You may have seen this around your garden and home and thought “eeewwww”, what is that ugly thing? That, my dear, is a wheel bug and not to be feared unless they bite you. They are a generalist predator and love to feast on the dreaded spotted lantern fly, which is a good thing! Often known as assassin bugs they sport a dagger-like, piercing-sucking beak. They feast on something small like an aphid right up to something the size of a caterpillars. The wheel bug can reach up to 1 1/2 inches in length but don’t mess with them because if they bite you they can pack quite a punch. Avoid using broad-spectrum pesticides because this is one bug you want in your garden. We’ve posted photos of wheel bug eggs compared to the eggs of the spotted lantern fly so you can identify the one to seek out and destroy. Photos courtesy of U. of Md. Entomology Dept.

They’re back! Paperwhite and Amaryllis bulbs are in. Great gift item if you have a “non-gardener” (is there such a thing?) in your life. Add a pretty container and voila’, you have a gift that won’t break the bank. Enjoy the beauty of the Amaryllis, 3 to 4 stems with 4 to 6 blooms on each, and with proper care they should be repeat bloomers. The Kingsdene elves have been VERY busy so come on in and see what those little rascals have been up to.

Isn’t this pretty? Leaves changing on one of the Flame Thrower Redbuds (Cercis canadensis) in the nursery. Native, with light pink spring flowers with an ever-changing display of colorful foliage that continues all the way to fall. New foliage emerges burgundy, fades to yellow, and matures to green. A fantastic and stunning landscape specimen. Deciduous, likes full to part sun, generally matures at 10 years with a spread of 15 feet and a height of 15 to 20 feet.

Our Winterberry, Ilex Verticillata ”Red Sprite” is just stunning this year. Loaded with a profusion of bright red berries, this hardy deciduous shrub will definitely add a pop to the winter landscape and provide food for overwintering birds. Best part, it’s native! Use as foundation color, for a natural hedge, or in a shrub border for seasonal interest. An early-flowering male pollenizer such as Jim Dandy Winterberry is required for berry set. Both Red Sprite and Jim Dandy available in the nursery.

Little Henry, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. Meet Little Henry Sweetspire, Itea virginica. No muss or fuss with this one. Native to North America and pollinator friendly. Little Henry is a useful plant with lots of potential for your landscape. It prefers moist soils and will tolerate wet conditions. It will grow in full sun to full shade, and requires little pruning or other maintenance. Little Henry has lightly scented, pure white flowers that shoot like fireworks in the early summer. Looks great in a mixed border. Attracts butterflies and bees. Generally deer resistant. Grows 24 to 36″ in height and width, with a mounding habit. Just when you’re not expecting anything more, green summer foliage changes to a brilliant multitude of oranges and reds in the fall, making Little Henry a real stand-out. Available in 3 gallon containers in the nursery.

This little guy is definitely a “strike” and not a ”spare” , meet Mr. Bowling Ball Arborvitae. Unusual and attractive foliage this shrub will retain a compact globe shape with no pruning or trimming required. Adds a nice texture to your garden. Very low maintenance, great for a border. Available in the nursery in 3 gallon containers.

𝙒𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙮 “𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙜𝙤” 𝙛𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙗𝙤 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙫𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙪𝙥 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙚𝙖 𝙬𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙛𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙨 𝙩𝙤𝙤!

September! A sure sign we are moving into another season. A season filled with “renewals and refreshes”, and a great time for a little “R & R” for your garden and landscape. From plantings to patios, Kingsdene can transform your outdoor space and now is the perfect time. Give us a call at 410-343-1150 to schedule a consultation but don’t delay as our landscape schedule fills up quickly.