The phrase, ‘Grow where you are planted’ is frequently used to encourage others to be all that they were created to be, to do what’s right, even when it’s hard, or to make the best of what you have when life throw lemons at you.  Wise advice indeed, and easier said than done. But, by embodying this mindset, Jenny has grown her roots and wings throughout her career spanning almost 2 decades at Weston Nurseries.  Her compassionate heart and strong spirit are reflected through her work and set the example that we strive for.  We are honored that she has stuck by us all this time an ..read more

by Thomas Christopher Okay, I admit it, voles are cute. With their small pudgy bodies and short tails, they look like undersized, feral hamsters, to whom they are in fact related. But whereas hamsters are house pets, voles roam free in your garden. Voles are vegetarian, too, which can spell trouble for your plants. Their most heinous habit is that they like to chew the bark off the base of young trees and shrubs, with fruit trees being a favorite. That’s why voles are on my mind. I planted several plums, a couple of bush cherries, and two honeyberries in my food garden last spring, and I know ..read more

Mistletoe, like holly and ivy, is part of the festive décor associated with a traditional northern hemisphere holiday season, most notably the custom of kissing when standing under it. However, this plant has more to it than holiday affection. It has a long history of being part of pagan winter customs and rituals as well as featuring in Norse mythology, but the reality of its nature and role in a thriving ecosystem is what really makes this a fascinating and remarkable plant. The mistletoe of Christmas traditions (Viscum album) hails from Europe and has been used since pagan times to decorate ..read more

Spring bulbs bring a welcome splash of color, marking the gradual arrival of the growing season.  Early bloomers such as snowdrops and crocus can appear even through the snow and remind us that warmer weather will soon be here, while certain tulips and daffodils can keep the color going until early May, and allium can take us into early summer.  While these bulbs are vibrant while flowering, oftentimes their foliage is less than attractive once the flowers are over.  Cutting off the leaves is not good for the bulb, as it needs its leaves to photosynthesize and store energy in th ..read more

Bring in the Bees!   Every plant that requires an insect pollinator will have devised strategies to attract the type of pollinator it needs, but some plants draw a real profusion of bees, particularly in late summer and fall.  If you have a sunny spot and are looking for colorful plants that attract plenty of bees here are several that are pollinator magnets.  New York Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis) is tall growing and at 5-7’ tall is a native for the back of the border.  Producing loose clusters of bright purple flowers it is visited by bees and butterflies.&nbs ..read more

Fall brings an explosion of color to New England’s landscapes with vibrant foliage in hues of yellow, orange and red, along with bright berries in a wide array of colors from white through pink, orange, red, black and even the eye-catching purple of beautyberry.  While oak leaf hydrangea, itea, viburnum, aronia, fothergilla, enkianthus, sumac and Chinese witch hazel have been described in an earlier blog, the following shrubs also offer seasonal color and perhaps a more unusual selection to round out the growing season. Blueberry (vaccinium spp) Blueberry, vaccinium spp., is ..read more

Oak trees are a familiar sight in our landscape, and while their value as timber and shade trees is well known, their ecological value is amazing. Their acorns provide food for a large number of animals and birds (around 100 different species), while their leaves are fed on by more than 500 species of butterfly and moth larvae. These in turn provide food for birds and other insects, which also ensures the trees are not unduly damaged. They also offer shelter for a variety of animals and insects, while their extensive root systems and dense leaf canopies help prevent soil erosion. In addition ..read more

By the time July comes around summer is in full swing, and the choice of perennials that could be highlighted is large, so to compile a short list means I will end up ignoring plenty of worthwhile plants. Therefore, I have chosen a few eye-catching perennials and favorites of mine. Leopard plant (Ligularia) provides a bright splash of yellow with its stems of multiple yellow flowers. Commonly known as leopard plant as some species have spotted leaves this trait seems to have been lost among cultivars. ‘The Rocket’ is a tall variety reaching 3-5’ tall when given its preferred location of moist ..read more

Flower_garden – stock.adobe.com June is pollinator month in Massachusetts and the third week in June is also National Pollinator Week.  Making a space that is pollinator friendly can involve planting a variety of perennials, grasses, trees and shrubs that provide food for both adult and larval stages of insect pollinators.  If space to plant a garden is restricted or non-existent, using annuals in containers is a great way to supplement nectar sources and they are a good way to ensure a continuous supply of summer flowers.  So, whether you wish to plant a swath of pollinator pla ..read more

In Massachusetts Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday in April and by calling on the state’s residents to plant a tree it aims to remind us all of the importance of trees in our environment.  Arbor Day and the Foundation that sponsors this event had its beginnings back in 1872 when Nebraska City resident, J. Sterling Morton, proposed to Nebraska’s Board of Agriculture that they should have a tree planting day.  He advocated for the benefits of planting trees with respect not only to their beauty, but also to their role in controlling soil erosion and providing shade.  ..read more