EARLY SPRING COLOR

March 28, 2025 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. For smaller gardens, Weston hybrid Azaleas offer a compact alternative.

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

[PLANT PROFILE] WITCH HAZEL

March 27, 2025 Karen Logan

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WITCH HAZEL

Hamamelis × intermedia

A Four-Season

Marvel

Witch hazels are a captivating addition to any garden, offering year-round interest with their fragrant winter blooms, stunning fall color, and unique branching structure. At our nursery, we carry some of the finest cultivars of Hamamelis × intermedia: ‘Primavera,’ ‘Jelena,’ ‘Diane,’ and ‘Arnold’s Promise.’ For a beautiful display, a visit to the Polly Hill Arboretum is highly recommended, where their well-established collection showcases these plants in full bloom.

Hamamelis x intermedia 'Ostergold’ in it’s full spring glory at Poll Hill Arboretum [photo by Sofia Wiley]

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Seasonal Interest

WINTER BLOOMS : One of the most enchanting qualities of Hamamelis × intermedia is its ability to bloom in mid- to late winter, long before other plants awaken from dormancy. Its delicate, ribbon-like flowers emerge in shades of yellow, copper, orange, and red, depending on the cultivar, filling the air with a sweet fragrance.

SPRING & SUMMER APPEAL : As spring arrives, witch hazels leaf out with fresh green foliage, blending seamlessly into a woodland setting. They serve as a lovely backdrop for later-blooming perennials and shrubs.

FALL COLOR : Come autumn, witch hazel foliage transforms into a vibrant display of gold, orange, and red. This seasonal transition adds another dimension to their beauty, making them a true multi-season performer.

YEAR-ROUND STRUCTURE : Even in winter, their distinctive branching pattern provides architectural interest in the landscape, making them a valuable addition for structure and texture.

Hamamelis mollis 'Princeton Gold' [photo by Sofia Wiley]

Hamamelis x intermedia 'Aphrodite' [photo by Sofia Wiley]

Hamamelis x intermedia 'Angelly' [photo by Sofia Wiley]

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Growing & Care

Sunlight: Best flowering occurs in full sun, but witch hazels can also tolerate partial shade.
Soil: Prefers moist, acidic, and organically rich soils for optimal growth.
Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially in dry periods.
Pruning: Minimal pruning is needed—just remove dead or crossing branches to maintain shape.
Spacing: These shrubs can spread 10-15 feet wide, so allow ample room for growth.
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Low Maintenance

While Hamamelis × intermedia is not native, it does not self-seed or become invasive, making it a responsible choice for gardens that prioritize ecological harmony. It thrives in woodland settings, blending beautifully with native trees and shrubs while providing a much-needed splash of color during the bleakest months of the year.

Hamamelis x intermedia 'Ostergold [photo by Sofia Wiley]

Hamamelis ‘Arnold’s Promise’ available at Vineyard Gardens [photo by Sofia Wiley]

Stop by Vineyard Gardens to explore our selection and then take a trip to the Polly Hill Arboretum to witness these stunning plants in full bloom!

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Learn About : HARDY ANNUALS

Learn About : OUR SPRING SALE

HARDY ANNUALS

March 24, 2025 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.

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!

Antirrhinum (Snapdragons) are part of the Potomac series which are excellent cut flowers.
Centaurea cyanus are also known as Bachelor Buttons or Cornflowers.

Larkspur 'Fancy Rose Striped'

Larkspur 'Fancy Smokey Eyes'
Larkspur 'Frosted Skies'
Larkspur 'Misty Lavender'
Larkspur QIS 'Lilac'
Larkspur QIS 'Pure White'
Larkspur QIS 'White'
Orlaya 'White Lace'
Papaver 'Imperial Pink'
Papaver 'Lady Bird'
Papaver rhoeas
Scabiosa 'Black Knight'
Scabiosa 'Fata Morgana'
Scabiosa 'Merlot Red'
Scabiosa 'Oxford Blue'

Agrostemma 'Ocean Pearl'

Agrostemma 'Purple Queen'
Ammi visnaga 'Green Mist'
Ammi majus 'Select White'
Antirrhinum majus 'Cherry Rose'
Antirrhinum majus 'Dark Orange'
Antirrhinum majus 'Potomac White'
Antirrhinum majus 'Royal'
Asperula orientalis
Asperula orientalis ‘Cloud Nine’
Centaurea cyanus 'Blue Boy'
Centaurea cyanus 'Select Ultraviolet'
Centaurea cyanus ‘Lady Mauve”
Larkspur 'Deep Blue'
Larkspur 'Fancy Blue Purple'

Lathyrus odoratus / Sweet Peas

Antirrhinum majus / 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.

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spring checklist

need help this spring?

[PLANT PROFILE] SWEET PEAS

March 19, 2025 Karen Logan

SWEET PEAS

Lathyrus odoratus

A Fragrant Climbing Favorite

Sweet peas are a hardy annual that thrive in cool weather and full sun, producing an abundance of blooms from late spring through fall. Their delicate tendrils eagerly climb trellises, fences, or arbors, bringing vibrant color and a light, sweet fragrance to the garden. Reminiscent of classic cottage gardens, their scent and charm make them a favorite among gardeners and flower lovers alike.

Part of Andrew Wiley’s Hardy Annual Seed Project, these sweet peas were sown in the fall to develop stronger roots, resulting in longer-lasting flowers and a more robust growing season. Regular watering, deadheading, and support for climbing will keep them flourishing. When plants reach about 8 inches tall, pinching the central stem encourages more branching and fuller growth.

A top choice for cut flowers, sweet peas look stunning in bouquets and bloom more when harvested regularly. Whether left to climb in the garden or brought indoors, they bring beauty and fragrance wherever they grow.

SWEET PEAS A GREAT CHOICE FOR CUT FLOWERS!

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SOWING

SWEET PEAS

Follow these simple steps to set your plants up for success.

1. Prepare the Soil

Dig a large hole and mix in plenty of compost—sweet peas thrive in rich, well-draining soil.
Choose a sunny spot for the best growth and yield.

2. Planting & Supporting

For best results, plant sweet pea seedlings before they become root-bound to avoid root disturbance.
Provide a support structure like bamboo canes or trellises to help vines climb.

3. Water & Feed

Keep soil consistently moist, but not waterlogged, especially as plants begin to grow and flower.
Apply a balanced fertilizer regularly—peas are heavy feeders and need extra nutrients to thrive.

4. Maintenance for Continuous Growth

Deadhead (remove spent blooms) from sweet peas to encourage flowering into late summer or even fall.
Cut Sweet Peas frequently to keep plants producing.

WITH PROPER CARE, YOUR SWEET PEAS WILL REWARD YOU WITH LUSH BLOOMS ALL SEASON LONG!

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NOW AVAILABLE!

A variety of hardy annual Sweet Pea seedlings Andrew sowed in the fall are now ready to be planted out!

High Scent
**Cupanis Original**
**Elegance Lavender**
**April in Paris**
**Raspberry Twirl**
**Queen of Hearts**

**Mermaids Dream**
**Enchante**
**Zinfandel**
**Royal Wedding**
**Watermelon**
**Strawberry Fields**

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spring checklist

need a hand this spring?

[PLANT PROFILE] HELLEBORE

March 13, 2025 Karen Logan

HELLEBORES

LENTEN ROSE

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On a walk through Coastal Maine Botanical Garden last year at the beginning of May, one of the many surprises I stumbled upon were the enormous array of Hellebores dappled throughout the shade gardens. I was mesmerized by their range of colors from deep red to shades of pink and white. In the shade of the Giles Rhododendron and Perennial Garden, swaths of Hellebores were groundcover for the Rhododendrons and Azaleas. I have always been in awe of Hellebore’s unique flower structure and evergreen foliage but witnessing it in these numbers was just glorious.

Hellebores awaken in mid April when they begin to put on a show with their abundant blooms. Their flowers last for several weeks and once the petals have faded, the sepals, which look like a flower, remain attractive for several months. The sturdy evergreen foliage is appealing well into the winter months. With all their different stages they are the plant that keeps on giving from spring to winter.

Hellebores are perfect in woodland gardens and in shady areas under deciduous trees.

Helebore at Maine Coastal Botanical Garden

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GROWING CONDITIONS & CARE

Easy to grow
12 x 24” H. Spreads over time
Drought tolerant but thrives in slightly moist conditions
Sensitive to poor drainage
Cold hardy and tough
Rabbit and deer resistant
Perfect along shaded borders and woodland gardens
Beautiful when planted under deciduous trees as a ground cover
After a long winter, the large evergreen leaves look flattened and tattered. Remove the worst of these before the flower stalks begin to grow. Do not remove leaves prior to that or may harm plant.

Hellebore

Helleborus orientalis 'Pink Lady' Lenten Rose

Helleborus x hybridus

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HELLEBORES AVAILABLE AT VINEYARD GARDEN

Hellebore Ice N' Roses® Bianco (Monrovia)
Hellebore Ice N' Roses® Red (Monrovia)
HelleboreIce N' Roses® Rosado (Monrovia)
Helleborus x iburgensis Ice N' Roses® Merlot Hellebore (Monrovia)
Hellebore Ice N' Roses® Rose (Monrovia)
Helleborus Paris in Pink (Walter’s Garden)
Helleborus Rio Carnival (Walter’s Garden)
Helleborus Romantic Getaway (Walter’s Garden)
Helleborus Maid of Honor (Walter’s Garden)

Helleborus Wedding Bells (Walter’s Garden)
Helleborus Spanish Flare (Walter’s Garden)
Helleborus New York Night (Walter’s Garden)
Helleborus Rome in Red (Walter’s Garden)
Helleborus Snowbells (Walter’s Garden)
Helleborus French Kiss (Walter’s Garden)
Helleborus Sandy Shores (Walter’s Garden)
Helleborus Ivory Prince (Walter’s Garden)
Helleborus Irish Luck (Walter’s Garden)

A hardy, deer resistant perennial with evergreen foliage, long-blooming flowers and multi seasonal interest!

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APRIL GARDEN TIPS

EARLY SPRING COLOR

COOL WEATHER VEGGIES & GREENS

March 10, 2025 Karen Logan

Lettuce, herbs and lavender illustration by karen blackerby logan

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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!

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!

Cool weather greens growing in our greenhouse

Cool Weather Veggies to Plant

These hardy crops thrive in spring’s crisp temperatures:
🌿 Brassicas: Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Kale
🌿 Leafy Greens: Many types of lettuce including Spinach, Endive, Swiss Chard, Mustards and Collards

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!

MARCH GARDENING TIPS

March 6, 2025 Karen Logan

Lilac illustration by karen blackerby logan

MARCH

GARDEN TIPS

Vineyard Gardens Landscaping is available to help with your gardening needs!

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PRUNE

Its a good idea to sterilize the pruning shears with a 10% bleach solution to avoid passing diseases from cut to cut
Good time to prune fruit trees, raspberries and grape
Grapes should be pruned now before the weather warms up as they will “bleed sap” if done during warmer weather
Fruit trees should be pruned now to maintain healthy branch structure and to reduce the total number of fruits per branch. If a branch has too many fruits they will tend to be small and often fall off. If allowed to reach maturity the branch could break from too much weight.
It’s easier to see the branch structure before the plant leafs out. Remove damaged or crossing branches, and especially for fruit trees waterspouts which are small branches growing straight up through the tree.
Prune any trees damaged by winter storms
Prune PG Hydrangeas but NOT macrophyllas
Prune Crape myrtles and any late season blooming plants, like hypericum, caryopteris

Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’ needs to be cut back before they start to awaken in Spring, now is a good time to do it if you haven’t already.

SPRAY

One spray to prevent Peach leaf Curl (Sulfur or Copper based fungicides). Peaches should be sprayed with a lime sulfur solution which is organic and highly efficient at stopping peach leaf curl, a very common disease that weakens the tree.

GARDEN CLEANUP

If you haven’t cleaned up your garden beds definitely do it now

DESIGN

Plan and design your plantings and garden beds

TOP DRESS

Add a 1-2 inch layer of compost, rich in organic matter, over the top of your garden beds. Plants will come up right through it. The organic matter in compost is already broken down. The nutrients will slowly leach down with the spring rains and be available to be up taken by roots when plants are ready to grow. Do not use mulch as a top dressing as the larger bark chunks rob the soil of nitrogen in the breakdown process. If you are going to mulch on top of the top dressing of organic matter, spread some fertilizer under the mulch to supply nutrients for decomposition. For new beds or vegetable gardens waiting to be planted you can add more than 1-2 inches of organic matter on top, or the organic matter can be rototilled in, mixing it a few inches into the soil.

Top dressing bulb areas and lightly fertilize bulb areas before they come up any further
Top dress your veggie garden
Its still a bit early to fertilize as the plants aren't actively taking up nutrients and with a lot of rain the fertilizer could leach or run off instead of being used by the plants.

SEEDLINGS

Start cool weather seedlings indoors to be planted out by the end of March or beginning of April
Later in the month start your warm weather seedlings indoors. These will get planted out in May
There is still time to order flower and vegetable seeds
Do not work wet soil in vegetable gardens as that leads to compaction the last thing you want to happen to your soil

plant of the year 2025

**Clustered Mountainmint**

VINEYARD GARDEN'S SEED PROJECT

March 4, 2025 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.

Spring is coming—let’s get growing!

[PLANT PROFILE] PIERIS JAPONICA

March 27, 2024 Karen Logan

PIERIS JAPONICA

(ANDROMEDA)

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

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GROWING CONDITIONS & CARE

Pieris japonica are beautiful year round. They are easy to grow but need to be shielded from rough weather conditions, such as intense wind or rain and do not do well in soggy soil. Keep soil moist and well drained.

Growth: 9–12 ft. tall, 6–8 ft. wide, slow growing
Light: Sun, partial shade. In Martha’s Vineyard is can be treated as a full sun plant.
Soil: Prefers rich, acidic, moist but well-drained soil
Bloom Time: Late winter, early spring
Flower Color: White, pink
Deer resistant!!
Good choice for foundations and shrub borders
Smaller dwarf varieties can also be planted in containers

(photo credit Ray Ewing)

photo: Ray Ewing

PXL_20230505_173639208.PORTRAIT.ORIGINAL.jpg

Pieris japonica in late winter

PXL_20240327_150028329.PORTRAIT.ORIGINAL.jpg

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HAPPY GARDENING!

[PLANT PROFILE] NARCISSUS

March 19, 2024 Karen Logan

NARCISSUS

(DAFFODIL)

Narcissus, commonly called Daffodils, are hardy spring flowering perennials that come back year after year. They are harbingers of spring, announcing that winter is coming to an end. The large, yellow common daffodil is one of the most ubiquitous springtime plants. There are 40 different species of Narcissus varying in size and ranging in color from white to yellow. They are a great cut flower.

“Plant daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, and crocuses together at the edge of a path or walkway. As the flowers bloom in succession, they’ll mask each other’s dying foliage.” Gardenista

Vineyard Gardens Nursery Front Garden Bed filled with Narcissus

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GROWING CONDITIONS & CARE

Narcissus are spring blooming bulbs that are best planted in September or October. They go dormant in the winter and will bloom year after year while multiplying.

Flowering bulbs best to plant in autumn
Light: Sun or some shade
Plant in clumps in well drained soil
Deer resistant!!
Flowers should be removed (deadheaded) as they fade.
After flowering, let the leaves die down naturally for at least six weeks before removal.

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NARCISSUS AVAILABLE AT VINEYARD GARDENS THIS YEAR

Our Netherland forced bulbs that we potted up in the fall are now available!

Narcissus Red Devon
Narcissus Double Flowering 'Tahiti'
Narcissus cyclamineus 'Jetfire'

Narcissus ‘Tete e tete’
Narcissus Trumpet 'Dutch Master'
Narcissus Fortune
Narcissus Large Cupped 'Ice Follies'

We have a lot of the Dutch master variety available!

HAPPY GARDENING!

SUCCESSION GARDENING

March 15, 2024 Karen Logan

Digitalis purpurea illustration by karen blackerby logan

LESSONS IN

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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[PLANT PROFILE] ASPARAGUS

March 29, 2023 Karen Logan

ASPARAGUS COMING SOON!

WE WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN THEY ARRIVE. ONCE THEY ARRIVE THERE IS A SHORT PLANTING WINDOW!

In the past we carried Jersey Giant and Purple Passion.

“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. “ Chuck Wiley, owner & founder of Vineyard Gardens Landscaping

GROWING

Asparagus are a long lived perennial and should be planted in a dedicated bed.

Asparagus requires well drained fertile soil and can not tolerate wet feet.
Ensure planting site is well weeded.
Plant in full sun.
An excellent weed killing technique is to cover with cardboard 8 weeks prior to planting.
Make an 8” deep trench with a 4” ridge and loose soil down the middle.
Plant one bare root asparagus every 1’ between plants and 3’ between rows.
Splay the long roots down the sides of the ridge.
Water well to establish.
Top dress asparagus bed with plenty of premium compost every fall.
Since the roots are deep, you can hoe out weeds to about 3” deep as long as you do it before March 15th.

HARVESTING

Plants need to establish for 2 or 3 seasons before their first harvest, then they have abundant yields.

In the third year, harvest tender spring shoots at about 4.5”.

Do not harvest until shoots are pencil thick.

GET YOUR HANDS MUDDY & HAVE FUN!

[PLANT PROFILE] PANSIES & VIOLAS

March 22, 2023 Karen Logan

Pansy illustration by karen blackerby logan

PANSIES & VIOLAS

“Kids love the story of the fairy that lives in the pansy flower that Lauren Crosby made up. She would tell the story to kids during field trips to Vineyard Gardens. First she would carefully peel the outer 5 petals, one at a time. Exposing the female reproductive structure standing tall in the center. This was the fairy that lived inside the pansy.” -Chris Wiley, owner&founder at Vineyard Gardens Nursery

A BRIEF HISTORY

Pansies & Violas are of the genus Viola. The original plant species was viola tricolor, a wildflower of Europe and Central Asia. To the modern horticulturist, the pansy is the larger of the two flowering cultivars. The pansy is a hybrid plant cultivated as a garden flower. The name pansy is derived from the word pensee meaning “thought” and was regarded as a symbol of remembrance.

CARE & INFORMATION

Both do well in full sun or partial shade and need well drained soil. They like cool weather and can survive light frosts, snow and even sometimes overwinter. They are one of the first flowers available in spring.
They tend to get long and leggy in the heat of summer. Dead heading will extend bloom.
They dry beautifully when laid flat within pages of heavy books, and once dried can be used to make cards or other art projects.

MARCH GARDENING TIPS

February 27, 2023 Karen Logan

March Gardening Tips

Vineyard Gardens Landscaping is available to help with your gardening needs!

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PRUNE

Its a good idea to sterilize the pruning shears with a 10% bleach solution to avoid passing diseases from cut to cut
Good time to prune fruit trees, raspberries and grape
Grapes should be pruned now before the weather warms up as they will “bleed sap” if done during warmer weather
Fruit trees should be pruned now to maintain healthy branch structure and to reduce the total number of fruits per branch. If a branch has too many fruits they will tend to be small and often fall off. If allowed to reach maturity the branch could break from too much weight.
It’s easier to see the branch structure before the plant leafs out. Remove damaged or crossing branches, and especially for fruit trees waterspouts which are small branches growing straight up through the tree.
Prune any trees damaged by winter storms
Prune PG Hydrangeas but Not macrophyllas
Prune Crape myrtles and any late season blooming plants, like hypericum, caryopteris

SPRAY

One spray to prevent Peach leaf Curl (Sulfur or Copper based fungicides). Peaches should be sprayed with a lime sulfur solution which is organic and highly efficient at stopping peach leaf curl, a very common disease that weakens the tree.

GARDEN CLEANUP

If you haven’t cleaned up your garden beds definitely do it now

DESIGN

Plan and design your plantings and garden beds

TOP DRESS

Top dressing bulb areas and lightly fertilize bulb areas before they come up any further
Top dress your veggie garden
Its still a bit early to fertilize as the plants aren't actively taking up nutrients and with a lot of rain the fertilizer could leach or run off instead of being used by the plants.

SEEDLINGS

Start cool weather seedlings indoors to be planted out by the end of March or beginning of April
Later in the month start your warm weather seedlings indoors. These will get planted out in May
There is still time to order flower and vegetable seeds
Do not work wet soil in vegetable gardens as that leads to compaction the last thing you want to happen to your soil

color%252Bblock-gray.jpg — *PLANT OF THE YEAR 2023*

color%252525252Bblock-gray.jpg — ***THIS WEEK GARDEN TIPS***

EAT LOCAL, GROW IT IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD

March 20, 2022 Karen Logan

Strawberry illustration by karen blackerby logan

GROWING EARLY SPRING EDIBLES

STRAWBERRIES

TIPS FOR PLANTING STRAWBERRIES

The most economical way for planting strawberries is bare root. They are only available early and must be planted in the ground right away.
Prepare your strawberry garden area by tilling or turning over the soil.
Add organic matter, such as cow manure, compost or the Fafard Complete Planting Mix.
Turn that into the soil.
Plant out the strawberry plants. Straight rows would be typical but you can be creative and turn it into an herb garden with a strawberry patch.

This year we are carrying 4 cultivars of strawberries
We like the June bearing over the Everbearing. The June bearing have bigger berries, although a shorter season.
Honeoye is our favorite, but all of them are good.
Fort Laramie
All Star
Quinalt
We also grow the fraise de bois or wild strawberries, find them under Fragaria vesca, its proper Genus and species name.
These are my choice for an herb garden. They also do well in containers. They bloom with beautiful little white flowers (in the rose family) .The pot with multiple openings is called a strawberry jar. I love when we carry these!
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BERRIES

We have a great selection of raspberries, blackberries, blueberries. The early spring selection is best!

All these should be planted very soon!

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ASPARAGUS

Now available bare root in bundles of 10. We have Jersey Knight and Purple Passion.

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GREENS & COOL WEATHER VEGGIES

Grow your own Greens

Salad material, lettuce, spinach, endive, mignonette

The lettuces and the cilantro, in particular, can be done by direct seeding in Mid April.

Start the other herbs and cool weather veggies inside first and then plant out as seedlings.

WE GROW ALL THESE IN PACKS FROM SEED . WE HAVE A WONDERFUL SELECTION OF SEEDS & WILL HAVE A GREAT VARIETY OF PACK SELECTIONS!

COOL WEATHER VEGGIES

Brassicas (like broccoli), Cauliflower, Cabbage, Kale, Swiss Chard, Mustards, Collards

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Vineyard Gardens Herb House and Herb Garden

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

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

VINEYARD GARDENS NURSERY IS OPEN FOR THE SEAON!

March 18, 2022 Karen Logan

Our 5” perennials production and seasonal annuals. right now it’s Pansies, poppies and alyssum

We are excited to announce we are back open and ready for another wonderful year! We have been busy in our greenhouses planting and germinating seeds since the end of February and our cool weather vegetable packs are now ready!

Get a head start by planting a few rows of our fabulous pack greens and then plant another row of seeds a few inches away. We have both Fedco and Botanical Interest seed packets for sale in our store. Fedco is a seed company located in Maine. They are known for their fabulous vegetable seed selection. Botanical Interest is known for their beautiful seed packets and wealth of information. By combining the planting of both seeds and seedlings it will allow you to have a staggered harvest and two batches of fresh vegetables. It’s all about timing!

Plant all your cool weather vegetables early! We have a wonderful selection of cool weather crops including broccoli, cabbage, 5 kinds of kale, 4 kinds of mustards, 8-10 kinds of lettuce, Asian greens, Chinese cabbage, tatsoi, bok choy, spinach, lettuce, arugula, several mesclun greens. asparagus and strawberries.

We also have peas in peat packs, sugar snaps, snow peas and dwarf grey peas. The dwarf gray are known for being delicious as pea shoots, harvesting the tips and eating them in your salads. The snap peas are for harvesting the pea inside the pod. The snow peas are best picked young and steamed or sautéed whole, you eat the entire pod. If the snow peas get too big eat the pea inside. Nothing goes to waste and don’t forget to compost!

EAT LOCAL GROW IT IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD!

Vineyard Gardens greenhouse: Our germination process of cool weather crops.

MARCH GARDENING TIPS

March 8, 2022 Karen Logan

March Gardening Tips

Vineyard Gardens Landscaping is available to help with your gardening needs!

*******************************************************************

PRUNE

Its a good idea to sterilize the pruning shears with a 10% bleach solution to avoid passing diseases from cut to cut
Good time to prune fruit trees, raspberries and grape
Grapes should be pruned now before the weather warms up as they will “bleed sap” if done during warmer weather
Fruit trees should be pruned now to maintain healthy branch structure and to reduce the total number of fruits per branch. If a branch has too many fruits they will tend to be small and often fall off. If allowed to reach maturity the branch could break from too much weight.
It’s easier to see the branch structure before the plant leafs out. Remove damaged or crossing branches, and especially for fruit trees waterspouts which are small branches growing straight up through the tree.
Prune any trees damaged by winter storms
Prune PG Hydrangeas but Not macrophyllas
Prune Crape myrtles and any late season blooming plants, like hypericum, caryopteris

SPRAY

One spray to prevent Peach leaf Curl (Sulfur or Copper based fungicides). Peaches should be sprayed with a lime sulfur solution which is organic and highly efficient at stopping peach leaf curl, a very common disease that weakens the tree.

GARDEN CLEANUP

If you haven’t cleaned up your garden beds definitely do it now

DESIGN

Plan and design your plantings and garden beds

TOP DRESS

Top dressing bulb areas and lightly fertilize bulb areas before they come up any further
Top dress your veggie garden
Its still a bit early to fertilize as the plants aren't actively taking up nutrients and with a lot of rain the fertilizer could leach or run off instead of being used by the plants.

SEEDLINGS

Start cool weather seedlings indoors to be planted out by the end of March or beginning of April
Later in the month start your warm weather seedlings indoors. These will get planted out in May
There is still time to order flower and vegetable seeds
Do not work wet soil in vegetable gardens as that leads to compaction the last thing you want to happen to your soil