Michler's News: Flowers, Gardens & Design

The popularity of terrariums began in the Victorian Era and have continued because of the delight it brings with the personalized little world within it. Small ferns, pileas, and begonias can be nestled among mosses and other foliage plants creating a miniaturized woodland landscape.

Pilea peperomiodes is a time tested house plant commonly called Chinese Money Plant because this plant originates from southwest China and has unique round leaves, which, as the plant matures, form a mound that looks like a pile of money.  The round peltate leaves and naturally shininess are why you have probably seen this plant photographed in a Scandinavian furniture ad, Instagram post, or Pinterest board.

If you are looking for a holiday gift for a wine enthusiast, we just added a Clarendelle Rouge from Bordeaux, France to our new wine selection. This classic French wine defines itself in its wonderfully refined balance of three traditional Bordeaux grape varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc).

A flock of heart-shaped petals flare upward and hover over deep sliver-green foliage on the houseplant favorite, cyclamen. Clusters of bowing buds wait to lift up their petals alongside the mass of flared blooms forming months of showy bloom time. You can find colors of red, pink, purple, and white.

Introduced to Lexington by Jean and Karl Michler after seeing them on a trip to Chicago about 65 years ago, they became a Christmas tradition at Michler's.  In an age where styles change so fast, it is refreshing to make a custom tree for you year after year, decade after decade.

These hardy hibiscus varieties bring a tropical feel north a few zones. They bloom in the middle of summer when heat and humidity are high. They like full sun but if it is particularly hot, they would appreciate a little shade. They look great planted toward the back of a flower bed so they can tower above and compliment it's plant neighbors.

It's not uncommon for us to hear that plants make people happy but one of our favorite flower growers, Greenhouse 17, takes the idea to much greater heights. Greenhouse 17 is a safe, peaceful organization aimed at helping survivors of domestic abuse. A large part of the healing and restorative process takes place on a 40 acre plot of land brimming with things green and growing of both edible and cut-flower varieties.

When I first saw the Balloon Flower,  I really didn't pay it much attention. It had nice foliage through the spring while so many flowers were shooting up tight knots of buds that burst into blooms. But then, in June, the buds began to form on the Balloon flower. They were pale green, light and airy and  absolutely living up to it's name.

Whether you call it Serviceberry or Juneberry this sweet little tree has so much to offer. It is often planted as an ornamental because of it's slender, sculptural branches and attractive foliage. Beyond that, it bursts with small white blooms in the springtime which give way to deep red berries in June (giving it the nickname Juneberry!).

Thirty-Seven Book Benches are appearing in Lexington, these new benches are all painted by Kentucky Artists depicting books by Kentucky Authors.  We at Michler's are particurily excited about this public art project, because two of the benches are painted by team members here.  

After a long winter of greenhouse grown flowers, we are fully into local field flower season.  Here at Michler's Florist we are partial to the combination of our field grown Peonies and Baptisia (False Indigo), which bloom contemporaneously in May.  

Want to plant more flowers that help our pollinator friends? We have curated plant collections that bees and butterflies love, and when you buy your garden plants from Michler's you are buying plants free from harmful neonicotinoids, frequently used pesticides that can harm pollinators.  

Ready to get started? Here are six pollinator favorites we recommend: