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M I L L C R E E
K N U R S E R Y &
G A R D E N C E N T E R
S P R I N G 2 0 0 5 N E W S L E T T E R
It’s time to welcome spring once again as we look forward to another year of buds, blooms, and branches! All of us here at the Nursery are excited to be beginning
Mill Creek’s 14th year of serving you, here in our Wadsworth location. Some of you may remember that the Nursery originally started (in 1991) as nothing more than a series of wooden pallets, upon which all the plants available were set out for sale. At that time there was no sales office, no greenhouses, and no outbuildings - not much to speak of at all. Thanks to all of you, times have certainly changed!
Since that time the Nursery has grown to offer over 50 acres of plants for your selection. In more recent years we have also been potting up approximately 3,000 perennials each spring in our main Greenhouse, as well as several hundred small trees and shrubs in our smaller greenhouses.
Late last summer Mill Creek Nursery expanded its growing area yet again, by taking on additional field space. The new field will be used to grow primarily ornamental tree species such as Serviceberry, Pagoda Dogwoods, Redbuds, and Chanticleer Pear trees grown in the multi-stem (M/S) format.
All of these trees have great multi-season interest to them. They are all very attractive in flower during the spring, have interesting branching habits in their growth style and make wonderful specimen trees. At times, it seems we can’t grow enough of these varieties. Therefore, we are glad to be expanding once again, and look forward to continuing to meet your needs in the future. We are proud of the Nursery‘s growth over the years, and are
very thankful for our Customers’ support!
PLANTS AVAILABLE
FOR SPRING 2005
Every year we like to be able to offer our customers some new varieties of plants to test out in their own yards. Lack of space in this newsletter prohibits us from listing everything we’re growing this year, but let’s at least give you some highlights:
- GRASSES: This year we
have over 12 different varieties of ornamental grasses to choose
from including: Prairie Dropseed, Shenandoah Switchgrass, Heavy
Metal Switchgrass, Bowles Golden Sedge, Little Bluestem and
others!
- CORAL BELLS: We are
currently growing 6 varieties of Heuchera including: Amber Waves,
Gypsy Dancer, Plum Pudding, Petite Pearl Fairy, Black Beauty, and
Raspberry Ice!
- PEONIES: This year we are
offering “Edulis Superba,” a big, bright, bold, rich, double pink
variety, and “Louise Van Houtte,” an equally big, bright, bold rich,
double red flowering form - both of them gorgeous when in bloom!
- THYME: Available in 3
different forms - Creeping Wooly Thyme, Creeping Ruby Glow Thyme (a
dark, intense purple flowering form), and Coccineus, a red flowering
form of Creeping Thyme. Any of these would look great filling in
those small spaces between stones or pavers in a walkway, or a
naturalized planting in a stone wall setting!
From our potted trees and shrubs division we are pleased to
offer the following:
- DWARF SINGLE-STEM ORNAMENTAL TREES:
We are currently growing “Tardiva” Hydrangeas in tree form as
well as Dwarf Korean Lilacs and a Weeping or cascading form of
Artic Blue Leaf Willow. Additionally we will be offering “Inabe
Shidare” Japanese Cut-leaf Maples. These are all GREAT
specimen-quality trees you should consider for your yard!
- OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST:
We will also have Redbud M/S trees beginning at 3’ - 4’,
“Tor” Birchleaf Spirea, Paperbark Maple trees at 8’, “Globosa”
globe-type blue Colorado Spruce, Harry Lauder’s Walkingstick
(Contorted Filbert), and many, many other potted as well as
balled-and-burlapped trees and shrubs!
From our fields this spring we will be digging and offering many
nice shade and ornamental trees:
- PRAIRIEFIRE Crabapples:
In flower they are a bright traffic-stopping fuchsia-magenta in
color. Foliage is an attractive dark purple-green color which
matures to a nice bronze-green during the summer.
- KATSURA TREES: A nice
small to medium sized shade tree with multi-season interest.
Spring foliage emerges a dark bronzy purple and matures to a
nice even blue green color during the summer. Good
yellow-apricot fall color as well!
- AUTUMN BLAZE MAPLES:
Big, beautiful 3” and larger diameter trees available. A tough,
fast growing, medium-sized shade tree with superb fall color
that can easily rival a Sugar Maple - No yard is complete
without one!
All of the above mentioned plants, and so many more, will be waiting for you at
Mill Creek Nursery this spring!
FOR WATER
GARDENING ENTHUSIASTS . . .
Once again this year we will be carrying a nice
selection of potted aquatic plants, for those of you with water
gardens. Last year many of you got a chance to see our new pond and
waterfalls, installed just outside our Sales Office.
This spring’s design/installation highlight will be
a Pond-less Waterfall, installed approximately 30 feet away from
last year’s pond. It’s a great design concept that many people are
unaware of. Mike Greco, our owner and landscape architect of
Mill Creek Nursery, custom
designs and professionally installs these for our customers’. Make
sure you stop and take a look at it when you come out to the Nursery
this spring. You’ll enjoy the relaxing atmosphere it creates and be
surprised at the minimal maintenance it requires. Talk to Michael -
You’ll definitely find room for one in your yard!
COUPONS COMING NEXT MONTH !!!
Be sure to watch for money saving Coupons in our
next issue of the Newsletter, covering the months of June and July!
There will undoubtedly be savings that you won’t want to miss!
THE FUN STUFF
“Men seldom plant trees, until they begin to be wise.”
(John Evelyn,
1664)
I’ve always been
fascinated by the science and lore of trees, and one of them is the
BIRCH. In ancient Rome, the Birch was a symbol of power and
authority. The branches were bound around a central ax, positioned
with the blade exposed, and these powerful bouquets (called fasces)
were carried ahead of Roman processions to alert the populace to the
approach of a V.I.P.
Other cultures have taken a less macho view of the Birch tree. The
American poet James Russell Lowell in his “An Indian Summer Reverie”
mentions ‘. . . the birch, most shy and ladylike of trees . . .’ The
ladylike Birch was chosen as “The Mother Tree of America” by the
American Forestry Association, which in the 1920’s worked up some
publicity by persuading dutiful sons and daughters to plant Birch
trees on Mother’s Day, in honor of their female parents.
The Birch, in general, is a whippy, tough little number suited to
cold climates, higher altitudes and the unseasonable northwoods. It
has a huge growing range, especially the Betula papyrifera (Paperbark
Birch), from Labrador to Virginia in the east, west through Montana
and Washington, north through the Yukon to Alaska, and south to
Nebraska and Ohio.
Birchbark canoes were so strong and flexible, and so respected by
their makers, that they survived most natural disasters. All of the
Birches have a reputation for being springily supple, a trait that
generations of rambunctious youngsters have had cause to regret,
since Birch twigs served as the Schoolmaster’s switches, and the
term ‘Birching’ has meant a thrashing since the 17th century.
Because of its flexibility the Birch has also been used
traditionally for broom-making.
And finally, here at Mill Creek Nursery, we use the River, Whitespire, and Yellow Birch trees for our customer’s gardens, which
bring delight to all, as they are viewed growing in the landscape.
SPRING SALES EVENTS
Starting this spring, Mill
Creek Nursery would like to “reward” its customers with
savings on specific purchases made at the Nursery. Savings are based
on dollar volume of purchases, and are simple and straightforward.
The days that these sales discounts will be in effect are
Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays only. Customers must bring this
newsletter with them at the time of purchase. Sales discounts apply
to the cost of plant materials only, and do not include delivery or
labor charges. The discount terms are as follows:
1. Purchases of one-thousand dollars ($1,000.00), or
more, will receive a discount of $75.00
off the total purchase price.
2. Purchases of five-hundred dollars ($500.00), or more, will
receive a discount of $25.00 off
the total purchase price.
3. Purchases of three-hundred dollars ($300.00), or more, will
receive a discount of $20.00 off
the total purchase price.
Please take advantage of these savings as you begin
to make plans for spring and summer plantings around your yard! And
again, to our customers’ we say “Thank
You!”
CONTRACT DIVISION’S 30th YEAR !
This year Mike Greco Landscaping, Inc., our
landscape contracting division, is celebrating its 30th Birthday.
Starting in 1975 with only one pickup truck, lawn tools, and two
lawnmowers, our services have grown to encompass residential
settings first, then institutional and commercial venues. Our
landscape architect, Mike Greco, has been at the helm since 1975 and
thoroughly enjoys designing and implementing residential settings.
“Today I find that people want an outdoor setting which will help
them relax. It’s a challenge since every home and individual is
looking for a setting that compliments them, as individuals.” Mike
Greco has won several Certificates of Merit from the Illinois
Landscape Contractor’s Association for his residential landscape
designs in Northbrook and Lake Forest.
A complete service includes designing a unique plan which reflects
each homeowner‘s personality, installation of all hardscapes,
outdoor lighting, and pond and waterfall design and installations.
We are also able to build decks and gazebos using professional
carpenters that we have worked with in the past. It’s all about
seeing that smile and joy that comes from our clients when we have
helped them complete their dream landscape!
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.
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