Lilacs are actually related to the olive family and other scented plants including privets and jasmine. But the flowers of the Syringa species are the showiest. In fact, sometimes the stems are so heavy from the weight of the blooms that they nod, giving the plant an arching, graceful appearance.

Many lilacs are hybrids between the common lilac and other species. The subtle differences such as size, color and flower shape allow gardeners to use them in almost any situation. In cold regions, lilacs do best in full sun locations, while in hot summer areas they perform best shaded from the afternoon sun.

Lilacs are deciduous and come in a variety of colors that will please even the most discriminating gardener. Flower colors range from true lilac, red lilac, and lavender-lilac to blue, pink, purple, white, creamy yellow and even variegated selections.

Most lilacs don't need to be pruned at all, but if they require a little shaping it's best to prune them immediately after they bloom. Lilacs do best with regular watering although once established, they don't usually require water more than once per week. They are fairly pest and disease resistant and look their best when fed every two months, starting after the blooms are finished until the end of summer.

We have a great selection of lilacs available in the nursery now. We invite you to click on the gallery link below to view our selection and then visit us and select your plants before they find a home in your neighbor’s garden!

One of the plants that we always look forward to after a long winter is the forsythia. This early blooming plant is a focal point of early spring, heralding the warming months with a brilliant display of golden yellow blooms. Forsythias bloom before they leaf out, and during full bloom the bare stems are completely covered from base to tips. In early spring, they become the focal point of the landscape, then blend in well with other plants when the rich green foliage emerges after blooming.

These deciduous shrubs are native to eastern Asia, where they have been used in Chinese medicine for their antiseptic effect in treating wounds. They are fast growing with dwarf varieties reaching 4-5 ft high and almost as wide, while taller growing varieties can reach 8-10 ft high and half as wide. The plants have great structure with an upright arching growth habit that has a somewhat fountainlike effect.

Forsythias not only look great in the landscape, but their branches also are perfect for flower arrangements, thanks to the uniformity of blooms on the branches. They are frost-hardy and easy to grow in well-drained fertile soil. They grow best in a full sun location, so are often used as a living privacy fence after they have fully leafed out. The taller varieties make great individual specimens in the landscape, and can also be used for erosion control on slopes.

Most people prefer the somewhat wild natural look of forsythias, but they can be shaped with regular pruning. This is best done after they have finished blooming, because they flower on the prior year's growth (pruning either too late or too early interrupts the growth/blooming cycle). But no matter how you shape this hardy plant, it will reward you with years and years of spectacular color every spring!

How many of us remember growing up, lying under a shade tree with our back against the trunk, chewing on a piece of grass, reading a book or just sleeping?

In addition to great memories, trees bring beauty to all landscapes, and the right tree provides shade to your home, creating a cooling insulation from hot summer days. Evergreen or deciduous, many shade trees also have spectacular flower color, while others are better known for their foliage color or texture interest.

When planting your tree, consider how it might provide the maximum shade effect upon your home. A shade tree planted on the east side of your home will block the heat from the morning sun. Planting on the west and/or southwest side of your home shields the hot afternoon sun. And finally, a tree planted on the south side of your home can provide year-round sunblock protection. All three examples will help to keep your home cooler in the summertime.

If you select a deciduous tree, you will benefit in the winter from the opposite sun shielding effect. Minus the foliage, the sun's rays can shine through the empty branches and help you warm the inside of your home. You certainly can't argue with that!

Along with the energy benefits, shade trees provide beauty to your landscape year-round. They offer habitats to birds, squirrels and other backyard urban creatures. Trees increase the value of our homes and the beauty of our neighborhoods. They also give back oxygen to our environment.

If you choose a deciduous tree, pick one with majestic winter form.

When you plant your shade tree, do not plant it too close to your home, patio or walls. Remember, the trees that we have mentioned all grow to heights of 30-50 feet and taller, which means they will also have a good spread and substantial root systems. So come on in, and our staff of nursery experts will help you pick out the perfect shade tree(s) for your home. Then get ready to plop yourself under your new tree, cross your legs, pull your hat down over your eyes and ZZZZZZZ.
 

Product Spotlight: Gardner & Bloom™
Blue Ribbon Potting Soil

People who love to garden love Gardner and Bloome™ Blue Ribbon Premium Blend Potting Soil. It is formulated for use in all indoor and outdoor container planting applications, and excellent for hanging baskets and raised bed planting. It may be mixed with existing garden soil in beds or containers to enhance soil texture, drainage and fertility and improve the quality of the soil.

Our 100% natural, completely organic peat-based formula includes Alfalfa Meal, Worm Castings, Kelp Meal, and Bat Guano. The extra absorbent, fine-textured blend keeps tender roots moist and aerated between waterings. And it's abundant essential plant nutrients promote quick growth and long-lasting health for all types of container plants.

Gardner and Bloome™ Blue Ribbon Premium Blend Potting Soil contains specially screened bark particles combined with porous pumice promote optimum air space and excellent drainage in the root zone. Gardner and Bloome™ Blue Ribbon Premium Blend Potting Soil includes several species of beneficial Mycorrhizae soil fungi. These living organisms dramatically improve water and nutrient absorption by enhancing the root system of many plant species.

So now you know what so many gardeners know--Gardner and Bloome™ Blue Ribbon Premium Blend Potting Soil is the secret to planting a great garden, no matter the size.

During 1847, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints migrated to the Salt Lake Valley seeking religious freedom. These early era Mormons introduced the concept of the desert blossoming as the rose. In the 1870s, Ned Desaules, a lonely, deaf, French-speaking Swiss spent an enormous sum, nearly $1,000 in 1870s' dollars, to import crocuses, tulips, anemones, and irises in an attempt to turn Utah's desert into a garden; he planted them not just around his shack, but all over the settlement.

The perennial harbinger of spring, the crocus is native to the Mediterranean area and to southwest Asia. They come in both spring and fall varieties, so if you're wise enough to include them in your garden, you'll enjoy their vibrancy for much of the year. Goblet-shaped blooms come in hues of yellow, purple and white, with attractive green, grass-like foliage; be sure that the foliage has yellowed and withered completely before cutting it so that the bulb may be able to store the energy needed for the next year's blooms. Small in height, varying from 4" to 8", crocus bulbs play well with other spring bloomers, and can be utilized in many different ways: try layering them with other bulbs to create dramatic accents of color; plant between larger perennials or under deciduous shrubs and trees to provide color and interest; when mixed with other miniature flowers, or ground covers, they're the perfect addition to a rock garden. No matter where you plant these hardies, crocuses are an ideal example of xeriscaping habitués. These water-wise, easy to maintain sun-lovers are well adapted to Utah's arid climate and cold winters, and only need to be watered approximately once every two weeks after they have been established.

Earlier we spoke of the autumn crocus, which can have a bloom time, depending on the species, from mid-September through November; the hardiest are good from USDA zone 4 to zone 9. Crocus speciosus (‘Conqueror'), with deep sky-blue flowers, is a rather tall version, coming in at 6”; it is best planted with taller-growing ground cover to help brace the long stems. Crocus kotchyanus arrives with lilac flowers, and C. nudiflorus' blooms are a dark purple-blue. Plant these lovelies in late summer or early fall in a sunny location, and in three weeks after placement in the ground they'll be blooming. A garden without delayed gratification!