Before we get going on the newsletter today I would like to have us all bow our heads in memory of all the summer planted Arborvitae in commercial areas. Areas which won’t be watered as we watch the Arbs have a slow and painful death. A death that results in a brown so dry that even the thought of fire will make them burst into flames. Now on to the newsletter.

Every Plant Has Value (It Just Might Not Be Value to You)

There’s always something beautiful in the garden. I’ve written for decades about how gardening has taught me so much about life and helped answer the questions that come up as I grow through it. Plants and people are a lot alike. One of the biggest similarities? You can find something beautiful or something bad in every garden, it just depends on what you’re looking for. We’ve all met both kinds of people: the ones who find something wrong in every situation. “Congrats, you’ve won a million dollars!” “Great, now I have to pay taxes on it.”

Yes, we should always try to improve what needs improving. But I start each day in the garden looking for what stands out. Most days, it’s a plant blooming its heart out or catching my eye more than the others. In life, I do the same, I look for one thing to look forward to each day. It can be big or small, but if it brings anticipation, it has value. Just like a flower, even if the bloom only lasts a few days, it still gave you days of smiles.

I think people who don’t like gardening just can’t get past the work. It’s like cooking: if we only focused on the prep time instead of the experience itself, we might never bother. Some flowers, like annuals, bloom for months. Others give us just a few days. Positive thinkers say those short bloomers are more special because they’re fleeting. Others say they’re not worth the trouble. Me? Like most plant addicts, I want both.

Every person you meet is good at something. Everyone has value. What they’re good at might not be what you’re looking for, but it’s exactly what someone else needs. Every plant has value too. That doesn’t mean they all belong in your garden, but every garden has many needs, structure, color, blocking views, drawing the eye, bloom time, winter interest, height, groundcover, edibility, wildlife habitat, covering up something unsightly, improving the soil, and more. The best plants fill more than one role. The best gardens (and the best partners) offer more than just good looks—they bring value in many ways.

So take this as a reminder to celebrate both the big and small wins in the yard. If you planted a hedge and can no longer see your neighbors,that’s a huge win. A tree that now casts a bit of shade? Well done. A flower that made you stop and stare? Even better, go grab the camera. Every bit of it is worth the time and money you put in. And even if you didn’t plant it yourself, just having the ability to step outside and enjoy it is something not to take for granted. Celebrate that flower, and the person who made sure it was there for you to see.

Flowers are a gift meant to be shared. And the only thing better than a flower you bought and planted is one someone else took the time and effort to grow, and now you get to enjoy. There’s a reason good landscaping and gardens add value to a home. People don’t stay in one place long anymore, but walking into an established garden gives you something instant, an instant feeling of care, of beauty, and value. Because there really is no better value than flowers.

10 Of My Favorite Golden Evergreens

During this time of year, we’re surrounded by blooms—everything is lush and full of color. It’s easy to get swept up in the beauty and forget to plan for the months ahead. One of the best ways to keep your garden interesting year-round is by planting golden evergreens now (if you can keep them watered).

In a world where most people use dark mulch or rock, golden foliage adds contrast. It also stands out beautifully against snow, if you live in a place where that’s part of your winter. In spring, the bright new growth catches your eye, and in winter, that golden hue brings life to otherwise dull landscapes.

Here are my 10 favorite golden evergreens for four-season interest:

Chief Joseph Pine

This is my favorite pine because it’s sneaky. It looks like any long needle pine until it doesn’t. Late fall, it starts glowing this bright yellow color and all winter long it shows off when everything else is going dull. A knock on your door “what's that?” type plant

Botanical Name: Pinus contorta ‘Chief Joseph’
Height and Width: 6 ft tall × 4 ft wide
Hardiness Zone: 5–8

Anna’s Magic Ball Arborvitae

A top 10 landscaping plant. It may get 3 feet eventually but it’s going to take a while. The winter color doesn’t turn the red that the others do. It definitely fades a bit but the color is better, the size is better, the hardiness is better. A staple

Botanical Name: Thuja occidentalis ‘Anna’s Magic Ball’
Height and Width: 3 ft tall × 4 ft wide
Hardiness Zone: 3–8

Daub’s Frosted Juniper

I like this one because of the texture. The groundcover golden junipers are nice but they are a bit flat. This one has a bit more fluff and height to it without being too big. A little amber color in the winter but still shines.

Botanical Name: Juniperus chinensis ‘Daub’s Frosted’
Height and Width: 1–2 ft tall × 3–6 ft wide
Hardiness Zone: 4–9

Golden Holmstrup Arborvitae

The good is they are a beautiful golden hedge. As pretty as you’ll find. They also only get to the 20 feet size. The problem is time. They do take a long long long time. I’ve peronally never seen any at 20 feet and I planted some 20 years ago. This plant I planted 15 years ago. It’s stunnning and was pretty from day one, but not much of a hedge size until the last few years. Still worth planting as a specimen


Botanical Name: Thuja occidentalis ‘Holmstrup’
Height and Width: 15–20 ft tall × 2–4 ft wide
Hardiness Zone: 3–7

Sunkissed Arborvitae

The name describes it well. It’s a green arb with all the new growth being bright yellow. A kiss of yellow on each branch. In the winter is not the yellow of the rest of the plants, but being evergreen, it still provides a lot of winter value, and in the spring it’s a specimen. This picture is from the Idea Garden in Urbana, IL and was taken last week.

Botanical Name: Thuja occidentalis ‘Sunkissed’
Height and Width: 6–10 ft tall × 5–8 ft wide
Hardiness Zone: 2–8

Golden Carpet Juniper

The first golden creeping juniper was called ‘Mother Lode’ from Iseli nursery and it was a fan favorite but it was super slow growing. When this came out, it became the go to golden creeper. Fast and hardy, makes a fantastic winter groundcover. It brightens up any wall or garden. One of my top 25 plants (I will probably name 100 plants as my top 25 throughout these newsletters)

Botanical Name: Juniperus horizontalis ‘Golden Carpet’
Height and Width: 3–6 inches tall × 6–8 ft wide
Hardiness Zone: 3–8

Abies koreana ‘Golden Glow’

This is a variety from Iseli nursery, and we carried it for decades. It’s similar to a globe blue spruce but yellow. Same height and width and growing characteristics. Maybe a little slower. Color is strong throughout the entire winter. Of course, new growth, like all the plants I’ve mentioned here, is the brightest and most spectacular. Downside is this is slow growing and a grafted plant so it’s costly. I am biased but I feel everyone should have a few plants that are show pieces and may cost a little more.

Botanical Name: Abies koreana ‘Golden Glow’
Height and Width: 3–4 ft tall × 4–5 ft wide
Hardiness Zone: 4–7

Golden Tuffet Arborvitae

I’ve mentioned the amber color several times, and here is a good example. Customers see the incredible color during the spring and they buy the plant only to be alarmed when it takes on this reddish color. It’s very natural and normal for an arborvitae. Trimming also makes a difference. A slight haircut every year keeps it uniform and keeps it from getting too shaggy and open.

Botanical Name: Thuja occidentalis ‘Golden Tuffet’
Height and Width: Estimated 2–3 ft tall × 3–4 ft wide
Hardiness Zone: Estimated 3–7

Frankie Boy Arborvitae

My favorite plant of the whole group. I have one out of my door, and I brush it with my hand pretty much every day. Stunning plant with great texture and color. Mine was 2 feet tall when I planted it 22 years ago (the size on the left in the 2nd picture) . It’s 7 feet tall now. It was great every day in between. Hardy too. My whipcords did not fare as well. Although 20 years is pretty ok too

Botanical Name: Thuja orientalis ‘Franky Boy’
Height and Width: 6–8 ft tall × 4 ft wide
Hardiness Zone: 5–9

Gold Rush Dawn Redwood

Ok, it’s not an evergreen. It just looks like one. Another of these plants I have in my yard because I always wanted one. The nice thing about this is the size. Only 15-20 feet wide so an upright tree that works well in smaller spaces. The color is bright bright yellow, and then it drops its needles. It lights up my entire yard and makes my house look different than any house in town. Not many bright yellow trees all season

Botanical Name: Metasequoia glyptostroboides ‘Gold Rush’
Height and Width: 20–40 ft tall × 15–25 ft wide
Hardiness Zone: 4–8

Hope this inspires you to plant a few yellows in the garden. Have any favorites that I missed?

A Picture is Worth a Hundred Words

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND and thanks for reading…..I appreciate you all sending replies back from the newsletter. I had 15 people last week email back with stories or thank you. Means a lot and love hearing from all of you.



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