Green Lake Nursery

Assistant Grower

About the company

Green Lake Nursery is a wholesale nursery located on the edge of south east Dallas. We are a grower of high quality bedding plants and perennials for the north Texas area. Green Lake has operated with steady growth for over 25 years.

Job description

We are seeking a passionate individual to supervise the production of 10+ arcs of nursery stock on a full time basis.

Job requirements

• Greenhouse experience and knowledge of plant needs, pests, and diseases.
• Strong communication and leadership skills.
• Bilingual preferred
• Good management and organization skills

Contact

Austin Quimby

Green Lake Nursery

Phone: 972-286-3031

Austin@greenlakenursery.com

What a great perennial, so pretty to look at and so easy to grow. The word Echinacea comes from the Greek word “echinos” which means hedgehog or sea urchin. This aptly describes the prickly raised central cone that gives this plant the descriptive name of Coneflower.

Echinaceas have extended bloom seasons and long lasting flowers. The blooms usually appear from late May into August. Cut flowers can last up to 2 weeks, the dried cones can be used in floral arrangements. In addition to being long lasting and long blooming,the flowers are also butterfly magnets. To keep those lovely flowers coming, deadheading is required.

Echinaceas like full or part sun. They adapt to most average garden soils, as long as they are well drained. Of course, any extra soil enrichment makes for an even better plant. Once established, Echinaceas are drought resistant. There is a wide range of new coneflower hybrids. Colors range from white, pink, purple, orange, yellow and red. Some petals are reflexive, some straight, some with pom-pom centers and some with cones.

Listed below are a few varieties that we grow.

Hot Papaya: Orange with magenta highlights. Prominent pom-pom center. Maroon markings on the stems.

Harvest Moon: Golden yellow with prominent central cone. Very Fragrant.

Magnus: Deep rosy pink-purple fading to soft pink. Typical prominent central cone. Perennial Plant Association Plant of the Year for 1998. Will naturalize.

Pow-Wow White: White flowers with typical cone, Flowers are smaller but more floriferous. Heavily branched.

Pow-Wow Wild Berry: Dark purple berry color with prominent cone. (Flower is darker than ‘Magnus’) Flowers are smaller but more floriferous. Heavily branched. 2010 All American Selection Award.

Pink Double Delight: Bubble-gum pink. Exaggerated pom-pom center. Fragrant, compact.

Prairie Splendor: Large rose-pink with typical prominent cone. Tighter and more compact. 2007 Fleuro Select Gold Medal.

Sombrero Hot Pink: Hot rosy pink petals with prominent orange central cone. Compact with good basal branching and more floriferous. Fragrant

Sundown: Very fragrant single orange flower with prominent center. Multi-branched, therefore more flowers.

White Swan: Fragrant single white rays with prominent golden green central cone.

Echinaceas are fun to collect and fun to grow.

Pink Skullcap

This hardy member of the mint family is a very sturdy and tough Texas native. Pink Skullcap is compact and semi-woody with small leaves that resemble thyme. Semi-evergreen and growing to about 8-12 inches tall, skullcap needs an occasional shearing, to keep a nice, uniform, tight habit. Flowers are deep rosy pink and resemble miniature snapdragons.

In north Texas, blooms begin in May and usually continue through October. Hummingbirds are attracted to the flowers. Skullcap likes full sun the best, but, a half day of sun is acceptable. It thrives in poor to average soils, with very little water, making it very drought tolerant. Because of its low, compact nature, skullcap is great used as a ground cover, border or accent in low water landscapes.

Truly a Tough Texas Perennial

Not often seen in north Texas landscapes, Galphimia gracilis (sometimes called Thyrallis) is a tropical shrub that should be used more often here for warm season landscape interest. Galphimia, considered a tropical shrub, usually freezes to the ground here, however, if the winter is mild enough, it will come back the following spring.

Using Galphinia as an annual is probably the easiest route to go, not guessing or waiting to see if it will come back. Full sun is best, but half day sun is fine, just expect fewer blooms and some legginess. North Texas heat and intense sun are no problem for this Mexican native. Also, once established, Galphimia gracilis is very drought tolerant.

Blooms begin in late spring or early summer as soon as the temperatures start getting hot. The terminally borne flowers are dainty, five- petaled and golden. Each flower resembles a small daisy. Bloom time is from summer till fall. This tropical shrub can grow to 5 feet tall, but in north Texas, 3 feet is more reasonable due to winter freezes. Well drained soil is required and as mentioned full sun is best. Cool temperatures cause the leaves to turn bronze.

Galphimia is pretty in pots or beds, mixed with other showy annuals.
Due to its’ uncommonness and ease of cultivation Galphimia gracilis is a must for the north Texas summer garden.

A True, Tropical, Heat- Loving Trooper

Green Lake Nursery is changing current freight charges for DFW and surrounding areas. With the increased costs in fuel  we had to make this difficult decision. As it stands our current minimum delivery charge for DFW of $15 will now be $20. Other areas with different current charges may experience a change as well. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Sincerely,

Green Lake Nursery

972-286-7422

‘Jenny Brook’ Wallflower

Wow, purple and apricot, what an unusual color combination for a garden flower! These colors can be found blooming simultaneously on a wallflower discovered in Wales called ‘Jenny Brook’.

Narrow, linear leaves line this shrubby evergreen perennial that grows to about 18” tall and wide. The bi-color flower clusters are held above the foliage. Flower colors range from lavender to purple, to apricot, pink and rose.  Bloom time is February through April in north Texas. They even make a nice cut-flower.

Maintenance is very low to non-existent. Poor to moderate soils are just fine as long they are well drained, which  makes ‘Jenny Brook’ very suitable for the poor soils that abound in north Texas.  Full to part sun is also required.

Give this shy little wallflower a whirl. She will prove that she is worthy of a place in your garden.

Veronica ‘Georgia Blue’ is a lovely evergreen trailing perennial that blooms when most other perennials are just waking from dormancy. The flowers are a beautiful clear azure blue and resemble Forget-Me-Nots.

Bloom-time is late winter into early spring. ’Georgia Blue’ is used effectively as a cascading border, as an accent in rock gardens or planted amongst early spring bulbs such as daffodils. It prefers sun to light shade and will grow to about 2” to 4” tall, with a 12” spread. Once established, it can withstand our dry summers.

The name ‘Georgia Blue’ comes from its native land, of the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. Even though she comes from afar, ‘Georgia Blue’ is happy spreading her charm right here in our north Texas gardens.

Green Lake Nursery has a nice assortment of cheddar/spice pink type dianthus, each very similar, yet each a little different.

The basic growing requirements are the same. They like loose well-drained slightly alkaline soil. Full sun with afternoon shade is preferred in north Texas.  More lush foliage occur in the cooler months. Regular watering is needed during prolonged dry spells. Place mulch around the roots in the summer to keep roots cool and soil from drying.

General appearances are very similar. Evergreen mounds of narrow, glaucous leaves form tufts that grow anywhere from 3-6” tall with vertical bloom stalks adding another 4-5”.  Mounds can spread 6-8”.

Heaviest blooms occur late in winter and in early spring. Sporadic blooms occur throughout the year. The blooms are mostly 1-1.5” across, and make good cut flowers. Depending on the variety, flowers can be double, semi-double, or single, singles bearing five delicate petals. Most have fringed edges and a delectable spicy clove scent.

The term “pink” comes from the verb “to pink” as in the fringed pattern made when using pinking shears. The word dianthus is of Greek origin. Dios means god and anthos means flower…flowers of the gods.  A fitting description for such well loved flowers.

Bath’s Pink is single with delicate pale pink fringed petals. Named after Jane Bath of Stone Mt, Georgia.

Cranberry Ice is single, fringed with cranberry pink petals topped by  pale pink patches, some patches resemble hearts.

Eastern Star is single, slightly fringed raspberry red with a raisin red center halo.

Fire Star is single slightly fringed, red with crimson red center.

Firewitch has single fringed hot pink petals. 2006 Perennial of the Year.

Passion is double flowered, deep velvet red.

Neon Star is single fringed magenta-pink.

Roshish One is semi-double, dark rose with delicate white edges.

Starlette is double petaled, fringed magenta with deep burgundy center.

Tickled Pink is a double with lavender pink slightly fringed petals.

Wicked Witch is single fringed cherry red. A mutation of Firewitch, just a deeper more intense color

Erysimum Citrona Orange  and Citrona Yellow

Okay, we all know that pansies rule for cool season color in north Texas, but how about the other cool season plants that go along with the pansies??  You know the usual line-up, snapdragons, dianthus, alyssum….

Well, it is time to welcome a new member to the cool season ensemble. Let me introduce you to a member of the cabbage family,  Erysimum ‘Citrona Orange’ and  E. ‘Citrona Yellow’, or otherwise known by friends and acquaintances as Wallflower.

E. “Citrona” is evergreen and produces bright orange or bright yellow flowers that are super fragrant. They will grow to around 15”- 18” tall and wide. Full sun is best, but  part sun is tolerated.  Erysimum is not picky about soil, just as long as it is well drained.

Plant in the fall or early spring. Trim back if damaged by the cold. The foliage will quickly regenerate and blooms will soon recur, giving you fantastic color through March and April.

Come on, North Texas gardeners, Don’t be shy, introduce Erysimum Citrona Orange and/or E. Citrona Yellow to your next cool season line-up.

Copper Canyon Daisy

Tough, and tenacious, qualities that define this native Texan.

T. lemmonii was discovered by husband – wife team, Sara and John Lemmon, pioneer botanists and avid plant collectors.

Late October till hard frost, sometimes, even into December, depending on the winter, T. lemmonii produces bright, one inch, golden daisies that will illuminate the heart and soul of autumnal landscapes. Shortened day lengths initiate flower development.

It has lacey leaves which are packed full of aromatic oils.  When brushed, the pungent fragrance will explode and fill  the air.

Tagetes lemmonii becomes quite large.  It will fill a space, up to 5’ across and tall, creating a sprawling mound that defies sun, heat and drought. Areas of high reflective heat are no problem for this plant.

Butterflies are attracted to the flowers.  Deer and rabbits stay away and will not browse the strongly scented foliage.

Copper Canyon daisy needs well drained soil and a sunny location.  Other than that, this is a carefree, easy plant to grow that stands up to any north Texas weather.