Each Little World

Plant sale continues at Olbrich

Click to enlarge the image for easier reading.

I break for plant sales!

Plant Sale madness kicks off this week with the Hosta Garden Companions fabulous Hosta sale at Tom and May Riddle's garden at 1809 Waunona Way, Madison. This event runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, beginning this Friday and running each weekend through May. I bought four Hostas from them last year at reasonable prices, but what was really great was being able to see each Hosta in a bed at its mature size and shape in a home garden setting. 

Then comes the West Side Garden Club's Sale. This group has been beautifying our community for 90 years as well as contributing to numerous civic projects, outreach programs, and scholarships (as do many of our local garden groups) via the proceeds of their annual plant sales. The gorgeous Japanese primrose (below) is one of many plant purchases I've made over the years at the West Side Garden Club's annual sale. It was grown in a member's garden as is the case with many of the items sold at local plant sales. As a result, this primrose has bloomed and increased for me to the point that soon I will be able to offer seedlings back to the sale! West Side Garden Club Sale: Friday, May 11 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, May 12 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 3918 Nakoma Rd. just west of Thoreau School and opposite Seminole Hwy.

Olbrich Botanical Gardens Plant Sale with the Pros is on Friday, May 11 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, May 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Olbrich Botanical Gardens. Note the name of this sale: it is staffed with pros so no question will go unanswered. I could go on and on about this sale because it is always superb. Check out the link because they offer so many extras at this annual event in addition to wonderful plants. We've bought many of our best trees and shrubs at Olbrich over the years. I often donate garden books to the sale and usually take home a couple as well.  Not to be missed.

UW-Madison Arboretum Native Plant Sale is on Saturday, May 12 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the tent next to the Visitor Center. This is the premier event for native plant folks whether you have a woodland or prairie. 

The Wisconsin Hardy Plant Society is holding their annual sale on Saturday, May 19 from 9 a.m. to noon. at the West Madison Agricultural Research Station, 8502 Mineral Point Road, just past the stoplight on Hwy. M. The sale is held rain or shine and this is a covered localion so you don't have to worry about weather. Just before this sale last spring, I toured a WHPS member's garden where I saw more wonderful primroses (above). And then, there they were at the sale where I was able to buy some in each color pictured. I've also bought a number of Korean maples (below) at this sale. Again, these are plants grown in local gardens so you know they should also grow for you. Though this sale is held later than many, there's always something unusual and unexpected at this event so don't miss it.

Full disclosure: I am a member of WHPS and on their board. I am also a member of Olbrich and the UW-Arboretum, as well as being friends with many gardeners associated with these and other garden groups. But in no instance am I receiving any remuneration, financial or otherwise, for my comments and support of these groups posted on this blog.

Click the links for details of each sale. You can also find a long list of other local plant sales in the on-line version of the WHPS April 2012 newsletter, beginning on Page 3. Most of these are open to the public but check the details to be sure that is the case, as some are member-only events. Most sales are also held rain or shine so come prepared for the weather.

Madison memo: Olbrich begins mulch sales early — today!

Double click on this poster to enlarge it so you can read all the details.

An early Spring Garden Party at Olbrich

I've already been out working in the garden a couple of times in the past week: cutting back old foliage, picking up fallen branches and admiring the snowdrops and emerging Hellebores. It's definitely Spring, but still mostly a study in brown. To enjoy a colorful early Spring garden experience, we all need to visit someone else's garden — Olbrich's! 

This year's Spring Show at Olbrich Botanical Gardens is a glorious "Garden Party." The images below (taken by Sharon Cybart of Olbrich) give you a sample of what I think is one the garden's most delightful concepts.

The Garden Party exhibit is open daily, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., now through March 25. A $2 admission donation is suggested. Proceeds benefit Olbrich Gardens. Select flowers from the show will be available for purchase on Monday, March 26 at 12 noon while supplies last.

In addition to this fabulous rustic table setting are lots of colorful and fragrant Spring flowers like Hyacinths, daffodils, primroses, tulips and flowering shrubs. There's even an outdoor fireplace blazing away with hot-colored primroses. Even with the warm temps forcast for Madison, it will be quite a while before our gardens offer this much color and scent. A visit to Olbrich's Garden Party is the perfect way to while away an afternoon waiting for your garden to bloom.

Olbrich is sponsoring a raffle to win a lightweight white patio swing — donated by Patio Pleasures — and made by the Amish of recycled material. Tickets are available at the Greeter Desk from now until May 13, and cost $2.00 each or 3 tickets for $5.00. Raffle proceeds also benefit Olbrich.

If these Spring flowers appeal to you, be sure to mark your calendar for Olbrich's Primrose Sale on Sunday, March 25 and their Pansy Sale on Saturday, April 7.

Olbrich's Holiday Express 2011

The first rush of visitors is over making it the perfect time to visit Olbrich's Holiday Express. The annual winter extravaganza features model trains, evergreens and a gorgeous array of poinsettias. This year's visual treats include unusual birdhouses like the glass one pictured below and stained glass panels featuring images of birds. You can find more information about the Holiday Express as well as December concerts on Olbrich's web site. You can also get one free ticket to the show by taking an online scavenger hunt; deadline is Tuesday, Dec. 13.

PHOTO BY KATY PLANTENBERG/OLBRICH STAFF

The pale pink and white poinsettias (above) are a beautiful change from the traditional bright colors. I was quite taken with them when I was at Olbrich earlier this week. I noticed Olbrich's Growing Gifts shop was selling them along with Amaryllis and many wonderful gifts for gardeners and others on your list. Olbrich is also offering holiday cards with images of the gardens taken by Olbrich staff members or local photographers. You might also consider a gift certificate to the shop or a membership to the Olbrich Botanical Society (the friends organization). I just used an Olbrich gift certificate to buy myself a copy of the 2012 Madison Area Master Gardeners Journal/Calendar — a great gift with a local slant. 

PHOTO BY SHARON CYBART/OLBRICH STAFF

Holiday Express is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., except for Dec. 24 when it closes at 2 p.m. and it's closed all day on Christmas. Admission for the general public is $3 (ages 13 and up) and $2 for children ages 3-12.

Party like it's 1991!

That's the year that the Bolz Conservatory opened at Olbrich Botanical Gardens! That wonderful building and the living environment it houses are now so much a part of Olbrich and the larger community that I can't imagine life without its tropical splendor — especially on a cold, snowy day like today. The celebration kicks off this Friday with Party Under the Palms — food, music and entertainment in the conservatory after dark!

There are events all weekend for both kids and adults including an opportunity to meet scientist Meg Lowman, one of the world's first "arbornauts," who uses all sorts of structures to explore tropical treetops, home to approximately half of planet Earth's biodiversity. The photo below gives you a good sense of why she's called  "Canopy Meg"!

There are so many special events — some of them ongoing — that you should check out all the details, days and times on Olbrich's web site. You can also celebrate the conservatory with a gorgeous limited edition Anniversary poster with a photo of the Bolz Conservatory taken by local photographer (and gardener) Zane Williams.

Repeat, please!

Last week was about as perfect as it gets in early fall in Wisconsin and this week should be even better with sun and temps in the 70s forecast. Out to the garden as soon as I finish my second cup of coffee. And then I will spend my days repeating last week's activities:

MULCHING: Cutting back plants, getting ready to overwinter those geraniums and mulching everywhere with that gorgeous black gold from Olbrich.

SMELLING THE FLOWERS: We continue to enjoy asters and Japanese anemones and the first toad lily. Tricyrtis 'Tojen' is the only one of half a dozen varieities I grow that's currently in full flower.

LAST PLANTINGS OF THE SEASON: I ordered some exciting varieties of Epimediums from Garden Visions in Massachusetts and got them all planted. They don't really have a good Web site, so order the catalog to see all the available varieties and read about them. You can do it via email: epimediums@earthlink.net. I also got one of the few other plants they sell, an Iris gracilipes. I'm currently growing this grassy little woodland iris and ordered 'Cobblewood Charm,' the first new introduction in 60 years!

GARDEN RECORDS: This week I will continue to take photos of all the changes I've made to the beds so I can remember this winter what I've planted, what I've moved — and whether I really need to order any more plants!

FROST WATCH: We made it through last night's temperature dip with the toad lilies intact. So I am anticipating blooms any day — if I can keep the bunnies away. They love this plant and most years the blooms get munched before they open.

LEAF WATCH: From here on out it will be a pleasure to watch the leaves turn color — and an almost daily effort to keep up with them as they fall. They're filling up the pond, the gutters and every available spot of bare ground as well as the coming into the house every time we go in and out. 

MORE MULCH: This week's scoop of Olbrich mulch is awaiting me as I write. I'm guessing I will still want one more load next Saturday to deal with all the bare areas.

NIGHT WATCH: When the sun goes down, it's time to sit in front of the fire and catch up on all the books we had no time for during the long summer days. Mark is deep into photo books, practicing with new lenses and ordering a big fancy printer. Stay tuned.

Mulch madness: Three chances left

Olbrich Botanical Gardens

fall bulk leaf mulch sale.

Get it now! Need I say more?  

We got a scoop on Saturday and I can tell already

that I'll be back for more. You can see what I've said

in the past about this great local resource here.

And nothing is nicer than mulching after

a good soaking rain like we've just had.

My too late summer containers

When garden blogger Daniel Mount was recently in Madison looking at potential gardens for a tour by folks from the Pacific Northwest, one of those we visited was the home garden of Jeff Epping, hort director at Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison. Seeing Jeff's dozens of garden pots of every size and type — all filled with marvelous plant combinations — inspired me to go home and do something!

First I went looking for a large shallow pot that could hold a group of dwarf evergreens. Amazingly enough I found one locally at the Bruce Company. And it looks like it was made to go with our other large outdoor pots made by Wisconsin artists. I planted this low one with things I already had on hand that were waiting for permanent homes in the garden. I also added a couple of small rocks and two self-seeded white pines. And then mulched it with white pine needles.

On the other side of the deck, I gathered plants that were scattered around the garden (in and out of the ground!), put them in pots and grouped them around the Buddha for emphasis. Not perfect but not bad, considering it was very late in the season to being doing this kind of display.  

Plants in the display include three varieties of Begonias, herbs, and ornamental cabbages that can take the cooler fall temps. 

But the recent frost warnings made me bring everything into the garage for a few days until the overnight temperatures started to rise again. The truth is that many of these plants are going to have to permanently move indoors for the winter any day now. I admit that my containers are a far cry from those at Olbrich, but it's been a fun experiment and certainly has inspired me to give containers more thought in the future.

Container gardening primer

Still more images from Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison. This group concentrates on all the myriad ways the staff plant and display containers. They include subtle potted groups that reflect the surrounding landscape . . .

. . . planted pots set deep within the larger garden 

. . . planted pots rising out of similarly colored floral areas

. . . same colors as above but using different plants for a completely different effect

. . . one plant per container for drama and emphasis

. . . these pots are a perfect way for those of us in cold climates to enjoy tropical plants in the garden but still easily bring them indoors in the fall

. . . a reminder that pots don't always need to be planted to have an effect in the garden

. . . a secret spot for a conversation with only a potted plant separating the speakers (note the sedge lawn instead of grass)

. . . and the pots de resistance at the garden entrance.