Nanshan America AAT

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One of GardenArt’s most prestigious clients is Nanshan America Advanced Aluminum Technologies in Lafayette, Indiana. This plant is the company’s first US manufacturing site.

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Nanshan America AAT, being new to the community, wanted to have an immediate positive impact in the region and establish itself as a genuine community partner to all. GardenArt worked with Nanshan’s Development Team, Link Management and several other trades to accomplish that goal in the overall appearance of their entire property.

This project is unique in many ways for GardenArt. First, the scope, size and time table sets it apart from most other GardenArt projects. GardenArt created an overall landscape design for Nanshan that covers more than 50 acres and will be implemented in phases. The project includes several large and mature trees — some 20 years old and measuring 20 to 30 feet tall (8 inch caliper). Second, the GardenArt design for Nanshan also includes a pond that enhances the landscape of the entire area and greets guests at the entrance of their property. Finally, the pond area introduces native plant species as well as a fountain.

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Last summer for the plant opening, GardenArt designed and installed all of the trees, plants, and gardens at the new facility in Lafayette. GardenArt planted more than 20,000 native plant plugs including a wide variety of native wild flowers and grasses (forbs and graminoids).

This summer, GardenArt will add the water fountain to the Nanshan pond. Photos of the fountain installation will be posted soon.

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To see more photos of the GardenArt installation at Nanshan, click HERE.

To read more about the GardenArt installation at Nanshan, click HERE.

To see a list of the plants, flowers and grasses planted by GardenArt at Nanshan, click HERE.

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The easiest way to set up a meeting with the GardenArt team to discuss your vision for improving your outdoor living space is to fill out the simple GardenArt contact form, click HERE. Do it today!

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Join GardenArt online and help us — Make Customers for Life.

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West Lafayette Landscape Architects & Designers

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Plant of the Week — It’s a Mystery!

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GardenArt’s Plant of the Week:

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Mystery Plant

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OK. Plant geeks, let’s have some fun!

We have this beauty blooming in our garden. The plant was spectacular this Spring. The plant is currently 3 feet by 3 feet, and I have good idea what the Genus is….but am not willing to divulge the Species or Cultivar until some brave souls step forward to ID this small flowering shrub.

Fire away with potential answers.

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Fire away with potential answers.

Fire away with potential answers.

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The easiest way to set up a meeting with the GardenArt team to discuss your vision for improving your outdoor living space is to fill out the simple GardenArt contact form, click HERE. Do it today!

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Join GardenArt online and help us — Make Customers for Life.

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West Lafayette Landscape Architects & Designers

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Introducing the GardenArt Team — Andy Strange

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Andy A. Strange

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Andy is originally from Lafayette, Indiana and graduated from McCutcheon High School and Ivy Tech Community College (Lafayette). He has been with GardenArt for six years and is a Project Supervisor. Andy earned a Certificate in Landscape Management and certification as a Pesticide Applicator.

He and his wife of five years, Jackie, have a six-month old baby boy, Lucas, and a cat; and in March 2013 Andy and Jackie bought their first home in West Lafayette. In addition to his work with GardenArt, Andy coaches semi-professional football after a few years as a semi-pro football player. He is a Notre Dame Irish fan and enjoys his family and friends — aspiring to be the best father, husband and friend that he can be.

Andy takes great pride in his work with GardenArt. He enjoys working closely with clients to create the outdoor living spaces of their dreams. Andy feels most proud when a project is completed and the client is overjoyed with their new outdoor environment. Although he is passionate about and committed to his work with GardenArt, Andy still dreams of someday coaching the Indianapolis Colts or the University of Notre Dame football team.

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The easiest way to set up a meeting with the GardenArt team to discuss your vision for improving your outdoor living space is to fill out the simple GardenArt contact form, click HERE. Do it today!

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Join GardenArt online and help us — Make Customers for Life.

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West Lafayette Landscape Architects & Designers

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Plant of the Week — Siberian Iris

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GardenArt’s Plant of the Week:

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Iris Siberica Cultivars – Siberian Iris

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The Siberian Iris is an excellent, low maintenance perennial for gardens in our area. Providing bloom on in May and June, the Siberian Iris also exhibits a medium green, upright foliage which remains attractive throughout the growing season.

The cultivar Caesar’s Brother (pictured in this post) has deep violet and blue flowers providing two to four weeks of bloom. Other cultivars such as Butter and Sugar introduce yellow and white into the Spring perennial garden.

The Siberian Iris can be left ‘up’ in the garden throughout the winter, providing visual interest with medium size seed pots and rich, bronze foliage.

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The adaptability of the Siberian Iris is one of its assets. The Siberian Iris tolerates moderately wet soils; can be planted under Black Walnut due to the fact it tolerates juglone, a toxin produced by Black Walnut; and also exhibits good deer resistance.

With a height of 30 to 36 inches, Siberian Irises can be the backdrop if a shorter perennial border is in order or a mid-border plant in perennial plantings with a taller backdrop.

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Siberian Irises will benefit from division every five to seven years for increased bloom vigor. If left ‘up’ in the winter garden, be sure to cut the plant back in late Winter to early Spring.

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The easiest way to set up a meeting with the GardenArt team to discuss your vision for improving your outdoor living space is to fill out the simple GardenArt contact form, click HERE. Do it today!

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Join GardenArt online and help us — Make Customers for Life.

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West Lafayette Landscape Architects & Designers

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Plant of the Week — Ruby Horsechestnut

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GardenArt’s Plant of the Week:

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 Aesculus x carnea ‘Fort McNair’ or ‘Briotti’ – Ruby Horsechestnut

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Ruby Horsechestnut is an outstanding, under used large ornamental tree. Attaining a height and spread of 25-30 feet, this is an ornamental for larger spaces such as open lawns or parks.

The plant produces large (6-12 inch) conical blooms in mid-Spring – this year, the plant began blooming in our area on May 9^th. The bloom color is medium to deep pink and has a yellow throat. The foliage is a glossy and darker green in color. In some years, the Ruby Horsechestnut will have a yellow fall color typical of the Buckeye (Aesculus) genus. Other years, the fall color is a brown color.

Ruby Horsechestnut prefers a well-drained soil, so it is best to keep it out of low areas. On sites with new construction and marginal soils, be sure to amend the backfill with a soil amendment high in organic material.

It is common for the leaves to scorch (turn brown on the margins and/or curl) the first year it is installed. Be sure the plant receives one inch of water per week (use weather.com or weatherunderground.com to monitor rainfall). Once the plant is established, scorch is generally not a problem unless we are in a period of drought.

The plant has huge buds over the winter, offering subtle winter interest. With our winters in Indiana , we can use all the interest we can round up during those months.

If you have the space, this is a must-have ornamental for the residential or commercial landscape.

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The easiest way to set up a meeting with the GardenArt team to discuss your vision for improving your outdoor living space is to fill out the simple GardenArt contact form, click HERE. Do it today!

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Join GardenArt online and help us — Make Customers for Life.

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West Lafayette Landscape Architects & Designers

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GardenArt’s Adopt-A-Spot Work Day 2013 — New and Improved

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GardenArt is the proud sponsor of an
Adopt-A-Spot in the City of Lafayette.

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This past weekend the entire GardenArt team was eager to get started on their Adopt-A-Spot – even though it was early on a Saturday morning. Saturday morning’s installation though was only one step in the detailed process.

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The first step in the process is planning and design. This year, GardenArt landscape designers decided to completely redesign the “Spot” and focus on “native plants.” The next step was to draw up the designs and select the plants. Once the designs were complete, the materials were ordered and the date for installation was set. By Thursday the plants arrived, Adopt-A-Spot T-shirts were distributed, and everyone was ready to get started. Before the end of the day on Friday, the plants, tools and materials were gathered, the equipment was prepped, the water buffalo was filled, the mulch was measured and everything was loaded on the GardenArt trucks.

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On Saturday morning, everyone met at GardenArt HQ, enjoyed a quick doughnut or two, secured the trucks and equipment, and headed to the GardenArt Adopt-A-Spot location in Lafayette. Once the team arrives at the “Spot” the magic began. Everyone was given their assignment and the team began to work. Even though it was a cold but sunny morning the crew moved swiftly and efficiently. Stage one of the installation included clearing the entire area. It is a relatively routine process except for removing a few shrub stumps and roots. The entire area was finally cleared, weeded, leveled and edged; then the mulching began. It took no time to empty an entire dump truck filled with steaming, high quality mulch. Soon the design team spray-painted lines in the mulch and the flats of native plants started to emerge. Two of the crew drilled holes while others placed plants in the holes and the rest of the crew secured the plants and filled the holes. Orderly rows of plants began to appear and the design was taking shape.

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Before they knew it everything was planted and the installation entered the final stages — clean, water plants, sweep, water, touch up mulch, blow debris, pack up tools, water, load equipment, water, and clean up the entire area including sidewalks, curbs and the street. The GardenArt team is talented, professional, and motivated – and their work installing this Adopt-A-Spot project is a perfect example of their quality work. Each and every member of the GardenArt team worked very hard and remained focused, respectful and professional the entire morning.

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When it was finally completed, no one really wanted to leave. The good feelings and fellowship overcame them. They didn’t expect to have a great time together but they weren’t surprised. Working hard and serving the community while using your talents is rewarding. Coming together for this common purpose had a profound impact on the team as a whole.

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The benefits of the Adopt-A-Spot program are clear – to help beautify Lafayette through sponsorship and allowing local businesses like GardenArt to serve and give back to the community. The less obvious benefit is how much the team grows and develops during the process. Trust was formed, friendships were developed, and lifetime memories were created — that magical morning. The GardenArt team is now stronger than ever. This summer is going to tremendous – and each member of the team has one more project for which to be proud – the GardenArt Adopt-A-Spot.

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Please slow down and enjoy it while it grows, blooms and matures. After all this “Spot” is our gift to you!

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{To view more photos of “GardenArt’s Adopt-A-Spot Work Day” — click HERE or any image in this post}

{To view more photos of “delivery day” — click HERE or any image in this post}

Check back for more information on the NATIVE PLANTS used in this Adopt-A-Spot in Lafayette, Indiana.

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Join GardenArt online and help us — Make Customers for Life.

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West Lafayette Landscape Architects & Designers

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Gaskins and Muller – Recognized as Indiana Accredited Horticulturists

GardenArt is proud to announce that two more members of the GardenArt team have achieved an impressive accomplishment. Garrett Gaskins and John Muller have each been recognized as an Indiana Accredited Horticulturist – a distinguished professional honor.

The Indiana Nursery and Landscape Association developed the Indiana Accredited Horticulturist Program to provide a method of self-study and accreditation for individuals in the nursery industry. The goal of this certification and accreditation program is to develop knowledgeable, motivated, professional employees for the landscape nursery industry.

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Garrett Gaskins and John Muller used their educational background and experience to delve into the curriculum in this advanced educational program. Garrett and John, like most of the professionals at GardenArt, are committed to continuing their professional development in the industry by taking advantage of educational accreditation programs like this one.

Garden Art’s motto, Building Customers for Life, includes providing the most professional, most knowledgeable, and most motivated team to design and install something that matches our clients’ vision for enhancing and transforming their outdoor living spaces. One way GardenArt achieves this is by supporting and encouraging our team members to pursue further education and professional development opportunities.

GardenArt is proud of Garrett and John. Join GardenArt in congratulating Garrett Gaskins and John Muller in achieving this accreditation as two of the top professionals in the landscape nursery industry.

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Join GardenArt online and help us — Make Customers for Life.

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West Lafayette Landscape Architects & Designers

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Spring Delivery — Busy Day at GardenArt

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{To view more photos of “delivery day” — click HERE or any image in this post}

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Today was a busy day at GardenArt HQ. A parade of box trucks and flatbeds delivered trees, shrubs, flowers and other plants all day long. The GardenArt design teams have been working hard creating beautiful outdoor living spaces on paper for clients — now it’s time to order the materials and begin installations.

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Some of these trees will be used in the West Lafayette Tree Project – ReLeaf; and many of the plants will be used in the GardenArt “Adopt-A-Spot” in Lafayette.

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The GardenArt team will be working on their Adopt-A-Spot this Saturday — just in time for Mother’s Day. READ more: HERE.

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{To view more photos of “delivery day” — click HERE or any image in this post}

{To view more photos of “GardenArt’s Adopt-A-Spot Work Day” — click HERE or any image in this post}

Check back for more information on the NATIVE PLANTS used in this Adopt-A-Spot in Lafayette, Indiana.

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Join GardenArt online and help us — Make Customers for Life.

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West Lafayette Landscape Architects & Designers

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Plant of the Week — Korean Spice Viburnum

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GardenArt’s Plant of the Week:

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Korean Spice Viburnum – Viburnum Carlesi

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Korean Spice Viburnum (Viburnum carlesi) is an excellent mid-sized flowering shrub for the residential garden.  With a 6’x6′ to 8’x8′ size, Korean Spice Viburnum provides flower, fruit and fall color with few significant pests.

Its most significant feature is the fragrant bloom.  Typically, bright pink flower buds emerge in early to mid-April and remain visually effective as buds for approximately seven days before opening up to a white cluster of blooms remaining visually effective for seven to ten days. The foliage is a medium to dark green with a pubescent (hairy) leaf, attractive out of bloom.  The fruit is red for a period of a few weeks, and then turns black before being eaten by birds. The fall color is orange to red, generally later in the fall color cycle (late/later in October), which helps to extend seasonal change in the garden.

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In most residential gardens, Viburnum carlesi should be used as a specimen due to its mature size. Its growth rate is three to six inches per year, making it one of the slower growing Viburnums. On larger properties, consider using it in mass where the dynamic seasonal changes are seen on a daily basis. It is important to note Korean Spice Viburnum blooms on ‘old wood,’ meaning its flower buds are set on the growth from the previous year.  In order to maintain bloom from year to year, prune after the plant is done flowering.  If you have this plant in your garden and you think it is getting too big, prune it in a week or two.  If you look at the plant mid summer or later and want to give it a whacking, wait until the following spring after it is done blooming.

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Dwarf cultivars are now in production at better wholesale nurseries.  Viburnum carlesi ‘Compactum’ offers the same ornamental features in a slightly smaller stature, perhaps as small as 5’x5′ to 6’x6′ at maturity.  Some sources list the mature size as 3’x3′, but we have seen plants available at 36 inches (it’s hard to imagine it won’t continue to grow though). The growth rate is three inches per year or less, making it a more expensive plant. Generally speaking, slow growth or dwarf signifies it will be a more expensive plant. As with any new plant introductions, mature size may not be realized for a decade or two.

Look for more Viburnums to be featured in our GardenArt Plant of the Week later in the year.  It is a diverse genus offering many options in a variety of sizes.

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The easiest way to set up a meeting with the GardenArt team to discuss your vision for improving your outdoor living space is to fill out the simple GardenArt contact form, click HERE. Do it today!

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Join GardenArt online and help us — Make Customers for Life.

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West Lafayette Landscape Architects & Designers

Plant of the Week (to avoid) — Callery Pear

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GardenArt’s Plant of the Week (to avoid):

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Callery Pear – Pyrus calleryana Aristocrat & Pyrus calleryana Cleveland Select (various cultivars of Callery Pear)

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Prized for its uniform habit, heavy white blooms, dark glossy green foliage during the growing season, and reliable red-orange fall color, cultivars of Callery Pear such as Bradford, Aristocrat and Cleveland Select (shown above in flower) have been heavily planted over the past 20 years.

While Bradford fell out of favor in the late 1980’s to early 1990’s due to a branching habit that is susceptible to serious damage from ice or snow loads, other cultivars continued to be planted extensively.

Over the past five years, it has become evident Callery Pear cultivars have produced viable seed and become invasive. A local example is the vacant lot on US 52 W between the MED Institute office (the former Great Lakes headquarters) and Applebee’s. The multi-acre tract is covered with Callery Pear, most in flower as of mid-April.

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The above image, taken in the fall of 2012 in a vacant commercial lot in West Lafayette, is a good example of seedlings showing fall color.

Until seedless cultivars of Callery Pear are developed, this is a tree that should not be planted despite the many desirable ornamental characteristics.

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The easiest way to set up a meeting with the GardenArt team to discuss your vision for improving your outdoor living space is to fill out the simple GardenArt contact form, click HERE. Do it today!

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Join GardenArt online and help us — Make Customers for Life.

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