It’s that time of the year when peace and reflection are prominent in our minds here at Christensen’s. Even more so this year for me, as a friend of my family recently passed away. And while his death was not unexpected, the timing was at 76 years young.

Our families had met when Chuck was the representative for a nursery selling plants to our nursery. He and my father became friends. Soon after, my mom and Chuck’s wife also became friends and thus started a 40-year friendship. 

After his passing, my family caught up with his family on Facebook. Time and distance had separated us for many years. So, it was good to catch up with old friends. We spent the better part of two hours chatting over Facebook Messenger, reminiscing of times spent with each other. We then caught up again at the celebration of life his daughters held for him. Again, spending time catching up about life. Like my life, their lives had changed in the years since I last saw them. Easy conversation with people who I have been friends with for almost my entire life.

This year has been filled with changes in the landscape industry and at Christensen’s Plant Center. And the future holds more change for all of us. My hope for all of you is that the change is for the better. And wherever life takes you, do not forget that there is always time in our busy days to talk to a friend.

Please have a safe and wonderous holiday season! I look forward to seeing all of you in the spring and hearing your stories from the time we spent apart.

Good morning, Minions, and welcome, once again, to another episode of the Chronicles of your favorite Cap’n.  It has been some time since your Cap’n has made an appearance in these articles, or on other social media sites for that matter. So it’s been requested, or rather encouraged, from “The Man With The Big Mustache” to possibly pull The Cap out of his state of semi-retirement, which really means I’ve had a dreadful case of writer’s block, and I don’t get out as much as I used to and observe weird situations or other comical scenarios to which I get to insert my twisted sense of humor for your entertainment. 

Basically, it’s me calling someone dum…. Errr… questioning an individual’s state of intelligence, at that particular moment, using as many drawn out adjectives that are normally infused with a vulgarity or four, and sometimes other random humorous zingers just to help us all get a laugh out of any given day.  This time around though… I gotta try something different...

CAP’S FIRST VILLAIN:  THE HELLSPAWNED BARBERRY.

Pickerus Impalemus Maximus

      Instead of grabbing it by the pot, as ya should always do, he grabs it by the hair instead.  

CAP’S SECOND VILLAIN:  THE DEMONSEED YUCCA PLANT

Painimus  Inmybuttimus

Now you may be asking, “Cap’n, what purpose does this plant have even though you want to launch a missile at them?”.  Simple:  They are nearly indestructible. Full sun? No problem.  Shady area?  They don’t care.  Lack of water? No problem. Nice flowers? Yep…for about 3 days until the wind snaps them off. Deer resistant?  Yep, even deer hate them. Nice foliage? If variegated green and yellow works for you, then definitely.  Basically, this is arguably the best low to NO maintenance plant in Michigan. Throw these into a blank area as a filler item, and you’ll have something to look at for years to come, just keep in mind that once you plant them, you’re probably going to be stuck with them for eternity.  For me personally, the plastic pots that they come in should be encased in concrete and stored here at the nursery in Block 36.  For those of you who don’t know where Block 36 is when you visit us:  that’s our drainage pond that’s about 15 feet deep. In my opinion, that’s the perfect place for them to exist.

CAP’S PRIMARY ARCH NEMESIS:  THE EIGHT-LEGGED FREAKS

Toomanyus Eyeballius

                Minions, I don’t fear many things. Snakes, clowns, enclosed places, heights, politicians, elevated mortgage rates, mimes, you get the idea.  I can coexist fairly enough with all of those common problem children, but your Cap’n does have a weakness, and the vast majority of my fellow coworkers (they’re Minions also, btw) and just about everyone that asks “Where is the Cap’n?” on social media knows exactly what it is: 

FRIGGIN’ SPIDERS!

                Ladies and gentlemen, evolution was having a VERY angry day when these creatures came into existence.  Maybe a meteor hit us that day, I don’t know.  I find them to be, arguably, the most brutal organism on Planet Earth. An old friend of mine that I worked with here for a long time asked as to why I have this hatred and fear of a little spider.  I then proceeded to tell him my point of view on these over-legged, over-eyeballed, and sometimes furry nightmarish monsters.  I just gave myself chills, and I haven’t gotten to the story yet. 

Picture this:  You’re a bug flying along looking for something to munch on during your few weeks of living when all of a sudden:  You stop abruptly.  You are stuck on a sticky web that you didn’t see.  Then you turn your head only to see an unidentified object with 8 eyeballs, 8 legs, and a couple of ginormous fangs speeding towards you, and there’s not a thing that can be done.  Well, if you’re in this scenario, at least it’ll be over quick, right?  Ohhhhhh Hell No! It bites you, but only paralyzes you.  THEN these evil, vile, sneaky trappers from Hades decide to start crocheting... with sticky thread…that originates from their ass… all over you.  Congratulations!  This abomination just turned you into a sweater. Thanks, Martha Stewart!  So now here you are: paralyzed, stuck in a web, you’re wearing a sweater in the middle of summer, feeling somewhat humiliated, and you’re not dead yet.  How can this get worse?  Along comes Demon Child again for a little snack… and you’re the snack.  Instead of hammering down and finishing you off like an 800-pound person at an all-you-can-eat buffet, it instead decides to sip on you like a Slurpee…for days... and during this whole time, the freakazoid is only getting LARGER. And hungrier.

                Fun stuff, right? Here’s some more for ya:  Some spiders have some pretty wicked poison to boot. Think about that:  A spider can cause significant damage to, or even kill, a PERSON with ONE BITE.  Wanna hear another fun fact?  DID YOU KNOW that the Daddy Longlegs spider is actually one of the MOST venomous spiders?  Fortunately for us, their fangs are so small that they can’t puncture our skin. With the way evolution goes, how long is that going to hold up?  I may be on my 104^th life by then, but it’s something to think about.  Anyhoo, I finished my story with my coworker, and I seriously think that I made him gain arachnophobia through my ramblings.  I did notice that he dusted the corners of his office a bit more often.

                “Cap’n, I want to obliterate every spider on the globe now!  They’re Brutal! They’re Evil! They can be deadly! Some are ENORMOUS!” How can they POSSIBLY have a purpose?”  As much as I hate to say it, we do need them.  Why?  They eat bugs, maybe like that damn Box Moth that’s causing some havoc around Michigan lately. It’s Nature's Insecticide!   As much as I want to stomp, drag, and smear them 6 feet underneath my boot, I do realize that if they don’t take out bugs, then our industry will suffer from various forms of insect contamination, damage, infestations, ect.  Sure, we can spray chemicals all day long, but the

 from arachnophobia.  After you walk through arborvitaes, get a face full of web, and notice that a fearsome, nightmarish creature with more eyeballs than you is staring back at ya, I have no problem making an appointment.

I was going to write about compost. I am such a huge fan. That rich nourishing smell of the earth, the way the steam rises off a warm rich freshly turned pile. Something I love and know a lot about! However, being that the release of this article (Nov 7), I thought I would try writing about something I know absolutely nothing about! Deer Season! That time of year when beards start to grow, the gear gets brought out, rifles get sighted, PTO that has been saved is about to be used, and the nursery is almost vacated of staff and customers.

What gives? I thought I would do a little research and see what all the hype is about. And boy did I learn a lot!

Of course, my immediate focus was ‘hunting and the challenges to the landscape’.  However, as I was educating myself on all things “whitetail”: scouting, the Rut, scrapes, rubs, food, disease, etc., I was totally intrigued by this thing called “hunting”! I get it!

Even though I couldn’t shoot or use a bow, the opportunity to be in the woods, the excitement in the air, and the camaraderie between fellow hunters must be an awesome experience. So why the decline in hunters? It was interesting to read about the decline and the ripple effect it has on the economy.

Public opinion has had a direct effect, and this year had the biggest decline in 30 years. Demographics have had a huge impact on the approval rating. Only 65% of African Americans approve of hunting, 61% of Hispanics, and 69% of people 18-39. The highest favorability was those who hunt regularly, shoot recreationally, fish, are male, caucasian, live in the Midwest or rural areas and are 35 years old or older.

The decline of hunters has vast funding issues for the state government. Fewer licenses being sold hurts state and federal programs. Hunting pumps hundreds of millions into conservation efforts. Unfortunately, without that funding, there is a less detailed approach to many programs. Most importantly, controlling and managing the herd!

As much as I like hearing my hunter friends bragging about that 8-point buck, it seems the responsible approach to managing the herd lies with the does. With the decrease in hunters, the deer population is rising. This increase in the deer population has many great concerns.

I could certainly continue in many different directions. I could go on about all the cool clothing and garb, best practices, safety, and even about programs aimed at building renewed interest in the sport. There is so much more to the sport then picking up a weapon and heading in the woods. Educate yourself, respect the landscape, and be mindful of the footprint you leave behind. Have fun and be safe!

But, most of all, good luck!

In late fall, besides the trees changing colors, you will also notice a change in your perennials. In this article, I would like to discuss fall perennial practices. Topics will include fall cleanup, which perennials should be cut back vs. which should not, perennial varieties that provide habitat for local wildlife, and how we close up the perennial greenhouses in the nursery. These tips should help with the overwintering process.

On the flip side, there are a few arguments for leaving some perennials in your garden alone. To protect the habitats of birds, and beneficial insects, you could consider not cutting Rudbeckia, Echinacea, Eupatorium or perennial sunflower. These seeds will provide food throughout the winter. If your home is close to wooded areas, meadows, or contains a brush pile, your garden may be even more habitat friendly. Some perennials that I would not cut back in the fall would be Asclepias, Ferns, Heuchera, and Dianthus. This is to protect the crowns during the harsh winter. Perennials are more cold-hardy when their stems are left intact. These stems can trap in snow, and work as an insulator for their crowns. A quick clean-up in the spring, and these will be just fine. The last reason why I would consider leaving some perennials be, would be their winter interest. Some stuff just looks awesome covered in snow! Species with stiff stems, or flat or cone-shaped dried flowers have a great winter look! Things like Sedum Autumn Joy, Ornamental grasses, or Echinacea Purpurea add to a garden’s winter beauty!

It is also not uncommon to line an entire house with some of those winter tolerant varieties to both save space, and act as a buffer for other material. We also have one heated structure that we use to protect our grasses (mainly Miscanthus, and Pennisetum varieties), from ever freezing. By keeping minimum heat on our grasses, we are ensuring a healthy, happy grass come spring.

Whether you are overwintering perennials in your landscape, or at your nursery there are many factors to consider. Moisture, temperature, snowfall, and sometimes just plain old luck are all factors that will determine how your perennials fare over a long winter. Keeping in mind potential winter damage, bird and insect benefits, and most importantly, what’s best for the plant, will ensure a seamless transition to the brisk winter days! Happy spring clean ups!

Sargent and Sargent Tina Crabapples are two of the most unique and reliable ornamental trees you can find. They offer beautiful colors year-round, are very low maintenance, and are great for wildlife. These Crabapples are extremely versatile, they can be used anywhere from focal points in gardens to lining driveways. Due to their dense and spreading growth habit, they can also work well as a privacy screen.

Sargent Crabapple’s growth habits make them unique. With dense winding branches that spread wide from the tree, they can provide a large canopy. If left unpruned branches may grow all the way to the ground providing a more shrub-like appearance. Sargent Tina is the smaller of the two varieties, they will grow to a height and width of about 5 feet. For this reason, they work better as an ornamental focal point in smaller landscapes. Sargents can grow to a height and width of about 10 feet.

Beautiful year-round, these crabapples both start with pink buds in the early spring that open to bright white blossoms covering the whole tree. As their flowers begin to drop they reveal a dense canopy of dark green leaves. The leaves will turn shades of gold in the fall before dropping and revealing a beautiful winding branching structure. In the fall the tree will also produce bright red fruits that are very attractive to birds and can persist into the winter.

Both varieties prefer full sun, regular moisture, and require minimal pruning. When planted the trees require regular watering until established. Once established they are relatively resistant to drought, insects, and disease. Pruning in late winter to remove dead, damaged, or unwanted growth is the best practice. This is also when it is easiest to see the full branching structure of the tree allowing you to shape and alter its irregular spreading growth habits.

If you would like to learn more about crabapples, check out Jacob's article from last year, Don't Worry, Be Crabby!

I’d like to re-introduce myself to you. I’m the Christensen’s App!

I know what you’re thinking, ‘not another app on my already overloaded phone (or device)’. Or you may have already downloaded me before and noticed that I had become irrelevant and outdated in the last few years.

If I've talked you into giving me a try, click here to find instructions for Android and iPhone. 

P.S. If you like what you see in the newly updated app, just wait for renovations coming to the website in the winter!

Do you know how to enlighten a brick?  That is a great setup for a dad joke!  I’m a dad, and I of course love horrible and cringe-worthy dad jokes.  But bad jokes aside, how do you light up a brick?  Why would you want to light up a brick?  Can a brick emit its own light?  These are some of the questions I hear on occasion.  Let me illuminate some answers to brighten up your knowledge.

The first question is ‘how?’  The easiest way to install lights is during the construction phase of the project.  This will give you the most choices and opportunities to strategically place the wiring for the fixtures.  However, you can still add lights to your preexisting project with some ease as well.  We offer brands like Alliance and Sollos lighting products at the Hardscape Center to give you a variety of choices.  We stock path, ledge, puck, up lights, and many more types and designs in a large array of styles and sizes to meet your needs.  We offer transformers that can power a small job like a walkway to the big 600-watt transformer to tackle the backyard yard party house capable of landing airplanes.  Do you know how many LED lights you can run with 600 watts of power?!?! (Just ask the hardscape team!)

The second question is the most fun and easy; why?  One of the biggest reasons is to extend the time you can utilize your outdoor living space.  Adding lights to a seat wall around a fire pit can add to the ambiance.  Add lights around a kitchen, bar, or even a water feature.  Just like the lighting around flower beds and trees with uplighting on them, adding light enhances their beauty at night.  Another great use of lights around brick projects is for safety.  A few well-placed lights may thwart a stubbed toe or prevent an accidental fall.  Lighting stairs, landings, and walkways are a great way to avoid these mishaps.  Lights can also highlight the areas you do not want to inadvertently go into like attached flower beds.  

Do you know that we have fixtures with color-changing, dimming & warm-cool settings & capabilities? The options for how the light emits from the fixtures are almost endless.

And, yes, there is a company that does make a brick that can emit its very own light.  It uses a glow-in-the-dark material that lasts for hours after dark.  It does not have an off switch, so it’s always on.  There are other styles of lights, some that can be installed directly into the brick by boring a hole through it.  Others have a concrete-colored plastic shell that looks like a brick but is a lighted fixture.  Some of these can be more challenging to install after the project has been completed, but it is not impossible.  Finding the right style and color for your area might be the hardest task of all.  Do you know that there is a tiki torch that has a light underneath it?!?

What if you don’t have any brick patios, walkways or garden walls?  Don’t feel like you’ll be left in the dark.  These same lights can be used on poured walls or pillars, placed around cement driveways and sidewalks.  Wall sconce and puck lighting work great to add lights to a porch or side of a garage.  What if you have a deck?  Do you know that these outdoor lights can be attached to almost every type of material available including wood, plastic, metal, and of course concrete?

We have come a long way since the start of landscape lighting, there are so many more styles, colors, and options.  The way technology keeps advancing, who knows what new and exciting products they will think of next?  If you want a good history lesson, I know a guy who has been installing lights for a few moments, our very own Dave Reutter.  So, if you have questions or concerns, give us a call or stop into the Hardscape or Plant Center here at Christensen’s.  We can help illuminate any questions and bring to light any concerns you may have about shining a little light on a brick or two.  As far as the enlightened brick goes, I don’t know the answer to that; nobody has shined any light on that subject yet.

I haven’t dropped a movie reference in some time now, but I thought it would be pretty appropriate for this article.  No, the Tumbler is not available for sale.

With landscape lighting fixtures, we all know that aluminum comes in black, plastic comes in black, you can get a Model T in any color, so long as it’s black (Henry Ford),  but did you know that Alliance Outdoor Lighting has expanded their ALREADY large assortment of gorgeous, aged brass fixtures to include… wait for it… Black! 

How many times have you presented these beautiful, nearly indestructible (yeah, their fixtures are no joke!) brass fixtures to your customer only to have them say:  “I really wanted them in black”.

Alliance listened, manufactured, and released their black overcoat product line just recently!

Alliance fixtures are STILL the solid brass fixtures that you already love, but this line has a permanent, textured finish that will not corrode or blister like aluminum fixtures.  Don’t believe them?  They back it with a lifetime warranty on the finish.

That’s confidence right there, folks!

When they tested these on the market, one bullet fixture (BL115-BLK) and one path fixture (PAL105-BLK) were released.  The demand was astronomical for these, so they added more.  A LOT more!  The line has expanded to:

Want to get a better idea of what is available? Follow this link! 

This has not expanded into their BT color change series yet, but my spies… well, my sales rep Joe, says it’s a work in progress.  Just think:  Even MORE options!

Their catalog expands with new releases every year, and sometimes there’s surprise additions that get released even sooner, so stay tuned for the latest updates to help illuminate your world.

As many of you have already noticed there has been a slight change at the Plant Center counter this year. After many years of dedicated service and taking with him an impeccable reputation, Jimmy decided to retire. Not seeing Jimmy when you first walked in may have come as a shock, but I do hope to fill his shoes and provide the same level of service as he did.

A little bit about me:
My name is David (yes, one of the many that work here – we currently have 5 ‘Daves’), and have been with Christensen’s for almost 10 years now. I started on the receiving crew and was quickly moved up to Crew Leader. After that, I made a brief stop in Hardscape yard operations. A few years ago, I was moved into Sales at the Plant Center (and began writing for Sticks & Stones!). For the past few years, I took a liking to the Counter and tried to learn as much from Jimmy as I could. I was lucky enough to be asked if I wanted to take over the position and jumped at the chance. Which brings us to this year.

Again, I am extremely open to any suggestions you may have as far as things you’d like to see brought into the store. Whether that be tools, fertilizer, or whatever you may like to see. I am here to better serve you.

This year marks 20 years that I have worked in the horticulture industry, the majority of it for a major brand that shall remain nameless, though I think you’ll figure it out. One of my favorite privileges of working for the brand network was meeting plant breeders. They are an eclectic bunch of people. From backyard breeders to corporate breeders, the only thing I can say most of them have in common is how humble they are about the accomplishment of bringing a plant to market. The brand I knew took a minimum of 3 years of trialing and only accepted 3% of those trialed for introduction. Which is why I was always awed when someone would gesture toward a person in a room and say “That’s so-and-so, they bred the (insert plant name here).” It was always someone else pointing them out because when you met the breeder, they would never mention it themselves.

Did you know that Christensen’s has our very own Rockstar? He’s too humble to mention it himself, but Jeff Good found a sport on his Weigela and has been working with the Proven Winners shrub division to bring it to market.

Bubbly Wine™ has bold, bicolor lime and deep green foliage with a petite, pretty pink flower. With a height of one and a half to three feet, but a width of two to three feet, Bubbly Wine is often a ball of color in the garden. Like all variegated plants, you may see some reversion to solid colors, but trials have shown this to be at a lower rate than most industry standards.