Knecht’s

I took this picture a few minutes ago of a stunning Redbud tree here in Northfield along St. Olaf Avenue.  There are Redbuds blooming all around Northfield right now and they are absolutely gorgeous.  The Minnesota Strain of the Eastern Redbud is hardy here in Zone 4.  They prefer moist, well-drained soils and it is best if they are planted in a protected location.  The rose-pink flowers blossom prior to the leaves emerging in the spring.  An ornamental tree - they reach a height of between 20′-30′ and 20′-25′ wide. 

We carry Redbuds in containers and also this year have several Redbud in balled and burlapped form.  We have single stem and clumps available.  Stop in and see them while they are blossoming and imagine one in your yard!

It’s tulip time at the Gonnerman’s here in Northfield.  This afternoon, Leif and I took a little time and went and visited the backyard garden paradise of Fred Gonnerman.  From the street, you would never imagine that this was anything other than another beautiful old home in Northfield.  Enter the garden gate, and you are transferred into a private flower sanctuary!

Fred and his wife have lived here for 40 years and he has been an avid gardener ever since.  He has thousands of tulip bulbs planted throughout the gardens that wrap around the perimeter of his yard and in the little island gardens.  Grass pathways will lead you to discover more flowers around the next turn.

Fred and his wife live at 709 West Third Street in Northfield and they are opening up their gardens for all to see this weekend, May 16th through the 18th.  They say you don’t even need to knock - just open one of the two side gates and stroll around.

Yes - this is Northfield nice.  A big thank you to Fred and his wife for sharing their little slice of heaven with all of us!

We are very excited about the number of residents and businesses here in Northfield who are participating in the America in Bloom program.  We have a healthy supply of the designated colors in annuals and we have many planters planted with the designated annuals as well for those who would just like to buy a pre-planted container!  Leif’s article in the Northfield News this week shares his thoughts on America in Bloom

The Northfield Garden Club is working hard to encourage Northfield area residents, businesses and institutions to beautify town and build a greater sense of community by getting involved in the America in Bloom program.   It’s easy and enjoyable and costs little more than what you would spend anyway on annual flowers for your gardens and planters.

Participation in the Northfield America in Bloom project is as simple as choosing annual flowers that follow the 2008 suggested color theme of combining pink, chartreuse and burgundy/violet.  As these theme colors appear all over town, we will be individually and collectively participating in the building/re-building of community spirit, and beautifying homes, businesses and public spaces. (more…)

This year the Northfield Garden Club is promoting the America in Bloom program here in Northfield.  This stems from a national non-profit organization which encourages the business community and private citizens in a city to join efforts and celebrate the assets of their city and to enhance its appearance as an attractive place for which to work, live and  visit.

Local groups must register by late winter their intent to participate in the program.  In Minnesota this year, there are only four cities participating- Red Wing, Bemidiji, Northfield and Buffalo.  The Northfield Garden Club has contacted almost all of the businesses in Northfield to encourage everyone to "get on board".  There is a color theme for the program and this includes the use of the following annuals in either containers or annual bed plantings - hot pink petunias, hot pink wave petunias, lime green sweet potato vine, and dark colored coleus.

The program has several areas - not just the flowers.  It promotes tidiness, environment, community involvement, heritage, landscape areas, and also the floral displays.  In July, 2008, there will be nation-wide judging of the cities that have registered.  In 2007 Red Wing, MN  was a winner in the program.  Let’s have Northfield on the list of winners for 2008!

We will be trying our best to stock as many of these annuals as we can but we do encourage everyone to pre-order what they think they’ll be needing so we can try to have them available!

We have a huge assortment of baskets for Mother’s Day gift giving.  Baskets for the sun or shade - clip the coupon from the Northfield News for an additional savings and give Mom a gift she’ll have all summer!

Also for Mother’s Day - just on Sunday - we are offering a free perennial (from a group of selected perennials) with any purchase.  Bring Mom in for an extra special treat!

Every spring we find several robin nests here at the nursery.  With each one we find - it is a wonder all it’s own.  It’s like "Wow - look at this", knowing that we’ve seen it many times before but feeling as if we’ve just discovered something no one else has ever seen.

This morning, Heidi and I were working in the Hosta sales area - putting up some shady area hanging baskets and we had one mad robin on our hands.  Not seeing why she was so mad at her, Heidi started looking around only to find that the mother robin had made her nest in one of the pot trays on the top shelf of our display bench.  The tray held only 5 pots in it instead of 6, so the robin had used the empty space for her nest.  In it, we discovered 4 beautiful blue eggs.  As is our custom when we discover the nests, we put up signs and take the nearby plants off sale until the eggs have hatched and the baby’s are on their own.

The magic of spring!

Okay - it is getting warmer - we all want to get out and plant… So let’s see what’s doing the blooming…..

There are many spring perennials that add so much to our gardens but perhaps the best loved spring perennial is the bleeding heart or officially - “Dicentra”.  It is a part sun/part shade plant - and jumps out of the ground in the spring.  Even in this cold spring - my bleeding heart is almost a foot high already at home!

It produces these wonderful little pink and white flowers for several weeks, after which it will provide a nice green foliage plant until mid-summer.  After that time, it will begin it’s journey into dormancy and will most likely to brown by mid-August at which time I simply cut mine off and wait again till spring.

The picture here is of our grandson, Tyger, who when this picture was then was 2 years old.  A bleeding heart, given good well drained soil and the right light conditions will explode with vigor in the spring.

We have the old fashioned bleeding heart plants which are pictured here, as well as the White Bleeding Heart, the King of Hearts and Luxuriant varieties in this year!  Given the head start in the greenhouse - many are already blossoming and are ready to be planted in your garden!

There are so many benefits from planting trees - - - -

a -  Shade trees can reduce energy bills by 15 to 40 percent!  The shade from trees can reduce the amount of times that your air conditioner kicks on during the heat of the summer!   In the winter time - without leaves - the sun shines through the bare branches and warms your home - which again helps with the heat bill!  (Besides being a beautiful addition to your yard!)

b - Evergreen trees planted on the north - northwest side of your home  in that the evergreens help to block the cold winter winds!!!

c - One tree can absorb the carbon dioxide produced by four cars every year!!!!

d - The curb appeal and re-sale value of your home is enhanced by several times what you pay for the trees

We currently have thousands of trees in our retail sales center right now!   You can find all the usual types of trees and some very unique ones as well.   A new one this year - available in a limited number - is the weeping Larch.   Stunning!  An ornamental tree - but oh, so cool!

We have a sale on our spring 2007 dug balled and burlapped trees at 50% off (this will make sales room for the 2008 crop!)  There are many exceptional values here!  There are also many container trees marked at 50% off as well! 

The weather man says that tonight’s cold blast should be it!   Let’s get planting!!