In Like a Lamb...

It's March 1st and its 65 degrees outside.  Unreal.  Not that we're complaining, but it just feels a little...odd.    Odd in a good way, but still....  it makes me wonder if Mother Nature doesn't have a trick up her sleeve, like this past Halloween's weird snowfall, the only real snowfall we got here in the Shenandoah Valley this winter!

Signs of spring are everywhere though, there's no denying ...

As landscapers we adore days like today.  We work in all sorts of different weather conditions and being outside working on a day like today sure beats doing it when its 38 degrees with a misty, cold rain falling! 

The greenhouse smells like spring and signs of life are abundant.

see the bee??

I hope everyone can take a moment to get outside and enjoy this glorious day...

it makes us happy to be landscapers!

Why The Chickens Cross The Road...

      not exactly the birds I was hoping to attract to my feeders....

still, they are fun to have around.

                            ahhhh, now that's more like it....



Winter Gardening and Hellebores....

So it's always a mixed bag for me for the month of January.  After the rush of a busy fall landscaping season its rather nice to enjoy the slower pace of the new year, thinking ahead to my spring gardens, planning ahead for the warmer April- May weather to come.  I love looking through all the plant catalogues now, perusing the new introductions and thinking of spots in the garden where I can cram in just one or two more perennials. (there's always room for more, right?)

right???

It's been so relatively mild though this winter, with so little snow on the ground that I've found myself actually out in the garden more... usually in winters' past I've just admired it from the warmth of my living room window, cup of coffee in hand...

I tend to be a rather lazy gardener in the fall.  I tell myself that I leave the seed heads on the echinacea and black-eyed susans for the birds, but really... by October and November with the shorter days and cooler temps, I'm entering my 'winter-hibernation-mode'. 

January gets me thinking again though...



Cinnamon Snow Helleborus

 Being a landscaper avails me to all sorts of fun new plant introductions and three that are already on my order list are some of the newest Hellebores.  If you haven't paid attention to them lately the world of Hellebores is exploding with new cultivars, many of them intended to start blooming in December and continue on through February!  It would be so much more fun to stroll through the gardens on these recent mild days and see some of these looking back at me!



Pink Frost Helleborus

  

Josef  Lemper Helleborus

 

Hellebores are fabulous plants, relatively carefree once established and do well with partial sun to dappled shade.  Their foliage is evergreen and the flowers bloom in large, long lasting clusters once the plants are a year or two old... I've already grown several others under the shade of my dogwood tree, and they really are low maintenance with a great showing of flowers year after year.

I'm hoping that, by thinking ahead for next winter now (assuming I'll be just as lazy next fall!)  I'll be able to have some of these beauties in my own garden, blooming until the first bulbs start to pop their heads up in spring.... when I'm ready to get out there and join them.

Give me a call 432.0788 or drop us an email if you'd like a few of these for your own garden... I'd be happy to share the hellebore love!

... and the Winner is....

Jan Kauffman!  Jan is the lucky recipient of a brand new pair of No. 2 Felcos!

Thanks to all of you who left such wonderful, kind words for us... its always so nice to hear.

We're looking forward to a fantastic New Year of garden design and landscaping so we'll see you all in 2012!

Happy Holidays from Mast Landscapes!

To celebrate the season and our new location, leave a comment and your name to be entered in our drawing to win a new pair of our #2 Felcos!

Simply click on the COMMENTS button, leave your glowing remarks, then select "Name/Url" from the drop down "Select Profile" list to be entered.  (no URL necessary ;)

We will hold the drawing on Wednesday December 21st and announce the winner on our blog that day so check back in...

Good luck and happy commenting!

Winter Morning Commute

What a lovely way to start the day...

Green Gifts For Gardeners

Is there a garden lover on your Holiday gift giving list?  Tired of hunting for just the right sweater or knick-knack?  Why not give a gift that will continue to grow for generations to come?

Mast Landscapes is offering 10% off all in stock trees now through Dec. 22nd!  Purchase your tree now and we'll hold it for you until early spring or we can plant it now, you choose!

If you're still unsure we've got Gift Certificates available, good for any amount or service... perfect for every gardener!

If you've got a hands-on, do-it-yourselfer on your list we're now offering The Original Felco's!  By far the gold standard in hand pruners, Felcos are built to last... every gardener who's ever struggled with cheap, dull hand pruners will appreciate their precision cutting and comfortable grip.  $49.99

If you really want to impress your favorite gardener, the holster!  $14.99

Rounding out the collection, another quality tool no serious gardener should be without, The Felco Folding Saw!  $38.99

We're only a phone call or email away... soooo much easier than finding a parking spot at the mall!

432.0788

mastlandscapes@mastgroup.net

Outdoor Living Spaces

We are proud to offer the newest addition to our hardscape lineup. Harmony Outdoor Living has teamed up with Belgard to provide a unique and custom touch to the wide range of hardscape possibilities. With a new fireplace/pit, bar, brick oven or full functioning kitchen, you can take your outdoor living space to the next level. These quality constructed modular elements can be installed much quicker than traditional construction. Therefore, they are more cost effective and far less likely to disrupt your daily routine due to their minimal installation time. With four models to choose from and endless configurations, not to forget the several color choices, these new additions are certain to compliment your new or current hardscape. To take your outdoor entertainment to the next level call us at 540.432.0788.

A Visitor!

Andre brought a guest into the shop Tuesday morning and I think she's decided to call our new office 'home' ...



"you lookin' at me?"



Thank You, Thank You, Thank You...

What an amazing turnout we had to help us celebrate our new location... it was wonderful to see all of you and have you share in our excitement.  The enthusiasm expressed by everyone here that day was truly heartwarming...

ta-da!



those are some mighty big scissors Chad!





 Thank you all again...

Check Out Our New Location!

Mast Landscapes has moved to our new home on Jesse Bennett Way in historic Linville-Edom.  Our newly renovated offices are open and ready for business!

             

 Our new sidewalk was created as a hardscaping display, showcasing some of our favorite materials...

 

The site sits on several acres of beautiful land with an old mill and stream, creating an inspiring location for creating landscape designs...

We're hard at work finishing up our greenhouse before winter comes, but the new barn that houses our tools and equipment is finished... take a look.

We'd love to have visitors so call us for a visit!  432.0788

Some Big Changes Are On The Way...

We've been busy this summer, working on some exciting new projects for the fall.... but for now its a secret!

Stay tuned for the news but for now, enjoy the last of this beautiful summer...  you can feel autumn in the air on these crisp mornings already so it won't be long now.

Enjoy.

In Like A Lion?...

It seems March has been a bit more like a lamb this year which suits us just fine!  With mild weather like this Spring can't be far behind...

We hope the groundhog is right!

So if you're like we are here at Mast Landscapes you're starting to get a little weary of the winter by now.  Thoughts of warm spring days and longings for digging in the dirt are making for a loooong February....

Its not too early to call us though to get on our spring maintenance calendar!  If you've got a garden full of bulbs and perennials late February/early March is the perfect time to do a spring cleanup and mulching, before all those tender plants send up their shoots.

A late winter mulching can help keep down unsightly weeds like this one from popping up in the garden as well...

So give us a call at 432.0788 to save YOUR garden from this terrible fate!  :)

We've had some seriously COLD weather already!  With temperatures in the single digits it's hard to imagine any gardening happening... BUT, there's still plenty that can be done this time of year, believe it or not. 

If you've been thinking of redesigning your landscaping or adding a patio or retaining wall now is a perfect time to call us.  We LOVE to work on designs when the weather is cold and by planning ahead you insure your place on our spring calender, which always fills up fast!

If hardscaping is on your to-do list why wait??  Winter is a great time of year to install those projects!  So don't wait until April... think of how much nicer it would be to have your new patio all ready to go on that first warm day in March... ahhhh.

Its Not Too Late!

If you're thinking about doing some fall maintenance or even some planting you never quite got around to this summer, you haven't missed your window of opportunity yet!  We at Mast Landscapes are still busy with fall landscaping and tree planting and by installing new plants now it gives you a jump on the coming spring season.

With just a few exceptions most trees, shrubs and perennials can still be planted up until the ground begins to freeze and we've got a wonderful selection of plant materials still available.  Call us today if you'd like to get on our fall schedule!  432.0788

Fall is Tree Planting Time !

After what started out as a hot, dry summer the frequent rains and the cooler temps recently have us thinking ahead to the fall! 

Autumn is a great season to plant a tree (or several!) and at Great Trees Virginia we're offering 20% off all our on-hand inventory from now until November 1st.

We've got some gorgeous trees in stock... maples, oaks, black gums, ginkgos... and a great assortment of specimen trees as well.  As always we offer full installation services and would be happy to give you an estimate.

Call us today to make an appointment to come out to the tree farm and take a look for yourself!

                         540.432.0788

Maintenance and Mulching oh My!

So with the spring season comes landscape and garden maintenance.  Whether this is a chore or a pleasure to you, Mast Landscapes is here to help.  Every garden needs a spring cleanup and we provide all the services your garden needs from edging of beds and fertilizing to trimming of trees and shrubs and mulching.

Call us today to get on our Spring Maintenance Schedule and come home to a beautiful landscape!

540.432.0788

Great Trees!!

The weather has been fabulous lately and after the winter we just had, we deserve it!  If you're like us we've started cleaning up the gardens and are taking note of things we'd like to change or plants we'd like to add... this is a perfect time to plant a Great Tree ! 

We have a wonderful selection of trees that go above and beyond what you'd find in a regular retail nursery... gorgeous 2.5" caliper Tulip Poplars, 2-3" caliper Trident Maples... over 20 hardwoods selected for their beautiful form, hardiness and ability to last for generations.

If an ornamental or flowering tree is what you're after we've got a great selection of modestly priced container trees including disease-resistant Dogwoods, Flowering Cherries and a new cultivar of Redbud, 'Oklahoma'.

Call us today at 540.432.0788 and we'd happy to meet with you and help you select just the right Great Tree for your home or office.

The snow is melting...

Little by little you can start to see bits and pieces of the garden and grass below, as the melting snow gives way to what will most certainly be a glorious spring. For many of us though the recent heavy snows have resulted in broken tree limbs, damaged boxwoods and torn up clods of turf...

It is important to prune damaged plant materials carefully and correctly though to not only minimize the unsightly appearance of snow damage, but also to insure the future health and vigor of the plants and trees. Most plants will also benefit from an added boost this spring so its a good time to fertilize with an all-purpose fertilizer like Holly-Tone or Plant-Tone to help them recover from the stress of the winter season.

We'd be happy to help or if you're a do-it-yourselfer gardener and just have a few questions post them here and we'll repsond!

Think spring... its right around the corner!!