The Coneheads - Delightfully Uncommon

In the mid-seventies, Lorne Michaels created the variety show which has been known as SNL or Saturday Night Live for most of its 38 seasons. The show's success has been due in large part to the trifecta of popular guest hosts, creative sketch writers, and a rotating ensemble of talented comedian-actors. For many, the hay-day of the show was in its first decade, with the likes of Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, Jane Curtin, and Laraine Newman, with frequent appearances by Steve Martin.   Echinacea   One of the most popular sketches to air during that early era of the show was The Coneheads. An alien family with tall, pointed heads, trying to assimilate into the ways of Earthlings, Aykroyd played the role of Beldar, the father, while Curtain played Prymaat, the mother, and their other-worldly daughter was played by Newman. They were a highly unusual looking family with odd manners, yet they worked to blend in and few who called on them made mention of their un-earthly ways. The Coneheads provided nonsensical humor while illustrating the relatable challenges of a couple raising a teenager and handling whatever live threw at them.

'Crazy Pink' In the world of horticulture, a colorful cast of characters has also been assembled that are delightfully uncommon. These flowers, known as Coneheads ... uh ... Coneflowers; are a whimsical ensemble from the Asteraceae family. Having originated mainly in the North American plains, coneflowers have traveled through time and landed in foreign soils on the east and west coasts of the United States. Coneflower varieties have taken great strides to inconspicuously fit in to container and flower gardens, inhabited by many other annuals and perennials. But their playful boldness makes them hard to ignore, and leaves the most unaware of garden admirers doing a double-take.

'Cheyene Spirit' One great example of a stand-out perennial coneflower is Echinacea Purpurea.   Some Echinacea making pointed statements with their heady form are 'Kim's Knee High' and 'Cheyenne Spirit.' Their daisy-like petals broadcast bold color atop strong stems ranging 2'-4' in height.   When mature, the blooms' petals point downward, giving accent to the flowers' cone shaped head. The combination of color, shape, and height draw added attention among more petite flowering plants. Other uncommonly delightful Echinacea include 'Magnus' and 'Ruby Star.' The aptly named 'Magnus' can be a 4' growing stem with an almost perfect petal form of lavender or rose-pink. The seeded head of this coneflower, has a coppery coloring and is known to attract song birds. 'Ruby Star' makes its mark with a slightly more flat, but no less impressive conehead and more reddish-purple petals.

Rudbekia 'Goldstrum'    A relative to Echinacea are Rudbeckia.  The most recognized member of this coneflower group is 'Black Eyed Susan.'  Like a miniature sunflower, with a dark brown head and gold glowing petals, 'Black Eyed Susan' and her counterparts 'Early Bird Gold' and 'Goldstrum' are like sunshine held captive and released one bloom at a time.  And to top it off, Echinacea and Rudbeckia bloom from summer through fall.

So when your neighbors or your customers are wondering what is curiously wonderful and delightfully uncommon about the perennials you've planted; you can confidently know that you are host to Coneheads ... uh ... Coneflowers.  Come see us at our Garden Center or Nursery locations for Wise perennial and annual selections.

What's in Bloom at Wise Nurseries! Rose Mallow Hibiscus  Brighten up you yard and garden with these hot pink petals and electric yellow center!

Dinner Plate Hibiscus  These tropical beauties may not be suitable for you dinner table, but they'll look superb in your garden!

Dwarf Butterfly Bush  This butterfly attracting bush may be small in size but not in wow-factor!

Bengal Tiger Canna Lily King of the Jungle? Try king of your neighborhood with wild orange petals and powerful purple stalks!

Creme Brulee Coreopsis Adds gorgeous yellow accents to brighten any summer garden!

Chaste Tree Despite its delicate blue petals and small dimensions (15x15), the Chaste Tree is heat tolerant and a go-to staple for your summer yard and garden!

Crape Myrtles

Crape Myrtles are a heat tolerant tree that come in stunning shades of pink, red, and white, with yellow centers for an additional pop of color.

Natchez

Tonto

Muskogee

Sioux

Endless Summer Hydrangea Keep cool and enjoy this summer with relaxing shades of lilac and pink! Or, add aluminum sulfate to lower pH levels and produce a beautiful blue hue!

Charm Hydrangea Charm your friends, family, and neighbors with this daring shade of pink!

Speedwell "First Love" Love at first sight? Perhaps! These uniquely shaped and colored pillars of gorgeous petals are sure to capture anyone and everyone's attention!

Raspberry Wine Bee Balm  Although you may need to turn to your kitchen for such a beverage, give your yard and garden a refreshing wash of color and variety with this unique flower.

5/27/13 - Perennials that Beat the Heat

Perennials that Beat the Heat The record rainfall, and the cooler than average temperatures of this spring are now disappearing into our rear view. True to form, coastal-south Georgia is being covered with a blanket of humidity, rising temperatures, and afternoon thunderstorms that do little to cool or irrigate. While the afternoon shower evaporates from the lawn, and the county prepares to mail out peak summer watering restrictions, it's time to consider drought resistant, low-maintenance plants to fill in some of our landscaping gaps.

Breeze Grass  One category of drought-resistant greenery that serves as effective borders or fillers are grass-like perennials. Australian breeder Todd Layt developed a winter and heat hardy ornamental grass that is an evergreen perennial, marketed in the US as Lomandra Breeze grass. This evergreen can be planted in shade or sun, bed or container, in mass or small quantity. Breeze grass grows best in well draining sand or soil and requires only occasional watering once it has taken root. One other Lomandra to consider is Katrinus Deluxe (Lomandra longifolia). Developed to bloom larger flowers in the spring than her sister Katrinus, the deluxe version is also low maintenance in that it does not require cutting back in the winter and thrives in low irrigation environments.

Dianella Little Becca, commonly referred to as Flax Lily (and more accurately as Paroo Lily) is another good choice for heat hardy space fillers, as well as a future investment into the colorful dimensions of a landscape for next spring. Little Becca has many of the qualities of Breeze grass, but with the added benefit of small violet flowers that bloom in spring, followed by blue berries. Dianella 'Cassa Blue'    Additionally, Dianella caerulea 'Cassa Blue,' also known as Flax Lily, has one of the longest flowering terms of any Dianella. Cassa Blue produces a yellow throated, purple flower from September through November.  Dianella 'Variegata' Dianella tasmanica 'Variegata,' is another versatile Todd Layt creation.This variegated Dianella has spring blooms and the flexibility to grow in a light shade garden or in full coastal sun. Dianella 'Rainbow Twist'       Another noteworthy and more recent member of the Dianella Flax Lily family is the 'Rainbow Twist.'  The color pallet of her grassy leaves include a wide blue-green center, bordered by a creamy margin and an edge of reddish-purple. She shows off with a twist of her colorful leaves to expose both sides, as well as a spring pronouncement of violet flowers, like those of her cousins'.

We have barely scratched the surface of the vast number of perennials that "beat the heat" here in the coastal south. At our nurseries, we grow and distribute a wide range of green products that can serve to improve landscapes while also conserving water in the hottest parts of the summer. Whether for your home, your business, or your customers; we at Wise Nurseries invite you to partner with us on how we can help you select the best drought resistant green products to meet your needs.

6/11/13 - The Eastern Redbud Resorts

The Eastern Redbud Resorts This time of year, the idea of vacation becomes reality, as many count the days until the family car or truck is loaded with clothes, beach towels, fishing tackle, hiking boots, rafting gear, body boards, and SPF 5 to 50. The best vacations resorts are not necessarily the biggest or the most expensive.  In fact, the best resorts offer great value and a combination of amenities as well as proximity to attractions like beaches, mountains, and entertainment. While many enjoy the peak season and pile into vacation spots on all the hottest weeks, including the 4th of July, others are more discerning. All good resorts know and practice the wisdom of catering to the discerning, pre-peak season vacationers with great deals and promotions.

Redbud in the Spring     The Eastern Redbud Resorts are no exception to the rules of great resorts. In fact, they have occassionally received criticism for being early birds with their pre-season marketing. Cercis canadensis, Eastern Redbud, was termed "Liar" by the native Cherokee Indians. These early critics scoffed at Eastern Reduds' tendency to be the first bloomers of spring. The Cherokee warned that anyone who made big decisions based on the early spring marketing of Eastern Redbuds were considered fools and risked being nipped by an early spring frost while pre-maturely basking in the freshness of spring.      The standard pitch for the Eastern Redbud Resorts begins as early as March and can last through May. The advertising blitz begins subtly, branch by branch, with soft clusters of blossoms that eventually overtake the whole network. Before long, Eastern Redbuds are bright with colorful and well canvassed marketing material in pinks, reddish-purples, and even in white. The genius of this campaign is in being among the first to be noticed against the grim backdrop of other deciduous trees and brown flower beds that have yet to bear their attractive emblems. By the time her competitors get on the playing field, Eastern Redbud is even brighter as her leaves bear out behind her colorful blooms, to provide an eye catching contrast.

'Forest Pansy' Redbud Eastern Redbud's flagship resort, Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy' defines the brand with its combination of class, beauty, and every-man accessibility.The largest in the resort chain, Forest Pansy grows to around 30' tall and 25' wide.  Modest in size compared to its larger competitors, this deciduous ornamental plays to its strengths as an understory forest tree or as a decorative lawn accent. She flourishes in partial shade or full sun environments, and is adaptable to well draining soil types, so long as they are not too coarse and sandy. A drought resistant tree, 'Forest Pansy' strives to maintain an environmentally friendly record.A trait further emphasized by the fact that she is a member of the pea or legume family and is able to extract nitrogen directly from the air and is not nearly as dependent upon nitrogen based fertilizers in the soil as her competition.Her branches are often low growing on her trunk, while 'Forest Pansy' boasts her signature style with purple, heart-shaped leaves.

'Rising Sun' Redbud    Eastern Redbud has sought to distinguish itself from other cookie-cutter brands, by diversifying its resort portfolio.  The second resort in our feature puts the exclamation on this point with Cercis canadensis 'Rising Sun.'  The striking feature of this smaller beauty is in the color of her leaves that follow her soft, light purple blooms.  The first leaves to flourish on her branches emerge as an earthy, glowing orange, like the first colors of day break.  Then emerge leaves of gentle, golden yellow, and then leaves of soothing lime.  For a time, 'Rising Sun' shines her brilliance with all three leaf colors at one time, before setting in a single and inviting light of lime.  The closest sister resort to 'Rising Sun' is 'Ace of Hearts.'  This Eastern Redbud develops full with little to no pruning; proudly showing its surreal roof shingle layered bright green leaves.

'Ruby Falls' Redbud    When Eastern Redbud execs decided to discover new directions for its resort brand, they reached out to horticulturist and plant breeder Dr. Dennis Werner of NCSU. Among Dr. Werner's developments are two distinguished stop-over's, 'Ruby Falls' and 'Merlot.' More bed and breakfast than resort, 'Ruby Falls' grows to an average 6'x4' and is the first tree to be both a weeper and to have purple foliage.There is time to buy into this still new resort, as she and her sister resort 'Merlot' were developed as recently as 2011.'Merlot' is a 12'x15' grower with structure similar to 'Forest Pansy' but designed to be more drought and heat tolerant, thanks to Dr. Werner's genius in combining the best of Eastern Redbud and its Texas cousin.

No matter what your vacation preferences, we are sure that you will find a place that best suits your needs in the Eastern Redbud Resorts. Call us today and one of our Wise Nurseries representatives will be happy to help you book the Eastern Redbuds to suit your plans. The decision you make for the right Redbud today will pay you back next spring and for months and years to come.

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