Summer Sale and Other McArdle's Happenings!

It’s my favorite time of year in Greenwich – Sidewalk Sale is here! Greenwich Avenue is packed with people, cars and bargains. While you’re downtown, make sure you stop by McArdle’s and check out our Summer Sale on past-bloom perennials. We have some fabulous deals on healthy plants. I’ve got my eye on a gorgeous tree peony. Although it’s done blooming for this year, the show it will provide in May will make up for it.

Looking for something with instant gratification? Treat yourself to a bouquet of cut flowers! I love bringing the outdoors in this time of year, and nothing says summer to me like a vase full of hydrangeas. Join our (free!) Frequent Flower Club and you will instantly receive 20% off our entire stock of loose cut stems (excludes arrangements and out of town orders) for the upcoming year.

McArdle’s is also proud to announce our partnership with Red Clover Farms (located in nearby Seymour, CT) and their Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, by serving as a pickup location for Kimberly’s amazing, organically grown produce. Be sure to check out the farm’s blog, filled with lots of delicious, nutritious and seasonal recipes! Today’s pickup included farm-fresh blueberries, peppers, cucumbers, leeks, and much, much more. My dinner will definitely include some of those cold, refreshing ‘cukes. If I'm feeling really refreshed, I might fix a blueberry fool for dessert if I can stand being in the kitchen long enough to whip the cream (it’s way too hot to even think about turning on the oven for a cobbler). Give us a call at (203)-661-5600 or email me for information on how to sign up!

What Greenwich event do you look forward to each year?

It's Not Too Late!

This spring was a slightly unusual one here in Greenwich – it seemed as though the cool, rainy days of April went straight through to the hot and humid days of mid-July, without any of the temperate spring days we’ve come to expect for perfect planting. There were way too many days in May and June that I decided were too cold or too hot, too damp or too dry, too rainy or too sunny to go out and dig. The results of all my excuses are a collection of empty pots on my patio and beds with gaping holes. Luckily, it’s not too late!

As far as those holes are concerned, I’ve got a plan that includes lots of perennials. We have some beautiful ones in our nursery area. I’m particularly drawn to the Lavender plants pictured at top. The soft gray tones of their foliage and the pale purple blossoms are lovely, but the real prize is their amazing scent. I’m looking forward to planting them in the early evening one night this week (when the temperature drops a bit – better for me and for the plant!), along with a few Platycondon ‘Astra Blue,’ or Balloon Flower (pictured above). Their airy lightness adds an element of fun to my perennial border!

Another perennial favorite is Echinacea, or Coneflower. My mom always had the traditional mauve colored ones in her garden, but I’m thinking of adding some of the newer varieties, such as the bright yellow ‘Now Cheesier’ (pictured above) and a bright magenta ‘Fatal Attraction.’ As long as I water them thoroughly both before and after planting and give them the full sun they require to thrive, I will be enjoying their blooms for the next few weeks – and of course, again next year!

Hostas, above, are another great choice. While they are reaching the end of their bloom time, the lasting foliage is my favorite characteristic. They’re a great plant that provides lots of drama for the edge of a wooded area or any other shaded place. I love seeing different varieties planted en-masse; the overall effect is simply stunning.

Sedums are another fun option. I’m going to be planting some this week in an old strawberry pot that was passed down from my grandmother. When it belonged to her, she always used it to plant Sempervivum, or Hens and Chicks. I’m going to mix it up a bit this year and include Sedum pachylados, above, and some of the more trailing Sedum siedboldii ‘Mecliovariegated,’ below. Requiring lots of sun and a minimal amount of water, the drought-tolerant succulents are a great choice to carry me through the dog days of summer! For those who may not have their grandmother's strawberry pot or are looking for a great, unusual gift, we have some great containers already potted and ready to be delivered.

One of the benefits to my procrastination? Many of our past-bloom perennials are currently on sale for 50% off! Located towards the bottom of our driveway, you’ll find many varieties of strong, healthy plants that have finished blooming for this year but will be back again next year. I’ve got my eye on some great varieties of daylilies, or Hemerocallis, that may have to be added to my shopping cart. As always, you can stop in to see our most current selection, or simply give us a call or email me!

What gardening tasks did you put off this spring because of the weather?