Snow is not really a nasty four letter word.....

Whew!

That's what most of us are saying regarding the major snowstorm that went through the Mid-Atlantic states, completely staying south of Western New York.

Phrases like "Hate that white stuff", "So happy I didn't have to shovel", "Let somebody else deal with that mess", were tossed all about the past couple of days. Granted, I am very happy we didn't receive 2-3' of snow also, but......what are your plants thinking?

"BRRR, its cold, where's my blanket, I'm freezing" might exactly be what your beautiful perennials and shrubs are thinking (ok, plants don't think, but imagine if they did). Snow, when it naturally falls and is left undisturbed, is the best winter protection your plants can have!

What? Is this writer nuts? Well, that could be a topic for another day, but on this topic I'm perfectly grounded. Snow is nature's insulation blanket on plants and their root systems. When we have bare ground and those cold temperatures, and more importantly those sub-zero wind chills, many plants become stressed. Without the snow blanket, the soil surface is exposed to all those cold, drying winds. And even with mulch, the roots of your plants are more exposed to damage. Shrub stems and branches are equally vulnerable to the winds. Come Spring, the winters where we have prolonged open ground and snow cover bring the most visable die back, and even fatality, with plants vs. the winters of "the good ole days" when we had a snow blanket the entire winter season.

So, while I'm not wishing a storm of 30" of snow all at once, a good 6-12" snow, 3 or 4 times, with no thaw in between, is exactly what was on your landscape plants' Christmas wish list. I guess now that wish is on their Valentine's Day wish list.

Plants Deliver Reasons To Believe

Its a sunny February afternoon. Forget it's winter. Forget it's February. Take note that it's Sunny! Time for an imagination journey.



Turn off the TV.
Turn off the radio.
Open your favorite magazine.
Now don't read the articles, just flip through and look at the pictures for a few moments........................



I'll bet the pictures you viewed varied in types. Food, nature, buildings, people. Now do you remember your favorite picture(s)? It's very likely that the common theme on those pictures were that were full of color and you really felt like you could touch the objects in the picture or transport yourself right into the middle of the setting.



This past weekend, Garden Center and Landscape Company Owners and Managers met in Louisville, KY and one of the events was a review of many of the new plants that were going to be available for our customers this summer. The plants in the NMPro Plant Pavilion were in all category types: shrubs, perennials, trees, tropicals, and annuals. The 30+ plants on showcase all had a common theme...they were special because of their fantastic colors! We oohed and aahed while reviewing them and could imagine their glory in our gardens.



What does this event have to do with you? Well, just like the Garden Center and Landscape Industry professionals, you also dream of a brighter time of year. The Spring with its glorious displays of color. By dreaming now, you also plan for the planting season.



As humans, many of us use plants as an escape into a world of peace and paradise. Plants are living things that don't care about what the different news organizations critique and write about. Plants don't care if people are grumpy on a certain day. Plants give us color and joy....and hope.



While thinking and planning on what new garden area (whether it's 1 new plant or 50) you are going to create, how about brightening your office or home? Just 1 plant, in a home or office, with a colorful flower can bring that warm feeling of spring one step closer.



So are you a pink person; or maybe a blush white; or lavender, blue, yellow or red? Bring a flower home now and watch your winter blahs 'bloom' into a pre-spring euphoria.



Oh, and you are wondering what plant was voted as the winner of The NMPro Plant Pavilion for 2010? It was the Candy Store Series of Garden Phlox. The variety 'Bubble Gum' is pictured below. Plant and photo credits to Novalis Group.

The cold winter winds brings thoughts of spring

Welcome to 2010!

Don't let the winter chill dampen your anticipation for Spring! Some of Staff Members recently traveled to a Trade Show to preview new plants and products. This week we are 'hunkering down' in the trenches to improve the Garden Center and your shopping experience.

What is truly amazing is the sheer enthusiasm the owners and management staff have for the upcoming Spring. The experience you have at Van Putte's should always be an excellent one, and we are fine tuning all the ways to assure that this year.

This winter and spring we'll bring you news and notes to help you with your new garden planning or the maintaining and brightening of your existing landscape.

The Garden Center is open, so don't forget the best bird food for your feathered friends.

Don't let the cold bring you down, think Spring!

A Christmas Thought

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree......the old tune goes through my mind daily, as I survey the wonderful variety that we have at the Garden Center. Sturdy, Fragrant Fraser Fir, Full, Fragrant Douglas Fir, and the Magnificent Concolor Fir with it's citrus aroma. As Christmas is only 15 days away, now is the time to get out and get your tree. Many sizes to select from, Perfect for any room in your home.

Don't forget the Poinsettia for that special friend. The large 8" size have so many blooms, that they also look like shrubs.

Come home for The Holidays...to Van Putte Gardens.

There's a wonderful scent in the air.....

The aroma of fresh cut greens and trees is the start of a magical and wonderful season. Fresh Balsam Fir Wreaths and Cut Christmas Trees, such as Fraser and Douglas Fir have now arrived and are available to beautify your home or office. The beautiful fragrance has been enhanced by the slightly warm weather and it tells us that Christmas time is upon us. Live potted trees are also in stock and beautiful.

Poinsettias have also arrived.

Tulips & Daffodils & Crocus OH MY!

I always loved the line from the Wizard of Oz of "Lions & Tigers & Bears, Oh my!" In the movie, the characters chanted the line until they got themselves into a panicked frenzy.

Well, time to get for you to get into a fun frenzy because its BULB SEASON!

All your favorite characters, such as those Dandy Daffodils and Happy Hyacinths have arrived from Holland are looking for permanent homes in your garden. The colors, the fragrance, the anticipation of Spring.

If you're tired of the old standbys, let me suggest these couple of boldly bulbs.

One is the Snowdrop, Galanthus nivalis. its a great small crocus type flower that can bloom as early as mid to late February. It was usually the first flower to pop up on a sunny hillside near where I grew up. In my Island Gardens, it is showing once we have a couple of weeks of sun and no snow in March.

The other is Fritillaria. This flower is on a tall stem and towers over smaller Daffodils and Tulips in mid Spring. This is simply a flower you must have to fully enjoy the beauty. A photo doesn't do it justice.

The temperatures are dropping at night and there was just a hint of Ice on some car windshields in the southern part of the Rochester Area last night. So now is the perfect time to get started on creating that Spring display of flowers you've always wanted to do, but felt you didn't have the brains to do it, the heart to care, or the courage to try something new.

Its Time To Think Plants

How can things get any better! We are rolling into fall with fantastic late summer weather. Its warm, yet very comfortable to work. And the cool nights mean only one thing (other than Football Season).....ITS TIME TO PLANT NEW TREES AND LANDSCAPE BEDS!

Fall, in this author's humble opinion, is the best time to plant trees and shrubs. The combination of cool nights and warm days, with a few well timed rain showers, provide optimum growing conditions for plants. And by planting now, you also get the full benefit of the entire spring growing season.

Starting on Friday September 11th, Van Putte Gardens will be starting our Annual Fall Plant Sale. Flowering and Shade Trees will be discounted from 25-70% off. These are the same quality plants you know and expect from Van Putte Gardens, but at cost savings for you. Shrubs will also be discounted 25-70%, and all perennials and grasses will be 30% off.

Imagine purchasing a 'Constellation' Flowering Dogwood, 2" caliper, 14' tall (regular price of $189.99) for $95.00! That's just one of the many gems we have for you.

We will have a full staff here to assist in your landscape bed creation or tree selection. Our staff is extremely knowledgeable and are here to benefit you.

Unfortunately, all good things do come to an end sometime. These sale prices will end at the end of the day, September 20th.

This sale is a first come, first served event.

We look forward to seeing you.