We were on the road by 8 a.m. Saturday morning heading to the Wisconsin Hardy Plant Society Shopping Spree at Klehm's Song Sparrow Nursery in Avalon, Wis. Klehm's does retail mail order but has no on-site shopping facility, so this was a very special occasion. We did our bit to help Khelm's and the economy in general. Then it was off to the nearby Northwind Perennial Farm to enjoy their display gardens filled with art, architecture, found objects and stunning plant combinations.
We arrived home at 3:30 p.m., in time for a message from Peter Moersch of Stonewall Nursery, a local favorite for dwarf and unusual evergreens and trees. Peter was ready to deliver our Fagus sylvatica 'Purple Fountain.' We'd gone out to Stonewall weeks ago to pick out the tall weeping beech, merely waiting for all danger of frost to be past for Peter to deliver our tree. The frost danger has finally passed, but now — facing temps in the 90 degree range — we had to take delivery and get our baby in the ground pronto. So we called Peter who arrived a couple of hours later, giving us just enough time to finish prepping the location. Then he and Mark proceeded to put the 12-foot-tall beech in place at the top of the stone wall behind the pond. We saluted this spectacular new addition to the garden with margaritas on the deck and then collapsed.
It was a satisfying, if exhausting, weekend; too tiring for us to wade through the 340 photos Mark took at Song Sparrow and Northwind. Stay tuned for all the details — and lots of images — later this week.
Congrats on the new addition; it is quite a stunning tree, in habit and color.
Posted by: Altoon | Monday, May 24, 2010 at 05:15 AM
This tree looks like it will be a good addition to your color palette, and definately Margarita worthy, then again do we need an excuse for Margaritas?
Did you buy any Peonies from Klehm's?
Posted by: Les | Monday, May 24, 2010 at 06:21 AM
Can't wait for more pictures. I'd LOVE to go to Klehm's. After the money I've spent there, you'd think I'd get a special invitation! :)
Posted by: Erin | Monday, May 24, 2010 at 07:16 AM
Now that is a tree. 12'tall. I bet you had to dig a hole almost as big as Lake Erie. No wonder you were tired. Can't wait to see any and all of the pictures you took.
Posted by: Lisa at Greenbow | Monday, May 24, 2010 at 12:14 PM
That is one fine looking tree. I hope it takes to its new home.
Posted by: Irrigation Systems | Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 05:14 AM
That's beautiful! I've often thought about getting one, but can't figure out where to put it.
Posted by: Mr. McGregor's Daughter | Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 02:30 PM
You two are so ambitious - in everything! Looks like a stunning addition to the garden.
Posted by: Barbara H. | Thursday, May 27, 2010 at 06:34 AM