Brent & Becky's Blog

Garden-Trekking with Brent By: Brent Heath, Co-owner, Brent & Becky’s   Well, I am in heaven today. I’m here at a Perennial Plant Association meeting, and this is probably the greatest gathering in the world of plant-oriented people. I’m sitting next to the most amazing plant breeder from Walter’s Gardens, my seat-mate is the Director of Better Homes and Gardens’ display garden in Des Moines, and across from me is a wonderful gardener from Chanticleer—one of America’s best pleasure gardens, in my opinion. And that’s just to name a few! We have park directors, designers, and producers from all over the...

Holland Travelogue  By: Jay & Denise Hutchins, Managers, Brent & Becky’s   If you follow us on social media at all, chances are you’ve seen some pictures of some of our travels over the years. And one place we return to year after year is Holland. While we’re certainly happy to go back to see old friends and take in the scenery, of course, we assure you, our visits are not only for pleasure. In fact, the annual excursion is an integral part of how we operate!     The Annual Holland Trip Years ago, we did everything here at Brent &...

Companion Planting with Bulbs  By: Brent Heath, Co-owner, Brent & Becky’s   Right now in the garden, there are so many wonderful combinations of bulbs, perennials, and annuals that are just spectacular planted together—not just because they work well together visually, but also for the companion relationships they provide! Typically, different plants of different genera have somewhat different requirements and, when planted together in the same bed, those differences can often benefit each other!   The Benefits of Companion Planting with Bulbs Now, combinations are fun because you get two things that bloom at a similar time that contrast or complement...

Low-Maintenance Bulbs  By: Brent Heath, Co-owner, Brent & Becky’s Undoubtedly one of the main reasons we love planting our gardens full of bulbs is because they’re incredibly low-maintenance. Seriously—plant them in one season and don’t worry about them until the next! How many plants can you say that about? But, while they may be more low-maintenance than many bedding plants, there are obviously some bulbs that will be more low-maintenance than others. Here are our top choices: Alliums Alliums, or Ornamental Onions, are among the most interesting bulbs to plant in your garden. Presenting with big, beautiful globes of colorful flowers,...