WELCOME:
Welcome to 2003! Another year begins, and we are all looking forward to getting out into our yards again. Due to the early appearance of the cold weather last fall many of us were unable to start some of the projects that we had hoped to get to. But, another spring is coming and we will have a chance to attack our yards with renewed fervor and zest.

If you have not already started to plan for this spring, NOW is definitely the time to pull some ideas together for the look of your yard for this spring and summer! To help you brainstorm and gather some possibilities, we would like to update you on what has been, and will be happening here at Mill Creek Nursery for 2003.

During early February we will be propagating perennials and some woody shrubs. In addition, we have started to pot up young perennial stock in order to allow it to grow and achieve some good size by the time you’re ready to begin work on your yard. We anticipate potting up almost 4,000 perennials and shrubs during the month of February. Some of the offerings Mill Creek will be presenting this spring include:

• 4 different varieties of Peonies in shades of Red, Pink, and White - a Great traditional Old-Fashioned Favorite!
• 4 different varieties of Oriental and Asiatic Ornamental Lilies in White, Red, and hybrid-color mixes!
• Upright, fragrant Garden Phlox in White, Magenta, or Blue!
• Many different varieties of plants for naturalizing native areas throughout your yard!
• Many shade-tolerant perennials including Bergenia, Brunnera, Chelone, Dicentra and some Outstanding Hostas!
• 10 different Ornamental Grass varieties!
• Great selection of Vines including Wisteria, 2 forms of Trumpetcreeper, Elegans Porcelain Vine, and much more!

SHRUB OFFERINGS WILL INCLUDE:

Additionally, for the first time, Mill Creek Nursery will be providing a nice cross-section of unusual annuals that you will want to incorporate in your container plantings, window boxes, planting beds, etc.

These are just some of the “highlights” to be grown and offered at Mill Creek Nursery this spring. Many of these items will be on display in our greenhouse starting in March and will be available for sale starting in early April. If you’d like to come and preview some of these colorful offerings please feel free to call the Nursery (847)   838 - 0501 as the time approaches.

SPRING-TIME PRUNING IN THE LANDSCAPE:
As part of spring preparation in a landscape there is often need to do some dormant pruning. Sometimes winter damage has occurred to trees and shrubs due to snow loads, ice storms, etc. This can also be an excellent time to thin out shrubs that have overgrown their spaces and bring them back into a manageable, neat, clean form. Shrubs will grow better if they are opened up, not growing so thickly in upon themselves. Thinning plants, removing crossing branches and canes, and shaping the tree or shrub for better future growth patterns can make a world of difference in the appearance and health of trees and shrubs. This work can be done at any time now, even before winter ends.

If your schedule does not'’t afford you the time to do this yourself, Mill Creek Nursery can perform these services for you. Please feel free to call the Nursery at (847) 838 - 0501 to make arrangements to help get your trees and shrubs ready for Spring!

LANDSCAPE DESIGN - THE TIME IS NOW:
Even though snow may be flying around our rooftops for the moment, if you have plans for changing or enhancing your landscape this year, the time for planning is NOW! Too often homeowners wait until spring is busting out all over - in everyone else’s yard.

Many of the trees and shrubs incorporated in a good landscape design are spring flowering in their nature, such as ornamental Crabapples, Dogwoods, Lilacs, Viburnum, etc. By discussing and working out a good design BEFORE spring is actually upon us, homeowners may have an EARLY landscape INSTALLATION and possibly still get to enjoy spring right in their own backyard!

Mill Creek Nursery, in association with Mike Greco Landscape Design, wants to work with you NOW to come up with a design you’ll be sure to enjoy the full year around. With quality, locally grown trees and shrubs that are already accustomed to, and flourishing in our own area, you can be assured of having a beautiful landscape that will last for years to come.

When you’re ready to sit down and discuss how you want your yard’s appearance to be displayed at its best, call Mike Greco Landscaping at (847) 855 - 0590. From the design phase, straight through to a professional installation, Mike Greco and the staff at Mill Creek Nursery will meet, and even exceed your expectations.

And once everything is in place, professional maintenance services are available too. Our Landscape Maintenance Program covers all the plant installation work we have performed, as well as the rejuvenation of existing yards and gardens. Maintenance services we provide include things such as:

SPRING IN-SERVICE "FROM GROUND UP":
Mill Creek Nursery will be offering educational in-services to the public in a form of talks. These will be presented during the last two weekends of March (the 21st & 22nd and 28th & 29th) on Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The title of these presentations will be “From the Ground on up.” The speakers will be Mike Greco, owner of Mill Creek Nursery, and David Sheppard, Mill Creek’s Sr. Grower and Sales Yard Manager. Some of the topics to be discussed will include:

• Soil Preparation and the Importance/Affects of Soil pH levels
• General Care in the Landscape
• Using the right plant for the right location in YOUR Yard
• Sun Plants
• Shade-Tolerant Plants: Perennials Trees & Shrubs
• Plants for tough situations

With the two speakers having almost 50 years of Gardening and Landscape experience combined, these discussions should prove interesting and very informative to all who can find the time to attend. Please call (847) 855 - 0590 to register. Please register as early as possible to insure a spot being saved for you. Coffee, tea, fruit and other refreshments will be served.

As spring and summer approach be sure to look for our weekly Advertisements starting in the month of April in the PIONEER PRESS and THE NEWS SUN as we will be featuring “WEEKLY SPECIALS” that you will definitely want to take advantage of!

Save this coupon for purchases in April & May, more coupons coming in future Newsletters!

If you should have any questions regarding any of these topics, please feel free to stop in at Mill Creek Nursery and ask any of the Sales staff - they’ll be more than happy to help you. Also, please take a moment and stop by our Growing Tips page for more helpful information on plants & gardening.