Skillin's Perennial Additions for 2011! N-Z

Hello again!


Following is a list of Skillin's perennial plant additions for 2011 from N-Z (really O through Y but you get the point!) This list is compiled by Becky and Elaine from our Skillin's production facility. It is a long list but it makes for some practical and interesting reading! I will add some of my own comments (in italics) to some individual plants as we go along but what follows is a good plant by plant description of what will be new in Skillin's perennial yard in 2011!

Click HERE for Skillin's Perennial Additions for 2011, A-E.

AND click HERE for Perennials F-M!!


ORANAMENTAL STRAWBERRY – Fragaria


‘Lipstick’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 8” tall. Low growing and strawberry-like foliage with large bright pink flowers. Blooms heavily in spring and fall and on and off throughout the summer. Fruits are edible. Great groundcover and nice in hanging baskets. Attracts butterflies. Full sun. Zones 3-9. This sounds like a fun plant and I am glad we will have it in 2011!

PEONY – Peonia

‘Barrionton Belle' NEW at Skillins for 2011. 33” tall Semi-double. Maroon red flowers with lemon yellow stamens. Deer resistant.

‘Inspecteur Lavergne’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 32” tall. Double. Crimson red flowers with tiny white tips. Strong growing habit. Deer resistant.

‘Jan Van Leeuwen’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 30” tall. Single. White flowers with prominent yellow stamens. Sweetly fragrant. Deer resistant.

‘Raspberry Sundae’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 32” tall. Double. Creamy white flowers with raspberry coloring. Very fragrant. Deer resistant. Okay this one is very intriguing!

Peony Raspberry Sundae!

‘Dinnerplate’– NEW at SKILLINS for 2011. Very large double shell pink flowers. Rose like fragrance. 24” tall. Full sun. Zones 2-7.  Very hardy and very intriguing! Any flower with the name "Dinnerplate" is probably a BIG flower!

Peonies that are fragrant.

Peony ‘Jan Van Leeuwen’

Peony ‘Raspberry Sundae’

Peony ‘Dinnerplate’

PHLOX – Phlox

Garden Phlox - Paniculata

‘Jade’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 18”-20” tall. Pure white flowers edged in light green. Slightly mildew resistant. Blooms mid to late summer. Zones 4-8. We also have some all natural sprays at Skillin's that greatly help with mildew resistance.

‘Tiara’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 18”-20” tall. Double white flowers. Look like little rose buds. Petals are drop resistant. Bloom mid to late summer. Zones 4-8.

PINKS - Dianthus

‘Apple Slice’ – NEW INTRO FOR 2011. 1.5” deep red double flowers with a pale pink center and a narrow pale pink picotte edge. Blue-green grassy foliage. Blooms early summer and again in early fall. Re-bloom will be best if dead-headed. Full sun to part shade. 10” tall. Zones 4-9. "Pinks" have been around forever and are easy to overlook but their bright colors really do jazz up a perennial bed. Don't overlook the pinks--do take our advice about the dead heading for better rebloom. Dead heading takes a little time but the rewards are almost always there!

‘Fire and Ice’ NEW INTRO FOR 2011. 10” tall. 1.5” raspberry colored flowers with pink blotches and a white picotee edge. Short compact, gray-green foliage. Blooms early summer and again in early fall. Re-bloom will be best if dead-headed. Fragrant. Attracts butterflies. Deer resistant. Full sun to part shade. Zones 4-9.

‘Firecracker’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 8” tall. 1.5” burgundy flowers with bright pink spots. Petals have serrated edges. Grassy, blue-green foliage. Blooms early summer and again in early fall. Re-bloom will be best if dead-headed. Fragrant. Attracts butterflies. Deer resistant. Full sun to part shade. Zones 5-9.

‘Raspberry Surprise’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 10” tall. Double raspberry pink flowers with frilly edges and a deep burgundy center. Blooms early summer and again in early fall. Re-bloom will be best if dead-headed. Fragrant. Attracts butterflies. Deer resistant. Full sun to part shade. Zones 4-9.

POPPY –Papaver

‘Picotee’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 28” tall. White flowers. Petals have a wide orange crinkled edge. Deer resistant. Zones 3-8.


RED FEATHERS – Echium

'Amoenum' – New at Skillins for 2011. Another funky plant that Elaine and I could not resist. Russet-red florets in feathery spikes over low mounds of leathery dark green foliage. Very drought tolerant and grows well in poor soils. Blooms in spring with a very long bloom time. Will re-bloom in summer and fall if deadheaded. Deer resistant. Nice cut flower. ‘THRIVES ON NEGLECT” how great is that! Full sun and well drained soils. 10”-16” tall. Zones 3-9. This plant has my interest!

ROSE MALLOW – Hibiscus

‘Blue River II’ New at Skillins for 2011. 4’-5’ tall. Huge pure white flowers. Dark green leaves with a tinge of blue. Deer resistant. Blooms mid to late summer. Zones 4-9. The flowers on any Rose Mallow are always so bright; stunning really. Rose Mallows are late starters to any perennial garden but once they show up they are the hit of the party!

‘Fantasia’ New at Skillins for 2011. 3’ tall. 8”-9” rose-pink flowers that are ruffled with a red eye. Leaves are maple-like. Deer resistant. Blooms mid to late summer. Zones 4-9.

‘Sultry Kiss’ New at Skillins for 2011. 4’-5’ tall. 9”-11” magenta-red flowers. Foliage starts out bronze and turns a deep green. Very long blooming. Flowers at each node up the stem. Deer resistant. Blooms mid summer until mid fall. Zones 4-9.

SAGE – Salvia

‘Madeline’ – NEW INTRO FOR 2011. Large bi-color flowers. Flowers are a bright violet-blue with a white lower lip. May re-bloom if cut back. Compact, upright habit. Deer resistant. Blooms early summer. Full sun. Zones 4-8. Sages are so tried and true and reliable in the perennial garden But this bi-color aspect has me intrigued!

SHASTA DAISY – Leucanthemum

‘Lacrosse’ NEW INTRO FOR 2011. 10”-12” tall. Compact. Flowers have white fluted petals surrounding a large yellow cone. Sturdy stems and excellent branching. Nice cut flower. Blooms early to mid summer. Zones 5-9.

SPEEDWELL – Veronica

‘Charming Pink’ NEW INTRO FOR 2011. 24” tall. Spikes of bright pink flowers. Fairly mildew resistant. Very nice cut flower. Deer resistant. Blooms summer. May re-bloom if deadheaded. Zones 3-6.

‘Goodness Grows’ New at Skillins for 2011. 12” tall. Spikes of dark blue flowers. Very long flowering. Even more so with deadheading. Deer resistant. Zones 3-9. Dark blue huh? I like pink and purple but give me dark blue! And Veronica or "Speedwell" is so darned reliable and hardy!

Veronica Goodness Grows--I love blue flowers!

‘Sunnyborder Blue’ New at Skillins for 2011. 12”-18” tall Strong spikes of violet blue flowers. Crinkled, glossy green foliage. Deer resistant. Zones 3-8.

STOKE’S ASTER – Stokesia

‘Purple Pixie’ New at Skillins for 2011. 11” tall. A compact dwarf variety with large violet-blue flowers and dark green foliage. Blooms mid summer and may re-bloom. Deadheading will help with re-bloom. Attracts butterflies. Deer resistant. Nice cut flower. Full sun. Zones 5-9.

STONE CROP – Sedum

‘Autumn Charm' New at Skillins for 2011. 15”-18” tall. A white variegated sedum that shows little reversion. more dense and compact than Autumn Joy with an upright growing habit. Flowers start as white buds and open to light pink. Blooms late summer to mid fall. . Zones 3-9. This reliable variegation is intriguing to me! Autumn Joy is one of my Must Haves for anyone; Autumn Charm could be fun to check out!


‘cauticola Lidakense' New at Skillins for 2011.’ 4”-6” tall. Low, compact mounds for blue-gray foliage. Leaves are rounded and fleshy and tinged with purple. Flowers start pink and mature to carmine red. Excellent for rock gardens. Blooms late summer. Zones 3-9

‘Mr. Goodbud’ New at Skillins for 2011. 16” tall. Blue-green serrated foliage. Compact, upright habit with 5” clusters of purple-pink flowers on purple-red stems. Blooms late summer. Zones 4-9. Hey the plant sounds neat--even if the name is pretty...hokey.

Hey Everybody! Mr. Goodbud is here!!

‘Postman’s Pride’ New at Skillins for 2011. 18”-24” tall. Semi-upright habit. Dark purple foliage. ‘Deep purple buds open to pinkish-red flowers.’ Blooms late summer. Zones 4-9. "The pride cometh before the fall" and this is when the postman blooms!

TICKSEED – Coreopsis

‘Sienna Sunset’ – NEW at Skillins for 2011. A sport of ‘Crème Brulee’. Burnt sienna (terra-cotta) flowers that lighted to peach as they age. Very long bloom time. Beautiful finely cut foliage. Blooms early to late summer. 16”-20” tall.Full Sun. Zones 5-9.

WIND FLOWER – Anemone

pulsatilla vulgaris

‘Rubra’ New at Skillins for 2011. 8”-10” tall. Finely cut lacy foliage. Bell-shaped, wine-red flowers in late spring. Seed pods are attractive. Needs well drained soil. Excellent rock garden plant. Deer resistant. Sun to part shade. Zones 4-8.

YARROW - Achillea

Tutti Frutti ‘Pomegranate’ – NEW INTRO FOR 2011. Magenta-Red flowers with dark green foliage. This variety is extremely disease resistant and heat tolerant and will not ‘melt’ in the heat of summer like other achilleas. Excellent cut flower. Full Sun. 24”-30” tall. Zones 3-8.

‘Saucy Seduction’ New at Skillins for 2011. 18”-24” tall. A short compact yarrow with very sturdy stems and great branching.Rose-pink flowers Very long bloom time. Blooms June through August if deadheaded. Full sun. Zones 4-8.

Mike Skillin
Skillin's Greenhouses
February 25, 2011

The ABC’s of Seed Starting

Hello again,

Saturday March 5 brings a free class on Seed Starting to Skillin's at 10 AM and 2 PM. We have some great March and April classes coming up; check them out at http://www.skillins.com/information.html! You may sign up for any classes including Seed Starting at skillins@maine.rr.com!

In honor of our Seed Starting class, I am bringing to the Garden Log the ABC's of Seed Starting which is a handout we developed several years ago!

All you need for seed starting: seeds, some type of container, seed starting mix and some water. There are many different types of seeds: some very fine, some as big as the tip of your finger. And as there are many different types of seeds, there are also different ways to handle them. If you have purchased seeds, you will find the package gives a great deal of information on how long it takes to germinate (important as to how far in advance to start your seeds), how deep to plant the seed, how far apart to plant when transplanted outside (gives you an idea how many plants you want to grow) and their height at maturity (so you don’t end up planting something very tall in front of something low growing). You may also want to note the date of the packaging as the freshest seed has the highest rate of germination. If you harvested your own seed you may find the plants to be inferior since the cross-pollination has not been controlled. Seeds that are now offered as F1 hybrids produce the best as they are the first generation of pure plants that have been hand pollinated.

Before you begin, gather the materials you will need. Seedling trays can be either open trays or row trays with humidity domes to hold in moisture. You will need a soil medium such as Jiffy-Mix to be used in peat pots or row trays or you may opt to use Jiffy-7 peat pellets that serve as individual peat pots when water is added. Moisture and warmth is necessary for good seed germination. Moisten the soil medium making sure it is not too wet before you sow your seeds. Heating cables can be purchased to aid in warming the soil. Use milled sphagnum moss sprinkled over your seeds after sowing. A mist type spray bottle helps in watering without washing your seeds away. White plastic markers remind us of what we have planted.

Container, seed, soil mix—you are all ready to go! Be sure to read your seed packets. Tender annuals and warm loving vegetables benefit from the head start they get indoors especially here in the north where the season is short. Scatter the seed evenly over the surface taking care not to sow too thickly as crowded plants are prone to “damping off”.

Milled sphagnum moss can be sprinkled over the seed. Generally the covering should be the same thickness as the seed. Most seed germinates in the dark. Newspaper can be used over the tray but be sure to check often and remove as soon as seedlings appear. Some very fine seed such as begonias need light to germinate and would benefit from being 3 inches below fluorescent lights. When seedlings emerge place them in a southeastern window and take care that the sun is not too hot. Be sure to rotate the trays a ¼ turn daily as the seedlings will grow toward the light and you do not want them to stretch. Plants grown under fluorescent lights grow more evenly but make sure you have placed the trays close to the lights to be beneficial. When using artificial light, cool white and warm white work the best in a two light system. Special grow lights such as the Vita-lite fluorescent tubes are a bit more expensive but provide the closest light to sunlight. At first the seedlings should be within 4” of the lights; move them further away as they get bigger. Plant lights should be on 12 to 16 hours per day (timers are very useful here).

Dome covers will aid in humidity and may help to keep the soil moist but dome covers should be removed during the day as it is just as important that the seedlings have good air circulation. You will still need to water your seedlings when the soil surface is dry to the touch. Do not let them dry out but do not saturate them either. Keep your seedlings evenly moist. Water them lightly until the water drips out of the bottom of the container.

In the coming weeks look for Transplanting Seedlings, where we talk about how to handle successfully started plants. As always let us know if you have any questions!

Mike Skillin
Skillin's Greenhouses
February 22, 2011

Growing Vegetable Plants Indoors from Seed

Good gardening friend Paul Parent of the Paul Parent Garden Club sends out a great newsletter every week with pertinent gardening topics. I encourage you to go to his website to sign up for his newsletter. Paul can also be heard every Sunday morning from 6 AM to 10 AM at his website or at WBACH (104.7 FM) every Sunday morning from 6 AM to 9 AM. Paul recently sent this article out called "Growing Vegetable Plants Indoors from Seed" (I occasionally add a few comments in italics) and here it is:

These plants should be started indoors at the times recommended by this chart, before transplant. You will have to decide when the planting time is safe where you live. Example: on Cape Cod you can plant outside, tender plants like tomatoes on May 1 to 15. In Maine, where I live, it would be May 15 to 30 and in a Northern Vermont town like St. Johnsbury, it would be May 30 to June 15.

Broccoli! Yummy and Easily Grown in the Garden!

Before you plant directly into the garden you must "harden- off" the plants to acclimate them to the outside weather and temperatures. This is done by moving plants outside into a garage or tool shed for the daytime, where they are protected from the wind and rain, for 3 to 4 days. Leave the door open so plants can get sunshine on them, but are sheltered from weather. By suppertime bring them back indoors for the evening for the first 3 to 4 days. There are various methods you can use to "harden off" your plants but the 3 to 4 day time period is the key!


After this period, leave plants outside if the weather permits during the day for an additional week and back in the building at night time with no heat. This two week hardening off period will help thicken the walls of the plant and make it easier for the plant to adjust when moved outside and planted in the garden. I know, I know all this hardening off seems to be quite the delay to getting going on the "real gardening" but caution at the beginning of the gardening season in Skillin's Country is often critical to a successful gardening season!

When you start the seeds, be sure to use a sterilized potting mix designed for seed starting like Jiffy-Mix (sold right here at Skillin's!). This will eliminate possible fungus problems and prevent the seeds from rotting. When you transplant the seedlings into flats or individual pots, you can use a potting soil, but always use a seeding soil to start seeds in. Starting soils are very light so that seedlings can poke thru the soil easier and are well-drained to prevent damping-off of seedlings.

To help the seed germinate faster you can provide bottom heat with heating cables placed under the seed trays. Skillin's has easy to use and durable heat mats for this job. If you are just going to germinate a few seeds use a heating pad on LOW setting and wrap it in a bath towel to spread out the heat more evenly. Cover the towel with a plastic bag to prevent water spillage and damage to heating pad.

Your local garden center will also sell a seed germination tray with a clear cover, like a mini greenhouse, for under $10.00. Yes we do! The cover will help to hold moisture around the seed for better germination and prevent drying out of the soil. Keep the seed tray warm, around 70 degrees, until plants germinate, then cool 5 degrees if possible. Once plants sprout, you can use grow-lights if you do not have a south facing window to help plants grow without stretching for the light. Run the lights for 12 hours during the day and then off at night, so the plant can rest. Plant lights should be 6 to 12 inches from plant. Try it if you have not before--it is fun!

Thanks to Paul Parent!

Mike Skillin
Skillin's Greenhouses
February 20, 2011

Skillin's Perennial Additions for 2011! F-M

Hello again!


Following is a list of Skillin's perennial plant additions for 2011 from F-M. This list is compiled by Becky and Elaine from our Skillin's production facility. It is a long list but it makes for some practical and interesting reading! I will add some of my own comments (in italics) to some individual plants as we go along but what follows is a good plant by plant description of what will be new in Skillin's perennial yard in 2011!

Click HERE for Skillin's Perennial Additions for 2011, A-E.

FALSE BLUE INDIGO - Baptisia


‘Twilite Prairieblues’ 3’-5’ tall. Purple buds. Flowers are violet purple with lemon yellow keels. Pea-like foliage and shrub-like habit. Matures quickly. Attracts butterflies and is deer resistant. Blooms Mid spring to late spring. Sun to part shade. Zones 4-9. False Indigo is one of the most reliable perennials I know and I love the color that it gives--usually in June. The foliage is always sharp looking and stays looking good through late in the year. The False Indigo family is a Must Have in Skillin's Country!


‘Starlite Prairieblues’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 3’ tall. A bicolor variety with buds that are a bright violet color opening to flowers that are periwinkle blue with cream colored keels. Once of the earliest baptisia to blooms. Vase shaped habit when young maturing to a rounded habit. Attracts butterflies and is deer resistant. Blooms Mid spring to late spring. Sun to part shade. Zones 4-9.

FALSE SPIREA – Astilbe

‘Burgundy Red’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 18”-20” tall. Triangular flower plumes on dark red scapes. flowers start as raspberry colored buds and open to a dark burgundy red turning fuchsia as they age. Foliage is dark green and finely cut. Deer resistant. Blooms early to mid summer. Shade to part shade. Will take full sun if allowed NOT to dry out. Zones 4-9. I LOVE Astilbe and this looks really good. Good point too about the moisture. This color looks fantastic!

 ‘Sugarberry’ NEW INTRO FOR 2011. 10” tall. Dwarf, compact astible with soft pink flower plumes. Deer resistant. Blooms early to mid summer. Shade to part shade. Will take full sun if allowed NOT to dry out. Zones 4-9.

‘Color Flash Lime’ – NEW INTRO FOR 2011. Spikes of soft pink flowers. Foliage is yellowish light green tinged with burgundy. Very floriferous. Blooms early to mid-summer. Part shade to shade. 22” tall. Zones 3-8.

FALSE SUNFLOWER – Heliopsis

‘Venus’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 36” tall. 4’-5” semi-double golden yellow flowers. Strong stemmed. Great cut flower. Deer resistant. Blooms mid summer into fall. Full sun. Zones 3-9. Another absolute Must Have for a Skillin's Country garden! False Sunflower will usually blossom in a striking way from mid July until about Labor Day--that is a long time for a perennial!

Heliopsis Venus!

FOAMY BELLS – Heucherella

‘Sweet Tea’ NEW INTRO FOR 2011. 20” tall, 27” wide. In spring foliage is apricot orange with a center burgundy blotch. Darkens to coppery, cinnamon tones in summer. White flowers. Blooms late spring. Full sun to part shade. Zones 4-9.

GLOBEFLOWER – Trollius

‘Lemon Supreme’ NEW INTRO FOR 2011. 12” tall. A short, compact variety with dark green, deeply lobed leaves. Round yellow buds open to lemon yellow flowers. Prefers adequate moisture. Nice cut flower. Blooms mid spring. Full sun to part shade. zones 4-7.

HARDY GARDEN MUM - Chrysanthemum

'Matchsticks' – NEW INTRO FOR 2011.

Sometimes Elaine and I are just attracted to plants that can only be described at ‘funky’ (or fun). The gold-yellow quilled petals of Matchsticks have fire red spoon shaped tips like a matchstick. It is a very compact variety of mum and does not require staking. Blooms early to mid fall. 18”-24” tall. Full sun. Zones 5-9. Looks great in a container.

HELEN’S FLOWER - Helenium

‘Red Jewel’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 30”-36” tall. ‘Tight clusters of small, dusky red flowers with a hint of blue’. Great cut flower. Attracts butterflies. Blooms mid summer to early fall. Full sun. Zones 4-8.

HOLLYHOCK - Alcea

‘Fiesta Time’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 3’-4’ tall. Compact plant with double magenta-pink flowers with frilly petals. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Blooms early to mid summer. Full sun. Zones 2-8. Biennial.

HOSTA – Hosta

Variegated Varieties

‘Aristocrat’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 14”/22”. Leaves are powder blue with wide creamy yellow margins that turn white. Pale lavender flowers in mid summer. Part shade to shade.

‘Cherry Berry’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 10”/26”. Lance-shaped leaves white with dark green margins. ‘Purple, flared flowers on clear red scapes.’ Seed pods turn bright red and last through fall. Blooms mid to late summer. Part shade to shade. These bright red seed pods sound fascinating to me!


‘Deja Blu’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 14”/20”. Blue green leaves ‘with a cream lightning bolt’ that runs between the center of the leaf and the yellow margin. Light lavender flowers. Blooms early to mid summer. Part shade to shade.

‘Ivory Coast’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 20”/30”. Sport of ‘Sagae’. Large, broad leaves with rippled margins. Leaves are gray-green with yellow margins when young. As leaves mature margins turn ivory with a blue –green center and gray-green jetting. Lavender flowers in early summer. Part shade to shade.

‘Lakeside Paisley Print’ NEW INTRO FOR 2011. 10”/22”. Small hosta with heart-shaped green leaves that have wide wavy margins. Leaf centers have creamy white markings that ‘shoot out in a feathery pattern’. Scapes are cream colored. Lavender flowers in mid summer. Part shade to shade.

‘Sagae’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 28”-38”-50”. Huge gray-green leaves. Wavy with yellow to creamy white margins. Lavender flowers in early to mid summer. Part shade to shade.

Green Varieties

‘Empress Wu’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 3’-4’/4’. The largest hosta known to be available. Huge dark green leaves are thick and deeply veined. Forms a massive upright clump. Pale purple flowers. Blooms early to mid summer. Part shade to shade.

Blue Varieties

‘Queen of the Sea’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 2’/3’. A very large blue-green hosta. Heart-shaped leaves are thick with a very wavy pie crust edge. Upright habit. Near-white flowers in early to mid summer. Part shade to shade.

IRIS - Iris Japanese Iris –ensata

‘Lion King’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 32” tall. Huge flowers with large overlapping petals. Flowers have a picotee rosy purple edge and white center. Deer resistant. Blooms late spring to early summer. Zones 4-9.

‘Ruffled Dimitry’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 35” tall. Lavender-purple flowers with prominent dark veining and dark purple center with yellow signals. Deer resistant. Blooms late spring to early summer. Zones 4-9.

Iris Tall Bearded German Iris –germanica

‘Breakers’ – 37” tall. Medium blue with ruffled petals. May re-bloom. Deer resistant. Blooms late spring to early summer. Zones 4-9.

‘Immortality’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 29” tall. Ruffled pure white flowers with pale yellow beards. Nice fragrance. Almost blooms continuously once established. Very good rebloomer. Deer resistant. Blooms late spring to early summer. Zones 4-9.

‘Picasso Moon’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 39” tall. Large, very bright yellow flowers. Petals are ruffled and serrated. Deer resistant. Blooms late spring to early summer. Zones 4-9.

‘Rare Treat’ - 34”tall. Huge pure white flowers edged with blue. Petals are ruffled. Deer resistant. Blooms late spring to early summer. Zones 4-9.

‘Saturday Night Live’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 37” tall. Huge ruby-red flowers with a velvety texture. Sturdy stems and lots of blooms. Deer resistant. Blooms late spring to early summer. Zones 4-9.

‘Summer Olympics’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 31” tall. Light yellow ruffled flowers. Falls are white with yellow edges. Re-blooms. Deer resistant. Blooms late spring to early summer. Zones 4-9.

‘Superstition’ NEW INTRO FOR 2011. 36” tall. Large, almost black flowers with wide petals. Deer resistant. Blooms late spring to early summer. Zones 4-9.

‘Swingtown’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 36” tall. Bright berry-red ruffled flowers . Prolific bloomer. Deer resistant. Blooms late spring to early summer. Zones 4-9.

Dwarf German Iris – Iris Pumila

‘Fireplace Embers’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 10”-12” tall. Dwarf. Small and compact. Dark yellow standards with maroom falls. Deer resistant. Blooms early spring. Zones 4-9.

‘Smart’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 10”-12” tall. Dwarf. Small and compact. Red-violet flowers with a dark spot on the falls. Deer resistant. Blooms early spring. Zones 4-9.

Siberian Iris –siberica

‘Eden’s Paradise Blue’ NEW INTRO FOR 2011. 22” tall. Compact growing habit. Soft blue flowers. Deer resistant. Blooms early summer. Zones 4-9. Zones 4-9.

LAMB’S EAR – Stachys

‘Pink Cotton Candy’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 24” tall. Spikes of ‘cotton candy pink flowers’ grow from clumps of green basal foliage. Deer resistant. Makes a nice cut flower. Bloom early summer to mid summer. Sun to part shade. Zones 4-8.

LARKSPUR - Delphinium

‘Blue Lace’ – NEW at Skillins for 2011. True sky blue flowers with lavender-pink accents. Stems are very sturdy and usually do not require staking. Great cut flower. Blooms early summer and again in late summer and early fall if dead-headed. Full sun to part shade. 5’-6’ tall. Zones 3-7.

‘Double Innocence’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 3’-4’ tall. Double pure white flowers with a white to light green bee. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds and is deer resistant. Great cut flower. Blooms early summer and again in late summer and early fall if dead-headed. Full sun to part shade. Zones 3-7.

‘Moonlight Blues’ NEW INTRO For 2011. 2.5’-3’ tall. A very short variety with very sturdy spikes of blue flowers. Petals may have a hint of pink with black, brown or blue-striped bees. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds and is deer resistant. Great cut flower. Blooms early summer and again in late summer and early fall if dead-headed. Full sun to part shade. Zones 3-7.

‘Pink Punch’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 3’-5’ tall. Strong stems of deep pink flowers with a white, brown or pink striped bee. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds and is deer resistant. Great cut flower. Blooms early summer and again in late summer and early fall if dead-headed. Full sun to part shade. Zones 3-7.

LENTEN ROSE - Helleborus

‘Grape Galaxy, ‘Ice Follies’, ‘Pink Parachutes’ – NEW INTRO For 2011. Winter Thrillers series – Have been hybridized and tested to be true to color, notoriously hard to accomplish with hellebores. ‘Grape Galax’y has 3.5” grape purple flowers with flecks of dark purple. ‘Ice Follies’ has 3” cream to light yellow flowers with burgundy flecks. ‘Pink Parachutes’ have huge 3.75” bright pink flowers with dark pink to wine colored specks. The back of petals of Pink Parachutes are lighter blush to white.

All are very floriferous with 50 or more flowers on mature plants. Deer resistant. Blooms early to mid spring. Full to part shade. 18”-22” Zones 4-9.

LILY – Lilium

Asiatic Lily

‘Blackbird’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 16” tall. Deep dark red flowers.

‘Bright Pixie’ – 16” tall. Bright yellow flowers.

‘Ivory Pixie’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 16” tall. Ivory white flowers.

‘Latvia’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 42” tall. Yellow flowers with a heavily speckled bronze center.

‘Matrix’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 16” tall. Fiery orangered with an orange brush mark in the center.

‘Strawberry & Cream’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 32” tall. Light pink flowers with strawberry colored markings at the center.

‘Tiny Padhye’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 16”-18” tall. White with burgundy brush marks.

Oriental Lily

‘Casandra’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 40” tall. Large white flowers with deep yellow-gold bands at the center. Fragrant.

‘Dizzy’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. Large white flowers with maroon speckling and a maroon stripe down the center. Very fragrant.

‘Garden Party’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 22” tall. White flowers with some speckling and beautiful, peachy yellow stripes down the center. Fragrant.

‘Lake Carey’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 45” tall. Deep rosy-red flowers with a thin white edge and bright orange anthers. Fragrant.

‘Miss Lucy’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 42” tall. Large double flowers. Flowers are white with a soft pink blush. Fragrant.

‘Muscadet’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 32” tall. Large, white flowers with pink spots. Very fragrant.

‘Souvenir’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 18” tall. Pink flowers with white centers. Fragrant.

LUNGWORT – Pulmonaria

‘Polar Splash’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 12” tall Large green oval leaves with large silver spotting. Blue buds open to pink flowers in early spring. Mildew resistant and more sun tolerant that other varieties. Attracts hummingbirds and is deer resistant. Blooms early spring. Part shade to shade. Zones 3-9. Lungwort is a great and reliable plant for shady spots. Any one of the Lungworts is a Must Have!

‘Roy Davidson’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 10”-12” tall. Long narrow leaves with heavy silver spotting. Flowers start pink and mature to light blue. Somewhat heat tolerant. Attracts hummingbirds and is deer resistant. Blooms early spring. Part shade to shade. Zones 3-9.

‘Little Star’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. A compact variety. Very floriferous. Pink buds open to deep colbalt blue flowers. Leaves have small silver spotting. Deer resistant. Blooms early to mid spring. Full to part shade. 12” tall. Zones 3-9.

MULLEIN – Verbascum

‘Clementine’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 4’-5’ tall. Tall stems of ‘peachy-apricot to orange flowers with fuzzy, violet purple filament hairs in the center.’ Deer resistant. Blooms mid summer. Full sun. Zones 5-9.

‘Summer Sorbet’ – 24” tall. Purple flowers with a peach tinge and raspberry colored eye. ’ Deer resistant. Blooms mid summer. Full sun. Zones 5-9.


Mike Skillin
Skillin's Greenhouses
February 19, 2011

Astilbe 'Burgundy Red'

Annuals for Cool Weather: Pretty and Tough! Also Pansies and Violas!!

Hello again,

This is some great information from our good friends at Botanical Interests--a family owned seed company whose seeds we feature here at Skillin's Greenhouses.

Most if not all of the varieties noted in this post are available for you at Skillin's! Botanical Interests states that Now is the time to start the following seeds; I am thinking that 2 to 3 weeks from now would be optimal for us in Skillin's Country.

Annuals for Cool Weather: Pretty and Tough

"Now is the time to start the annual flowers indoors that perform best in the cool temperatures of spring. Once hardened off, these varieties will laugh off a late spring chill or light frost, and provide many weeks of cheerful color!


Alyssum

The tiny, sweet-scented flowers of alyssum make a lovely ground cover, bulb cover, or filler for bare spots in the garden. White-flowered 'Tiny Tim' was specifically chosen for its uniformly compact habit. 'Rosie O'Day' has charming rose-pink flowers, and 'Oriental Nights' adds a touch of purple. 'Basket of Gold' (see below photo) is a perennial type of alyssum with eye-popping yellow color that adds a warm glow to the early spring garden, year after year.

Pansies

Nothing says spring like the cheerful faces of pansies. They can adorn containers on your porch, deck, or patio, or line a walkway to welcome in the new season. As a bonus, you can add the pretty edible petals to your spring salads. 'Swiss Giant' pansies offer a wide range of candy-colored blooms, and 'Got the Blues' makes a nice complement to daffodils.

Swiss Giant Pansies!

Snapdragons

Snapdragons are so colorful and so versatile. The 2'-3' 'Tall Maximum Blend' adds height and beauty to the back of the flower garden, and the shorter 6" tall 'Magic Carpet Blend' is enchanting along a border, in window boxes, or in containers.

Stock

These sweetly scented flowers might make you nostalgic for the cottage gardens that were grown when life was a little slower, and more people took the time to appreciate the scent of garden flowers. Line a path with them, and see if you can tempt passersby to give them a sniff. Choose from the 'Giant Imperial Blend' with statuesque 24"-30" stems, or 'Dwarf Ten Week Blend' that stays at a more compact 12".

Violas

These petite flowers can be tucked just about anywhere. Plant a whole container, edge a bed, or sow them into nooks and crannies where you want a little surprise peek of color. 'Amber Jewels' is new for 2011. Its bright amber, copper, raspberry, and plum shades make a jazzy addition around a bed of blooming tulips. Mix the violet-blue 'King Henry' with the sunny yellow 'Prince John' for a striking combination. For the quickest blooms from seed, try the heirloom 'Johnny-Jump-Up'. Its little purple and yellow blossoms will be one of the first flowers to perk up the spring garden with color.

Pansies and Violas

A Welcome Sign Of Spring !

Of all the flowers that conjure visions of spring, the kissing cousins, pansies and violas, are at the top of most lists. They are included as a part of many garden plans for both their beautiful and edible qualities. A successful crop of pansies or violas can help coax spring out of hiding and is simple with the right steps.

The container or flat you choose should be clean, easily drained, and the right size to hold a seedling for a number of weeks. A container approximately 1"x 1" to 2"x 2" will work nicely. Ten to twelve weeks before you want to transplant, fill your containers with pre-moistened seed-starting mix to about ¼" from the top. Lightly press 2-3 seeds into the surface of the soil every inch. Pansies and violas prefer to be lightly covered, so only add a light dusting of soil when covering. After they're sown, mist the soil surface and cover with clear plastic wrap.

Pansy and viola seeds germinate best between 65-75ºF. At this temperature, you can expect to see seedlings in 10-20 days. Lighting should begin at sowing. A sunny window may not be bright or warm enough. Fluorescent lights should be placed 1-3 inches away for 16+ hours a day. Be patient and keep the soil moist. When seedlings appear, remove the cover and keep moist.

The early stages of pansy and viola growth can be slow. This is good if you have enough time, and if you start soon you will. Growing a short, healthy transplant with a large root system will ensure outdoor success. Pansies and violas should be fed weekly with a half-strength fertilizer. One with a low middle number, like 14-0-14 or 15-5-15, will help prevent stretch in young plants. If you notice that your plants are getting tall and weak, you can help by lowering the temperature, feeding a little less, watering slightly less, and increasing light. All of these steps help decrease height and increase bushiness of your plants. If your plants get too tall, 3" or taller, you can trim them with sharp scissors. Be sure to leave the bottom two sets of leaves, and you'll soon see new growth branching from the stem. Follow these steps, and when it comes time to transplant outdoors, you will have a strong plant ready to paint the colors of spring all over your landscape."

Thanks to our friends at Botanical Interests!

Mike Skillin
Skillin's Greenhouses
February 17, 2011

Skillin's Perennial Additions for 2011!! A-E

Hello again!


Following is a list of Skillin's perennial plant additions for 2011. This list is compiled by Becky and Elaine from our Skillin's production facility. It is a long list but it makes for some practical and interesting reading! I will add some of my own comments (in italics) to some individual plants as we go along but what follows is a good plant by plant description of what will be new in Skillin's perennial yard in 2011!

ALKANET - ‘Brunnera’


‘Emerald Mist’ – NEW at Skillins for 2011. 12”-15” tall. Heart-shaped leaves with heavy silver bars along the outside of the leaves that form a ‘collar’ of silver along the perimeter. Entire leaf is covered in a light silver dusting. Produces blue, for-get-me-not like flowers in spring. Deer resistant. Blooms mid to late spring. Shade to part shade. Zones 3-8.  I love the Brunnera because of it's reliability and hardiness. Also those blue foget-me-not like flowers are very valuable--they look good and you get color when much else is not yet in color. This sounds very nice!

‘King’s Ransom’ – NEW INTRO FOR 2011. This is a sport of the popular Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’. Tiny forget-me-not like flowers bloom in early to late spring. The heart-shaped leaves are silver with a cream yellow margin and a light ‘frosting’ over the whole leaf. Leaf margins lighted to a creamy white in summer. Part to full shade. 10”-12” tall. Zones 3-8. That leaf variegation sounds great!

ALPINE GERANIUM - Erodium – NEW at Skillins for 2011.

1”-6” tall. Pink to white flowers bloom mid-spring to late summer. Great gourndcover. Sun to part shade. Well drained soils. Zones 5(6) – 9.

ARKANSAS BLUE STAR - Amsonia

hubrechtii – Perennial Plant Association Plant of the year for 2011. Native Species. Clusters of light blue, star-shaped flowers in late spring\early summer. Foliage is very fine and delicate, almost white pine needle-like giving the plant a very graceful appearance. The foliage is spectacular in the fall when it turns a gold-yellow. It is a bit slow growing but a very long lived perennial. Sun to part shade. 36” tall. Zones 4-9. Any case of Amsonia is a good thing! I highly recommend this plant. The Amsonia family always provides great multi season color. Thumbs up here!

ASTER - Aster

‘Blue Autumn’ NEW INTRO FOR 2011. 20”-34” tall. Plants are very disease resistant with violet-blue, daisy-like flowers. Attracts butterflies. Blooms late summer to mid fall. Full sun. Zones 5-8.

‘Wood’s Pink’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 12”-16” tall. Dwarf, compact plants with clusters of semi-double pink flowers. Resistant to mildew and rust. Attracts butterflies. Blooms late summer to mid fall. Full sun. Zones 3-8.

AVENS – Geum

‘Totally Tangerine’ NEW INTRO FOR 2011. 30”tall. Strong stems with sterile, bright apricot to tangerine flowers. Foliage forms a 14” compact mound. Very floriferous. Attracts butterflies and is deer resistant. Blooms late spring to mid summer. Sun to part shade. Zones 4-7.

BACHELOR’S BUTTON - Centaurea

‘Amethyst Dream’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 14”-16” tall. Very deep purple flowers with a long bloom time. Well branched, compact plants. Attracts butterflies and is deer resistant. Blooms late spring to mid summer. Deadheading will help lengthen bloom time. Full sun. Zones 3-8.

BARRENWORT – Epimedium

‘Orange Queen’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. Delicate copper-orange flowers. New foliage is tinged red. Will tolerate dry shade. Part sun to shade. Zones 4-8. The colors sound quite neat!


‘Red Beauty’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. Large, spurred magenta-red flowers. Will tolerate dry shade. Part sun to shade. Zones 4-8.

BEARDED TONGUE – Penstemon

‘Miss Moneypenney’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 12”-24” tall. Glossy green foliage in compact mounds. Tubular, scarlet flowers on tall panicles. Hummingbirds love it. Blooms most of the summer. Zones 3-8.


BEE BALM – Monarda

‘Grand Parade’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 13”-16” tall. Clumps of bright lavender-purple flowers. Foliage has excellent resistance to mildew. Deer resistant. Blooms mid-summer will re-bloom if deadheaded. Zones 3-8. I am a "sucker" for red bee balm but this sounds pretty nice--particularly if it is fairly mildew resistant.
BLACKBERRY - Belamcanda

‘Freckle Face’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 18”24” tall. 2” wide, lily-like orange flowers with heavy red speckling. Foliage is sword shaped. Ornamental tan pear-shaped seed pods open to clusters of black seeds in fall. Attracts butterflies. Blooms late summer. Full sun. Zones 4-10.


‘Hellow Yellow’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. Similar to ‘Freckle Face’ but flowers are yellow and spotless.


BLACK-EYED SUSAN – Rudbeckia

‘City Garden’ – NEW at Skillins for 2011. Very similar to Rudbeckia ‘Goldstrum’ but only 12” tall. Gold-yellow flowers. Very sturdy upright habit and long bloom time. Great for smaller gardens and containers. Great cut flower. Blooms mid summer to early fall. Full sun to part shade. Zones 4-10. Goldstrum is an absolute classic; City Garden will be GREAT for small spaces--and we all have small spaces!

H. ‘Cherry Brandy’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 24” tall. 3”-4” maroon red flowers with darker centers. Robust grower and blooms all summer. Drought and heat tolerant. Deer resistant. NOT very hardy but worth the summer display. May self-sow. Zone 6(7)-9.


H. ‘Denver Daisy’ NEW INTRO FOR 2011. 18”-20” tall. Compact plant with yellow flowers with dark red centers. Strong stems. Drought and heat tolerant. Deer resistant. Not a long-lived perennial but self-sows. Zones 5-9.


BLACK GROUNDSEL – Ligularia –

‘Midnight Lady’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 30”-36” tall. Dark purple to near black foliage. Large leaves are kidney-shaped with tothed edges. Purple stems. Bright orange-yellow daisy –like flowers. Blooms late summer. Zones 3-9.

‘Osiris Café Noir’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 20”-24”. Dwarf variety. Leaves are deeply serrated and start out purple-black turning bronze to olive green. Golden, daisy-like flowers in late summer. Zones 4-9.
I have a few larger ligularia so this dwarf variety has my interest!
BLANKET FLOWER – Gaillardia

‘Gallo Peach’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 9”-12” tall. Vary large peach-colored flowers with yellow tips and a bright yellow cone. Plants are very compact and self branching making them great for containers. Heat tolerant and long blooming. Nice cut flower. Attracts butterflies, deer resistant. Blooms summer. Full sun. Well drained soil. Zones 4-9.

‘Sunburst Tangerine’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 14”-20” tall. ‘Light lemon-yellow flowers with a small tangerinie ring around the center.’ Very long bloom time. Will bloom most of the summer if deadheaded. Nice cut flower. Attracts butterflies, deer resistant. Blooms summer. Full sun. Well drained soil. Zones 4-9.


CANDYTUFT – Iberis

‘Sweetheart’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 6”-8” tall and wide. Masses of pink blossoms. Blossoms turn a lilac color as they mature. Dark green foliage forms compact cushions. Attracts butterflies and is deer resistant. Drought resistant. Great for edging and rock gardens. Blooms late spring through early summer. Full sun. Zones 5-9. These colors sound very neat!

CLEMATIS - Clematis

‘Cardinal Wyszynski’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. Large, 6”-8” crimson flowers with a central cluster of dark anthers. Very vigorous. Blooms July-Sept.

‘Lanuginosa Candida’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. Large pure white flowers with yellow anthers. Some flowers may have the appearance of being semi-double. Blooms in June, July and Sept.
‘Pink Fantasy’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 4”-5” pale pink flowers with a darker pink bar and dark anthers. Blooms late June-Sept. A good repeat bloomer.

‘Rhapsody’ Sapphire blue petals with creamy yellow anthers. Bloom July-Sept.

‘The President’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. Large 7”-8” flowers. Flowers are deep purple with purple anthers. Blooms June-Sept. Is a continuous bloomer and does not fade in the sun.

‘Warsaw Nike’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 5” velvety, purple-red flowers. Flowers have 6-8 overlapping petals with deep grooves along the center. Blooms late May-Sept.
COLUMBINE - Aquilegia

‘Spitfire’ – NEW at SKILLINS for 2011. Petite variety of columbine with small, red-orange flowers with short spurs. Nicely mounded foliage. Sun to part shade. Blooms late spring to early summer. Zones 3-9.

CONEFLOWER - Echinacea

‘Fragrant Angel’– NEW at Skillins for 2011. 30” tall. Large, fragrant white blossoms with overlapping petals and huge yellow cone. Blooms mid summer to early fall. More blooms if dead-headed. I absolutely love the coneflowers and with the fragrance factor this is a Must Have!

Butterfly magnet and birds love the seeds in the fall. Deer resistant. Great cut flower. Full sun to part shade. Zones 3-8.

‘Little Annie’ NEW INTRO FOR 2011. 10”-12” tall. Compact, wee branched, dwarf variety. 2.5” lavender-pink flowers with orange cone. Very long bloom time mid summer to early fall. More blooms if dead-headed. Great for containers and front of the border.

Butterfly magnet and birds love the seeds in the fall. Deer resistant. Great cut flower. Full sun to part shade. Zones 3-8.
‘Red Knee High’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 18”-24” tall. Shorter variety with large magenta-red flowers. Blooms mid summer to early fall. More blooms if dead-headed. Butterfly magnet and birds love the seeds in the fall. Deer resistant. Great cut flower. Full sun to part shade. Zones 3-8.

‘Summer Sun’ – NEW at Skillins for 2011. Blossoms are fragrant and start red-orange and lighten to a gold orange as they age. Butterfly magnet and birds love the seeds in the fall. Deer resistant. Great cut flower. Full sun to part shade. 40” tall. Zones 4-8.
‘Virgin’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 20”-24” tall. Large pure white flowers with a green cone. Double row of petals. Fragrant. Blooms mid summer to early fall. More blooms if dead-headed.

Butterfly magnet and birds love the seeds in the fall. Deer resistant. Great cut flower. Full sun to part shade. Zones 3-8.

CORAL BELLS – Heuchera

‘Electra’ NEW INTRO FOR 2011. 8” tall, 12” wide. Leaves are bright yellow-green with red veining in spring and lighten to chartreuse green with a softer red veining later in the summer. White flowers. Blooms mid summer. The Heuchera family is just booming and the plants hold your interest all season with their striking foliage! Very hardy, very reliable!


‘Snow Angel’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 6”-8”. Light green foliage with white mottling. Leaves are deeply lobed and ruffled. Dark pink flowers in spring.
‘Sonic Smash’ NEW INTRO FOR 2011. 10” tall, 16” wide. Large deeply lobed green leaves with prominent red veining and scalloped darker green edges. White flowers. Blooms mid summer.

‘Stormy Seas’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 16” tall, 24” wide. Large, ruffled maroon purple leaves. Compact habit and very vigorous. Creamy white flowers early to mid summer.

‘Tiramsu’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 8”-10” tall and wide. Gold yellow leaves with a red blotch in the center and red along the veins. Vigourous. Has better heat and sun tolerance than other light heucheras. Creamy white flowers in mid summer.

‘Venus’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 8” tall, 15” wide. Large, silver leaves with green veining. Forms compact mounds. Mixes nicely with purple heucheras. Creamy white flowers. Blooms late spring to mid summer.
CRANESBILL – Geranium

‘Hocus Pocus’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 14”-16” tall. Dark bronze-purple leaves and bronze stems. Large 2” lavender-purple flowers with white centers. Tolerant of heat and humidity. Very floriferous and will bloom summer until frost. Deer resistant. Sun to part shade. Zones 4-8.

'Orion' NEW at Skillins for 2011. 18” tall. Similar to Geranium ‘Brookside’ but flowers are largerwith violet veins and more compact foliage. Long blooming with a re-bloom in fall. Deer resistant. Sun to part shade. Zones 3-8.

‘Perfect Storm’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 12” tall. Small magenta flowers with a black center and veining. Gray-green foliage, low spreading plants. Blooms late spring to mid-summer. Deer resistant. Sun to part-shade. Zones 5-8.

‘Pink Penny’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 15” tall. Large 2.5” purple-pink flwers with beautiful dark veins on ‘broad spreading mounds’. Heavy bloomer and will bloom all summer. Deer resistant. Sun to part shade. Zones 5-8.

CUSHION SPURGE – Euphorbia

‘Ascot Rainbow’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 20” tall. Green and yellow variegated foliage tinged with pink and orange in cooler weather. Clusters of variegated bracts in sping. Deer resistant. Blooms late spring. Sun to part shade. Zones 5-9.

DAYLILY – Hemerocallis

Orange varieties

‘Tiger Kitten’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 22” tall. 3” bright orange flower with a prominent dark red eye orange anthers tipped with black. Blooms mid to late season.

White varieties

‘Frosted Vintage Ruffles’ NEW INTRO FOR 2011. 24” tall. 4” creamy yellow flowers with a pink blush and dark pink edges. Ruffled petals. Very fragrant. Incredible bloomer. Blooms early. May re-bloom.

‘Wedding Band’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 26” tall. 5” creamy white flowers with a yellow ‘pie crust’ ruffled edge. Green throat. Blooms mid season.

Pink\Peach\Plum varieties

‘Big Blue’ NEW INTRO FOR 2011. 24” tall. Very large 6” light lavender pink flowers. Petals are ruffled with a citron yellow center. Strong scapes. Fragrant. Blooms mid –season. May re-bloom .

‘Little Grapette’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 12” tall. One of our favorite varieties. We are offering ‘Little Grapette’ again after and absence of several years. 2”-3” grape flowers with a black-grape band and lime green throat. Very high bud count. Blooms early to mid season.

‘My Sweet Rose’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 26” tall. 5” rose pink flowers with a white mid-rib and yellow-green throat. Very fragrant. Well budded. Blooms mid season.

‘Wild & Wonderful’ NEW INTRO FOR 2011. 34” tall. Large 8” salmon-pink flowers with a large red band and flaring lime-green throat. ‘Petals curve back creating a spider=like shape’. Very high bud count. Blooms early. May re-bloom.

Early Bloomers

Daylily ‘Frosted Vintage Ruffles

Daylily ‘Little Grapette’

Daylily ‘Wild & Wonderful’

Mid Summer Bloomers

Daylily ‘Wedding Band’

Daylily ‘Big Blue’

Daylily ‘My Sweet Rose’

Late Summer Bloomers

Daylily ‘Tiger Kitten’

Possible Re-Bloomers

Daylily ‘Big Blue’

Daylily ‘Frosted Vintage Ruffles’

Daylily ‘Wild & Wonderful’

DEAD NETTLE – Lamium

‘Anne Greenway’ NEW at Skillins for 2011. 6”-8” tall. Green leaves with a wide gold edge and silver streaked mid-rib. Purple-pink flowers in spring. Deer reisistant. Part shade to shade. Zones 4-9.

E-Nothing in E but look for F and on soon!

Mike Skillin
Skillin's Greenhouses
February 16, 2011

Spring 2011 Classes at Skillin's!

Hello again,

What a series of Spring classes we will be having at Skillin's!

Brunswick 442-8111         or 1-800-339-8111          

Cumberland 829-5619      or 1-800-348-8498                          

Falmouth 781-3860          or 1-800-244-3860

http://www.skillins.com/

Our FREE classes will be held Saturdays at all three locations (unless otherwise stated) at 10 AM and 2 PM. Space is limited so reserve today for the classes of your choice! Just give us a call at any of the above numbers or drop us a note at skillins@maine.rr.com (just tell us which store location you are interested in! Class participants receive a special Skillin’s 10% discount coupon for use on the weekend of your class.

SKILLIN’S CUSTOMERS WHO ATTEND 8 CLASSES IN THIS SERIES RECEIVE A $50 SKILLIN'S GIFT CERTIFICATE! (each SUBJECT counts for one class!)

March 2, 9, 16, 23 Elements of Floral Design (10 AM Cumberland only)

Join us for a great new, hands-on, class series with an awesome teacher! With power point presentations and hands-on designing, you will learn the elements of form (Class #1), line and space (#2), color (#3), and texture (#4) used in creating a beautiful floral arrangement. A variety of design styles and techniques will be used during the four part series. Come and learn while having lots of fun creating your own special piece. $75.00 includes materials

March 5 Seed Starting (10 am and 2 pm)

You’re just in time; many seeds need to be sown in late winter and early spring. Skillin’s has been performing this ritual for 125 Springs (hey you are as young as you feel!) and we really have it under our green thumb. We will share with you some of our home spun techniques. It’s time to get started. Free

March 12 Fresh Floral Arranging (10 am and 2 pm)

How about brightening your home with fresh flowers arranged by you? This is our most popular hands on class. There is limited space so sign up early. $15.00 material fee (Special encore class scheduled for Falmouth on March 13 @ 2 PM!!)


March 19 Pruning for a Purpose (10 am and 2 pm Brunswick AND Cumberland)

To prune or not to prune, that is the growing question. Proper pruning makes our outdoor trees and shrubs look great and healthy. Learn techniques to help rejuvenate and keep your landscape in shape. Free

March 19 Vegetable Gardening (9 AM only Falmouth, part of our Open House celebration!)


March 26 Vegetable Gardening (9 AM only Brunswick and Cumberland, part of our Open House celebration!)

Let us give you the best tips going for how to plan and prepare a vegetable garden. Over the years, we have seen the good and the bad so we can advise on the best and safest steps to be had. Free

*MORE Open House classes will be scheduled SOON and here they are:

New class: March 19 What's New in Skillin's Country! 2 PM Falmouth. A preview of new plants and products for 2011!



New class: March 20 Growing a Kitchen Garden 2 PM Falmouth. A fresh and healthy class that will teach you how to grow fresh and healthy food!
 
March 26 Growing a Kitchen Garden 2 PM Brunswick


March 26 What's New in Skillin's Country 2 PM Cumberland

March 27 Growing a Kitchen Garden 2 PM Cumberland
March 27 What's New in Skillin's Country 2 PM Brunswick
March 26 Pruning for a Purpose (10 AM and 2 PM Falmouth Only)

April 2 Gardening 101 (10 am and 2 pm)

What better way to celebrate spring than to talk about some gardening basics that you may be wondering about. We are gardening in Maine; what plants work reliably the best? Why lime my lawn? What fertilizer should I use that is best for my yard but also our planet? I have a budget, how can I stretch my dollars? For 126 springs we have been answering these and many other gardening questions. Let’s talk gardening and learn. We will emphasize how best to Plant for the Planet in your yard! Free and well worth more!
(10 AM sold out in Falmouth)


April 9 Outdoor Gardening with Annuals and Perennials (10 am and 2 pm)

The classics and the new! The red, purple, yellow and blue! Butterflies can be free to fly, hummingbirds to almost sing in your garden. People change, plants too; we would love to show you what to do! Here too, there are some very awesome plants we can show you that grow well in Maine. Free
(10 AM sold out in Falmouth)



April 16 The Pursuit of the Rose! (10 am only)
The layers of petals, the bright yet tender colors, the unmatched fragrance; ahh! the pursuit of the rose. We know it can be done; let us show you how it will be done! Free

April 16 Creating Theme Gardens and Outdoor Rooms (2 PM only)

 Fragrance--oh my! Moonlit flowers--sigh! Butterflies fluttering from colorful petal to petal! You know you want this and more so don't "settle!"; Wow! Let us show you how! Free

April 23 Container Gardening (10 am only)

There is more than one way to garden. Whether you live in a condo, apartment, or want to use small spaces, gardening in containers provides a creative use of limited space. Let us show you how to grow season long flowers in creative ways. Free
(10 AM sold out in Falmouth)



April 23 Container Edibles (2 PM only)

More and more of us want to grow some of our own food as naturally and conveniently as we can! Let us show you how—this will be a great way to learn some new tricks with vegetables and herbs that can be grown indoors AND out! Free

April 30 Vegetable Gardening (10 AM Special Time)

Let us show you how to safely and smartly grow your own food. Gardening, especially vegetable gardening can be so rewarding and a fun and healthy activity too for family and friends! Free
(10 AM sold out in Falmouth)



April 30 Vine Time (2 PM Special Time)

Spring means the time is fine to talk about the vine. And vertical is in! And what great varieties can be grown! Onward and upward we say to the kiwi! Honeysuckle reach for the sky! Here is clematis! There goes Dutchman’s Pipe—it’s really smoking! Free

June 11 The New Wave: Grasses!! (10 AM Special Time)

You bet your Grass we’re having a class! Grasses set apart any landscape (they give any landscape a natural look of class) and they grow well in Maine. Let us be your guide through the plumes and blooms, the heights and textures and the sights. Want some class? Check out grass! Free



Thanks!

Mike Skillin

Skillin's Greenhouses

February 16, 2011
(updated March 20, 2011)



Why Wait for Someday?

KCB is a professional gardener and friend who does wonderful work in the Greater Portland area. KCB is also an accredited Master Gardener by the Cooperative Extension Service and we are honored to have KCB as part of our Skillin's Garden Log family. KCB can also be found at the awesome Finishing Touches website.


Somewhere in my much guided youth I discovered that making an oath at the onset of a new year would not lead to a better self. With so much in need of improvement and expansion it all seemed so daunting. Never one resolution could I keep.


Fast forward to adult hood. In my thirties I had an epiphany; the anniversary of one’s birth was the perfect time to parlay personal empowerment. Many birthdays have passed and still, I only speak one language, never had a gym membership, and not one manuscript have I submitted for publication. Furthermore, my Caribbean dreaming of longed for sailing lessons are far from reality in the throes of a thriving gardening season.

Two weeks ago I celebrated another birthday. No list of what to accomplish this year was put to paper nor even pondered. Lists turn into lies when each longing is left for later. Why bother? I’m impatient. Why wait? What is wrong with now?

There is a phrase I often refer to; ‘Dream, Dare, Do’. Without the ‘dream’ there is nothing to ‘dare’ and without the ‘do’ the dream fades to disappointment. What is your dream? What haven’t you done because you didn’t dare? Another word that can be added is ‘drive’. Never at a loss for dreams or dares yet I never had the drive to join a gym or speak fluent Italian; they just seemed like something nice for someday. Was I making my resolutions for someday and not today? Do you? With words of ‘someday’ never far from my lips I let them dissolve and proclaim ‘TODAY’.

What will be your today? Embrace something you enjoy; gardening. So what if there is 2 feet of snow on the ground, you still can start today. I’m not saying this is easy. In fact it can be downright scary.

How? First, set aside the seed catalogs that you have accumulated since the New Year. Plenty of time to peruse the pages, someday. Now is the time for today.

Breakout your journal and/or release gardening pictures held hostage in the digital dungeon of your camera. What did you want to be different? What was the ‘someday’ of your summer? More color? Texture? Whimsy? Less crowding? Less Maintenance? Water feature? Sitting area? Write down your ‘someday’ list. From that list consider budget and time; focus. Realistically what dream do you dare to accomplish and have the drive and means to complete? Whittle your list down to no more than 3. The key is to start small. Disregard the rest of the list. Their ‘today’ can be revisited when the chosen become reality.

Set aside 1 or 2 pages in your journal for each item of your list to serve as the roadmap for success. Example ‘MORE COLOR IN JULY’; would serve as one heading. You will then begin to search for ‘Mid-summer’ blooming plants and include their names on this page. If ‘LESS CROWDING’ is your desire, then you will list the plants that you must divide in early spring before the crowding begins. Does your top 3 include ‘COMFORTABLE SEATING & DINING AREA’? Cut out pictures from gardening/decorating magazines. Look locally for similar items. Make note of open houses and special sales hosted by favorite gardening centers. Add the dates to your calendar. Do not wait until the someday to arrive as then it will be too late. Make a plan. Today.

There are many aids to guide you to success. In addition to the plethora of periodicals, the never ending web of internet sites, take advantage of more up close and personal opportunities. We are blessed to have the offering of gardening classes and seminars, many at no cost. Portland is home to a premier flower show and several others within a few hours’ drive; perfect for a day’s outing. Moreover, do not miss open houses hosted by your favorite family owned garden centers. This is your chance to walk among displays; learn of new & tried and true products and an opportunity to speak one on one to those in the know.

While these above mentioned events are ‘someday’, the dates and locations can be researched and reservations, if required, can be made, that’s right, TODAY!

Need encouragement. Share your vision. Create your own garden group. Assist each other. Swap plants, ideas, muscle power? The possibilities are endless. Send out your first e-mail today. Let me and other readers of the Skillin’s Garden Log know of your success.

Like you, I have my own set of ‘somedays’. Today I chose to write. I guess my laundry will just have to wait…….

Oh, and about that never sent manuscript, I still had not dared.

KCB for Skillin's Greenhouses
February 4, 2011