The 7 Best Botanical Gardens to Visit in the Midwest

Houseplants, porch planters, and greenhouse potted plants are fantastically space-saving alternatives for many of us without the extra garden and landscape space! While for others, these containerized plants bring new dimension, height, and beauty to our landscapes by elevating plants and extending our enjoyment of these green leafy ‘plant pets’ both indoors and out! Allowing us to keep our green thumbs throughout the winter months! One important aspect of Container Gardening and growing plants in pots is knowing when it's time to divide and repot your plants! Know the Signs When to Go Up a Pot Size When It's Time for a Soil Refresh When to Completely Change Out the Soil Best Repotting Methods Tips & Tricks Happy Potted Plants! Know the Signs There are many reasons why you might wish to repot your plant. From decorative reasons to pure necessity, transferring a plant from one container to another is very simple and easy to do! Regular moisture and regular fertilizer applications can only do so much to sustain a plant that has its roots enclosed in a closed-environment that doesn’t benefit from natural composting and soil recycling cycles that in-ground plants benefit from! You’ll enjoy happier healthier plants when you regularly repot container plants at least every 12-18 months to refresh the soil and nutritional components and moisture-retaining properties of your potted plant. It’s been 1-2 years since the plant was repotted The plant seems to dry out very quickly between waterings You can physically lift the plant out of the pot and see more roots than soil You see roots poking out through the drainage holes When repotting a plant into a new pot or container You are transplanting a new plant from its nursery container The soil in the old pot is old or was overly soggy and the roots began to rot Your plant has outgrown its current home Leaves are not as green, or are yellowing/falling off while still green Water runs straight through and doesn’t seem to absorb at all along the way Your plant has circling roots at the bottom Your plant just isn’t putting on any new growth or blooming as well as it can You see crusty salt/calcium/hard water build up on the soil surface or around the inside rim of the pot Soil only holds so many nutrients and organic matter in the soil gets used by your plant over time and plants naturally grow and expand both above ground and below! When to Go Up a Pot Size You can tell your plant is due for a container size upgrade when the top looks disproportionately larger than the bottom, is top heavy (double to three times as large as its pot), has yellowing leaves or the foliage is wilting quicker between waterings. You can also tell it's time to upgrade when you can pull the plant free of its pot and see more roots than soil, conforming to the shape of the planter they just came out of! It’s important to remember when repotting for size increases to only go up one planter size at a time for small plants (4-inch to 6-inch pot for example) or two sizes for much larger plants and fast-growing plant types. Going up too large too fast leaves those roots surrounded by soil that can hold too much moisture and begin rotting or suffocating them in an anaerobic location. Alternatively, not going up large enough will have those roots running out of room quickly and have you back in the same situation as before in a hurry. When It's Time for a Soil Refresh Plant roots dissolve the nutrients in the soil and absorb what they need as the organic matter breaks down. In nature, these nutrients are replenished by the soil cycle and natural processes going on under your feet. But container plants, especially blooming plants, use up their finite resources quickly and with the absence of newly added organic matter from leaves and microorganisms breaking things down, they run out of nutrients fast to support themselves. At least yearly, it's important to give it a fresh boost of quality soil, stir in some compost, or completely change out its potting medium to give it the environment those roots need to support growth and flowering. You can tell it's time because those flowers just won’t be as numerous or as large as they used to be. Growth just isn’t as vigorous, and the leaf color is no longer as vibrant. When to Completely Change Out the Soil Plants use different amounts of water throughout the year and plants need good drainage to have happy roots. Soggy, poor quality, contaminated, or changes in drainage (blocked drainage holes, changes in soil quality) can result in plant roots sitting in water and therefore rotting. Overly wet soil has less oxygen and air, literally suffocating them! Maybe the pot got left out in a rain storm and saturated the soil, or maybe you weren’t paying attention the last time you watered your houseplants, but regardless of the reason, you now have a dirt soup that will kill the roots. You’ll notice leaves falling off while still green, the plant wilting even though you just watered it, leaves turning yellow, and you may notice a distinct rotting smell from the soil. It’s time for a complete soil refresh! Best Repotting Methods It’s important to be careful with plant root systems when repotting and planting, they are how most plants get all their water, anchorage in the soil, and take up nutrients. The best way to repot your plants, large or small, indoors or out, is all pretty simple and straightforward. 1. Gather a pot or planter that is one size larger than the current pot. Ensure it has great drainage and a tray large enough to catch any water that drains. Avoid using gravel in the bottom of the pot as these can actually block the drainage holes and not allow excess moisture to escape! A good dribble tray is all you need. 2. Prepare a work surface to protect it from soil and water damage and gather tools: Box Cutter, Scissors, or Garden knife New soil or potting medium Trowel or another suitable tool Garden fork Garden gloves - its a bit messy on the manicure Nature Hills Root Booster (optional) A water source 3. Lay your plant down on its side on the prepared work area. Gently pry your plant free of its container, you may need to run a knife or thin, long utensil around to dislodge stubborn roots from the inside of the pot. Sometimes gently tapping on the outside of the pot all around helps dislodge it. Remove the root ball as intact as possible and inspect it for circling/girdling roots 4. Gently remove loose old soil from around the root ball and fluff up the root system slightly. Root washing is a common method of removing old soil. Soak the root ball if the plant is very dehydrated or encrusted in hard water, clay, or other caked-on debris. Using a sharp knife or garden spade, slice off about 2 inches of any circling roots from the bottom. Cut away or remove any rotten, dead, or dying roots and plant matter. If you are dividing your plant at this time, use a sharp spade or knife to cut it into even sections. Division is recommended for many plants every 3-5 years, or whenever they are outgrowing their containers. 5. Add a few inches of sterile potting mix into the bottom of your new container and situate the plant's roots onto it, centering it as best as possible. Backfill with the new potting mix, gently tamping down as you go to ensure there are no excessively large air pockets and settling. Ensure the top of your root system is situated at the same depth as it was previously! Too deep and your roots will smother, but too shallow or exposed at the surface, and they will dry out and die back! 6. Water well, ensuring excess moisture runs out of the drainage holes but also that the whole pot has been hydrated. Fill any settling areas with more soil. We recommend the Finger-Test method. Monitor moisture levels carefully and remove drained water so it doesn’t sit in it and end up rotting your fresh soil. Now just baby your plant for a few days by keeping it out of direct sunlight and watching how much moisture it needs while the roots are acclimating to their new environment. Some plants are sensitive to changes and you may see some additional leaf drop, or leaf yellowing as they adjust. Tips & Tricks Optional additions to your soil can include: Adding a slow-release fertilizer (not liquid or granular fertilizers that are instantly available because they may shock the roots). Dusting the root ball with Nature Hills Root Booster to help them better get over any planting shock, increase feeder root formation, and foster a life-long symbiotic relationship between mycorrhizal fungi and your plant. This formula improves micronutrient and water absorption too!  Plants that spend a lot of time outside in the heat and sun appreciate a layer of mulch or florist moss over the surface. This not only enhances the look of your planting and dresses them up, but acts as a barrier to stop moisture evaporation and keeps roots cooler. For outdoor plants in the sun and heat appreciate having some Vermiculite, Sphagnum (peat) moss, or Coconut coir mixed into the soil to help hold in moisture more consistently. You can also add a special moisture-absorbing product known as water gel crystals or water-absorbing crystals (similar to what is in babies' diapers) that absorb excess moisture and then release it slowly as the soil around them dries out. This helps reduce the frequency you need to be outdoors watering. For plants that need especially good drainage, such as Orchids, Cactus and Succulents, mixing bark chips, sand, perlite, and even fine gravel into their potting medium can help improve the drainage of a basic potting soil mixture. Happy Potted Plants! Like a fresh pair of new kicks or that first sip of a perfect cup of coffee, a fresh pot of soil is a luxury to a pot-bound plant! Keep your plants happy, and healthy, and keep them blooming vigorously by refreshing their growing medium often! Happy plants make for happy plant parents and beautiful gardens! Keep your container plants happy and healthy with the help of Nature Hills Nursery! Happy Planting!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! The beloved Irish holiday is upon us and what better way to celebrate than with green flowers. Get double the green and double the luck in your landscape this year. Now we can’t guarantee that your landscape will flourish (that’s up to your individual care and nature, of course!) but with the luck of the Irish on your side, who’s to say it won’t!  Here at Nature Hills, we can proudly say that green is our specialty! We’ve taken it upon ourselves to give you five types of green flowers that will leave you tickled pink with your landscape choice. Top 5 Green as St. Patrick’s Day Plants Other Non-Flowering Options Kiss Me I'm Irish! Top 5 Green as St. Patrick’s Day Plants #5 - American Pie® Key Lime Pie Dianthus Growing zones 5-9 Spicy-scented with a pure white flower and curious lime green eye, the American Pie® Key Lime Pie Dianthus takes after its namesake in more ways than one. Highly adaptable to a variety of conditions, this member of the Carnation family is perfect for the diverse weather your area may experience in March.  With multiple application sites to choose from, it’s hard to pick just one. Key Lime Pie Dianthus can be added to planters or throughout garden beds as edging. Trust us, you’ll want to make room for this perennial!  #4 - First Editions® Green Hypericum Growing zones 6-9 Mystical Green indeed! First Editions® Green Hypericum is a small, dense native shrub that will bring happiness into your garden with its small rays of sunshine for blooms. First Editions® Green Hypericum boasts glossy green berries that emerge in late summer and simply scream St. Patty’s Day.  The exfoliating bark and evergreen foliage mark the intriguing winter interest of this hardy shrub. Those hard-to-mow slopes, hillsides, and wooded areas (where four-leaf clovers may hang about) are ideal locations where Green Hypericum can be planted as erosion control or to bridge the transition between your yard and a wooded edge. #3 - Martin’s Spurge Growing zones 6-11 Have you spotted a leprechaun? No, that’s just Martin’s Spurge! With red foliage akin to a leprechaun’s scruffy beard and green foliage similar to their lengthy green coat, we could see why you may have gotten confused. Even the stems of Martin’s Spurge offer visual interest, ranging from yellow to green to red.  Martin’s Spurge is a fascinating perennial to add to your cottage border or perennial garden to give it a modern touch. It’s optimal to grow Martin’s Spurge in an area where it will receive ample amounts of sunlight. Unlike leprechauns which are solitary creatures, Martin’s Spurge prefers to be grown in groups.  Beware! You may attract more than just pollinators i.e. fairy friends by planting this alluring flowering variety.  #2 - Green Jewel Coneflower Growing zones 3-8 No need to chase the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow when you have this prized perennial planted in your garden. The Green Jewel Coneflower features a large green center cone with long-lasting lime green petals that stem out from the middle and a sturdy, leafy green stem, offering not just double but triple the green color.  Opt for deadheading the spent flowers to encourage new growth and improve overall appearance. With its tantalizing scent and dried seed heads materializing in the winter, the Green Jewel Coneflower will draw beneficial pollinators from all over, right to your yard!  Pro Plant Tip - About every four years, you may divide clumps when they become overcrowded and enjoy doubling plants for you or a friend!  #1 - Invincibelle Limetta® Hydrangea Growing zones 3-8 She’s beauty and she’s grace; she’s the Invincibelle Limetta® Hydrangea! You can never go wrong with a hydrangea, especially one like the Invincibelle Limetta®. It has been carefully field-tested and maintains very reliable performance year after year. The Invincibelle Limetta® Hydrangea is as good of a good luck charm as a four leaf clover!  This shrub is smaller in size but no less than wonderful in appearance. Its lime green blooms emerge in early summer and age to jade green in the fall, offering two seasons of visual interest. The Invincibelle Limetta loves its fair share of the sun. Just be sure not to plant in full shade or it will develop thin stems that won’t be able to support the large flower heads.  Other Non-Flowering Options Leprechaun Arborvitae - Year-round greenery, perfect size for privacy and screening around smaller properties.  Green Magic Inkberry Holly - Small, inconspicuous flowers but grown for its beautiful glossy green foliage year round. Ferns - Soft and fluffy green fronds that come back year after year. Boxwoods - Grown for their beautiful small rounded evergreen foliage year-round, a classic staple in the landscape. Kiss Me I'm Irish! All of these options are fashionable in cut flower arrangements if you plan on giving your Irish prince or princess a lavish display of green to commemorate the holiday. By planting any one of these lush green flowering varieties, you will have a landscape looking like the Emerald Isle in no time!  Happy Planting & Irish Blessings!

Recognized for its superior qualities in China since the 3rd century AD, the era of the Mandarin tree began in China thousands of years ago, but the tree first came to the U.S. in the 1840s when an Italian consul brought one to New Orleans! From there, the exotic Citrus tree spread through the southern states and California. The fruit is very popular today for its easy peeling and general lack of seeds! Mandarins have a distinct flavor all their own; it is a Mandarin flavor, which is not an orange. Marketing has played a huge role in bringing to the forefront one of the most wonderful categories of fruit, the Mandarin. With the introduction of bagged Clementine Mandarins under various brands beginning in the mid-2000s, the Mandarin has quickly become recognized for what it is: the world’s finest fruit! In the late 1800s, Mandarin names like the ‘Willow Leaf’, the ‘King’, and the ‘Oneco’ were introduced into the U.S. Then the #1 variety of Mandarin for the next 100 years was the Owari Satsuma and still going strong! Owari arrived around 1876, but in the last 20 years, many new Mandarin varieties have been introduced or have been rediscovered. These newer selections have tremendous qualities that make them standouts as superior fruits, aside from just being Mandarins. With mature, ready-to-produce root systems, hardiness, and improved disease resistance, the Era of the Mandarin is going strong! All About Mandarin Orange Trees Types of Mandarin At Nature Hills! More Mandarins Easy-to-Grow Citrus Trees Where to Plant Mandarin Trees The Era Of The Mandarin Is On! All About Mandarin Orange Trees Mandarin trees produce fragrant blooms, broad-leaved evergreen foliage, and small, sweet Citrus fruits similar to Oranges. The fruit produced by the tree is generally easy to peel and has few to no seeds. The fruit is typically ripe over the winter months.  The Mandarin is sometimes mistakenly called a Tangerine (which is actually just a marketing name for one Mandarin variety). In many varieties, the acidity of the Mandarin is masked by the intense sweetness of the fruit mixed with the rich Mandarin flavor. It almost seems like a sub-acid fruit.  Treasured for centuries as a refreshing treat, juicy dessert, used in preserves and canned, while also a healthy snack that kids young and old love! The sections can be eaten fresh or added to salads and other dishes. Typically with more Vitamin A than Oranges but are higher in calories due to the increased sugar content, Mandarin Oranges are good sources of Vitamin C, high in folate, potassium, and thiamin, and are considered a healthy dietary option. Types of Mandarin At Nature Hills! Check out Mandarin Tree information, their care, and the wide variety of Mandarin Oranges available at NatureHills.com! #1 Owari Satsuma The Owari Mandarin has been proven as the most adaptable of all Mandarin varieties and remains that today! It is the most cold-hardy too; tolerating brief dips in temperatures as the mid-to-low-20s. It was immediately identified as being more resistant to disease problems common to other Citrus varieties. Ripening in December, you get a juicy treat just in time for the holidays! Today, Owari remains the most popular variety of Mandarin planted in the home garden. Even if you don’t have a garden, these are fantastic patio-sized container plants! Seedless, easy to peel, and most often the first to ripen, the Owari is hard to beat when you add its cold hardiness, and let’s not forget the great flavor! Owari Satsumas are also the standard canned Mandarin Orange sold in the grocery store and are the most popular and easily recognizable in flavor. #2 Clementine The Clementine Mandarin is a stand-out as the primary variety used for the popular bagged Mandarins introduced in the early 2000s. There are many varieties of Clementine's that ripen at different times allowing commercial growers the opportunity to harvest over a longer period.  For the home garden, the Algerian Clementine is seedless, easy to peel, and harvests between October and January. Right off the tree, the Clementine is a very fine flavorful fruit! #3 California Honey Mandarin Tree The California Honey Mandarin is sweet-scented from top to bottom and has sweet spiced honey flavorful fruit. It consistently ranks as the best-tasting and smelling of all the Mandarin and Tangerine trees available! The fragrant white flowers emerge in late spring and produce delicious fruit which ripens from November through April. Prolific in flower and fruit, these are bushier trees that serve double duty in the landscape as privacy hedgerows and specimen plantings and are also easy to grow in the container garden. #4 Pixie Mandarin Tree The Pixie Mandarin Orange is a fantastic and easy-to-care-for smaller tree with seedless fruit, and the flavor of Pixie Mandarin cannot be overstated! The Pixie is a delight for children, since it's both kid-sized and easy to peel, making it a snack they can easily serve themselves. From the fragrant blooms to the dark, leathery green leaves and upright growth of this exquisite Mandarin variety gives Pixie a rainforest vibe that many growers and passersby appreciate.  Also great for the home orchard and container garden! Pixie ripens in the winter (about early to mid-January) and has a very long hang-time, giving you a longer window to harvest the fruit. One may find themselves picking wonderful flavored Pixie Mandarins into June! #5 Tango Mandarin The #5 favorite spot of Mandarins at Nature Hills is the Tango Mandarin Orange! This seedless and easy-to-peel variety ripens in January and is considered to have the largest Mandarin fruit. Sweet-tart, tangy, and juicy, this vigorous grower also has a long hang time (eat off the tree until April!) and fragrant blooms. Developed for its easy-to-grow nature and deep orange rind, this Citrus tree is great for home orchards, container gardeners, and edible landscaping anywhere in the sun. More Mandarins Here are more of the next generation of the Mandarin Era! These other newer selections are fast becoming popular based only on their exceptional flavor. Varieties such as: W. Murcott Mandarin: Murcott Mandarin Tree, also known as Afourer, is one of the oldest Florida varieties and highly resistant to chill. The fragrant blooms lead to seedless, thin-rinded, bronze-speckled orange fruit that is juicy and easy to peel! Ripe in the autumn and precocious fruiting machines are flavorful container and landscape additions! Kishu Seedless Mandarin:  Compact ornamental size is perfect for growing in containers, Kishu Seedless orange's diminutive fruit size suits indoor trees! The fruit ripens early in the season (November) and is bite-sized, peels with ease, and has a wonderfully sweet, juicy flavor that will keep you eating them like candy! Gold Nugget Mandarin: The Gold Nugget variety leads the pack in flavor, and extended harvest! In many taste tests, it has proven to be one of the highest-rated of all the Mandarin varieties. Coming ripe in mid-February, it is not uncommon to be picking these sweet, bumpy nuggets as late as September. Upright in growth habit makes it a great choice for containers, tight plantings, and Espaliers.  Super Nova: A flavorful, sweet explosion, the Super Nova is a blazing orange fruit that is now poised to rival some other well-known Mandarins, like Cuties and Halos! Completely seedless, these mid-sized Citrus are fantastic in the landscape for shade and specimen trees at 12-15 feet in height and width. Shiranui Mandarin Tree: A topknot variety with a cute button at the top of each round orange orb, the Shiranui Mandarin is intensely sweet and one of the larger-sized trees available at 12-18 feet. You can of course prune this variety smaller to suit your landscape's needs, or try your hand at creating an Espalier specimen tree! Especially tolerant of extreme heat and retaining the family's easy-to-peel and segment fruit, these are internet-famous ‘foodie’ favorites. The semi-seedless fruit themselves match the tree size and one is large enough to share! Dwarf Brown Select: Need a small dwarf-sized Mandarin tree? Then the Dwarf Brown Select Satsuma is your patio tree! Even a bright sunny window year-round will be perfect for this diminutive Citrus! It’s a Mandarin Orange variety with sugary-sweet juicy fruit that's mostly seedless for easy eating. Sudachi: The Sudachi Mandarin is a lime-like Citrus similar to the Yuzu Citron but smaller, juicier and has fewer seeds. Actually a cross between a Mandarin and a Lime, these are primarily used for their sweet-tart juice that has a distinct spicy aroma when used in cooking - like a combination of lime, pepper, dill, and cumin all in one! Especially when harvested and juiced while still green. Page Tangelo: Last but not least, although technically a Tangelo, the Page Mandarin is a Minneola Tangelo crossed with a Clementine Mandarin. The Page needs a mention because of its outstandingly rich flavor! Ripening in December the Page has dependable crops of medium size and has an easy-to-peel, deep orange fruit. If the Mandarin has a flavor unique to Citrus, then the Page Mandarin is quite possibly the most unique of all! Easy-to-Grow Citrus Trees Relatively easy to grow, Mandarin trees need full sun (at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day) and enriched soil with excellent drainage. Preferring soil that is slightly acidic and has regular fertility. Citrus trees do need regular water, but in lower amounts and prefer to dry out slightly between waterings. Soggy soil and poor drainage that rots their roots is the fastest way to kill a Citrus tree. Use a loose, fast-draining soil in containers and ensure the pots have a place for water to drain out of. Mandarins are popular in tropical and subtropical areas, especially in USDA planting zones 8 to 11 because in general, they are tender trees that can be damaged by cold weather. Container gardeners should pot their trees in containers with good drainage and fast-draining soil, then bring their Mandarin trees indoors for the winter or protect them from exposure to frost or prolonged cold. Many people in more northern regions (Growers in USDA hardiness zones 4 to 8) grow citrus trees in pots, making it easier to take advantage of warm summers and then transition indoors when temps plummet. Once you situate your tree, expect a bit of leaf-drop since Citrus don’t like being moved; this is why acclimating your tree gradually indoors each fall, and gradually outdoors each spring is vital! Move your container-grown plant to a more shaded location outdoors for a few weeks before it needs to move indoors. This will acclimate it to a lower light situation and help to reduce the leaf drop after coming inside. Because they typically grow in more humid climates, they do appreciate higher air humidity and despise drafts. If they don’t spend time outdoors where the bees and beneficial insects can help pollinate your tree, then you need to take a soft paint brush and dab at each bloom to spread pollen. Where to Plant Mandarin Trees Mandarin trees have dense foliage, making them a good option for privacy, and property division hedges. The evergreen foliage is glossy and ornamental year-round and the branching and space-saving size of these trees makes them perfect for smaller home landscapes. The white, sometimes pinkish-tinged flowers, are - incredibly - heavenly - divinely - fragrant! Mandarin tree blooms attract pollinators and make a scented focal point for any garden. When mature, the brightly colored fruits of these trees offer gorgeous contrast against the glossy green leaves. Anywhere in the sun in a protected location from frost and wind will be perfect for a Mandarin tree! Use as edible landscaping specimens, porch and patio container garden additions, deck, and terrace shade plants, and even fantastic gift plants! The Era Of The Mandarin Is On! There it is! All the Mandarin varieties to think about when planning to install a Mandarin Citrus tree in your home garden! Mandarin trees can nourish your family and your landscape! Don’t miss out on another crop of delightful Mandarins to enjoy in your garden! Delivered to your doorstep with mature root systems and ready to produce fruit within a few years, from the expert growers at Nature Hills Nursery. Happy Planting!

Pantone has declared their Color of the Year, Viva Magenta 18-1750, “vibrates with vim and vigor!” This pinkish-violet member of the red color family is the new signal of strength! Magenta is about balance and harmony! A combination of the passion, power, and energy of the color red, tempered by the restrained introspection and quiet energy of violet, creates a hue that embodies both! It is said to promote compassion, understanding, kindness, and cooperation, as well as cheerfulness, happiness, and contentment, and conveys appreciation and character! But for the garden, this is a color with some serious wow factor behind it! Check out Nature Hills' favorite plants that were jumping on the Magenta bandwagon before they became the Color of the Year! Top Magenta Plants at Nature Hills! Not quite red, not quite violet, not quite wine, Magenta is a bright color more in step with raspberry, and carmine, with a touch of burgundy! Bring this hot new shade into your landscape with these fantastic plants! Perennials Returning year after year, Perennials bloom their hearts out and are so versatile in the landscape! Usually smaller and space-saving, these easy-to-grow and love plants fill your garden with a rainbow of color choices! But this fantastic Viva Magenta can be found strongest in these plants! There are more Clematis than we can mention in this fantastic color hue! Check them out here! Rocky Road Magenta Creeping Phlox and Magenta Pearl Phlox Moonshadow™ Morello Hardy Hibiscus Purple Poppy Mallow Cat's Eye Tall Bearded Iris Peony Like Purple Sensation Peony, London, and Prince of Darkness! Shrubs Large and small flowering ornamental bushes, these leafy specimens fill themselves with Color of the Year saturated blooms! Black Diamond® Mystic Magenta™ Crape Myrtle Shrub Anah Kruschke Rhododendron Magenta Chiffon® Rose of Sharon Shrub Buzz™ Magenta and Buzz™ Hot Raspberry Butterfly Bushes Spilled Wine® Weigela GreatMyrtle™ Red Velvet Crape Myrtle Shrub Trees Vibrant magenta flowers really show off big time as they bloom on both large and small-scale trees! Eastern Redbud and other Redbud Trees Red Flowering Dogwood Purple Prince Crabapple Galaxy Magnolia Merlot Redbud - both the flowers and foliage are in step with this trend! Roses There are too many Roses to mention individually, but you can find tons of Roses in the Nature Hills inventory that exhibit this amazing hue and combine it with fragrance as well! Ruby Voodoo Rose Be My Baby Miniature Rose Hansa Hybrid Rugosa Rose Sweet Spirit™ Grandiflora Tree Rose Blaze Improved Climbing Rose Fruit Trees & Plants Want to eat this great color? There’s a fruit for that! Purple fruits and vegetables are said to be rich in anthocyanins and red fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants that reduce the risk of developing atherosclerosis, hypertension and high cholesterol. We would like to think that Magenta fruit has the best of both worlds! Try a Raspberry Bush like Joan J, or Polka Strawberry Plants like Sparkle or Berried Treasure®  Bite into an Elephant Heart or Showtime Plum! Try an Arkansas Black Apple or Winecrisp™ Apple Tree Pluck a few Bing or Lapins Cherries too! Live Viva Magenta This 2023! It was in 1858 that Renard Freres Franc mixed aniline with tin chloride and he named it fuchsine, after the Fuchsia flower! Going by purple-mauve, fuchsia, and roseine in the past, this dramatic hue doesn’t back down and embodies strength and resilience! Employ this powerful color onto your landscape and garden as a way to show we’re bouncing back from troubling days and as a reminder that there are brighter ones ahead!  Nature Hills is in love with this fun color and everything it implies! Head over to NatureHills.com to find out more! Happy Planting!

The Cherry traces its history as far back as 3300 BCE. Both the Sweet and the Sour Cherry have been a highly desired part of the human diet for thousands of years. The fresh Sour Cherry pies of Michigan and Wisconsin are always in demand during cherry season. A popular variety for pies is Montmorency Cherry - there is always a huge demand for those pies, and no wonder. They taste amazing! Sour cherries have been used by pie-makers for a very long time, but did you know they are also very healthy as a dried snack? You typically find them in health food stores, or in the organic section of your local grocery store as "Tart Cherries."  Super Fruit Health Benefits of Sour - or Tart - Cherries The tremendous health value of Sour Cherries has been realized as far back as 3000 BCE. Only today are we able to define what that really means. In more recent studies, the term “super fruit” has become associated with the Sour Cherry. This is due to the high antioxidant values the Sour Cherry possesses. It has been shown in studies to have high anti-inflammatory benefits, improve memory, lower the risk of heart disease and colon cancer, and has even been cited as contributing to a good night’s sleep. For centuries, the bark of the Sour Cherry has been used as a cough suppressant, prized for its sedative, expectorant, drying and cough control qualities. The fruit of Tart Cherries contains melatonin, and studies show that they may be of benefit to improving sleep duration and in managing sleep disruption. How to Use Sour - or Tart - Cherries The versatile Sour cherry can be cooked, juiced, dried, frozen, eaten fresh or even distilled as the liquors Kirsch and Ratafia. They are included in any number of different preparations including baked goods, pies, preserves, main and side dishes or even for medicinal uses. For example, the sour cherry is paired as a main dish with meat in Persian cuisine or used in the preparation of Sour Cherry Saffron Rice (Polow), a wonderful flavored side dish suited for royalty. The most popular variety for this is the red-fleshed English Morello cherry, though the North Star cherry with its dark red flesh would surly be a good consideration as well.  Sour cherries are delicious, and can be dried in a dehydrator. These dried fruits really improve the flavor complexity of a trail mix blend.  Sour Cherries Are Easy to Grow and Stay Small Sour Cherry varieties are the most adaptable of all cherry types. They are ideally suited to the modern landscape. A full size sweet cherry is often too big and needs pruning to fit into today’s smaller landscapes. The more popular sweet cherry varieties like Bing require a pollinizer, which means another tree. Sour Cherries are all self-fruitful, requiring no extra tree. In addition, the Sour Cherry is a natural dwarf and is often referred to as a bush Cherry because of its low growing canopy. Sour cherries can easily be maintained to below 8 feet with just a little summer pruning. Their value as an edible ornamental shrub is tremendous. The trees develop prolific blooms in the spring, followed by bright ornamental fruit, and a wonderful vase shaped dormant structure. This can readily be achieved with the early season fruiting of the Early Richmond variety of Sour Cherry, long a favorite of American and English gardeners. Growing well in zones 4-9 and newer varieties – like the Romeo and Juliet - are showing promise in zone 3-4. The Nanking Cherry has proven a good choice for zone 2. With this wide range of adaptability and the fruits seemingly unlimited uses, the Sour Cherry stands out as a first consideration for today’s home garden. Happy Planting!