Spring Newsletter 2013

Country Calendar April 29   Water Hyacinths & Water Lettuce arrive May 11 & 12   Spring in the Country Open House Bring some friends and join us for a Spring Celebration! May 27   Tropical Water Lilies arrive June 12-16   National Hosta Convention Milwaukee, WI We will be CLOSED June 12-16 June 29   Hosta & Dessert Social Mingle with fellow hosta lovers while enjoying dessert in the hosta garden! Bring a named, healthy plant if you’d like to participate in the Hosta Swap (1 pm sharp, no exceptions!). Test your hosta knowledge to win hosta prizes! Biggest hosta leaf contest. See website or call for details. July 10-14   Midwest Regional Hosta Convention Lisle, IL We will be CLOSED July 10-14

Spring is in the Air at In The Country!

2012 was a year of transition here at In The Country, as we settled in to our new location. We are excited about bringing you new and interesting hostas and companion plants for many years to come. We are working on some very exciting things that will develop over the next few years. Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves, though...2013 is here, with no lack of fantastic new hostas, companion plants, and garden art to keep us entertained!

This is Hosta Country!

Who wouldn't want to grow a hosta in their garden that once fetched $3500? Well, you can...and it won't cost anywhere near that much! Hosta 'Humpback Whale' is one of Mildred Seaver's most fabled and unattainable plants (unless you had $3500 to spend). Guess what?! We have the blue giant and it is ready to make a big splash in your garden!

Another fascinating and much talked about plant we think all hostaholics will love is Hosta 'Foxfire Palm Sunday'. The elongated, gold leaves have the most mesmerizing, green, feathered pattern through the center. Totally unique!

Some hostas are nice plants, while a few stand the test of time and become real stars. We feel there are a few that fall into that category this year. Hosta 'Final Victory' is a sport of 'Victory' that forms a large mound of stunning, wide margined foliage. Hosta 'Bridal Falls' is a regal, white edged sport of 'Niagara Falls'. If your garden is getting tight on space, Hosta 'Sunset Grooves' is nice and compact. This sport of the 2013 Hosta of the Year, Hosta 'Rainforest Sunrise', has deep green, cupped leaves with a narrow gold flame through the center. If you want a showstopper, any of these three will do!

If your garden is really pressed for space, never fear! We have a full line up of miniature hostas just for you. Two of our favorites include Hosta 'Church Mouse' – a lively, ruffled sport of 'Blue Mouse Ears' – and Hosta 'Golden Needles', with tiny, gold leaves that are speckled with green; both distinct little plants that are small enough to fit in any garden.

Hosta 'Church Mouse'

Hosta 'Golden Needles'

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Dwarf Conifers

Dwarf conifers add color and life to the garden year around. After a trial run last year, we have increased our selection significantly this year! Picea abies 'Pusch' is a Dwarf Norway Spruce that flaunts small, magenta cones, even at a very young age. The Japanese White Pine, Pinus parviflora 'Tanima no yuki', naturally grows in a random, bonsai-like form and the new growth is variegated in white. A real prize in any conifer collection! Among a few non-conifer miniatures is the tiny, Creeping Willow, Salix lindleyana. Before its leaves emerge, the stubby branches are covered with tiny, red catkins! This just scratches the surface of our selection of these long lived, slow growing treasures.

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Perennials

Among a number of vibrant new Heucheras this year is the “Little Cuties” series of miniature Heucheras. These little guys come in colors ranging from purple to yellow to green and are all fantastically vigorous growers! They add a fun splash of color to a trough garden or mini hosta garden. Epimedium 'Lilafee' is a dainty, but rugged early spring bloomer that is tolerant of dry shade and it's deer resistant. For a needed splash of color in the autumn shade garden try Japanese Anemones with their large white or pink flowers.

For the sunny parts of your garden, we have two new Hardy Hibiscus that will dazzle you with their huge flowers! Hibiscus 'Midnight Marvel' has dark purple foliage and scarlet-red flowers. Hibiscus 'Heartthrob' features the deepest black-red flowers we’ve seen on a hibiscus! Allium 'Millennium' is one of the best Allium hybrids available. The 2” bright purple flowers are held on stout stems in late summer. Iberis 'Little Gem' is a compact new Candytuft that is smothered with snow white flowers in the spring. It is one of several new rock garden gems for 2013.

Water Gardening

The Gecko series of taros (Colocasias) offers bright colored, tropical foliage on compact, vigorous plants. Colocasia ‘Lemon-Lime Gecko’ has yellow and green splashed leaves and Colocasia ‘Red Eyed Gecko’ has yellow leaves with a purple spot in the center of each leaf. In a pond or planted in the garden, these fast growing plants add a dramatic accent to any area.

Fairy Gardens The popular trend of miniature gardens shows no sign of burning out! We are very excited about a fun and funky new line of miniature accessories that are awash with bright, flashy colors, but have a touch of rusticness to them. You'll also love all the adorable little creatures that will be right at home in your fairy garden.

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Succulents

Oh, boy...did we go a little overboard on succulents this year! Fuzzy, bumpy, variegated...they are just too darn cool...and easy to grow...to pass up. The Figuereidoi Kalanchoe has striking, burgundy striped leaves that add a wild, bold pattern to any succulent combo. Mini Me Jelly Bean Sedum is a dense pile of bright green, half inch jelly bean leaves and the Undulated Jade is a lively twist to an old standby, with its ruffled and wavy leaves. After many requests, we have beefed up our selection of hardy succulents and are excited to be growing the new Sunsparkler series of hardy sedum hybrids. Succulents make ideal plants for memorial planters. They will dress up your loved one’s headstone all summer long, with little worry about frequent watering! Plant your own planter or choose from one of ours.

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Gifts & More

Whether for your garden or as a gift for a friend, the gift shop is filled with fun and unique garden themed gifts and décor. Char's endless creativity is back with her new Tree-Drop Bead Chains and super cute Insulator Bugs. Mischievous, but lovable Garden Gnomes have been playing hide and seek in the shop. They would really love to explore your garden! Add some whimsy to your garden with a Rustic Metal Garden Angel or a Giant Wire Sphere. So many cool things, so little space to tell you about them all!

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