Sunlight Gardens September 2010 Newletter

Sunlight Gardens Mail Order Wildflower and Native Perennial Nursery

Fall is for Planting

Did you know that FALL IS THE BEST TIME to plant most wildflowers? Yes, it is true. Fall planting gives roots time to grow in soil that is still warm. While roots are elongating, top growth is slowing so most of the plant's energy is directed into new root growth. Your plants will get a head start for next year. Also spring bloomers will wake up at the correct time for your climate. Of course, you still need to prepare and plan, as usual, but watering requirements will be significantly less. But maybe the best reason to plant in the fall is to anticipate the joy you will feel when your plants first come up in the spring.

Bluestar and Fothergilla

Things you need for your garden	Bee Balm (Monarda)

Although we hate to see summer end, for gardening it is a good thing, because fall is the best time to plant most perennials. Here in east Tennessee, August is typically pretty hot and humid, and very dry. This summer has been no exception. We have had more than 75 days when the temperature was 90 degrees or higher. Normal is 38 days! Ugh. But thanks to good water and great waterers, our plants have thrived. Monardas were exceptional. Butterflies were extraordinary. We grow strong plants.

UPCOMING 2011 PERENNIAL OF THE YEAR

Amsonia hubrichtii (Arkansas Bluestar or Threadleaf Bluestar) is the Perennial Plant of the Year for 2011 so order it now! Blooming in mid to late spring, it has 4", puffy clusters of light, steel-blue flowers on 2 to 3 foot stalks. The leaves are several inches long but no wider than a match stick and are densely packed on the upright stems making a very fine textured plant. They turn a nice bright yellow in the fall before going dormant. It wants sun or light shade and average soil. This Bluestar is tougher than nails, is deer resistant, and will last for years.

TENNESSEE CONEFLOWER UPDATE

Tennessee Coneflower

In mid August, the US Fish and Wildlife Service announced that it will likely remove the Tennessee Coneflower from the endangered species list. When the species, Echinacea tennesseensis, was first listed as endangered in 1979, it was known only from 3 locations in the world, one in each of 3 counties in middle Tennessee. Since that time when it was estimated that only several thousand plants existed, individual numbers have increased dramatically to over a million through education, site protection, recovery, and site monitoring. We are delighted to have played a part in this by growing thousands of young plants for replanting in monitored sites. That's a real success story.

TRILLIUMS, TRILLIUMS, TRILLIUMS

We have the best Trilliums you will find anywhere and NOW is the best time to plant them. Our's are 100% nursery propagated and grown. No if's, and's, or but's about them. But we have a problem. We have a surplus of Trillium cuneatum or Sweet Betsy. So we have a special deal going, but only while supplies last. You can buy blooming age plants (6 yrs. old) in 3 1/2" pots for the special price of $12.00 each. For the others, they remain at our regular price of $20 for husky, big rhizomes that are at least 7 years old in 5" pots. Remember that we do not ship these plants when they are actively growing. We ship them only when dormant because their flowering stems are fragile. And now is the perfect time to plant them. Order your's now.


Trillium cuneatum on special	Assorted Trilliums in the nursery

www.sunlightgardens.com
As always, please check our web site for current availability. You can order through our secure server, by phone, fax, or by snail mail. phone 800-272-7396, fax 865-494-7086
info@sunlightgardens.com
Sunlight Gardens, 174 Golden Lane, Andersonville TN 37705