October Sale

Cary, NC It's October sale time down at Garden Supply Company! Starting today, all Halloween and Thanksgiving decor items are marked down 40% off. Hurry in, because with deals this good, these items won't last long.

And since October is the perfect month for planting, we've decided to put perennials (with the exception of the evergreen and ground cover varieties) on sale at 40% off, too. I don't think we have ever offered a deal like this before, so come on down at take advantage of these incredible savings.

Holiday Elves are Here

Cary, NC The elves have been busy late at night at Garden Supply Company, decorating the holiday trees for Christmas and turning the Greenhouse into a winter wonderland. It is looking absolutely magical in here.  Every year, I never cease to be amazed at the ideas and creativity these talented little helpers dream up. You have got to come take a look! We have beautiful trees in every style and theme imaginable, from fun and whimsical to elegant to everything in between.

This stunning jewel-toned tree is a real eye-catcher. I love the natural elements of the floral picks mixed with the touches of glitter and gold. And aren't those peacock feathers a unique and special addition?

The layered ribbons are another beautiful feature. Many of these ribbons are available for purchase by the yard. Just ask the elves at the front counter for help.

For a natural, outdoor look, how about this beautiful woodland tree?

Snowy and tawny owls mingle with rustic elements like pine cones, hemp ribbon and bird nests on this organic beauty.

These are just a few of the spectacular tree displays the elves have whipped up in the garden center. We'll be showcasing them all at our annual Holiday Open House, scheduled for the first weekend in November. But in the mean time, pop in and see what we've been up to. There is new holiday decor showing up daily that you won't want to miss.

Thanks for stopping by! We'll see you back here soon for more snippets from the garden.

Pansies Are In

Cary, NC Pansies have arrived at Garden Supply Company, and we have a huge selection of beautiful plants to chose from. Best known as one of the most popular cool weather annuals, these lightly scented flowers are available in a huge range of colors. Many have unique markings as well. The dark centers in some flowers are thought to resemble little faces. Equally lovely grown in pots or as mass plantings, pansies have never gone out of fashion. And although delicate, they are surprisingly hardy and will bloom throughout the upcoming winter months and well into spring next year.

As compact, low growers, pansies are ideal for edging  in beds. Their bright and showy faces add a burst of much-appreciated color in the landscape, boosting curb-appeal throughout the cooler months ahead when nothing else is blooming.

We have a huge selection of colors and sizes, from the most popular tried and true choices to new varieties on the market this year. If you're looking for suggestions on where to start, check out these tips from our helpful experts.

For planting beds, Garden Supply co-owner, Deborah recommends Blue-ti-ful Blue pansy in combo with Creeping Jenny.

Deb's favorite choice for container plantings is Dynamite Wine Flash. The wine-colored blooms look lovely mixed with earth-tones, yet work equally well in many colored containers, as well.

Co-owner Keith loves the combination of yellow blotch and pure yellow pansies in contrast with ornamental peppers for a high-impact punch.

No matter what your favorite color choice is, we have the perfect pansy for you. Come ask us for suggestions for creating the right combination for your landscape, or let one of our staff members pot up a beautiful container for you.

Thanks for stopping by! We'll see you back here soon for more snippets from the garden.

Halloween Sweet Treats

If you love the fall and Halloween as much as I do, then you probably already know that Garden Supply has some of the best decor and gift items out there, perfect for decorating your homes and gardens this holiday season. Whether you're on the hunt for cute and sweet spooks, or eerie and creepy Halloween haunts, you will find just what you were looking for in the garden center.

We are truly excited about all the beautiful seasonal items Deb was able to find at market this year. And starting today, we are even more excited to announce some SPOOKTACULAR special offers for you.

Aren't these wooden jack-o-lantern plaques the cutest thing? Just purchase $45 or more on Halloween decor items, and choose from one of these decorative signs as our gift to you . That's a $16 value, yours free while supplies last.

Spend $50 or more on anything throughout the garden center and you can purchase a plaque for only $5. An incredible savings.

Ask our friendly designers for tips and tricks on decorating your home for the season. They have some fabulous ideas. Just look what they did with one of these cuties.

Attach the sign with some holiday ribbon to a grapevine wreath form and add a few decorative floral picks, and you have a fantastic Halloween wreath for your mantle or front door.

At these SPOOKTACULAR deals, these Halloween goodies won't last for long, so hurry in. We always love to have a visit from you.

Pitcher Plants

[dropcap2]C[/dropcap2]ary, NC - If you're looking for interesting, rare, and unusual houseplants, look no further than to one of our latest arrivals in the Garden Supply Greenhouse, the Pitcher Plant. This unique plant offers the exotic allure of a tropical mixed with the intrigue and excitement of a carnivorous plant, all in one package. This is not your every-day houseplant, by any means, but the Pitcher Plant makes a wonderful specimen plant for the home garden enthusiast.

The Pitcher-plant is a carnivorous plant, a meat eater. Leaf edges of the plant curl around and fuse to form a liquid-holding vessel, similar in shape to a cornucopia. Insects are attracted to the colorful "pitcher". The red lip is particularly attractive as a landing zone. Red veins that lead downward are baited with nectar. Following this lure, insects, isopods, mites, spiders, plus the occasional frog, reach the curve of the tube, which is lined with fine hairs, all pointing downward. The animal falls into the pitcher, which contains rain, dew, and a digestive enzyme.

Pitcher Plants make excellent houseplants, but do keep in mind a few care tips on sunlight, moisture, and soil condition requirements. Pitcher Plants need full sun. Sunny window locations may still need to be augmented with indoor grow lights. And these guys will need lots of water. They are mostly a bog plant in their natural setting, so they are used to being wet.

[pull_right] Consequently, they are wonderful for bog gardens and terrariums. The best tip on soil condition is to keep them in the mix they came in. Carnivorous plants live in very poor soils, and as a result most have root systems which do little more than anchor them to the ground. They don't need much root room, so the pot them came in should do quite nicely. [/pull_right]

If you absolutely need to re-pot, then a good soil mix for most carnivorous plants is a 50:50 sand and peat mix. Very gently and carefully switch your plant to the new container. Do not use garden soil planting mix, and do not fertilize your plant. Avoid pressing down the soil mix as well, as that can cause permanent damage to the delicate root system.

Stop by the Garden Center to learn more about these very fun and unusual carnivorous houseplants. But be sure to pop in soon, as these unique plants have been flying out the door!

Thanks for stopping by everyone! See you back here soon for more snippets from the garden.

Mum's the Word

Isn't it refreshing to feel the slight crisp edge to the air these last few mornings? The nights are coming earlier in the evenings, too, and the temperatures are definitely beginning to drop.  Seems that fall is truly in the air. And if you stop by the Garden Center, you will find signs of autumn everywhere. The Greenhouse is filled to bursting with gorgeous seasonal decor and gift items, and new plants are arriving daily, just in time for your fall planting. Just this week, we've received a shipment of some of our most popular autumn bloomers, Mums, in all your favorite seasonal colors. From sunny, golden yellow, to orange, to deep red, to raspberry and violet, we have a shade for every taste.

We are proud to offer lush and full 8" pots of the following varieties.

'Barbara'- raspberry purple 'Red Daisy'- deep red 'Sunny Ursula'- golden yellow 'Hannah'- burnt orange 'Beth Violet'- purple

This year we are also bringing you several choices from the Igloo series of mums, 'Cool Igloo' and 'Rosy Igloo'. The Igloo series is a new, mum like perennial that blooms for weeks in summer and fall without pinching back. This mum is in the Dendranthema plant group, which is looks a lot like members of the Chrysanthemum family. Dendranthema is truly hardy and makes it through winter as smoothly as other perennials in the garden.

Mums look fabulous in container gardens on your front porch and deck, mixed in with your fall decor, as the centerpiece for your table settings, or planted in your borders and beds. Stop on by Garden Supply to see these, and all our gorgeous new plant arrivals. And be sure to come on back here tomorrow when I'll be sharing tips on caring for your newly purchased, fall-blooming mums.

See you all soon!

Getting Crafty

Hello everyone, and happy Wednesday to you! Today I have a few fun home decor and gift items to share with you that are perfect for all you Do-It-Yourself folks out there. If you are looking for that personalized touch to add to your homes or that special one-of-a-kind gift idea,we've got you covered. And if you haven't been into the Greenhouse lately, do stop by. We've got new goodies arriving daily that you won't want to miss.

Like these adorable scarecrow kits that will add a charming touch to your harvest decor.

Young and old alike are going to love these metal gourd kits. Simply insert the pieces as you like into a pumpkin or gourd, creating a smiling face in no time. This kit can be reused year after year, and works equally well in real or faux pumpkins. Doesn't this scarecrow look adorable in the planting basket with a touch of recycled paper as a ruff?  And if you like this guy, you'll love the turkey kit, too.

The turkey kit comes complete with metal head, feet, and tail-feathers to make one adorable, re-usable turkey decoration every year.

Another wonderful do-it-yourself project in the Greenhouse right now is the Remake It wine cork trivet.

Recycle your old wine corks into a trivet with this easy kit. Simply twist your corks onto the metal trivet, and you are done. It's as simple as that. What a perfect way to showcase corks from your travels or special gatherings and occasions. Makes a fabulous gift for the wine enthusiast on your list. And, it's a great way to recycle, as well.

If you're looking for truly personalized artwork, take a look. You can spell any name, word, or phrase with these mix and match alphabets and create your very own one-of-a-kind personalized masterpiece.

Each letter of the alphabet is represented with a unique black and white photo using architectural elements for the font. We have 3, 4, 5, 6, or more celled frames to help you create the perfect art piece.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Hope to see you all soon down at Garden Supply.

Fun for the Kids

Hello everyone! Happy Monday! I hope your weeks are off to a productive and wonderful start. This is a big week for many, as Wake County schools open their doors to a new year for those on the traditional calendar. Back to school time means fall is just around the corner, bringing with it seasonal fun and cooler temperatures.  Won't it be nice to be able to get back in the garden again after this rather hot summer?

For all the kiddos out there who are getting ready to go back to school, or who have already been going on the year-round schedule, we have a few special treats for you down at Garden Supply. We have just received a seriously silly, seriously fun selection of fun bands in the Greenhouse. Your kiddos are going to love the new scented, mini, tye-dye, glittered, seasonal, and glow-in-the-dark varieties.

We also have a very special visitor to the garden center that I know your kids will adore. Please say hello to Alvin, the prairie dog!

Prairie dogs are burrowing rodents native to the grasslands of North America. On average, these little guys will grow to be between 12–16 inches long, including the short tail, and weigh between 1–3 lbs. They are found in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Alvin is just visiting, and may not be around for long, so do stop by the Greenhouse if you get a chance, soon. It's not often you'll get the chance to come face-to-face with a prairie dog!

Thanks for stopping by everyone!  I'll see you back here soon for more snippets from the garden.

Let's Take a Walk

Come take a walk with me through the Greenhouse.  There are LOTS of new goodies arriving daily that will brighten your homes, celebrate the upcoming change of season, and put you in the mood for a little holiday fun. I've brought my camera along.  Let's see what's new together.

This is just the beginning of the new treasures to see down at Garden Supply.  If you're in the area, stop in and say hello.  We'd love a visit from you. Remember, also, we would be happy to mail you a goody or two from the Greenhouse if you can't make it in soon.

Thanks so much for dropping by today!  I'll be back before long with more snippets from the garden.

Halloween Haunts

Hi everyone and happy Wednesday to you all!  I've just come from Garden Supply where I toured the Greenhouse to peek at all the new goodies that have been arriving for Fall and Halloween.  And of course I brought my camera. So how would you like to take a little tour with me? We can see what's new together.

This is just a small sampling of what you'll find in store for you down at the garden center.  Come see for yourself.......

If you DARE!!!!

Deals to Share

Good evening everyone and happy Monday to you!  I hope your weeks are off to a wonderful start. We have a couple of special deals going on this week at Garden Supply that I am excited to share with you. It's hot outside, that's true, and gardening might not be tops on your to-do list right now, but these deals are too good to miss! First off, Keith was able to find a fabulous deal on B-Grade mulch that we are happy to be able to pass along to you, our treasured customers.  If you are needing to mulch your large natural areas or playgrounds, this is the special for you.  Now thru August 15th you can get this mulch for just $10 per yard. And to make it even "sweeter",we are offering free delivery in Cary, Apex, and Morrisville. ($20.00 delivery elsewhere). Now that's a deal!

Another deal you won't want to miss is our 50% markdown on all last minute summer annuals. Freshen up your bedding areas and container gardens with a pop of bright color that will last until fall, and enjoy spectacular savings.  We still have lots of fresh and beautiful plants to choose from.

And for those of you who may have missed out on our Gardener's For the Cure drive earlier this summer, it's not too late to get in on the great deal we have going.

We are still offering a 12% discount card good on ALL purchases at Garden Supply through the end of the year for every $100 or more donation made to the Komen Foundation. We also have our adorable team tees available for $10.

In other news, Fall and Halloween decor items are arriving daily to the Greenhouse. Come check them out because these goodies tend to head out the door about as quickly as they come in.

Thanks so much for stopping by everyone!  Hope to see you all soon!

Water Fountain Day

Hi everyone and happy Saturday to you!  Time sure flies by quickly, does it not?  Here we are at the last day of July already.  Soon school will be starting up again for those on the traditional calendar, and thoughts will begin to turn towards cooler fall days and everything that goes along with them. But for today.......things are still hot, hot, hot.  So why not chill out with the refreshing sound of water and enjoy special savings at the same time?

Today is the last day to beat the heat and enjoy 20% off on all water fountains and features down at Garden Supply. We have small table-top versions and large landscape designs, too, perfect for cooling down those hot summer days with the sound of running water.

With so many styles and sizes to choose from, you are sure to find one or two to perfectly suit you......

Or maybe even three...:)

We offer delivery and installation for your new water fountain, too.

And if you're thinking of going bigger, we offer delivery and installation on pond and waterfall features, too. Come on down and check us out!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  Hope you all have a wonderful weekend, and we're looking forward to seeing you at Garden Supply.

Still Blooming

Hello everyone and happy Sunday!  Hope you all are having a wonderful weekend!

I'm back today to share more of the beautiful blooming plants we have waiting for you down at Garden Supply.  If you're thinking that your patio and container gardens could use a little pick-me-up in this intense July heat, we have plants for you. And lots of them. Even in the full heat of summer, we are receiving fresh shipments of bloomers every week that are just perfect for adding a spark of interest to the tired summer landscape. Just look at the burst of color this tropical pink mandevilla vine adds to a simple container planting. They really are easy to care for, and add color wherever they are growing. This sunny tropical really enjoys sun....and we all know we have plenty of that these days.

Another great choice for the patio garden is the ever-popular Wave petunia, and we have some fabulous choices in stock at the garden center right now. Anyone interested in a little "Double Wave"? of spreading petunias?

Double Wave Petunias

Double Wave petunias offer fabulous, frilly flowers with Wave performance perfect for mixed containers, baskets and gardens.  Look for these lovely flowers in white, purple, and blue velvet varieties at the garden center.

Another petunia that really caught my eye this week is this unusual Black Velvet variety. Black Velvet presents the world’s only black petunia. It is a perfect fit for premium containers and baskets as this petunia partners well with many other sun lovers, and the rare color form is sure to add a ton of visual interest to the garden.

Black Velvet Petunia

These upright, mounded petunias are early to flower, have a tightly branched habit and are filled with color all season. Black Velvet is easy to grow with no special culture needed.

And don't forget........if you have considered adding a fountain or pond to your landscape, this is a great time. From now, until the end of the month, ALL fountains and pond-building supplies are 20% OFF. We have a wide array of fountains from “table-top” styles to grand statements. We offer delivery and installation of fountains as well as design and installation of ponds and waterfalls. Come check out our fabulous selection.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  We look forward to seeing you soon down at Garden Supply!

Revive Those Tired Containers

Hello everyone and happy Thursday to you! With the increase in temperatures and humidity these days, I know a lot of you are not thinking about working in the garden. After all, who wants to be out in this heat? But even though major projects might be on the back burner for now, it is still possible to keep some color and brightness in the summer landscape. If you stop by Garden Supply for a visit, you may be surprised to see so many beautiful plants in full bloom, even now in mid-July. We are continuing to receive weekly shipments of many blooming plants, including a wide range of tropicals, annuals and perennials. A few fresh plants will perk up those tired looking patio and container gardens in a snap.

Vinca

Available in a rainbow of colors, vinca offers a profusion of blooms with a carefree growth habit. Vinca is a prolific heat and drought tolerant annual, perfect for hot, dry areas like ours. It's easy to grow, and requires little or no attention. Plus it has the added benefit of often reseeding itself and returning year after year. Vinca is commonly used for borders, edging, and ground-cover or bedding plants. Also a lovely choice for the container garden. Plants grow 1-2 feet tall.

Vinca

Varieties of vinca currently available at the garden center include Titan Polka Dot, Titan Burgundy, Titan Lilac, Titan Mix, and Titan Dark Red. Look for loads of color from each.

My favorite bloomer at Garden Supply this week is the stunning Limelight hydrangea.  A perfect choice for brightening up those shadowy patio corners.

Limelight Hydrangea

Limelight is an exciting new hardy hydrangea from Holland. It has unique bright green blooms in mid-summer that holds its color right into autumn when the blooms change to a rich deep pink. The autumn display of green and pink blooms on the same plant is breathtaking!  The color makes a great addition to the garden and it blends wonderfully with all other colors.

Limelight Hydrangea

Limelight flower heads range in size from 6 to 12 inches and are held upright on the shrub. The blooms are well distributed making a very nice plant and display.  This is an easy to grow plant with reliable flowering and flower color regardless of soil pH. Use Limelight, either fresh or dried, in bouquets to make a unique floral design. And perhaps its best feature of all? Limelight is drought tolerant. And although this plant may seem like an unlikely choice for the patio garden, Limelight makes for an ideal "thriller" feature in your container design. Use it in the back or middle of the pot to add height and drama to the container.  Just remember that all container plants need thorough watering in this heat to thrive.

If you're looking for a way to beat the heat, perhaps a fountain or water feature with the sound of running water will keep things cool.  We have a grand selection of fountains from smaller desk-top versions to large monuments for the landscape, and ALL are currently on sale 20% off down at Garden Supply now through the end of July.

We offer delivery and installation as well as pond design and installation, too.

Thanks so much for stopping by everyone!  I'll be back soon for more snippets from the garden.

Off to Market

Good evening everyone and happy Saturday to you!  I hope you all are having a marvelous weekend so far. If you have ventured over here in the past couple of weeks, you probably couldn't miss the state of flux and chaos in the store. Since we had to move everything around to replace the plastic on the roof, Deb decided it was a good time to move LOTS around! We are gearing up for Fall and making room for all the new gifts and decor coming in.  And on that note, Deb and gang went off to the Atlanta Market this morning! I can't wait to see what's new and trendy not only for now, but the Spring season as well. I will fill you in when they get back next week.....and start expecting new products to arrive by the end of the month. And in the mean time, come beat the heat with a little summer sale on all our indoor and outdoor water fountains and features.  When it's this hot outside, sometime just the sound of running water will help keep things cool. If you have considered adding a fountain or pond to your landscape, this is a great time. From now, until the end of the month, ALL fountains and pond-building supplies are 20% OFF. We have a wide array of fountains from "table-top" styles to grand statements. We offer delivery and installation of fountains as well as design and installation of ponds and waterfalls.

I also want to remind everyone that there are still some great deals to be had on remaining clearance items in the Greenhouse. All sale stickers are marked at least 50% off...pink tag items are 70% off.

All Tyler Candle products are 70% markdown.  And there are plenty of remaining sale goodies on our sidewalk sale carts marked at 70% off.

So although things may be burning outside, we've got some real cool deals for you down at Garden Supply. Come check us out and stop back here soon for information on what's in store for you after our fun shopping spree in Atlanta.

Thanks for stopping by everyone!  Hope you enjoy the rest of your weekends.

Happy 4th of July

Hello everyone!  Hope you all are having a marvelous holiday weekend so far!  All of us at Garden Supply would like to wish you a very happy and safe 4th of July!  The garden center will be closed tomorrow, Sunday, so that we can celebrate the holiday with friends and family. Be sure to stop by yet today to pick up all your last minute patriotic table setting and home decor pieces.  We still have lots of beautiful items, and the best thing is........

all patriotic home and garden decor is now 40% off!!

Happy 4th of July folks!!

June Endings

Hello everyone and happy Wednesday!  Can you all believe that it's mid-week already?  And that we are about to start a new month? I don't know where the time manages to go, but I sure wish I could slow things down a bit. I want this summer to last! And speaking of summer, we've still got some hot summer deals going on down at Garden Supply that I would love to share with you. Just in time for the 4th of July holiday right around the corner, our entire line of patriotic home and garden decor is on sale.  That's right!  Every item of home and garden decor in the greenhouse is now 20% off through Friday, July 2nd. Take a peek at some of the festive summer and holiday items we have available.

Whether you are planning a big party, having a BBQ with the neighbors, or spending a quiet day at home with the family, we have a ton of festive goodies to put you in the holiday spirit. Not only can you make a POW with a firecracker table display, simple red, white, and blue items can make a bold statement, as well. Pair a trio of red vases with a single white piece for a strong impact, like on our white bookcase here. Arrangements like these can last you throughout the summer and bring a touch of brightness to your home decor.

Look at how this arrangement of red, white, and blue items adds a holiday flair to this table display. Here's a peek at some of our other patriotic items, too.

Here's one of my favorite items in the Greenhouse right now.

It is time to celebrate, and we've got your holiday decorating needs covered.  Come check out these fabulous items and enjoy big savings on our entire line of home and garden decor.  Plus, we still have pink tagged items in the Greenhouse for 50% off!

And not only that, all trees and shrubs are currently 20% off, too! It's getting hotter out there, but this is still actually a good time to garden, as your plants will "root in" quicker.  Just be sure to water everything 1" per week.

Happy End of June, everyone!  Hope to see you soon down at Garden Supply!

Super Sale and Auction Alert

Hello everyone and happy Thursday!  The weekend will be here before we know it and we've got some fabulous events going on at Garden Supply to start this weekend off with style. First of all, we have a truly SUPER SALE going on that you won't want to miss. We're heading to market in July and need to make room for all the new goodies.  Tons of home and garden decor pieces are now marked 50% off in the Greenhouse.  This sale lasts through Friday morning. After that, we'll be getting ready for the auction Saturday.  So HURRY in and get your hands on these hot deals while they last!

Here's a peek at some of the items on sale.  Take a look at this gorgeous table display.  Every item on this table is reduced to 50%.  And that's not all....every item in this bookcase is also 50% off.

We've got some big ticket items like furniture and display pieces also marked 50% off.

Every item marked with a pink ribbon is half off.  Entire table displays and shelves filled with goodies are being cleared out.  This sale is truly beyond anything we've done before.

Be sure to stop by before Friday morning to snatch up a few of these amazing deals, because after that, we turn our attention to our ANNUAL AUCTION being held Saturday, June 19th, another event you will not want to miss. Join us for a full day of fun at our best sale of the year by participating in our absolute auction. Registration begins at 8:00am.  The bidding starts at 9:00 and will continue until all items are gone. Plants, trees, flowers, pots, urns, iron pieces, fountains and lots of other gift items will be auctioned off. It's easy, just register and get a number, bid and be competitive, finish up your landscaping and get it all at a great price.

Items are being pulled and set aside for this once-a-year event as I type.  You can stop by late Friday afternoon for a preview, or early Saturday from 8-9 before bidding begins. We have a real auctioneer calling for us and keeping us on track.  You will need to register for a number with which to do your bidding, with an easy check-out process at the end.  If you need help with any large items you might purchase, you can arrange for delivery and/or installation with us at Garden Supply.  Standard fees apply.

We'll also be grilling hot dogs and firing up the pizza oven again.  And we're looking forward to all the fun! Hope to see you soon at the garden center.

Butterfly Bush

Hello everyone, and happy Monday to you all!  Hope you all had a wonderful weekend.  Things are certainly heating up, and we are still in full swing down at Garden Supply.  We have a couple of events coming up that you will want to mark your calendars for. First, the 2010 NC Triangle Race for the Cure event is being held next Saturday, the 12th, at Meredith College.  Our Garden Supply team, Gardeners for the Cure, will be there, and we'd love to have you join us. Every 73 seconds we lose another Mom, daughter, wife, sister, friend, or co-worker to breast cancer. We ARE making strides, more than 200 of you are making an IMPACT right now, but we still have a way to go!  So here's the link to our team page.  http://nctriangle.info-komen.org/site/TR/RacefortheCure/DUR_NCTriangleAffiliate?team_id=133021&pg=team&fr_id=1702 You'll be amazed at what comes back to you. A couple of items to note...you do not actually have to run or even walk on the 12th in order to participate.  Simply check the "sleep-in" option on the registration page.  For all of you who join us in this fight, you will receive a team Tee shirt, an after- party, and a special 12% discount card for ALL your Garden Supply purchases for the rest of the year.  And best of all, your name will be entered in our drawing to receive a $500 gift certificate to Garden Supply. Hurry, online registration ends June 10th.

Also, mark your calendars for out Annual Auction on June 19th. Join us for a full day of fun at our best sale of the year by participating in our absolute auction. Plants, trees, flowers, pots, urns, iron pieces, fountains and lots of other gift items will be sold. It's easy, just register and get a number, bid and be competitive, finish up your landscaping and get it all at a great price. Please check back for more details on this event including live music and other promotions.

And now I have a few more blooming plants to share with you that will add stunning color to your garden all summer while attracting a myriad of wildlife at the same time. With a collection of butterfly bushes in your garden you will be able to behold the beauty and fragrant delight of these plants while also attracting butterflies and hummingbirds who will love to feed off the flowers. There are plenty of butterfly bush varieties from which to choose, they are not picky about where you plant them and they grow hardily no matter what area of the country you are in.  You can find blue, ruby, pink, purple and red plants of the buddleia species down at Garden Supply to make your landscape a rainbow of color.

Miss Ruby butterfly bush

Developed by Dr. Dennis Werner of the JC Raulston Arboretum in NC, Miss Ruby is noted for its compact habit and remarkable vivid, rich pink flowers. The flower color is unlike any other buddleia. This new butterfly bush has silver leaves with a well branched growth habit which results in lots of beautiful flowers.

Miss Ruby photo courtesy of colorchoiceplants.com

Black Knight butterfly bush

Every bush of a Black Knight buddleia is covered with long, star-like almost-black blossoms from summer through fall. An easy-to-grow shrub that should be an essential feature in all yards. Butterflies and hummingbirds can’t resist the honey- scented blooms. Place near a patio or pathway and you’ll also appreciate their fragrance. Removal of spent flower spikes during the growing season will encourage additional bloom, but consider leaving final blooms in place to facilitate reseeding.

Royal Red butterfly bush

One of the most commonly requested butterfly bushes is the royal red. The royal red butterfly bush, instead of red as one would expect, has brilliant violet flowers that bloom from mid-summer. Royal red butterfly bushes can reach a height of up to seven feet. The blooms of a royal red butterfly bush are very fragrant, and attractive to butterflies, bees and hummingbirds. This vigorous, dense shrub will add structure and grace to a perennial border. The gray-green foliage of the royal red butterfly bush contrasts perfectly with the bright blooms.

Other butterfly bush varieties available at Garden Supply include:

Pink Delight- fragrant pink flower spikes from summer through fall.  Grows 4-6 feet tall and wide in an upright, spreading form. The fragrance has been described as similar to honey. The flower sprays are made of many tiny densely packed flowers.

Bicolor-the first Butterfly Bush to feature multiple colors on each bloom. Pannicles grow up to 10" and feature raspberry and butterscotch yellow florets beginning in summer. It is an excellent attractant for butterflies and hummingbirds. Grows 6-8' tall. Drought and deer resistant. Great cut flower.

Harlequin- Spectacular summer color from reddish-purple flower spikes. Terrific fragrance attracts butterflies. Good background or accent plant with the added bonus of variegated leaves.

Ellen Blue- Beautiful blue flowers with an orange eye and medium to high fragrance. Gray/silver foliage, grows to 6'. A seedling of 'Lochinch', selected by Ellen Hornig and named for her.

Lochinch- extremely fragrant lilac-blue flowers with orange eyes. Its arching, mounded habit typically reaches 3 to 5 feet in one season, but can grow much taller in the deep South. The 8-  to 12-inch-long flower spikes begin in late summer and bloom until frost.

Creating a butterfly garden is a fun hobby with an amazing pay-off.  You get to enjoy the beauty of many different species of colorful butterflies that visit your garden once your butterfly bushes begin to bloom and grow.  It is a popular hobby because it is not difficult, it is great for the environment and it is something that pretty much anyone can do. Stop by the garden center and let our helpful experts get you started on your own butterfly garden today.

Bloomers for Early June

Hi everyone and happy Friday to you all!  Another weekend has rolled around again and the grounds at Garden Supply are looking as beautiful as ever.  Late spring, early summer is blessing us with tons of beautiful blossoms at the garden center, and I am so excited to share with you some of my favorites of the week.

As you can see, the perennial and annual tables are absolutely bursting with color.  The roses are magnificent right now and the hydrangeas are out of this world.  Scroll down a post or two to see more details on those.  I also mentioned previously the early blooming crape myrtle, Zuni, which continues to wow down at the garden center.  Now joining the Zuni in full bloom are the Natchez and Tonto varieties of crape.

Natchez Crape Myrtle

The Natchez Crape Myrtle is a best seller, made popular by being a fast growing tree that blooms all summer long. It grows very rapidly at 3-5 feet a year and is tolerant of many climates. The pure white blooms explode in brilliance against the tree’s deep green leafy canopy from June through September.  A Natchez Crape Myrtle also gives you the unusual bark coloring of cinnamon on the trunk and stems, along with its smooth, sleek distinctive texture.

Tonto Crape Myrtle

The new Tonto Crape Myrtle gives you huge, dark pink blooms throughout the summer. This is the perfect tree if you want to add vibrant color to your lawn, but have limited yard space. This crape myrtle matures to 8-15 ft., making it the perfect tree to tuck away in tight areas. However, it will soon attract attention with its abundance of dark pink flowers that last from late spring to early fall.

Zuni Crape Myrtle

The Zuni tops out at about 12', making it the ideal choice for small yards and screening hedges. Blooming early summer through fall, Zuni features larger, dark lavender flower trusses, improved hardiness, and handsome peeling bark. Excellent fall foliage color from orange-red to maroon.

Another blooming tree that caught my eye this week is the stunning Southern Magnolia. Native to the southeastern United States, the magnolia is a large striking evergreen tree with large dark green leaves and large white fragrant flowers. Widely cultivated around the world, over a hundred cultivars have been bred and marketed commercially.  We are excited to offer several varieties at Garden Supply, including this 'Little Gem' magnolia.

Little Gem Magnolia

This cultivar of Southern Magnolia has a compact, upright growth habit more typical of a multi-stemmed shrub than a single-trunked tree. It grows at a slow rate to a height of perhaps 30 to 35 feet with an 8 to 12-foot spread. ‘Little Gem’ Southern Magnolia forms a dense, dark green oval or pyramidal shape, making it suited for screen or hedge planting.

The Southern Magnolia, Magnolia grandiflora is a medium to large evergreen tree which may grow 27.5 m (90 ft) tall. It typically has a single stem and a pyramidal shape. The leaves are dark green, stiff and leathery, and the large, showy, citronella-scented flowers are white, up to 30 cm (12 in) across and fragrant, with 6–12 petals with a waxy texture, emerging from the tips of twigs on mature trees in late spring. Flowering is followed by a rose-colored fruit.

We also offer the Dwarf Southern Magnolia, a heavy bloomer with white, 6-inch flowers appearing  in spring and again in summer. Its narrow, evergreen form is 20 to 25 feet high by 10 to 15 feet wide. Green leaves are rusty bronze underneath.

I wanted to share with you a fun new line of Americana home decor items just in to the Greenhouse. These adorable pieces are full of spirit and are just waiting to brighten your homes this summer season.

And don't forget our Gardener's for the Cure team, part of the 2010 NC Triangle Race for the Cure, being held June 12th.  If you have not joined the team yet, it is not too late.  We are getting close to our goal of raising $10,000, but we still have a little way to go.  Every penny goes to research for finding a cure for breast cancer, and we appreciate each and every pledge.  So much so, in fact, that we are offering a special 12% discount card for all your Garden Supply purchases for the rest of this year.  Register with us at the nursery, or online here. Help us in this fight against breast cancer.

Thanks so much for stopping by everyone!  Hope you have a wonderful weekend.  See you all down at Garden Supply.