HAPPY WEDNESDAY! Is it really the first day of August already? Where has the time gone?? It may only be the middle of the work week, but I'm geared up because it's time for this week's edition of "...of the Week." I'm pretty excited as this week's feature plant is everything you could want it to be and more. We're casting the spotlight on the 'Limelight' Hydrangea!

A hardy, deciduous shrub designated to United States Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3-9, 'Limelight's key feature is it's spectacular, repeated blooms. Huge, green flowers adorn the stems in late spring and last through to late fall. Most plants begin to retire their blooms as August rounds the corner, but 'Limelight' takes center stage during this time.  While most hydrangea lovers anticipate the obvious lime green foliage of the hydrangea, most do not expect the sneak of pink that illuminates the globes. The color soon ages into a deep pink as fall thickens.

Adaptable to various soil types, 'Limelight' does, however, prefer moist, loamy (but also well-drained) soils. It does not like "wet feet" and cannot sustain itself through root rot. Unlike other varieties of some shrubs and perennials, the pH of the soil will not affect it's bloom color. 'Limelight' is extremely drought tolerant. 

Whether you  are looking to add a taste of luxury to the poolside, spruce up an area with a mass planting, or showcase the shrub on a border-side project- the landscaping uses of this shrub are endless. In addition, 'Limelight' makes an exceptional cut flower, both fresh and dried. 

insects from the plant every two or three days should take care of the problem. However, deer and other wildlife find the hydrangea just as attractive as we do. A simple douse of coyote urine to the area should repel harm from your hydrangea. ​

I've had so much fun learning about the 'Limelight' hydrangea, and I hope you did too! If you enjoyed the article, share on social media- we'd love for everyone to know more about 'Limelight.' If you have any questions about the shrub or are looking to purchase some of your own, please contact Connie at the farm or visit our website for more information. We hope to see you soon! Until next time, have a great week.

Also known as the Western Yellow pine or Blackjack pine, the Ponderosa pine is best known for it's "ponderous" (thick) wood. This tree is actually quite impressive. It's tall, straight trunks allow this tree to reach remarkable heights of 60- 130 ft. tall, sometimes even 200 ft. That's taller than an 18 story building! Trunk width is often measured between 30-60 inches in diameter with 4-8 inch needles.

The Ponderosa pine is one of the Southwest's tallest and longest living trees, often living past 500 years old. Through the first 150 (ish) years of it's life, the pine's bark is nearly black and begins to turn a rusty-orange color as it matures. It's scaly bark has been rumored to smell like vanilla or butterscotch to some individuals. 

Given full sunlight, the tree can grow 1-2 feet each year. It also develops a deep tap root which allows itself to stabilize and resist wind. Individuals often consider this tree when planning for windbreaks or buffer strips, not to mention planting for it's unique look as well. 

Emergency flour was produced from the inner bark of the pine and the inner bark gum could be used for medicinal purposes. Even down to the needles which were steeped to make tea. ​

Several birds and small mammals also love the tree. The tree's seeds provide food and even nesting/roosting sites for it's various inhabitants. There always seems to be a critter running nearby these particular trees on the farm, we often spot birds nests in them! 

I could talk about this magnificent tree all day long, but unfortunately I must cut myself off. If you have any questions about the Ponderosa pine, please feel free to ask in the comments or call the farm. We are also open Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. if you are interested in taking a look at one yourself.

Until next time, we hope to see you soon. Thanks for reading!

Happy Wednesday everyone! We are halfway through the work week and it's been quite a nice week for weather (as compared to the scorch of last week). Our "lake" on the property has finally dried up and all the trees, plants, and shrubbery are growing faster than ever! 

​This week's "Perennial of the Week" comes with a little 'twist.' This segment will be highlighting the Peppermint Twist phlox. Also known as 'garden phlox,' this dazzling perennial blooms in shades of pink and white between the summer months of July and September. Often, Peppermint Twist reaches heights of 1-5 feet and spreads about the same. Blossoming in clumps, the upright perennial is known for it's fragrance and bi-color uniqueness. The striking pink and white colors alternate in stripes resembling the spokes of a wheel.

Peppermint Twist is a favorite of many gardeners' for its ability to attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Considering a bird or butterfly garden, the Peppermint Twist will be the perfect centerpiece. It's a relatively easy perennial to maintain as it tolerates most soils, but flourishes in fertile, well-drained soils. It combats powdery mildew if allowed space and is thinned as needed. 

​This perennial grows best in zones 4-8 (MN is zone 4), with full sun. This beauty will grow in partial shade, but prefers as much sun as it can get. In regards to heat, like many of us Minnesotans, it prefers the moderate summer temperatures and will require extra drink of water on those hot and muggy summer days (we've had a few of those lately!). 

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​Hello, hello! I hope everyone has had a wonderful week and is back into the working groove after a (much-needed) 4th of July celebration. It's been quite a scorcher the past couple of days and it's beginning to look like some thunderstorms are going to be hanging out a bit as a result of the heat and humidity. The farmers' corn is past knee high and the shrubs around the farm here at Kahnke Brothers Tree Farm are reaching for the sky (see what I did there?). ​

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​​​This week's "...of the week" highlight is the Summer Wine Ninebark. This shrub's wine colored foliage stems throughout the entirety of it's growing season. Covered with soft pink- white clusters of spirea-like flowers in the late summer, Summer Wine provides the best of both world's with it's fine texture and compact branching. The shrub is easy to grow and flourishes in zones 3-8 (as a reminder, most of Minnesota is Zone 4- refer to the USDA Zone Hardiness Map for other locations across the U.S.). ​

​If you have a place to fill that requires a plant's ability to sustain full sunlight, this shrub is for you. Once established, the plant requires less water but should be irrigated regularly in extreme heat. Plants need a drink, too! The shrub rarely needs pruning or other maintenance, so no need to add that chore to the "Honey-do" list. 

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Reaching a standard height of 5-6 feet, Summer Wine Ninebark boldly accents rustic or cottage style gardens. It's beautiful color touches any area with a sense of vibrancy and grace

Summer Wine's native heritage caters to it's ability to combat powdery mildew and is often used in landscaping projects as an attractive cut flower. The persistent shrub adapts to most any difficult situation thrown at it. From withstanding acidic and alkaline soils to dry soils- the shrub is as tough as it's fellow Minnesotan residents. 

"Summer Wine" came to be by crossing P. opulifolius "Monlo" to pollinate P. opulifolius var. Nanus. In 2000 it was propagated and one of the resulting seedlings from cuttings was used for further observation. The cross was successfully made by Timothy D. Wood of Spring Meadow Nursery in Grand Haven, Michigan. By the time this cultivar received its patent as P. opulifolius "Seward" in 2004, it began garnering well-deserved attention under its trademarked name, "Summer Wine." 

You can purchase "Summer Wine" here at the farm on Saturdays between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Escape the status quo of green-foilaged plants and give this ninebark shrub a chance. 

We hope to see you soon! Thanks for reading, let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Until next time, stay hydrated and have a great week everyone.  

 


 I hope everyone's week has been off to a great start! Minus the storm showers this morning, the sun has yet to peak out to start my Tuesday afternoon. I received quite wonderful feedback about last weeks perennial of the week (Blue Mouse Ear Hosta), so I'm hoping this week's "Tree of the Week" does not disappoint.

This is my first "Tree of the Week." Previous posts have included my "firsts" also. I've come to realize that I've chosen these particular plants because they were the first to catch my eye. I remembered them- and believe me, we have thousands of plants here on the farm. Remembering a certain specie can be tough to reconcile.

Hat Trick Crabapple had no problem grasping my attention. It's first impression was almost as memorable as David's first impression on The Bachelorette- he showed up in a chicken costume. Yes, yes... I watch "that" show.

Anywho, Hat Trick Crabapple reminds me of a hat trick in hockey, there are three main branch levels just as a hat trick signifies three goals in a row during a hockey game. Each branch grows a different variety of apple. The bottom branch grows 'Honeycrisp,' the middle branch grows 'Sweet Sixteen,' while 'Zestar!' grows on the top! How neat, right?

The Hat Trick Crabapple is quite the hardy tree, sustaining temperatures -30°F and grows best in zones 4-7. It's width and height are both typically trained, most likely to grow against flat walls or fencing.

 Harvest time for the apples are best between late August and late September and produce particularly high yields for such minimal space. The tree is self-pollinating and saves space as all the apples are grafted onto a single tree.

This miracle tree requires full sun (6+ hours) and grows optimally in well drained, slightly acidic soils.It's showy blooms produce an array of fragrant flowers in the spring and begin to produce fruit summer into fall.

Espalier fruits have been grown for centuries in Europe and are an excellent way to grow apples and pears in a formal, unique way. They take up little space compared to standard or semi-dwarf free-standing fruit trees.

The key is to start with a very small apple tree (preferably a small whip) which can be pruned low to the ground to start the tree with low branches. The form is created by pruning and tying the branches initially to a wire or wooden framework. All of this shaping and pruning takes time. It will take several years to get the tree into a beautiful form and have it start bearing fruit. This process can be a bit daunting and time consuming for the average home fruit grower.

 Once the desired shape/size of the tree has been reached, summer pruning is to be done 1-2 times each summer. It is best to prune in late June and again before August 1st (if a second flush of unwanted growth occurs). It is crucial to prune off all unwanted new growth that is vertical. All vertical new growth should be pruned back to the first 3-5 leaves to promote fruit spur formation.

It looks like something straight out of a whimsical movie, doesn't it? Make your dreams come true- stop by on Saturdays between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. to purchase yours before they's gone.

That is all for this week folks. Have a safe and happy Fourth of July celebration everyone!

Hey, hey, hey! It's me, Kirsten, again. We just can't seem to escape the rain lately. We've needed it though, near drought conditions (before these recent spouts of rain) were really taking their toll on the trees in addition to the harsh winter.

Are you ready for this week's "... of the week?" I'm excited, you are in store for a real treat!


During this week's segment of "...of the week," I'll be sharing about one of my favorite perennials- the Blue Mouse Ear Hosta. Growing up, I'd never understood why my mom loved her hosta plants so much. Maybe its an acquired love for the plant (or maybe because the name of the plant reminds me of the story 'The Tale of Desperaux'- great read, highly recommend it).

What a sweet little hosta, almost as cute as the mouse itself- of course both are always most beautiful OUTSIDE!

The Blue Mouse Ear's beautiful foliage forms a symmetrical mound of heart-shaped leaves that curl slightly on the edges, much like a mouse's ear, hence the common name. During bloom, lavender flowers stand tall above the clumps. The blue-gray foliage clumps can reach dimensions up to 6-7 inches tall by 12 inches wide.

Hostas are know to be quite the hardy plant, but ideally grow best in areas with full shade or filtered sun. They prefer slightly acidic, well-drained soils. Like most Hostas, they should be watered regularly, more often in extreme heat or when kept in containers. In addition, the thick foliage makes itself resistant to damage from slugs. Typically grown in zones 3-8 (most of MN is Zone 4), they can withstand various soil types, frigid winters, and even the occasional munch from a goat. Yes, this happens at our house all too often...

The herbaceous perennial was named "2008 Hosta of the Year" by In The Country catalog after catching Hosta growers by storm.Originally a mutation from a group of Blue Cadet Hostas, Blue Mouse Ears was almost discarded in 1987. The owner of the nursery chose not to throw it away, but rather give it to his friends, Emile and Jane Deckert, who began growing the mutation in their garden for the next 12 years. Emile and Jane were not Hosta fanatics, but after it's bloom several years later- it caught Emile's eye for its curved leaves.

Dare I say this Hosta caught my attention from day one. Wether you have been a lover of Hostas or not, Blue Mouse Ears will steal the heart of any passerby.

Bring Blue Mouse Ears home next Saturday between 8:00 and 3:00 p.m. to add to your garden. It's companion plants include several varieties of Coral Bells, Astilbe, Mukdenia, and Bleeding Heart.

"No need to convince me, Kirsten, Blue Mouse Ears are just what I need to add to border the side of my house." Yes. Yes, they are. :)

Have a fantastic week everyone! If you haven't already, like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram.

Hello! I'm Kirsten Barott, the farm's newest summer intern. I'm a student of South Dakota State University where I major in Agricultural Communications, Public Relations, and Leadership. I assist in social media activity, sales, promotion, and production during my time here. I love my position here because everyday is sure to bring new adventure!

Anywho...

Welcome to Kahnke Brother's newest segment series "...of the week."
We have such a wide variety of shrubs, trees and perennials here on the farm. In an effort to reach and educate our customers about not only the farm, but the plants here on the farm, we've created a weekly segment to highlight the species we grow.

I've decided to start with a shrub- the Blizzard Mockorange. Fitting to be the first "...of the week" feature, this shrub is in full bloom right now! It first caught my eye as I was passing while assisting a customer last Saturday in the retail area. I should say, it first caught my nose- what a fragrant shrub! It's biggest asset, known to many, is it's fragrance.

With an appealing image to accompany it, the profuse clusters of tiny white flowers blossoming from the hardy shrub add purity and elegance to any garden or landscape project. Blizzard Mockorange prefers to be planted in full sun or partial shade, but flowers will be most abundant in full sun. This shrub can grow to be 4-5 feet tall by 3 feet wide. Plant this shrub close to the deck or patio and enjoy
it's border growing

The shrub gets it's name not only from the white-out of
flowers it produces, but also from it's ability to endure harsh winters. Introduced from Canada, zoning for Blizzard Mockorange typically ranges from 3-7, which is perfect as most of Minnesota is within zone 4. It is very tolerant of most soils. This species of Philadelphus was named after Meriwether Lewis who found it in 1806 during his famous Lewis & Clark expedition to the northwest. Native Americans once used the wood for arrow shafts, combs, bows, cradles, and other products. Bruised leaves and flowers formed a soapy lather. Blizzard mockorange is produced for ornamental purposes and hedgerows in part because of its large, showy, fragrant blooms.

Pest threats are close to none, however, seedlings are susceptible to damping off. Also, it has been known to pose threat to animals as it can be very poisonous, stated by the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.

That's all for today folks! Please leave your experiences with these shrubs or further insight in the comments below. Catch ya next time on "...of the week."

Make sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to keep up with the hustle and bustle of every day life at the farm!

...on the right, the latter!  Of course, you can probably tell that I have taken a few liberties with these shots, but that is completely beside the point!  Never mind the fact that they are taken from different directions, in different lighting and the "after" pic has a positive little Instagram spin on it.  The point is, we need to focus on the positive right now. 

Excessive mud has been making life plenty interesting while we move plants from our potting annex to the perennial greenhouse.  Said mud forced me to make a temporary path out of flattened, plant boxes; so that morale wouldn't plummet to January levels during the moving process.  Of course, my cardboard path was immediately rained on.  This lured me into a false sense of security, regarding its mobility in the wind.  Needless to say, Mother Nature was a bit of a blow hard today; disassembling and disbursing my path over quite the impressive radius.  What could I do?  I picked it up, weighed it down with bricks and washed the mud from my hands.  At least it's not snow.  I must remind myself of the foot plus that the weather terrorists predicted less than a week ago.  Things could always be worse and I really do believe that this is spring.  At least it smells like spring!

Just yesterday, I was asked if I would help with a Rotary Club tree planting project at a local school.  I am quite excited about this opportunity!  As far as I'm concerned, schools generally lack ambiance these days.  When I was a kid, it seemed like there were more trees on playgrounds.  I fondly remember playing house inside the "rooms" created by the heaving roots of large poplar trees, which formerly resided on the playground of Rossman Elementary School in Detroit Lakes, MN.  I also remember a small courtyard that used to dwell near the main entrance of Detroit Lakes Community High School.  This circular space, completely enclosed by hedging, housed a pink-flowering tree.  I remember playing within the "Secret Garden" as a child, attending my siblings' school events.  I do not recall whether or not the courtyard was there when I was in high school.  I only remember how magical it felt to me when I was "knee high to a grasshopper."

As I listen to people debate the root causes of school violence, I feel like we have become expert finger pointers and lousy idea generators.  Whatever causes contribute to these crises, there are positive things that we all can do to try and improve the mental health of our children.  I strongly believe that creating little sanctuaries within and outside of our schools can help.  Now, I have no children, but I was once one.  Because I grew up in the middle of nowhere, interacting with peers on a daily basis at school was a real adjustment for me.  Trying to process my feelings after various, failed interactions was extremely stressful.  Most of the time, long walks with my dogs helped me get my head right.  Everyone needs a place to escape to now and then.  Why not create beautiful spots at our schools, where children can find themselves and the peace that lies within them?

As I contemplate which trees are the right trees for a playground setting, I keep looking backwards with my mind's eye.  The trees I loved as a kid are widely viewed as "junk trees" now.  Willows, Boxelders and Cottonwoods would all have made my crayon scrawled list of favorites.  Why?  Because they were climbable!  They supported swings and tree houses.  Their low branches were prime real estate for rookie tree climbers with short legs.  Oaks would have also made the cut.  Acorns make such wonderful pawns in childhood games.  Certainly, they can be weaponized as well; but taunting assailants must have excellent aim in order to use them effectively.  Even as an adult, I have been known to engage in a campground game of "Stick-Nut" with my husband.  Sure, we could just bring a proper bat and ball, but that wouldn't be as fun.  Crabapples (with fruit) would also have been on my kid list.  What other ingredient could possibly fill their void in a tasty pot of mud soup?  I'm no psychologist, but I firmly believe that a healthy imagination is critical to mental health; especially for children.