Two Day Native Plant Sale 4/29-30, 2017

"A" is for Amelanchier

It is April and as "A" is for April, "A" is also for Amelanchier. One of my favorite harbingers of Spring. Even though we are three weeks into spring, this marks the beginning of a series of my favorite blooming trees and shrubs. Here in Atlantic County, NJ we are said to have four species of Amelanchier and that they do hybridize and so are very hard to tell apart. The four species are A. canadensis, Canadian Serviceberry and A. arborea, Common Serviceberry, A. obovalis, Coastal Serviceberry, and A. stolonifera, Running Serviceberry. There are several other common names used to describe this genus such as Shadbush, Juneberry, Shadblow, Sugarplum and June bush. there are as many stories to the names as names. Shadbush is supposedly named as that is when the shad start running. Blooming in April, the berries, which are edible, mature in June, hence the name Juneberry and it is said humans have a hard time getting to them as the birds usually clean them out immediately.




They are found in a variety of soils from wet marshes to dry uplands and varying sizes from trees to small shrubs. They are often seen along roadsides and the edge of wooded areas. So during your travels this month you may see them along the back roads. They stand out with their showy white flowers which bloom before the leaves come out. Once that happens, they tend to fade into to landscape. But I always love to see them blooming and maybe this year I will get to pick some berries. 

I am having a plant sale this weekend at the nursery with a focus on the end of the growing season and all the awesome natives that come alive in a finale of color. I will have some of my favorite bouquets on display as well as some seed pods that are useful in projects. see flyer below for info. Hope to see you this weekend.

FALL IS FOR PLANTING!!!    TWO DAY NATIVE PLANT SALE

SEPTEMBER 24 & 25 10 am -  4pm.      

EARTH FIRST NATIVE PLANT NURSERY

4054-A Tremont Ave, Egg Harbor Twp   609-287-5090

Celebrate the coming of Autumn by planting native plants. Planting now gives plants a great chance to establish their root systems over winter and gives them a head start next spring. This is a great time to plant Milkweed for next years’ Monarchs as well as early spring bloomers. All four inch pots are $3.50. Large pots are $10.00. Cash or local checks accepted. There are over 50 species of chemical free, wildlife friendly plants to choose from.

Golden aster, Smooth blue aster, New York Ironweed, Perennial sunflowers, Goldenrods , Milkweeds, Bog/pond plants, Native grasses, Seashore plants, Bonesets, just to name a few. Many are NJ eco-types so they are naturally hardy to our area.        

 

 

 

 

 

Open Garden Native Plant Sale Sept 10 10am - 4pm

I will be having an “open garden” native plant sale. This is last minute, but I had been planning this for a few weeks, but as the time drew closer and I saw the weather was going to be quite hot I had thought about changing the date. However, I was asked to help out at another event next week so I will be having a plant sale at the nursery on Saturday, Sept 10^th,. Hours are 10am to 4pm. No appointment needed, just stop by during those hours. I really wanted to have it while the Golden Asters and Blue Mistflower are blooming, and they look great. I wanted to be able to offer them now. Turtlehead and New York Ironweed, Sunflowers, Asters, Goldenrods are also in bud, so it is a good week to get these plants. There is also Milkweed available.

Also this year I have grown some plants in large pots for those looking for more instant filling in. Seaside Goldenrod, Turtlehead, Smooth Blue Aster, New York Ironweed, Switch Grass, Giant Sunflower, Coral Honeysuckle and Swamp Milkweed are the options and these are $10.00.

All other plants are in 4 inch pots, priced at $3.75 each tax included. I will have 50 species available altogether.

I will also be talking about native flower arrangements, which I have been cutting most of the summer now that my two- year old garden has filled in quite nicely. I mean, hey, who says the garden is only for wildlife to enjoy? The garden is looking quite full so it is a good time to see it.

This is a link to some of the plant info: http://www.bonanza.com/booths/EarthFirstNatives

The address of the nursery is              

4054A Tremont Ave

Egg Harbor TWP, NJ 08234

Phone: 609-287-5090

 

 

NATIVE PLANT SALE IN ABSECON, NJ SATURDAY 6/4/16

Native Plant Opportunity......Absecon City-wide Yardsale 6/4/16



What could be better than shopping for native plants and bargain hunting too? This coming Saturday 6/4, from 8am -4pm, I will have the native plants for sale at the annual city-wide yard sale in Absecon. In the spirit of finding bargains, I will have some special deals. At shows the plants are usually offered in a 5 pack for $18.00. This Saturday they will be 5/$17.00. or 10/$30.00, which is just $3.00 per plant. Single plants are $3.50 each.

The weather is still good for planting. There is shade plants, pollinator favorites, moon garden plant, salt tolerant plants... something for every garden and as always, free advice. The following species will be available:




Aster novae-angliae - New England Aster
Aster nemoralis - Bog Aster
Chrysopsis mariana - Maryland Golden Aster
Aster laevis - Smooth Blue Aster
Aster tenuifolium - Perennial Salt Marsh Aster
Liatris spicata - Blazing Star
Spirea tomentosa - Steeplebush
Solidago sempervirens - Seaside Goldenrod
Solidago erectus - Slender Goldenrod
Echinacea purpurea - Purple Coneflower
Hibiscus palutris - Rose Mallow
Helianthus giganteus - Giant Sunflower
Helainthus angustifolia - Narrow leaf Sunflower
Oenthera fruticosa - Sundrops
Sorghastrum nutans - Indian Grass
Schizachirium scoparium - Little Bluestem
Panicum virgatum - Switchgrass
Panicum amarun - Coastal Panic Grass
Typha angustifolius - Cattails
Penstemion digitalis - Beard Tongue
Kosteletzkya virginiana - Seashore Mallow
Eryngium aquaticum - Marsh Rattlesnake Master
Eupatorium perfoliatum - American Boneset
Eupatorium rotundafolium - Round leaf Boneset
Salvia lyrata - Lyre leaf Sage
Sedum ternatum - Wild Stonecrop
Lysimachia ciliata - Purple Fringed Loosestrife
Lysimachia lanceolata - Lance leaf Loosestrife
Asclepias incarnata - Swamp Milkweed
Butterflyweed - Asclepias tuberosa
Prickly Pear Cactus, Opuntia humifusa



The address is 703 Ambassador Drive Absecon, NJ 08201 which is located in Absecon Estates behind the Shoprite and City Hall/Heritage Park.

Organic vegetable plants will also be available for $1.00 each.
There will also be household goods for sale, from 2 -3 families.

The weather looks like its going to be splendid, so come on out and find bargains city-wide.

Earth Day 2016

 

Swamp Milkweed - Asclepias incarnata

Earth Day is truly a time to reflect on our planet and all the gifts we receive from her, our food to eat, our water drink, air to breath and fire to keep warm. Its a day to realize how all things on our planet are connected and interdependent on each other. As a plant person, I think of the symbiotic relationships plants have with soil fungi, insects' relationships with plants, a bird's dependence on both, annual weather patterns which control the cycles of the flora so that the fauna may benefit. Its all tied together. And its beautiful.

For 26 years now the Atlantic County Utilities Authority has been celebrating Earth Day honoring our precious Mother Earth. This year it will be held Sunday, April 24th from 10am-4pm at their facility in Egg Harbor TWP. All the vendors and exhibitors are earth friendly themed. I love this event and have been participating for many years now. This year I will give a talk on my pollinator garden, my own living science lab and share what I have learned from it over the past two years so that others may also learn.

I will also be having my first sale of the year at my table near the food court. Speaking of food, last year there was a vendor there who was selling Chokeberry jam and Beach, made from local native plants. There are also beekeepers who sell local honey. All of these items are made via the labor of our pollinators. As pollinators' numbers have declined in recent years, it is important we do all we can to help the, out, after all we depend on them, the tiny unsung heroes.

Here is a list of some of the pollinator favorite plants I will be offering for sale:


Giant Sunflower - Helianthus giganteus

Giant Sunflower           

Sneezeweed

Orange Coneflower

Brown Eyed Susan

Purple Coneflower

Milkweed                        

Seaside Goldenrod                          

Anise Hyssop

Wild Stonecrop

Lyre Leaf Salvia

Bee Balm

Wild Bergamot

Blue Verain

Wild Pinks

In addition to my talk there will be other eco-friendly talks on bees, rain barrels and permaculture as well as live entertainment by Valerie Vaughn who is awesome by the way. Why not come out and spend the day? There is much to do and see, and I do hope to see you there. Be well.

2016 Spring Has Sprung

 

Yesterday sure didn't feel like spring. Most of winter was warmer then yesterday and last night when it began to snow. But despite last night's snowfall, Spring is officially here as are my backyard visitors. Our mild winter however has brought them here even sooner than usual it seems. The Bluebirds and Mourning Cloaks appeared two weeks ago and I heard Spring Peepers on February 29th, Leap Year Day, no pun intended. The seedings are emerging as are the garden plants. And I have heard the calls of the Pine Warblers. So I believe we are on our way to seeing the beautiful spring green leafbudding soon. This always brings me a happy feeling and I believe I would be correct in saying many would share that sentiment.

My plans for the property this year are to install a native fruit orchard where Blueberries, Blackberries, Chokeberries, Beach Plums, Cranberries and Ostrich Ferns will grow. I will also be expanding the native moon garden and hope to be able to start the rain garden.

Perennial Salt Marsh Aster

I have sown a new species this year to offer in the nursery, Perennial Salt Marsh Aster, Symphyotrichum tenuifolia, which is  great for coastal gardens as it is salt tolerant and blooms along with the Seaside Goldenrods. I am happy that they have germinated well, and hopefully will be ready in late summer. I am interested to see if it will bloom the first year as many fall blooming plants do. I have also geminated some Pink Turtlehead, Chelone lyonii, a more southern species, for the first time.  

I love talking about the plants and once again plan to hold a workshop at the ACUA annual Earth Day fair. I will be talking about how to make a pollinator garden. I created one two years ago here on the new property and it really took off and has been "abuzz" ever since. I will be sharing my tips for helping folks start one.

I hope everyone has had a wonderful year and that I will be seeing you all, my friends and customers at the fairs and festivals. And please feel free to send me a message if you have any questions on native plants. I will be happy to help. Be well and happy Spring!

Raven