New For 2017!
We’re digging into the New Year with fresh new additions to our annuals, perennials, herbs, shrubs and trees! Beyond new plants, we’ve also got some exciting new projects going on here at the store. Our new phone app is exciting as it will bring you more information and rewards than anything we’ve done before.
Family First
As a third generation nursery we are excited that our 4th generation is still involved and engaged. Cameron Harvey spent this year attending Mass Academy and his workload was all about science, technology, engineering and math. That’s more than enough to keep anyone busy, but we know he’ll be back for some weekends this spring. Ellen Harvey is graduating from Lunenburg High School this spring so expect to see lots of her at the stores this summer. Emilee Bursch dipped her “green thumb” into the business this year too and you’ll meet her this spring!
Get Our App!
Apparently there is now an app for everything – including us! Our new Lakeview Nurseries app is designed to help you have more fun in the garden and at our garden centers. Each time you visit the garden center your purchase will be validated at the register and you’ll receive another ‘punch’. After 5 punches you’ll earn a reward! Click on the rewards tab and you’ll see all the rewards you’ve earned and all those you are eligible for.
Our app is more than just rewards. We’ve included a news feed to keep you up to date on all upcoming events, featured plants, gardening articles, videos and more.
Finally, use our ‘Ask Us’ feature to send photos and questions to our staff. Have a question about what kind of plant it is, have a pest that’s bugging you or lawn or plant disease you want to get rid? Use our ‘Snap & Send’ tool to get answers to all your gardening questions.
Download it now so it’s on hand when spring finally arrives!
It’s All About The Plants!
We really are all about plants! I’d love to list the new perennials you’ll find this spring, but Alec spent most of the fall out searching and ordering a list that’s too long for this blog. If you follow us on Facebook you’ve had a sampling of What’s New as he has posted videos all winter of the finds from nursery tours last fall. There is just so much to be excited about that I literally can’t wait for the first signs of spring!
The New Breed of Clematis – by Ray Evison
Raymond Evison Clematis are the result of 50 dedicated years searching, breeding and developing truly modern flowering clematis for today’s homes and gardens. Alec featured these clematis for 2016 and we couldn’t keep them in stock! For 2017 look for the full line of these amazing plants.These specialized Clematis are spectacular! Their blooms are larger and their bloom time is longer. Their care and pruning is very easy and many of them grow only 3-5′ and are ideal for containers.
Bushel and Berry Fruit
The Bushel and Berry varieties are completely changing the way we think about berry plants. They are breathtakingly beautiful and produce amazing fruit we can eat. For 2017 there will be seven new selections of these revolutionary berries! Developed by commercial fruit breeders to give high yields and great taste, they are super easy to grow and perfect for landscape or deck containers!
Downton Abbey Roses!
Whether you’re a true fan of PBS’s amazing historical fiction or a gardener looking for brand-new modern roses, you’ll be amazed with these Downton Abbey Roses! These exclusive rose bushes are each named for the Downton Abbey character that is captured by their essence. The original rose was inspired by the Lady Rose MacClare character on the show, Pretty Lady Rose shares many attributes with the show’s namesake such as elegance and strength. The deep-pink flowers on this Hybrid Tea bush are large (4 to 5 inches in diameter), with ruffled petals. The long-lasting blooms have a sweetly scented fragrance with hints of peonies and spices, similar to the perfume a noble woman from the Downton Abbey period might have worn. The plant is dressed with a gown of healthy, bright, medium-green glossy foliage. With her compact habit, this selection brings elegance to smaller spaces of the garden, and Pretty Lady Rose also looks great when grown in pots.
And 2017 will bring roses named Anna’s Promise, Violet’s Pride and Edith’s Darling!
Proven Winners!
Winter is always slow to let go of us here in Massachusetts, it’s often still snowing in April, but a good start to the gardening season involves planning out where you’ll put all the new introductions for this year! We focus on Proven Winner plants in our greenhouse production because they provide the WOW! Power in our hanging baskets and mixed containers. Annuals are the flower power behind every gorgeous garden, hanging basket and patio pot. They are showy, easy-to-grow favorites of both new and experienced gardeners. And when you choose Proven Winners annuals, you can count on having big beautiful blooms all season long with minimal care.
Alec and I spend a lot of time each summer and late fall touring greenhouses and gardens looking for what we want to offer the next year. There is always too much to pick from! Some of our favorites are the new Above and Beyond combination and the Backyard BBQ. We always love blending plants together to get the most out of textures, colors and contrasts.
Shrubs and Trees Too...
In the nursery you’ll find an expanded line of both Proven Winner shrubs, more First Edition plants, lots of new natives and even more fruit trees, including new hybrids! We’ve seen so many new introductions of spirea, weigela, hydrangea and buddleia that it’s hard even for us to keep track. These new plants offer longer flowering times, shorter growth habits and improved winter hardiness. These aren’t your grandmother’s old hydrangea (that maybe flowered every three years). The yard will soon be filled with rows of “I want that”! Stop in and see Rick, Alec and the nursery crew so they can show you their favorites.
Welcome Neighbors!
There’s a lot of activity going on around the main store in Lunenburg right now. Our newest and closest neighbor, Lunenburg Self Storage is set to open in March. Visit them at lunenburgstorage.com or drop by for a tour of the new facility!
Welcome also to Unitil who is moving their main office from the John Fitch Highway to a brand new facility located on the old Whalom Drive In site just down the road from us on Rt. 13. . We were honored to be featured in a video they produced under the Energy For Life series. You can find it on YouTube or follow this link. https://www.facebook.com/Unitil/?fref=ts
We really are excited about 2017 and have some great new announcements and surprises in store!
All our best,
Michelle and Team Lakeview
