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Jun 03
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2024 Faces of Annapolis | Annapolis Home Magazine

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Full text from Annapolis Home Magazine’s 2024 Faces of Annapolis:

Elizabeth Elliott’s dream of owning Himmel’s Landscape and Garden Center started 20 years ago as an employee at the Center. During those years, her gardening and landscaping knowledge grew, along with an interest in the ways native plants benefit local environments and support pollinators. In 2018, she bought Himmel’s from her former boss.

Today, Himmel’s is blossoming. It’s mission is clear: to help neighbors build a better, healthier, and more beautiful world. Himmel’s offers an extensive and affordable plant and flower selection, bulk mulch, stone, and soils available for pick-up or delivery, a beautiful and diverse selection of pottery and statuary, and a friendly and knowledgeable staff ready to provide unparalleled customer service.

Himmel’s detail-oriented team is equipped with design skills to bring your landscape dreams to reality, whether it’s a simple cleanup or brand-new outdoor living space. What’s more, their inviting retail garden center is a community hub, oftering interactive classes, fun events, and peaceful corners to enjoy nature.

Himmel’s also engages in Bay-friendly practices and is committed to educating the community about maintaining the health of the Bay. Landscape projects include shoreline restoration, reforestation, rain gardens, and custom pollinator gardens. Stop in to learn about volunteer activities that positively impact our neighborhoods.

May 13
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Elizabeth, I can tell you how much I love my yard. It turned out even better than I thought it would be! Your staff has been wonderful. Lisa started with ideas for me and she understood what I wanted and which plants would work. I also appreciated that she didn’t hesitate to say if an idea of mine wouldn’t execute in the way that I thought. Josue was great and he also had ideas when he came out to do the proposal and oversaw the install. I met William today, and I appreciated his desire to execute the plan perfectly. I didn’t get the name of the other member helping William, but they worked together like a well-oiled team. I’m not quite sure how many times I called Candice with a question or change (as late as Sunday) but she was so patient and helpful. I feel like I’ve made a new friend!! Julio dropped by to check on the progress and answered all the questions that I had. Thanks so much, and I wanted you to know you have an amazing staff.

Tracy
Apr 30
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Plant of the Week: Dianthus

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Common name:

Cheddar Pinks, Cottage Pinks, Sweet William, Carnations

Botanical name:

Dianthus spp

Dianthus is the quintessential cottage garden plant. They are loved for their blue-green grass like foliage and loads of starry flowers that are often clove scented. The dianthus genus includes over 27,000 registered cultivar varieties.

Removing the spent flowers encourages a second round of blooming. Dianthus attract butterflies and pollinators. They are resistant to damage from deer but will be eaten by rabbits.

  • Light Requirements: Part to full sun.
  • Water Requirements: Dianthus won’t tolerate overly wet soil and needs a well draining location.
  • Characteristics: Growing 4 inches to 3 feet, Dianthus can be annual, biennial or perennial. Flower color ranges from white, yellow, pink, coral, red and purple.
  • Uses: Depending on the variety you choose, they can be used as a border plant, in rock gardens, grouped in garden beds. They make great additions to cottage gardens, cutting gardens and in containers.
  • Interesting Facts: The common name pink comes from the fringed edges of the petals that look like they were trimmed with pinking shears.
  • Varieties:
    • ‘Yellow Bling Bling’ has beautiful double yellow, scented blooms and grows 10 to 12 inches tall.
    • Perennial ‘Coral Reef’ is an evergreen perennial with deep coral double flowers that have white edges and a spicy fragrance. 8 to 10 inches.
    • ‘Sweetie Pie’ produces loads of semi double pink flowers with a darker eye. Mounding foliage, 12 to 14 inches.
Dianthus are also known “Carnations” or “Sweet Williams”
There are around 300-species of Dianthus, and most of them are native to Asia and Eastern Europe
Dianthus flowers consist of five petals, with a zigzag or frilled edge
The Dianthus name comes from the combination of Dios (god) and anthos (flower), from the Greek language, which translates into the “flower of the gods.”
Download Care Sheet PDF
Apr 22
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Introducing the Brandywine Cottage™ Collection by Cavano’s Perennials

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“You can make a garden. Everyone can... you can make a garden and play a part in helping the earth heal. Every plant we grow is a vote for the future, whether it’s in a single pot or a two acre garden.”

– A Year at Brandywine Cottage by David Culp

David Culp, the visionary behind the gardens at Brandywine Cottage in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, and author of ‘A Year at Brandywine Cottage: Six Seasons of Beauty, Bounty, and Blooms’, has been sharing his garden wisdom for over 25 years. Now, his passion and expertise, expressed in the new Brandywine Cottage™ Collection of plants, is available to you!

The Brandywine Cottage™ Collection showcases a range of classic plants alongside new and innovative varieties. These exquisite selections, grown exclusively by Cavano’s Perennials, focus around six seasons of interest and correspond to the themes and experiences expressed in ‘A Year at Brandywine Cottage’.

Brandywine Cottage™ Collection by Cavano’s Perennials
Visit Himmel’s Landscape and Garden Center to explore the collection, perfect for all gardening preferences and skill levels.

Learn more and discover the entire collection.

Apr 22
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Creeping Phlox - Plant of the Week

Plant of the Week: Creeping Phlox

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Common name:

Creeping Phlox, Moss Phlox

Botanical name:

Phlox subulata

Creeping phlox is an evergreen to semi-evergreen perennial that is popular for its vibrant blanket of flowers in spring. It is native to the eastern and central parts of the United States. The lightly fragrant flowers are attractive to pollinators.

  • Light Requirements: It blooms best in full sun but will tolerate light shade.
  • Water Requirements: Creeping phlox needs well draining soil and has low water requirements. Once established, it has a good drought tolerance.
  • Characteristics: It is mat forming with soft needle like foliage. It forms a dense carpet that is 2 to 6 inches tall and can spread about 2 feet. Star shaped flowers in spring are white, pink, purple or blue. Plants will tolerate sandy or gravelly soils and hot drier exposures. It is seldom browsed by rabbits or deer.
  • Uses: Because of its ground covering nature, it makes a great plant for the front of a border, rock gardens or erosion control on a hillside. It has a high tolerance for air pollution, making it a good choice between the sidewalk and roadway.
  • Interesting Facts: Creeping phlox is used as a component on green roofs.
  • Varieties:
    • ‘Snowflake’ becomes a mound of snowy white flowers for several weeks with a height of 2 to 4 inches.
    • ‘Emerald Blue’ forms a pretty carpet of lavender blue flowers and reaches 4 to 6 inches tall.
    • ‘Purple Beauty’ is similar to ‘Emerald Blue’ but has a darker purple hue.
Creeping Phlox - Plant of the Week
The genus name, Phlox, is from the Greek word phlox and means “flame.”
Creeping phlox is excellent at preventing erosion on slopes and hillsides because their spreading roots hold soil in their place.
Creeping phlox is native to the central and eastern portions of Canada and the United States. It is native mainly to the Appalachian Mountains.
Phlox is found in dry rocky, or sandy areas, savannas, rocky ledges, slopes, clearings, and open woodlands.
Creeping Phlox - Plant of the Week
Download Care Sheet PDF
Mar 20
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Plant of the Week - Pansy

Plant of the Week: Pansy

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Common name:

Pansy

Botanical name:

Viola x wittrockiana

Pansies are hybrid plants derived from several species within the Viola genus and are part of the Violaceae family. Pansies are a welcome sight after a long, cold winter. Pansies are often the first flower we see arrive in garden centers due to their ability to withstand colder temperatures.

With multiple color variations, the pansy is a versatile flower to add color to your garden and help usher in spring. As we move into the heat of the summer season, we will see pansies begin to fade away due to their inability to tolerate high temperatures. However, in fall, pansies arrive again in garden centers to add more color to fall plantings. Depending on winter temperatures, pansies can last into winter time.

Pansies can be a hungry plant. It is best to add a slow release fertilizer to ground plantings roughly once per month. Container plantings will benefit from a liquid fertilizer about every two weeks during their growing season. You can deadhead, or prune, faded flowers and bare stems regularly to promote new buds and new growth.

  • Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Aim for partial shade in warmer climates.
  • Water Requirements: Pansies prefer evenly moist soil. Be sure to have drain holes if your pansies are planted in a container, or well draining soil if they are planted in the ground.
  • Characteristics: Pansies are characterized by their five petal formation. Some varieties are characterized by a darker blotch, or “face”, at the center of the flower. Pansies can range in shades of red, blue, purple, yellow, and white.
  • Uses: Pansies are a great addition to containers and flower beds in early spring and early fall. Their variety of colors allows them to be versatile to compliment any additional plants in the landscape.
  • Interesting Facts: The name pansy comes from the French pensée and reflects the meaning of ‘remembrance’ or ‘thought’ in the 19th century language of flowers.
  • Varieties:
    • Matrix Series: This series features flowers that are 3” – 3.5” on a short, strong stem to support the flower.
    • Cool Wave: has a prostrate habit that fills in landscapes and containers. It has superior overwintering capabilities and is one of earliest to re-emerge in spring.
    • Frizzle Sizzle: offers a frilly flower form with unique and bold colors
Both the blooms and the leaves of pansies are edible and high in vitamins A and C.
Pansies taste like a slightly floral version of lettuce, and the flowers can be used to make syrup, flavored honey, and natural dyes.
February’s birth flower is the pansy
In Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the juice of a pansy was used in a love potion, referencing the Ancient Greeks’ use of the flower in herbal remedies and love potions.
Pansy Care Sheet
Download Care Sheet PDF
Mar 13
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Plant of the Week: Columbine

Plant of the Week: Columbine

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Common name:

Columbine

Botanical name:

Aquilegia spp.

Columbine is known for its uniquely shaped flowers and bright colors. They are native to meadows and woodlands across the northern hemisphere, including North America. Columbine will tolerate a variety of soil conditions but do best in rich, well draining soils.

  • Light Requirements: They prefer light to moderate shade, especially in the afternoon.
  • Water Requirements: They prefer moist but not water logged soil, especially the first growing season. Mature plants are somewhat drought tolerant but will benefit from watering during prolonged periods without rain.
  • Characteristics: Columbine have delicate, airy foliage and graceful, nodding flowers.  The flower colors include blue, yellow, red, pink and white, many having bicolored or multicolored blooms. They are a clump forming perennial that reach 1 to 3 feet in height. While they are mostly deer and rabbit resistant, they are attractive to hummingbirds, bees and butterflies.
  • Uses: Columbine are so versatile that they can be incorporated into cottage gardens, woodland gardens, pollinator gardens, mixed borders and containers.
  • Interesting Facts: Columbines are distinctive for their five petaled flowers that have long backward extending spurs that contain little pockets of nectar. The genus name derives from the Latin aquila (eagle) and lego (together), suggesting that the curved nectaries or spurs resemble the closing talons of an eagle.
  • Varieties:
    • Aquilegia canadensis: (Eastern Red Columbine) is native to North America. This species has red and yellow tubular flowers that are attractive to hummingbirds. It is more tolerant of heat and humidity than other varieties.
    • Aquilegia canadensis: ‘Little Lanterns’ is a dwarf version of the native species, reaching only 8 to 10 inches tall.
    • Aquilegia vulgaris ‘Winky’ Series: The Winky Series produces loads of more upward facing blooms. The series features a wide range of bicolored combinations.
    • Aquilegia x. Hybrida ‘Earlybird’ Series: This mixture was bred for vibrant colors and unusual color combinations. They feature a neat, rounded habit growing 10 to 12 inches.
Plant of the Week: Columbine
Columbine was named for the Latin word columba, which means dove.
Native Americans used the seeds to make an infusion to treat headaches.
The long spurs on the flowers produce nectar, which makes them a favorite of hummingbirds, butterflies and bees.
Download Care Sheet PDF
Mar 05
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Outdoor Living Trends 2024

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Our slogan at Himmel’s is Get Outside – and we live in a great place for it! As the weather warms and schedules become crammed with sports activities, concerts, picnics and other school and social events, it’s natural to long for some quiet space to relax and unwind. That space could be in your own backyard!

Check out the latest outdoor living trends for 2024 and gather inspiration for creating the tranquil backyard oasis of your dreams.

Go Big with Hardscaping

Outstanding outdoor gathering spaces are designed for comfort, convenience, and entertainment. Start with a patio large enough to accommodate seating for family and friends. Patio trends this year include large format pavers in monochromatic colors, porcelain pavers, permeable pavers, and bluestone. Do you enjoy cooking outdoors? Consider a grill nook with a few built-in stone planters for handy access to fresh herbs and veggies, or go bold with a complete outdoor kitchen and bar area beneath a custom pergola.

Carefully designed seating areas bring the comfort of indoor living to the outdoors, whether it’s a book and coffee nook for two, an outdoor bar for a few, or a bench and firepit combo for your whole crew! Trends in outdoor seating include bold sitting boulders that double as accents, and cozy Adirondack chairs with pillows situated close to the firepit for long nights hanging out with family, friends, and neighbors.

Fire features are trending more than ever, and are available in a wide range of sizes and finishes to suit your unique style. Oversized firepits and fire tables are very popular for those who love entertaining larger groups. Want to try something different?

Consider a cauldron style firepit that doubles as a grill.

The soothing sound of splashing water adds a touch of Zen-like tranquility to your outdoor space. Trends in water features include small scale fountains, bubblers, reflecting pools, and tiny ponds that incorporate interesting materials.

Don’t forget lighting! Color-changing LED lights controlled with an app on your smartphone are the latest in landscape lighting, and can transform your yard with fun and festive seasonal color!

Formal Gardens with Classically Inspired Architectural Elements

Carefully manicured landscapes in cool shades of green and white can bring a sense of peace and elegance to your surroundings, separating your space from the hectic outside world. Crisp hedges create privacy, while a few well-placed topiaries or carefully pruned trees add a three-dimensional quality that draws the eye. Stone paths and thoughtfully selected statuary add architectural interest. Columns, pillars, and urns in marble tones are timeless elements! The whole effect is enhanced by a few touches of whimsy – either with pops of perennial color in shades of purple and pink, a small water feature, or an ornate mirror or sundial as a focal point. Even the smallest spaces can benefit from the classic elements of a formal garden.

Native Plants to Attract Pollinators

The native trend is no longer a trend… It’s here to stay! Native plants benefit the environment by creating food and habitat for beautiful birds, precious pollinators, and local wildlife. The many varieties of native trees, shrubs, grasses and perennials create 4-season interest, featuring outstanding flowers and fragrance, evergreen interest, edible berries, gorgeous fall color, and more! Even a small patio planter full of flowering native perennials can benefit bees and butterflies. Enhance your outdoor space with a few native selections and draw nature into your oasis!

Make it Happen

Wherever your daydreams take you… let the friendly experts at Himmel’s Landscape and Garden Center help you transform your yard into a uniquely beautiful habitat.

Contact landscaping@himmelsgardencenter.com or call 410-255-7730 to schedule a free consultation.

Mar 01
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Bulk Garden Materials Pasadena, MD

Bulk Material – Mulch, Soil, Compost, Stone, Sand

By Himmel's Blog No Comments
Whether you’re prepping raised bed vegetable gardens, building a DIY patio, or applying fresh mulch to your garden beds, at some point you will need to decide about bulk material – what to buy, how much the project requires, and where to purchase the material.
Himmel’s can help!

Know what you are paying for!

Himmel’s sells bulk items by volume. This is because we do not have a mechanism for weighing material to sell by the ton. Our machines are equipped with ½ yard and 1-yard buckets. A yard is a volume measurement.

  • Note that 1 yard is approximately equivalent to 1.5 tons
  • A half yard is approximately equivalent to ¾ tons

If you are comparing pricing for bulk material, make sure to ask if the material is sold by the yard or by the ton. Once you have your price list, you can do some simple math to break all the pricing down to ½ ton increments and make a fair comparison.

Price per ton vs. price per yard – The Math!

Divide the price per ton by 2 to arrive at the ½ ton price, then multiply by 3 to arrive at the price per yard [because remember… one yard = ~1.5 tons].

Or – divide the price per yard by 3 to arrive at the price per ½ ton.

This quick equation will allow you to compare ½ ton pricing among different vendors.

For example:

$50 per ton / 2 = $25 per half ton. $25 per half ton x 3 = $75 per yard

$75 per yard / 3 = $25 per half ton

Quality, convenience, and price are important factors to consider when purchasing bulk material.

Make sure to compare delivery fees too!

But How Much Do I Need?

The amount of material depends on the type of project. For construction projects, safety regulations and building codes require a specific amount of aggregate or material for a base layer. The depth depends on whether the project is for pedestrian or vehicular application. For mulch beds,  2-3” is generally sufficient, although some gardeners prefer up to 4” of mulch. The amount of soil, compost, or fill dirt is related to the volume required for the area. A cubic yard measurement will most accurately meet your volume needs.

 We offer 3 options to help you determine the amount of material required for your project!

  1. Check out our materials calculator at himmelsgardencenter.com
  2. Call 410-255-7730 and ask for help! Our friendly and courteous staff will help you determine which product is best, and how much you will need.
  3. Calculate your volume needs using the steps listed below to arrive at cubic yards:
    • First determine square footage. Measure L x W for square footage. If your beds are oddly shaped, you can divide them into quadrants, or make a general sq. ft determination and round up to the nearest whole number.
    • Determine how deep you want the mulch/soil/stone to be.
    • Divide the square footage by the appropriate number to arrive at cubic yards:
      • 4″ deep – divide by 81
      • 3″ deep – divide by 108
      • 2″ deep – divide by 162
      • 1″ deep – divide by 324

For example, if you have 4 raised bed gardens, each one is 12’x4’, and you want to top-dress with 4” of compost:

12’x4’ garden bed = 48 sq. ft.

48 sq. ft. x 4 garden beds = 192 total sq. ft.

192 sq. ft. / 81 = 2.37 cubic yards.

Round up to the nearest whole number. You will need 2.5 yards of compost to top-dress your beds!

Next Steps

It’s the perfect time of year to start planning your next project! We would love to be a part of it.

Call Himmel’s or visit us online and let us help you determine your material and quantity needs. And if you decide you just don’t feel like doing it yourself, contact  us for a free consultation, and let our friendly and detail-oriented landscaping and hardscaping crews do it for you!

Phone:(410) 255-7730
Landscaping@himmelsgardencenter.com

Materials Calculator

Bulk Product Description

Topsoil –  locally produced, double screened topsoil suitable for a variety of landscape applications including backfilling, planting grass seed, and garden beds. $40 per yard. Delivery and pickup available.

Leafgro – also called leaf compost; made up of shredded leaves and grass clippings that are completely decomposed. Leafgro is locally produced. Excellent for overseeding or installing sod. Also used to amend soil for planting. Can be mixed with topsoil. Customers sometimes order half and half; this is usually a mix of half leafgro/half topsoil. $40 per yard. Delivery and pickup available.

Mushroom Compost – this is a blend of organic matter most suitable for vegetable and herb gardening. Can be mixed with topsoil. 1 part mushroom compost to 2 parts topsoil = 6.5 pH; perfect for gardening. $40 per yard. Delivery and pickup available.

Fill Dirt – Screened fill dirt for backfilling and for construction projects. Not recommended for gardening. $32 per yard. Delivery and pickup available.

Mulch – all Himmel’s high quality mulches are shredded hardwood. The dyed mulch is dyed with vegetable dye and is non-toxic. Prices range $35 – $58 per yard. Delivery and pickup available.

Concrete Sand – Useful for many construction, hardscape, and landscape applications. Concrete sand is the final layer before pavers are installed. Cannot be used as playground sand because it gets very dusty when dry and sometimes there are large, sharp particles. $90 per yard. Delivery and pickup available.

Crusher Run – Also called CR-6, crusher run stone is a mix of coarse and fine aggregate used in construction and hardscape applications. CR-6 is the base layer for patios and retaining walls and should be tamped down to builder specifications for safe use. Himmel’s carries blue gray CR-6 for $90 per yard. Delivery and pickup available.

57# Stone – This stone is about 3/4″ in size. 57# stone is multipurpose and used in construction, hardscape, landscape, and drainage applications. Himmel’s carries 57# stone in two colors: marble chip [white] for $95 per yard, and blue gray for $95 per yard. Delivery and pickup available.

Chesapeake Blend River Rock – River rock, also called river jack and Delaware rounds, is a multi-colored stone with a smooth surface used for decorative applications. Himmel’s carries river rock in 3/4″; 1-3″; and 3-5” sizes. All sizes are $250 per yard. Delivery and pickup available.

Other aggregates and materials like rip rap, pea gravel, and more, are available for direct delivery. Just ask!

Feb 19
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Plant of the Week: Eastern Redbud

By Plant of the Week No Comments

Common name:

Eastern Redbud

Redbud

Botanical name:

Cercis canadensis

(SER-sis kan-a-DEN-sis)

The Eastern Redbud is a deciduous tree native to North America. They are most known for their showy magenta buds that bloom into pink flowers in early spring. The buds and blooms appear before the leaves.

  • Light Requirements: Eastern Redbuds can tolerate full sun to partial shade conditions. It is important to note – if your redbud is in full sun it will require more frequent watering. (It prefers some shade in this area in the heat of the summer.)
  • Water Requirements: Water regularly for freshly planted trees until the roots are established, about the 1st year. You can check the soil, about 2” in depth, to check if water is needed.
  • Characteristics: Redbuds are most known for their showy buds in early spring. Their leaves are typically green throughout late spring to late summer, and then shift to a golden coloring in the fall.
  • Uses: Redbuds work as a great understory tree due to their mature size of 20 – 30 ft tall by 15 – 25 ft wide. If space permits, they also work well with multiple redbuds planted in a grouping.
  • Interesting Facts: The flowers can be eaten fresh or fried. The blossoms are also edible and can add a bright, citrusy taste to salads. The unopened buds can also be pickled and used as a caper substitute.
  • Varieties:
    • Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’ is one of the most popular cultivars, with deep purple foliage and rose-colored flowers.
    • Cercis canadensis ‘Ruby Falls’ is an excellent redbud for small spaces. Its weeping habit, red-purple flowers and heart-shaped leaves will bring elegance to any garden.
    • Cercis canadensis ‘Flame Thrower’ is a Himmel’s favorite! Leaves emerge purple and quickly turn to red as they expand. As an individual leaf matures, it transitions from purple to red to reddish-bronze and ultimately yellow-green. Because all leaves are in different stages of development at any particular point in time, the tree displays a brilliant array of colors, especially during stages of active growth.
The redbud tree is in the legume family!
Redbud buds, flowers, and fruit (seed) can be eaten raw, pickled, or cooked.
The Redbud is the state tree of Oklahoma!
Download Care Sheet PDF
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