Lilacs are among the most beloved plants in the U.S., and their sweetly scented panicles of flowers are something that gardeners the world over look forward to every spring. Lilacs date all the way back to 16th century European gardens; and westward pioneers would bring along cuttings of their prized specimens to plant once they settled in their new home.

Lilacs are deciduous plants actually related to the olive family and other scented plants, including privets and jasmine. But the flowers of the Syringa species are the showiest. In fact, sometimes the stems are so heavy from the weight of the blooms that they nod, giving the plant an arching, graceful appearance.

Many lilacs are hybrids between the common lilac and other species. The subtle differences such as size, color and flower shape allow gardeners to use them in almost any situation. In cold regions, lilacs do best in full sun locations, while in hot summer areas they perform best shaded from the afternoon sun.

Lilacs come in a variety of colors that will please even the most discriminating gardener. Flower colors range from true lilac, red lilac, and lavender-lilac to blue, pink, purple, white, creamy yellow and even variegated selections.

Most lilacs don’t need to be pruned at all, but if they require a little shaping it's best to prune them immediately after they bloom. Lilacs do best with regular watering, although once established, they don’t usually require water more than once per week. They are fairly pest and disease resistant and look their best when fed every two months starting after the blooms are finished until the end of summer.

We have a great selection of lilacs available in the nursery now. We invite you to visit us and select your plants before they find a home in your neighbor’s garden!

Secretary's Day
is Wednesday, April 23rd

Our English Gift Baskets make great gifts!

Take the time to make the Secretary in your life feel appreciated this year, with an English Garden Basket from Sun River Gardens.
Living flowering plants arranged in a lovely basket are a reminder of your thoughtfulness for weeks to come.

Order yours now for best selection.

When planning your garden, consider putting in some herbs--or even an entire herb garden. For the home chef, dried herbs are no match for those freshly picked. Even herbs purchased fresh at the grocery store or farmers market have lost some of their essences by the time they're sold. And the most popular and easiest herbs to grow in home gardens are Mediterranean herbs. Their leaves flavor everything from meats, soups, and stews to pizza, spaghetti and even some desserts.

Mediterranean herbs also add beauty to home gardens and are some of the most rewarding plants you can grow. Most herbs are perennials, with the exception of basil and parsley, which should be planted new each year. They prefer to be planted in full sun and watered regularly with the rest of the garden, but most tolerate drought and less-than-perfect soil.

Mediterranean herbs add some of the best flavorings for many foods and drinks, imparting a complex array of tastes that can't be matched by most other kitchen seasonings. The fragrance of fresh picked herbs stimulates the senses with their complex oils that can dissipate once they dry out.

There really isn't any rule of thumb about what constitutes a Mediterranean herb garden--it's all a matter of taste. Below is a list of old standbys that no kitchen garden should be without. We carry a great selection of herbs throughout the growing season. So drop by and see us when you are ready to start planting your Mediterranean herb garden!

Basil (sweet, Greek, purple)
Leaves taste somewhat like anise with a strong, fragrant, sweet smell. Bushy plant grows 18-24" tall (depending on variety).

Chives
Round, hollow, grass-like leaves with a distinct onion-type flavor. Often used as a garnish. Clumping plant that grows 8-10" tall.

Lavender (English)
Aromatic leaves add a subtle floral flavor to honey, marinades, and desserts. Mounding plant to 2 feet tall and wide.

Marjoram (Sweet)
Tiny gray leaves have a floral scent and milder flavor than Greek oregano. Plant grows 12-24" tall.

Oregano (Greek
Leaves have a spicy flavor that's strongest if harvested when plant is in bud before flowering. Plant grows 18-36" tall.

Parsley (Curly)
The most common parsley, used most often as a garnish. The bushy plant grows about 12" tall.

Parsley (Flat-leafed)
Fresh sprigs and minced leaves are a classic garnish but have superior flavor when cooked. The bush plant grows 12-18" tall.

Rosemary
Short, narrow leaves add an intense peppery flavor to grilled meat, especially lamb. Upright or spreading plants 1-6' tall (depending on variety)

Sage (Garden)
Aromatic leaves are used to flavor stews and stuffing. Some varieties have variegated foliage. Shrubby plant grows 12-36" tall.

Tarragon (French)
Thin, aromatic leaves are a classic flavoring for chicken and egg dishes. The plant grows 18-24" tall.

Thyme (Lemon)
Leaves have a lemon fragrance to brighten flavor of dishes and vinegars. Spreading plant to 6-12" tall.

Vegetable / Tomato Seminar

Saturday, April 26th 10 am

Maximize your harvest! Heart-healthy fruits and vegetables taste better when they are fresh, and the freshest you can get is "just-picked"! Learn to grow big, juicy tomatoes and crisp, green vegetables yourself for a fraction of what the grocer charges you.

This is the year...you can enjoy tomatoes fresh off the vine for the freshest tasting homemade pizzas, BLTs and salads. Ensure a bumper crop of nutritious, mineral-rich foods you can literally pick and eat! Gardening is a great family activity and is much easier than you might think. Learn the secrets of master vegetable growers. Novices to experienced gardeners will enjoy learning how to plant and harvest the biggest and best. Come, reap the rewards of growing your very own vegetable garden.

Space is limited--RSVP 801-229-1975

Long valued for their profuse sprays of flowers from spring to early summer, coral bells (heucheras) are now also being valued for their bold, showy foliage. This genus of perennials has received a lot of attention from horticultural breeding programs in the last decade, and the result is an introduction of wonderful variations in foliage colors, leaf shapes, and flower colors.

While most original coral bell selections produced light green early spring foliage which then matured to a darker green later in summer, newer varieties are now available in amber, bronze, burgundy, purple and ruby tones. Even the newest green-leafed varieties now come dressed up with silver veins, mottling or streaks. Many new cultivars also come with exquisite ruffled foliage.

Using coral bells in the landscape provides a contrast to other plants, making your garden more interesting. Adding bronze, red, or purple foliage to the landscape brings out a new dimension of color. When these vibrant colors are placed next to green plants, your eye is drawn to the entire landscape--creating interest and depth. Most coral bells form evergreen mounds less than a foot high and across; the flowers appear 1-2' above the foliage.

Even the flower colors have benefited from breeding programs and now come in shades of bright pink, coral, red, cream, and white. The flowers provide an extra benefit to the garden by attracting hummingbirds, butterflies and beneficial insects to the garden. The spent flowers are easy to remove; you need only tug gently from the base of the stem to remove them.

While coral bells prefer partly shaded locations, these hardy plants can also tolerate full sun in milder summer regions of the U.S. They perform best in moist (but not wet) soils and need only a modest amount of feeding during the growing season. Don't neglect them completely though, because the nutrients in plant foods help bring out a deeper, darker more intense color in the foliage.

Plant them in borders or in clusters of three or more, so that their sprays of blooms will have an even more dramatic effect in the garden. Coral bells also make great container plants because they don't have an aggressive root system. Coral bells are just what you need to add some flair to your garden.

Stop by the nursery soon to see our great selection of coral bells. To whet your appetite, just click on this gallery link for a sampler of the varieties we carry.

Aphids come in a number of sizes and colors, winged and non-winged. All are pesky little insects to gardeners. Why are they considered a pest? Aphids are "suckers" – they suck juices from the plant leaves and stems. Some can also transmit plant viruses via that sucking mouth-piece.

What else do we know about aphids? Well, they certainly are not Speedy Gonzales! They are slow-moving, soft-bodied insects that suck juices from our plants, and excrete a clear sugary liquid that we call "honeydew." Frequently, in the presence of an aphid infected plant, you will notice a stream of ants working busily around the aphids. They are protecting the aphids because these ants want access to the honeydew.

Also, it is upon honeydew that sooty mold can grow and leave a black, sooty deposit upon the foliage of the infected plant. Many customers have mentioned that they thought this deposit was pollution. It’s not our pollution, it’s a fungal mold.

Aphids have many natural enemies in our gardens. Adult and larval forms of ladybugs and lacewings, syrphid flies, soldier beetles and parasitoid wasps (these guys are tiny, not your average wasp) all love to eat aphids. A good approach to aphid management begins with maintaining a healthy garden and encouraging these beneficial insects to make your garden their home. This is done through plant diversity and health.

Another very easy method of aphid removal is simply using water to knock them off the infected plant. If the aphid is in the process of probing/sucking a juicy stem when you knock it off--and it probably is doing just that--the mouthpiece will be broken and the aphid will no longer be able to eat. See what a simple pest control water can be--and a safe method at that?

We carry spray oils and other insecticides that can be used for more severe infestations - ask us which is best for your needs.

A superior blend of alfalfa meal, fish bone meal, feather meal, mined potassium sulphate, soft rock phosphate, humic acid, seaweed extract, and beneficial soil microbes--plus ecto-mycorrhizae and endo-mycorrhizae.

• Contains seven champion strains of soil building microbes
• Contains ecto-mycorrhizae and endo-mycorrhizae
• 100% natural and organic
• Exceptional results because nutrients are released quickly
• Safe for all tender transplants (e.g., pony packs and 4" containers)
• People and pet safe

Use to feed:
Fruits, vegetables, container plantings, and all plants during early planting/transplanting.

A 4-pound box feeds 30 square feet or 20 one-gallon transplants.

What’s the difference between leafy veggies, flower veggies, root veggies, and fruit veggies?

Answer:

Leafy vegetables include "leaf-type" vegetables such as cabbage, chard, kale, lettuce and spinach, whose leaves are edible.

"Flower-type" vegetables are ones such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower, whose "flower" is eaten instead of leaves.

"Root-type" vegetables are those such as beets, carrots, radishes and turnips, whose roots are the edible part of the plant.

"Fruit vegetables" are botanically fruits but treated as vegetables in a culinary sense. These include tomatos, peppers, and squashes.

Now you are fully equipped to "enlighten" friends with this incredible information when you find yourself at a loss for subject matter at the next dinner party you attend.