We also are looking for an individual to multi-task in all areas of the nursery as well.   Watering, plant care, etc.  Our season runs from March through November.

Our plants need care 7 days a week so the ability to work some weekend days is a must (for both job opportunities).  Wages are commensurate with experience.  For fulltime positions – benefits are available.

Here’s wishing a Happy Mother’s Day to all the Moms, Grandmas, and the other special women in the lives of all of us!   Have a wonderful day!

A big thank you to little Belinda for such a beautiful pot of flowers she gave me!

Rob Taylor, of Taylor Truck Line in Waterford Township graciously agreed to donate the cost of shipping the trees from our Northfield nursery to Minneapolis.  The Tree Trust is providing assistance and training on planting and care techniques that will help assure successful establishment and the eventual return of cooling shade and beauty to a community in need.

At Knecht’s Nurseries we are pleased to have this opportunity to continue our long standing tradition of giving something back to the larger community of Minnesotans who support our nursery.  It’s always a good thing to help neighbors in need, and we consider oruselves fortunate indeed to have gained so very many friends who support us and travel with us as we explore the wonderful world of beautiful plants.

A medium sized hosta – it will sport light lavendar flowers atop purples scapes in mid-summer.   It was selected in 2011 to belong to the Proven Winners line of plants.

Hosta continue to be a leader in perennials and with thousands of varieties available on the market, it’s hard not to find some that strike your fancy.  If you’ve been thinking of starting a collection – or simply adding one – think about hosta ‘Wheee!’.

We have a limited supply of ‘Wheee!’ – these won’t last long!

Every once in a while, you need to step outside the box when considering landscape plants.  At the end of February, we toured several of our nursery suppliers on the west coast and were awe struck at the Iseli Nursery in Boring, Oregon.  We just received our shipment of creative evergreens this week and they are definitely amazing. 

Whether you are thinking tall and skinny evergreens, contorted shapes, shorter, slower growing, whatever – we now have the evergreens needed for that special spot. Definite conversation starters for sure!

To the top left, you’ll see the ‘Uncle Fogy’ Contorted Jack Pine!  Wildly, undulating, pendulous branches give unique character to every plant of this distinctive form of Jack Pine.  The plants bend and swoop to create a curvy, living sculpture.  This is definitely a collector’s plant!

One that is absolutely beautiful (and a little more traditional) is the ‘Cupressina’ Norway Spruce.  This is an upright narrow form that makes it a must have for urban lots where size is a definite consideration.  (see previous blog)

Perhaps one of the most impressive plants that we saw in the massive display beds at Iseli was the Weeping Norway Spruce – pictured here on the right.  We saw a mature plant that reached nearly 30 feet in height and was perfect in every way.  Incredible.  The dark green, Weeping Norway Spruce is trained into an outstanding upright specimen or can even be trained to become a undulating groundcover. 

These are just a few examples of what we have for “Creative Evergreens”.   Quantities are limited in these varieties so if this is something that gets your imagination going – don’t delay in stopping in and “stepping outside the box”.

We had a lawn mower that had it’s motor bite the dust and I saw a container gardening opportunity.  Once the motor was removed – an inverted black container, and what else – ornamental grass – and vines will make for a container that will definitely be a conversation piece. 

Come and let your imagination run wild!

(This blog was submitted by our retail manager – Heidi Brosseau)

Prairie Rose Flowering Crab

The Prairie Rose Flowering Crab has to have the most stunning flowers of any crabapple tree!  These rose like flowers bloom just a little after the other flowering crabs put on their color show. 

This is our 4th year of offering this opportunity for parents to introduce gardening for their children.  Some were tentative, others dug right in.  We keep these pots in our production house for a couple of weeks and then right before Mother’s Day, we dress them up with a bow and a Mother’s Day pick.

Smiles all around!

See the large slideshow of the dozen photos or SLOW CLICK this small slideshow:

EdDee approached us regarding the trees.  The City of Northfield and the Northfield Garden Club, in a cooperative effort,  purchased the 64 trees from us and we donated all of the labor and other materials used to plant the trees.  Each year we give back to the City of Northfield with  donations and this year, it is the Hwy 3 beautification project.  This donation amounted to $4,000 in labor, equipment costs and materials. 

The Garden Club also has received funds to be used to cover the costs of watering these trees for two years which is a committment under the grant.  We will be working with the Garden Club on keeping these trees well watered for the next two years!

Our crew – Jim Westlund, Todd Marnie & Ben Danielson planted these trees which consisted of Elms, Maple, Hackberry, Birch, Crabapples and Oak trees.  Once again we are very pleased to have the opportunity to give something back to the community that supports our business each and every year.

Marilee Flowering Crab

 The many different varieties of Flowering Crabapple trees here at the nursery makes for an incredible color explosion.  It’s hard to pick a favorite.  You walk by one, and say that’s so beautiful – that’s my favorite.  Then you go to the next aisle – and say the same thing!

We carry approximately 20 different varieties of crabapple trees ranging from small dwarf varieties to larger ornamental trees.  They range from snow white flowers to a deep rose/pink/magenta color scheme.

The top 3 photos on the right are of the Candymint Flowering Crab.  A smaller sized tree – reaches a height of 10′ and spans up to 15′ across.  The new foliage is tinged in purple and turns a bronze-green in summer.  This tree shows excellent disease resistance.  The beautiful red buds emerge to show-stopping shades of pink.  The fruit is a bright red.

The bottom 2 photos show  off the Royal Raindrops Flowering Crab.   This tree is one of the larger flowering crabs, growing to 20′ tall and spreading up to 15′ wide.  The purple foliage adds a contrast to all of the “green” in the summer landscape.   The bright red persistant fruit is small – only 1/4″ in size.  The Royal Raindrops also provides for excellent disease resistance.

The white flowers belong to the Marilee Flowering Crab.  This is one of the taller crab trees we carry – but it is also narrow.  It’s tops out at 24′ in height and only 10′ wide.  A great tree for a smaller yard.  The one attribute that some folks find attractive about Marilee, is that it is fruitless.  You have the beautiful white flowers which will produce no fruit and shows good disease resistance.

Crabapples are always a good choice.  They’re versatile – they love well drained soil but can also grow in soils that are a little more damp  (but no water logged soil).  Choose a spot that gets lots of sun.  Crabapple trees that receive shade will only have limited blossom production.     Think about the mature size tree that you want – and the color of the blossoms and we can certainly help you find that perfect crabapple tree!