I had to be in Crystal Lake last week, so I figured I might as well head over to Rich's Foxwillow Pines, in Woodstock, to see if I could catch the Magnolia grandiflora in bloom. I was in luck.
I don't know how they do it, but not only do they keep this huge tree alive, they also get it to bloom. This tree is not supposed to be hardy so close to the Wisconsin border and away from Lake Michigan. Good thing the tree doesn't know that. Here's another photo with my hand as a reference for the size of the bloom.
It's not called "grandiflora" for nothing.(I apologize for the quality of some of the following photos, but I was there at midday in the sunshine.)
Even if the Magnolia had not been in bloom, the trip still would have been worth it. The display garden is such an inspiration.
(I think I really need some kind of Purple Beech.) Most of the trees here are field grown and waiting to be dug.
The conifer on the right in this photo had a price tag on it, indicating that it was available for purchase. The assortment of conifers is staggering, from the large to the small,
many of them unusual.
The abundance of Japanese Maples causes me to question my reluctance to try growing one.
In between the trees are perennials, such as this Tree Peony.
It looked like it would be in bloom this week, but even without blooms, it's a beautiful plant.
It looked like it would be in bloom this week, but even without blooms, it's a beautiful plant.
There are also container and balled and burlapped plants available. The tour group shown in the photo was from a local garden club.
I wish I had more time that day. There are so many interesting plants to see.
It's been such a busy time both in and out of the garden. I've gotten behind on blog visiting, commenting, and posting. Cloudy May weather means planting, so lots of that and plant division have occupied my time. There are still so many spring garden tasks that need to be completed, yet summer is right around the corner.
During this last round of planting, I finally got around to the Tiarella 'Pink Brushes' I bought at the Morton Arboretum plant sale. This is why I always bare root my potted plants.
Instead of one big plant, there were two little plants in the big one gallon pot. That's fine, as I was having trouble choosing between two spots to plant it. Now I can put it in both places.
I wish I had more time that day. There are so many interesting plants to see.It's been such a busy time both in and out of the garden. I've gotten behind on blog visiting, commenting, and posting. Cloudy May weather means planting, so lots of that and plant division have occupied my time. There are still so many spring garden tasks that need to be completed, yet summer is right around the corner.
During this last round of planting, I finally got around to the Tiarella 'Pink Brushes' I bought at the Morton Arboretum plant sale. This is why I always bare root my potted plants.
Instead of one big plant, there were two little plants in the big one gallon pot. That's fine, as I was having trouble choosing between two spots to plant it. Now I can put it in both places. (edit. 2/09 Rich & Sue at Rich's have advised me that the Magnolia is actually Magnolia tripetala.)
22 comments:
MMD - I've been wanting to visit that place ever since I saw his awesome display at the Chicagoland Flower and Garden show! I also heard his business mentioned on an episode of Gardening By The Yard a while back.
MMD, what a lovely tour you had there, and for all the years I lived in WI, I'd not heard of this (but I was mostly in pretty insular Madison), but it sure looks worth the time to check it out. Wonderful pictorial you put together.
I know what you mean about being behind ... I'm taking a week of vacation to get stuff weeded and planted (we bought the veggies yesterday, so it's at imperative point!) We had an 85 degree heat/humidity blast that has now turned into a stormy night, so looks like I'll be weeding in mud tomorrow, lol. That's ok... dandelions are easier to dig and I'll just pop some seeds in as I go along. :-) Bon courage!
Must have been more than ten years since I had Rich's Foxwillow Pines plant lists - guess I picked them up from the Chicagoland Garden shows when they were at Navy Pier. I got to meet WGN's Kathy & Judy a few times but never did make it up to the specialty tree nursery.
MMD - this place looks great - magnolias and tree peonies would be a killer combination!
And I love how gleeful you sound about getting two Tiarella plants in one pot.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Grandiflora, indeed--that is a huge magnolia blossom!
This looks like a great place to spend an afternoon, but I would definitely have to leave the credit cards at home.
We have had so many days of rain here that it has been hard to get everything planted, so, like you, I have much yet to do. I should be thankful, though, that we have not had the horrific storms some of the Midwest have had recently.
Gina - I hope you get up there this summer. Bring your credit card.
Iowa Victory Gardener - I hope the weather cooperates so you can get a lot done on your gardening vacation (the best kind).
Annie - Rich's also has tons of Hostas scattered around. It's a mecca for conifer & Hosta enthusiasts. I couldn't be mad about the Tiarellas - they weren't pot-bound. Now that makes me mad.
Rose - we've escaped the worst of the violent weather too, thank goodness. There was some minor damage in the garden from the wind with last night's storm though.
I love copper beeches. They don't grow in central Texas, of course. But I admire them longingly whenever we're in England.
I find posts like this very frustrating.
It all looks so wonderful - but I doubt I will ever see it for myself!
Living through other people's photos!
Esther
I am glad you mentioned the behind in all manner of gardening activities...I feel way behind, especially after another weekend in St Louis. I did take time to see the Botanical Garden and the Zoo. Visiting wonderful gardens is a treat and so inspirational.
The tiarella is going to be terrific in your woodland garden! Wow, on the Magnolia in Wisconsin! Many died last year in Nashville from the stress of the late frost and long drought. They small devine, don't they.
Gail
I love getting a Two-fer in one pot. I feel like I've won a prize or something. I'm one of those you see in the garden centers who is looking at the base of all the plants to see if I can divide it when I get home!
Thanks for the nice tour. I am behind, too. So much rain this spring has put me a bit behind in planting, but I am slowing catching up.
Carol, May Dreams Gardens
Hi MMD, we must all be behind no matter what zone we live in. The heat has descended upon us, no more all day gardening extravaganzas. You have no Japanese maples? They do well in part shade and there are some lovely hardier varieties. I love the name of Foxwillow Pines, very romantic and woodsy.
Frances at Faire Garden
Oh wow... what a pretty place! I would like to have a spot for a purple beech, too. But in the meantime I just have to enjoy my neighbor's huge beech tree.
I love that you bareroot your plants. I have divided certain perennials (pots of hostas, etc.) but never thought to just completely remove them from the dirt in the pot. I will be doing that now!
MMD, that looks like a fabulous place! Maybe next time I head up to Wisconsin to visit my mom I'll take a slight detour and check it out.
Excellent way to stretch your plant budget. I can totally relate to dividing new plants. I'm like Carol when I shop for plants - always checking for the best candidates for dividing. Last year I bought one pewter lace fern in a gallon nursery pot. I bought the fern late in the season, and it was quite large for the size of the container. I got six plants out of it, and they all came back this spring. Usually it's more like two or three plants, so the fern was quite a bonanza! The six Gaelic Pride Pulmonarias I have came from two gallon pots bought on sale at the end of the season at a 2-for-one sale. I divided them in half immediately, then divided the two largest ones again this spring. There are lots of examples here of newly-purchased plants that were divided before they were ever planted in my garden.
It sure is a busy time of year, especially since April and May were so unseasonably cool here.
MSS - you can't grow Copper Beech, I can't grow Texas Mountain Laurel. At least the Beech will always look good when ever you visit it.
Ester - that's one of the things I love about garden blogs: getting to tour gardens that I'll probably never get to visit in person. Then again, you never know. I had no idea that I would end up going to Austin & seeing a garden & nursery that I'd only seen on blogs.
Gail - Rich's is actually in Illinois, just near the Wisconsin border. I hope you took lots of pictures at the botanical garden. I'd like to see photos of it, as I've never been there.
Carol - I can just see you at the nursery, pickup each pot & staring at the base of the plant. Tee hee!
Frances - We had a taste of summer yesterday & am I not ready for the heat. I hope you got all your big outdoor projects done already. A Japanese Maple might be part of the new front garden, if we ever get those dang Yews out!
Blackswamp Girl - I've found that my plants do better when I've gotten rid of most of the fake potting soil & put them into my leaf mold/compost mixed with garden soil holes. Do so makes such a difference especially when the plant has been pot-bound (as way too many of my purchases have been).
Garden Girl - Woodstock itself is worth a visit too. I waxed poetically (OK, I'm rambled on) about Woodstock in my Geography post.
I never used to divide potted plants that I had just bought, but recently I've started to do so to try to save money. It sounds like you have been wildly successful in doing so.
That is a huge flower indeed.
We've been having an abnormally wet spring, so I'm also doing lots of planting and dividing (in my climate those tasks are usually better done during autumn)
Sounds like a great place. I can't believe the Magnolia grandiflora. The flowers are aptly named--indeed grand!--and look almost unreal, like silk!
~ Monica
MMD, What a wonderful place that must be!Thank you for the tour. :-)
It's just impossible to do everything (or purchase everything) you'd like in one year, so it's a good thing gardeners know how to be patient! ;-) It also gives us something to look forward to during the next season.
Sometimes I divide things right away; sometimes I wait until later.
I'm having difficulty in getting things done this Spring. Everything that keeps me out of my yard is a worthwhile, valuable thing to do, but... Now I'm looking forward to leaving Saturday a.m. for a good week's trip to Mississippi - Katrina Relief work!
Hopefully it doesn't rain again tomorrow!!!!
What a pleasurable stroll through this nursery. I bought a tiarella today also! Love'em!
Gintonio - it's great that you get double the garden working time this year. I'm liking this cooler than normal weather.
Monica/Garden Faierie - the texture of the petals is really thick, too. They are so different from the usual Magnolias around here.
Shady - wow, you are such a "doer of good deeds" (to quote the Wiz). Everything will get done, eventually, right?
Layanee - I'm startng to think you can never have too many Tiarellas (or Heucheras).
Wow, it looks like a wonderful place to visit. I can't believe they get magnolias grow and bloom this far north!
Cinj - kind of makes you want to try to push the Zone envelope.
Like you, I've been reluctant to grow a Japanese maple, obviously for different reasons down here! But I finally bought one, a Red Emporer, and love it. So far so good. The local organic nursery you visited while you were at the Fling won't even sell them, but I do see them all over. I've carefully placed it as an understory tree, so it's protected from the hot sun and am crossing my fingers. Love the Grandiflora -- they are just so regal, aren't they?
Diana - 'Red Emperor' is a beautiful tree. I hope it survives your summer (just the opposite of here). I'm so tempted to get a green one. The only Japanese Maples I see around here are the red foliaged types.
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