“In June, as many as a dozen species may burst their buds on a single day. No man can heed all of these anniversaries; no man can ignore all of them.” - Aldo Leopold Summer is finally here! Take advantage of every minute outside in the beautiful weather! Hopefully this list…

With so many colorful flowering shrubs and perennials available today it’s easy to overlook the simple beauty of the color green. On more than one occasion I’ve actually had a client say to me, “green is not a color”. It seems Kermit the Frog said it best when he crooned,…

In case you haven't heard... Avant Gardening and Landscaping is having a plant sale! CLICK HERE to download and print off your $5 OFF coupon! :) This post will focus on a few of the more unique shrub choices we have available for purchase – they look excellent in our nursery…

Welcome fellow plant geeks! Looking for a unique plant that your neighbors probably don't have?! Sweetshrub is a great deciduous shrub with a slowly suckering habit that is tolerant of a wide range of soil, water and light conditions. The common names of this plant come from the fragrant flowers,…

Avant Gardening and Landscaping is having a plant sale! The next couple of blogs will be relating to our nursery to expand your knowledge and interest in our plants. In this post you will learn about what separates Avant's nursery from other nurseries by finding out more about our growing methods.…

Switchgrass (Panicum spp.) vs. Maidenhair Grass (Miscanthus spp.) With large plumes of fluffy seed heads, this grass’s seed (when viable) is easily picked up by the wind and spread far distances. Since its introduction in the late 19th century, large stands of the species of this grass (not ornamental cultivars) have self-seeded…

April Garden Checklist  A gush of bird-song, a patter of dew, A cloud, and a rainbow's warning, Suddenly sunshine and perfect blue - An April day, in the morning. -Harriet Prescott Spofford April brings gardens bursting into bloom and it can make us gardeners quite excited and antsy to get outside! What…

Melting ice and spring bulbs mean it is time to start your pond. While you may be tempted to start feeding your fish as soon as the ice melts, fish cannot properly digest food when the water temperature is below 60. Bacteria and aquatic plants do not thrive until the…

Vernal Witchhazel is a small, horizontally spreading tree or large shrub depending on who you ask! The unusual features of the witch hazel family make it an excellent choice for adventurous gardeners. Witch hazel offers yellow and red fragrant flowers blooming at unconventional times. Most species are hardy, low-maintenance, and generally…

Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants Many of the once ‘beloved’ ornamental horticulture plants are beginning to take advantage of our admiration for them… Recent studies have found that these plants are escaping from our well-manicured flower beds and reverting to their rebellious ways, scattering themselves throughout our natural ecosystems and…