Michler's News: Flowers, Gardens & Design

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:

Thinking about Mother's Day?  The Lilac 'Palibin' (Syringa myeri 'Palibin') bloom a tad bit later than the common Lilac, and thus are timed perfectly for Mother's Day.  John Michler planted a large boarder of this variety for his Mother in her front yard, so she can enjoy the beautiful and fragrant blooms each Mother's Day.  You can visit us and select from our large selection of lilacs or order a select florist quality plant for Mother's Day delivery.  

We invite you to the greenhouses and beer garden this coming Tuesday, May 1st, for the May Day Festival at Michler’s. Kentucky Native Café will be steeping Sweet Woodruff in wine for the traditional May Wine Bowl and serving up other seasonal spring treats.

Early in spring, you will see small ruby red sprouts reaching out of the ground in many yards and gardens. These odd little limbs grow taller and glossy leaves begin to unfurl from all sides. Very soon, you have a bushy little peony getting ready to burst into bloom.