Bring exotic and showy blooms to your summer garden with ‘Salmon Star’ oriental lily. This exciting, new summer blooming bulb is a version of the popular ‘Stargazer’ lily, and features intoxicating fragrance to complement its peach and apricot flowers.

As refreshing as a scoop of orange sherbet on a hot summer day, ‘Salmon Star’ sports large 6” apricot-salmon petals with a vivid coral stripes and red freckles. It only grows 2-3’ tall making it a terrific addition for containers, or garden borders. Paired with blues and purples it’s coral tones are stunning.  Tuck it among spring bloomers and it will bloom later in the year for added show. Oriental lilies naturalize well in the garden, forming ever larger clumps in future years.

Lilies prefer full sun to part sun areas, well-drained soil, and a shot of bulb food when planted. Because they never go completely dormant, it is important to buy early and plant early. The best flower show is achieved by planting groups of 3 to 5 bulbs 6-8” apart. Because they have narrow, columnar forms, lilies can be easily tucked in between other plants or shrubs.

‘Salmon Star’, as well as other great summer flowering bulbs, are available today at Squak Mt.  Select your favorites to bring fragrance and color to your summer garden.

Big winter blooms brighten the winter blahs. Huge tropical amaryllis flowers last 7 to10 weeks, chasing away your winter doldrums. All that is required is the bulb, soil (or rocks), a pretty container, water and a sunny window.

Hailing from South Africa, Amaryllis’ normal flowering time is February through April. Nothing is easier to grow than amaryllis. Amaryllis bulbs are the size of a large onion. The bigger the bulb, the more flowers are produced.  Large (34 cm) bulbs will produce two or more stalks. Plant one to three bulbs per pot for a gorgeous winter display.

Amaryllis enjoy being crowded when being planted, as it helps them bloom. They can be put in a container that is only 1” larger than the bulb. Using moistened potting soil, plant your bulb so ½ to 1/3 of the bulb is above the soil line. Place in a sunny, warm window. As the stalk appears, rotate the pot to prevent it from leaning towards the sun. Only water the top of the pot when the soil begins to feel dry, about once a week. Feed with ½ strength fertilizer every two weeks. They will usually bloom eight to ten weeks after being planted. Squak Mountain sells both bulbs and the containers to plant them in.

‘Merry Christmas’ is a new variety that will bloom sooner than most amaryllis (4-6 weeks).  Plant them in mid-November for a Christmas time bloom.  Alternatively you may elect to purchase amaryllis that are already planted at Squak Mt.  These have been timed so they will bloom during our holiday season (December-January).  Come select your favorite color today at Squak Mt., and provide color to your home during the dreariest days of the year.

Here are the amaryllis varieties available at Squak Mt.  (while supplies remain)

You can easily create spectacular accents of color in your garden with an eye catching, contemporary style.  Allium bulbs are planted in autumn, so that you may enjoy their large globe shaped blooms in late spring. Known as flowering onions, alliums are resistant to squirrels, mice and deer, and attractive to butterflies.  Their leaves may have a faint onion scent, but their blooms are without odor.  Cut flowers from alliums can last for weeks, and also make stunning dried flowers for your interior decorating.  They provide color and interest in your garden after the early blooming bulbs such as daffodils have died down, and prior to the onset of the summer blooming bulbs such as dahlias.

Alliums desire well-drained soil and a sunny location.  Bulbs should be planted with the pointy end up about 3” deep and 6 to 8” apart.  Alliums will naturalize and send up increasing numbers of blooms each year as they return.  Their leaves emerge in spring, but tend to die back before the flower blooms.  Consider planting them amongst low growing perennials or shrubs, so that the companion plants may hide their yellowing leaves.

Allium flowers grow 2’ to 4’ tall, depending on the variety.  Squak Mt. has selections ranging from purple to magenta to white.

Visit us today to select your favorite alliums, as well as many other colorful spring blooming bulbs.

Our full selection of garlic and shallots are now available at Squak Mt. Nursery.  (Updated 9/26: Note: elephant garlic is now available as well.)

Fall is the best time to plant garlic. Not prone to may pests or diseases, garlic is easy to plant and harvest, making it a perfect crop for new gardeners.

To plant garlic, begin by breaking the bulbs into individual cloves. With the pointy end up, plant each clove in well drained soil mixed with compost, about 2” deep and 3” apart.  Add a tablespoon of our organic fertilizer with each clove.  Fertilize again in the spring when you begin to notice the signs of new growth. Weed, and remove any blossoms that appear on the garlic shoots during the growing season. Garlic is ready for harvest in summer when the leafy tops begin to topple over. Use a garden fork for gentler removal of the bulbs.  Once harvested, air dry the bulbs, chop off most of the roots and tops and store in a cool, dim, well ventilated space.

Garlic is not the only edible that can be planted in autumn.  Shallots are another easy to grow edible bulb. In the same family as the onion, shallots have the flavor of mild onion and the redolent smell of garlic.  Also try elephant garlic is particularly rewarding to grow with children as each harvested clove is huge!

Envision a spectacular dahlia of deep fuchsia with purplish-pink tips and winter white undertones and you have the ‘Caproz Pizzazz’ Dahlia.  Growing to 3 feet tall with blooms 4-6” wide, the Caproz Pizzazz dahlia will bloom continuously from midsummer to first frost.  This dahlia has local connections, introduced by a hybridizer in Mill Creek.

Dahlias are workhorse in any landscape, providing both height and bursts of color. The shorter varieties can be planted in the front of a border while the taller varieties are stunning in back of a landscape bed.  The flowers on dahlias can be as small as powder puffs or as large as a dinner plate. Dahlias prefer to be planted in full sun but can thrive just as well in a location that gets only partial sun (at least 6 hours). Dahlias need well drained soil, and only need about an inch of water per week during the dry months.  They make wonderful cut flowers and would delight any recipient who you gifted with a cheerful bouquet.

Come to Squak My. today to investigate and select your favorites dahlia bulbs.  Our experienced staff will be able to assist you in selection and any other questions you may have.