Nature Hills Gardening Neighborhood

Keeping track of the garden by planning

bill-nhn — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:37:00 GMT

I use a word processor to keep a log of what I have planted and where. The computer allows me to add, change, and delete throughout each season; having a printout is very helpful as well.

For each plant listed, I add information about its location and care. For instance, I will make note when to prune, if it needs dividing, and when it will bloom, such as extended bloom perennials. You can adjust this to your own specifics, and it sure saves time when you have a question about a certain plant. I leave spaces by each entry so I can continuously write in notes to myself. Or you can make a diagram, too, or plot the placement for each plant. This will be helpful for future reference, and the end result will eliminate many frustrations!

If you are starting a new flower garden, it is important to use symmetry and variety to give your flower garden a sense of order and interest. Fill your garden with beautiful and colorful flowers by taking time to plan.

Find plants that will provide ongoing blooms for all seasons: spring, summer, and fall. Next, select plants that will do well in a specific location. Will it prefer full sun, partial sun, or do best in the shade? What kinds of soil are needed? To add contrast and accents, try choosing plants of various heights.

When spring arrives, I especially appreciate all the information I have gathered; I don’t have to guess or look it up! Anyone can do this, and hopefully it can help that beginning gardener out there!

Does the Hosta ‘Abiqua Drinking Gourd’ need full shade?

bill-nhn — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:15:00 GMT

The ‘Abiqua Drinking Gourd’ Hosta requires high-filtered or dappled sunlight that is necessary for its clean, healthy growth. Morning sun is tolerable and will help to intensify the leaf colors, but hot afternoon sun is usually deadly to this Hosta. This perennial is most at home in shady, woodland settings and often works well as specimen or edging plants.

Its unique dark blue-green, seersuckered leaves form cup shapes that can be up to 3" deep. Producing white flowers on 22" scapes in early summer, this hosta demonstrates good slug resistance.

A low care perennial, ‘Abiqua Drinking Gourd’ grows best in moist, well-drained, highly organic soils with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5. Sandy loam is better than clay because it provides more aeration for the roots.

With its great substance, good color and white flowers this hosta makes an outstanding and impressive specimen plant.

The Gorgeous Flowering Zumi Crabapple

barb-nhn — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:58:00 GMT

The Zumi Crabapple Tree first displays its lovely pink flower buds, and then before long, a profuse, spring bloom of fragrant, white flowers appear. This deciduous tree is the standard for which other white flowering trees are compared! Not only does this tree have showy flowers, but it also produces glossy, small, bright red crabapples that mature in the fall and often persist into December. The small fruits are edible, but not usually used in cooking. These fruits are long-lasting and attractive to birds.

With its rich, dark green foliage, this ornamental Zumi Crabapple tree has a dense, rounded-to-spreading habit that grows 12-20' high. Zumi Crabapple has a disease resistance that is excellent. It is a semi-dwarf crabapple which is effective when planted as a background for other early flowering plants, near fences, in groups as a screen or hedge, or as a specimen planting for the lawn or near the patio. The Zumi may also be used as a street tree.

How tall does the The Geranium 'Tony Monster' grow?

bill-nhn — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:15:00 GMT

Growing to a height of 12 inches, ‘Tony Monster’ Geranium is like all geraniums, very reliable! It has blooms that are large with a bright magenta color. Along with these prolific blooms, it also is a vigorous grower. This geranium is a hardy perennial and should not be confused with annual geraniums.

Plants should be set in the soil no deeper than the depth they were growing in the pot; if possible, plant more shallow. If you plant too deeply, stem rot will usually kill the plant. This geranium prefers partial sun and grows in zones 4-11.

For best results, plant ‘Tony Monster’ in a dry to moist area in a well drained site. It is a superb plant for cottage gardens, container growing, borders or informal borders in mass plantings. ‘Tony Monster’ will benefit from a good shearing after initial flowering to encourage new foliage and rebloom. Attracting bees and butterflies, it is very disease and deer resistant.

‘Tony Monster’ originated from the nursery of Germany's famous Countess Helen Von Stein.

Welcoming Entries with a ‘Weeping Habit’

bill-nhn — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:44:00 GMT

What welcoming plants can you select to make your front entrance more inviting? Try a plant with a weeping habit! These plants will create a spectacular welcome for friends or family as they arrive at your front door.

The ‘Sweetspire’ is a naturally weeping plant that produces finger-like panicles of white flowers in the spring and turns a brilliant red color in the fall. ‘Little Henry’ Sweetspires, when massed together, are great shrubs for most landscapes. Place it in front of larger evergreens, or it fits well with other perennials in front of your house.

Choose ‘Walker Weeping’ for your front yard as an outstanding special feature plant. ‘Walker Weeping’ Caragana would be a great selection since it is a small tree that has unique finely cut foliage that has a fern-like appearance.

One of my personal favorites is the Lavender Twist Weeping Redbud, also known as Twisted Lavender Redbud. It is a new variety of Redbud that is sure to attract the eye and become the center of attention! The reddish-purple bud opens to a rosy lavender-pink flower in early spring. The umbrella shaped tree accentuates the weeping, twisted branches tipping towards the ground.

There are dozens of trees, shrubs, and perennials that display a unique weeping physical appearance. Use containers on your front step to accentuate the visibility and color of the plant, or find that weeping tree or shrub that will lend a soft and somewhat informal look to your front yard.

The Intensely Flavored ‘Ambrosia’ Pomegranate

barb-nhn — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:39:00 GMT

‘Ambrosia’ Pomegranate gets three times the size of other pomegranates, yet this cerise globe shaped fruit has the flavor of the juice and seeds that’s just as intense as any of the other pomegranates. Of course, each pomegranate has its own complex and unique flavor!

Similar to the ‘Wonderful’ Pomegranate, the ‘Ambrosia’ has the largest fruit of any pomegranate It is shiny, has pale pinkish skin, is long-lived, and it makes an amazing purple sweet-tart juice!

Pomegranates are arching deciduous shrubs, about 15' tall and equally wide in suitable climates. You can prune them into a tree if desired and grows to an ideal size for the small yard. Fruits are borne only at the tips of new growth, and it is recommended that for the first three years, the branches be shortened annually to encourage the maximum number of new shoots on all sides.

The tree is long-lived, self fertile, and tolerates many soils. Pomegranates can survive in an inland or coastal climate. ‘Ambrosia’ is a very adaptable variety that thrives in a southern Mediterranean type climate, which means dry, hot summers and cool winters; ideal for zones 8 to 10. It matures in September to early October and requires 150 hours of chilling.

Growing the Maggie Daley Astilbe

bill-nhn — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:14:00 GMT

Astilbe 'Maggie Daley' is great for adding a spiky accent in the moist part of the garden . It displays a profusion of showy spikes of lavender-purple panicles in mid to late summer. It is a robust and somewhat drought resistant plant. The fuzzy flowers are full and packed closely together, resembling a bouquet that sits on top of the shiny, bronze-green foliage.

This is a perennial plant that keeps on giving! The shiny dark foliage remains attractive all summer and the faded flowers turn bronze and remain attractive into the fall. ‘Maggie Daley' performs best in rich soil that is consistently moist, and it is comfortable in light shade to filtered sun. 'Maggie Daley' can add a textural contrast when planted with hostas in a shady garden, or because of its height, it works well at the back of a moist perennial garden.

Though Astilbes are easy to grow, they have one critical requirement--lots of water. Plants must have consistently moist soil; dryness leads to a quick demise, especially in the sun. Fertilize Astilbes in late spring before flowering starts. Wait to cut back the old foliage until spring and this will help protect the plant from winter damage.

What is Creeping Thyme?

bill-nhn — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:06:00 GMT

Creeping Thyme is a low growing mat that is covered with hundreds of rosy-red flowers in summer. Since it is a strong grower, it is ideal as a drought tolerant lawn substitute, or as a groundcover for planting between flagstones, tolerating moderate traffic.

Thyme spreads by growing from one set of leaves to the next. In between the leaves is a stem segment. With almost an inch of stem between its sets of leaves Creeping Thyme grows quickly. This longer stem segment also provides a rooting zone for the thyme to creep along on. As long as the ground is moist where that stem segment hits it, the plant will root and continue to creep.

Grow Creeping Thyme in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun. This Thyme is happiest when growing in loose, sandy or rocky soils with excellent drainage. Since it is very shallow rooted and dies easily if left drying in the hot summer sun, it should remain moist but not soggy for best growth.

It will also add elegance to mixed beds or pots when allowed to trail over the edges. Creeping thyme is easily divided in spring or early fall, and even small pieces will take root and grow wherever they are placed. Attractive to butterflies, it grows in zones 3-9.

The Graceful and Arching Weeping Cherry Tree

barb-nhn — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:30:00 GMT

Have you ever thought of planting the heavy blooming Weeping Cherry Tree that is so famous in the springtime in Washington D.C.? This gorgeous, rapid growing ornamental tree displays its profuse flowering of delicate pink blossoms during each spring in zones 5-8. These showy pink flowers arrive on pendulous branches before the green foliage emerges.

In the fall, this tree will treat you to a mixture of green, chartreuse, and yellow colors. The bronzy-brown bark is smooth and attractive so will provide a winter interest. Each season will certainly add a new focus to this Weeping Cherry Tree.

Maturing to a height of 30-40 feet, Weeping Cherry is an accent or specimen tree with a single trunk. This tree will end up with a circumference of anywhere between 20 to 40 feet, so plan accordingly. It is also recommended that a layer of mulch be added to the ground, matching the tree circumference. This helps with maintaining the moisture that this tree needs.

Weeping Cherry tree prefers moist, well-drained soils of average fertility in full sun, but is adaptable to poor soils, compacted soils, dry soils, and heat. Since you do not see this tree in many yards, you will probably have your friends and neighbors asking about this new addition to your landscape!

Growing the balloon flower Astra Double Blue

bill-nhn — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:50:00 GMT

Balloon Flower Astra Double Blue is a compact, well-branched plant. The interesting balloon-like buds swell to form (mostly) hollow, pillow-shaped structures before its starry petals unfold, and it resembles a hot-air balloon!

Its compact, uniform habit makes a good selection for cut flowers, containers, or the garden. Balloon Flowers are one of the easiest perennials you'll ever grow, and they bloom in profusion in mid to late summer, when many other perennials are beginning to fade.

Growing anywhere from 8 to 10 inches tall, Balloon Flower ‘Astra Double Blue’ is a wonderful new dwarf variety! This perennial thrives in almost any soil as long as it is well-drained. It can easily adapt to grow in either full sun or part shade. It has exceptional branching and thick flower petals that make for long-lasting periwinkle blue blossoms. The flowers should be deadheaded to increase bloom time.

How can I best grow the Shima-nishiki Peony?

bill-nhn — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:34:00 GMT

With its unique name, and sporting an unusual two-toned color, the Peony ‘Shimanishiki’ is an exotic beauty that any gardener would be proud to have on display! ‘Shimanishiki’ has large reddish purple flowers with streaks of white throughout the petals. Making an excellent specimen plant for spring color, it booms in late spring to early summer, the flowers lasting for about 2-3 weeks, depending on the weather.

Being a favorite Japanese Tree Peony. it is stunning in full bloom. ‘Shimanishiki’ has huge blossoms that can be up to 8-inches or more across. Tree Peonies are slow growing, but very hardy plants. Growing only 4-5' tall, this exceptional Tree Peony is sub-zero hardy and blooms for a lifetime.

It is very easy to grow, and it grows best in full sun (at least 6 hours each day), in average, well-drained garden soil. This plant rarely needs pruning, except to maintain a desired shape and size, or to remove damaged canes. The woody branches do not die back to the ground in the winter and should not be trimmed back.

Fuji Apples are super sweet, crisp, juicy and a delight to eat!

barb-nhn — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:52:00 GMT

The Fuji Apple has it all -- and makes a great snacking apple! Fuji apples are aromatic, sweet, juicy and crisp with a firm texture. This refreshing and spicy, crisp sweetness gives it exceptional eating quality.

The color variation of Fuji is quite wide, ranging from from light pink to crimson pink and sometimes reddish hues. It remains one of the most attractive apples! Fuji is a late-ripening apple variety, and can be harvested in October.

Carefully select your location because Fuji apple trees need full sun and well-drained soil. They do best in zones 6 through 9, which have a mild winter. Plant it in the spring and prune this fruit tree in late fall to winter to establish tree growth in the early years. Fuji does not need a pollinator.

These apples keep well in the refrigerator crisper. They should be stored in the crisper all by themselves, because of a natural gas they emanate, as do all apples. The Fuji is excellent for fresh salads and is quickly becoming an apple with a large consumer audience.

Where should I plant Astilbe ‘Delft Lace’?

bill-nhn — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:37:00 GMT

Plant Astilbe ‘Delft Lace’ wherever you need to brighten up your landscape! Astilbes are long-lived perennials that are happiest when grown in rich soil and light shade to filtered sun. If grown in full shade they will not bloom as prolifically.

This lacy beauty has a waxy foliage that is a deep blue-green with a light silver overlay. This gives it a unique look and adds excitement to a shaded area. It grows to a height of 24 to 36 inches in zones 4-9.

Flowering in midsummer, ‘Delft Lace’ displays clusters of deep salmon pink buds that open to a soft apricot pink. Astilbes require lots of water. Plants must have consistently moist soil; dryness leads to a quick demise, especially in the sun!

Combine these two exciting Phlox plants for a stunning effect.

bill-nhn — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:58:00 GMT

Are you wanting to present a colorful combination of flowers along the foundation of your house, in your garden bed, or even a patio container? How about planting the Hardy Tall Phlox ‘Nicki’, in the background, and then placing ‘Shorty White’ Phlox in the foreground? Wow! This easy to care for partnership would brighten up any area, and would be an ideal consideration for the beginning gardener!

The Hardy Tall Phlox ‘Nicki’ displays deep violet purple flowers, and is one of the finest Hybrid Phlox varieties available. It blooms in profusion with huge 5-6" flower heads all summer. The flowers are fragrant and showy, with brilliant non-fading colors. Growing 2-3' tall, this plant is excellent for perennial borders, patio containers, and for cut flowers.

‘Shorty White’ Phlox offers a clean and classic look and is just the right size for growing in front of the Hardy Tall Phlox ‘Nicki’. With is light green leaves and very sturdy stems, it contrast well with the clusters of its bright white flowers. 'Shorty White' grows to a height of 15" and shows a good resistance to mildew.

Both of these perennial phlox grow best in rich, moist soil in full sun. They will thrive well with bi-monthly fertilizing and consistent moisture levels. Overhead watering should be avoided since they may become susceptible to powdery mildew.

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'Walker Weeping' Caragana makes an outstanding accent plant

barb-nhn — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:44:00 GMT

Are you seeking an outstanding accent plant for that small, tight space in your yard? If you choose Walker Weeping Caragana, you will be getting an outstanding special-featured plant for your landscape! Walker Weeping Caragana is a great selection since it is a small tree that has unique finely cut foliage that has a fern-like appearance. It bears bright yellow 1 inch flowers in the spring that are usually hidden by the leaves. These leaves are lacy, heart-shaped to rounded, and are light green in color.

Walker Weeping grows flat against a trellis and offers a dense shade. This vigorous twining vine grows up to 6 feet in height and looks delicate, but is an extremely hardy ornamental tree. It is easy to grow and tolerates poor soils, drought, high alkaline soil, as well as sweeping winds. It is suggested that a regular watering schedule should be used during the first growing season in order to establish a deep, extensive root system. The watering schedule can be reduced after the tree is well established.

Requiring full sun to partial shade, this tree thrives in zones 2-7. With its pendulous branches arching toward the ground and displaying its lacy green leaves, this lovely and unusual accent tree will have the neighbors talking!

Growing the long blooming Ice Plant 'Red Mountain'

bill-nhn — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:09:00 GMT

Ice Plant ‘Red Mountain’ provides blooms from early summer until frost! At only 4 inches tall, the Ice Plant ‘Red Mountain’ has an unbelievable color for that prostrate ground cover you need. This plant is covered with daisy-like flowers that are pinkish red with creamy white centers. As the blooms age, they turn to crimson-purple.

Use this easy to grow plant for containers, or because of its low-growing stature, plant it as a fast-spreading groundcover for those hot, dry, and sunny locations; useful in preventing erosion too.

With its outstanding hardiness, it will produce blooms all the way into the fall season, if planted in a rich soil, with some irrigation. ‘Red Mountain’ needs good drainage and a sunny exposure to do its best. It combines wonderfully with the vivid fuchsia color of Hardy Ice Plant ‘Table Mountain’. Both of these plants thrive in the same conditions. Be the first one on your block to show this dramatic color combination.

Where should I plant the 'Crème de Cassis' Hollyhock?

bill-nhn — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:59:00 GMT

'Crème de Cassis' Hollyhock is a wonderful plant that looks great near the back of the border, or works well along walls or fences. Interestingly, a Hollyhock can even grow under Black Walnut trees; the plant is tolerant of the toxic juglone that is emitted through the trees roots.

'Crème de Cassis' prefers full sun, and requires a deeply dug, well-drained soil made up of equal portions of good loam and leaf mold. Well decayed manure is good also to mix in the soil. Plant in a warm place and give it plenty of water during dry weather. Being an easy-to-grow plant that is an old favorite, this hollyhock is getting new attention and becoming more popular.

'Crème de Cassis' Hollyhock may have to be staked if planted in a windy site. Its tall stalks are covered with showy 3-4" white edged blooms with scrumptious raspberry centers. The mouthwatering color combination, makes this stunning Hollyhock very unique. These scrumptious veined flowers, with a juicy blackcurrant color, fade to paler berry shades around the edges of each bloom. This treat gets even sweeter when 'Crème de Cassis' semi-double and single flowers bloom on the same stems!

Tatarian Maple is a highly ornamental tree

barb-nhn — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 12:11:00 GMT

Growing 15--20 feet tall, the Tatarian Maple is a beautiful addition to the landscape, and makes a wonderful tree for planters, patios, or small areas. It has an excellent small tree form and possesses an attractive foliage quality.

Have you noticed that everything about this small oriental-looking tree is highly ornamental -- its flowers, bark, foliage, and even the seeds themselves? The fragrant greenish to yellow flowers appear in spring and literally cover the tree. The flowers are followed by attractive bright pink to red winged fruit. The dense medium green summer leaves change to yellow, red, and reddish brown in the fall.

Tatarian Maple is tolerant of many soil conditions and should be planted in partial shade to full sun. This Maple tree is a low maintenance tree, and very hardy from zones 3 to 8. If you are looking for that perfect tree for your small yard, this tree is the one to seriously consider!

Can you suggest a unique daylily for me?

bill-nhn — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:15:00 GMT

Daylily ‘South Seas’ will knock your socks off! What a totally unique coral pink color! The bright color of the ‘South Seas’ Daylily gets our attention every time we view it in the garden, and no daylily quite compares to it.

The 5" deep coral flowers have a deeper red-coral band above a small yellow-green throat. Each heavily ruffled flower has a slight gold edge that becomes more prominent as the day progresses.

Loaded with blooms, we get weeks of enjoyment out of this daylily. It is a very good grower and all-around excellent perennial. 'South Seas' is considered a "Designer" daylily because it has been selected as a highly performing plant with exceptional bloom performance, substantive, vibrantly colored flowers, complete winter hardiness in northern zones, and a vigorous habit.

How can you pass up all those qualities? Daylilies can survive many harsh conditions that other plants cannot. They also crowd out weeds and makes a carefree and colorful groundcover. Reaching a height of 24-30 inches, ‘South Seas’ will add a stunning color to your garden bed or containers.

Plant Yucca to add a strong architectural presence to your garden

bill-nhn — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:08:00 GMT

This Adam's Needle is a clump forming perennial with yellow strips down the middle of the dark green foliage, looking ribbon-like. These distinctive, sword-like leaves make an impressive display. In the winter months, the foliage turns pink and adds to it’s overall appeal and attraction.

This plant is very adaptable to humid and cold climates and provides color all year-round. Easy to grow and care for, it thrives in almost any soil, providing it is free draining. It is a sun lover, but does tolerate some light shade. ‘Color Guard’ adds an attrractive texture to any garden or container; also attracts butterflies. This Yucca has a plant height of 24”, a spread of 36”, and thrives in zones 4-9.

Creamy white blossoms are produced in sturdy, large erect flower clusters (panicles) during late spring and summer. After flowering, remove the faded flower stems to prevent unwanted seed formation. Yucca leaves contain bundles of elongate fiber cells which can easily be pulled out of the leaf blade like strands of thread. These strong leaf fibers are then used for cordage and rope.

‘Flavor Delight’ Aprium® is a unique and delicious fruit with lots of sweetness!

barb-nhn — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:01:00 GMT

Being one of the earliest blooming trees, along with an early ripening fruit, 'Flavor Delight' Aprium® is a great selection for sweetness. It is a cross of an apricot and a plum tree. It has more apricot flavor than plum. The fruit is two inches long and ripens in late June; can be produced in zones 5-9..

The breeder crossed an apricot with a plum, then crossed the resulting hybrid with another apricot. In other words, 'Flavor Delight' is 75% Apricot and 25% Plum. This has created a very sweet tasting fruit! The flesh of the fruit is yellow and firm like an apricot, but contains the taste of both fruits.

This Aprium® tree is vigorous and upright. It requires a well-drained, moderately fertile soil and full sun. It is wise to thin fruit early in the season in order to maximize its size and quality. The tree needs no pollinator, and even though the ‘Flavor Delight’ is self-fruitful, larger fruit will be achieved by pollinating with any other apricot tree. With proper pruning this semi dwarf tree can be maintained around 10 feet tall.

Growing the Veronica 'Eveline'

bill-nhn — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:56:00 GMT

The Veronica 'Eveline' is an easy to grow perennial with purplish-pink, dense, extra tall flower spikes that bloom throughout June to September. With an upright plant habit, it is quite stunning when planted in containers or in mass plantings. In the cool weather of fall, you receive an added benefit when the foliage takes on a deep purplish-red hue!

'Eveline' is easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun; prefers rich, moist soils. This Veronica is deer resistant and does attract hummingbirds and butterflies. With a plant height of 12-18" and width of 18", it is an attractive vertical accent wherever it is planted.

‘Eveline’ Veronica can be encouraged to a longer blooming period by deadheading the spent flowers. If dividing is needed, the clumps can be separated in the spring. This hardy plant does best in full sun and is a great way to add fantastic color to your garden.

Is the Beaujolais Bonnets a pincushion flower?

bill-nhn — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:46:00 GMT

Scabiosa ‘Beaujolais Bonnets’, has an unusual and interesting color; also called a pincushion flower! A mound of green foliage offers a wonderful contrast to the blooms from late spring through midsummer. These flowers also add a unique quality to fresh cut or dried floral arrangements.

This Scabiosa flower lets you drink in its beauty while displaying a deep purple-burgundy center tuft that is surrounded by pale lavender petals. Deadheading after the first bloom will encourage repeat bloom time. Good drainage is essential for the health of this plant, along with full sun. In the fall, cut back any flowering stems to help the plants prepare for winter.

'Beaujolais Bonnets' flowers are carried on tall, wiry stems that get 18-24 inches tall . These perennial flowers are great for attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. This brand new Scabiosa variety will add a delicate touch to your border or rock garden!

A Spectacular Flowering Crabapple -- Sugar Tyme®

barb-nhn — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:14:00 GMT

Showing off its masses of gorgeous, sugar-white fragrant flowers, Sugar Tyme® Crabapple puts on quite the show in May! After its spectacular flowering, you can enjoy this Crabapple's colorful, crisp and lustrous green foliage that emerges.

This lovely ornamental tree produces large, brilliant red berries, with total sweetness, that attract birds. These berries ripen in the fall and persist through winter. Vigorous and very disease-resistant, this Crabapple forms an upright, oval shape and is a bit smaller than some other flowering crabs. So, if an oval form patio tree with fragrant white blooms is what you desire, Sugar Tyme® would be a nice selection. Growing to a height of 16 to 18 feet, it is great for the smaller yard too.

Sugar Tyme® is spectacular in the landscape since the rich red fruits remain on the tree all year. This tree requires full sun and does well in most soil, but will be more attractive if fed peat and compost.

The Rich Flavored Blake’s Pride Pear

barb-nhn — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:58:00 GMT

What an aromatic, rich flavor Blake’s Pride Pear has to offer, along with its juicy flesh texture that appeals to everyone! Blake's Pride is moderate in size, averaging almost 3 inches in diameter, with a short, upright stem on the fruit.

It is harvested about three weeks after the Bartlett, and you can depend on a very good storage life. If you remove some of the fruit when small, you allow the pears left on the tree to grow larger. It also has a high degree of resistance to fireblight.

The Blake's Pride Pear tree is lovely to look at with its upright-spreading habit that gets 12-18 feet tall. The best location for this pear tree is some place elevated and on a slope. It has a yield that is moderate to high, with the first crop three to four years after planting. It is fairly easy to care for and will need some pruning during the winter. Only prune it lightly in order for it to keep its shape and nice strong branches.

Suggested pollinators for Blake's Pride are D'Anjou or Bartlett Pear, and it should be no further than 50 feet away so the trees can cross-pollinate.