Valley View Farms' Ravens Zone

Every day is Christmas for a lot of us at the store, as new merchandise comes in daily in all of our departments. But, the enthusiasm for "What's in the box?" definitely goes up a notch when the Ravens gear arrives.

Super Bowl Champs

 Our Garden and Christmas shops both bring in much of the fun collectible items now located towards the back of our store. With bragging rights for our World Champion Ravens, many are looking for a little bit of memorabilia to add to their family rooms, man caves or other game -watching locales around the house.

This is just the beginning...more to come

My own kitchen cabinets house a Ravens and Orioles mug and some commemorative glasses. I'm sure I'll be adding to the collection. Maybe a mini-keg?

Hot coffee or cold beverage of choice

You'll notice in the background that we do have some Orioles items. And, as for that black and gold stuff back there, I know nothing!

Here's hoping that the Baltimore home teams do well this year.

Summersweet and Butterflies

I like to travel back roads, whenever practical, to get from place to place. Driving through neighborhoods, I'm able to see some spectacular gardens. This week, I've noticed tons of butterflies on butterfly bushes (Buddleia), Joe-pye weed (Eupatorium), milkweed (Asclepias) and a few other plants that seem to attract the winged wonders. While driving around the other day, my friend Jan saw swallowtails all over a butterfly bush. Within the hour she was out at our nursery to buy one for her new home. Later, we were in my backyard when we saw HUNDREDS of swallowtails on a Clethra , that, because of the rain, had tripled in size this year.

They flew within inches of us. Several butterflies would land on a single flower. Clethra, also known as Summersweet, is well named. The fragrance from the 7 foot shrub is wonderful! Too bad it is planted so far away from the patio. It is a native plant through most of the northeast and does well in moist areas.

We have recommended many plants for attracting butterflies and have even planted a butterfly and hummingbird garden in our water garden display area at Valley View Farms. Our signs have butterfly icons on them if they do attract butterflies as either nectar producing plants or as larval hosts. Some butterflies are plant specific, like the Monarch that is attracted to Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa). Swallowtails and other butterflies are attracted to a wide range of perennials and shrubs. Annual flowers like lantana, and herbs, like dill, also draw all sorts of butterflies.

We have a very informative handout available at the store that highlights plants that are attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. I am personally in awe of the attractiveness of the Clethra. I'm sure our wet spring and summer have a lot to do with how large and healthy this particular plant is right now in my garden.

Butterflies are a bonus to our summer gardens. Treat them well by avoiding pesticide use near them. Keep some of the garden a little wild as well groomed gardens are not a favorite habitat of many forms of wildlife.Water should be available to butterflies as well. Most importantly, enjoy butterflies and your garden this summer

How did it go?

So we made it through spring and early summer without selling a single impatiens plant. Whew! It was hard to imagine last year that people would plant other shade-loving plants instead of this longtime favorite. But begonias, caladiums, New Guinea impatiens and lots of other plants are now growing in gardeners' yards all over the country. And, according to what we've been hearing, have done so very successfully. Many people have stopped in to say that having to plant something different has been fun and adventurous. They love the new plants and have combined texture, color and foliage like never before.
All of our greenhouse staff thank all of you for trusting us and for giving some of these other plants a try. We'd also love to hear from you about how your season went without impatiens. Or, if you did purchase them from another grower, how are they doing? Feel free to post pictures and add comments to our blog or facebook page.

The Heat is ON!

This past week's temperatures had gardeners running for the shade! Many of us who garden in full sun gardens are looking for plants that can handle the heat. We have our favorites and would like to share a list of the toughest annuals for full summer color that handle the heat with ease.

Mediterranean Vinca

Vinca rosea has been extra popular this year because of its bloom's resemblance to impatiens. Vinca will do well in full sun or a half day of shade. We started carrying a new spreading vinca in addition to the popular upright type. Look for Mediterranean vinca to grow in large drifts on hillsides, an area where a groundcover might be used or in hanging baskets. The Pacifica and other varieties of upright vinca will do well in flower borders, window boxes and container gardens.

Angelonias at the Penn State Plant Trials

Angelonia aka Summer snapdragon became one of my favorite annuals when I saw it on a 103 degree day in a plant trial in West Chicago. Most of the other plants (and people, for that matter) were in wilt, but the Angelonias and Dragon Wing Begonias looked fantastic. I like the Angelface variety for its large bloom and the Serenas for their compact habit and early blooming time. Both bloom in an assortment of colors including white, pink and purple.



Dragon Wings do well in larger containers, including hanging baskets

The aforementioned Dragon Wing begonias have nice looking pink or red flowers that bloom all summer in full sun, full shade and everything in between. The only down side of these plants is that they are hard to combine with most other plants because of their vigorous habit. We have paired them with Golden lysimachia and Marguerite sweet potato vine with good success. Look for two other begonias with similar growing habits. Both the Whopper and the Big series of begonias are large, vigorous plants that handle the heat beautifully.

Pentas  Photo courtesy Benary Seed

Pentas have unique clusters of five-pointed petals on a beautiful, compact plant. Butterflies like them too. Look for white, pink, purple and white. They combine beautifully with many other sun-lovers as well.

A hummingbird favorite!

Salvia Black and Blue is our top-seller in our 8 inch pots. I think my coworkers and I are responsible for a good many of those sales as we grow them to attract hummingbirds to our gardens. The black stems and cobalt-blue flowers thrive in full sun. Be careful to plant them into a pretty big pot as they will fill out a container in no time.

There are plenty of other annuals that are valuable for their heat-loving capabilities, Purslane portulaca, lantana, celosia, crossandra, and zinnias thrive in hot, hot areas. When transplanting , use a plant starter fertilizer to get them rooted in well. Use Osmocote for pots and beds as a timed-release food that will last 2-4 months. If you want blooms to stay spectacular through the season, use a water soluble fertilizer as well.

Our first heat wave of the summer was relatively short, but, Maryland being Maryland certainly has more hot weather ahead for us. Enjoy your summer!

Frequently Asked Questions About Our Garden Center

Valley View Farms FAQs

Does Valley View Farms provide soil tests?

Yes, we do. Soil testing is a free service available in our garden shop.  Bring in a coffee can sample of soil taken from the surface down to about 6 “. We will test it while you wait or shop, to determine the pH of your soil. Optimum pH levels differ for various plants. Our staff will make recommendations based on the results, suggesting soil amendments as needed.

Soil tests and plant diagnosis in our garden shop

 What hot peppers do you carry?

Valley View Farms carries over 35 peppers, with about 20 hot peppers in the mix, including some of the hottest peppers in the world. Ancho, Big Jim, Cayenne, Cherry Red Hot, Cubanelle, Garden Salsa, Hot Portugal, Hungarian Yellow Wax, Jalapeno, Pepperoncini, Serrano, Super Chili, Tabasco, and Thai Hot can be found in our pepper aisle from mid-April through May. In addition, we have Trinidad Hot Peppers including Chocolate Congo, Purple Coffee, Orange Explosion, Red Trinidad, Yellow Trinidad and Scorpion. We also carry both the Red and Yellow Ghost Peppers. All of our peppers are grown from seed in our own greenhouses in Hydes, MD and shipped daily to our store.

One of our Trinidad pepper plants out in the garden

 

What rose varieties do you carry?

Valley View Farms’ roses arrive in mid-April. We carry over 100 varieties. We won’t attempt to list each and every one. We do carry hybrid tea, floribunda, multiflora, miniature, climbing and shrub roses. David Austin, the popular Knockout, Drift, Star and Weeks are some of the brand names available in our nursery. Our buyer, Alan Thomson, seeks out the best growers in our region to sell in our nursery.

Do you sell fish and pond supplies?

Yes. We added our water garden department over 20 years ago. Stop in to see pond liners, pumps, filtration systems, fish, tadpoles, water lilies, marginal plants and everything you need to create a pond in your landscape. Our staff, including manager Tim McQuaid, is very knowledgeable. They would love to share their expertise with water garden enthusiasts. Check with them for pond services as well, including cleaning and installation.


Koi and other fish are available Spring, Summer and Fall

 

Display pond in our water garden area

What tools do you have to identify plant disease and insect problems?

We have a microscope attached to a computer monitor that allows our customers and our garden shop staff the ability to see problem pests and diseases up close. Our staff is trained in many Integrated Pest Management practices and is able to provide accurate information to keep your garden healthy. Stop by and talk with Brian Brannan, Ryan Gilmore, Scott Anderson, and other personnel for any questions you may have.

Ryan using microscope to diagnose plant problem

 

What perennials are best suited for Central Maryland?

Our perennial manager, Andy Shelley, goes to area perennial growers every week to identify the best plants for our gardens. With over a thousand choices, our perennial sales people and our signs will help gardeners decide which plants are best for their particular location. Scores of Hostas, Ferns, Astilbes, Heucheras, and other plants are available for shady spots. Echinaceas, Lilies, Peonies, Iris, Ornamental Grasses and other sun-loving plants are also displayed. In addition, rock garden, groundcover and other specialty perennials are featured in our perennial department.

Rudbeckia fulgida

 

What plants and flowers are best for attracting butterflies?

Butterflies are attracted to two types of plants, those that they use as host plants and others that are attractive because of their nectar. We have a wonderful handout naming many of the annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs that fill this gardening niche. In addition, we have put a butterfly garden in our water garden area. Asclepias, Lantana, Pentas, Echinacea, Parsley, Agastache, Butterfly Bush and many, many other plants are attractive to butterflies. In addition to our handout, Valley View Farms has a butterfly icon on the many annual, perennial, herb and tree and shrub signs that are located throughout our 10 acre property.

Do you sell native plants?

Yes. Our native plants are displayed with other ornamental perennials, trees and shrubs. We use the United States Department of Fish and Wildlife Habitat and Conservation, Chesapeake Bay Watershed   list as our guide. A copy of the list is located in our perennial sales area. It is also available to download at www.nps.gov/plants/pubs/chesapeake

Which tomato plant do I choose?

Good question! With over three dozen varieties to choose from, making a decision to choose just one is tough. We carry old standards like Rutgers and Big Boy, our all-round favorite, Celebrity, Cherry, Grape, Plum, Pineapple and Plum types, and lots of heirloom varieties. Some do fantastic in pots, others do best in the garden.  Let us help you choose the one (bet you can’t pick just one!), that will have the best taste, performance, disease resistance or any other characteristic you’re looking for.


Our staff learns from the master---Billy Foard in his tomato garden

I love to entertain. Do you carry outdoor furniture?

Yes. Stop inside our store and see our patio department. John Hessler purchases deep bench seating, bistro sets, large dining table and chair sets, garden benches, hammocks, umbrellas, and accessories. Relatively new is the conversation table with a propane fire pit, great for entertaining outside in the evening. John has a large number of cushions, colors and styles available and can also custom order for our customers.

When does your fabulous Christmas Shop open?

Our Christmas Shop is usually completed by mid-October. We start putting it up in late August, decorating each of the over 100 trees.  Customers are welcome to browse through the shop as we are setting it up.

Donna Steele talks about the Christmas Shop with WBAL TV

 

 

The Baltimore Sun Article on Impatiens

Susan Reimer, Baltimore Sun columnist, wrote a great article on what garden centers and gardeners can expect to find in lieu of impatiens this season. Click on the link to learn more about the Downey Mildew that has affected this most popular shade annual.

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2013-03-20/features/bs-ae-impatiens-mildew-20130320_1_impatiens-margery-daughtrey-garden-centers

New Guinea Impatiens will replace regular impatiens in gardens throughout the mid-Atlantic. Here they are growing in shade at Penn State's Landisville Plant Trials

Impatiens Update





Many varieties of begonias will be substituted for impatiens in gardens throughout our region

The New York Times joined The Baltimore Sun and other major newspapers by running a column
devoted to Impatiens Downey Mildew. In the article, our own Ruth Engel is quoted, talking about our best selling shade plant. The article goes on to offer alternatives for impatiens. Click on the link below to read the article.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/18/garden/a-mold-devastates-impatiens.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&

As we ready ourselves for our busiest month of plant sales, our staff is putting together displays, handouts and signs to help gardeners make good, sound choices for shady plants. And, I readily admit that is has been fun to look at all the different annuals, perennials, tropicals and houseplants that have stepped up to the limelight. We are going to see some awesome gardens and container plantings this spring!