Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Superb dry-weather plants

A few weeks ago we gave you a list of drought-hardy plants available at Whispering Hills. The University of Illinois Extension recently followed up with a video on the same topic. Since we're still not getting enough rain, we thought it'd be good to re-post it and keep the dry-weather tips coming.


Posted by at 7/24/2012 12:24:00 PM
Labels: , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Deer-resistant plants

Deer are everyone's favorite large woodland mammals. Elegant, graceful, and omnipresent in the northern woods, their foraging habits sometimes take them into our backyards to nibble on our plants.

If you're not keen on blowing Bambi's brains out with a shotgun (which we do NOT advocate), try planting one of many deer-resistant plant varieties carried at Whispering Hills.

Below you'll find lists of trees, shrubs, perennials, vines and flowers that DOE'nt attract deer.

Deer-resistant Trees:
  • Deerproof Arborvitae
  • Douglas Fir
  • Scotch & Mugo Pine
  • Colorado Blue & Norway Spruce
  • Blue Star, Mountbatten & 9 other types of Juniper
  • Whitespire Birch
  • Norway Maple

Deer-resistant Shrubs:
  • Chicagoland Green, Green Mountain & 5 other types of Boxwood
  • Weeping Siberian Pea Shrub
  • Common Lilac (Purple & white)
  • Cranberry Viburnum
  • Japanese Barberry
  • Shamrock Inkberry
  • Renaissance Spirea
  • Blizzard & Dwarf Snowflake Mock Orange

Click here for a list of of deer-resistant vines, flowers, and groundcovers.
Posted by at 7/17/2012 04:14:00 PM
Labels: , ,

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Hummingbird-friendly plants

There are plenty of pesky animals intruding on home gardens, but one creature nobody wants to shoo away is the gorgeous hummingbird. Many people pick out plants specifically to attract the tiny, nectar-sucking speed-flappers.

Hummingbirds are able to assess the sugar content of nectar and prefer flowers with higher sugar percentage, so there's a limited selection of plants that will invite them to your yard.

Hummingbird-friendly Perennials
Hummingbirds are "suckers" for Morning Glories and other sweet flowers.
Alcea
Achillea
Aquilegia
Aster
Buddleia
Campanula
Delphinium
Digitalis
Iris
Heuchera
Lobelia
Monarda
Penstemon
Phlox

Shrubs
Clethra
Hibiscus
Itea
Lonicera
Weigela

Whispering Hills stocks many of these varieties. Call 847-658-5610 for more information.
Posted by at 7/08/2012 11:14:00 AM
Labels: , , , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)