Photoblog

Happy Christmas!24.12.2019

Sweetgums28.11.2019 Today's topic are sweetgums. They are often confused with maples thanks to similar leaf shapes, but sweetgums are of an entirely different origin and DNA. Therefore a unique family was created just for sweetgums called Altingiaceae. It used to be a part of Hamamelidaceae but following molecular tests ... well, I could bore you to death with this :-) Let's move on 'cause these trees do rock'n'roll! Latin name for sweetgum is liquidamabar and it clearly says what it's about - the trees contain a lot of resin which is like liquid amber should the trees bleed. It is highly fragrant and you can smell it just from crushed leaves. And leaves are what will drag your attention especially in autumn - their vibrant shades of red and orange last longer than any other deciduous tree, often through to December. Let's see some of the most spectacular varieties, I bet you will fall in love with them unless you already have a Preciousss one at home :-)
Sweetgums28.11.2019 I will start, a little unexpectadly, with a summer photo of Manon variety. It is one of the few variegated cultivars.
Sweetgums28.11.2019 As it has less chances to change colour owing to less chlorophyll its autumn colours are not so prominent, yet I would say it is doing miracles.
Sweetgums28.11.2019 Another variegated form is Aurea (what an unexpected name!). It does not have variegated margins, it hs yellow highlights and marbling throughout the whole surface of leaves.
Sweetgums28.11.2019 Its autumn colours are fascinating. I had to make a close up.

Sweetgums28.11.2019 And if you like thin girls here is the most slender one, it is called Slender Silhouette and its autumn colours are rich.
Sweetgums28.11.2019 Similar tones of golden and burgundy red are common on Théa.
Sweetgums28.11.2019 Rotundiloba produces uniquely shaped leaves, like fig tree leaves.
Sweetgums28.11.2019 And in autumn it is very dark red along with amber orange stems.

Sweetgums28.11.2019 Talking of leaf shapes, they are possibly the only tell when you want to differenciate young plants. Our French supplier sent us about 80 plants this spring without name tags, mixed varieties. Funny, isn't it? Not quite. Bare wood, at that time without foliage. Still, after a few minutes of concentration it was possible to separate them by stem strength, bud shapes, and even angle of lateral branches. And when they produced leaves we could easily name them. This should be a practical test from dendrology :-) Worplesdon is a commercially successful variety with deeply lobed foliage.
Sweetgums28.11.2019 Gum Ball is possibly the darkest coloured sweetgum in autumn. It is a dwarf variety which needs full sun only and a lot of heat to produce this shade.

Sweetgums28.11.2019 An enchanting shade of scarlet red autumn leaves and yellow branches all year round are typical for Golden Sun.
Sweetgums28.11.2019 Lane Roberts was one of my first varieties I grew in my garden. Now it is a sturdy tree turning almost solely red in autumn, without any yellow or orange leaves.
Sweetgums28.11.2019 Summing there are many sweetgum varieties and all of them have a lot to offer. And we have a lot to offer - have a look the beauties :-) And in spring there will be a few more including our own selection Safro with large, deeply lobed leaves of rich autumn colours.

Fresh figs27.10.2019 This morning brought wind. Quite a strong one, probably from Sahara because it was exceptionally warm and had all possible scents of autumn. No wonder that from all corners of our country we kept on receiving news about new temperature records for this day = the highest was 22°C which is more than unusal for late October. The wind was helping the trees get rid of their leaves which helped me discover that our fig shrubs managed to mature the second harvest of fruit! That is even more incredible that today's temperature record. The fruit is quite large, not ver red inside but very tasty and sweet.
Fresh figs27.10.2019 These are our fig shrubs from our organic garden in Prague. They were covered with fruit and we harvested plenty of large and juicy figs in late August. Those of you who come to our BIO shop obviously know that because the produce is sold there.

Fresh figs27.10.2019 The variety is called Brown Turkey. It is hardy enough for our climate and the crop is reliable even if the branches freeze down to the ground.
Autumn at its peak27.10.2019
Autumn at its peak27.10.2019

Autumn at its peak27.10.2019

Autumn at its peak27.10.2019 Evergreen hedging shrubs.

Autumn at its peak27.10.2019

Autumn at its peak27.10.2019 Leucotoe

Autumn at its peak27.10.2019 Evergreen magnolias - shrubs

Autumn at its peak27.10.2019 And evergreen magnolias as standard trees.
Autumn at its peak27.10.2019

Autumn at its peak27.10.2019 Small evergreen shrubs. Just to remind you - tomorrow is a bank holiday (Monday Oct.28), and then you have only 3 days left for our big October sale.
Colours, colours, and more colours21.10.2019 It is not unusual to hear coming customers moaning that even though they have good will and enthusiasm to do their garden themselves, they find it difficult to combine plants the way that there is something nice in every season. I can fully understand that. Amateur gardening is great but one should not be shy to ask for help. If you do want to DIY without a landscape designer I have one advice for you: don't rush it. Get only a few plants you like, bring them home, and see how they cope with your space. Move them around and plant them only when you know you are satisfied withe the way they look. And my second advice is to go to garden centres often, possibly all year round to see various plants in various seasons. Each season has something unique you can use in your garden if you still have space to use. Now we are at the peak of autumn season which brings perhaps the widest spectrum of colours you won't see at any other time. Look around your neighbours' gardens, walk the aisles of our garden centre, or just look at the following pictures for an inspiration. The weather is still magnificent and there is always a lot to choose from :-) And my last advice: don't listen much to others who feel they need to have their say about your project. It is your garden and you have to be happy about it and feel good there. So back up Mr. KnowItAll and Mrs. AdviceGiver.
Colours, colours, and more colours21.10.2019 acer davidii
Colours, colours, and more colours21.10.2019 Weeping trees suit every garden if wisely placed. They need space around so that the canopy can develop and show all its beauty. Moreover, it is a bonus if they can change colours. Cascade Falls swamp cypress is beautifully fresh green in summer ...

Colours, colours, and more colours21.10.2019 ... and amber orange-brown in autumn.

Colours, colours, and more colours21.10.2019 Now this is a show-stopper, isn't it? Garnet Japanese maple, great name, what do you think?
Colours, colours, and more colours21.10.2019 Fascinating!

Colours, colours, and more colours21.10.2019

Colours, colours, and more colours21.10.2019 This mulberry variety Tesi Ubaldo comes from an Italian nursery of the same name which unfortunately does not exist anymore. We still hope that the grower who bought their stock and premises will continue producing it simply because it is a gorgeous tree. And not only in autumn.
Colours, colours, and more colours21.10.2019

Colours, colours, and more colours21.10.2019 Rocky Diamond Blue Heart gentian

Colours, colours, and more colours21.10.2019
Colours, colours, and more colours21.10.2019 Gentian does not have to be only blue. Little Pinkie is no less beautiful.

Colours, colours, and more colours21.10.2019 And our plants were so nice that we sold the last one yesterday. But don't worry - there will be plenty of them again next summer :-)
Colours, colours, and more colours21.10.2019 Sunny and warm weather has made a lot of evergreen plants make new coloured shoots. This Little Frosty lily-of-the-valley shrub is tiny and elegant.

Colours, colours, and more colours21.10.2019 Magical Volcano photinia, on the other hand, is bold and large-leaved.
Colours, colours, and more colours21.10.2019
Colours, colours, and more colours21.10.2019 sEvergreen silverthorn will make your evergreen garden vibrant with more colours. There are plenty of varieties available in the market, for example this one called Maryline has soft vanilla yellow leaf centres and is more compact than most its relatives.

Colours, colours, and more colours21.10.2019
Colours, colours, and more colours21.10.2019 Are your lavenders also still blooming? Here they are stunning.

Colours, colours, and more colours21.10.2019 Same like roses. Many of them still have flowers and my favourite Parole is one of the most reliable autumn bloomers.
Colours, colours, and more colours21.10.2019 And coneflowers simply follow as they bloom from early summer till late autumn. Here a US novelty is my secret love: Supreme Cantaloupe.

Colours, colours, and more colours21.10.2019 Hot Papaya coneflower
Colours, colours, and more colours21.10.2019 And when you feel you have had enough of those bold-leaved or large-flowered plants turn your head to something less showy but no less beautiful like for example abelias. They are so cute with their tiny flowers which keep on blooming till late fall. And I cross my fingers to all of you who do your gardens themselves. And if you do need help come around, there are quite a few of us good at pretending that we know what we are doing :-)

Jewels of a misty morning20.10.2019 Each one of us has his or her own image of absolute peace. Some of these images are identical, most of them are similar because we were told by media that peace and tranquility should look like that, but others are very individual, based on personal needs, and possibly hard to be understood by others. Mist. Do you also feel the zen calmness in a countryside covered with mist? For us - drivers it is a pain in the neck. But for us - gardeners, landscape designers, and mostly photographers it is magical. Its veil covers the gardens, flower petals, and leaves with dew that looks so romantic in the pictures. I took my camera and began shooting. I could feel the air warming up quickly, and it was clear that the mist would soon be gone so I did not have much time. Here are a few jewels collected before the first sunrays touched the blooms. Lady of Shalott rose
Jewels of a misty morning20.10.2019 Leonardo da Vinci rose

Jewels of a misty morning20.10.2019 Florentina climbing rose
Jewels of a misty morning20.10.2019 Parole rose
Jewels of a misty morning20.10.2019 Gentle hermione rose - new

Jewels of a misty morning20.10.2019 Goldelse rose

Jewels of a misty morning20.10.2019 Duftzauber 84 rose
Jewels of a misty morning20.10.2019 Princess Alexandra of Kent rose

Indiam summer is here!13.10.2019 And had the water in the pool beed just about 5 degrees warmer I would have surely dipped in. Blimey, it has been sooo beautiful today! Have you enjoyed today's beginning of Indian summer, too? And as the forecast goes it should last for while. I spent almost all day out in the garden, shirtless just like most of my neighbours as I noticed, and with a camera. So many perennials are still blooming profusely, what a sight! Unless you have your own ones to admire check out a few pics of ours. Or even better - come to get some :-) What about some sneezeweed in various colour?

Indiam summer is here!13.10.2019 Amber
Indiam summer is here!13.10.2019 MARIACHII™ Sombrero

Indiam summer is here!13.10.2019 Rubinzwerg
Indiam summer is here!13.10.2019 Strawberry Sundae

Indiam summer is here!13.10.2019 Coneflowers are still on duty, reliable, tough, neverending ...

Indiam summer is here!13.10.2019 Big Kahuna

Indiam summer is here!13.10.2019 Sunseekers Salmon®
Indiam summer is here!13.10.2019 Sunseekers Salmon®

Indiam summer is here!13.10.2019 Our shortest coneflowers with the most poetic name Butterfly Kisses®.

Indiam summer is here!13.10.2019 Sensation Pink

Indiam summer is here!13.10.2019 Black-eyed Susan are important features of late summer and autumn beds. They are foolproof.

Indiam summer is here!13.10.2019 Goldquelle

Indiam summer is here!13.10.2019 Cherokee Sunset

Indiam summer is here!13.10.2019 So far all of them had daisy-like flowers. But no real daisies. Or at least Shasta daisies. Do you think that it is too late for them? Possibly most of them but not one - this exquisite novelty from Terra Nova Nurseries called Luna.
Indiam summer is here!13.10.2019

Indiam summer is here!13.10.2019 But let's change the colour. liriope.

Indiam summer is here!13.10.2019 bluebeard

Indiam summer is here!13.10.2019 hardy plumbago

Indiam summer is here!13.10.2019 Indian summer contunues and we will continue say next week agaian :-)
Promise of Indian summer11.10.2019 Eventually the winds have calmed down, rains and showers are gone, and allegedly we should be heading towards a nice and warm, belated Indian Summer. At least the evening sky is promising. Recently we posted a similar photograph, now, try to find 10 differences :-)

Promise of Indian summer11.10.2019 As the autumn comes evergreen plants become most popular. We have a wide range also of those which are hardy enough to be crown in pots all year round. This year we have something extraordinary - these breathtaking coral bells varieties in mlutiple colours. Their foliage is reliably evergreen down to -15°C or -18°C, then the leaves wilt and if you cut them to the ground in early spring they quickly re-emerge. Their excellent root hardiness makes them ideal choices for outdoor pots on balconies and patios, but they will obviously be happy in a garden bed, too.

Promise of Indian summer11.10.2019 Another tip is veronica. The hardy ones. They are evergreen plants with foliage of various colours and most of them produce small flowers in late spring or summer.

Promise of Indian summer11.10.2019
Promise of Indian summer11.10.2019 And of course we cannot omit our beloved leucothoe and lily-of-the-valley shrubs. Both of them hardy in pots and beautiful in beds.

OCTOBER SALE - FOREST LARGE DISCOUNTS01.10.2019 Autumn is here and we have prepared an extensive sale programme for all of you who want to go shopping :-) Here are the conditions: 1. discounts are applicable for plants in stock only - not for special orders from our growers 2. they reflect purchase value: 10% for purchase over 5,000 CZK, 20% for over 25,000 CZK, and 30% for over 50,000 CZK 3. discounts do not add up - if you have our loaylty card for larger discount it will be preferred 4. plants must be collected latest one week from date of purchase, but latest Oct. 31,2019 5. this offer is valid from Oct. 1, 2019 till Oct. 31, 2019 (incl. online orders) So good luck with fishing for the best discount!

Watch for Saturdays21.09.2019 If you are planning a weekend shopping don't forget that next Saturday September 28 is a holiday and we are closed. So change your plans and come shopping either today or any time next week by Friday. We are open from 9 till 7 p.m. in Prague and till 6 p.m. in Chlumec. By the way, have you heard about the recent volcanic eruption on Kuril Islands? Owing to which we experienced such beautiful early evening sky.

Watch for Saturdays21.09.2019

Do you like heather?21.09.2019 There are so many varieties available today! Possibly the most popular series now is the Garden Girls® which produces flowers that do not open but remain in richly coloured buds. Newly gain attention non-flowering varieties producing intensely coloured foliage ranging from silvery gray,blue-green, golden yellow, dark green, to even dark purple brown.

Do you like heather?21.09.2019

Do you like heather?21.09.2019

Do you like heather?21.09.2019

Do you like heather?21.09.2019

Coloured trumpets at the seaside and in our gardens15.09.2019 I love summer and all summer related - sun, heat, colours etc. And where do we found all of that for sure? On a summer holiday at the seaside of course. I remember when I was about 20 I made my first solo trip to the coast of southern France. I wss intoxicated by the explosion of colours and shapes of - for me - exotic plants in the gardens. Only in the gardens because everywhere else the land was dry and rigid and only rosemary, cacti, and similar prickly plants could live there struggling for every dew of morning mist. It took me many years to appreciate duly these little fighters, however, then I was attracted to the juicy explosion of irrigated life. One plant, unknown to me then, was creeping along fences, climbing up walls, and showing off arching next to forged gateways. You may say 'it is a trumpet creeper, of course, everyobody knows it'. Well, almost everyone surely does - now, but not almost 30 years ago :-)
Coloured trumpets at the seaside and in our gardens15.09.2019 After my return from holiday I started searching for this plant all over the country. I noticed a few plants not far from my home so I just rang the bell and ask the lord of the house to tell me something about it. In all cases the people were so nice and talkative, and it was clear that they were flattered to be able to boast about their unique climber. In the end I knew everything I needed. Got you, trumpet creeper! And would not let go. From that moment I turned into a passionate collecter of these colorful climbers and when I established a garden centre campsis became an important feature. If you like them, too, come and have a look at some of them.

Coloured trumpets at the seaside and in our gardens15.09.2019 Flava
Coloured trumpets at the seaside and in our gardens15.09.2019 Chinese trumpet vine
Coloured trumpets at the seaside and in our gardens15.09.2019 Madame Galen
Coloured trumpets at the seaside and in our gardens15.09.2019 Indian Summer
Coloured trumpets at the seaside and in our gardens15.09.2019 SUMMER JAZZ™ FIRE

Coloured trumpets at the seaside and in our gardens15.09.2019 SUMMER JAZZ™ GOLD

Coloured trumpets at the seaside and in our gardens15.09.2019 Campsis can also be trained into a tree. A good support is needed all the time.

Coloured trumpets at the seaside and in our gardens15.09.2019
Coloured trumpets at the seaside and in our gardens15.09.2019 Or a shrub.

Coloured trumpets at the seaside and in our gardens15.09.2019 It loves sun and spring pruning - cut it back to 2-3 pairs of live buds before they begin to swell.
Coloured trumpets at the seaside and in our gardens15.09.2019 My oldest specimen is not 20 years old and works as a curtain, blinds, and A/C because the top branches lying on the roof absorb all excess heat so the lounge is nicely cool even in hot summer. How about you, will you go for one as well? ;-)

If only all beings are happy08.09.2019 ... we wanted to say so many time. Now the writing's on the wall :-)

Prince Charming of August - Joe Pye Weed25.08.2019
Prince Charming of August - Joe Pye Weed25.08.2019

Prince Charming of August - Joe Pye Weed25.08.2019

Prince Charming of August - Joe Pye Weed25.08.2019

Prince Charming of August - Joe Pye Weed25.08.2019

Prince Charming of August - Joe Pye Weed25.08.2019

Prince Charming of August - Joe Pye Weed25.08.2019
Prince Charming of August - Joe Pye Weed25.08.2019

Loose yourself to strife12.08.2019 If you live somewhere in the country where the ground is not too dry, or possibly if you stay in the south of our country you must have recently noticed this plant growing wild in marshy gutters along the roads or in moist and wet meadows and fields. Its bright purple pink flowers simply cannot be missed when staring out of the car window, especially when the driver gets a bit (or more) boring. Its name is purple loosestrife. They bloom from mid July until early September. We are lucky that those in orange waistcoats who clean the gutters on regular basis understand the word 'regular' as 'maximum twice a year', thus giving the plants enough time to grow tall and set flowers. Only a week or so ago I met one of them mowing the grass at the outskirts of České Budějovice and when he saw this beautiful plant he left it growing in the middle of the turf, mowing carefully around it. Bravo, my orange waistcoated son!
Loose yourself to strife12.08.2019 Its common English name loosestrife is believed to refer to plant's ability to 'quieten savage beasts' - to repel flies and gnats away from the animals which wallowed in loosestrife. Apparently the scent of the plant is obnoxious for these insects. In the past dry plants were also burnt in houses where gnats and flies would be an embarrassment. Anyway, even though lythrum salicaria is in some countries invasive its close relative lythrum virgatum is an endangered species. I saw it growing wild only once in one location, nowhere else - in the picture.
Loose yourself to strife12.08.2019 Loosestrife is so easy to grow, tough, and reliable that it is no wonder that it has the attention of growers and breeders of garden plants. New hybrids and varieties are bred for better flower colour, improved habit, and overall garden performance. One of the best is undoubtedly Robin. It is compact, dense, and very floriferous.
Loose yourself to strife12.08.2019

Loose yourself to strife12.08.2019 The same flower colour but atop taller stems offers it brother Robert.

Loose yourself to strife12.08.2019 Lady Sackville is very beautiful, too. It has a nice habit and tall, thin stems which move with the slightest breeze.
Loose yourself to strife12.08.2019
purple loosestrife12.08.2019 And the last boy is truly unique - pale pink Blush. Which one will be your favourite?
When the sun plays hide&seek28.07.2019 When the sky turns dark and the clouds are so heavy we can't see a single sunray the gardens turns sad. We all know that we need rain, a lot of rain, and it is always a sight for sore eyes and a comforting feeling for all greenfingered beings watching it falling down onto thirsty plants and soaking into the ground. Though not every time the sky is overcast the rain comes. Those are the days when you begin to appreciate plants whose flowers are like miniature suns shining through this melancholic period before the real sun comes out again. And not all of them have to be flowering plants, some gold-leaved shrubs can easily do the same trick. Let's have a look at a few tips for those which can bring back smiles to your overcast foreheads :-)
When the sun plays hide&seek28.07.2019 GALLO PEACH blanket flower

When the sun plays hide&seek28.07.2019 Zagreb tickseed

When the sun plays hide&seek28.07.2019 Cyni broom

When the sun plays hide&seek28.07.2019 Big Kahuna coneflower
When the sun plays hide&seek28.07.2019 MESA™ Yellow blanket flower

When the sun plays hide&seek28.07.2019 broom

When the sun plays hide&seek28.07.2019

When the sun plays hide&seek28.07.2019 Vossii golden rain
When the sun plays hide&seek28.07.2019 Stahlenkrone Aaron's rod

When the sun plays hide&seek28.07.2019
When the sun plays hide&seek28.07.2019 Mango Popsicle™ torch lily
When the sun plays hide&seek28.07.2019 Golden Sunshine Japanese fantail willow

When the sun plays hide&seek28.07.2019 Orange Dream Japanese maple

When the sun plays hide&seek28.07.2019 Paul's Best Yellow montbretia
When the sun plays hide&seek28.07.2019

When the sun plays hide&seek28.07.2019 And the best for last - before I photographed everything the sun came out :-) For a little while only, yet long enough to let me make a nice photo of this superb Gemo St.John's wort that flowers all July and August.

When the sun plays hide&seek28.07.2019 That's all for today, see you soon!

How's this possible??23.07.2019 Senovážné Square, České Budějovice, July 20, 2019. Remember this date well - the council apparently decided to honour 50th anniversary of the landing on the Moon in a very unique way - making their flower beds look just like the Moon fields. Have they succeeded?! Amazing work, what would you say?

How's this possible??23.07.2019

New flowers20.07.2019 Also in summer we keep on stuffing our garden centre with new plants every week. Now they are usually perennials in DeLuxe size and quality, and some new shrubs or tree if we sold them out and they become available again at the grower. This week we have had an amazing delivery of new perennials including more than 30% of novelties which will soon be displayed in the NEWS section. Are you looking forward to them? I bet you must be :-)

New flowers20.07.2019 We keep on bringing in salvias, they are simply a must when it comes to all-summer-long flowering. On the left you can see deep purple blue Caradonna, and on the right is a unique mix of sand and clay colour on a Caradonna yarrow. At the front you can se a little bit of lavenders - we have an exciting new variety for you, and silvery blue foliage of Blue Lagoon bog rosemary.

New flowers20.07.2019 And what is inevitable in every week's delivery are coneflowers. I get (female) customers complaining our our growing assortment of coneflowers saying that it is my fault that they need all of them, and that it is costing them money keeping up with the novelties ... Well, am I really the one to blame? ;-) This time we have three new varieties - deep orange SOMBRERO™ Adobe Orange (at the back), pink and green Green Twister, and in the middle row is a screaming red SUNSEEKERS™ In Tans Red.

New flowers20.07.2019 And when we display them at the front of our garden centre they look like that ...

New flowers20.07.2019 Would you like some of them? Well, come and get it! :-) See you soon ...

Feeding or feasting?15.07.2019 Do you know bee hawk moth? Here they are sometimes mistaken for hummingbirds, or better they are called hummingbird hawk moth. This one is special - it has greenish body and rich mahogany red band on the back. The speed of its wings seems like competing a smoothie maker ...

Flowers all over08.07.2019 That's right - there are flowers all over the garden. Did you know that one of our three specializations are plant blooming in summer? So that you can enjoy another storm of colours and flowers shapes once the spring bulbs and shrubs have finished. We have flowers for the whole summer and also autumn! Late June and early July is always the time for tulip trees. This one is rather narrow and columnar - Fastigiatum. Its flowers do look like tulips and also have a faint fragrance.
Flowers all over08.07.2019 Veronicas are great perennials whose various species and varieties bloom in spring or summer. Eveline starts in mid June and contunues for about 6 weeks.

Flowers all over08.07.2019 Ulster Blue Dwarf is deep blue and dwarf.
Flowers all over08.07.2019 Also dwarf is Bubblegum Candy.

Flowers all over08.07.2019 Deeper pink, taller yet very compact and incredibly free flowering until autumn is my favourite First Love®.

Flowers all over08.07.2019 Bottle Rocket leopard plant loves moist or even wet soil and does well also in partial shade.
Flowers all over08.07.2019 And closely related ligularia przewalski likes the same conditions but is much taller.
Flowers all over08.07.2019 And obviously we cannot miss lavenders. This one is called Essence Purple.

Flowers all over08.07.2019
Flowers all over08.07.2019 Talking of lavenders, I often hear people say 'I would like something blue/purple in my garden, for example lavenders ...'. If you don't mind me saying lavenders are violet, not purple or blue. If you want a blue flower look at this Porcelain Blue corydalis, this one is blue.

Flowers all over08.07.2019 And finally, to give you something to look forward to, I have a picture if these gorgeous Cherokee Sunset rudbeckias. They will be available very soon. When? Perhaps in a week, or maybe in a couple days, blimey, and what if tonight?? :-)

Flowers all over08.07.2019 And if you have never been to our garden centre here are a few pictures showing the beautiful flowers we sell :-)

Flowers all over08.07.2019 We go to extremes when it comes to care of our perennials. We spend a lot of time making them as healthy, bushy, and beautiful, preferably in 2liter or larger pots that will secure a good root system that will guarantee the best chances to establish soon in your garden.

Flowers all over08.07.2019 Salvias are in fashion. Again? No, always! They definitely belong to the most demanded species which is why we reserved them a spot of honour at the entrance. We have every colour available - deep violet blue, violet, pink, and also white - dwarf and medium tall.

Flowers all over08.07.2019 At this time of summer there are plenty of achilleas and coneflowers begin to open their multicoloured heads. What a show!

Flowers all over08.07.2019 Blanket flowers, gauras, phlox etc. etc. Have I forgot something? Definitely, so you'd better come to see for yourself, we are looking forwrd to seeing you here :-)

Flowers all over08.07.2019 Blanket flowers
Flowers all over08.07.2019 Hardy fuchsias

Flowers all over08.07.2019 So see you soon!

Catalpas and chitalpas are blooming04.07.2019 Late June and early July is always the time for flowering catalpas and chitalpas. If I knew dendrology as a young boy as I do now I would most certainly connect their image to the school certificate at the end of a term.

Catalpas and chitalpas are blooming04.07.2019 Catalpa is called Indian bean tree because it comes from North America which is why it withstands harsh frost, and late in the season it makes long seed pods similar to those that hold beans.
Catalpas and chitalpas are blooming04.07.2019 The flowers are beautiful. They are composed in large, erect racemes. Their main colour white and each variety has a slightly different colour in the throat. This is the species.

Catalpas and chitalpas are blooming04.07.2019 Purpurea variety has deep burgundy red new leaves and the flowers have more prominent red veins.

Catalpas and chitalpas are blooming04.07.2019 Aurea bears lime green foliage and the flowers are only a little lighter in colour.
Catalpas and chitalpas are blooming04.07.2019 And it's also the foliage why we want catalpas in our gardens. The leaves are very large, heart-shaped, and offer three colours. The species produces medium green leaves and vertically oval canopy.
Catalpas and chitalpas are blooming04.07.2019 Aurea variety has bright lime green to chartreuse leaves and wide, dome-shaped canopy.

Catalpas and chitalpas are blooming04.07.2019 New leaves of Purpurea are deep burgundy red.
Catalpas and chitalpas are blooming04.07.2019 Their size is enormous.

Catalpas and chitalpas are blooming04.07.2019 Chitalpa is an interspecific cross between chilopsis and catalpa. It boasts beautiful, light pink flowers and exotic, narrow leaves.
Catalpas and chitalpas are blooming04.07.2019 It blooms profusely from late June until late August.

Catalpas and chitalpas are blooming04.07.2019 Flowers and leaves are not the only features catalpas are renowned for. Older plants, if grown as a shrub, form a massive framework of bottom branches, an ideal climbing attraction for kids :-)

Catalpas and chitalpas are blooming04.07.2019 Summer Bells® Chitalpa

Catalpas and chitalpas are blooming04.07.2019 I like the area under the canopies of multistemmed trees. Even though I struggle with space in my garden and tend to fill every gap I keep this half empty to enjoy the free space.

Works of art16.06.2019 I bet you must be wondering why I am showing a copy of a beautiful and famous painting on a horticultural website. Well, it's because it shows beauty, and plants deserve the same attention like models. Not a long time ago I got a book of the best portraits of the past two centuries for my niece who studies an art school. I chose it because it had a portrait of Madame X by John Singer Sargent on the cover, one of my most favourite. I remember someone ever said that the way Sargent paints arms is like angels singing ... and he was right. Do you know the story of the painting? One of the most provocative at its time, it was finished in 1884 in France. The model was an American expat Madame Virginie Gautreau who married a successful banker in Paris. She kept on rejecting Sargent's proposals to sit for him as a model, and the painter - in his twenties - kept on begging her for two long years until he wore her off and she eventually agreed. Sargent, eager to make a painting of his lifetime devoted numerous hours to correcting sketches and deciding for the best position. Finally they both agreed that she would be standing up, looking left with her head looking aside, in her black iconic dress where originally the right strap dangled daringly off her shoulder. SCANDALOUS! All Paris was full of disgust and rejection of such a painting which made Sargent correct the painting moving the strap back on her shoulder. It did not help much so in the end he had to flee to America. Still, the painting is now considered not only his best but also one of the best ever portraits in history. The beauty, charisma, and energy (nowadays we would probably say sex-appeal) was something that only a true artist could transform onto the canvas. It is not about a photographic perfection. It's the feeling you get from it. Looking at the painting you can sense it. Quite a few times several famous women tried to imitate the painting posing for a camera, including Madonna (of course!) and even Nicole Kidman. Unfortunately none of them seemed to share the same charisma and inner beauty that could be projected into the atmosphere and make you beg for it. When I am out in the garden with my camera I look at the plants the same way. I do not look for a perfect shot detailing every petal of leaflet. I try to capture the best moment and the most appealing angle and light that would show the plant the way I see it and sense it. And believe me - many times I DO beg - for better light, less water, less shadows etc. Why bother? Because all plants are works of art and they deserve to be portrayed. Now sit back, relax, and see for yourself.
Works of art16.06.2019 Caradonna sage

Works of art16.06.2019 Brilliant poppy

Works of art16.06.2019 bearskin fescue

Works of art16.06.2019 Anthony Waterer rhododendron

Works of art16.06.2019 grape hyacinth

Works of art16.06.2019 Lavender Twist weeping redbud

Works of art16.06.2019 Koehnei dwarf red buckeye

Works of art16.06.2019 beachhead iris

Works of art16.06.2019 Innocent Glance clematis

Works of art16.06.2019 Larkspur

Works of art16.06.2019 Mango Storm flowering quince

Works of art16.06.2019 WINKY columbine

Festival of colours05.06.2019 Do you enjoy colours in the garden? Be it the flowers or coloured foliage. This Golden Sunshine willow is fantastic. Sunny or a cloudy day, it still glows like a hot sun.

Festival of colours05.06.2019 BLOOMERANG® lilac series contains varieties which bloom for the first time now and rebloom in summer without pruning or any other encouragement. This pink one is called Pink Perfume.
Festival of colours05.06.2019

Festival of colours05.06.2019 And its dark coloured variety is called simply Dark Purple.
Festival of colours05.06.2019 And the colour is deeper while the plants is still in bud.

Festival of colours05.06.2019 Goldminers, throw away your pickaxes and sell your plane ticket to Alaska. Instead get yourself as many plants of this Golden Queen globe flower and rest asured you have enough gold for at least late spring and early summer.
Festival of colours05.06.2019 This year we have two new varieties which are very similar. One of them must have been bred in England because it was named after one of the most popular cheese there - Cheddar.

Festival of colours05.06.2019 I fell in love with this beauty this year. It is a campion varitey, new in our assortment called Rollies Favourite. It was a tiny plant last year and now it makes a large clump that has been flowering for two months now!

Festival of colours05.06.2019
Festival of colours05.06.2019 Do you like blue? This ordinary Knallblau veronica is absolutely extraordinary.

Festival of colours05.06.2019
Festival of colours05.06.2019 Possibly the best selling flowering groundcover is called sandwort. It's like a cushion of fresh snow or whipped cream, yummy!

Festival of colours05.06.2019
Festival of colours05.06.2019 Geum is another of my favourite perennials. This one comes from England and is called Scarlet Tempest. Its large, scarlet orange flowers attract attention from a distance.

Festival of colours05.06.2019

Empress tree - a fragrant beauty30.05.2019 Last three weeks or so almost every other customer who got out of the car in our parking lot came closer to the tree we have at the front gate. They wanted to check what kind of beauty grows there, and makes such unusual, rich violet flowers that release a strong, sweet scent. Its name is paulownia and is commonly found in royal gardens and arboretums. There are two species in cultivation: empress tree (in this picture) and recently also Fortune's foxglove tree (in the following picture).
Empress tree - a fragrant beauty30.05.2019 This one has slightly wider open flowers and grows a little shorter. But most importantly - it produces flowers at a very young age, often from 3 years of age.
Empress tree - a fragrant beauty30.05.2019 And when the flowers have gone its enormous leaves take over. They are huge on young plants which grow very fast (50-100 cm per year), and slow down with age when the tree begins to bloom (20-30 cm per year then). Paulownia often produces profusion of flowers every other year, not annually.

Empress tree - a fragrant beauty30.05.2019 In other words you cannot miss this one out if you have space to accommodate it :-)

Mexican orange which is not (an) orange26.05.2019 Hey, so glad to see you again! It's been some time since the last post, but you know how busy spring is for the gardeners. And since the weather forcast lied again and it is NOT the typical sunday sunshine outside, I am ready as well as eager to show you something. This is a sort of horticultural exhibitionism I guess. Beware - highly addictive, yet very pleasant and easy to get used to :-) Today's highlight is choisya. Its common name Mexican orange refers to its very similar flowers which also have a strong, intoxicating fragrance. Nothing to do with the fruit.
Mexican orange which is not (an) orange26.05.2019 The original species choisya ternata comes from Mexico and its low hardiness did not allow us to use it here. However, in 1980's English breeder Peter Moore gained seeds of another American species choisya dumosa var. arizonica and crossbred these two. The result was astonishing - a beautiful and incredibly hardy plant with narrower, more leathery leaves. It was named AZTEC PEARL and introduced in 1989.

Mexican orange which is not (an) orange26.05.2019 I trialled it on several locations throughout the country and it proved very hardy and troublefree. It is no secret that I love evergreen plant which is why I pay so much attention to it. Moreover, this plant is unique for being possibly the first ever evergreen shrub with palmately divided foliage. So far only entire leaves were present (first and second column), exceptionally mahonia (the long compound leaf in the third column), while choisyas (in the last column (Aztec Pearl. White Dazzler, Apple Blossom, Aztec Gold) have palmate leaves.
Mexican orange which is not (an) orange26.05.2019 Moreover leaves are very tolerant to winter sunlight - not prone so sunscorch, and remain this beautiful shade of fresh green all winter long when the surrounding landscape is fast asleep.

Mexican orange which is not (an) orange26.05.2019 Another successful variety is WHITE DAZZLER which offer twice or even three times as many flowers on a more compact and upright shrubs. Its leaves are narrower, deeper green, and not as glossy.

Mexican orange which is not (an) orange26.05.2019 And as a bonus it can flower for the second time in late summer. Not much but it is nice and fragrant.

Mexican orange which is not (an) orange26.05.2019 The fragrance attracts not only but but various winged insects, mostly bees and bumble bees, butterflies and chafers.

Mexican orange which is not (an) orange26.05.2019 Just like most other braodleaved plants choisya, too, has its yellow-leaved mutation. It is called AZTEC GOLD and makes bright chartreuse to soft golden yellow leaves.
Mexican orange which is not (an) orange26.05.2019 The latest smash is a linear-leaves APPLE BLOSSOM. It looks like a green spiderweb and is the only one with pink flowers, or precisely pink buds before the flowers open. This variety produces flowers at a later age. So have you chosen your choisya? Place it in full sun if free draining, acid soil, water it lightly the first year, and from next year no care is needed - no irrigation, no fertilizing, no pruning. Isn't is great?!

Poetry.10.04.2019
Magnolia poetry10.04.2019 Rustica Rubra

Poetry.10.04.2019

Poetry.10.04.2019 White flowering Alba Superba in the front and pink flowering soulangeana just behind it.

Poetry.10.04.2019 And a huge Yellow River on the right hand side.

Poetry.10.04.2019
Poetry.10.04.2019 Supersweet, intoxicating fragrance release star magnolias.

Poetry.10.04.2019
Poetry.10.04.2019 Girl magnolias - Betty.
Poetry.10.04.2019

Poetry.10.04.2019 Susan

Poetry.10.04.2019
Poetry.10.04.2019

All Fools' Day01.04.2019 You wouldn't believe the joke we received today. We got an e-mail from Google Inc. saying that they stopped our ads. Reason followed a few lines below - Magnolias are listed as other weapons and Google Inc. does not "allow the promotion of some products or services that cause damage, harm, or injury". I swear that this is NOT an April 1 joke, this really happened. Unfortunately it is nothing but evidence of the level of mistakes every exaggerated effort to protect something can and does go wrong in the end, and the creators have no clue that such stupidity is possible. I think that it all started when a woman in the US decided to dry her wet cat in the microwave where, surprisingly, the animal got such injuries that it dies several minutes after. And you know what? She sued the microwave producer that it was nowhere made clear that she could not do so and she WON!! The so-called Health & Safety Regulations hit the UK some 15 or more years ago, telling companies for instance to paint the first and the last step of a stairway with a singal colour. Possibly in order to navigate the drunk employees after a long weekend ... And GDPR last year? I think I should keep my mouth shut to remain polite. It appears as a bulletproof security for all people, something to keep their personal data safe, while in practice it just gave rise to numerous new companies offering GDPR analysis and projects to "help" your company do the necessary. And along with that help your company off a large sum. In other words you are constantly massaged with assurances how safe you are because all the others were made to make steps for your protection. And then you go and download an app you think might be good for you. E.g. an ap for recognizing plants. And in order to use it you HAVE TO allow access to your: phone book, address book, texts, camera, gallery, skype history, or maybe even your shoe size. How come no one bothers to protect that, telling you how wrong it is to steel such sensitive personal data? I was amazed to learn there is a new and obviously FREE app to correct your spelling. How come an app of such quality can be free? Because you allow them to know EVERYTHING what you are writing, making you believe that they are doing you good by correcting your spelling or vocabulary choice. Because from now on you MUST write everything on-line. I was even more shocked by the extra suggestive add for a brand new service that tells you a lot about your origin through a simple DNA test. No worries - they don't want a lot of money (59 bucks is not that bad, is it?), all they want is just a tiny DNA sample. How easy and innocent, uuh? Because I am sure that you never slept so well until you learnt that you are an Eskimo from 7% and that your DNA is now in safe hands ... Well, let's not waste time on things that go drastically wrong nowadays, and enjoy some "weapons" like this VULCAN magnolia. Beware - it's fully loaded!
We're open!01.03.2019 It's the first day of March and we are here, as usual, ready to open our gates with the new growing and selling season. All winter long we were working hard putting together an exclusive range of plants, wider than last year, and obviously in uncompromising quality. The goods will be delivered to our garden centres during the whole spring, and if you have an order placed please wait until we notify you that it's been completed. It may take a while if your order needs plants from several growers. And while waiting take a look at what's blooming and beautiful right now. Or if you have a picture of something dashing from your garden send it over if you like to share your joy, we will gladly show it to others :-) We wish you a fantastic spring!
We're open!01.03.2019 Typical plants for late winter are fragrant witch hazels. We get some more every year, mostly thanks to Mr.Hachmann from Germany, who apart from breeding rhododendrons has possibly the largest collection of witch hazels in Europe. This spring we will have three new varieties, this is the first one called Robert. It boasts rich golden orange flowers and slower, compact growth. In the previous picture was a classic one - Jelena. Both the varieties have a strong, sweet and spicy scent.
We're open!01.03.2019 On the contrary Pallida has only sweet fragrance without any spiciness.
We're open!01.03.2019 What we said about witch hazels holds good for Lenten roses as well. Also here we search for new varieties every year and are happy to have so many novelties this spring. And get ready - there'll be a few more :-) This one is called Elly. It had its first flowers in December, they lost colour by now but not firmness, and start to make plenty of new buds and flowers to show off until May.
We're open!01.03.2019 This beauty is my favourite - Sophie. It has freckled cheeks on yellow background.
We're open!01.03.2019 This steel blue beauty is a dwarf among cedars. Its name is Feelin' Blue and the plant in the picture is almost totally left to its own devices - no staking or shaping. We just cut off a couple of branches that were lying on the ground.

We're open!01.03.2019 Of course I will tell you what's behind the cedar - the emerald green cushion. It is possibly our oldest hebe called New Zealand. We never touched it with scissors, it is flawless without any help, and irrespective of frost, such fresh green all winter long, and very hardy.

We're open!01.03.2019 If you are looking for a glowing torch to shine through your garden in winter get one of these winter colouring pines. This one is called Golden Glow.
We're open!01.03.2019 Winter Gold i a little smaller, same golden yellow.

We're open!01.03.2019 This tempting colour combination is my neighbour's hedge. Vivid red stems of Tatarian dogwood and green-leaved species of evergreen silverthorn.

Evergreen hedging plants11.02.2019 Hello there, plant lovers! We are back after some time. We have been working hard putting together the spring season assortment, and now we have a thrilling offer: EVERGREEN HEDGES. We have been selling most of the plants on our webshop but now we are bringing a chance to pre-order larger quantities for your spring plans. Many of these shrubs are available only as root-balled plants in springtime which means much cheaper price than potted plants but available for a limited time. 1. The plants will not be physically present in our garden centres i.e. you cannot come and check them for future purchase. Most of them are TO ORDER only and will be delivered from the growers based on your concrete orders. 2. Given that these plants are destined for hedges we consider larger quantities per order for which we have attractive discounts: 10% for 10-19 plants, and 20% off for 20 or more plants. Minimum order quantity is 10 plants per size and variety. 3. A deposit of 50% of the order value prior discount is required. If you decide to prepay your complete order a further discount of 5% is added for payments within 3 days from order confirmation during February (winter discount). 4. These plants are commonly in high demand and sell out quickly in early spring. We recommend to secure your choice and quantity quickly before they vanish. So all has been said, let's browse, shall we?
Evergreen hedging plants11.02.2019 Portugal laurel is probably our top favourite broadleaf evergreen heding plant. Hardy and elegant. ANGUSTIFOLIA - compact growth, no need for pruning, up to 3m tall 40-50 cm, 3l pot, 299 Kč 60-70 cm, 5l pot, 559 Kč

Evergreen hedging plants11.02.2019 VARIEGATA - variegated foliage, slow, prostrate growth, up to 2-2,5m tall 30-40 cm, 3liter pot, 339 Kč 40-50 cm, 4liter pot, 580 Kč

Evergreen hedging plants11.02.2019 BRENELIA - undulated leaves, faster, upright growth, red twigs, 3-4m tall 30-40 cm, 3liter pot, 459 Kč

Evergreen hedging plants11.02.2019 Cherry laurels - classic and beautiful. Some are large, some are compact. NOVITA - possibly the tallest of all, rapid growth 50-70 cm per year, 5-6m tall, large leaves 40-60 cm, 3liter pot, 269 Kč 60-80 cm, root ball, 399 Kč 70-90 cm, 9liter pot, 640 Kč

Evergreen hedging plants11.02.2019 CAUCASICA - upright, moderate growth 40-60 cm, 3liter pot, 269 Kč

Evergreen hedging plants11.02.2019 ETNA - slow growing, possibly the most beautiful, very dense and uniform, slightly undulated foliage, up to 2m tall 40-50 cm 3liter pot 269 Kč 50-60 cm 5liter pot 480 Kč

Evergreen hedging plants11.02.2019 OTTO LUYKEN - the shortest of them, up to 1.5m tall, very dark green and highly glossy leaves, prostrate growth 30-40 cm 3liter pot 299 Kč 40-60 cm 7liter pot 750 Kč

Evergreen hedging plants11.02.2019 Lily-of-the-valley shrubs make unique hedges with ther narrow leaves that emerge pink, red or burgundy twice or even three timer per season. The fastest growing (20-25 cm per year) are FOREST FLAME and MOUNTAIN FIRE 20-30 cm 2liter pot 299 Kč

Evergreen hedging plants11.02.2019 Ever more ambitious is a hedge from evergreen mbull bay magnolia. Large, leathery, dark green and highly glossy leaves, and huge white flowers for 2-4 months in summer make a stunning display. Here are the most useful varieties: ALTA - slender growth, narrower leaves, smaller flowers 50-60 cm 5liter pot 1 030 Kč BRACKEN'S BROWN BEAUTY - very glossy leaves 40-60 cm 4liter pot 599 Kč FRANCOIS TREYVE - oval habit, slightly rounded leaves 40-60 cm 4liter pot 599 Kč LITTLE GEM - compact, almost dwarf habit, smaller, very glossy leaves, smaller flower for a long time, need a very warm location (least hardy) 80-100 cm 10liter pot 790 Kč

Evergreen hedging plants11.02.2019 So called blue hollies are the hardiest of all. Female plants bear red or yellow fruit with a male plant mixed in the hedge (1 male for max.10 female). BLUE MAID - female, red berries, up to 3,5m 20-40 cm 2liter pot 299 Kč GOLDEN GIRL - female, yellow berries, up to 4m 20-40 cm 2liter pot 299 Kč HECKENFEE - female, red berries, up to 3,5m 20-40 cm 2liter pot 299 Kč male fruitless varieties (pollinators) are HECKENSTAR or HECKENPRACHT 20-40 cm 2liter pot 299 Kč

Evergreen hedging plants11.02.2019 A famous hedging plant with red new leaves is photinia. They grow fast and can be pruned in any way. Here are a few varieties out of the many that are available these days: RED ROBIN - the classic, fast growing tall and wide 3-4m 40-60 cm 3liter pot 329 Kč 60-80 cm 5liter pot 510 Kč 100-125 cm 12liter pot 980 Kč CARRÉ ROUGE - recent introduction of very upright, dense growth, smaller, darker leaves, up to 3m 50-70 cm 5liter pot 599 Kč 100-110 cm 15liter pot 1850 Kč

Evergreen hedging plants11.02.2019 Top popular are evergreen silverthorns now. They grow very fast, can be pruned in any way, and produce abundance of tiny, heavily fragrant flowers in autumn. They grow some 3 to 4m tall. Here are green-leaves plants: x EBBINGEI (the hybrid species) - rapid growth 30-50 cm 3liter pot 299 Kč 80-100 cm 9liter pot 640 Kč COMPACTA - compact, more upright growth 60-80 cm 7,5liter pot 620 Kč

Evergreen hedging plants11.02.2019 And here are the variegated: GILT EDGE - green centre, yellow margin (in the picture) 40-60 cm 7,5liter pot 590 Kč 80-100 cm 5liter pot 665 Kč LIMELIGHT - yellow centre, lime green and dark green margin 30-40 cm 3liter pot 299 Kč VIVELEG - green centre, yellow margin, more compact 25-30 cm 3liter pot 339 Kč 40-60 cm 7liter pot 590 Kč

Evergreen hedging plants11.02.2019 Are you a bamboo lover? Here are two main types: Phyllostachys is a running bamboo growing 4 to 8m tall. BISSETII 30-40 cm 2liter pot 559 Kč 60-80 cm 5liter pot 669 Kč

Evergreen hedging plants11.02.2019 Fargesia is a clumping bamboo genus. Appreciated for better hardiness and not so tall growth (about 3m - variety pending). The plant tops are often arching. JUMBO - large leaves, arching (in the picture) 40-60 cm 5liter pot 750 Kč STANDING STONE - stronger, upright growth 40-60 cm 5liter pot 750 Kč

Evergreen hedging plants11.02.2019 We are not forgetting those who prefer hedging conifers. The tallest and fastest growing is a Leyland cypress. It is also used as a windbreak. But if you prune it regularly it will create a dense, impenetrable, handsome hedge. 80-100 cm root ball 399 Kč 150-175 cm 12liter pot 1650 Kč 200-250 cm root ball 2360 Kč

Evergreen hedging plants11.02.2019 Many years ago I photographed this hedge made of Lawson cypress in Germany. It was quite something for me to see such a colour combination, well, each to his own. However, can you imagine how beautiful the hedge might be from one colour only? The varieties are: COLUMNARIS - steel blue to blue-green, fastigiate, commonly 3-4m tall 80-100 cm root ball 399 Kč 50-60 cm 3liter pot 399 Kč 140-180 cm root ball 1450 Kč IVONNE - yellow-green, slightly wider, commonly 3-4m tall 60-80 cm root ball 359 Kč 40-50 cm 2liter pot 299 Kč 120-140 cm root ball 1290 Kč

Evergreen hedging plants11.02.2019 Hybrid yew makes only dark green needles and grows slower but denser than red yew. Its height is between 3-4m in maturity and can be clipped and pruned in virtually any way because it resprouts even from bare wood. HICKSII - female with red berries, V-shape 50-60 cm 2liter pot 299 Kč HILLII - fruitless, columnar, narrower, slightly shorter 40-50 cm 2liter pot 259 Kč

Evergreen hedging plants11.02.2019 The last bit is a plant that has been heavily overused in Central Europe which is why it is often rejected - arborvitae (thuja). I can understand that and agree with limiting their use. Still, there are a couple of handsome and compact varieties which need no pruning and remain beautifully coloured even in winter when most other varieties turn brown. SMARAGD (EMERALD) - rich green 40-60 cm 2liter pot 199 Kč 60-80 cm root ball 299 Kč 100-125 cm root ball 459 Kč 140-160 cm root ball 1150 Kč 180-200 cm root ball 2150 Kč GOLDEN SMARAGD - golden yellow variety 40-50 cm 3liter pot 499 Kč 25-30 cm 2liter pot 359 Kč Now the offer is complete. Have a good look and choose the best type that will suit your needs and your garden style. Looking forward to your orders!

New year is here01.01.2019 Welcome in 2019! Are you looking forward for everything it will bring? Or are you so great to realize that the best is happening right now? :-) The weather outside is still quite good so I split my time between siting at the computer introducing new plants on our website, and out in the garden doing some cleaning and finishing touches. What a rewarding job raking out all the old leaves from under the shrubs and perennials, leaving the bed clean, adding new bark mulch here and there, and cutting the odd branch. You, too, can shape and prune plants that require cutting in winter such as maples, ashes, apples and pears, grapewine, and our native plants like willows, hornbeams, beeches, birches, hardy conifers, and those which bleed sap if cut in early spring. Just before the holidays I tuned to a regional radio, and was surprised by the high level of the conversation I heard. A professional in the field of holistic healing was trying to explain why people often give up their New Year's resolutions. It's because we are now, according to the rhythm of nature, in the calm and resting phase of life - the element of water. This period is great for planning, possibly looking back but I would not exaggerate that much, or simply thinking about what would make us happier when all wakes up again afetr winter. All at the stage of planning. So forget about buying expensive gym memberships until say mid February when the nature starts to yawn, waking up slowly as the element of water leaves, making room for wood, the element that brings activity. If your will to go weightlifting and running remains just go ahead and enjoy it because then your chances to stick with it are much higher! I feel the same about gardening. Makes much more sense, doesn't it? If you like your garden the same way I do and cannot imagine being without it longer that a few days, go outside and clean the beds or prune something. But leave the major changes till later. Now just imagine them. And you will be surprised how much your plan will improve by the time you will actually make it happen in spring. Our e-shop with plants for 2019 is already open and we keep on adding new plants almost every day. You can make your orders now to make sure you will get the plants you are planning to grow, just don't ask us to send it yet unless you need it as a gift for someone. Wait until spring when your plans will meet the active phase and your garden will thank you for it. So enjoy and see you soon! :-) NB: Dragonfly is the symbol of transformation. And as a play on words in Czech language its name means to consider things, to contemplate.