News from Made in the Shade

2020-05-07	We will now be open for browsing still limited to Tuesday to Saturday 10 am to 4 pm. On-line ordering and curbside pickup will continue to be available, see our catalogue page for details.
2020-04-16	Curbside service and pre-ordering of plants is working. Note our hours have changed to 10 am to 4 pm Tuesday to Saturday. This is for the safety of our staff.The Availability PDF is being updated often. Note that some items can be planted outside right away (they have been outside all winter) while other items will need to be protected for a couple of weeks. It is on the availability as ready by. Seeds are selling fast.
2020-03-31	Many people are inquiring about how we are managing and if we are open. We are going ahead with all of the usual planting, in fact more than usual as we sold out of so many varieties in 2019. Usually we would hire on extra labour to help with planting and spring clean-up but this year my daughter Lynn and I are sloughing away at planting over 7,000 new plants. We are over half way done. We will have about 4,000 older more mature perennials that seem to have wintered very well. All of our suppliers were in a hurry to get it all shipped to us before things shut down. Warmer than usual temperatures have been a help. We are still planning to open April 21st as usual. We will assess closer to the date how possible that is. We will do as much sanitation and wipe down as we can. We wear gloves almost all the time to protect our skin and we suggest you do as well. We will limit clients to 4 on property (not counting those waiting in cars). We will make exclusive appointments for any who ask, and especially our senior customers. We are not really equipped for on-line shopping however on the catalogue page you will find PDF copies of our inventory and seed availability. We will do our best to fill any emailed plant requests. Please keep in mind that we may take some time to respond. The most helpful thing our loyal clients could do would be to continue to shop with us. We have set up a system for gift certificates that can be emailed out and paid for by e-transfer or credit card. It is not likely that we will receive any kind of government aid due to our small size and seasonal nature. Please sign up for our email newsletter or visit our Facebook page for updates. Laura Tattersall owner Made in the Shade
2020-03-31	Potting 2020...about half way through... Note home made mask to keep dirt out of nose, apron inside out to keep dirt from pocket, shade up to keep potting person from getting rained on in humid greenhouse, very long watering wand allowing for less aisle space so we can fit more plants in. In a month it will all be lush and growing and beautiful.
2020-02-04	Many new catalogues updated.....
2020-01-22	Other new plants include; 5 Echinacea, 5 Heuchera (and lots of old favourites), 5 Itoh Peonies, 6 regular Peonies, 5 Sedum, 7 Clematis and Martagon Lilies.
2020-01-22	Working on on-line listings for Hosta and many other plants. As a sneak preview these are some new varieties of Hosta we have ordered....Amazone, Coloured Hulk, Diamond Tiara, Humpback Whale, Lady Guinevere, Lakeside Banana Bay, Mighty Mouse, Nifty Fifty, Sorbet and Wheee!
2019-12-28	Thanks to all our customers for a great year. Looking forward to 2020 with increased tree sales, and as usual lots of new varieties of perennials along with old favourites.
2019-11-27	Top size Amaryllis Bulbs produce 2-3 flower stalks the first year.... To get flowers in following years, allow to rest by drying out completely for at least 6 weeks (we have done 2 years) then water regularly. Fertilize after flower for best results, re-pot every 2-3 years. Sold Out.
2019-11-27	Christmas gift ideas.....We have Gift Certificates, Amaryllis Bulbs and small live Christmas trees available. We are often here, and can be reached by phone 613-382-8251 or email sales@mitsperennials.com Hours are by chance or appointment. Gift certificates can be send by snail mail or email. Delivery possible as well.
2019-09-18	Spring Bulbs are all here, lots of choice this year including (but not limited to) Fritallaria, Allium, Eranthis, Chionodoxa, Camassia, Muscari, Snowdrops and of course Tulips and Daffodils. The first bees we see in spring are on the Crocus and other early bulbs.....and they give us lovely early colour before any other flowers are ready to bloom.
2019-07-17	Hosta catalogue has been updated to reflect sold out varieties.
2019-06-03	Lots going on here at MITS, so we have not posted for a while. The cool wet spring has been good to many of our plants, with a few heat lovers still sulking. Fruit trees, large Magnolias, Japanese Maples, Hydrangea vines and flowering shrubs have been popular items. In perennials the moss Phlox is always a May favourite, and our Peonies are looking strong and healthy. Lots of great varieties of Hosta as usual. The photograph is a new to us variety called Knautia Thunder and Lightning. A heat lover for a sunny spot.
2019-03-28	We are prepping for opening, potting the new stock, wetting our plants. Opening day will be April 20th....the Saturday of Easter weekend. Drop by and see all the new baby plants.
2019-03-28	New Hosta Link...... pictures to follow soon.
2018-05-22	Pond plants have arrived.... Oxygenators, Water Hyacinth, Water Lettuce, Hardy Water-Lilies and more. Waterlilies can be grown in any container that is at least 15" deep and make a real showstopper on your patio. As a bonus....they don't need to be watered all the time.
2018-05-01	Plants are coming out of the greenhouses ready for planting. We also have a large quantity of overwintered well rooted perennials. These are prime stock and much sought after by knowledgeable landscape designers.
2018-04-06	Many Catalogue items have been updated...Greenhouses are filling up and now we are waiting for some warmer temps!! Opening April 20th.
2017-10-10	Extended season... due to the warm weather combined with the late arrival of the bulbs we will be open until the end of October Mon-Sat 9:30 to 4:30
2017-10-10	Camassia bulbs give these wonderful blue spiked flowers in Late May / Early June. They are about 60 cm (2 feet) tall and our patches last for about 3 weeks. These bulbs are very long lived with patches planted 20 years ago still flowering well every year. The foliage can easily be hidden by planting with a late flowering perennial such as Black-Eyed Susan or Asters. Deer resistant. Bulbs available now, or in pots come spring.
2017-08-30	New Article about Garden Renovation as well as re-formatting some articles that were PDF's.
2017-08-28	What great weather for planting! Cool nights, plenty of rain and plants on sale!
2017-06-29	Rose floribunda Intrigue, Baptisia australis
2017-06-20	Still lots of wonderful plants. We have added some trees at the request of many clients....as well as a good selection of shrubs.
2017-05-13	Plants are coming out of the greenhouses, everything is ready to go.....Miniature Hosta looking wonderful, and the cool weather has kept the bulbs in our gardens fresh and long lasting......
2017-04-19	Marsh Marigold doubles great for that marshy damp location
2017-04-19	And 5 days later......
June 27, 2016	Summer already.....Just finishing our yearly inventory count. 1400 Hosta in 118 varieties. Over 500 Varieties of other perennials and shrubs in stock.....for roughly 10,000 plants (we keep making more so it is hard to keep track!).
May 3, 2016	Spring is here!! After a slow start it seems spring might finally be here!! Plants are coming out of the greenhouses.
Nov 6, 2014	After our best year ever, with great sales growth we are ready for whatever winter brings us....All plants protected for winter, orders placed for spring.....Time to start planning for another great season. Thanks to all our wonderful customers!!
Aug 1, 2014	If you thought Hemerocallis (Daylilies) only came in ditch orange, think again. Daylilies come in stunning colours, and flower for most of the summer....still lots in stock.
July 31, 2014	The Alpine Scree Garden we started last fall, is really rewarding us with some terrific displays. These 3 types of thread leaf Coreopsis have been blooming for all of July and just don't seem to be stopping. All 3 varieties wintered well after being planted in late fall. The new hybrid Coreopsis do not produce seeds the way the old varieties did, and so they are welcome additions our collection. Coreopsis 'Mercury Rising' (Red) Coreopsis 'Sienna Sunset' (Burnt Orange) Coreopsis 'Zagreb' (Yellow)
June 24, 2014	How to plant a Yucca......use cable ties or string to collect up the leaves. This prevents damage to the Yucca flower from handling (and protects the planter from sharp leaf tips).
June 24, 2014	Orchids at Purdon Conservation Area. http://mvc.on.ca/places-to-see/purdon/ Last week we made a pilgrimage to see the wild Orchids. Well worth a visit every couple of years. To get there travel to Perth then turn north off Hwy 7 onto Hwy #511; follow it through Lanark village. Travel about 5 km north, turn left onto Watson's Corners Rd.; follow it for 12 km watch for signs. Turn right onto concession Rd 8 and travel 3 km. There is a good boardwalk which allows you to walk right into the wetlands to see the 1,000's of Cypripedium regina (Showy Orchids) along with other orchids, pitcher plants and much more. Mosquito repellant might be needed, although the breeze kept them off the day we were there. We will be bringing in a very limited number of Showy Orchids in the fall. Please contact us if you are interested in reserving one. sales@mitsperennials.com
June 3,2014	We also do windows!! Thanks to Lynn and Tia who each produced works of art for our windows.
June 3,2014	Lots of wonderful plants still available. Some of the plants just coming in to bloom now include; Prunella, Salvia, Iris, Hemerocallis (Daylilies), Astilbe, Tradescantia, Astrantia, Clematis, Van-Houtti Spireas, all of the Roses including Climbing, Hybrid Tea, Floribunda and Explorers. Tree Peony 'Shima Nishiki' in bloom.
April 2014	All four greenhouses are full of plants now, the bad weather caused a delay to the start of our potting season, but everything is quickly catching up, to be ready for the spring planting season. Look for updates to the catalogue page in the next week. Opening day is April 20th!!
Fall 2013	We are very excited about the new pond at the back of the property. It will be used for trials of pond plants, over-wintering waterlilies, and also just for the pure fun of having a pond! Lots of wildlife have already been attracted, including a visit from a local Heron and a large population of frogs. (Less after the Heron visit.)
Aug 1, 2013	Did you know we sell Ornamental grasses? We have large quantities of high quality ornamental grasses available.
March 20, 2013	The first round of planting was just finished when we got yet more snow...Conditions were perfect so we made a snow-lady, complete with Made in the Shade pink dress. The greenhouses are full, with lots of new items, including a good selection of Itoh Peonies, Tree Peonies, lots of Hosta, Daylilies and so much more. Opening day is April 20th but visitors are welcome Mon to Fri 9-5 if you just need a dose of growing things. Weekend visits should be arranged by email.
Sept 1,2011	What's in Bloom; In the Shade....Actea (Bugbane), Chelone (Turtlehead), Ligularia, Plumbago, Thalictrum. In the Part Shade ... Japanese Anemone, Summer Phlox, Black-Eyed-Susan In the Sun.... Russian Sage, Sedum, Joe-Pye Weed, Helenium, Heliopsis, Buddleia, Roses, Chrysanthemums, Oenthera (Sundrops) and more. Photo Thalictrum splendid
May 28, 2011	The new pond at the front is working very well and is now stocked with Water-Lilies, Pickerel Lilies, Miniature Bullrushes, Marsh Marigolds, Water Hyacinths and Water-Lettuce.
May 28, 2011	Rain Rain Rain.....and a visitor to the nursery. This painted turtle came through right beside the patio behind the house. Perhaps it was trying to get to drier land? Certainly it was at least 500 ft from anything remotely resembling a pond. All the rain we have had this spring has made for lots of lush growth on our plants...and very little watering needed.
May 19, 2011	What's in Bloom. Brunnera are still going strong, as are the primula's. The Aubrieta's and Arabis (Rockcress) are pretty and the Moss Phlox is starting. The Anemone blanda we potted up has been blooming for over a month now, and the Cammasia are about to bloom. The late tulips we planted in the front garden are spectacular and loving the cool weather. There are lots more varieties in bloom to see when you visit.
April 29, 2011	Open for the season. Greenhouses are stuffed, with lots of new varieties to choose from as well as old favorites. In blom now are Hepaticas, Brunnera, English Bluebells and Trilliums as well as many more just about ready to flower. In the gardens the daffodils are just starting their display, and the scilla, chinodoxa crocus and other small lawn bulbs are putting on a wonderful display. The four year old in the picture was enjoying herslf in a sea of Scilla in her backyard this week.
May 26, 2010	Japanese Tree Peony in bloom in the garden. Spectacular!!! This is a Paeonia suffruticosa 'Shimadaijin' (Island Minister) blooming in my garden today. It was planted two years ago. The flower is about the size of a cereal bowl. The tree peonies prefer a location with good light but some protection from the hot mid day sun. They will slowly grow to waist high. A beautiful specimen for your partially shaded border. There are still 4 left for sale, hurry though, they won't last long!
May 22, 2010	Victoria Day Weekend! This is traditionally the weekend your frost worries are over and a great time to get out in the garden. Most of our new stock is out of the greenhouses and ready to plant. The irises are blooming like mad, and it's all much more stunning in person. We're open 10 to 6 all weekend.
April 20, 2010	Greenhouse 2 is full of plants for the sun, as well as some spillover shade loving plants. Hosta First Frost on the right is this years Hosta of the Year, and this photo taken on the 18th shows how big and full the plants are already.
January 24, 2010	Getting Ready for Planting. During the winter we prepare for spring planting. On of the chores is getting pro-mix down into greenhouse #3. As you can see, we like to combine work with play, using our wheel-barrow sled. This is also the time of year we make the new catalogue and do our planning for the coming season. Plans are in the works for a booth at the up-coming Garden Show in Kingston, March 5-7.
October 3, 2009	October is great month for Ornamental Grasses. They provide interest through the fall and all winter long with their tall stalks and plumes. Many perennials are still going strong in October with vibrant blooms to brighten your garden. Come in and see the display stock blooming now -- we're open 6 days a week until the end of the month (except Thanksgiving Weekend). The foliage on many plants like this Brunnera lasts well into the fall with sharper contrasts under the greyer fall skies.
May 17, 2009	The new Made in the Shade Perennials Inc. web site went on-line today, so watch this space for news about what's happening at the nursery, which plants are blooming this week, and what's on special.

What's New at Made in the Shade