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Chionodoxa [illustration karen blackerby logan]
We have a variety of fall bulbs ready to plant! Plant them out now and they will be blooming in the spring!
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Pumpkins [illustration by karen blackerby logan]
PUMPKINS // FALL MUMS // ORNAMENTAL KALE, CABBAGE & PEPPERS // HOME GROWN GOURDS // ASTERS
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SUGAR PUMPKINS // CINDERELLA PUMPKINS // WHITE PUMPKINS
Sugar pumpkins
Sugar pumpkins
Fall Display [ Asters, Mums & Pumpkins]
Cinderella & white pumpkins
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4” Mums
medium mums
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We have a variety of fall bulbs ready to plant, including daffodil and tulip bulbs. Plant them out now and they will be blooming in the spring!
Fall mums [illustration by karen blackerby logan]
VINEYARD GARDENS LANDSCAPING HARMONIOUSLY MERGES THIS CHILMARK PROPERTY INTO ITS NATIVE ECOSYSTEM
Situated down a dirt road in the woods of Chilmark, this property is surrounded by mature oaks, pines and flowering shrubs. The cultivated landscape meshes beautifully with the surrounding ecosystem. A path-like lawn winds it’s way around the house meandering past native and ornamental shrubs alike, a mixture of evergreen screening and a colorful annual garden. A beautiful container garden sits upon the back patio with the backdrop of large PG Hydrangeas and native Clethra. A stone pathway from the house leads to a patio nestled in the woods. This property sits on a few acres with wood chip paths lined with well placed rhododendrons, hydrangeas and native shrubs. The path meanders past a yoga area and a sitting area under a gorgeous oak tree.
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The screening is a mixture of big evergreens: Western Red Cedar (native), American Hollys (native) and Rhododendron maximum (native to eastern seaboard but not Martha’s Vineyard). Deciduous flowering shrubs are incorporated within the screening such as Viburnums (some native) and a mixture of hydrangeas (Oak Leaf (native), Blue Ball, Climbing and PG). To finish it off we intermixed many ferns and astilbe.
Big evergreens for screening: Western Red Cedars (native), American Hollys (native)
Viburnums in the screening (native), Oak Lead Hydrangea, Clethra (native)
Rhododendron maximum
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BEFORE
AFTER
Agastache (left corner) infront of the herb garden
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Agastache foeniculum will grow 2-3′ tall in full sun and well drained soil. Numerous species of bees and butterflies are attracted to it’s purple-blue flowers.
ANISE HYSSOP / HUMMINGBIRD MINT
Agastache foeniculum is a native edible perennial flower that is extremely long blooming and one of the best for pollinators. It’s tubular flowers are highly attractive to bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. It is a member of the mint family and produces aromatic foliage. Agastache will grow best in full sun and prefers dry to medium soil. It is not suitable to wet areas or flooding.
Agastache foeniculum
Agastache foeniculum Blue Fortune
Agastache foeniculum
There are four cultivars of Agastache foeniculum we sell as perennials. All four will come back year after year. They have a spike of blue / lavender flowers in midsummer and fragrant foliage that repel deer. They also are known for reseeding and spreading in your sunny garden.
Agastache Black Adder
Agastache foeniculum cultivars
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- Black Adder
- Blue Fortune
(RHS Award)
- Golden Jubilee
(yellow foliage)
- Little Adder
(dwarf blue cultivar)
Agastache Little Adder
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There are many other Agastache species and hybrids we carry. Even though the literature and the catalogs tout them as zone 5 plants we have not had good luck with them perennializing. If our winters were a typical zone 5 winter, where the ground freezes and stays frozen all winter they would survive but with our freeze thaw cycles all winter long they do not usually survive. Therefore, we treat them as annuals. These Agastache start blooming in early summer and continue to bloom until a killing frost, which is often not until Thanksgiving or later.
Agastache auriantica ‘Apricot Sprite’ : We grow these from seed and they are a great season extender. It is the perfect orange color for fall.
Agastache Kudos series : A hybrid Agastache developed at the famous Terra Nova nurseries and is more compact than the species. It comes in many colors: Mandarin, Ambrosia, Coral, Gold and Slivery Blue and Blue Boa. Plant these in the summer for a long fall season of color. They are great season extenders. A bonus, their minty foliage is not eaten by deer.
Agastache ‘Rosie Posey’ & ‘Peachie Keen’ : Walters Gardens introductions that we still have in stock. These are shorter, more mounded plants that want a sunny location and are drought tolerant once established. Easy to grow.
Agastache ‘Mango Tango’
Agastache ‘Guava Lava’ and ‘Queen Nectarine’ : Two new Walters Gardens introductions we have ordered for 2024 (a Proven Winner variety). New for next year!
Agastache Mango Tango
Agastache Kudos Coral
Agastache Apricot Sprite
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Agastache is a versatile perennial, with many uses in the landscape. Here are a few ideas:
Plant a compact variety in a rock garden in combination with creeping succulents, thyme, stonecrop, dianthus, ice plant (Delosperma), and blue fescue.
Adorn a curbside strip with agastache and other long blooming, low water perennials such as lavender, catmint, yarrow, beardtongue (Penstemon) and fountain grass (Pennisetum).
Place a large decorative ceramic container near a deck or patio and plant with a compact variety of agastache alongside other plants with similar cultural needs such as lantana, gazania, African daisy (Osteospermum), ‘Angelina’ sedum, or New Zealand flax (Phormium).
Naturalize in a meadow setting with other flowering natives such as black-eyed Susan, gayfeather (Liatris), purple coneflower (Echinacea), salvia, milkweed, and asters to attract hummingbirds, butterflies and insect pollinators.
Plant an herb garden with anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) and some of your culinary favorites such as oregano, marjoram, sage, rosemary, thyme, mint, and lavender.
Mass along a slope, alternating groupings of other long blooming drought-tolerant plants such as lavender, Russian sage (Perovskia), salvia, sea holly (Eryngium) or tickseed (Coreopsis).
For late season color, plant agastache alongside asters, goldenrod, salvia, Joe pye weed, silvergrass (Miscanthus), stonecrop (Sedum), and little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium).
Agastache foeniculum
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Scentsation Honeysuckle
Late season blooming vines brighten your autumn landscapes just as the summer flowers are waning.
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These flowering vines are lush with often very fragrant flowers that are beloved by butterflies and hummingbirds.
Goldflame Honeysuckle
Scentsation Honeysuckle
Goldflame Honeysuckle
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Wisteria is a high-climbing, long-lived vining plant with cascades of blue to purple flowers that look spectacular hanging from a pergola or archway. Wisteria only blooms on new wood so pruning is a secret to it’s success.
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Clematis viticellas are the smaller flowered clematis such as Roguchi and Betty Corning. They are both fragrant, very floriferous and excellent climbers attaching with tendrils .
Autumn Clematis is an evergreen woody high-climbing vine with late-season blossoms and wonderfully fragrant blooms!
Sweet Autumn Clematis
Varieties available
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paniculata
Roguchi
Betty Corning
Robert Brydon
Sweet Summer Love
Rouge Cardinal
Diamond Ball
Pink Mist
Roguchi Clematis
Clematis Rooguchi seed pod
Roguchi Clematis
Clematis Mrs. Robert Brydor
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Lily illustration by karen blackerby logan
Lilies are colorful, star-shaped flowers that add elegance and fragrance to any garden. They come in an endless range of colors, shapes, heights and bloom times. When blending the right varieties together you can enjoy lilies throughout the entire growing season, from spring to first frost. Popular lily species, include Daylilies, Orientals & Asiatics.
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Daylily
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Daylilies are grown via tuberous roots and have multiple stems.
Daylilies [illustration by karen blackerby logan]
Varieties available
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Hemerocallis altissima
Regal Flare
Tetrinas Daughter
Golden Prize
Gulf Stream
Ruffled Apricot
Indian Hill dbl
Buttered Popcorn
Sea Wampum
Seaside Sun Glow
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Oriental Lilies are native to Japan and developed from only a few species . They are heavily scented, with much larger flowers, and bloom later than most other types of Lilium.
Oriental Lilies
Stargazer Lily [illustration by karen blackerby logan]
Varieties available
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Lillium Casa Blanca
Lillium Honeymoon
Lillium Black Beauty
Stargazer Lilies
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Asiatic lilies are grown via bulbs and only have single stems,
Tiger Lily
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Kniphofia (Torch Lilies) produce spikes of upright, brightly colored flowers above the foliage, in shades of red, orange and yellow. They produce abundant nectar attracting bees and hummingbirds.
Kniphofia Flamanco Mix
Kniphofia Solar Flare
The warmest days of summer mark a time when Martha’s Vineyard gardeners can start a new round of crops. Being on an island surrounded by water allows for an extended growing season with a few light frosts in October but generally there is not a hard frost until November. This long beautiful fall makes it a great reason to plant now for a bountiful autumn harvest!
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We have started our first batch of lettuce and arugula.
We will continue to seed lettuce every couple of weeks into the fall.
Late in summer we will focus on the hardier winter lettuces.
Our spinach has germinated.
Broccoli and cauliflower
Other greens we are growing:
Kale
Oakleaf Lettuce
Red Swiss Chard
Asian greens like Pac Choy and Bok Choy
Now also available for planting!
Thyme (Lemon & White 'Albiflorus')
Alpine Strawberries
Scented Geraniums
Sage
Germander
Lavender
Rosemary
Greek Oregano
Chives
French Tarragon
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Broccoli Waltham 29: "We’ve found a reliable strain that consistently produces 6" heads with medium beads on attractive stocky 20" plants."
Arugula Ice bread: "This is arugula with more bite, vigorous with complex full flavors."
Kale Dazzling Blue Dinosaur: "Vigorous 24–34" upright savoyed lacinato-leaved kale in a range of bluish-green shades and all with a dramatic pink mid-rib. Sure to attract attention of chefs, market growers and gardeners alike."
Swiss chard Red rhubarb: "Deep crimson stalks, dark green leaves. Very hardy. Beautiful for edible landscapes. Heirloom from Europe goes back to 1857"
Lettuce red sails: "An attractive large plant with purplish red-splashed rosettes serrated with bubbled frills, Red Sails delivers lightly crunchy lobes with good melting texture. "
Lettuce New red Fire: "Has Red Sails’ characteristic ruffled leaves, though slightly lighter coloration, and good size. Has been among the last to bolt, lasting as late as July 29. Also quite cold-hardy. Tender sweet flavor with almost no bitterness."
Lettuce Black Seeded Simpson: "The earliest and most popular looseleaf variety."
Spinach Tundra: "Tastefully crinkled oval leaves are held off the ground for easy baby-leaf and mature harvests."
Buttercrunch: “Dark green outer leaves with broad mid-ribs and a creamy white center heart. Slow to bolt. Excellent flavor.”
Blue Scotch Kale: “Dense frilly finely curled blue-green leaves on compact upright 12–16" plants stand well, maintain color and resist yellowing in cold and heat. Hardy and productive. Best as a fall crop, planted in July or early August. More variable than the hybrids. Cold-hardy.”
Bok Choy Prize Choy: “Open-pollinated. Classy pac choi with celery-like white stems and vase-shaped 15-18" tall heads. Succulent stems and tender greens.”
[*Descriptions cited from Fedco Seed Catalog]
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BLUEBERRIES (Patriot, Bluecrop, Chippewa, Chandler, Reka & Darrow) / RASPBERRIES (Killarney & Caroline) / BLACKBERRIES (Natchez) / ELDERBERRY (Samdal & Samyl)
RASPBERRIES 50%off
killarney & caroline raspberries
Killarney Raspberry display
Caroline Raspberry display
Blueberry display
Highbush Blueberry
Alpine Strawberries
Blackberries
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TOMATOES, EGGPLANT & PEPPERS
warm weather crops 50% off
tomatoes, eggplant & peppers
Eggplant
Eggplant
Sungold Tomatoes
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Filipendula ‘Queen of the Praire’ and Filipendula ‘Dwarf Meadowsweet’
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Filipendula is a native perennial to the northeast. It is a great foliage plant that is valued for both its leaves and its flowers. Most filipendulas grow in average, medium to wet, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade.
Filipendula ‘Kahome’ (front) & Filipendula ‘Queen of the Prarie’ (back)
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Astilbe-like, wide panicles of tiny, fragrant, pale pink flowers that bloom in early to mid summer.
Borders (rear), cottage gardens, native plant gardens, wild/naturalized areas, wet meadows or moist areas along streams or ponds.
This is a large plant for large gardens.
Can be spectacular, particularly when massed.
Great for naturalizing in moist meadows.
Filipendula rubra
Filipendula rubra
Venusta Magnifica
‘Queen of the Prarie’
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* Grows up to 8’ tall
(usually shorter)
* Pale Pink blooms June-
Aug
* Full sun to part shade
* Medium to wet soil
* Native to moist soils but will
do well in average or dry
soils.
Filipendula rubra
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An upright, clump-forming perennial that typically grows only 8-12” tall and features branched, terminal, Astilbe-like panicles of tiny, fragrant, rosy pink flowers in summer.
Border fronts, cottage gardens, wild/naturalized areas, wet meadows or moist areas along streams or ponds. Dwarf size facilitates massing this plant as a ground cover.
filipendula ‘Kahome’
Meadowsweet
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* 8-12” tall
* Blooms June to July
* Full sun to part shade
* Medium to wet soil
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Attracts butterflies, pollinators and is deer resistant !
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GARDEN TIPS
FOR SHADE
Hosta [illustration by karen blackerby logan]
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Hostas are a shade loving perennial with lavender or white blooms, which are popular among hummingbirds. Hostas are late to emerge in spring and partner up well with early blooming spring bulbs that will be passing by the time the Hosta emerges. Crocus, Muscari, Eranthis or Chionodoxa foliage will easily get covered by the Hosta foliage, hiding the foliage of those early spring bulbs as they die back. There are a variety of Hostas available, differing in their leaf color, shape, size, and texture. They are easy to maintain and are shade tolerate.
CARE
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* In spring when growth
emerges apply fertilizer
* Keep plant moist
* Place mulch around
plant to retain moisture
* Remove flower stalks
after bloom to
encourage new growth
* In the fall, when frost
turns the leaves brown,
cut back to the ground
and apply a little fresh
mulch or leaf mold over
the plant, like a blanket.
DIVIDING HOSTA
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* Divide late in the
season because the
leaves will get damaged
during the division
process.
* Do not plant too deep
after dividing. Same
level that it was before.
* Add the ‘blanket’
leaf mold or mulch
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Hostas add a lot of dimension to your shade garden through their various shades of green, leaf sizes, textures and shapes.
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GARDEN TIPS
FOR SHADE
Fothergilla illustration by Karen Blackerby Logan
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Sorbaria sorbifolia (Tree Astilbe )
Clethra alnifolia
FOTHERGILLA
(Native) (Deer Resistant)
Fothergilla Mt. Airy
Fothergilla gardenii (Dwarfed)
SPIREA
(Seldom severely damaged by deer)
Spirea Anthony Waterer
Spirea Snow Mound
VIBURNUM
Viburnum dentatum (Native) (Rarely damaged by deer)
Viburnum dentatum Blue Muffin (Rarely damaged by deer)
Viburnum dentatum Sparkler (Rarely damaged by deer)
Viburnum plicatums (a non native species)
Viburnum plicatum Mariesii
Viburnum plicatum Popcorn
Viburnum carlesii Spice Baby
DECIDUOUS TREES & SHRUBS
Amelanchier canadensis, Serviceberry (Native) (Seldom severely damaged by deer)
Aesculus parviflora (Bottlebrush Buckeye) (Native) (Rarely damaged by deer)
Deciduous Azaleas (Native) Deer love evergreen Azaleas but are less likely to eat deciduous ones.
Heptacodium micinoides (Seven-Son Flower) (Rarely damaged by deer) Fragrant flowers late in the season followed by beautiful fall display.
Rhus aromatica 'Gro Low' (Rarely damaged by deer)
Sorbaria sorbifolia (Tree Astilbe ) (Rarely damaged by deer) Spreads vigorously. Try 'SEM' for a more compact and controlled cultivar.
CLETHRA alnifolia
(All Native) (Rarely damaged by deer)
Clethra Vanilla Spice
Clethra Hummingbird
Clethra Ruby Spice
HYDRANGEA
Hydrangea arborescens (Native)
Hydrangea Macrophylla (Big Leaf) (Occasionally severely damaged by deer)
Hydrangea petiolaris (Climbing) (Occasionally severely damaged by deer)
Hydrangea quercifolia (Oakleaf) (Occasionally severely damaged by deer)
Hydrangea macrophylla
national wildlife federation
Hydrangea [illustration by karen blackerby logan]
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The genus name Hydrangea comes from hydor meaning "water" and aggeion meaning "vessel", in reference to the cup-like capsular fruit.
A deciduous shrub with a rounded habit that typically grows 3-6’ tall and as wide unless damaged by harsh winters or pruned smaller.
Generally features serrate, obovate to elliptic, dark green leaves (4-8” long) and large clusters of long-blooming summer flowers in either lacecap form (flattened flower clusters of small fertile florets with scattered showy sterile florets often forming a marginal ring) or mophead form (globose flower clusters of mostly showy sterile florets).
(founder of The American Hydrangea Society)
Hydrangea Seaside Serenade Cape Lookout
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Best grown in rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils in part shade. Tolerates full sun only if grown in consistently moist soils.
Soil pH affects the flower color of most cultivars except white (blue in highly acidic soils and lilac to pink in slightly acidic to alkaline soils). Add aluminum sulfate to the soil to make the flowers bluer or add lime to the soil to make the flowers pinker. Begin soil treatments well in advance of flowering, as in late autumn or early spring.
Plants generally need little pruning. If needed, prune immediately after flowering by cutting back flowering stems to a pair of healthy buds. Prune out weak or winter-damaged stems in late winter/early spring.
Best to mulch plants year-round with 3" of shredded bark, peat or compost.
Winter hardy to USDA Zone 6. For added protection, however, plants grown in USDA Zone 5 should be sited in sheltered locations and given additional winter protection, as needed, for the purposes of minimizing the risk of loss of significant numbers of flower buds or possible die-back to the ground in an extremely harsh winter. A burlap wrap of stems or circle of chicken wire filled with leaves or straw to 8-12" are time-consuming and visually unattractive landscape options, but can be effective. Regardless of protective measures taken, most bigleaf hydrangeas simply will not bloom (or will bloom poorly) in some years because of a variety of winter occurrences beyond the control of the gardener (e.g. low temperatures, sudden wide temperature fluctuations, icy conditions, late frosts). Some newer cultivars have been selected that flower on both old and new wood. Their pruning and flowering can differ from that of the species.
USES
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* Group or mass in the
shrub boarder.
* A specimen or accent
for foundations and
other locations
near homes or patios.
* Hedges
* Containers
Late season spent flowers of Hydrangea macrophylla
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All hydrangeas tend to grow better when they are fertilized, even the native ones.
If you missed feeding your plants early in the season when you did your spring clean up, you can make up for that now (before August 1). The plants that respond best to fertilizer this time of year are the rebloomers: big leaf (macrophylla), mountain (serrata) and woodland/smooth (arborescens) varieties. You want to help them produce those reblooming flowers to carry your garden through to the end of the season
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Early Summer
Inspirations
Hydrangea [illustration by karen blackerby logan]
Gerber Daisies
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Vividly colored Gerber Daisies are best planted in spring after all chances of frost have passed. In our zone, they are considered annuals. They bloom beautifully throughout the summer and die off in winter.
Varieties
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* Patio Series:
Tall larger flower
Available in two colors.
* Jaguar Series:
Short & ornamental
GROWING TIPS
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* Bred for the outdoors
* Flourish all summer
* Best grown in 7” pots or
larger
* Large bloom size 4”-5”
* Height 15-18” with
flowers
Gerber Daisy, Jaguar Series
Gerber Daisy, Jaguar Series
Gerber Daisy, Jaguar Series
unleash the wild on your yard
doug tallamy
summer blooming perennials
Annuals are plants that are glorious during the summer but do not survive the winter. They produce flowers and seeds all in one season and then the mother plant dies. The seed falls to the ground and often germinates the following spring and the next generation of seedlings emerge. Often the seedlings are identical or very similar to the mother but they also can be somewhat different and different from each other, like brothers and sisters. When the plant reseeds in the area where the mother plant was, it is called colonizing. Poppies, Bachelor Buttons, Cleome, Larkspur, Browallia americana and Nigella are annuals that colonize. Some biennials, like foxgloves, do this as well.
Calendula Bon Bon mix / A dwarf Calendula blooms all summer in full sun or part shade. Calendula flowers are edible. Other edible flowers to use as garnishes include Bachelor Buttons, Borage Borago officinalis, Nasturtiums and Violas.
Calibracoa Sweet Peach. Annual blooms all summer.
Calendulas(Taller). Taller calendulas make good cut flowers. Edible.
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* Deadheading flowers will keep the plant blooming longer. If your goal is for the plant to reseed, stop deadheading later in the season to let the seed mature. Seeds need to mature in order to reseed.
* Do not mulch heavily around the mother plant if you want it to reseed. A lot of annuals need light to germinate.
* Many people mulch their beds after gardens get cleaned up in fall. You should do it lightly or not at all if you want annuals and biennials to germinate.
Morning Glory
Cleomes
Zinnias. One of the best cut flowers
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There are new introductions of cultivars within each of these.
Geraniums / Impatiens / Cosmos / Cleome / Portulacas / Salvias / Marigolds / Alyssum / Ageratums / Nasturtiums / Nicotianas / Dahlias / Asters / Zinnias / Morning Glories / Amaranthus / Gomphrenas / Pentas / Lisianthus / Scabiosa / Snapdragons / Dusty Miller / Callas / Caladiums / Coleus / Agapanthus / Tropical Hibiscus / Fuchsia
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LONG BLOOMING PROVEN WINNER ANNUALS
Argyranthemums / Osteospermums / Lobularias / Calibrachoas / Euphorbia Diamond Frost / Petunias / Torenias / Diascias / Phlox / Verbenas
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LESSER KNOWN ANNUALS THAT ARE STRONG GARDEN PERFORMERS
Browallia americana / Orlaya grandiflora / Ammi majus / Erigeron karvinskianus / Nigella / Ceratotheca triloba / Rhemania angulata / Emilia coccinea / Tithonia / Sanvitalia / Dahlberg Daisies / Daturas Ricinus / Clary Sage (Blue Monday and Pink Sundae) / Tibouchina urvilleana
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RECOMMENDED DEER RESISTANT ANNUALS
Lantanas / Salvias / Daturas / Ricinus
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TRY ADDING ANNUAL VINES TO CONTAINERS & HANGING BASKETS
Mina lobata / Thunbergias / Cobaea scandens (Cup and Saucer Vine) / Mandevilla
Annuals long bloom season offers a consistency in color that defines the border. The reseeding characteristic helps tie the garden together with repeating blooms throughout the bed. They seem to come up between and within the perennials in a random fashion with no apparent pattern. It is best not to overcrowd perennials but you can plant plenty of annuals between your perennials. Learn to identify the seedlings so you don’t pull them out, thinking that they are weeds.
We Grow an Assortment of Annuals!
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* Fillers in perennial
beds.
* Use in hanging baskets
* Use in container
plantings
* Many annuals make
great cut flowers.
We currently have a large variety of hanging baskets available at the nursery!
MORNING GLORIES
Heavenly Blue
Chocolate
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BEGONIAS
Solenia Dark Pink
Bossa Nova Orange
Encanto Pink
Miss Miami
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PETUNIAS
Headliner Banana Cherry
Headliner Raspberry Swirl
Headliner Night Sky
Surfinia Magenta
Surfinia Heavenly Blue
Heavenly Amethyst Burst
Patio Radiant Dark Blue
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LOBELIA
THUNBERGIA
Orange Wonder
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IMPATIENS
Double Sparkler Hot Pink
Dark Red
New Guinea Impatiens
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GERANIUMS
Great Balls of Fire Light
Caliente Orange
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FUCHSIA
Wind Chimes Basket
Red/White
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TORENIA
Summer Wave
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SCAEVOLA
Whirlwind Blue
perennials, shrubs & trees
Just in time for Mother’s Day! We have a variety of Hibiscus, Mandevillas, Bougainvillea, Calla Lily, Gardenias and so much more!
Opt for large leaves / brightly colored flowers / vertical growth (climbers)
An option is to grow them in containers set down in to the soil to make it easy to bring them indoors for the winter.
Rhododendron Maximum illustration by karen blackerby logan
Often in spring we think we need flowers and color but evergreens are just as important to the landscape! Evergreens are often the bones of the garden. They are an integral part of winter, spring, summer and fall. Broadleaf evergreens are the trees and shrubs for all seasons because they have wonderful year round interest!
Rhdodendrons are wonderful for year round screening
Skip Cherry Laurel
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 (hardier than zone 7A).
Winter Sun Mahonia
Luckily they don't typically bloom all at the same time! Pieris japonica and Skimmia are the first to bloom, followed by the rhododendrons then azaleas.
Pieris japonica
Japanese Skimmia
Azalea
Rhododendron
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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 give a neat, compact look
Deer-resistant
Skip Cherry Laurel
Skip Cherry Laurel
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Mahonia x media ‘Winter Sun’ is a small to medium-sized evergreen shrub capable of growing ten feet tall and five feet wide. It has a compact, upright growth habit with large, frond-like leaves that develop in whorls along its coarsely branched stems. Large spikes of fragrant, yellow flowers appear in late fall or early winter. The flowers develop into clusters of waxy blue berries eaten by many bird species. It is a dramatic focal point in the winter garden.
PLANTING TIP
Plant Winter Sun Mahonia in a sheltered, preferably eastern-facing site. It appreciates a moisture-retentive, but draining soil. Place where its blooms and fragrance can be readily appreciated in winter, such as near a path or seating area.
Winter Sun Mahonia
Winter Sun Mahonia and Daffodils
Winter Sun Mahonia
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This year our spring flowering shrubs include the usual evergreen rhododendrons and azaleas. Azaleas are in the rhododendron family. Azaleas are a genus with many species. 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.
Some deciduous, fragrant azaleas that we have available this year are:
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. They get 8-10ft tall and 6-8ft wide.
My Mary: A new yellow, fragrant, deciduous, spring blooming azalea that attracts pollinators and butterflies. It grows 4-5ft tall. (from Fern Brook)
Rhododendron prunifolium: Another azalea that we are carrying new this year. (from Fern Brook). Prunifolium is a species azalea (not a hybrid). It is a native wild azalea and is rare and hard to find. It is the first time we have ever had it!
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
deciduous azalea
Azalea 'Landmark', evergreen azalea
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This year we will have a great selection of Buxus, an evergreen deer resistant shrub. We have Green Beauty, Green Mountain and Wintergreen Boxwood. We also carry a variegated boxwood, as well as a selection of dwarf boxwoods, including one we propagate from the Polly Hill Arboretum. They do best in some afternoon shade and are a great back drop for deciduous plantings. Buxus typically bloom in May. “Even though the flowers are insignificant, Boxwood is on the RHS 'Plants for Pollinators' list, highlighting plants that produce large amounts of nectar and/or pollen. It is a great choice for encouraging beneficial insect wildlife into your garden!” (Plants | Candide)
Buxus that we have available:
Buxus sempervirens: A new variety we are carrying this year is Buxus sempervirens Dee Runk. 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)
Buxus x Green Gem
Buxus x Green Mountain
Buxus x Winter Gem
Buxus microphylla v. Japonica Morris
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We love hollies at Vineyard Gardens! Chuck Wiley, co-owner of Vineyard Gardens, grew up near a nursery in NJ, called Fernbrook, that grow beautiful American hollies, Ilex opaca. American hollies are more deer resistant than other hollies. They need a male and a female tree nearby for berry production.
“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 to 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’
“A dense, multi-branched, evergreen shrub with a rounded form that typically matures to 5-10’ tall and as wide. It is native to forests, thickets and mountain slopes in Japan, Korea, China and eastern Russia.. It has glossy, spineless, evergreen, deep green leaves which are attractive all year, white flowers which bloom in late spring (May-June), and black rounded berries which mature in fall on pollinated female plants.” (missouri botanical garden)
Ilex crenata ‘Steeds’
Ilex crenata ‘Helleri’
Ilex Crenata ‘Soft touch’
Ilex crenata ‘Compacta’
Ilex crenata ‘Green Lustre’
Japanese holly, Ilex crenata ‘Green Lustre’
Japanese holly, Ilex crenata ‘Steeds’
“Bushy evergreen hybrids are (a) average height to 6-7’ tall, (b) glossy blue green leaves with prominent spiny margins, (c) purple stems, (d) greenish-white flowers in small clusters in May, (e) showy bright red berries on female plants in fall, often persisting until spring, and (f) excellent winter hardiness to USDA Zone 5.” (missouri botanical garden)
Ilex x meserveae ‘Blue Maid’
Ilex x meserveae Castle Spire’
Ilex x aquipernyi ‘Dragon Slayer’
Ilex x Oak leaf
Ilex x Koehneana
Ilex x Nellie R Stevens
Ilex x Winter Bounty
“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’
Ilex x Oak leaf
Inkberry, Ilex glabra ‘Shamrock’
“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
Creeping Phlox ‘Scarlet Flame’
A low growing, sun-loving herbaceous perennial that has an exceptional spring bloom. It creates a magnificent carpet of color ranging from red-purple to violet-purple to pink and white in April and May. The flowers are backed by dense green foliage that stays green throughout the summer and fall. It grows 6 in. tall, forming a thick mat up to 3 ft. wide and is known for ‘creeping’.
There are many phlox species
Phlox subulata: Creeping phlox, Phlox subulata, is only one species with many cultivars.
Phlox divaricata and Phlox stolonifera: These are woodland phlox that spread and can take partial shade.
Phlox paniculata: This is the most common phlox, the tall English phlox. It does best in full sun.
Phlox drummondii: This is the annual phlox. Annuals, unlike perennials, bloom all summer.
We have a wonderful selection of blooming creeping phlox available at Vineyard Gardens
Emerald Blue
Candy Stripes
Purple Beauty
Red Wings
Creeping Phlox ‘Scarlet Flame’
Creeping Phlox ‘Candy Stripe’
Protect from Deer! They do eat Creeping Phlox.
It tolerates dry conditions once established
Good soil drainage is important
Cut back stems after flowering by 1/2 to maintain form and promote denser growth plus to stimulate a possible light rebloom.
Perfect accent in a rock garden
Beautiful mixed with annuals.
Spreads easily on slopes & banks
Great along pathways
Attractive groundcover & border plant
Loves to cascade over walls!
landscape & garden resource
Lilac illustration by karen blackerby logan
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.
Lilacs
Viburnum burkwoodi
Azaleas
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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.
Viburnum carlessi ‘Korean Spice Viburnum’ : Now available at our nursery. 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.
Viburnum burkwoodi
Viburnum carlcephalum
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Lilacs are known for their fragrance and will soon be blooming. Only plant lilacs in sunny spots. The vulgaris species, with its large leaves, can get powdery mildew if in a shaded area.
I have heard horticulturists say the straight species Syringa vulgaris is the most fragrant but actually they are all fragrant.
Pocahontas has a deep purple color
Charles Joly is a cranberry colored award winner
Try the white blooming Vulgaris lilac
Miss Kim is a smaller lilac. Miss Kim gets around 5ft tall with light lavender fragrant flowers. Great for your foundation planting as long as it is sunny.
The Syringa meyeri is another smaller species of lilac whose smaller leaves are resistant to powdery mildew.
The cultivar Palibin has won both the Royal horticultural award and the Gold medal award.
Syringa vulgaris
Lillac
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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.
Rosa double pink knockout
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The fragrant honeysuckle, Lonicera fragrantissima, blooms in early spring and will fill your entire property with a lemony scent. Originally native to China it has been introduced through out the world. In some places it can be invasive if conditions are perfect. Let us know if you want one and we will propagate it for you.
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.
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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.
Clematis pink champagne
Clematis ‘Sweet Autumn’
Clematis
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Many azaleas are fragrant, particularly the deciduous ones. We have a native yellow azalea called My Mary, that is very fragrant when it blooms and has a 5 star rating.
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. Water often.
Azalea exbury
deciduous Azalea
Azalea 'Landmark'
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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.
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There are many other fragrant plants available.
The Daphnes are very fragrant and many are hardy. We usually carry Carol Mackie, as well as others including Daphne odora, which is marginally hardy.
Many non hardy plants are fragrant and bloom all summer long but will not overwinter unless protected. Try them in containers and give them some winter protection. We recommend one of the Gardenias we bring in from Monrovia.
Forget Me Nots illustration by karen blackerby logan
Myosotis is a Greek word meaning mouse’s ear which it’s foliage is thought to resemble. It is native to Europe and is in the family Boraginacea.
We sell them early in the season in 5” black perennial pots.
This year our Forget Me Nots (Myosotis) are available in blue and pink. We do not carry pink every year.
The Myosotis we carry is Myosotis sylvatica or woodland Myosotis.
Forget Me Nots readily reseed themselves and will make their home throughout your garden. This is a good thing but it can also be a problem that is easily solved with a little weeding. Pull them out where you do not want them. Yet with their pretty blue flowers in early summer you may have trouble pulling them out! Another way to control their spread is to deadhead them right after flowering before they have time to set seed and spread.
They are beautiful flowers to have in a woodland border.
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
“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 , owner & founder of Vineyard Gardens Landscaping
We always start a bountiful selection of leafy salad greens
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!
Our spring supply of vegetables in packs will be ready soon!
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.
BROCCOLIS: We will have a variety of broccolis in packs, such as Calabrese, Romanesco, Waltham and Cauliflower Snowball.
Lettuces, Kales, Mustards, Collards and Asian vegetables like Pac Choi and Tatsoi can go in the soil very soon!
Red Leaf Lettuce
Leaf Lettuce
Purple Cabbage
Vineyard Gardens Greens
Mustard Greens
Tatsoi (miniature Chinese cabbage-like)
Chinese Cabbage
Gourmet Leaf Endive
Lettuce salad Blend Bistro
Mesculin Mustard Greens
Cabbage
Buttercrunch Lettuce
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
Bare root asparagus
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.
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.
