Winter 2012 at 3am Growers
"The beauty of winter ... is that it makes you appreciate spring.” ~L. M. Montgomery.
This is exactly how most people feel about the next few months. However…these people should take a moment and look around at the exquisite landscape and wonderful family times which are only found in the Winter.
Let’s consider the Holly, for example. What beauty these evergreen shrubs have in the Winter. It’s during this time of the year in which the evergreens get to shine. The various shades of green in Hollies make an excellent backdrop for the vibrant red berries they produce.
Above is one of several varieties of beautiful Hollies we grow
here at 3am Growers.
The word Holly also reminds me of the word holiday. So we at 3am Growers hope you have a Happy and Prosperous New Year.
“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.” ~ Edith Sitwell
|
|
|
|
Acer palmatum- Red Japanese Maple
Offers striking reddish-purple leaves in Spring and Fall with green leaves in the Summer. It is an amazing ornamental tree, highly sought after for landscape design as a focal point. They can be single-stemmed (standard) or multi-trunked. They grow to 15€™ to 25€™ with a 20€™ spread. Plants flourish in zones 5-8. Fall coloration reverts to the predominant reddish-purple which really stands out as an attention grabber.
|
|
|
|
|
Acer palmatum - Green Japanese Maple
These are another one of the
most sought after trees in
the landscape. The standard
green variety tends to be an
upright grower. They are
much more tolerant of heat
and are a good choice for
southern gardens. The fall
leaf color is a stunning
mixture of yellows, oranges,
and reds. As with the above
red variety, the green also
grows to 15€™-20€™ with a
spread of 15€™-25€™.
|
|
|
|
|
Acer rubrum - October Glory
A deciduous, native tree of Missouri that typically grows 40-60€™ tall with a rounded to oval crown. It grows well in drier, rocky upland areas. It is a female cultivar that is noted for its exceptional fall color. Red flowers appear in early spring before the foliage emerges. These give way to red-tinged samaras 1 1/2€ long. Glossy dark green leaves with red stems that retain good green color well into fall. Orange to red fall color for this cultivar is brilliant in most years.
|
|
|
|
|
Acer buergerianium - Trident Maple
It is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree that can reach a height of 20 m. The leaves are hard, glossy dark green above, paler below, usually with three lobes. The small yellow-green flowers are produced in pendulous corymbs in spring. The fruit is a samara with two winged seeds. It is widely grown in temperate regions and as with other maples, fall coloration can be vibrant and varied depending on conditions and the area.
|
|
|
|
|
Gingko biloba - Gingko Tree
Ginkgos are large trees that can reach a height of 50 m (164 feet). They have an angular crown with long, somewhat erratic branches, and are usually deep rooted and resistant to wind and snow damage. Young trees are often tall and slender, and sparsely branched with the crown becoming broader as the tree ages. During autumn, the leaves turn a bright yellow, then fall, within a short space of time. A combination of resistance to disease, insect-resistant wood and the ability to form aerial roots and sprouts makes ginkgos long-lived, with some specimens claimed to be more than 2,500 years old. It also is a relatively shade-intolerant species.
|
|
|
|
|
Pistacia chinensis - Chinese Pistache
Pistache are a small to medium-sized deciduous tree of the cashew family and native to central and western China. It can withstand harsh conditions and poor quality soils and can grow up to 25 m. It is dioecious, with separate male and female plants. In many temperate areas worldwide they are planted as a street tree due to its attractive fruit and autumn foliage. They grow best in full sun, being intolerant of shade.
|
|
|
|
|
Quercus macrocarpa - Bur oak
Bur Oaks are a large deciduous tree growing up to 30 m in height and can have a massive trunk diameter of up to 3 m. It is a slow-growing oak and can live up to 400 years. The bark is a medium gray and somewhat rugged. The acorns are very large (2 in long and 1.5 in broad) with a large cup that wraps most of the way around the nut and has large overlapping scales and often a fringe at the edge of the cup. Fall coloration, like most oak trees, is vibrant and multicolored with varying bright reds, yellows, oranges, and browns.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Click here to view more flowering trees and shrubs in our seasonal inventory.
|
|
|
|
|
