UpShoot eNews: May is for the Birds and Bees…

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…and the flowers and the trees! Actually May is Garden for Wildlife Month!  Whether you’re a novice or expert gardener, The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is encouraging folks to turn their outdoor space into a Certified Wildlife Habitat® site to help restore vital habitat areas for wildlife.
 American Beauties Native Plants
The American Beauties® Collection native plants are not only beautiful but specifically good for wildlife. Best of all, for every American Beauties plant sold, a 0.25, 0.50 cents or $1.00 donation benefits the NWF. We are proud to play a small role in the NWF and American Beauties Partnership.

Mother Nature’s Birdfeeders 
Two LCN Selections selected native cultivars are in the American Beauties program.  These two plants literally are ‘for the birds’!

Blue Blaze™ Arrow Wood Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum ‘Blubzam’

Blue Blaze™ Arrow Wood Viburnum
Popcorn Drift Rose

Not My
Grandpa’s Roses

In 1946, my grandfather and his sons Jim and Fred started Felix Zampini and Sons.  They had ¼ acre of land and propagation of multiflora rose was their main crop.

Roses are my heritage and for today’s smaller landscapes, I like the Drift® Rose series from The Conard-Pyle Company.

The series started with four colors (Coral, Red, Peach and Pink Drift®) and then added Apricot and Sweet Drift® last year.

Popcorn Drift® will launch in 2013. It gets 1-2’h x 2′ w. Its flowers are yellow, fading to creamy white with occasional pink highlights.

I’ll get a sample of it at the GWA Regional Meeting at TalTree Arboretum & Gardens in Indiana and can’t wait to give it a try!
Best Barberries

Best
Barberry Bets

LCN Selections Crimson Ruby® and Bonanza Gold® barberries recently made the University of Connecticut’s
‘Barberry OK for Sale/Production’
list due to their extremely low seed count.

While Connecticut nurseries are phasing out 25 barberry cultivars
because of their invasive potential, they will keep another 18 varieties.

These approved barberries are in the bottom 10% of barberry seed and fruit production and are considered much less invasive.

The barberry study was conducted by the
University of Connecticut and headed by researcher
Mark Brand.
MobileGro

The Right Fit!

At the 2012 ANLA Management Clinic
I met Angela DiMaggio, inventor of Mobilegro® portable garden carts.

Mobilegro® is perfect for urban gardening or anywhere space is limited.

The self-contained units include a cascading water design and drip pan, are available in 3 or 4 tier options, come in loads of colors and artistic style options, and are on casters so they move effortlessly.

 Their height makes it easier for people with back problems to garden,
as well as for those in wheelchairs.

Mobilegro® was recently profiled in AZ Central magazine and Phoenix Home & Garden. Angela is accepting orders on-line at www.mobilegro.com.

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