When spring arrives, everyone is excited to get out, and into the garden. Running to the garden center (big box store?) we are drawn to what we see in flower, and tend to ignore the green mounds of foliage not yet showing color. It should not be a surprise then, that many gardens lack mid-summer color, yes, the purple coneflowers and the daylilies (especially the orange ditch lilies) are abundant, but beyond that? A mid-summer visit to a garden center is a great way to find plants that will add interest to the landscape, and ones that have display gardens are even better. Northwind Perennial Farm in Burlington, Wisconsin is just such a place – great display gardens showcasing the plants that they have for sale. Take a look at the slide show below to see a sampling of what awaits your visit. (Drag mouse pointer over picture for description)
Northwind Perennial Farm
Northwind Perennial Farm was established on an old dairy farm in Burlington, Wisconsin
Molinia caerulea
Moor Grass 'Paul Pederson' is a mid-height grass with a fountain of foliage 24 inches wide and high, 30+ inches high in flower. Place in full sun and well drained soil.
Northern Sea Oats
Chasmanthium latifolium, Sea Oats are best in large or small groupings rather than single specimens. It prefers some shade but does well even in full sun. Can self-seed in the garden.
Northwind Display Garden
Roy Diblik has installed a display garden which showcases the plants that are for sale at the nursery.
Northwind Display Garden
The display gardens are a great way of seeing what is in bloom at different times of the year.
Northwind Display Garden
This Kalimeris incisa 'Blue Star' is grouped with blue Salvia nemorosa
Display Garden Tour
Tours of the display gardens are conducted daily. Here, Sherilyn is discussing a plant that Roy is experimenting with in the garden.
Palm Sedge
Carex muskegumensis is planted at the entrance to the garden along with one of the False Indigos (Baptisia sp.)
Northwind Display Garden
Art is peppered throughout the garden, most created by the owners of the nursery. Here, Seslaria Autumnalis, Autumn Moor Grass shows off its bright green leaves planted with salvias and Allium schoenoprasum 'Forescate' (past flower)
Salvia 'Wesuve'
Salvia can be cut back for a second bloom, and a less floppy plant. This may be the second flowering for this May bloomer.
Nepeta 'Cool Cat'
I haven't seen this plant before, but the blue flowers are great. 18 to 24 inches high in full sun and well drained soil
Nepeta 'Cool Cat'
I haven't seen this plant before, but the blue flowers are great. 18 to 24 inches high in full sun and well drained soil
Tufted Hair Grass
Descampsia caespitosa 'Goldtau' is a shorter grass at 16 inches. Plant in sun to part shade and prefers some soil moisture.
Northwind Display Garden
Co-owner Steve Coster build the dry-laid stone pyramid in the garden. Roy installed a gravel garden around it. Allium shortii is in the foreground.
Northwind Display Garden
The gravel garden consists of 4 to 5 inches of quartzite chips over topsoil. This reduces weeding and conserves soil moisture.
Amsonia 'Blue Ice'
This amsonia will get about 2 feet in height and spread. Clusters of small blue flowers in June, will golden fall leaf color
Northwind Display Garden
Stachys monieri 'Hummelo' is a Piet Oudolf introduction, and is name for his town in the Netherlands. At 18 inches in height, is has a long lasting, pinkish purple, early to midsummer blooms
Molinia caerulea 'Heidebraut'
This Moor Grass 24 inch mounded grass can reach nearly 4 feet in height when in flower in August. Full sun to part shade.
Northwind Display Garden
Some of the mix of plants in the gravel garden.
Northwind Display Garden
Prairie Dropseed Grass (Sporobolis heterolepis) with Purple Prairie Clover (Dalea purpures) in flower.
Northwind Display Garden
The water feature runs through the north end of the display garden.
Northwind Display Garden
Architectural salvage as garden art
Northwind Display Garden
New grape planting with artistic support structure
Northwind Display Garden
New grape planting with artistic support structure
Northwind Display Garden
Some fragrant Field Milkweed (Asclepias syriacus) flowering next to one of the many farm buildings
Northwind Display Garden
This sedge, Carex glauca, is used as a groundcover under the shade of a dogwood tree
Northwind Display Garden
A stone wall built by Co-owner Steve Coster
Northwind Display Garden
Art in the shade garden - a small shed made into a garden sanctuary.
Northwind Display Garden
A Prenanthes (I think)
Northwind Display Garden
A Prenanthes (I think)
Northwind Display Garden
More carex glauca. Here with geranium and hosta.
Northwind Display Garden
Carex glauca
Some more "found" art displayed
A shady retreat from the hot sun
Yellow Indigo
Baptisia sphaerocarpa in seed
New drainage
A dry creek was built by co-ownwer Steve Coster to take runoff from the parking area
New drainage
A dry creek was built by co-ownwer Steve Coster to take runoff from the parking area
Art in the garden
Another use of found art
Art in the garden
Garden fencing and granite cobbles
Art in the garden
An old barn vent
Squatters?
Not sure what's going on here.
Art in the garden
Created out of cast off architectural house gingerbread
Farm critters
Kid friendly farm animals at the nursery.
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis, Buttonbush can grow into a small tree, or a large shrub of 12 feet in height. Naturally occurs in wet soils, but would probably tolerate typical garden soil.
Buttonbush
The flowers are amazingly cool .. perfectly round, white puffs
The retail yard
Trays with plants that will work well together in the garden.
