Woodsy Palette

The above plant palette is for a design north of Marquette in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan along the shore of Lake Superior. The client wanted a woodsy feel to the design that fit into the surrounding native landscape. Amelanchier grandiflora autumn brilliance is one of my favorite mid-sized under story trees which fit perfectly into the design. The location also allowed me to incorporate one of my favorite, but seldom used, small shrubs, comptonia peregrina "sweetfern".  We are looking forward to this install later this summer.

Plant list starting at the top left and going around clockwise:

• amelanchier grandiflora autumn brilliance
• sedum "maestro"
• panicum virgatum "prairie sky"
• sedum "maestro"panicum virgatum "prairie sky"
• brunnera macrophylla "Jack Frost"
• matteuccia struthiopteris "Ostrich Fern"
• polemonium yezoense ‘Purple Rain’comptonia peregrina "sweetfern"
• heuchera micrantha var. diversifolia'Palace Purple'

Flowers from my garden

As anyone in the industry knows, May and June are tests for endurance.  I cannot tell you how many times I have thought about blogging only to dismiss the idea entirely out of pure exhaustion.  Landscape design pics are coming, I promise.  We have been working on some great projects this year and I am very excited to share them with you!  

I have a friend and fellow gardener whose mind is filled to the brim with wonderful garden ideas and whose yard is filled to overflowing with amazing and unique plants.  She tries to stay as native as possible or at least tries to stick to varieties that with thrive in our UP climate.  She never fails to send me home with an idea or two and rarely sends me home without a new plant/plants from her garden (today it was verbena bonarienis).  Today I also leave my friend's with a little bit of plant envy. 

Geranium pratense "Midnight Reiter" 

  

I made it home this evening after work to find near perfect lighting conditions in the gardens.  It was a great opportunity to stop for a moment to enjoy the blooms and a chance to play with the manual setting on my camera. 

  

Iris Sibirica "Butter and Sugar"

Nepeta "Walkers Low"

Physocarpus "Little Devil"  

Paeonia

Iris Sibirica "Halcyon Seas"

A Weekend of Gardens

Two events on the docket for our gardening friends this weekend!  Spread the word and come and see us in the vendor area at, "A Garden Extravaganza" 6th Annual Garden Conference in Marquette, MI June 15th, 2013 from 8 AM to 3:30 PM.  This event takes place at the University Center on the campus of Norther Michigan University.  Workshop topics include gardening for sustainability, how to attract birds and bees, bog gardening, container gardening, and much more. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $60.00.  This includes full access to vendor area, seminars, and workshops as well as lunch. See conference brochure: http://www.mqtbeautification.org/index.html

Jeff Epping, director of horticulture at the Olbrich Botanical Gardens, will be the keynote speaker for the conference. Jeff Epping has been Director of Horticulture at Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison Wisconsin since 1994. Epping and his staff have practiced and preached sustainable gardening for years, which is reflected in their environmentally friendly cultural practices and innovative award winning garden designs. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin Madison, Epping holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Ornamental Horticulture. He worked at the Chicago Botanic Garden before joining the staff at Olbrich and has visited, studied and photographed gardens throughout the US, UK, France and Thailand. Epping regularly lectures and teaches on landscape plants and designs for northern gardens. Many of his photos have been seen in regional journals, nationally recognized gardening books and professional horticultural publications

Also this weekend we will be having our annual Up Scapes Nursery Sale and Open House on Sunday June 16th from noon to 7:00 PM.  Join us for plants, snacks, and great garden conversation.  We would be happy to help you with designing a new bed, troubleshooting plant problems, and sharing some of our favorite new varieties. You can find us at E4021 East Louds Spur Road in Chatham MI.  Look for "plant sale" signs! http://uplandscapes.com/

Michigan Natives

Collection of MI and Midwest native varieties presented at the TLC Garden Walk 

Native plants offer undeniable benefits to a home landscape.  Native plants are predisposed to do well in their native environment. They are often deer resistant, drought tolerant, and easy to maintain.  Properly placed, taking consideration to soil type, light and moisture needs, these native varieties can be self-sustaining.  In addition. . .they can be absolutely stunning. Native plants do not require supplemental watering once established nor do they need fertilization.  They are winter hearty and provide food and habitat required by native birds and butterflies.  They improve your landscape biodiversity and are an important step to improving the vitality and biological health of the upper peninsula. 

There are some limits to the wonders of native planting.  Some varieties of natives are so dependent on a specific location that transplanting is not an option. Other stunning varieties of native wild flowers, although tempered by other plants in the wild, can be highly invasive in the home garden with it's rich soil, consistent irrigation, and lack of competition.  Size can also be limiting, especially when the cute transplanted tamarack  or bushy white pine becomes a tree.  Sourcing can also be limiting as few garden centers market native varieties.

Even with these limitations, it is well worth your time and effort to try to incorporate the native into your garden.     

Some of our Favorites: (not all are native specifically to the UP, but qualify as midwest natives)  

(Carex pennsylvanica - Common Oak Sedge)

Early Spring (April 13th 2012) Staghorn Sumac in background

(Rudbeckia) 

Shrubs

Comptonia peregrina - Sweet Fern 
Pinus Strobus - Dwarf White Pine 

Physocarpus opulifolius - Nine Bark (dwarf varieties are also available)

Cornus sericea - Red Twigged Dogwood 

Rhus typhina - Staghorn Sumac 

Hypericum - St John's Wort 

Perennials (S for sun SH for shade)

Allium Cernuum - Nodding Wild Onion (S)

Coreopsis (S)

Echinachea (S) - Purple Cone Flower 

Liatris - Blue Star (S)

Lobelia Cardinalis - Cardinal Flower (S)

Penstemon - Beard Tongue (S)

Tradescantia Ohienisis - Common Spiderwort (S)

Aster Divaricatus - White Wood Aster (SH)

Carex Pensylvanica (SH)

Polemonium Reptans - Jacobs Ladder (SH)

Sedum Turnatum - Woodland stonecrop sedum (SH)

Asclepias tuberosa - Butterfly Weed (S)

Asclepias Syriaca - Common Milkweed (S) (be careful to stick to only one asclepias variety in your garden.  More than one will cause issues with pollination and asclepias will take over!)

Baptisia - Wild Indigo (S)
Chelone glabra - Turtle head (SH)

Eupatorium purpureum - Joe Pye Weed (S) 

Opunita humifusa - Eastern Prickly Pear (Cacti for the north woods!) (S)

Rudbeckia hirta - Black Eyed Susan (S)
Solidago - Goldenrod (S-SH depending on variety)

Above is the list of plants we have had success with in the UP and northern Wisconsin regions.  Please do your research for your specific situation.  Plants will only thrive if given what they want.  It easier and ultimately more successful to find the perfect plant for a spot rather than amend the spot for the plant.  

Where to find them:

Up Scapes Nursery - Call us for availability on native shrubs and perennials 906-439-5387

Alger County Conservation District 

Rock River Perennial Gardens 

2013 Home and Garden Show, Escanaba MI

Even though we still have a couple feet of snow on the ground and signs of spring seem further away than ever, we are deep into preparation for the upcoming season.  Machinery is getting an annual spring tune up, details are coming together on design plans for our spring installs, new equipment purchases are being researched, and our plant order is ready to be finalized.  Soon we will be buried under spring clean-ups, early design installs, and grass growing faster than we can keep up with it!  

Just looking at the list of things that need to be completed before the snow melts can send my head spinning, but if you are feeling the need for spring and would like to get in on a little of the excitement, join us for the 2013 Kiwanis Home & Garden Show and Pancake Days in Escanaba, MI.  The show begins on the evening of April 12 and goes through Sunday the 14th. Craftsman, landscape designers, builders, and other home and garden specialists fill the Ruth Butler building on the UP Fairgrounds.  Bring your ideas and pictures and discuss your options with a captive audience of some of the most qualified men and women in the business.  Show admission is free, although attendees are encouraged to eat up at the pancake feed - all you can eat pancakes and fixings for $5 ($3 children). All proceeds from the show and pancake feed will benefit the community.

If you are in the area or want to make a special trip, this show is definitely worth it. We will have a booth this year and would love to see you!  Any questions?  Contact us at: service@uplandscapes.com   

Thinking Inside the Box

While designing our booth for the 2013 Escanaba Home and Garden Show (stay posted for more info!), Michael decided he wanted to create a few custom planters made from steel.  After throwing around a few ideas and sketches we put the project aside for when we had more time.  I was delighted when I pulled into the garage this evening after school to find this first planter, a smaller version of the ones for the show, finished.  I was a little disappointed I missed the process, but coming home to the final product was quite fun! Although some of our original designs had more complexity, I must say I am in love with the streamlined character of this one.  The finished size on this planter is about 10"x10".  

It is simple but bold.  The patina offers such a richness and character.  This container is just begging to be filled to overflowing.  What will fill it?  Only imagination will tell!  

Steel, welding, and little chemistry 

Dried hydrangeas are the only fill I can come up with on this cold and snowy March night, but oh does this help me visualize the potential.  

Spring come soon!  

Transformation

Perhaps the part I like most about landscape design is the transformation of outdoor space.      

Each spring this transformation takes place changing drab darkness into color, texture, and interest.

The final product is the goal - a finished outdoor kitchen, a new patio, a foundation planting, or perennial gardens, but me, the process is the best part.  

Problem areas can be assessed 

Re-envisioned  to their full potential 

and allowed to begin the process of transformation

It is living art, taking the old 

and giving it a fresh face 

It is about starting small 

and maturing 

It is about seeing potential 

and watching it realized 

The results can be stunning, but my favorite aspect is watching how we get there.