Hallson Gardens

This is the year for the snake in Michigan's UP. The Garter snakes are everywhere, no frogs, and no big toads. This big guy lives in my stone wall and comes out daily so lurk in my Stillettos. The Hostas are big clumps. I have seen one even bigger but I didn't have my camera, that one was as big as ...

Not for the daylilies - but for some reason the San Souci website for Irises still shows up even though the last record I have was from 2005 or so. This is the link to his 2004 stock which I hope still stays live in the ether until all those Siberians and Japanese bloom next year so I can use it for...

Thanks Chris! I moved these to Michigan with all my other seedlings that I liked + a Liberty and 2 other giant greens that have names that I no longer know. We are probably leaving MD for FL so my MI hostas will be my only ones. It will be nice to follow these two and see what they do.

Last year our Master Gardener gang was allowed access to the old San Souci iris nursery before it was brush hogged. The proprietor passed away and the people that bought the farm mowed the paths but let the beds fill with weeds. The last day after digging NOID Siberians and Japanese for 3 days in Oc...

I have grown out a lot of seedlings in spare places in our wooded garden because I have found they look like nothing as babies but seem to change at year 2. This is a Komodo seedling that developed cut leaves that didn't show last year. I also have a small glossy green spear shaped leafed cut leaf b...

I would agree with hydrangeas - especially when you need privacy cover. They do that really well. If you want some more structure, height and flowers, Kolkwitizia is nice too. It grows pretty quickly and is easy care, a pruning every few years to increase blooming. Bloom length is dependent on heat ...

I used to use Miracle Grow Moisture Control potting mix. I had potted a bunch of plants in the fall for our spring plant sale a couple of years ago. After I had done many of them with the MC mix I asked a fellow MG about overwintering plants. She said the worst thing for plants overwintered in pots ...

Sorry for late reply to your question. Yes they can infect your other irises but it seems like the treatment that did may have stopped infestation from your new plants but you will have to be vigilant in the spring and make sure you do a good fall cleanup. This bulletin has a lot of good information...

Thank you! I appreciate all of your feedback for my new garden!

I used to have a grand path that was skirted by huge Abby's that are probably 12 years old. When we returned from Michigan I noticed that 2 were missing along that path. The area is a recipe for vole damage because we have pavers, mulch and a low growing carex that provides shelter for the voles. Th...

I am giving up growing hostas in MD. The deer herd in our neighborhood is so large and the fact that we leave our place for the summer is a recipe for hosta disaster even if they are sprayed regularly. What the deer don't get the voles do. I have prepared a bed about 12' X 15' at our place in Michig...

Our property is 4 acres but I only have about a 1/2 acre that is planted. Fencing is prohibitively expensive and doesn't do a lot to knock down Lyme ticks since they come in with birds and mice too. It would save the plants from the deer. At our Ag Center where the Master Gardeners have a demo garde...

The deer just move into the property since we are gone all summer. We have a fellow that comes in and waters and mows once a week but that means the deer have a quiet, secluded home to hang out all day every day. I hired an young man to come in and spray DeerOut and Liquid Fence once a week and boug...

Boops, got them all done about a week ago - it was a major project. I have been away from this site for a week because we were in transit back to MD. I have a lot of work to do here now that I am home. I was sad to see almost all my hostas chomped by the deer but saddest was my loss of Korean Snow t...

I thought I would share this photo of the row of Stilettos in bloom. Things bloom late up here in the UP of MI but these guys are stunning. I had no idea when I put this border in that it would compliment the perovskia behind the wall blooming at the same time. Their color is much prettier than in t...

Thanks Chris for the ID. I am sure it is the Robinas that I got from you in 2008. I didn't start keeping invoices as a form of diary until 2009. Thanks for the help on the pot size. The less Pro-Mix I have to buy the better anyway because that cuts into our profits on the sale. Unfortunately they ar...

I have some lovely bright pink oriental lilies that I may have bought from Hallson as I have had them since 2007. I don't have any ID on them, any ideas? They are not quite as bright as this photo but they are very fragrant and are about 5' tall. We are leaving MI for the year and I will be taking t...

Lovely beauties, thanks for sharing them!

Thanks Chris, I have cut them all back. What a job even with the electric hedge trimmer. 45 mature Stellas. Wow. Look at the load of debris that came off from them. it can't go on the regular yard mulch pile either because of the fungus issue so I dumped it out in the woods on a bare spot. We have t...

Thank boops! I will be cutting them back in a couple of days. My irises have brown spots and some of them even looked like they have been flamed on the leaves. The corms are nice and firm and healthy looking but when I dug them a lot of the roots are rotten underneath. I have just finished cutting t...