We try to keep our costs down...Here is one way : Landscaping Rocks and Boulders In Fountainville, Pa.
The following newsletter is an example of how we entered new markets and obtained sources of raw materials:
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Highland Hill Farm of Fountainville (Bucks County), and Milan (Bradford County) Pa. is a wholesale and retail nursery. We are interested in selling as part of our nursery, landscape rocks, stones and boulders. We would be interested in suggestions from you as to what would be our best moving products to carry. We also want to know your prices for shipping trailer loads of stone that would be sent to both the Milan and Fountainville Pa locations. We have equipment and facilities to unload at both locations. Do you allow shipments on consignment basis? What are the terms that you offer? We also would be interested in bartering for product with trees and shrubs that we raise at our nursery as our funds are limited and we do not have a large budget to carry inventory with. We do have a large inventory of available plant materials for trading purposes. We have a large customer base and have been in the nursery trade for 25 years. Your help would be appreciated , Bill Hirst 215 651 8329
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This newsletter was sent to 35 rock and flagstone quarries in North Eastern Pa by email. It resulted in three offers from quarries offering us inventory on consignment basis with no up front costs. Its a no cost way to add inventory to a sales yard. This is why we are such a fast growing supplier of stone, we have a lower cost basis. If you have ideas such as this please contact us. Sharing information makes us all better.
BTW:
Your visit to our farm and nursery will be to a county that is both rich in history and progressive in spirit. Here, you will be introduced to Bucks County's most unique nursery which specializes in growing and selling arborvitae. A bonus will be that there are also cultural centers and a wide range of interesting and enjoyable attractions.
Bucks County is one of the original, three counties established by William Penn in the 17th century. Bucks County thrives in the 21st century as an acknowledged leader in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. We invite you to discover the special qualities of our trees, plants, and shrubs as well as a county, where more than 500,000 people enjoy a quality of life unsurpassed in the tri-state area.
We have been blessed with natural resources, such as fertile and productive soils, that make our balled trees superior to other nurseries. We are ideally located in the southeastern corner of Pennsylvania. Bucks County is situated within the bustling New York-Washington corridor, bounded by the Delaware River and Trenton, NJ to the east, and the city of Philadelphia to the southeast.
One of the most popular arborvitae that we grow is the Green Giant Arborvitae which are native to the Pacific Northwest where they grow to 200 feet tall, usually 50 to 70 feet is the common height, even including here in Bucks county. This Arborvitae does best in wet forests and swamps. The Green Giant appearance is due to this specie's wide 15-25 foot wide base, the slightly tapering conical shape, and the dense branches and leaves casting great dark shadows. The Arborvitae grows in zones 6 to 8, environments with temperatures that get as low as 10 degrees below 0 Fahrenheit, such as in Missouri or Pennsylvania, to environments where winter temperatures get only as low as 20 degrees above 0 Fahrenheit, such as mid-Texas and northern Florida.
Green Giant Arborvitae have pretty, yet surprisingly tiny yellow flowers. The "pine cones," the fruit actually, of the tree, follow the budding of the flowers and are also surprisingly small compared to the size of a mature tree, being no more than a half-inch in size. There are no problems with tree litter understandably, and so few animals are attracted to the Green Giant Arborvitae, perhaps because of this description.
The Green Giant Arborvitae is recommended for growing as a hedge or privacy buffer along a property line, or driveway. Thuja Plicata, Western Red Cedars are ideal "windrow" trees. In a row, they'll truly diminish the wind. The Green Giant Arborvitae is justifiably considered wind resistant considering the windswept mountains of the Pacific northwest. The wood itself is weak, but it is very light. Green Giant Arborvitae trees are decay resistant, too, but the "Achilles Heel," the one and only vulnerability, is to being eaten by deer. Any Arborvitae are a favorite "deer browse," or as we jokingly say, "deer candy." The Western Red Cedar, the Green Giant Arborvitae do have better deer resistance than most arborvitae. Do not plant arborvitae too far away from structures, lights, roads, etc., where there's quietude and privacy for the "browsing deer."
Now that you know all about 'em, Highland Hill Farm has at least 50 or more Green Giant Arborvitae in our nursery ready for pickup at any time. They will range from 1.5' to 12' and be balled and burlapped or potted. We also have field liners and seedling Green Giant available. There are many more varieties of arborvitae available which we have in stock. If we don't stock the variety you want we will find it for you if possible.
We also sell Arborvitae that are very similar to the Green Giants. One variety is called the Excelsa. It has bright green foliage,pyramidal in form, is fast growing. I believe it will reach 30-35'. The best exposure for this plant is full sun. It is cold hardy to -20F. This plant responds well to pruning and shearing. Its foliage color is retained throughout the year. For a hedge or a screen the plants should be spaced 4-5' stem to stem. A 10' screen needs only 2 plants. A 50' screen needs only 12 plants.
The Thuja Plicata 'Can Can' is another interesting variety. Its is a semi dwarf. Its deeper green foliage is complimented by a touch of white on its new foliage. This is an adaptable plant that can withstand heat,drought,poor soils, and wet conditions. For hedges and screens its plant spacing can be 4' from stem to stem. A 10' screen needs 3 plants. A 50' screen needs 12 plants.
About the Author
Bill Hirst has been growing plants on his 200 acre farm in Bucks County for 30 years. His web sites are http://www.seedlingsrus.com and http://www.digatree.com Sign up for Bill's newsletter at http://www.seedlingsrus.com/123456signup.html
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