BIENNIALS

May 12, 2026 Karen Logan

BIENNIALS

by keith kurman

GARDENERS and POETS

After strolling through our display gardens at Vineyard Gardens Nursery a couple years ago, a famous landscape architect remarked at how magical and elusive the biennials were. This is a particularly encouraging thing to hear, not that we weren’t already aware of how beautiful they were, but that our diligence was rewarded by someone noticing the skill required to achieve the effect.

An important part of gardening is weeding and there are two axioms gardeners use all the time,

“A weed is a plant growing in the wrong place.”

“One man’s weed is another man’s wildflower.”

With this in mind, it is important to attend to the needs of a particular garden. It can be difficult early in the season to distinguish which seedlings are weeds and which are plants you want in your garden. This is true of both biennials and annuals. We’re not talking about annuals here so lets stick with the biennials.

Here, Papaver somniferum (Opium Poppy) 'Lauren's Grape' in the early Spring garden. They need to be thinned to thrive.

Hard to tell the difference between the Impatiens balfourii and Impatiens pallida (our native Jewelweed) seedlings here, but one or the other has to go! The more pointed and sharply serrated leaf is I. balfourii and the more rounded, scalloped leaf,… — Hard to tell the difference between the Impatiens balfourii and Impatiens pallida (our native Jewelweed) seedlings here, but one or the other has to go! The more pointed and sharply serrated leaf is I. balfourii and the more rounded, scalloped leaf, I. pallida. I would loose the Jewelweed in this case.

Weeding and thinning, the stock in trade of a gardener. Here the little Poppy seedlings (Papaver rhoeas) are far too dense and need to be majorly thinned. At this stage the seedlings can be carefully redistributed around the garden.

Luckily, biennial seeds tend to germinate in warmer weather, in late June and July. They also germinate readily from fresh, current season seed. So you have to be particularly vigilant when weeding the garden from July to September so as not to weed out the first year cycle of what will be next year’s magic. If you are thinking in these terms then you can have biennials flowering every year, not every other year as you might expect. The difference being that they are just not the same plant as the year before but their progeny. It seems like a simple enough proposition but that hop-scotching of years is much of what makes biennials so challenging but also so rewarding, unexpected and magical. To further complicate the issue, some biennials will carry over into a third year. They will however be not so vigorous and can carry over with them diseases and pests that can spread to your fresh stock. Once they have gotten to this point it is better to remove them, however hard it might be to toss them on the compost pile.

A hollyhock

shot up to meet

the summer solstice

(Masaoka Shiki)

Impatiens balfourii, a house favorite. A reseeding annual, its most effective when densly colonizing shady pockets of the garden. Discerning the seedlings from similar-looking weeds is critical to retaining them in the garden.

A Foxglove in its second year presenting a spectacular spike of flowers. I love the scalloped lip of the petals on this wildling.

MYSTERIOUS, LIKE MAGIC

Biennials are by nature herbaceous flowering plants. That may seem obvious but those flowers are what we are going for to achieve the effect. For clarity let’s review the difference between the growth habits of the plants in our flower gardens.

Annuals have the shortest life cycle. Their seed germinates in the Spring, they then rush to develop leaves, roots, flowers and seed in one short growing season before dying at the first frost. Annuals are determined to set seed in their first year so they are well suited as cut flowers because if you keep cutting the flowers off the plant it will continue to produce them until they manage to set seed. If those seeds are left on the plant or collected, saved and sown the following year, will produce an annual crop of flowers. Typical examples might be, Poppies, Cosmos, Zinnias, Impatiens or Petunias.

Perennials can be a confusing group but the axiom associated with them goes,

“Perennials are plants that, had they lived, would come back year after year.”

There is wisdom in this simple statement. Hardiness, growing conditions and pests can all challenge our best efforts to keep perennials going year after year in the garden. That said, we can best describe perennials as, flowering plants that retain a dormant crown and root system below ground through the winter, producing leaves and flowers every successive year. Perennials will usually multiply at the crown and/or by lateral roots, thus the need to periodically lift and divide them to keep them fresh and healthy in the garden. Examples of classic perennials might be Iris, Peonies, Phlox, Hostas and Astilbe, honestly far too many to list!

So you can see how biennials fall somewhere between these two groups. The great garden writer, William Robinson, in his seminal book from around 1890, “The English Flower Garden”, says, “…the line between biennial and annual is not a strict one… as the work of raising all is, to a great extent, the same.” Well, that’s easy for him to say, he was gardening in England which we know has a milder climate and sweeter soils than we do here, blurring the lines between all the flowering plants.

Quite simply, Biennials produce in their first year leaf and root and in their second year flower and seed. There are characteristics of both Annuals and Perennials within Biennials carrying with them the same caveats, that hardiness, growing conditions and pests can conspire to frustrate our best intentions. For biennials you could add to this list, over zealous weeders. Some of the most outstanding examples being, Foxglove, Hollyhocks, Sweet Williams, Campanula and Verbascum also known as Mullein.

The frosted, metalic foliage of Verbascum thapsus, the biennial, Giant Mullein. This is the plant in its second year preparing to bolt. The brilliant yellow flowers will appear along the length of its nearly 7' stalks. A dramatic, sculptural element… — The frosted, metalic foliage of Verbascum thapsus, the biennial, Giant Mullein. This is the plant in its second year preparing to bolt. The brilliant yellow flowers will appear along the length of its nearly 7' stalks. A dramatic, sculptural element in the field or garden.

Perfectly representitive of the habit of a biennial, Catanache caerulia (Cupids Dart) at mid-summer.

Biennials are actually much more common than you might think, just over in the vegetable garden. The colorful, showy flowers of foxglove, hollyhock and verbascum are close relatives of some of our most common food crops. The parsley’s, mustards, cabbages and carrots are all biennials! It’s just that we aren’t growing them so much for their flowers as we are for their first year leaves and/or root systems e.g.radishes, carrots etc. We’ve all seen our parsley overwinter then with the advent of Spring ‘bolt’ to flowering at which point they become tough and bitter. So we start them every year fresh and harvest them for their first year’s foliar bounty. A second year carrot is a tough and tasteless thing but it is producing a flower of sorts, just not as beautiful as say, its more ornamental cousin, Queen Ann’s Lace.

Now we are really getting into the “weeds”! Some of our favorite biennials for early-mid summer flowers like Money Plant, with its silver dollar-like seedpods in late summer, Lunaria annua, is part of the group that also represents Dame’s Rocket, Hesperis matronalis and Wallflower (Cheiranthus) all of which are in the Mustard family and are often considered weeds due to their tendency for prodigious re-seeding. Queen Ann’s Lace, Daucus carota, from the carrot family, is also considered a weed but they are so lovely growing along the roadside usually together with its associate, Chickory, Cichorium intybus, with its clear, cerulean blue flowers. Both biennials, Chickory and Queen Ann’s Lace are hardy, naturalized exotics not generally considered garden worthy. But this takes us in another direction…

Lunaria annua a radient, reseeding biennial. Weed or wildflower? you choose. These flowers mature into those silver dollar seedpods we love so much in late summer arrangements.

Lupines are properly biennials and put on their best show when left over the Winter in the garden, but these have been started early enough to be flowering size this season.

Digitalis purpurea 'Cream'. The foxgloves, magical faerie plants with notions for potions. These plants didn't overwinter in this position, they were brought in containerized, planted out early in the season, but even at that, they didn't have the f… — Digitalis purpurea 'Cream'. The foxgloves, magical faerie plants with notions for potions. These plants didn't overwinter in this position, they were brought in containerized, planted out early in the season, but even at that, they didn't have the fall-winter cycle 'in the ground' to develop a strong root system.

THE SOUL OF THE GARDEN

Where to ‘place’ biennials in the garden can be challenging. The problem being their two stage growth. In the first year while they’re developing their deep root system, the basil foliage stays tight and low to the ground. Then in their second year they produce a fresh batch of foliage before ‘rocketing’ their flowering stalks up several feet above the base. Left on their own they will often choose the most inappropriate spots, coming up in the crown of your Peonies, in the stonework of your retaining wall or crowding around in the front row. Striking a balance between random and orderly should be our objective. This is easier when planting out starts, but only a little more work when dealing with self-sown seedlings. The seedlings will tend to appear in clumps in the general vicinity of the parent plants. You’ll be able to recognize them once they’ve formed their ‘true leaves’ and at this point they are ready to be thinned and transplanted. Thinning will enable the young plants to to develop into larger, stronger plants and provide dozens more for transplanting. Whether in the flower garden or out on the margins it is often the rouge by the stairs or under the Viburnum, the unexpected, that brings the most charming effect.

Vineyard Gardens can help you introduce biennials into your gardens. Stop by the nursery to see what’s available!

Alcea ficifolia or Antwerp Hollyhock is a species of Hollyhock that appears in a pleasant range of colors and is generally stronger growing and rust resistant plant. Getting them established in the ground through the fall will give yo… — Alcea ficifolia or Antwerp Hollyhock is a species of Hollyhock that appears in a pleasant range of colors and is generally stronger growing and rust resistant plant. Getting them established in the ground through the fall will give you stronger bigger plants than a Spring planting.

The biennial seeding cycle; Foxgloves, Verbascums, Hollyhocks and select perennials are coming along. Watch for them appearing for sale at the nursery ready for planting out later in July through September.

The exquisite Verbascum phoeniceum ‘Violetta’ will keep an evergreen basil rosette over the Winter and spike to flower in the early summer. After that it should reseed and grace your garden for years to come. — The exquisite Verbascum phoeniceum ‘Violetta’ will keep an evergreen basil rosette over the Winter and spike to flower in the early summer. After that it should reseed and grace your garden for years to come.

WHY TO TEST SOIL & THE IMPORTANCE OF A PH TEST

May 6, 2026 Karen Logan

Hydrangea illustration by karen blackerby logan

The Foundation of the Garden:

Understanding Your Soil pH and Nutrients

As any seasoned gardener will tell you, the secret to a vibrant landscape isn't just what you plant, it’s the soil you plant it in. Understanding the "chemistry" of your backyard can save you time and money, and most importantly, protect our delicate Island environment.

The pH Scale: Acid vs. Alkaline

A soil pH test measures how acidic or alkaline your soil is on a scale of 0 to 14.

Acidic: Numbers below 7.0
Alkaline (Basic): Numbers above 7.0
Neutral: Exactly 7.0

When soil is near neutral, most nutrients are easily accessible to plants. However, if your pH is too high or too low, certain nutrients become "locked" and unavailable to the plant, even if they are present in the soil.

The "Blue" Hydrangea Secret

On Martha’s Vineyard, our soils tend to be naturally acidic. This is great news for blueberries, evergreens, and potatoes, and it’s the secret ingredient for our iconic Blue Mophead Hydrangeas (Nikko Blue and Endless Summer). Low pH allows aluminum in the soil to be more readily absorbed turns hydrangea flowers blue. A higher pH will shift those flowers toward pink, while a neutral soil produces a color somewhere in between.

For Bluer Blooms: Add sulfur or aluminum sulfate (ideally mixed into the soil at planting).
For Pinker Blooms: Add garden lime to raise the pH.

VG Landscape Projects for Print'18-50.jpg

Vegetables and Lawns

Most vegetables prefer neutral soil. Potatoes are the exception; they thrive in acidic soil and are actually more prone to disease at a higher pH. We recommend keeping a dedicated "acidic" area for your potato patch where you skip the lime. For lawns, a neutral pH is ideal for healthy turf, so a light yearly application of lime is generally recommended here on the Island.

Testing, Not Guessing

Before you start adding amendments, we highly recommend a professional soil test. You can send samples to the University of Massachusetts, and the results will tell you exactly what your soil contains and what it needs. This precision prevents over-fertilizing, which saves you money and keeps excess nutrients out of our groundwater.

Decoding the Numbers: N-P-K

Every bag of fertilizer has three numbers (e.g., 5-10-5) representing the percentage of Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K).

Nitrogen (N): Essential for green growth and overall plant health. It is used quickly by plants and can leach out with rain, so it is the element most often added.
Phosphorus (P) & Potassium (K): These are more stable in the soil and typically only need to be replenished every two or three years.

Vegetable Fertilizer 3-4-4 (Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium)

Step 1: Lawn Fertilizer 20-0-3 (Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium).

Step 2: Lawn Fertilizer 21-0-3 (Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium).

Protecting Our Ponds

At Vineyard Gardens, we sell several lawn fertilizers with a "0" middle number (no phosphorus). Excess phosphorus can run off into our local ponds, encouraging algae blooms that harm our water quality.

We also advocate for organic fertilizers, which are slow-release and add beneficial organic matter back into the soil.

What to Use Now

For Lawns: Nitrogen is what creates that deep green, healthy look. A high-nitrogen fertilizer like Jonathan Green Green-Up (20-0-3) is excellent for established turf.
For Vegetables: Use a lower first number, like Espoma Organic Garden-tone (3-4-4). Too much nitrogen in the veggie garden will give you beautiful leaves but very little fruit (tomatoes and squash)!

“It is always a good idea to test the soil for your lawns, flowers, vegetable gardens and almost anything you’re trying to grow!” Chuck Wiley, co-owner of Vineyard Gardens

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WHAT'S BLOOMING AROUND THE ISLAND...

May 2, 2026 Karen Logan

This has been a week of awakening on Martha's Vineyard. The Cherry and Pear blossoms, the Daffodils, the early Tulips, the Forsythia and the flowering Quince have been drawing all the attention with their showy explosions of floral bounty. On a more subtle note the Elms, the Maples, the Chestnuts and the Lilacs have been offering their pale greens and ruby toned buds, swelling and beginning to burst with tender foliar froth. Oh how this time of year rejuvenates the soul and the senses!

In the Woodland Garden the crane-necked stems of Solomon's Seal extend daily. The Lily of the Valley is starting to set buds signifying “the return of happiness”, in flower language.

Here are some of our favorite plants that are blooming around the island right now.

DOGWOOD: One of the showiest of our spring flowering trees, the Dogwood, has been the victim of a fungal blight called anthracnose that has been causing die off throughout its range. When Dogwoods first open what may be thought of as petals are actually "bracts". The bracts act like the flower’s winter jacket protecting the flower from our harsh winters. Instead of the bracts falling off when the flowers start to swell, they mutate into petaloid structures reminiscent of petals that attract early season pollinators.The issue that is occurring with the North American Dogwood is that the anthracnose causes a circulatory shutdown, killing off the tree branch by branch. Fortunately, there are resistant forms being introduced and available at the Nursery. The best way to prevent the disease is to plant the Dogwood in part day shade and give it additional water in the dry, hot months of summer.

DOGWOOD, Cornus florida, bracts surrounding central flower

MAGNOLIA SOULANGEANA: This exotic hybrid selection of Magnolia Soulangeana, called “Elizabeth”, has exceptional, luminous yellow flowers. The Magnolia is practically a living fossil. It was one of the first of the Angiosperms (flowering plants) to evolve. Science knows this because of the spirally arranged flower parts and there are fossils to confirm it.

HORNBEAM: Another old-timer on the evolutionary scale is the Hornbeam, Carpinus betulus. The ‘betulus’ of its name indicates that it is similar to a Birch, seemingly in regards to it's flowers. The catkins are characteristic of wind pollinated trees and shrubs that include a wide range of mostly nut-bearing plants. They serve as examples of the evolutional transition from the earliest plants, Gymnosperms (naked seed, or the cone bearing trees like pines) to the later, more highly evolved, Angiosperms (meaning enclosed seed) or fruit bearing plants.

HAZELNUT: Another example of a catkin flowered nut, the Hazelnut, Corylus avellana, “Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick” has its own special decorative character.

REDBUD: Just coming into flower is the decorative beauty Redbud, Cercis canadensis. It will fully play out its flowering cycle before it starts to set its leaves. The leaves are somewhat heart shaped and have a beauty all their own.

This weeping form of Redbud, may be the variety “Lavender Twist”, but there are several named forms with slightly different leaf and flower color.

REDBUD, Cercis canadensis Pendula “Lavender Twist”

VIBURNUM: Another early spring beauty is Viburnum x burkwoodii which is from a group of Viburnums called Korean Spice or Snowball Viburnum. Burkwood Viburnum grows quite large, under ideal conditions 10’ x 10’, and has an insanely delicious fragrance in late April-early May.

ABELIA MOSANENSIS: Another fantastic fragrant spring bloomer is Abelia mosanensis. It's a relative of the later flowering Abelia grandiflora that we use a lot here on the Island because of its stately form and glossy, nearly evergreen foliage. Unlike A. grandiflora, this plant can get quite large but its easy to keep trimmed if you cut it back just as its finishing its flowering. The fragrance is one you’ll never forget and would serve well for summer screening being nearly carefree and very fast growing.

JAPANESE SNOWBELL: One of our favorite shrubs, or small tree, is Styrax japonicus, the Japanese Snowbell. A carefree plant that quickly grows 10’-15’. The flowers fully open in May and hang downward from every branch producing a brilliant display. It flowers over a long period and as they drop they are reminiscent of freshly fallen snow. A nice place to plant it is near a path so the branches have the potential to create a canopy where passerby's can appreciate it's glory and slightly sweet/woody scent from the delicate flowers.

JAPANESE TREE LILAC: A plant that is not used nearly enough here on the Vineyard is the Japanese Tree Lilac, Syringa reticulata. It may be over looked in the nursery but it’s far from undistinguished once it gets going. It can become a multi trunked tree up to about 40’ with beautiful, gleaming, polished bark and 12” panicles of fragrant white flowers in the summertime. It's a distant, noble cousin to the common privet and just about as hardy.

The list could go on and on! Here’s to hoping your spring is just as stimulating and fragrant as ours is here on Martha’s Vineyard!

kkurman

MAY GARDENING TIPS

May 1, 2026 Karen Logan

Fothergilla photo by karen blackerby logan

MAY

GARDENING TIPS

May brings warmer sunnier days, cooler nights and springtime rains, the perfect combo to get your newly planted trees, shrubs and perennials established! Here are some timely tips to make the most of your May garden.

Viburnum burkwoodii photo by Keith Kurman

ANNUALS: Cool-Weather Favorites Are Ready to be Planted

Get Planting: The Secret to Summer Success

Annuals thrive in cooler spring weather, making now the perfect time to brighten your beds and containers. Planting both annuals and perennials between May 1st and May 10th, just after the frost-free date, allows them to establish deep root systems in cooler soil. This head start ensures stronger plants and superior performance once the summer heat arrives.

Pro Tip: Dig your planting holes twice the size of the root ball and supplement the soil with organic compost or Espoma Bio-tone (mycorrhizae) for the best results.

Away from the Island? Contact Vineyard Gardens today. We can get your annuals in the ground now so you can arrive to a garden already bursting with color!

Pansies, Violas, Alyssum, Calendulas, Bachelor Buttons, Argyranthemum Daisies, Osteospermum, Lobelia

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SOIL CARE: Feed the Foundation

Nourish your soil! Healthy soil = happy plants. Now is the time to enrich your soil with nutrients that support strong roots and vibrant growth. Whether you’re using bagged compost like Coast of Maine or Fafard, or creating your own from kitchen and yard waste, your plants will thank you.

Pro Tip: Test your soil! We’ve got easy-to-use soil testing kits in stock, so you can give your plants exactly what they need from the ground up.

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FERTILIZE: Give Last Year’s Plantings a Boost

Time to fertilize last years new plantings. Sprinkle organic fertilizer around the drip line (not too close to the base), where roots are actively growing. Organic fertilizers are best for slow, steady feeding and include secondary nutrients like calcium and magnesium, along with the essentials: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K).

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MULCH: Nature’s Blanket

Leaf compost is a great island resource to use in your garden beds! This imitates the annual forest leaf fall and provides established plants with all the nutrients they need. Use leaves from your own yard and and/or leaf compost (shredded leaf mulch) that we carry to return local island nutrients to your gardens. We carry shredded leaf compost (island grown) as well as bagged Coast of Main mulches.

PERENNIALS: Time to Plant and Divide!

It’s prime time to start planting your perennials. Already have some in the ground? If they bloom in summer or fall and are starting to emerge, now is a great time to divide them and spread the beauty.

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VEGETABLE GARDENS: Plant Now, Harvest Later

Prep and plant those garden beds! May is the season for cool-weather veggies, small fruits, and fruit trees. These are available at the nursery now! And a heads-up, mid to late May we will be bringing our basil and tomatoes out from our production facility to the nursery, but hold off planting them until nighttime temps warm up a bit more.

TREES & SHRUBS: Perfect Planting Weather

Now is a great time to add trees or shrubs to your property. Early May brings sunny day, cool nights and springtime rain which are all great ingredients to get your trees and shrubs established! It’s the sweet spot to help them settle in and thrive through summer and beyond.

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PRUNE: Out With the Old

Now’s the time to prune away dead or diseased wood from trees and deciduous shrubs. Focus on plants that bloom on new growth.

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LAWN CARE: Out With the Old

Want a lush lawn all summer? May lawn tips:

Water less often, but deeply, to encourage deeper roots.
Mow a bit higher to prevent browning in the heat of summer.
Apply fertilizer if you skipped April.
Lime your lawn if you missed it in the fall, this helps balance soil pH over time. Lime now to ensure a healthy fall lawn.

Always think ahead when gardening. Timing is everything!

BROADLEAF EVERGREENS

April 27, 2026 Karen Logan

Rhododendron Maximum illustration by karen blackerby logan

BONES OF THE GARDEN

Broadleaf evergreens

Often in spring, it’s easy to get excited about the fresh smells and colors of early spring flowers that first burst to life after winter. But beneath all that seasonal excitement, it’s the evergreens that quietly hold everything together. They are the bones of the garden, the structure and backdrop. While flowers come and go, evergreens carry the landscape through every season. Broadleaf evergreens, in particular, offer year-round texture and depth, anchoring the garden in winter and elevating it in spring, summer, and fall. They don’t just fill space, they give the garden its shape.

Rhdodendrons are wonderful for year round screening

The Benefits of Broadleaf Evergreens

They provide year round interest
Great for privacy screening
Drought resistant, once established
Provides habitats for birds and other small animals
Pollinator friendly!
Great for Martha’s Vineyards climate zone 7A

Most broadleaf evergreens have a spectacular display of spring blooms!

Even better, they don’t all flower at once. Skimmia and Pieris japonica lead the way in early spring, followed by azaleas and rhododendrons creating a long, layered season of color.

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BROADLEAF EVERGREENS

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SKIP CHERRY LAURELS

Skip Cherry Laurels are vibrant evergreen trees that can create dense privacy hedges for any yard. Skip laurels grow to be 10-18 feet tall and 5-7 feet wide, with a moderate growth rate of roughly 24 inches per year. While they thrive in full sunlight, Skip laurels also fare very well in the shade. Their dense foliage is glossy green year-round. In the springtime, you’ll be rewarded with fragrant white blossoms that attract all kinds of pollinators. In fall and winter, Skip laurel trees produce red berries that attract songbirds.

Make excellent privacy screens

Green year-round
Fragrant, white blossoms in spring
Drought-tolerant
Smaller leaves than other laurels that give a neat, compact look
Deer-resistant

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MAHONIA

Mahonia x media ‘Winter Sun’ is a small to medium evergreen shrub growing up to 10 feet tall and 5 feet wide, with an upright form and large fern-like leaves arranged in whorls on sturdy, branching stems. In late fall to early winter, it produces fragrant yellow flower spikes followed by clusters of waxy blue berries loved by birds. A striking focal point in the winter garden.

PLANTING TIP
Plant Winter Sun Mahonia in a sheltered site, ideally with an eastern exposure. It prefers moist, well-drained soil. Plant it where its winter blooms and fragrance can be enjoyed up close, along a path or near a seating area.

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AZALEAS

This spring, our flowering shrubs include the familiar evergreen rhododendrons and azaleas. Azaleas are part of the rhododendron family and represent a diverse genus with many species, including both evergreen and deciduous forms. In general, deciduous azaleas bloom slightly later than evergreen types, flowering on old wood before the new leaves emerge.

Some deciduous, fragrant azaleas:

Azalea viscosum, native swamp azalea: These bloom a little later and often bloom before the foliage emerges, making them extra showy. The fragrant blooms will perfume your entire property, growing 8-10ft tall and 6-8ft wide.
My Mary: A yellow, fragrant, deciduous, spring blooming azalea that attracts pollinators and butterflies, growing 4-5ft tall.
Rhododendron prunifolium: This is a species azalea (not a hybrid). It is a native wild azalea.

There are some deciduous Weston hybrids with viscosum that stay smaller. If an 8ft shrub is too big for your spot try one of these :

Lemon Drop: A yellow blooming fragrant deciduous azalea
Innocence: A white blooming fragrant deciduous azalea

To see these deciduous azaleas in their full splendor they will be blooming in a few weeks at the Polly Hill Arboretum!

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BUXUS (BOXWOOD)

Buxus is an evergreen deer resistant shrub that typically bloom in May. They do best in some afternoon shade and are a great back drop for deciduous plantings. Even though the flowers seem insignificant, they still produce nectar and pollen for beneficial insects.

Buxus sempervirens: This variety has an elegant columnar habit with a soft and lush foliage of ovate, lustrous leaves. Its deep green foliage has shown good resistance to boxwood blight.
Buxus microphylla var. japonica 'Winter Gem' : “An excellent evergreen shrub for small hedges. Among the hardiest of the small-leaved boxwoods, the rich green foliage can acquire a golden bronze hue in cold winter zones, but is one of the first to become green again in spring. Makes a wonderful addition to formal gardens, providing year-round interest.” (monrovia)

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HOLLIES

We love hollies at Vineyard Gardens! Our appreciation traces back to Chuck Wiley, the original owner, who grew up near Fernbrook Nursery in New Jersey, known for its beautiful American hollies (Ilex opaca). That early exposure sparked a lifelong admiration. American hollies are also more deer resistant than many other types, and for berry production, you’ll need both a male and female plant nearby.

American holly, Ilex opaca

“The stout, stiff branches of this pyramidal evergreen bear dark green, non-glossy, spine-tipped leaves. Bright red berries occur on the female plants. Many varieties are grown for ornament, shade, and hedges. You must have both a male and female plant to have berries, The male must be the same holly species as the female and bloom at the same time. This is a slow-growing tree (but slower growing is stronger). Berries are attractive and a good winter food source for birds.” (Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center) The height of American holly grows up to 25ft. They can be pruned to be kept smaller.

Ilex opaca ‘Jersey Knight’: A male cultivar that is considered to be a good pollinator. Typically grows 7-8’ tall and spreads to 3-4’ wide over the first 10 years.
Ilex opaca ‘Jersey Princess’
Ilex opaca ‘Portia Orton’
Ilex opaca ‘Satyr Hill’

Inkberry, Ilex glabra

“A mound-shaped, colony-forming shrub 6-12 ft. tall and wide. Lance-shaped, sparingly-toothed, glossy, leathery foliage varies in color from dark- to light-green both in summer and fall. Inconspicuous flowers are followed by black berries which persist well into winter. This species differs from all other evergreen hollies by lacking spines on the leaves, only having teeth toward the tip of the leaves.” (Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center)

Ilex glabra ‘Compacta’

Ilex glabra ‘Shamrock’

Winterberry, Ilex verticillata

“The leaves of Common winterberry are not shaped with sharp teeth like other hollies and are not evergreen. The purplish green foliage turns black, in fact, with the first frost. The inconspicuous flowers, however, are followed by dense clusters of bright red berries that remain on the branches throughout winter. Winterberry is a globular, upright, medium-sized shrub, typically 6-10 ft. tall. Extremely showy in late fall and early winter when covered with their bright red fruit, these shrubs are either male or female--a trait typical of the holly family. Birds are readily attracted to them.” (Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center)

Ilex verticillata Southern Gentleman
Ilex verticillata Winter Gold
Ilex verticillata Winter Red
Ilex verticillata Little Goblin Guy
Ilex verticillata Little Goblin Red

and even more holly varieties are available!

TIME TO PLANT YOUR POPPIES

April 24, 2026 Karen Logan

TIME TO PLANT YOUR POPPIES

Now is the time to plant your poppies. We have started them in 4 packs at the nursery and it’s best to get them planted out before they become root-bound. We have some wonderful varieties to choose from but the trick is to plant now.

A beautiful variety with a high pedegree, Papaver somniferum 'Sissinghurst White'

P. s. 'Lauren's Grape' ready to plant out

Poppies, ready to plant! many wonderful varieties!

The most notorious member of the Poppy tribe is Papaver somniferum, the Opium Poppy. This plant has a cultural history going back millennia. Since earliest times its narcotic virtues have been known and used in medicines to cure pain and induce sleep. It was not until the 19th Century that doctors became fully aware that it was addictive. Aside from its narcotic attributes it is a particularly beautiful plant. Its baroque architecture and richly saturated colors have inspired craftsmen and artists to interpret its form into decorative schemes in everything from furniture, fabrics, china, jewelry to painting and book illustration.

The decorative Opium Poppy is a cottage garden favorite. Why it is not seen more often in flower gardens must have something to do with a question of timing. It is properly an annual plant, meaning that it’s seed germinates, grows, flowers and develops mature seeds in one season. It is however originally from a more temperate zone than our harsh New England climate. In order for the plant to fully develop it needs to set a deep root system. So in a way it behaves more like a biennial, germinating just after the Winter Solstice and setting a whorl of basil foliage to feed root development through the chill, winter months. Then, with the Spring Equinox, it begins to expand its lush, curled and fringed, pale gray- green foliage. It’s flowers finally begin to open in the warmth of late June into July. The flowers only last a day but are produced continuously. Once it has flowered it’s petals drop revealing the characteristic seed pod which it holds until it dries later in the summer.

The solution to this problem is to start the seeds early indoors, but caution must be exercised. The common caveat with poppies is that they resent root disturbance. And further, if left too long in the container they will quickly become root bound, from which they will not recover. This is where timing becomes critical. So to have beautiful flowers like these we must plant our poppies now so they can develop their root systems in the cool ground.

[Plant Profile] Poppies

FRAGRANT FLOWERING SHRUBS & VINES

April 18, 2026 Karen Logan

Lilac illustration by karen blackerby logan

FRAGRANT

FLOWERING

SHRUBS & VINES

Fragrant shrubs are a great reason to landscape your property. Plant them on your patio, deck or walkways. Plant them where the fragrance will fill your relaxing spaces, your outdoor spaces, where you socialize or simply beneath a window where the fragrance can filter into your home.

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VIBURNUM

Early spring blooming viburnums are known for their exceptionally fragrant flowers. They grow well in full sun to part shade and are commonly used as specimen plants, in shrub borders, foundation plantings, or as hedges and screens. Viburnums attract butterflies and birds and tolerate a wide range of soil conditions, including poor or compacted soils. Prune immediately after flowering.

Viburnum carlessi ‘Korean Spice Viburnum’ : It can grow up to 7ft tall and wide.
Viburnum carlcephalum ‘Fragrant Snowball Viburnum’: A multi stemmed, deciduous shrub that gets 6-10ft tall and wide. It is a cross between Viburnum carlessi and Viburnum microcephalum. These Viburnums bloom better in more sun.
Viburnum burkwoodi: A multi stemmed shrub that is a little more compact, reaching 3-5ft tall and up to 7ft wide. It received the Pennsylvania Society Gold Medal award.

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LILACS

Lilacs are prized for their fragrance and will be blooming soon. They should be planted in full sun only, as the Syringa vulgaris species, with its large leaves, is prone to powdery mildew in shaded conditions. While some horticulturists suggest that Syringa vulgaris is the most fragrant, in reality all lilacs are wonderfully fragrant.

Canadian Lilac, Syringa vulgaris Pocahontas: The species of the purple lilac, Syringa vulgaris, is said to be the most fragrant. Extend the lilac season with this extremely hardy, early blooming variety. Deep maroon-purple buds open in early May to fragrant, deep violet blooms 7 to 10 days before common lilac varieties bloom. Reaches 10 ft. tall and wide.
The Syringa meyeri is another smaller species of lilac whose smaller leaves are resistant to powdery mildew.
Korean Lilac, Syringa patula Miss Kim: Try a Miss Kim Lilac if you need one that stays a little smaller. This upright, compact lilac blooms later than others, extending the season with deep purple buds that reveal clusters of highly fragrant, lavender-blue flowers. Foliage is burgundy-tinged in fall. Reaches 6 to 8 ft. tall and wide. Great for your foundation planting as long as it is sunny.
Charles Joly, Syringa vulgaris: This is a great choice if you want a larger lilac,10-12ft tall. Gorgeous, deep wine red, double flower clusters are highly fragrant. Blooms mid-season, typically in mid-May. A lovely spring accent, screen or border specimen.
Sensation, Syringa vulgaris: A bicolor purple and white flowering lilac. A mid-season bloomer that typically flowers in mid-May. Branches are erect and open with rich green foliage. Use to create a beautiful spring flowering hedge, screen, or accent.
Dwarf Korean Lilac, Syringa meyeri ‘Palibin’: This is another species of lilac that we carry which stays much smaller. This one has smaller leaves and smaller purple blooms that are also fragrant. Blooms profusely in midseason, typically mid-May, and first flowers at an early age. Use in shrub borders with an evergreen background or plant in groups to form a low hedge.
Plant your lilacs in full sun, well drained, rich soil and you will have fresh lilac bouquets every spring!

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ROSES

Roses will arrive at the end of April and many are known for their intoxicating fragrance. We carry many cultivars of the David Austin Shrub roses which are known for their fragrance. The pink New Dawn climber has been a fragrant best seller for years.

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HONEYSUCKLE

Honeysuckle vines are also fragrant. Lonicera sempervirens ‘Major wheeler’ is a non-stop bloomer, coloring the garden from late spring through the summer with showy clusters of orange-red flowers. It is considered to be the longest blooming variety of honeysuckle and a superior flower for the hummingbirds.

Hummingbirds love them!

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CLEMATIS

This Clematis Vine by Proven Winners and Sweet Summer Love are fragrant clematis. Sweet Summer Love is also a profuse bloomer and can get up to 10 ft.

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AZALEAS

Azaleas are part of the Rhododendron family. These plants like a rich acidic humus rich soil and afternoon shade. They are shallow rooted and need to be moist. Many azaleas are fragrant, particularly the deciduous ones. We have a native yellow azalea called My Mary, that is very fragrant when it blooms.

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CLETHRA

Clethra is another fragrant later blooming shrub that can be planted now. We carry the straight species, Ruby spice (the award winning pink blooming), the dwarf Hummingbird and Sixteen candles. The newer Proven Winner varieties are known for their fragrance, like Vanilla spice. Clethra are native to the island.

April Gardening Tips

LAWN & TURF MANAGEMENT

April 17, 2026 Karen Logan

CARING FOR YOUR LAWN WHILE CARING FOR THE ISLAND

by Chuck Wiley

Hopefully caring for your Vineyard lawn is as much about taking care of our local environment as it is about having a nice lawn. With a little knowledge you can do both. Our main concern is protecting our ponds, steams and aquifer by preventing fertilizer from getting into them. This can happen to a pond or stream by run off when the fertilizer washes into them over the ground or leaching when fertilizer is dissolved and rain or excessive irrigation carries the fertilizer past the roots into the ground. One of the best ways to prevent both of these is to have a dense healthy lawn which captures the fertilizer before it can runoff or leach. Using a slow release fertilizer is another way to make sure the nutrients are taken up by the grass and not lost.

Steps to achieve this healthy lawn in the spring:
1. Seed any bare spots starting in mid April using seed that matches the area: sun, shade or a mix of the two. Keep the seed lightly moist for two weeks in order for it to germinate.
2. Don’t fertilize before Mid April. Use a slow release fertilizer and don’t over apply. I recommend using it below the recommended rate the bag shows and doing a second light application 6-8 weeks later if needed.
3. Make sure the ph of your soil is around 6.5, this improves the grasses ability to take up the fertilizer which reduces the chance of leaching.
4. Mow regularly at a minimum of 2 inches with a sharp blade
5. If you water, do so deeply to encourage the roots to go deep once or twice a week. Never water daily other than when your seeding.
6. Remember grass loves sun so if your area is too shady you may want to try a shade loving ground cover or let nature do its thing. If you have a lot of moss don’t fight it as it’s green and never needs fertilizer or mowing.

PERENNIAL HERBS

April 13, 2026 Karen Logan

Lavender illustration by karen blackerby logan

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HERBS

Now is the time to plant some herbs! Come check out our herb house & herb garden.

ANNUAL HERBS sold in 6 packs & 2” herb pots : Cilantro, Parsley, Dill, Chervil

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PERENNIAL HERBS

Sage, Thyme, Lavender, Chives & Tarragon

Perennial herbs tend to live longer that two years. They go dormant in the winter and return in the spring sending up new stems and leaves from the crown. Chives are usually the first to pop up in March. Most herbs in the mint family are perennial, such as rosemary, oregano, thyme, sage, lemon balm, marjoram, anise hyssop, and mint

PERENNIAL HERBS sold in 4" pots: Thyme. Sage, Mint, Tarragon, Savory, Lemon Verbena, Rosemary and Lemon Balm

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SAGE

Sages are known for both their ornamental and culinary qualities. On top of that, they are drought tolerant and deer resistant. Sage grows best in full sun, well draining soil and can withstand frost.

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CHIVES

Chives are cool-season, cold-tolerant perennials best planted in early to mid-spring for an early summer harvest. They are a wonderful companion plant that deters pests. Plant alongside carrots, celery, lettuce, peas, and tomatoes.

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THYME

A hardy low growing evergreen herb with small, fragrant leaves and thin, woody stems. Thyme has ornamental, culinary and medicinal qualities.

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LAVENDER

Lavender is one of those plants we never get enough of at Vineyard Gardens. While it’s a wonderful culinary herb, it truly shines in the garden bringing soft drifts of color from early summer into fall. With its silvery-green foliage, upright flower spikes, and shrub-like form, lavender is perfect for edging paths or tucking into perennial borders. And of course, it’s just as lovely harvested for its calming fragrance.

TIMING IS KEY IN GARDENING! DON’T WAIT TO GET STARTED!

APRIL GARDEN TIPS

VEGETABLE GARDENS

April 10, 2026 Karen Logan

THE SPRING

VEGETABLE GARDEN

by Chuck Wiley

It's nearly springtime when a person’s thoughts should hopefully turn to ....... vegetables! That's right it's time to start our vegetable gardens. Even though our frost free date is technically May 1st, this is a great time of year to start our cool loving vegetables.

There are many vegetables that can handle the light frosts we get this time of year. If a colder night were to be predicted, in the high 20s, you can cover your freshly planted vegetables with Reemay, plastic or an old sheet to protect them from the frost. At this point, most greens can be planted and some, like spinach, do much better in cooler weather than in the summer. Broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage are known as cole crops, which sounds like cold crops, all do very well planted at this time a year too. While kids don't always like the spicy taste of radishes, they are a great vegetable for them to plant as they come up in a matter of days and are ready to pick in a few short weeks.

There are a few perennial vegetables which actually are some of the easiest ones to grow. My all-time favorite is asparagus which can live for 20 or more years. Asparagus continually get bigger and more productive with just a little bit of care. The most important way to care for them is to keep the weeds out in order for them to thrive. They are one of the first vegetables to come up every spring and are absolutely delicious and healthy. Chives are another easily grown perennial and are up this time of year. They are ready to pick in another week or so. The third perennial, one of our family favorites, is rhubarb. While most vegetables require a fence, rhubarb does not necessarily need one due to it’s toxic leaves therefore not favored by our local animals. When planting these perennials take extra care to enrich the soil, since they are long lived, and compost will help them thrive. A light top dressing of composted cow manure should take care of most of their nutritional needs each year. I grow all my vegetables organically which means I can walk out into the garden, pick them, give them a light rinse if needed and eat them. YUM! What could be better than fresh vegetables!

[Plant Profile] Asparagus

Cool Weather Veggies

Early Spring Edibles

EARLY SPRING EDIBLES

April 10, 2026 Karen Logan

Blueberry Bush illustration by karen blackerby logan

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GROWING EARLY

SPRING EDIBLES

SMALL FRUITS & FRUIT TREES

Spring is the ideal time to prune fruit trees, grapes, raspberries, and blackberries. It’s also the best season to plant small fruits and fruit trees. We offer a strong early-spring selection, including strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries. The early spring selection is best!

TIMING IS KEY IN GARDENING! DON’T WAIT TO GET STARTED!

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STRAWBERRIES

TIPS FOR PLANTING STRAWBERRIES

There is a short spring window for planting strawberries, especially bare root ones. They can be grown in garden beds, containers, or hanging baskets, making them a versatile addition to any space. Their flowers also attract honeybees and butterflies, supporting pollination and helping ensure a successful fruit crop.

Cultivars of strawberries available:
Strawberries in 3"black pots
- Honeoye is our favorite, but all of them are good. Honeoye bears heavy yields of large fruit with a rich color.
- Fort Laramie
- All Star
- Quinalt
Growing potted Strawberries
- Provide well drained soil with medium moisture. Amend beds in spring and fall with quality Coast of Maine Lobster Compost or Fafard Premium Compost (we carry both!).
- Strawberries are heavy feeders. Feed with organic fertilizer from spring to mid summer.
- Mulch beds to retain moisture, keep down the weeds and to create a nice clean place for the strawberry fruits to lay on.
- Thin beds every few years, favoring the strongest runners.
Planting Bare Root Strawberries
- Bare root strawberries come in bundles of 15.
- Gently pull them apart, pulling on the foliage to separate them
- Then plant them into rich well drained soil and watch them grow

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BLUEBERRIES

We have a wonderful selection of early, mid season and late variety blueberries. Now is the time to get them in the ground. We recommend planting early bearing variety, a mid season variety and a late season variety to extend your blueberry picking season.

Blueberries must be planted in early spring!

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GRAPES & FRUIT TREES

We carry a variety of fruit trees: apple, pear, peach, cherry, and sour cherry trees. Sour cherries make especially excellent pies.

Apple trees: When you’re finished pruning an apple tree, there is often more on the ground than remains on the tree.
Grapes: Grapes should be pruned as soon as possible on cool days. If pruning is delayed, they may “bleed” sap, similar to a maple tree when tapped for syrup. Pruning grapes, like most fruit trees, also helps balance the crop by limiting fruit production; vines and trees often set more fruit than they can fully mature. Without proper pruning, excess fruit may drop, and what remains is often smaller.
PEACHES: One of the most important sprays for peaches is a lime sulfur mixture to prevent peach leaf curl, a very common disease of peaches. As the name describes, the leaves turn red, bumpy, curl up and then most of the leaves fall off weakening the tree just when it needs the most energy to produce fruit. This is an organic spray and should be done before the leaves begin to emerge.
Spring is the best time to plant grapes and all fruit trees!

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ASPARAGUS & POTATOES

Now available bare root asparagus and potatoes!

Asparagus Bundles of 5, Bundles of 10 & Bundles of 25

Asparagus

**Asparagus Purple Passion Bundles of 25**

EAT LOCAL, GROW IT IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD!

April Gardening Tips

Vineyard Gardens Seed Project

SPRING COLOR AND POLLINATORS

April 8, 2026 Karen Logan

Spring Magic

Color & Pollinators in Harmony

(March through Early May)

Are you envisioning bursts of color in your garden this spring, or are you planning with pollinators in mind? The good news is you don’t have to choose. Early spring is a crucial time for pollinators, and your garden can be both a vibrant visual experience and a vital food source for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. With the right mix of native and non-native perennials, you can bring beauty to your space and provide essential early-season nectar and pollen.

Why Early Blooms Matter

Even if your clients (or you!) don’t step into the garden until June, early bloomers are doing essential behind the scenes work long before then. These plants, ephemerals, bulbs, and early perennials, are more than just fleeting spring accents. They are the backbone of a healthy, thriving ecosystem. From the delicate flicker of hoverflies to the gentle hum of bumblebees, many pollinators rely on early nectar and pollen sources to fuel their life cycles. Without these plants, we lose more than just spring color, we lose critical support for wildlife. When designing a garden, striking a balance between beauty and biodiversity is not optional, it’s essential.

Design Tip:

Layer in the Life

Think beyond just blooms. Consider foliage texture, seasonal transitions, and habitat value. Want a shade-loving beauty? Try Tiarella cordifolia (Foamflower) an excellent native ground cover with early blooming flower spikes. Need garden structure? Serviceberry are among the first to feed waking pollinators.

***Dodecatheon meadia (***Shooting Star)

**Arisaema triphyllum** *(Jack-in-the-Pulpit)*

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Spring Pollinator

Favorites

Tried-and-true choices from March to early May

Whether you're designing woodland nooks or sunny borders, these native and non-native favorites offer the perfect mix of early-season color and pollinator appeal:

Arisaema triphyllum (Jack-in-the-Pulpit): mysterious woodland intrigue
Crocus: one of the earliest nectar sources
Dicentra (Bleeding Heart): romantic blooms with pollinator appeal
Epimedium (Barrenwort): dainty blooms and drought-tolerant leaves
Galanthus (Snowdrops): delicate, essential, and deer-resistant
Helleborus (Hellebores): evergreen, long-lived, early blooming elegance
Phlox stolonifera (Woodland Creeping Phlox): low-growing and fragrant
Phlox subulata (Moss Phlox): sun-loving groundcover with vivid blooms
Polygonatum (Solomon’s Seal): native shade lover with graceful arches for woodland charm
Pulmonaria (Lungwort): speckled foliage, nectar-rich flowers
Sanguinaria canadensis (Bloodroot): native woodland wildflower that brings ephemeral beauty to early spring gardens
Tiarella cordifolia (Foamflower): native shade lover with soft texture
Trillium: iconic native wildflower for shady spaces
Zizia aurea (Golden Alexander) : native powerhouse for native bees

Whether you're designing for pollinators, planting for beauty, or ideally both, early spring is a season full of potential. These plants bring life and color when we need it most, and they quietly support the ecosystems that sustain our gardens all year long.

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Spring Steps

Take Action in Your Garden This Spring

Want to make the most of early spring? Here are a few simple steps to support pollinators and boost your garden’s beauty:

Plant in layers: Combine bulbs, perennials, and groundcovers to extend bloom time and visual interest.
Mix natives with non-natives: Ornamental plants are beautiful, but native species are often essential for native insects and ecosystems.
Leave the leaves: Delaying cleanup in early spring gives overwintering insects a chance to emerge safely.
Start small, plant thoughtfully: Even a few additions can make a big difference for early-season pollinators.
Observe and adjust: Watch which plants attract the most activity and build on those magnets next season.

Early spring might feel like a quiet season, but beneath the surface, your garden can be buzzing with life. With just a few intentional choices, you can turn your garden into a seasonal sanctuary, bursting with color, alive with movement, and full of purpose.

What will you

plant this spring?

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WILDFLOWERS OF MARTHA'S VINEYARD

April 5, 2026 Karen Logan

Wildflowers are some of the first flowers to emerge in the spring, sometimes overshadowed by the showier bulbs that dominate gardens in March and April. The wildflowers are demure cousins, shy and retiring, often hiding in the shade of overarching trees and shrubs.

Wildflowers available at Vineyard Gardens Nursery / credit : Keith Kurman

Spring is the best time to purchase young starter wildflower plants. Although wildflowers are notoriously challenging to grow, they can be slow to establish and may not survive through the winter, but once established they can spread into a respectable and beautiful patch, rewarding your efforts for years to come.

The hardest part about growing wildflowers is taking that first bold step. As you would with any plant the first step is to prepare the ground floor. Choose a spot where you often pass in the spring so you can monitor their growth and enjoy their diminutive blooms. Most New England wildflowers prefer a woodland soil with a thick layer, called “leaf mold”. That is the layer of decomposing leaves of the deciduous canopy overhead. The best, and most common are oak leaves. You can easily make starter oak leaf mold by raking up a pile of leaves and mowing it with the collection bag attached. This can be done in the fall when fresh leaves are plentiful. You can leave the pile until spring and it will be the perfect material to work with. The next step is to clear your planting area and break up the top layer of soil, a few inches. You can work in some compost but you don’t need to make your mix too rich, remember that most wildflowers grow in poor woodland soils. Then plant out your young wildflowers covering with only a few inches of soil. On top of this you can spread a nice thick layer of your leaf mold. You may need to do some supplemental watering for the first couple of years to help get them established.

We have some wonderful selections of wildflowers at the nursery. It is difficult for growers to keep wildflowers alive in containers because they either tend to get over watered or dried out. Their special needs are hard to meet when contained in a pot. Now is the best time to plant them so come by the nursery and help spread native beauty.

Here are a few of the types we have available:

TRILLIUM GRANDIFLORUM

Trillium is one of the most familiar of our New England wildflowers and one of the easier ones to grow. They will spread by reseeding so it can take several years to develop a substantial stand of them but well worth the wait!

Trillium grandiflorum pink or red form / credit: Wild Flowers by Homer D. House 1935 Pub. The Macmillan Company — Trillium grandiflorum pink or red form / credit: **Wild Flowers** by Homer D. House 1935 Pub. The Macmillan Company

SANGUINARIA CANADENSIS

Bloodroot is another of the easier wildflowers to grow. They are in the Poppy family and produce the latex that characterizes the tribe. You can guess what color the latex in Bloodroot is and it is copiously produced when any part of the plant is broken or damaged, so care should be be taken in handling them while planting. A nice thing about this appealing plant is that, while the flowering is ephemeral in the spring, the foliage remains strong and ornamental through the rest of the summer.

Bloodroot / credit: Wild Flowers by Homer D. House 1935 Pub. The Macmillan Company — Bloodroot / credit: **Wild Flowers** by Homer D. House 1935 Pub. The Macmillan Company

HEPATICA NOBILIS

With the unfortunate common name of ‘Liverwort’, coined apparently due to the similarity in the shape of its leaves to a liver, Hepatica is a charming, diminutive wild flower, closely related to Anemones, with nearly true blue flowers. It is known to grow well under Beech trees where most plants cannot. Its natural inclination is towards calcareous soils, though a challenge for our naturally acidic soils on the Island. The plant would therefore benefit from regular addition of lime to promote healthy growth.

MERTENSIA VIRGINICA

Mertensia or Virginia Bluebells, is another wonderful blue flowered wild flower. It’s not native to the Island but we’ve had very good luck growing it here in just about any soil or exposure, though it does prefer some protection and light shade. Perhaps the only challenge in growing Mertensia is that it almost completely disappears after flowering so it can be easy to forgotten and unearthed when planting something else. But while it is flowering there’s nothing like it. It’s quite floriferous over a long period in late spring and it’s intensely blue flowers draw the eye from a far distance.

We have a number of other wonderful shady woodland wildflowers, some we carry just as standard perennials like Cyclamen and Arisaema triphyllum (Jack in the Pulpit). You can find them in House 9 at the Nursery with the other perennials and ground covers.

For further information about the plants and their cultivation check out the New England Wildflower Society.

HARDY ANNUAL CUT FLOWERS

April 3, 2026 Karen Logan

Ammi visnaga 'Green Mist' a cousin to Queens Anne Lace

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HARDY ANNUAL

CUT FLOWERS

The Delight of Late Spring Bouquets

Have you ever longed for a garden that bursts into bloom early in the season, filled with flowers ready to be cut and arranged, lifting your spirits from the greys of winter? Hardy annuals might just be your new best friend. These resilient flowers thrive in cooler temperatures, one of the first to awaken your landscape as winter fades.

Learn more about Hardy Annuals & Succesion Gardening

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What are

Hardy Annuals?

Hardy annuals are flowers that complete their entire lifecycle, from seed to bloom to seed again, in one growing season. But unlike tender annuals, they can tolerate (and even prefer) the cooler temperatures of early spring and fall. Vineyard Gardens sows theirs in early winter to establish strong roots, rewarding you with a head start on blooms as soon as the temperatures rises.

Larkspur QIS Dark Blue with Papaver ‘Amazing Grey’

Centaurea cyanus 'Blue Boy' - ready to plant!

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Favorite Hardy

Annual Cut Flowers

Ready to Plant Today!

Want to get started? Here are some tried-and-true hardy annuals, sown in December at Vineyard Gardens, that are beautiful in your garden and on your table.

Agrostemma : Brings a delicate yet striking presence to garden borders and meadow plantings. Attracts pollinators. Adds ethereal quality to cut flower arrangements.
- Ocean Pearl
- Purple Queen
Ammi Majus ‘Select White’ : Delicate, lacy flowers that resemble Queen Anne’s Lace, adding a whimsical touch.
Ammi visnaga ‘Green Mist’ : Lacy, green-tinted white flower, that resembles Queen Anne’s lace, adding a soft, ethereal touch to garden borders and floral arrangements.
Antirrhinum majus (Snapdragons) Vibrant, long-lasting, and available in a variety of colors. Potomac Series is the best cut-flower snapdragons we will have this season. Hardened off outside and ready to go.
- Cherry Rose
- Dark Orange
- Potomac White
- Royal
Centaurea cyanus (Bachelor’s Buttons): Easy to grow. Frilled blooms atop slender, upright stems. Versatile addition to wildflower meadows, cottage gardens, and floral arrangements..
- Blue Boy
- Select Ultraviolet
- Lady Mauve
Larkspur: In the Delphiniums family, gorgeous flowers that will reseed in your sunny garden. Tall, elegant spires that add drama to any bouquet.
- Deep Blue
- Fancy Blue Purple
- Fancy Rose Striped
- Fancy Smokey Eyes
- Frosted Skies
- Misty Lavender
- QIS 'Lilac
- QIS 'Pure White'
- QIS 'White'
Lathyrus odoratus (Sweet Peas): Delicate tendrils, a sweet fragrance, and endless color options make these an old-fashioned favorite.
Orlaya 'White Lace' : Delicate, lacy white blooms resembling Queen Anne’s Lace. Soft airy appearance. Ready to be planted! A great cut flower.
Papaver commutatum (Lady Bird) : Bright red blooms with striking black spots, these poppies add a bold splash of color to bouquets. While their vase life is short, sealing the cut stem with a quick flame can help prolong their beauty.
Papaver:
- Bridal Silk
- Imperial Pink
- Papaver rhoeas
Salvia horminium : Vibrant, long blooming colorful, papery bracts in shades of pink, purple, and white. Bold color and unique texture add contrast in a cut flower arrangement.
- Pink Sunday
- Blue Monday
Scabiosa : Adds a bold contrast to garden borders and cut flower arrangements while attracting bees and butterflies.
- Black Knight
- Fata Morgana
- Merlot Red
- Oxford Blue

Cutting flowers encourages more blooms, so don’t be shy about filling your vases!

Want to dig deeper? Explore a couple of our favorite varieties below and tips for planting success!

Antirrhinum majus 'Snapdragons'

Lathyrus odoratus 'Sweet Peas'

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A Garden

That Gives Back

There’s something magical about stepping into the garden in late spring early summer, scissors in hand, and gathering a bouquet of homegrown blooms. Hardy annuals make this possible, bridging the gap between winter’s dormancy and the abundance of summer.

So why not carve out a little space in your garden for these cold-tolerant beauties?

Ladybird Poppies, Cornflower, Larkspur [illustration by karen blackerby logan]

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April Garden Tips

Learn more : Early Spring Color

APRIL GARDENING TIPS

April 1, 2026 Karen Logan

Dogwood illustration by karen blackerby logan

APRIL

GARDENING TIPS

Kickstart Your Garden for the Season!

Spring has arrived, and with it comes the excitement of a new gardening season! April is the perfect time to prep your yard, nourish your soil, and start planting for a lush and vibrant summer. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting, here are some essential tips to get your garden in top shape!

Chiondoxa photo by karen blackerby logan

Garden Clean-Up

Before diving into planting, clear away the remnants of fall and winter; dead leaves, broken branches, and debris that can harbor pests and diseases. We have a variety of gardening tools at the nursery to make clean-up easier!

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Soil Care

Healthy soil = healthy plants! Give your soil a boost by adding nutrient-rich compost and manure. We carry Coast of Maine compost and manure as well as Fafard products. Not sure what your soil needs? Use a soil testing kit (available at our nursery) to check its composition and adjust accordingly.

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Spring Annuals

Brighten up your garden beds and containers with spring annuals! Pansies are now available, and Sweet Alyssum will be ready soon. Plus, we’re excited to introduce a new selection of fall-sown Hardy Annuals, grown from seed by Andrew Wiley. Look for poppies, bachelor buttons (Centaurea cyanus), Queen Anne’s Lace (Ammi majus Select White), and more! Want to learn how to extend your blooms? Check out our blog post on Hardy Annuals.

Hardy Annuals

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Edibles: Time to Plant!

April is the season to plant cool-weather vegetables, small fruits, and fruit trees. Whether you’re dreaming of homegrown lettuce, berries, or apples, we have everything you need to get started.

COMPOSTING: Incorporate any green manure crops from fall plantings, along with compost or composted cow manure, by tilling them into the soil. A soil test for pH and nutrients will indicate whether lime or fertilizer is needed, which can be applied at the same time as these amendments and then tilled or dug in together. Compost options available at Vineyard Gardens.
PEAS & ONIONS can be planted now once the cold snap ends.
GARLIC: If you planted garlic last fall a side dress of fertilizer will get them growing again.
SEEDS: You can get a head start today by planting seeds of all the cool weather lovers like lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, leeks, inside to be planted out in 3 or so weeks. Fedco and Botanical Interest seeds are available at Vineyard Gardens. We also have all the supplies to start your own seeds, including seed starting soil mixes, jiffy pots and legume inoculant for your peas.
- Growing: Many seeds need light to germinate so it is best to plant them right on the surface. General planting depth rule is plant 2x the thickness of the seed. The tiny seeds go right on top of the soil. Keep slightly moist at all time until the germinate

Spring Edibles

Cool Weather Veggies

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Trees & Shrubs

Now is an ideal time to plant trees and shrubs! The rain that normally comes in April helps with the watering. The cool weather promotes underground root growth. Adding them to your landscape provides beauty, shade, and long-term benefits for the ecosystem.

Shrubs that bloom on the new growth can be pruned in early spring. Examples would be the panicle hydrangeas and caryopteris or blue mist shrub.
It is especially important to fertilize newer plantings, trees and shrubs that were planted in the last year or two. Fertilizing now will allow the rain to dissolve the fertilizer and get it into the root zone for the push of spring growth.

Spring Shrubs

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Pruning

Spring is the time to prune any diseased or dead wood from your trees and deciduous shrubs. This keeps them healthy and encourages strong new growth.

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Lawn Edging

A crisp lawn edge isn’t just for looks it also keeps mulch, rocks, and soil neatly separated from your grass. We carry heavy-duty black plastic edging in 10-foot sections to help define your garden beds.

Winter and early spring are great times to clean and sharpen tools.

Tool Maintenance: Sharpen & Clean

Before tackling your garden projects, take a moment to clean, sharpen, and oil your tools. This makes your work easier and extends the life of your equipment.

Tool Care Essentials:

A good pair of gloves, bypass pruner, lopper, disinfectant spray, and anti-bacterial wipes will make a big difference.
Need help sharpening your pruners, loppers, hedge shears, or pruning saws? Bring them to Vineyard Gardens, and Jeremiah Brown will sharpen them for you! (Fee applies.)
Don’t forget your spades and shovels. Keeping them sharp ensures smoother digging.
Pro Tip: Store your tools in a 5-gallon bucket filled with sand and old motor oil to clean and prevent rust.

Lawn Care: April is Prime Time!

April is the best month to fertilize and reseed your lawn. Grass thrives in cool weather, making spring the perfect time for new growth.

Fertilization Basics:

Grass needs a balance of macronutrients (N-P-K: Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium) and micronutrients.
We carry organic fertilizers that release nutrients slowly and inorganic options with higher N-P-K concentrations.
If you skipped liming your lawn in the fall, now is the time! Lime lowers soil acidity, but it takes months to take effect.

Weed Control & Seeding:

Apply pre-emergent weed control before Forsythia blooms.
Looking for an organic option? Try Corn Gluten, which prevents weed seeds from sprouting while adding nutrients.
For best results when seeding, add a layer of rich soil under the seed and keep it moist.

Important Fertilization Law on Martha’s Vineyard

Reminder: Fertilizers cannot be applied until April 15. This law helps protect local water sources by ensuring nutrients go into the growing grass instead of leaching into the groundwater.

Lawn Management

April is a month full of gardening possibilities; clean up, plant, and prep for a beautiful season ahead. Stop by the nursery for all your gardening needs, and let’s grow something amazing together!

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[Plant Profile] Hellebores

Learn About : Hardy Annual Cut Flowers

EARLY SPRING COLOR

March 30, 2026 Karen Logan

Azaleas [illustration karen blackerby logan]

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EARLY

SPRING BLOOMS

A Splash of Color for Your Landscape

Spring is here! The air is crisp, birds are filling the trees with song, and our garden center on State Road is open. Our greenhouse teams have been hard at work, waking up bulbs and sowing seeds, while landscape crews tackle spring clean-ups. With nature waking up, now is the perfect time to add vibrant color to your landscape! Here are some top early bloomers to consider:

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VIBURNUM

A Spring Favorite

Viburnums are a must-have for spring gardens, blooming from early spring through June. Their attractive fruit and beautiful fall foliage make them a year-round winner. The early spring blooming viburnum flowers are extremely fragrant. Viburnums will do well in full sun to part shade. They are used as specimens in shrub borders, foundation plantings, as hedges or screens. They are attractive to butterflies and birds and tolerate a broad range of soil conditions, including poor or compacted soils. Prune right after flowering. We carry several varieties, including the native Viburnum dentatum and the compact ‘Blue Muffin’ Viburnum for smaller spaces.

Learn more: VIBURNUMS

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MAGNOLIA

Magnolia ‘Royal Star’ : A Fragrant Beauty

One of the first trees to bloom in spring, Magnolia ‘Royal Star’ dazzles with large, fragrant white flowers that appear before the foliage. With excellent cold and heat tolerance, this small specimen tree or large shrub is a standout in any garden.

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FORSYTHIA

‘Lynwood Gold’: A Golden Welcome

For a burst of sunshine in early spring, Forsythia ‘Lynwood Gold’ is unbeatable. Its brilliant yellow flowers cover branches before lush green foliage emerges, with a hint of purple in the fall. A perfect way to brighten your landscape!

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PIERIS JAPONICA

Year-Round Interest

Pieris japonica is a broadleaf evergreen shrub that provides multiseason interest. In early spring, their cascading, delicate, bell shaped flowers bloom for about two weeks. The blooms range in color from white to pink. Simultaneously, bright pink, red, or bronze new foliage emerges, gradually transforming into glossy, oblong evergreen leaves. Beadlike flower buds form in late summer and hold steadfast through winter against their evergreen backdrop.

Deer resistant, slow growing and shade tolerant, Pieris japonica are ideal for adding year round color to mixed borders.

Learn more : PIERIS JAPONICA

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AZALEAS &

RHODODENDRONS

Bold Spring Color

These beloved spring bloomers provide vibrant color and lush greenery. Rhododendrons and Azaleas abundant blooms are welcomed first thing in spring. Rhododendrons dark green leaves, mature height and width make great screening! Azaleas are in the rhododendron family. There are both evergreen and deciduous varieties available. ‘Most’ deciduous azaleas bloom after the evergreen azaleas. They will bloom on old wood before the plant has leafed out for the year.

Rhododendrons are shallow rooted plants that grow as an understory in the woodlands, like in the Blue Ridge Mountains. They are also found in various parts of Asia, like China and Nepal. They grow in high elevations because they like it cool.

Rhododendron maximum : (Native) A large broadleaf evergreen reaching up to 15ft by 12ft wide. They prefer to grow in cool, moist spots with well drained soil, part shade to full shade. They have dense, large leathery leaves with rose-purplish to pink to white blooms.
Grandiflorum Catawba: (Native)The Catawba evergreen rhody reaches 6-8’ ft tall & wide and has lilac-purple, trumpet-shaped flowers. It is beautiful planted in a grouping, as an informal hedge or a mixed or woodland border.
Rhododendron cawtabiense, also called cawtaba rhododendrons:

Roseum Elegans: Medium sized broadleaf evergreen shrub that reaches 9-12’ tall and wide. Beautiful rose-lilac colored flowers. Best along a woodland border.
Chinoides Rhododendrons: A smaller rhody that gets to about 4’ with white bell shaped flowers. Outstanding for use as an informal hedge or foundation plant.
Cunningham’s White: A smaller rhody that gets to about 4’. It’s a perfect middle-of-the-border flowering shrub. A natural under oaks and older coniferous trees. Also perfect in the woodland understory and in wild gardens.

Hybrids developed by Weston Nurseries.

PJM: A durable rhody that tolerates heat as well as cold. An excellent choice for borders, mass plantings, or containers. PJM’s are smaller leafed rhodies with bright laveder purple blooms.
Olga Mezzit: A compact smaller leaf evergreen. More heat and sun tolerant than other varieties. An excellent choice for borders, mass planting, or containers.

Many of the deciduous azaleas are native, including viscosum and its hybrids.

Rhododendron viscosum: (Native) Native to Martha’s Vineyard! Gorgeous and fragrant.

They need to be watered often when newly planted!
Rhododendrons benefit from an application of mulch to keep moisture in the soil for their shallow roots.

To see these deciduous azaleas in their full splendor they will be blooming in a few weeks at the Polly Hill Arboretum!

Learn More: BROADLEAF EVERGREENS

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MORE SPRING

BLOOMING SHRUBS

ORNAMENTAL CHERRIES, RED BUD, AND SAND CHERRIES

Spring is short—make the most of it! Visit us on State Road to find the perfect shrubs for your garden and bring your landscape to life.

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Learn About: HARDY ANNUALS

COOL WEATHER VEGGIES

COOL WEATHER VEGGIES

March 24, 2026 Karen Logan

Lettuce, herbs and lavender illustration by karen blackerby logan

COOL WEATHER

VEGGIES & GREENS

Grow Your Own Greens!

Fresh, homegrown greens bring vibrant flavor and nutrition to your table. Cool weather veggies like lettuce, spinach, arugula, kale, endive and broccoli thrive in early spring, making them perfect for an early start to your garden. Onions thrive in northern climates, and timing is key for a flavorful harvest. Whether you’re growing bunching onions, leeks, or classic yellow and red varieties, planting them early gives them a strong start before summer’s heat. These cool-season crops develop robust roots when started early, ensuring a crisp, homegrown bounty for your kitchen. Don’t wait, get these cool weather veggies and greens in the ground and watch them flourish!

Cool weather greens growing in our greenhouse

First plant a round of our early seeded six packs of greens, then direct sow a second batch in mid April for a continuous harvest!.

Start Indoors First: Other herbs and cool-weather vegetables benefit from an early start indoors before transplanting as seedlings.
Direct Seed in Mid-April: Lettuces and cilantro can be sown directly into the garden once the soil is workable.

We’ve Got You Covered!

🌿 We grow a wonderful selection of greens and cool-weather veggies from seed, available in convenient plant packs.
🌿 Looking to start from scratch? We also offer a diverse variety of high-quality seeds from Fedco and Botanical Interest to get your garden growing!

Leafy greens like cooler temperatures to produce quick, tender leaves for your salads and cooking. The earlier you get them in the ground the better!

St. Patrick's Day is traditionally when you plant your peas out in the garden. If you missed it we've got you covered. Peas like to do most of their growth in cool temperatures.

We always start a bountiful selection of leafy salad greens.

“It's nearly springtime when a person’s thoughts should hopefully turn to ....... vegetables! That's right it's time to start our vegetable gardens. Even though our frost free date is technically May 1st, this is a great time of year to start our cool loving vegetables. There are many vegetables that can handle the light frosts we get this time of year. If a colder night were to be predicted, in the high 20s, you can cover your freshly planted vegetables with Reemay, plastic or an old sheet to protect them from the frost. At this point, most greens can be planted and some, like spinach, do much better in cooler weather than in the summer. Broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage are known as cole crops, which sounds like cold crops, all do very well planted at this time a year too. While kids don't always like the spicy taste of radishes, they are a great vegetable for them to plant as they come up in a matter of days and are ready to pick in a few short weeks. “ - Chuck Wiley, founder of Vineyard Gardens Landscaping

The Spring Vegetable Garden

Cool Weather Veggies to Plant

These hardy crops thrive in spring’s crisp temperatures:

Leafy Greens: Many types of lettuce including Spinach, Endive, Swiss Chard, Mustards and Collards
Peas: Don’t forget to plant your peas. Soak before seeding, it speeds up germination. They imbibe and more easily split the seed coat so the radicle can anchor itself down to become the root system. The two cotyledons then emerge, sometimes the seed coat stays attached to one of the cotyledons. It’s so beautiful watching the birth of a plant. We have hundreds of plants being born every day at Vineyard Gardens.
Brassicas: We will have a variety of broccolis in packs, such as Calabrese, Romanesco, Waltham, Cauliflower Snowball, Cabbage & Kale

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Herbs

NOW IS THE TIME TO PLANT SOME HERBS! COME CHECK OUT OUR HERB HOUSE & HERB GARDEN!

ANNUAL HERBS: Cilantro, Parsley, Dill, Chervil, Lemon Grass, Lemon Verbena and Rosemary
PERENNIAL HERBS: Thyme. Sage, Mint, Tarragon, Savory and Lemon Balm

Eat Local Grow It in Your Own Backyard!

There’s nothing fresher than harvesting your own greens straight from the garden. Start early, plant with care, and enjoy delicious, homegrown goodness all season long!

SPRING CHECKLIST

MARCH GARDEN TIPS

HARDY ANNUALS

March 17, 2026 Karen Logan

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HARDY ANNUALS

The Magic of Succession Gardening

Ever notice a lull in your garden between spring’s bloom and summer’s peak? That’s where hardy annuals shine, seamlessly filling the gaps and keeping the garden alive with color and movement. This technique, known as succession gardening, ensures a continuous display while supporting pollinators.

In December, we seeded a vibrant mix of cornflowers, poppies, Queen Anne’s lace, larkspur, and sweet peas, all carefully timed to establish strong root systems before winter. With early planting (as soon as March or April), these hardy annuals burst into bloom just when the garden needs them most, creating a dynamic, ever-changing landscape. Hardy annuals bloom early and will flower through June and some into July. In addition to blooming in June, these annuals knit together a beautiful planting scheme with the evolving summer perennials.

Learn more about Andrew Wiley's poetic gardening style

Vineyard Gardens Display bed in June filled with hardy annuals and biennials

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Why Hardy Annuals?

Extended bloom time: Last year, poppies planted on March 15 bloomed through July 4!
Strong root systems: Early winter seeding promotes healthier, more resilient plants.
Pollinator-friendly: A rich nectar source when other flowers are scarce.
Seamless integration: They blend naturally into garden beds as perennials take over.

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Best Uses for

Hardy Annuals

🌿 GARDEN BEDS: Hardy Annuals fill empty spaces and create a natural flow with perennials. All the hardy annuals we carry are perfect for your formal or informal flower gardens, landscapes or cottage gardens.

🌿 MASS PLANTINGS: A striking, meadow-like effect with minimal effort.

🌿 CUT FLOWERS: Hardy Annuals are great cut flowers! Below is a selection that are beautiful in your garden and on your table.

Larkspur
Sweet peas
Centaurea (Corn Flowers)
Scabiosa
Snap dragons (Antirrhinum)
Ammi majus/ Ammi majus 'Select White'
Ammi visnaga 'Green Mist'
Agrostemma (Both Colors)
Orlaya
Papaver: You must cauterize them (burn the tip of the stem with a lighter) in order for the bloom to last longer after cut.

🌿 CONTAINERS: Hardy Annuals provide early-season lush foliage and color with a mix of tall and trailing varieties. All the hardy annuals we carry are beautiful in containers.

Tall Plants: Cornflowers (36”), Queen Anne’s Lace, Larkspur
Front of Border/Containers: Asperula orientalis ‘Cloud Nine’ (long-blooming)
Other Selections: Poppies, Bellis, Variegated Vinca

🌿 WINDOW BOXES: Shorter hardy annuals are great for lining the front edge of a window boxes.

Asperula: Bloom mid April through the end of June
Papaver : Bloom May through second week of July

With a little planning, hardy annuals transform a garden’s “quiet moments” into a season of abundance.

Want to dig deeper? Explore a couple of our favorite varieties below and tips for planting success!

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Available Now!

List of flowering annuals that we have grown from seed that are available now!

Lobularia benthamii
Malcolmia maritima
Malcolmia maritima ‘Choice Mix’
Mathiola bicornis
Nigella ‘African Bride’
Nigella ‘Delft Blue’
Nigella ‘Miss Jekyll Indigo’
Nigella ‘Miss Jekyll Light Blue’
Papaver ‘Amazing Grey’
Papaver ‘Angel’s Choir’
Papaver ‘Drama Queen’
Papaver ‘Hungarian Blue’
Papaver ‘Ladybird’
Papaver ‘Monet’
Papaver rhoeas
Papaver ‘Sissinghurst White’
Papaver ‘White Cloud’
Salvia coccinea
Salvia sclarea ‘Blue Monday’
Salvia viridis ‘Rose’
Scabiosa ‘Blue Cocade’
Scabiosa ‘Fata Morgana’

Agrostemma 'Ocean Pearl'
Ammobium grandiflorum
Ammi majus
Ammi visnaga 'Green Mist'
Antirrhinum ‘Black Prince’
Antirrhinum ‘F1 Lavender’
Antirrhinum ‘Potomac Cherry Rose’
Antirrhinum ‘Potomac Orange’
Antirrhinum ‘Potomac White’
Bellis perennis
Calendula ‘Neon’
Calendula ‘Pacific Beauty Apricot’
Centaurea cyanus 'Blue Boy'
Centaurea ‘Pinkie’
Dahlia coccinea
Daucus carota
Eschscholzia ‘Purple Gleam’
Eschscholzia ‘White Linen’
Foeniculum vulgare
Gypsophila ‘Covent Garden’
Larkspur 'Light Blue'
Linaria ‘Northern Lights’

Antirrhinum (Snapdragons) are part of the Potomac series and Centaurea cyanus (Bachelor Buttons or Cornflowers), are both excellent cut flowers.

Sweet Peas

Hardy Annual Cut Flowers

Snapdragons

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VINEYARD GARDENS

DISPLAY BED

In June our display bed is in it’s full glory filled with hardy annuals and biennials. A tapestry of texture and color.

March Gardening Tips

Spring Checklist

SUCCESSION GARDENING

March 15, 2026 Karen Logan

Digitalis purpurea illustration by karen blackerby logan

SUCCESSION

GARDENING

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There is a time in early summer when groups of perennials are either ending their season or just starting their growth spurts. During this ‘in-between’ period in June, the addition of hardy annuals effectively bridges the blooming gap filling in the empty space of spent perennials. This strategic planting is known as succession gardening, a layered gardening style that has continuous blooms throughout the season. Succession gardening breathes more color, cut flowers, birds and bees into the garden.

We seeded an assortment of hardy annuals last fall, such as Cornflowers (Centaurea cyanus), Ladybird poppies (Papaver commutatum), Rose of Heaven (Silene ‘Blue Angel’), Larkspurs, Feverfew, Queen Anne’s Lace (Ammi Majus), Snapdragons (Antirrhinum) and some biennials like Lychnis coronaria, Digitalis purpurea (hybrids) and Verbascums that bloom early and will flower through June and some into July. In addition to blooming in June, these annuals knit together a beautiful planting scheme with the evolving summer perennials.

Hardy annuals can be used both in formal gardens and natural settings.

SUCCESSION GARDENING TIPS

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The flowers of hardy annuals can occupy negative space in June and then the foliage of neighboring perennials fill that space in July.

Hardy annuals are best planted early, typically around mid march, depending on the weather. Planted early they will give you the maximum desired effect.
Vineyard Gardens has a great selection of our fall sown hardy annuals that are available now and ready to plant.
These plants can be directly sown in the spring but will not give you the size, vigor or highly anticipated jaw dropping display due to the warmer temperatures as spring progresses.

Alternatively, hardy annuals can be removed in July and replaced with tender annuals.

Tender annuals include Cosmos, Dahlias, Tagetes, Browalia, Ageratum, Coleus, Impatiens or Cleome.

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SUCCESSION PLANTING - GREAT DIXTER

MARCH GARDEN TIPS

VINEYARD GARDEN'S SEED PROJECT

March 9, 2026 Karen Logan

VINEYARD GARDENS

SEED PROJECT

Believe it or not, spring is just around the corner! At our in-house growing facility, seedlings are beginning to emerge, and a new season is taking shape. The anticipation is palpable as we prepare for another year of vibrant growth.

A Botanical Haven on Martha’s Vineyard

Vineyard Gardens Nursery, located in West Tisbury, is a five-acre botanical paradise featuring ten thriving greenhouses. Established over 30 years ago with just a single greenhouse, it has grown into an island staple, a flourishing nursery and landscaping hub.

Rooted in deep horticultural expertise, Chris and Chuck Wiley, along with their two sons Alan and Andrew, have nurtured what began as a modest landscaping company into a full-scale plant production center. Their passion for growing healthy, hardy plants has driven them to cultivate many plants from seed, ensuring the highest quality for their customers.

From Seed to Sprout: The Magic Behind the Scenes

To support this in-house production, the Wileys developed VG2, a dedicated five-acre growing site. Equipped with both indoor and outdoor growing spaces, it features four expansive 100-foot greenhouses. One of these is specially designed for seed germination, where temperature, humidity, and automated mist-watering systems create the perfect environment for new life to take root. This is where the majority of our vegetables, herbs, annuals, and perennials begin their journey.

“The range of plants we germinate at VG2 is extensive,” Chris explains. “We start a few hundred varieties, mostly annuals, but we always seed a dozen or more perennials, trees, and shrubs as well. The biggest challenge is timing, having crops ready at the right moment and in the right quantities. Sometimes we overproduce, but more often, we sell out quickly!” Thanks to this dedicated production site, Vineyard Gardens Nursery remains stocked with beautiful, healthy plants all season long.

A Passion for Growing, A Love for Edibles

Chris speaks about plant production with the enthusiasm of a proud parent. She can effortlessly discuss the diverse array of plants she cultivates in English, Latin, and Spanish, her excitement making you want to dig in and start growing yourself.

“But our proudest moment is in spring,” she beams, “when we see our amazing display of vegetable packs, seeded and grown right here. This year we have moved to deeper packs for our greens because we know it’s all about an extensive root system determining the vitality of what we get above ground. More and more customers are embracing edible gardening, and we love being part of that journey. We grow a wide variety of greens, including Asian greens like Chinese cabbage, bok choy, and tatsoi. We even seed a Brazilian vegetable called Jilót and sell over 500 of them! We also grow Couve or Brazilian Collards and this year we are growing four different Brazilian peppers including, Buiquino and Bishops Cap which did great last year.” She adds with a smile, “Right now, our cool-weather crops are thriving in the greenhouses.”

Ready to Grow? We’re Here to Help!

With decades of expertise and an ever-growing ambition to cultivate, Vineyard Gardens is ready to support you in your gardening journey. Whether you're looking for seasonal flowers, robust vegetables, or specialty greens, our team is here to help you plant, nurture, and grow with confidence.

BIENNIALS

GARDENERS and POETS

MYSTERIOUS, LIKE MAGIC

THE SOUL OF THE GARDEN

The Foundation of the Garden:

Understanding Your Soil pH and Nutrients

The pH Scale: Acid vs. Alkaline

The "Blue" Hydrangea Secret

Vegetables and Lawns

Testing, Not Guessing

Decoding the Numbers: N-P-K

Protecting Our Ponds

What to Use Now

“It is always a good idea to test the soil for your lawns, flowers, vegetable gardens and almost anything you’re trying to grow!” Chuck Wiley, co-owner of Vineyard Gardens

MAY

GARDENING TIPS

ANNUALS: Cool-Weather Favorites Are Ready to be Planted

SOIL CARE: Feed the Foundation

FERTILIZE: Give Last Year’s Plantings a Boost

MULCH: Nature’s Blanket

PERENNIALS: Time to Plant and Divide!

VEGETABLE GARDENS: Plant Now, Harvest Later

TREES & SHRUBS: Perfect Planting Weather

PRUNE: Out With the Old

LAWN CARE: Out With the Old

Always think ahead when gardening. Timing is everything!

BONES OF THE GARDEN

Broadleaf evergreens

The Benefits of Broadleaf Evergreens

Most broadleaf evergreens have a spectacular display of spring blooms!

BROADLEAF EVERGREENS

SKIP CHERRY LAURELS

MAHONIA

AZALEAS

To see these deciduous azaleas in their full splendor they will be blooming in a few weeks at the Polly Hill Arboretum!

BUXUS (BOXWOOD)

HOLLIES

American holly, Ilex opaca

Inkberry, Ilex glabra

Winterberry, Ilex verticillata

and even more holly varieties are available!

TIME TO PLANT YOUR POPPIES

FRAGRANT

FLOWERING

SHRUBS & VINES

VIBURNUM

LILACS

Plant your lilacs in full sun, well drained, rich soil and you will have fresh lilac bouquets every spring!

ROSES

HONEYSUCKLE

Hummingbirds love them!

CLEMATIS

AZALEAS

CLETHRA

CARING FOR YOUR LAWN WHILE CARING FOR THE ISLAND

HERBS

Now is the time to plant some herbs! Come check out our herb house & herb garden.

PERENNIAL HERBS

Sage, Thyme, Lavender, Chives & Tarragon

SAGE

CHIVES

THYME

LAVENDER

TIMING IS KEY IN GARDENING! DON’T WAIT TO GET STARTED!

THE SPRING

VEGETABLE GARDEN

GROWING EARLY

SPRING EDIBLES

SMALL FRUITS & FRUIT TREES

TIMING IS KEY IN GARDENING! DON’T WAIT TO GET STARTED!

STRAWBERRIES

Growing potted Strawberries

Planting Bare Root Strawberries

BLUEBERRIES

Blueberries must be planted in early spring!

GRAPES & FRUIT TREES

Spring is the best time to plant grapes and all fruit trees!

ASPARAGUS & POTATOES

EAT LOCAL, GROW IT IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD!

Spring Magic

Important Fertilization Law on Martha’s Vineyard