Trees, tractors and people of J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co. were on parade July 10th as we joined our local community in kicking off the annual Sandy Mountain Festival. Our ‘float’ showcased three generations of Schmidt family members, employees and tractors against a background of leafy, colorful, beautiful trees.
Though retired from day-to-day management of the nursery, Gen-2 family members Jan Schmidt Barkley and Barbara and J. Frank Schmidt III walked the parade route with grandkids and sons Sam Barkley, Jr. and John Schmidt IV. Several employees brought their grandchildren to help toss candy to kids in the crowd of 5,000+ who cheered and clapped along the way.
The parade is a fun way to honor the neighboring town where many members of the Schmidt tree team reside. It’s a time to connect with neighbors and friends and to draw attention to the important role that our company plays in the local economy and to celebrate the many benefits trees bring to our communities. Parade goers love the Trees Are The Answer bumper stickers that we hand out, and kids scramble for the cascade of candy tossed from the float.
In past years, we’ve wowed the crowd with our big digger that barely clears the traffic signal wires as it makes its way through town. This year, our team dusted off and shined up two of the many hardworking tractors in our fleet that help us grow some of the world’s finest trees.
In the lead was our 1976 McCormick Farmall 140 tractor, piloted by fourth-generation family member Sammy Barkley and his father, JFS Sales Manager Sam Barkley. Manufactured by International Harvester (IH), the shiny red 23-horsepower tractor was a favorite of our founder, J. Frank Schmidt Jr. After retiring from full-time activities at the nursery, Frank used it for many years to cultivate the large company garden that was adjacent to his home.
Bringing up the rear was our sparkling clean 2018 John Deere 7270R tractor. Powered by its 270-horsepower diesel engine, it crisscrosses our fields and smooths them to perfection in preparation for lining out precise rows of young bare root trees. Fully outfitted with a GPS guidance and auto-steer system, it lays out perfectly straight rows – accurate to within two centimeters.
Along the parade route, we heard many comments about the trees that were specially chosen for their mid-summer appeal. Several of the eye-catching crowd pleasers that waved their leaves at the admiring crowd are featured below.
Fiji™ Hibiscus - First Editions®
This tropical delight was in full bloom as it waved its exotic flowers along the parade route. Pink buds perched atop green foliage open to white flowers as large as four inches in diameter. Showy, semi-double blooms have ruffled edges, pink centers and distinctive pink veins. Blooming from July through September, its “wow factor” is off the charts. Height and spread are approximately 12’ x 8’. It’s part of our outstanding lineup of Hardy Hibiscus that bring a touch of the tropics to northern landscapes.
Symatree® Maple
Acer saccharinum ‘JFS H1’
This remarkable selection of Silver Maple is a welcome addition to our lineup of tough, small-stature urban trees. Light green leaves have silvery undersides and are deeply lobed with sharp points – a combination that gives the tree a lacy, delicate appearance that belies its tough character. Fall color ranges from bright yellow to burgundy. Adaptable to difficult growing conditions, it performs well in compacted soils, both wet and dry. It tolerates poor soils ranging from acid to alkaline.
As its name suggests, the excellent branch structure and uniquely compact growth habit of Symatree® Maple combine to form a remarkably symmetrical, upright oval tree with good resistance to storm damage. An extra bonus – during more than 20 years of close observation of the parent tree, neither flowers nor seeds have been observed.
Hot Wings® Maple
Acer tataricum ‘GarAnn’
Showy red samaras (winged seeds) shine in bright contrast to the summer foliage of this small tree that’s an excellent performer in rugged climates. Smallish leaves with ruffled edges bring an interesting texture to the landscape. Broadly oval when young, its branches spread wider than tall. Its form becomes rounded as it reaches a mature height and spread of about 20’ x 24’. Hardiness is USDA Zone 3.
Parkland Pillar™ - First Editions® Birch
Betula platyphylla ‘Jefpark’ PP 25468
This fast growing, very cold hardy tree is well suited to the prairie and tough urban landscape environments. Tolerant of heat, drought and alkaline soils, it forms a narrow column of dense dark green foliage that turns golden yellow in the fall. An excellent accent or screen tree, it reveals its white bark during the winter months. Hardy through USDA Zone 3, it reaches a mature height and spread of approximately 30’ x 8’.
Autumn Brilliance® Serviceberry
Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Autumn Brilliance’
Branches billow with fluffy, snow-white flowers when this naturally occurring hybrid of two native species bursts into bloom. These are soon followed by dark green summer foliage that glows bright red orange in the fall. Purplish-blue fruits are tasty and can be made into jams and syrups – if they can be harvested before the birds gobble them down!
Introduced in 1986 by Illinois plantsman Willett Wandell, it is our top-selling Serviceberry and likely the most widely specified and planted of the species. A hybrid of two North American native species, A. arborea and A. laevis, this USDA Zone 4 plant is broadly adaptable to varied soils and growing conditions. Multi-stem forms lend an informal, naturalized look to landscapes and woodland edges.
Vanilla Strawberry™ Hydrangea
Hydrangea paniculata ‘Renhy’
Creamy white blooms mature to pink and then strawberry red. As new flowers emerge, they join the more mature blooms to form a frothy blend of vanilla and strawberry red colors in late summer and early fall. Cone-shaped flower heads are excellent for fresh and dried arrangements. Hardy through USDA Zone 3, this cultivar grows to a height and spread of 10’ x 7’. It’s a favorite among our tree-form hydrangeas as described in an archived blog entitled, “Heads Up!”
Gardeners! Please note that our nursery is strictly wholesale. To purchase these and other trees grown by our nursery, please use our Retailer Locator to find sources of JFS trees near you.
