Category Archives: Trial Gardens at Applewood Seed Company

Utah Sweetvetch

We seem to be having an early start to our blooming season in the gardens this year. An unseasonably warm April brought out the flowers 2–3 weeks earlier than normal. One of the earliest to bloom was Utah Sweetvetch (Hedysarum boreale), a perennial that is native to the western U.S.  This wonderful legume has dense clusters of pink flowers at the tops of short stems, and bumble bees are often seen feeding from them. It makes a colorful statement when planted in large patches, and it looks especially attractive when paired with Blue Flax (Linum perenne) or Sticky Purple Geranium (Geranium viscosissimum).  Continue reading…

by Diane Wilson, Trials Superviser

One of the more interesting and fun aspect about my job is the work I do in our trial gardens.  Throughout the fall and winter, I gather ideas for new trials and look for seed sources.  In the spring, the fun begins.  The major part of our trials covers these categories: quality control on existing seed lots, new species or varieties, mixture trials, seed production trials, and variety improvement trials.  Of course the trial gardens also serve as a display garden for our customers and visitors.  Please take a walk through our gardens by clicking on the link below:  Continue reading…