Justin W. Hancock

Horticulture on a Grand Scale

Written on August 11, 2011 at 6:11 am , by Justin W. Hancock

A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to visit the folks at Bailey Nurseries in Minnesota. Perhaps best known for being the company behind Endless Summer hydrangeas, Bailey is a large wholesale company that does virtually everything big.

It’s amazing going to their growing fields and seeing thousands of plants in blocks, ready to be shipped off to garden centers around the country. Below is a block of gorgeous Endless Summer hydrangeas in their prime. They extend almost as far as the eye can see — and this is just one section. There are other sections like this of just about every variety they sell, including their roses. A block of hundreds of roses is breathtaking!

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I also had the great luck to see some newer varieties on the market — again, in their prime. Here’s ‘Pink Double Delight’ coneflower (which I love; it’s a fantastic performer in my garden!) — again this isn’t a planted bed, these are all individual pots.

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The Bailey Nurseries staff also let me see their gorgeous display gardens where they test out varieties before they sell them. Instead of planting everything in organized rows, though, the company let their staff have a little fun with garden design and created several acres of lush plantings. It was a feast to the eyes!

Wordless Wednesday!

Written on August 10, 2011 at 5:13 am , by Justin W. Hancock

It’s Wednesday…that means time to show off some fantastic photos from the BHG Share My Gallery.

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Wordless Wednesday

Written on July 20, 2011 at 5:54 am , by Justin W. Hancock

It’s Wednesday…that means time to show off some fantastic photos from the BHG Share My Gallery.

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Vegetable Garden Controversy

Written on July 14, 2011 at 5:55 am , by Justin W. Hancock

I admit that I’m a follow-the-rules kind of guy. I was raised with the belief that rules largely exist to help us know what kind of decision to make when we’re confused, to keep the world in order, and to prevent us from falling into deep, inescapable chaos.

But when I read the story of Julie Bass in Oak Park, Michigan, I silently gave her a thumbs up.

Julie Bass’ story is an interesting one: According to what I’ve read, she’s being threatened with a misdemeanor crime for violating city code and having a front yard vegetable garden instead of more traditional lawn and shrubbery.

Personally, I don’t find the pictures I’ve seen (view for yourself here) particularly unattractive. It’s not the most traditional approach to front yard landscape design, but it’s certainly not bare earth. And it’s not the first time I’ve heard of growing vegetables out front; in fact, you can see a picture of a front yard that incorporates herbs and vegetables in a front yard right here on BHG.com.

So what do you think? Is this brouhaha over nothing — should she be fined and forced to move her vegetable garden out back and replace it with lawn? Or should she be cheered for doing something a little different? Share your comments!

Lovely Living Walls

Written on July 7, 2011 at 5:52 am , by Justin W. Hancock

Des Moines may be the largest city in Iowa, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s pretty small.  That’s one of the things about traveling to larger cities exciting: You get to see more trendy new things.

I recently added another item of my list of things to see: The new living wall at the Embassy Suites in downtown Chicago. Installed by Ambius interiorscaping, it’s a 720-square-foot wall that features some 3,800 plants, including ‘Neon’ pothos, rabbit’s-foot fern, and Rex begonias.

It’s a perfect solution for a hotel lobby — the plants help cut down on noise, help cool the air in summer, and add valuable humidity in winter. Plus, it cleans the air as many indoor plants are great scrubbers of indoor air pollutants.

It’s also perfect for a home (though not quite on this scale!). By using systems such as Bright Green trays, you can create your own vertical work of art. Imagine how much fun it would be to have a living wall like this hanging in your living room, or growing herbs in this manner in your kitchen!

Image courtesy Vorticom, Inc.

Wordless Wednesday!

Written on May 18, 2011 at 5:15 am , by Justin W. Hancock

It’s Wednesday…that means time to show off some fantastic photos from the BHG Share My Gallery.

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How’s your spring garden looking? Show it off AND win a chance to grow a new-for-2011 Hydrangea Endless Summer Bella Anna from Bailey Nurseries. Enter our photo contest today!