News from Made in the Shade

May 11,2013	Things have been busy at MITS, with all sorts of beautiful plants needing care. The Pumila (short) Iris have been particularly pretty and spectacular. Clematis, Roses and a new Fillipendula called Red Umbrellas are some of the other plants we are excited about.
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.
Feb 1,2013	Hard at work on the new on-line Hosta Catalogue. Planting will start next month, so we are busily figuring out where we will grow the 7,000 plants we have ordered. Look for lots of Ornamental Grass in 2013.
Dec 7, 2012	Thanks to all our great customers for another terrific season. We are hard at work preparing for the 2013 season, with plans for more shrubs, of course new Hosta, some Itoh Peonies and more.
June 8, 2012	First sale of the season......50% off select Hosta (look for green ribbons), 1/3 off all Actea (Bugbane), Budelia (Butterfly bush) and most Peonies. Sale ends June 22nd.
June 8, 2012	We carry a good selection of flowering shrubs, including Spirea, Potentilla, Barberry, Hydrangea, Weigela.
June 8, 2012	Still a good selection of pond plants available, including oxygenators, floaters. waterlilies and marginals.
June 8, 2012	50 new varieties of Hosta. Lots of new minis and also giants. Many streaked and watermarked varieties.
May 15, 2012	Lots of new and different perennials, everything has benefited from the warm weather.... Arisaema speciosum (Jack-in-the-Pulpit) at right (at least 2' tall). Phyllitis scolopendrium (Hart's Tongue Fern) at far right. Primula veris (cowslip primrose) below...the nicest scented perennial.
May 1, 2012	The warm spring has helped the plants to grow easily and everything is looking great and ready to go. Perennials are tough, and so any we grow can be planted outside as of now. We are excited about the spring line up, with over 12,000 plants and 800 varieties!!
May 1, 2012	Up to date lists are now available on the Catalogue page. Some items are not yet on the lists, and changes are happening daily.
March 3, 2012	Work continues on our on-line catalogue. As orders start arriving and we learn which plants have not been sent to us, we will update the files. Potting will start the week of March 12th, so this is a really busy time (and exciting) time for us.
March 3, 2012	The 2012 Garden Show was held in late February. The new location came with a few challenges, but all the volunteers pitched in and brought it all together. Lots of new faces and old friends dropped by our booth. We have lots of summer bulbs left over, so keep us in mind for Dahlias, Lilies (including tree lilies), Gladiolas and Tuberous Begonias. We will also have Caladiums, Callas, Cannas and Taro bulbs.
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
June 20, 2011	What's in bloom; In the shade... Clematis, Perennial Geranniums, Goat's Beard (Aruncus), Bowman's Root (Gillenia), Meadowsweet (Fillipendula), Medowrue (Thalictrum flavum...yellow!!), Coral-Bells (Heuchera), Astilbe, Columbine, Rodgersia, Lamium, Primroses. What's in Bloom: In the sun.....Roses, Peonies, Seaholly (Eryngium), Lemon Drops (Oenthera), Salvia, Cinquefoil, Dianthus, Yellow Baptisia and more.
June 20, 2011	Roses
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.
May 19, 2011	So many new plants!! So much rain!! Among the plants which have not made it in to our on-line catalogue are; All sorts of new varieties of Primula (candelabra, cortusoides, denticulata, x polyanthus 'Wanda', pubescens, veris and vialii), May-apples, Waterlilies, Water-Hyacinthes, Fruit Trees (including some nice 4 in ones) , Grapes, Currents, Blueberries and many more.
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.
April 1, 2011	Just 19 days till opening! New plants are growing in all 3 greenhouses, with lots of exciting new woodland plants as well as new varieties of Hosta, Clematis and shrubs. Last fall we doubled our greenhouse space, so the perennials have lots more space to grow. The garden show at Portsmouth Olympic Harbour was a great success, with lots of familiar faces visiting the booth over the three days.
Feb 1, 2011	This Redbellied Woodpecker is one of the regular visitors to our winter birdfeeders. We also get Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers on a daily basis. Last winter a Pileated came to visit, but the photo did not turn out. The Red-Poll's are also visiting this winter, along with the usual Chickadee's, Nuthatches, Gold-Finches and of course a mob of Blue-Jays.
July 19, 2010	Daylily Photo Catalogue now on-line. Look for Echinacea and Hosta Catalogues coming soon.
July 15, 2010	Summer Specials. All Hemerocallis (Daylilies) are buy 2 get one free from July 15-30. All Heuchera are now half price (yes $6 tax in) when you buy 3 or more. There are also still lots of Hosta at 1/3 off in the "One is the lonliest number" section. Daylily Cool It (at right) Daylily You Angel You
June 17, 2010	34 New varieties of Hosta have arrived and are ready for sale. Many are dwarf and small including ever so cute Holy Mouse Ears and Frosted Mouse Ears and one called Chirp, which only gets 6 cm tall (yes, 2.5 inches). Photo's coming soon (indeed an on-line photo catalogue is on our project list for this summer).
June 17, 2010	Buy 2 get one FREE. All Epimedium are on special, till the end of June. These tough little plants deserve star reputation for their durability and beauty. Hugging the ground on wiry stems, the leaves tremble with the slightest breeze. They are incredibly drought tolerant, shade tolerant, acid tolerant and deer resistant. Try them in your garden in that tough spot and they will reward you for years.
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