Hillendale Perennials

08/07/2024

ROADSIDE SELF-SERVE OPEN TODAY - Available at the roadside today (Thursday): Pots of Sunflowers ($10ea.), Patio Pots of Marigolds ($15ea.), & Giant Pots of Basil ($15ea.). NOTE: Our Nursery is open on Fridays from 12noon to 4pm with our full plant offerings: potted herbs (basil, cilantro, dill, parsley, oregano, etc.), potted salads greens (lettuce, spinach, methi greens, etc.), pots of sunflowers, patio pots of marigolds, grape vines, butternut trees, rhubarb plants; plus we still have perennials available including: swamp milkweed, black-eyed Susans, ornamental grasses, sweetgrass, astilbes, daylilies; etc. "OUR PLANTS ARE SO FRESH AND BIG; WHEN YOU SEE THEM, YOU WILL PROBABLY QUESTION YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE UNIVERSE (or at lest the plant part of it)!"

08/06/2024

08/05/2024

"A Caterpillar-ectomy"? We did around a dozen successful 'caterpillar-ectomies' today. We presently have a lot of Monarch Butterfly Larvae on our Swamp Milkweed plants in our gardens, but also on some of the container-grown Swamp Milkweed plants in our production and retail areas of our nursery. When we bring pots of Swamp Milkweed up to our retail nursery we inspect them for Monarch Butterfly Larvae. We also check the plantts in the retail nursery periodically; plus we inspect them before we load them onto the truck to take to the Truro Farmers' Market. Although the larvae seem to hold onto the leaves quite securely; we are always worried that they might end up falling off, or getting knocked off during handling. Sometimes the larva is on a leaf that is precariously dangling because it ate away much of the leaf attachment area. Hence the 'Caterpillar-ectomy'. We remove the leaves with the larvae on them, and re-locate them to leaves on plants in our gardens. We always check them half an hour later to make certain they haven't fallen off their new 'home'. AND YES; WE HAVE LOTS OF POTS OF SWAMP MILKWEED STILL AVAILABLE!

08/02/2024

'BERT' DWARF POTTED SUNFLOWERS & 'GOLDSTURM' BLACK-EYED SUSANS - We will have over 50 pots of these two at tomorrow's Truro Farmers' Market along with over 200 pots of other perennials, herbs, salad greens, butternut trees, rhubarb, etc. "It's good to be green...or yellow"!

08/02/2024

WE NOW HAVE OUR POTTED DWARF SUNFLOWERS AVAILABLE - Our first batch of container-grown dwarf (20" tall) sunflowers have just started to bloom. They are available at the Nursery during our open hours tomorrow (12noon to 4pm), and at this week's Truro Farmers' Market (Saturday: 8am to 1pm). They will also be available on Sunday at our roadside self-serve table. Price = $10 per pot at all locations. NOTE: During the month of August our Nursery is only open on Fridays from 12noon to 4pm. FURTHER NOTE: Product presently available includes landscape perennials, ready-to-start-harvesting potted herbs and salad greens, potted dwarf sunflowers, marigold patio pots; along with butternut trees, rhubarb plants, and grape vines.

07/31/2024

SOME DAYS WE ALL NEED A LIFT UP! Flynn is a 4 month old Pygmy goat and he loves apple leaves; preferably right off the tree. NOTE OUR AUGUST NURSERY HOURS: Open on Fridays only, from 12noon to 4pm. We are also at the Truro Farmers' Market on Saturdays from 8am to 1pm.

07/30/2024

Irrigating The Perennial Production Nursery Early This Morning - Our perennial production areas are irrigated with sprinklers whereas our retail areas are hand/hose watered. For the sprinkler irrigated areas we pump from 3 ponds. On dry years we are usually pumping from the 3rd pond by the 1st of August; however, this year all 3 ponds are mostly full.

07/30/2024

INTRODUCING FLYNN; THE NEWEST MEMBER OF HILLENDALE PERENNIALS' COMPOST PRODUCTION TEAM. Flynn (photo #1) is a very small 4 month old Pygmy Goat. He is especially fond on apple leaves, grape leaves, raspberry leaves and baby kale leaves. For comparison in size, photo #2 shows Flynn with Toby (an adult Pygora Goat). The rest of the 7 member Hillendale Perennials' Compost Production Team includes: Big Olaf and Little Olaf (photo #3), Crispy, Chewy, Toby (again), and Corbin (photo #4). Photo #5 - goat manure compost.

07/26/2024

Déjà Vu; OPEN HOUSE GARDEN TOUR DAY #2! Our gardens are again open today (12noon to 4pm) for self-guided 'follow the arrows' tours. There are about 700 feet of paths that wind throughout the gardens. You will see lots of colourful flowers and foliage; however, it's the daylilies that are presently putting on the greatest show. You should also see bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Our Nursery is open and we have lots of basil, cilantro, parsley, dill, etc., along with perennials, including swamp milkweed, daylilies, black-eyed Susans, etc. In addition we also have grape vines, rhubarb plants, butternut trees and other stuff! NOTE: We accept cash and e-transfers. Photo: Astilbes in the gardens this morning.

07/24/2024

BUTTERNUT TREES, METHI GREENS; & OTHER STUFF - We presently have available: 'Hidcote' English Lavender, Swamp Milkweed, 'Lies and Lipstick' Daylily, Butternut Trees, Grape Vines, Herb Patio Pots (Thyme/Oregano/Sage), 'Ms. America' Mizuna (Mustard Greens), and Methi (Fenugreek) Greens; along with lots of other perennials and potted herbs & salad greens. OPEN this week on Thursday and Friday (12noon to 4pm). During these 2 afternoons only; our gardens are also open to stroll through, via a self-guided 'follow the arrows' OPEN HOUSE TOUR. NOTE: We only accept cash and (auto-deposit) e-transfers.

07/22/2024

OUR OPEN HOUSE IS THIS WEEK! During our regular 12noon to 4pm Open Hours this week on Thursday (July 25) and Friday (July 26) we are having our Summer Open House where visitors to the Nursery can take a stroll along the 700 feet of paths throughout our gardens. You will see a large variety of perennials, shrubs, and trees throughout the gardens; however, the 'biggest colour show' at this time of year are the daylilies. Our 'Open House Plant Special' this year will be Swamp Milkweed @$10 per pot for both our 3 and 4 litre pots which are normally $12 and $14, respectively. (To avoid any potential traffic congestion; please enter by the 'Hillendale Perennials' roadside sign and leave by the far driveway.) NOTE: There is no entrance fee, nor any requirement to purchase plants, in order to visit the gardens. (Photos: In the gardens yesterday.)

07/20/2024

AT TRURO FARMERS; MARKET - Saturdays; 8am to 4pm - We recommend early arrival for the best selection/availability since we sell out of most products.

07/19/2024

'PANSY FACE CHARMER' DAYLILY - The flowers of this daylily cultivar somewhat resemble giant yellow and maroon-coloured pansies. This has always been one of my favourite daylily colour combinations. 'El Desperado' Daylily also has the same colour combination and it has always been on my favourite daylily list. 'Pansy Face Charmer' grows to 2 feet in height. This cultivar is a rebloomer. We have 'Pansy Face Charmer', and many other delightfully colouful daylilies cultivars, presently available, along with lots of other fresh-looking perennials. In addition; we have lots of potted basil, cilantro, arugula, dill, baby kale, etc; a new fresh batch every week.

07/17/2024

HUMMINGBIRDS can travel at speeds of up to 30 to 60 miles per hour. With an average wing beat of 50 per second, you can basically 'see through' their wings with the camera (photo #1). Red-flowered 'JACOB CLINE' BEE BALM is the hummingbird's favourite landscape perennial. Our 3rd batch of 'Jacob Cline' plants is now ready; our nursery is open (during July) on Thursdays and Fridays from 12noon to 4pm. (During August we are open on Fridays only, from 12noon to 4pm.) We are also at the Truro Farmers' Market every Saturday (8am to 1pm). We will have 'Jacob Cline' available at both locations for the next few weeks.

07/15/2024

'Mexican Fiesta' Daylily flowers are orange with dark red eyes and bright yellow throats. Up to now this year, 'Mexican Fiesta' and 'Princess Diana' have been our 2 top selling new(er) daylily varieties. We have both still available, along with numerous other outstanding cultivars.

07/12/2024

DON'T WORRY; BE HAPPY....: Hillendale Perennials Secretive April 1 Production, Marketing, and Plant Psychology Division long ago learned that for plants to be happy they must be well fed and watered; and generally just well cared for. We also learned that our plants are much happier, if they get to travel a bit. Throughout our production and marketing season, every plant that we grow gets moved, on average, around 7 times. And to make them even happier, we also give many of them truck rides. Can't you just imagine their smiles? Photo: Fifty +/- pots of herbs and salad greens off on an adventure. NOTE: We have available an excellent supply (every week a new batch) of basil, parsley, dill, lettuce, cilantro, thyme, oregano, etc., along with a large selection of landscape perennials just waiting to go on a road trip!. Available at our farm/nursery on Thursdays and Fridays from 12noon to 4pm and every Saturday at the Truro Farmers' Market from 8am to 1pm.

07/10/2024

NOW AVAILABLE: 'Princess Diana' Daylily (photo) along with numerous other daylily cultivars; PLUS, scores of other varieties of perennials covering the alphabet: Artemisia, Baptisia, Chelone, Darmera, Echinacea, Filipendula, Geranium, Heliopsis, Inula, ........Veronicastrum. NOTE: Open Thursdays and Fridays from 12noon to 4pm throughout July. We are also at the Truro Farmers' Market every Saturday from 8am to 1pm with our perennials and potted herbs and salad greens.

07/05/2024

DEER ALERT, DEER ALERT! Two days ago; Hillendale Perennials’ Secretive April 1 Production, Marketing, and Deer Surveillance Division responded to a motion detector deer alarm, signalling a bridging of the western perimeter of Hillendale Perennials’ Great Deer Fence. Repairs were quickly carried out, and the 3 deer were severely scolded; particularly the mother (in photo) who jumped the partly down 8’ foot fence and naughtily entered Hillendale Perennials’ deer exclusion zone. All is now right with the Universe.

07/05/2024

CULVER'S ROOT (Veronicastrum) is an elegant looking perennial which adds strong structure and gentle airiness to the sunny perennial border. It is not well known by a lot of gardeners. The leaves are arranged in whorls around the length of sturdy 5 to 6 foot stems. Flowers are arranged in candelabras-like flower racemes for the species and most cultivars. However, the cultivar ‘Apollo’ has straight unbranched racemes. Veronicastrum is extremely hardy and long flowering (July and August); plants prefer full sun. The North American species of Culver’s Root (Veronicastrum virginicum) has a normal distribution range throughout the eastern half of continental United States, and southern areas of the provinces of Ontario and Manitoba. Bumblebees (photo #1) are especially fond of this plant!

07/04/2024

'JACOB CLINE' BEE BALM - Our second batch of 'Jacob Cline' Bee Balm is now available. If you have 'Jacob Cline' in your garden, you will have Hummingbirds; it's their favourite perennial. Plants grow to 4 feet in height, have long lasting 'jester hat-like' red flowers, and prefer full sun and good soil drainage. JULY NURSERY HOURS? 12noon to 4pm on Thursdays and Fridays only. NOTE: We are also at the Truro Farmers' Market every Saturday (8am to 1pm) with a large selection of perennials and large pots of herbs and salad greens.

07/03/2024

JULY HOURS: THURSDAYS AND FRIDAYS - 12noon to 4pm. We are also at the Truro Farmers' Market every Saturday from 8am to 1pm. Photo: 'Fuego' Helen's Flower (Helenium autumnale 'Fuego'.

07/01/2024

HOURS & PAYMENT? HOURS for the MONTH OF AUGUST are as follows: Only open on Fridays only from 12noon to 4pm. (NOTE: We only accept cash and e-transfers.) Photo: YELLOW WAXBELLS (Kirengeshoma) - This extremely unique perennial sets itself apart from other perennials in a number of ways. Most woodland/shade garden perennials bloom in the Spring or early Summer. Kirengeshoma blooms in late Summer. Plants grow to a height and width of around 2.5 to 3 feet. Flowers appear as tubular sulphur-yellow 2 to 2.5 inch long bells, rising above the toothed green maple-shaped leaves. Although plants will grow in full sun; both flower buds and open flowers are damaged if sun-exposed; hence this is one perennial that must have constant light shade to medium shade. We have been growing Yellow Waxbells for over 20 years and still have some pots remaining.

06/30/2024

‘DOUBLE PARDON ME’ & HOLY ‘SCHNICKEL FRITZ’! We must apologize for our rather modest offering of daylily cultivars. We typically only produce between 15 and 20 daylily cultivars each year, (although we do have around 60 or 70 daylily varieties in our gardens). Those numbers make us feel rather inadequate in the Daylily World, since there are reportedly over 70,000 cultivars in existence. New cultivars are being added yearly. That begs the question: ‘Does the World need another daylily variety?’ ....... Gotta go now; I’ve now got the urge to Google Harbour Breezes Daylilies and Japanese Irises (harbourbreezes.ca) to check out Allan Banks’ new daylily creations. We don't produce and sell any of Allan's introductions but we have many of them in our gardens. (PHOTOS: #1 ‘Double Pardon Me’ Daylily; #2 ‘Schickel Fritz’ Daylily.) We presently have those 2 varieties available, along with: ‘Joviality’, ‘Mexican Fiesta’, ‘Lies and Lipstick’, ‘Princess Diana’, ‘Pansy Face Charmer’, ‘Ruby Stella’, ‘Band of Fire’, ‘Rosy Returns’, ‘Happy Returns’, ‘Stella d’Oro’, ‘Hanalei Bay’, ‘Magnificent Rainbow, ‘Lavender Blue Baby’, 'Born in California'. and ‘Tiger Blood’ (17 cultivars in total with an excellent range of flower colours.)

06/30/2024

UMBRELLA PLANT (Darmera peltata) is a very ‘tropical-looking’ perennial. Plants flower in the Spring (Photo #3) before the leaves emerge. The pink flowers are arranged in round clusters on the top of stalks that eventually can reach 3 feet. Individual leaves are 12" across. (Photo #2) Plants can grow to a height of 4-5 feet. (Photo #1). Darmera is very hardy; in Nova Scotia it prefers constantly moist soil in full sun but will grow well in part/light shade; again, if the soil is moist. This perennial is sometimes mistaken for Gunnera, which is a Canadian Hardiness Zone 7 or 8 plant which can only be grown in NS with special care/protection. Darmera is a Canadian Hardiness Zone 4 plant; hence is hardy anywhere in the Province. NOTE: We have this perennial presently available but in limited supplies.