I am going to do a monthly journal to tell you about some of my favorite shrubs, perennials and when the time comes – annuals. But first let me introduce myself and tell you a little bit about how I got into the nursery business.
My name is Joanna. I started showing interest in the nursery industry my freshman year in high school. My teacher at the time got me a job at a Martin’s Nursery. I remember still to this day how nervous I was. I knew nothing about plants. It was not till my junior in high school how much I liked what I was doing. So my junior and senior year of high school I went to auburn career center, for horticulture.
I loved learning about plants and what was good and not to plant and where to put it. Still working at Martin’s after school and on weekends I was learning so much. So I graduated from high school and auburn career center. But I was not done I went on to do some community college classes at Lakeland. I got my certification there and went on working at Martin’s. I worked at Martins for 20 years until sadly they closed their business.
But like they say, one door closes and another one opens. And now you know – I work at Sabo’s Woodside Nursery as their Retail Assistant Manager.
Pieris japonica ‘Mountain Fire’
My first plant I like to talk about is japonica ‘Mountain Fire.’ This plant has so many great qualities. It’s an evergreen that gets little white flowers in the spring and its new growth comes out like a fire red color. Its gets 4 to 8 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet wide and is a slow grower. This evergreen does not like wet feet. It likes well drained soil (most evergreens don’t like wet feet) it will grow in full sun to part shade.
This lovely evergreen is deer resident and can be used by itself or as a border plant. You can prune immediately after the blossoms fade, generally around April. You don’t want to trim any later then when the flowers are done because you will be taking next year’s bloom off. Also by trimming your Japonica you can prevent new growth again and get to see your firing red foliage again.
We here at Sabo’s Woodside Nursery carry this lovely shrub.
Thank you I hope you enjoyed my first Joanna’s Journal, look for monthly.