The days are growing shorter and the nights longer, and our gardens have officially been put to bed. Do not despair, though, the 2018 gardening season starts in roughly 17 short weeks. Winter is an important time for plants. During the growing season, plants spent much of their time preparing for this time of slumber. They endured cold and rain in the spring, hot and extreme dry this summer and varying temps throughout the fall. Stress was evident this season and having a break from growing is exactly what your plants need. In addition to the rest period, cold winter temps are necessary for many plants to flower during the next growing season. The process of vernalization will promote flower buds to form on many plants such as fall bulbs and perennials.
While your plants are getting some much needed rest, there is still some harvesting you can do. Many plants create a great display of winter interest. Red twigged dogwood can be used in outdoor arrangements to add an extra pop of color. You can also collect pine and spruce cones to add to indoor and outdoor decorations. We have sugar cones (not naturally found in this area) that can be made into chandeliers. Birch poles also make wonderful accents in arrangements or on their own. If you are not lucky enough to have some of these great pieces available, we can help. All items are available at Parkview Nursery while supplies last! If you would like to add these items to your landscape, ask your experts at Parkview. We can help you create a plan that will allow you to have plants that will give color all 4 seasons of the year!
All of us at Parkview Nursery would like to thank you our valued customers for your continued support and business. We would not be who we are today without every single one of you! As we all prepare for the upcoming Holiday Season we would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and prosperous New Year! We look forward to seeing you in 2018 with new plants and products that are sure to get you in the gardening spirit!
“How many lessons of faith and beauty we should lose, if there were no winter in our year!”
Thomas Wentworth Higginson “April Days” 1861
