. I picked up a bleeding heart (Dicentra) variety called 'Burning Hearts' that is more tolerant of sun than other varieties. I also grabbed three pots of Dianthus 'Fire Star'. A beautiful red variety that grows up to 8" and blooms from Spring to Autumn.
So there you have it foks...in record time I've broken my annual vow. Now it's time to find a place to plant these babies!