Thursday, April 19, 2012

‘Trompenburg’ Japanese Maple – Acer Palmatum ‘Trompenburg’

‘Trompenburg’ Japanese Maple – Acer Palmatum ‘Trompenburg’

Zone 5
Grows 18 to 20 ft. tall and wide.
Grow in full sun to part shade.




Very fast growing and more heat tolerant than other Japanese Maples, Trompenburg's red leafstalks, the unique leaf shape and the elegant form make it a must-have specimen. The leaves will darken through the summer and then turn crimson in the fall. This tree benefits from pruning and shaping when it is young, to maximize it’s lovely form.



‘Royal Raindrops’ Crabapple - Malus 'Royal Raindrops'

‘Royal Raindrops’ Crabapple - Malus 'Royal Raindrops'

Zone 4

Grows 25 ft. tall and 15 ft. wide




This new variety of crabapple has it all – disease resistant, fungus and black spot resistant, deep purple summer foliage that turns metallic purple-orange in the autumn. Deep pink flowers in the spring and glossy red berries in the fall through winter. Heat tolerant and drought tolerant too!

“Royal Raindrops’ is an easy and adaptable variety of flowering crabapple that earns its place in your landscape with four seasons of performance.


Thursday, April 12, 2012

Private Garden Tour Sunday April 22nd



Private Garden Tours
Call to Register 845-658-9007

Sunday April 22nd 11am

Nestled at the bottom of a hill, in a lush microclimate, Deb Gray (of Gardenmakers fame and now a part of the Victoria Gardens’ design team) has been cultivating an incredible collection of specimens in her garden for over 30 years (mature Copper Beeches and Japanese Umbrella pines that were once orphans, but Deb rescued and nursed back to heath.)

A custom, rustic wooden pergola straddles the entrance to the garden path and leads to a blue stone patio, full of bird feeders and surrounded by flowering trees. Apple blossoms and magnolia trees fill the patio with fragrance. Spring blooming bulbs and woodland ground covers have naturalized creating large drifts of early spring color.

A Rustic Bear by artist Hoppy Quick stands guard over the woodland garden. He is usually covered in birds, but occasionally the cat perches on his head or shoulders. Meandering blue stone pathway, which have evolved over many years, lead around the house to a spring fed pond.

This is the result of the curiosity, passion and dedication of a very talented garden designer. On the tour you will see unusual plants and happy accidents.

As an interesting contrast, we will also be visiting the extensive gardens of Deb’s longtime client, Arlene Levine.

At the driveway entrance you will be struck by two splashy and spectacular gold and red symmetrical plantings. You will see a mature shrub border with dozens of mature specimens that is truly inspirational.



A beautiful stone patio winds around the house to a scenic pond, surrounded by a mature birch grove. Arlene and Deb have worked together to create a bold and colorful collection of gardens that are as whimsical as they are extensive.

Don’t miss this amazing tour of two private gardens. Reservations necessary - $10 per person.
Call 845-658-9007 to register.

Our next private garden tour is on Sunday May 6th at 11am. We will be visiting three very different gardens in the same creek side neighborhood. One is a hillside garden, one is an enclosed cottage garden, and the third is the stunning garden collection of a talented garden photographer. Then we’ll make a second stop for garden number 4! You will get more ideas and inspiration on this two-hour tour than you would from a stack of garden magazines!

For a full schedule of events, visit our website www.victoriagardens.biz and click on the classes and special events link.

Garden Day, New Varieties Lecture and Slide Show



‘Appalachian’ Red Redbud -
Cercis canadensis ‘Appalachian Red"
Zone 4
Grows 25’ tall and wide


Like all redbuds, ‘Appalachian’ is an understory tree and can tolerate partial shade. In early spring the tight deep pink buds cover the branches of this cold hardy tree, and in mid-spring the buds open into blooms. This flower explosion occurs before any of the burgundy-colored, young foliage appears. The large heart-shaped leaves change to a deep blue-green by summer, and a sunny yellow in the fall.



Come to Garden Day this Saturday and learn about this and other new varieties! Victoria will be giving a lecture with a slide show "New Varieties in Bloom." Every year there are new varieties destined to become old favorites. Let Victoria introduce you to the stunning new "must have" varieties available to brighten your garden this season. The class will include annuals, perennials shrubs and trees.

Saturday April 14th - Garden Day at UCCC

All day event at Ulster County Community College in Stone Ridge. Contact Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County for more information and registration please call (845) 340 3990.

Saturday April 14th - Lecture: New Varieties in Bloom At Garden Day at UCCC

Victoria Coyne from Victoria Gardens will be giving a slideshow lecture - a collection of images displaying the stunning “must have” varieties of 2012. Call (845) 340 3990 to register.


Sunday April 15th - 10am Coffee in the Garden at Victoria Gardens - free

Coffee in the Garden (the first and third Sunday of each month) is a casual gardeners’ open forum. Each week Victoria chooses something new and exciting in the garden to discuss, and is available to answer your questions.

- 11am Class - New Varieties in Bloom- We’re presenting this slideshow lecture at the nursery for those of you who can’t make it to Garden Day at UCCC!

Call 845-658-9007. to register.

Reservations necessary - $5 per person.


Tuesday, April 3, 2012

What's that plant? Rhipsalidopsis a.k.a. Spring Cactus, a.k.a Easter Cactus

Rhipsalidopsis a.k.a. Spring Cactus, a.k.a Easter Cactus LOOKS like the familiar Christmas Cactus a.k.a. Schlumbergera bridgesii, but these two look-a-likes have different bloom times and different requirements.

Keep your Easter Cactus in bright indirect light (so not right on the windowsill - inside the room a couple feet) and dry out in between waterings. Water even less starting in September and let the Rhipsalidopsis go dormant. Begin watering regularly in March and have blooms in time for Easter!

Segmented foliage can be rooted and propagated the same as Christmas Cactus. (p.s. the key to the Christmas Cactus dormant period and subsequent bloom is sunlight not water. Shorter days October through December signal Schlumbergera bridgesii to bloom.)





Also, note the hilarious do not eat symbol on the tag. (Seriously, if your cats eat your plants, pass on this toxic cactus. If your cats eat your plants with a fork and knife, post it on Youtube and send us the link!)

What's that plant? Kalanchoe thyrsiflora 'Red lips'!





Kalanchoe thyrsiflora 'Red lips' is a large leafed succulent (houseplant). Super easy care, dry out soil in between waterings.

So stunning, yet so easy - and everyone will be asking you, "what's that plant?"



What's this wild Plant? Medinilla magnifica!

Medinilla magnifica! This tropical beauty (a.k.a. houseplant) likes partial shade, so don't place it in a southern or eastern facing window. It is an irregular bloomer, which means it can form the pink flowers (actually brachts) multiple times during the year.





For more info check out this website.