If you follow our Sticks & Stones articles, you know that as a buyer, my job is to find beautiful plants for you at a reasonable price. I think I do a respectable job at it. Lately, I have had some physical issues that have kept me from walking around as much but the salespeople at the nursery aren’t yelling about anything, so I think I am doing a good job. When I do head out to look at what just came off a truck, some things I do not look at. I just know they are fab. MAGIC!! Just kidding! No not really. Some nurseries do grow certain products that are always to die for, some other items may not be their specialty, so they need to be looked at. It doesn’t matter what nursery they come from, if it is a “Oakleaf” Hydrangea I am all over it!

I have decided this is going to be Hydrangea year again. (A year where I focus on improving my selection in a certain plant) My goal is to find a nice potted Oakleaf! You are going to see some new flavors this coming year! My best hope is with a new cultivar named ‘Jetstream’. Coming in at 5-6’ tall, it’s claim to fame is sturdy stems. I have seen these in a “can” and they look good, the kind of good that makes you look twice and go ‘dang.’ I have seen them at different locations, and they all look good. I have high hopes for these. I have not heard of them being disease resistant, but I have not seen disease issues like ‘Alice’. To counter the trouble ‘Alice’ can cause, a couple of years ago I brought in some ‘Alice in Wonderland’, a 5x5’ Michael Dirr introduction. I have seen some large potted plants, and they are beautiful. I think what I like about these the most is the flowers (on very strong stems) stick out from top to bottom looking kind of like rockets. (Truthfully it reminds me of those centerpieces you get for the 4^th of July – not at all in a bad way!).

I have small handfuls of a couple of other cultivars incoming next year.

‘Toy Soldier’ Bet you thought it was a dwarf!?!? It’s not. It will only do 4-5 x 4-5’, but it is supposed to stand up like a “Toy Soldier” on very strong stems. I also have some ‘Snowcicle’ coming in next year. It has 12-15” long panicles of DOUBLE flowers on a plant that will do 5-6 x 5-6. It is also known for its strong stems.

You will still see ‘Pee Wee’ (4’), ‘Munchkin’ (3-4’) and ‘Sikes’ (2-3’) for dwarfs. The closest thing to a “dwarf” I have found so far is the “Toy Soldier’. I have not seen anything else in a new cultivar and truly dwarf. I do, however, plan on something new in the dwarfs soon!

This year, we had a special order for some Proven Winner ‘Gatsby Gal.’ It is a brand-new cultivar and maybe a fabulous landscape plant. However, I have yet to do a double-take when I see them in a pot. ‘Gatsby Gal’ is considered a dwarf at 4x4’. It has large white flowers on very sturdy stems. ‘Gatsby Pink’ (6’) opens white and quickly changes to pink. “Gatsby Moon’ is a large “Oakleaf” coming in at 8x8 with big white mophead flowers I am going to watch these; Maybe give them one more chance. Maybe!

P.S. To those who pay attention to such crap. This is 30 years and 2 full boxes of staples for me!

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.

What is more beautiful than Michigan in the fall? The colors around this time are brilliant! What can you do to bring that fall color home? You can consider some stunning fall-blooming perennials. One often overlooked aspect of perennial gardening is planting varieties with different bloom seasons- including fall. This is important because perennial blooms often have a short life span. Sometimes as short as two weeks! By keeping the seasons in mind when planting, you can ensure a captivating landscape with showy perennials all season long. Let me highlight my favorite fall-blooming plants and why they should be added to your next project.

Let’s start with an obvious one. An oldy but goody- the fall mum. Mums are perfect for fall because they bloom later in the season-August-October. This is usually around the time other perennials just finish their bloom cycle. Although there is debate on whether mums are perennial (best luck when insulated in the ground), they are also used in pots, or on porches for those spooky fall months. If dead-headed, you could extend the life of your mums to last the whole fall season. Available in red, orange, yellow, purple, pink, and white, fall mums will be arriving here at Christensen’s at any moment.

Another fall favorite is Anemone. Most Anemone varieties take some time in the spring to show any growth, so if you have some in the ground, do not fret if you do not see growth right away. There is an exception for the Anemone Sylvestris which is a spring blooming variety. The late bloomers don’t show color until around August and last through the fall. Varieties like ‘September Charm’, ‘Elfin Swan’, or ‘Robustissima' are a great choice. Ranging in color from white, pink to red, with adorable Daisy-like flowers, these are a perfect choice to fall.

Asters are another perfect option if you are looking for fall color. There are two different types of Aster- New York, and New England varieties. In general, New York Aster are shorter with thin  

The last plant I would like to highlight is Perovskia (Russian Sage). Perovskia comes in all shapes and sizes. Over the years, we have trialed many varieties to determine which can withstand the heat. One of the best varieties out there is the Perovskia Blue Jean Baby. Growing to 3x3 ft tall and wide, this one is great because it maintains it shape, and doesn’t get too floppy. These lavender flowers and silver foliage last all the way through fall. They also have a pleasant sage-like smell. Find varieties like Blue Jean Baby any time at the plant center.

In my job, the only thing worse than May is August. I must buy plants to sell now and next spring. It gets a little confusing sometimes (and we may end up with an extra group of plants right now or perhaps I put them on my spring order and they’re missing from the ‘now’ order!) Did I mention I also have to do my fall orders now – I kinda forgot about those!! After 29 years you would think I could handle this. I can’t (just in case you were wondering). I do, however, have a lot of backup at the nursery.

The worst part of this is; because spring is a screaming time of the year, I need to do the thinking now so later I can point and shoot on the fly! The problem is my decisions all depend on you! I must figure out what you are going to do so I can figure out what I am going to do! It is such a vicious circle! Some of you are thinking “who is this chick?” If she has been there for 29 years why haven’t I seen her?? You have. It is just that I am way older looking than you might remember! And, I am chained to my desk in deep thought (sending you a message about what you should do next year because I already had to make the decision).

It is the decisions! At this time of the year, I often come into work and announce that today is “no decision day”!! Sometimes days in a row are no decision days (I don’t think I have hit a whole week yet). I have noticed that this has become an annual (perennial?) thing! I have yet to have a day at work this year where I don’t have to make at least one decision! But I shall keep trying! Someday it will happen, I have faith.

So, I have already made a couple of decisions for you. I have a little time left to make changes – so if you have a problem with my decision, please see your nearest salesperson at Christensen’s and let them know!

Decision #1 MORE Hydrangea paniculata ‘Puffer Fish’. Wow, isn’t she awesome (It is a she because of the awesomeness!!) I was told it was a ‘BoBo’ on steroids. They weren’t kidding. The flower is far larger and more numerous than a ‘BoBo’, though the plant itself is nearly identical in size and shape. You may find these already in stock… (…if they’re not sold! They seem to sell as fast as I can order them.)

That’s probably all I have room for today. I didn’t get very far down my list. Maybe I will have a part two article coming up with more sneak peeks at my decisions!

P.S. I have been at work this am for 1 hour and have had to make 5 maybe 6 decisions already!! Tomorrow is definitely going to be a no-decision day.

Bzzzzzzwhzzzzz….SWAT!!

Another ’skeeter gets smacked, leaving your blood and her guts on your sleeve.

We all love to hate them. They’ve ruined countless outdoor summer gatherings, left me with sleepless nights whilst camping, and can make working outside a nightmare. Do these flying parasites actually do any good for this world?  Should we wish for a perfect eradication method so we never have to hear that buzzing sound again?

Mosquitoes are pollinators. Flower nectar is actually their main source of food. Many of our garden vegetables enjoy being pollinated by mosquitoes, as well as wetland and prairie plants. Are you a fan of chocolate? If so, perhaps you will look at mosquitoes a little differently, as they are the main pollinator of cacao trees!

The females only need a small amount of blood to develop the proteins casings for their eggs. The rest of their time they spend flying around your garden and surrounding areas looking for flowers.

Mosquitoes are a food source for bats, dragonflies, and several birds, such as hummingbirds

The impact of mosquito larva in aquatic environments is difficult to measure, but is significant. They spend their time eating away at detritus matter, cleaning up ponds of decaying leaves, expelling their waste for beneficial microbes to consume.  Mosquito larva biomass makes up a large portion of some fish’s diet. Backyard pond fish and all smaller wild fish eat mosquito larva, providing a strong base in the food chain that feeds larger game fish for sportsmen.

If you want to have fewer mosquitoes in your yard keep your grass well-cut and thick bushes away from your entertaining areas. (This helps with ticks, as well)  Look for places where water may collect and remain still for a period of time so they cannot breed in the puddles. Eliminate empty pots and flip wheelbarrows upside down so they cannot collect water. Childrens toys,  buckets, garbage can lids, even plastic bags that have blown into the yard may collect water.   Fix lawn drainage problems for your customers.  It only takes five days for a mosquito to develop from an egg to a biting adult, so consider any standing water a breeding ground.

... And how they might affect you.

Recently, we’ve had a little bad luck related to our Dump Truck. If you read our article in June, “Making Lemonade Out of Lemons”, you’ll know that we found ourselves in a position of learning about an unfamiliar way of delivering. The truck and dump trailer were a new experience for us, so we had to do some research to be sure we knew how to be safe and legal on the roads.

We didn’t expect to learn as much as we did and realized it might save you, our customers, a lot of stress and hassle to have a refresher on carrying bulk, plants, and hardgoods on Michigan roads.

Let’s start with the definition of a Commercial Vehicle: “…includes all motor vehicles used for the transportation of passengers, for hire, or constructed or used for the transportation of goods, wares or merchandise…” Most of our customers have vehicles that transport goods, wares, or merchandise. I haven’t met a customer yet that relies only on deliveries from us alone. So, all of you have “Commercial Vehicles”, which means you have “Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers”. Definition, “Any person (including the owner of a company) who operates a commercial motor vehicle.” And the final definition in my list is the GVWR, Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, the value specified by the manufacturer to be the safe loaded weight of a single vehicle. These are the basics, which, likely, you already know.

Here is what you may not know…

This means that our Chevy 2500 towing our Load Trail for business purposes requires a CDL-A driver.  In researching our new dump trailer, we discovered that most of the tandem axle trailers being marketed to contractors have a gross vehicle weight rating at or just over 10,000 lbs.

So, what are the consequences if you’re caught with higher-rated vehicles driven by an under-licensed driver? You get “red-flagged”, meaning you must park your rig where it sits until you have a legal driver to move it.

The good news is that being pulled over just to check that the driver is licensed for the GVWR rarely happens. The bad news is that being pulled over for other infractions can be compounded by an under-licensed driver. One of the most common ways to attract unwanted attention is to have your load incorrectly restrained. This means that tarping and using the correct straps for tying down your load is critical. And that… is a whole other article.