March 3, 2023
st patricks day inspired plants ftimg
by Jennifer McGuire
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St. Patrick’s Day Inspired Plants

When we think of St. Patrick’s Day, shamrocks, green carnations, and Bells of Ireland are ubiquitous on this day. Each leaf of a shamrock symbolizes hope, faith, and love, and if a fourth leaf is present, good luck. Bells of Ireland also represent good luck, while green carnations are popular for their vibrant color. There are, however, other plants, shrubs, trees, and conifers that have deep meaning and signify good fortune, luck, love, and prosperity. Some may surprise you!
December 14, 2022
2023 pantone color of the year viva magenta johnson's nursery plants wisconsin ftimg
by Jennifer McGuire
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2023 Color of the Year & Your Plants

2023 Color of the Year & Your Plants It’s that time of year again when the world eagerly awaits the announcement of the 2023 Color of the Year by Pantone. This is a great place to find inspiration for interior design, fashion, beauty, graphic design, and most important to us […]
November 30, 2021
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by Jennifer McGuire
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How to Attract Monarchs to Your Yard

How to Attract Monarch Butterflies to Your Yard With the addition of the Monarch butterfly to the Red List of Threatened Species and categorized as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), many people have asked us how they can help this beloved creature. While they face […]
October 31, 2021
2022 color of the year pantone very peri in your plants at johnson's nursery
by Jennifer McGuire
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2022 Color of the Year & Your Plants

2022 Color of the Year & Your Plants The last two years have been rough and there’s no doubt that we all have struggled in one way or another. We’re now looking at yet another Covid variant and sometimes it can feel like we just can’t catch a break. Despite […]
October 1, 2021
put the flip flops away but keep the hose out ftimg3
by Jennifer McGuire
Categories

Fall Watering

Watering Your Plants in the Fall no-repeat;center top;;auto0px The air has turned chilly, the sun is setting earlier, and the Pumpkin Spice Latte fanatics are in heaven. While shorts and t-shirts may have been begrudgingly traded for jeans and sweaters, it’s too early to put away the garden hose. Summertime […]
September 27, 2010
viette's little suzy black eyed susan rudbeckia speciosa ftimg
by Jennifer McGuire
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PLANT PROFILE:
Viette’s Little Suzy Black-Eyed Susan

Viette’s Little Suzy Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia speciosa ‘Viette’s Little Suzy’ Description & Overview With endless blooms from July through September, great disease resistance, and bright yellow, daisy-like flowers, Viette’s Little Suzy is a dependable perennial that brings a dose of happiness wherever it’s planted. This dwarf cultivar blooms all season […]
September 27, 2010
yellow coneflower ratibida pinnata wisconsin native perennial ftimg
by Jennifer McGuire
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PLANT PROFILE:
Yellow Coneflower

Yellow Coneflower Ratibida pinnata Description & Overview Native to dry prairies and savannas in Wisconsin, Yellow Coneflower is a striking plant, featuring vibrant yellow, slightly drooping florets that surround a skyward-pointing cone-like green center. Coarse, rough leaves on sturdy, long flower stalks contrast with its nodding and graceful heads that […]
September 27, 2010
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by Jennifer McGuire
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PLANT PROFILE:
Prairie Phlox

Prairie Phlox Phlox pilosa Description & Overview The German horticulturist Karl Foerster once wrote: ‘Life without phlox is a mistake.’ With their adaptability to many habits, fragrances, and color varieties, Phlox can find a home almost anywhere. More specifically, Prairie Phlox (Phlox pilosa) are easy-to-grow, low-maintenance perennials that flourish in […]
September 27, 2010
pennsylvania sedge carex pensylvanica wisconsin native grass ftimg
by Jennifer McGuire
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PLANT PROFILE:
Pennsylvania Sedge

Pennsylvania Sedge Carex pensylvanica Description & Overview Those of us contending with the shadier portions of our gardens may sometimes feel that we don’t have enough choices, particularly when it comes to ornamental grasses. But there is light at the end of the tunnel! While many types of grass typically […]
September 27, 2010
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by Jennifer McGuire
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PLANT PROFILE:
Blue Fortune Anise-Hyssop

Blue Fortune Anise-Hyssop Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’ Description & Overview Blue Fortune Anise-Hyssop packs a visual punch in the garden with its upright architecture and season-long color. Part of the Lamiaceae (mint) family, Blue Fortune Anise-Hyssop’s stems are enrobed with fuzzy leaves that have a pleasant licorice scent. Flower spikes are […]
March 24, 2010
prairie crabapple malus ioensis ftimg
by Jennifer McGuire
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PLANT PROFILE:
Prairie Crabapple

Prairie Crabapple is a Wisconsin native tree noted for its spectacular fragrant, pink to white flowers that bloom in mid-spring. Nectar and pollen attract myriad pollinators including honeybees, bumblebees, long-tongued bees as well as butterflies, and skippers. Fruit is greenish-yellow and beloved by wildlife.
March 15, 2010
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by Jennifer McGuire
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PLANT PROFILE:
Sweet Birch

Sweet Birch, a medium-sized tree, is best known for its beautiful, shiny black-brown bark and bright yellow foliage in the fall. Every part of the tree has a wintergreen fragrance, making it a standout in the landscape. Flowers, dainty catkins, bloom in spring, attracting many pollinators.
February 14, 2010
virginia bluebells mertensia virginica ftimg
by Jennifer McGuire
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PLANT PROFILE:
Virginia Bluebells

Virginia Bluebells are a beautiful Wisconsin native ephemeral bursting with pink buds and showy, bell-shaped sky-blue flowers that bloom in early to mid-spring. Foliage emerges deep purple but turns green, eventually dying back in summer with dormancy. Slightly fragrant, Virginia Bluebells are attractive to butterflies, skippers, hummingbird moths, flower flies, bee flies, and hummingbirds.
January 9, 2010
black gum native nyssa sylvatica ftimg
by Jennifer McGuire
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PLANT PROFILE:
Black Gum

Black Gum is a Wisconsin native tree with shiny dark green leaves that turn a spectacular scarlet red in fall. Pollinator-friendly, nectar from its flowers is sought after by bees, and tupelo honey is highly prized. Preferring moist to wet, slightly acidic soils, it's best to select a permanent site for this beauty as a long taproot makes transplanting very difficult.
January 5, 2010
elm-leaved goldenrod native solidago ulmifolia ftimg
by Jennifer McGuire
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PLANT PROFILE:
Elm-leafed Goldenrod

Elm-leafed Goldenrod is a beautiful Wisconsin native perennial with gracefully arching stems lined with tiny bright yellow flowers. Blooming from August through October, this pollinator-friendly plant attracts a profusion of short- and long-tongued bees as well as beneficial flies, wasps, and beetles. When flowers fade, seeds appear in abundance, providing songbirds and other wildlife with sustenance well into winter.
September 27, 2000
blue harebell bellflower campanula rotundifolia wisconsin native perennial ftimg
by Jennifer McGuire
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PLANT PROFILE:
Blue Harebell (Bellflower)

Blue Harebell Campanula rotundifolia Description & Overview Campanula rotundifolia, commonly known as Blue Harebell, are ethereal and whimsical, calling to mind Snow White skipping through a field plucking wildflowers for her posy. Paper-thin, small blue-violet bell-shaped flowers sit atop delicate stems, nodding and swaying in the breeze. Native to Wisconsin, […]