In honor of April Earth Month – and Arbor Day this Friday – we’re celebrating those oft-overlooked trees that we walk under, drive by and sit beneath. They are mainstays along our sidewalks and public thoroughfares, and in our community parks and public gardens.  Their common name is “street tree,” but they stand up to drought, pounding rain, heavy snows and road salt like mighty sentries. They provide homes for migrating birds. Their canopies offer respite from the heat to human visitors in our parks and at bus stops along public sidewalks. They line streets along storefronts, enticing p ..read more

This dark shrub won’t “eclipse” other plants in your landscape, but it will for sure turn heads! New for gardens this spring – the Eclipse® Bigleaf Hydrangea brings high drama in bold color. This introduction is the latest in the First Editions Shrubs & Trees family of plants, produced by Bailey Nurseries. Loma Vista Nursery is proud to grow this selection for Midwest independent garden centers, landscape contractors and wholesale distributors. Eclipse® Bigleaf Hydrangea produces prolific blooms in a compact size. – Bailey Nurseries Photo Eclipse® Bigleaf Hydrangea is the first true dark ..read more

Our nursery is bursting with buds, new color and interesting textures as we welcome the 2024 growing season. Here are just a few of the plants getting their spring right now on at Loma Vista Nursery. Ogon Spirea (Spirea thunbergii ‘Ogon’) Ogon Spirea Plant Type: Shrub Shrub Type: Deciduous Habit: Dense, Upright Flower Shade: White Foliage Shade: Golden Yellow in Spring, Matures to Green, Orange in Fall Blooms: Early Spring Attracts: Butterflies Characteristics: Showy, Good Fall Color Maintenance: Supplemental Water Until Established Light Requirement: Full Sun Mature Height & Spread: 3 to ..read more

Every year, new plants pique the interest of trade professionals and consumers. We are thrilled to grow the following new plant varieties for the 2024 growing season. Pinky Winky Prime® Panicle Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata) – Proven Winners Photo Pinky Winky Prime® Panicle Hydrangea Plant Type: Flowering Shrub Shrub Type: Deciduous Habit: Upright Flower Shades: Two-Toned Pink & White Blooms: Mid-Summer to Early Fall Attracts: Bees and Butterflies Foliage Shade: Dark Green Characteristics: Blooms on New Wood, Fall Interest, Salt Tolerant Maintenance: Easy Light Requirement: Part Sun to ..read more

When the soil starts to warm and plants begin unfurling their sleepy leaves, spring is just around the corner. And we’re busy as bees in summer. We caught up with Duane Huss, Loma Vista Nursery’s operations manager, for a behind-the-scenes look at February’s activities. With spring a handful of weeks ahead, Duane Huss, operations manager, reviews processes and procedures for the coming growing season. Duane, what projects and tasks do we have happening on the nursery this month? Quite a lot! We’ve begun cutting holes in the plastic of our hoop houses, which lets in natural sunlight and facili ..read more

With the 2024 growing season at the starting gate, the question is naturally, “what’s new?” Experts (and history) tells us that trends are defined by the generations with buying power.  Horti-futurism, they say, is now.  While we value those Boomers who are still out there gardening along with their Gen X neighbors and Millennial children, Generation Z is joining the garden party and they’re ready to spend. We think these plants coincide perfectly with the trends they’re sparking.   Horti-futurism (Sci-Fi, Futuristic, Vibrant) Illuminati Tower® Mockorange (Philadelphus coronari ..read more

Now, we’re not going to say that we’re annual snobs – annual plants have a place in the landscape, too. But we will admit to having perennial preferences. And that’s because with so many benefits to our gardens and landscapes, perennial plants pack a powerhouse of positives.  With spring selling season coming into view, landscape contractors and garden center plant buyers might want to keep the following perennials in mind for their designs and customers. Feel free to use the information we provide in our blogs to help educate your clients about plants and how to care for them. Magnus Pu ..read more

From monitoring temperatures in the poly houses to printing tags for spring planting – Loma Vista Nursery never sleeps. Department team leaders and members give us a quick look at what’s happening behind the scenes. Kurt Everett, left, sales manager, talks with colleagues attending an industry event. I know that 2024’s trade shows are already on your calendar. What are the advantages of going to trade shows during the off-season months? The one big advantage to winter shows is that the nursery isn’t usually as busy at the time. It’s nice to be able to focus on the trade show and not be distra ..read more

First in Our “Behind the Scenes” Series In winter, thoughts naturally turn to spring, which makes us think about pruning – and this is a very good time to pick up the pruners and look at the trees. We caught up with Duane Huss, Loma Vista Nursery’s operations manager, for quick tips on how to do the job properly. Duane Huss, Operations Manager, Loma Vista Nursery Duane, what types of plants benefit from pruning? Keeping plants of all types healthy, happy and looking good requires pruning of some sort. So, all of them will need pruning at one point or another to keep them rejuvenated.  Wh ..read more

We love December because it’s fun, festive and all about tradition. So many of our beautiful trees and shrubs add natural style to outdoor holiday arrangements and decorations. After the holidays, they provide color and interest through the winter. Plant small specimen evergreens in holiday containers, then transfer them to the landscape in spring. We took a walk through our nursery and selected a few of our favorites for timeless landscape appeal. Happy holidays to you and your families from all of us at Loma Vista Nursery! Sea Green Juniper (Juniperus chinensis ‘Sea Green’) Sea Green Junipe ..read more