• Ordering, History and Setting of Eastern Plant, in Georgetown, Maine!

Eastern Plant

~ rare plants rhododendrons natives

Eastern Plant

Monthly Archives: January 2015

PITCHER PLANT: A GENTLE CARNIVORE FOR YOUR GARDEN

23 Friday Jan 2015

Posted by easternplant in AVAILABLE PITCHER PLANTS

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

CARNIVORE, native plant, PITCHER PLANT

pitcher3

Pitcher Plant, Sarracenia purpurea is an incredible plant though rarely seen in gardens. It can be grown from the mid Atlantic to the coldest parts of the New England and mid west. While native to boggy areas it is very easy to recreate conditions it likes. The highly attractive funnel shaped leaves entice insects to crawl in, where they get trapped and then provide nutrients for the plant. Each funnel is 3 to 7 inches high WITH HIGHLY INTRICATE VEINING AND MARKINGS. Mature plants can have up to a dozen funnels. A great plant to excite interest in the garden and be the envy of plant friends. Please note: this is the ONLY truly hardy Pitcher Plant for cold areas, though you might see other species offered elsewhere, the one we offer is reliable and easy to grow.

CONSIDER THESE LANDSCAPE ATTRIBUTES

Evergreen …and ever red during winter months

Tolerates full sun!  Grows in boggy or wet soil

Mesmerizing flowers seem alien – Eyecatching foliage

Kids love it AND adults do TOO

PITCHER2013-08-07_11-54-31_12

To create a growing spot, just excavate a foot, add pure peat moss, keep damp to wet and give a sunny spot. If you have a naturally boggy area, just plant at the edge of it. Order now for spring. Complete growing info sent with the plants.

BELOW, ALIEN LOOKING FLOWERS AND A MATURE PLANT

pitcher4pitcher3

Nice sized plants not tiny division hat are often offered elsewhere. Maine grown and hardy from zones 4-7  PLANTS FROM GALLON WITH A MINIMUM OF 3 FUNNELS   EACH $9.95   3 FOR $27   6 FOR $52  NOTE: we can also supply live sphagnum moss which these love to grow in. $12 per gallon bag, enough for 3 plants.

TO ORDER JUST EMAIL YOUR WISH LIST TO US AT easternplant@juno.com and we will confirm the order.

EASTERN PLANT: THE BEST NORTHERN GROWN PLANTS! THE MOST ADAPTABLE PLANTS PLANTS YOU WILL FIND!

Don and Hazel Smith-Plant Pioneers and Very Special

14 Wednesday Jan 2015

Posted by easternplant in SPECIAL PEOPLE

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

botanizing, mentor, pioneer

I’m lucky and fortunate. In my early career I connected with many (mostly older and wiser) of the finest people of the plant world in the northeast. Many of those talented people and friends are gone now but I treasure the time we had; it helped me find “me” and a career.

Years later, it is clear that “breaks” and life changing opportunities are rare and fleeting; one must go after them if they are to happen, for they might just go “poof.” One of those opportunities arose that way indirectly: During college, in a plant identification class at Rutgers University, professor Bruce “Doc” Hamilton, in passing, mentioned a nursery in northern NJ that had a sizeable specimen of the Giant Sequoia (the one from the west coast) It was the only one he knew of in the area and the farthest north.

My interest in plants was developing and the curiosity bug was there. I asked Doc Hamilton “who these people were”, he said the Smiths in Morris Plains, NJ but he didn’t have any details. Now, this was pre internet era, pre social media …so one had to do something we don’t do today: call information to get their number …(and it was a Smith!) After some trial and error I got the correct number. Upon calling, Hazel Smith answered and gave me directions (no google maps or gps then!) I took a drive up to their Watnong Nursery in my Ford Pinto; it was a little difficult getting there; there was no direct route and they were off a busy road where you had to go fast to cross traffic, going 65 in both directions – the Pinto didn’t like going fast! (actually, it didn’t like going at all, being a Pinto!!!)

On to first visit of Watnong Nursery, Morris Plains, NJ sometime in 1978. Made it! Right away I liked this place. There was an old rustic house covered in Ivy and a long drive leading back to?

Hazel and Don were in the yard …instantly it was clear these were nice people. They were both very soft spoken. Hazel was petite with eyes that focused on you, in a caring way. Don was tall & lanky like me, a bit stooped over from age when I first met him with distinctive, craggy features. I don’t remember many details of that first day but do remember being in awe seeing countless plants that were new to me and liking most of them. Their place wasn’t huge, maybe 2 or 3 acres……but was mesmerizing in a fanciful way. They asked how I found them and about me being in college, we talked horticulture and plants right off the bat. They were thrilled it seemed. I was thrilled …this was plant heaven. Many trips were soon made to the Smiths.

NOTE: SOMEWHERE I HAVE AN OLD PIC OF THE SMITHS, IT WILL BE POSTED HERE WHEN I FIND IT.

It was a joy going to see Don and Hazel. All of their plants were nicely arranged in a natural way with twists and turns. They were pioneers in many plant fields, one was a strong emphasis on things in the rhodo family and dwarf conifers. Their rhodos had some influence on my rhodo passion that was just “germinating.” I recall seeing fuzzy yak rhodos for the first time, very rare then, still uncommon now. They had many other special rhodos in old fashioned, cold frame type pits in the ground and some under partial shade from a lathe wood structure …that’s where I first eyed a special rhodo …more on that coming.

There were so many plants here that were never taught about or seen at typical nurseries. It was eye opening. Don had a love for mountain laurel and was buying superior forms and offering them for sale long before anyone else. There was a hilltop full of them. At some point I asked don how to keep laurels bushy, he said snip off the lower flower buds. I still remember that conversation and tidbit 35 years later.

Don’t recall if I bought anything on my first visit but do recall soon buying rhodos and in particular a Rhodo called Moonstone, not hardy, but a lovely little plant. Remember Don saying “I was brave,” in that it’s tender. That bit of advice stuck with me and made an influence. Always tell the truth about plants. Which sadly I learned, is not often the case at most places.

After a few visits, Hazel sent me a postcard saying how nice it was to have made a new, younger plant friend. That meant something to me. I ended up working at Watnong Nursery and loved every moment of it. Had the Smiths not popped into my life, had I not inquired about them in college, who knows where my journey would be at. Life brings opportunities, sometimes we see them, sometimes we don’t or it’s too late and the ship has just passed. I’ve missed many opportunities by not acting but lucked out on some. Oh, that postcard Hazel sent me, it’s in my personal memorabilia collection to this day. I still recall the day it came. You can sense Hazels sweetness. Here it is to share with you.

IMG_20150114_130558

The generosity of the Smiths was grand. They donated a large plant collections to the National Arboretum in Wash. DC.and to the Frelinghuysen Arboretum in NJ. Don and Hazel were instrumental in popularizing and botanizing two of my favorite plants, Sandymyrtle and Box Huckleberry. There were countless others. They were very active in the Rock Garden Society.

Don and Hazel died within a year or 2 of each other in 1983, Don passing away first. Hazel kept the nursery going for a short time, before she too passed. Attending Don’s funeral was humbling and the first loss of someone I cared deeply about. The loss we all go thru seeing that death is part of life. Shortly afterward Hazel spoke to me and wanted me have a few special plants of my choosing. It was an honor and I chose just one, something Don loved and my eyes always gazed at when I was there: a Rhododendron Bureavii ‘Lem form’ about 3 feet tall. The plant I referenced above in their lathe house. Don had acquired it from noted rhodo guru Halfdam Lem from the west coast, perhaps in the seventies? I recall Don saying it was one of the first to be on the east coast. It’s important to realize, the east coast is not a good spot for a Rhodo Bureavii- too much heat, which can rot the roots. The Lem form was thought to be more heat tolerant. It was doing ok at the Watnong nursery …just ok. I asked Hazel if I could have it as the plant she mentioned, she said of course. I ever so carefully dug it, getting as wide a root ball as possible, then transported it back to my parents yard which was fast filling up with plants of all sorts. For 3 or so years that Bureavii now lived at my parents yard in Rahway, NJ, a hotter climate than the Smiths …which worried me. It was doing ok but not “as” ok. You must keep this alive I kept saying. I was already picking up on rhodo culture …connecting the dots so to speak …maybe more so than most …the instinct was there. After a year I replanted it in total sand and gravel …that stabilized it. I had planted it in composty rich soil, but was already realizing that wasn’t the right soil. (See my article on soil) Having met the Walbrechts, I knew I was moving to Maine soon, where Bureavii would thrive due to cool summers, but keeping this plant alive til then, was utmost priority. We will get back to this story in a bit.

Sometimes at the end of the day I’d go in and talk with Don and Hazel, who always made me tea. That image is still with me, their small dark kitchen and the table I can sense being at. Shortly before Hazel died she talked about enjoying hearing the birds singing, she just said it was so “nice”. We’d talk and reflect. Quietness was fine. No internet, no texts, no email beeps on a cell phone to get in the way of real communication.

Both of their “pre plant careers” were in the educational field and from what I heard they excelled. Don and Hazel were genuinely caring, giving, people. They taught without teaching, they inspired without speaking. Even in death they wanted to help, leaving their bodies to advance medical research.

Not forgotten, that Giant Sequoia, the reason I first went to the Smiths. Yes it was there and very impressive and it’s still there. In fact, it was later named Giant Sequoia Hazel Smith. The picture below is courtesy of Sam Jones. It is the actual same Sequoia (now huge) taken in 2014 at the Watnong Gardens, now a park. That is Helen Donn, she and her husband bought the Smith property on their death and lovingly maintained the gardens.

 

hazelwatnong

That rhodo Don gave me in death, the first Rhodo Bureavii to reach the east coast. Well, it survived the hot years in Rahway NJ making it to Maine just in time when I moved here in 1987. In keeping tradition, it was the FIRST rhodo I planted here as a tribute and flourished for over twenty years atop a hillside out back named “little Nepal.” You could look up into it and mesmerize over its coppery colored, fuzzy leaves. Two years ago the deer (horrible rodents with antlers) devoured it, not killing it but now it’s a mere relic of what it was. There’s hope it can come back. When you visit WildWalkWays here, there is a trail that leads to Dons Rhodo Bureavii. Make the trek here then the trek to our to little Nepal to the Rhodo bureavii. Look up at it ….Don and Hazel would smile.

THIS IS THE ORIGINAL PLANT OF RHODO BUREAVII LEM FORM FROM THE SMITHS, NOW AT LEAST 45 YEARS OLD AT OUR WILDWALKWAYS

 

P1000271

 

SPECIAL GROUNDCOVERS

09 Friday Jan 2015

Posted by easternplant in AVAILABLE SPECIAL GROUNDCOVERS

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

groundcover, liner, native plant

The lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), above, is one of two plants that play a large role in the subsistence economy of boreal Alaska. The other is bog blueberry (Vaccinium uliginosum). Institute of Arctic Biology ecologist Christa Mulder and her research team are investigating whether the presence of the invasive legume sweetclover (Melilotus officinalis) can alter the production of fruits of lingonberry and blueberry.

The lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), above, is one of two plants that play a large role in the subsistence economy of boreal Alaska. The other is bog blueberry (Vaccinium uliginosum). Institute of Arctic Biology ecologist Christa Mulder and her research team are investigating whether the presence of the invasive legume sweetclover (Melilotus officinalis) can alter the production of fruits of lingonberry and blueberry.

SPECIAL LOW GROWING PLANTS YOU WON’T OFTEN FIND AVAILABLE

WE GROW ALL OUR PLANTS OUTSIDE, NOT GREENHOUSES! THAT MAKES OUR PLANTS MUCH TOUGHER AND MORE ADAPTABLE!

TO ORDER just email your wish list to easternplant@juno.com

IT’S EASY TO ORDER FROM EASTERN PLANT

BEARBERRY Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

arcto2arcto

One of the prettiest groundcovers that can tolerate harsh conditions. The ground hugging wiry branches are covered with glistening green, rounded evergreen leaves. Dainty pink and white bell flowers in spring are followed by scarlet edible berries. Shiny leaves turn deep maroon in fall, staying reddish all winter. Hardy zones 4 thru 8- it likes well drained sandy or gravelly soil-not for clay! Excellent trailing over walls, even on sand dunes areas, looks great mixed with creeping junipers and conifers. 4-6 inch $6.95  3 for $17  6 for $32

Below, larger 8-12 inch plants…best ever! 8-12 inches  $8.95 3 for $23  6 for $44  12 for $85

IMG_20150320_155320

 

SWEETFERN Comptonia peregrina

SWEET

This fascinating native is actually related to Bayberry, it’s not a fern. The soft, slender leaves are finely serrated and do have the aroma of hay when crushed. Totally carefree and a great plant for sunny, well drained areas. It will grow in sand, gravel or loamy soil and likes full sun. Foliage holds let and then turns a shimmering bunt orange. Grows to 2-3 feet tall and as wide. zones 3-8 8-12 inch $13  2 for $19 3 for $25

FERNS ARE FOUND IN THE FERN SECTION

HEATHS AND HEATHERS

hesthrerr

Related to rhododendrons, heaths and heathers are simply delightful low growing plants that can be used as a groundcover. They provide early spring/late winter flowers for heaths and late summer flowers for heathers. For both, beautiful winter foliage color unlike anything else. This group is misunderstood: all they need is sun, very well drained sandy/gravelly soil. Do not fertilize, do not overwater. Obey those easy rules and they thrive! Heaths and heathers are so adapted to our sandy soil at our Maine farm they are naturally seeding all through our field …come see them!

                          Heathers are 2 year old plants and well established.                            $7.50 each  3 for $20 6 for $39  12 for $75

other varieties are avaiable

 SPRINGWOOD WHITE HEATH

spwh

BLAZEAWAY HEATHER

blaze

WHITE KNIGHT HEATHER

skheath

WHITE LAWN HEATHER

whitelawn

FOAMFLOWER Tiarella  SEE WILDFLOWER SECTION

SANDMYTRLE Leiophyllum buxifolium

SANDM

A VERY RARE PLANT Native to the NJ pine barrens but hardy into New England. Tiny shiny leaves on a slow spreading plant that only gets to 6 inches high and a foot across. In spring, starbursts of pink tinged starry flowers burst forth. Needs well drained sandy, rocky or gravelly soil. Related to rhododendron. zones 4-7  4-6 inch $29

CREEPING MAHONIA

MAHMAH2

Evergreen and smaller growing than common mahonia, growing to a foot tall. Makes a neat small scale groundcover in partly shaded, well drained sites. Clusters of yellow flowers in spring, blue berries in fall. Foliage takes on red to orange colors in winter. zones 5b-8  $7.95  3 for $19  6 for $34

WINTERGREEN Gaultheria procumbens

WINT

A native groundcover known for its edible red berries and spicy, scented foliage. A delightful plant, oblong shiny leaves, pinkish bell flowers in spring. A delicious tea can be made from the berries and leaves. It needs sandy, gravelly, well drained soil, not for clay or composty soil; we are the only nursery that honestly says that. zones 4-8 4-6 inch pieces of sod, we grow this in the ground-it’s better for the plant. $12.95  3 for $35

PARTRIDGEBERRY Mitchella repens

PART2PART

Talk about creepy …this hugs the ground with heavily veined, small rounded leaves forming a dense mat when happy. Lovely, scented white flower sin spring, edible red berries in fall. Evergreen, very slow growing. Needs leafy organic, damp soil. Native to cool, mossy forest areas. zones 3-7  4 inch clump $9.95 3 for $23

ALLEGHANY PACHYSANDRA Pachysandra procumbenspachy

Native to the U.S. Much more attractive than common Japanese pachy yet rarely seen. Semi evergreen foliage takes on silvery mottling during winter. White powder puff flowers in spring. A neat groundcover impressive in both small and large scale plantings. zones 5-8 heavy divisions 5 for $19  10 for $35 inquire for large quantities

LEUCOTHOE PERFECTION

leucothoeLEUC

The cleanest, most disease resistant leucothoe ever. After 25 years of observation there’s NO other leucothoe that performs as well. Related to rhodos, this is the perfect tall groundcover to use in massing or as a specimen, bearing long sprays of white bell flowers in June. Evergreen lance shaped leaves are on gently cascading stems forming a billowy mound. Foliage is very dark in color with coppery red tones on new growth and again turning red in winter. Best in somewhat shaded areas. Excellent cascading over walls, stream edges or mass planted in the garden. I got this in NJ 25 years ago from a local grower & noticed how disease free it was…when I moved to Maine it came with me, now 25 years later it still outdoes any other leucothoe, is totally hardy & does not get leaf spot. The BEST LEUCOTHOE I have ever seen. Our mature plants, draw oohs & ahhs! Adaptable zones 5 thru 7 8-12 inch $15 for 1  $43 for 3  $80 for 6  12-15 inch $18 for 1  $52 for 3  $99 for 6  15-18 inch $21 for one  $59 for 3  $115 for 6

PENNSYLVANIA SEDGE Carex pensylvanicaPENN

This fine textured sedge is becoming more widely used for its feathery look, adaptability to part shade and dry soil. Forms a billow undulating groundcover to 8 inches needing no care. zones 4-7 from Quart $6.95 3 for $16 INQUIRE FOR QUANTITY PRICING AT A STEEP DISCOUNT

 

CRANBERRY Vaccinium macrocarpon

The same cranberry you eat at Thanksgiving makes a wonderful landscape plant. Evergreen, with tiny leaves on multitudes of interweaving stems that form a dense cover. Fascinating flowers followed by edible red fruit in fall. NEEDS full sun and acid, sandy to peaty soil. Grows to 6 or so inches tall spreads sideways. Foliage turns reddish in winter. zones 4-7  from quart $6.95 3 for $18  6 for $34

crancran2

MOUNTAIN CRANBERRY Vaccinium vitis idea-minus
The lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), above, is one of two plants that play a large role in the subsistence economy of boreal Alaska. The other is bog blueberry (Vaccinium uliginosum). Institute of Arctic Biology ecologist Christa Mulder and her research team are investigating whether the presence of the invasive legume sweetclover (Melilotus officinalis) can alter the production of fruits of lingonberry and blueberry.

Here’s a scarce evergreen creeper with edible fruit. It is also called Lingonberry. It needs coolish summers so great for New Eng. and upper midwest. We grow this in the ground making it MUCH MORE adaptable than any others grown in pots-remember to ask that if you get it elsewhere-we hope you don’t. Those shipped in from the west coast will not adapt. The tiny waxy shiny leaves are on multitudes of stems to 5 inches high. In late spring, dangling pink bell flowers adorn the plant, later giving way to edible red berries that are great in jams or eating raw. Much in demand in Europe. NEEDS acid peaty soil and half sun. Thrives in New Eng. zones 3-6  6-8 inch sod $13.95  3 for $33  6 for $63

 

 

 TO ORDER JUST EMAIL YOUR WISH LIST TO easternplant@juno.com AND WE WILL CONTACT YOU. THANK YOU! EASTERN PLANT …SINCE 1985

 

ENTERTAINING GUEST SPEAKER FOR YOUR CLUB

08 Thursday Jan 2015

Posted by easternplant in ENTERTAINING GUEST SPEAKER

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

CLUB, GUEST SPEAKER, PHOTOGRAPHY, RHODODENDRON

COMING SOON Highly informative Blog articles on MOSS—HARDINESS-controversial!—The rare SANDMYRTLE—Why tissue culture plant cloning may not be good—Overlooked Native Plants—Article on plant pioneers Don and Hazel Smith and more.   You can sign up for automatic notifications to our blog articles & SALES at the bottom of the blog home page.(mission-history) You can always unsubscribe.

NOTE: We are now accepting orders for spring

         MOSS & PINE NEEDLES will be available soon. look for post soon-inquire

NEED A GUEST SPEAKER AND GREAT TALK FOR A CLUB?

ARE YOU PART OF A GARDEN CLUB, PLANT SOCIETY, LAND TRUST, NATURE GROUP, AUDUBON CHAPTER OR ANY RELATED GROUP?

1369399183986

2013-06-15_18-10-40_618

170

RHODOS, WILDWALKWAYS, WILDLIFE IN AN ENTERTAINING TALK!

Then you need guest speakers. I can provide an entertaining, beautiful, educational, captivating slide show presentation ON GROWING RHODODENDRONS IN MAINE-OR ANYWHERE. My talk describes our wonderful location in Georgetown Maine and shows the WildWalkWays trails, highlights the magnificent rhodos and other fine plants in a totally natural setting, talks about and shows the local scenery and gives exclusive pointers on growing rhodos that no one else talks about …all in a fun, upbeat way.

Even if you or your club are not rhodo or plant aficianados, the pictures, presentation, and scenery will excite you …and maybe make you a rhodo lover.

A PERK of having me talk: I give out FREE PASSES to WildWalkWays at speaking engagements. WildWalkWays is the trail system at Eastern Plant that meanders thru forest, bog, ravine, traverses a rushing stream, overlooks a salt marsh and more. NO OTHER NURSERY HAS ANYTHING LIKE IT.

   There is a fee depending on travel time  TO BOOK AS GUEST SPEEAKER OR INQUIRE just email me at easternplant@juno.com  Thank you …Mark Stavish

Here is an unsolicited review of a talk I gave

 Hi Mark,
   Your presentation of knowledge and passion for rhododendrons in a truly magnificent natural environment was over the top.  I love the stature and grace of mature rhododendrons, they are awesome and you certainly have them.  From the bottom of my heart, I am most grateful for your generosity last October that brought you to me and more importantly to our group of enthusiastic rhododendron lovers.  Everyone was truly thrilled and we want you to come back, and I know you made a lot of friends very interested in what you are doing there at Eastern Plant.  Hopefully, many visitors, including us.
   Thank you again Mark for all of your efforts in making your visit yesterday, it was real thrill for all of us.  We will all look forward to learning more about your efforts in the future.
 Best to you
Sincerely,
Tom Flanigan
President Connecticut Chapter American Rhododendron Society

2013-06-15_18-02-09_338 2013-06-08_17-18-01_99

Eastern Plant and WildWalkWays …special places on the coast of Maine

Subscribe

  • Entries (RSS)
  • Comments (RSS)

Archives

  • February 2022
  • August 2020
  • August 2019
  • May 2019
  • March 2019
  • November 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • September 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • January 2017
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014

Categories

  • AVAILABILITY
    • WILDFLOWER AVAILABILITY
  • AVAILABLE FERNS
  • AVAILABLE LARGE RHODOS
  • AVAILABLE MOSS
  • AVAILABLE PITCHER PLANTS
  • AVAILABLE RHODOS MAIL ORDER
  • AVAILABLE SPECIAL GROUNDCOVERS
  • AVAILABLE TREES AND SHRUBS
  • AVAILABLE WILDFLOWERS
  • Azalea
  • bangor flower show
  • Birdwatch
  • Camp
  • Camping
  • EDIBLE
  • ENTERTAINING GUEST SPEAKER
  • Evil
  • FALL AND WINTER NURSERY SCENES
  • FERN
  • LADYSLIPPER
  • mail order
  • Maine
  • MOSS
  • MOVING LARGE PLANTS
  • Native
  • PHOTOGRAPHY
  • PINE NEEDLES FOR YOUR GARDEN
  • RHODO
  • RHODODENDRON
  • RHODODENDRON GALLERY
  • ROCK TRIPE
  • SCENES OF GEORGETOWN MAINE
  • SERVICES
  • SOIL
  • SPECIAL PEOPLE
  • TRILLIUM
  • Trump
  • Uncategorized
  • Vacation
  • VIBURNUM
  • WHOLESALE
  • WHOLESALE TO ALL
  • wildflower
  • WILDFLOWER AND FERN AVAILABILITY

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in

Blog at WordPress.com.

  • Follow Following
    • Eastern Plant
    • Join 141 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Eastern Plant
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...