UNIQUE PLANTS AT THE ARBORETUM PLANT SALE
Exceptional Plants Available for Spring
LISLE, IL (April 5, 2010) - Light up your garden with a Tiki Torch...a Tiki Torch orange coneflower that is! This perennial is just one of the many trees and other plants at The Morton Arboretum Arbor Day Plant Sale, with new, expanded hours for the general public: Saturday May 1 from noon to 4 p.m. and Sunday May 2 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Visitor Center Parking Lot. Arboretum members may access the Plant Sale from April 30 - May 2.
"Our sale features 400 varieties of trees and shrubs that thrive in the Northern Illinois climate and that you wouldn't normally find at garden shops," says Pete Linsner, Arboretum Plant Production Manager.
A truly orange coneflower, the Tiki Torch retains its fiery-orange color for weeks rather than days. These bold blooms blend well with many other flowers, ornamental grasses or stand alone with mass plantings, rock or water gardens, and/or used as a container plant.
Gardeners looking for more than just a pretty bloom can consider the dwarf Honeycrisp apple tree, which grows to roughly half the size of a regular Honeycrisp. In mid-September this exquisite tree provides exceptionally crisp and juicy apples for you to snack on!
A Northern Illinois garden classic is the Gold Star magnolia as it produces beautiful, light yellow, frost-tolerant flowers in early spring.
Looking for something easy to grow and eat? Pick up a Fort Laramie strawberry plant. Harvest large, sweet strawberries all summer long! These plants produce a spring crop and continue to bear fruit throughout the growing season.
Sweet Thai basil is a must for every culinary heart! This herb features attractive purple stems and blooms as well as fragrant leaves that will add a spicy, anise-clove flavor to your foods.
Another grand find at the Plant Sale is the Blue Mouse Ears hosta. Ideal for small gardens, this mini-hosta is thick, round with blue-green leaves that form perfectly symmetrical mounds for a neat, manicured look. The bell-shaped flowers provide a vibrant lavender contrast.
Give your garden a "wow" with a Caleb summersweet - Vanilla SpiceTM. This standout shrub has attractive glossy leaves and extra large pure white blooms. Double the size of a normal clethra bloom, the spicy fragrant flowers end the season with beautiful yellow fall foliage.
The Plant Sale is part of Arbor Week festivities, which include the annual tree-planting ceremony April 30 from 11 to 11:30 a.m. Help make the world a bit greener as you recognize the oldest U.S. environmental holiday and carry on the Morton family motto of "Plant Trees."
To discover other Arbor Day Weekend activities, visit www.mortonarb.org.
Unless otherwise specified, all Arboretum events and destinations including the Children's Garden are free with Arboretum admission. The 2010 rates are:
$11/adult, ($7 on Wednesday), ages 18-64
$10/senior, ($6 on Wednesday), ages 65 and over
$8/child ($5 on Wednesday), ages 2-17
Under age 2 is free
Parking is free
The Morton Arboretum is a world-renowned leader in tree science and education, working to save and plant trees. The 1,700-acre outdoor museum features magnificent collections of 4,117 kinds of trees, shrubs, and other plants from around the world. The Arboretum's beautiful natural landscapes, gardens, research and education programs, and year-round family activities support its mission - the planting and conservation of trees and other plants for a greener, healthier, and more beautiful world. Conveniently located at I-88 and Rte. 53 in Lisle, Illinois, the Arboretum is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year, from 7 a.m. Central Time until sunset. The Children's Garden is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., March through October, and 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., November through February. Visit Press Room at www.mortonarb.org, call to learn more.
Media Contacts: Gina Tedesco, (office) 630-725-2103,
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Allison Phelps, (office) 630-719-5768,
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it