Confederate Jasmine

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Trachelospermum jasminoides

The Confederate Jasmine lives in a south facing window. (See November 28, 2009 post.)

There was some leaf drop after I brought it home. It seems to have recovered very well. I cut off some of the wild growth about two weeks ago.

I would have waited to prune until after flowering since the vine blooms on old wood but it sends out shoots rapidly. You can see the return of wild growth at the top of the above picture.

And now there are blooms – delicate, white and lightly fragrant.

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Hellebores in February

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This is what my hellebores (Helleborus orientalis) look like at the beginning of February.

I probably wouldn’t have paid any attention to them but Susan from Maryland zone 7b asked fellow members of Doug Green’s Online Gardening Club, Perennial Flower Group, to share their experiences with hellebores.

The conversation was joined by Yvonne in Illinois (zone 5), Linda in Southwest Kentucky (zone 6) and Janet. Doug Green (who is always hovering in the background to keep everyone out of trouble) posted a link to his “gardening tips for perennials”.

The gardening club is a fun way to connect with fellow gardeners. Their personal experiences add so much to my gardening practices.

Even though my hellebores have taken a beating this winter the purple buds are beginning to form. By March and into April, I will enjoy their early blooms. (See post from April 2009.)

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(The groundhog has spoken – 6 more weeks of winter.)

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Variegated Ivy and Fern

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This was the scene from the window the other morning.

So, I continued to tend to the houseplants.

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The fern got a shower.

The variegated ivy got a trim. (It’s friend looks a little aslant.)

I watched Mr. Green Thumb e-How video about variegated ivy. (Stan DeFreitas, also known as Mr. Green Thumb, has experience as an urban horticulturist working for the Pinellas County Extension Service and has taught horticulture at the St. Petersburg College.)

I’ve got to get out more.

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Root Pruning

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I have had the red Christmas cactus for more years than I care to remember. I don’t remember how many new plants have been started from the original plant my aunt gave me when I was 16.

It’s been a long time since repotting and the plant looked tired. So I decided to do a root pruning and repot. I took 2 cuttings and put them in water to root. If I kill the plant with an inept root prune, I should have new plants to start – a little insurance so to speak.

I watered the plant thoroughly. I used a knife along the edges of the pot to loosen it. The root ball didn’t look too dense. I cut about ½ inch from 2 sides and the bottom. I put the plant back in the original pot filling in with new potting soil. After a thorough soak, the plant is back in the cool room that is its winter home. I’ll keep a close watch for the next few months and hope the plant is re-energized.

(More information on Christmas cactus care from Penn State Extension.)

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Philodendron or Pothos

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Pothos is the one with variegated leaves. But no one I know calls it Pothos. And the care is the same no matter what you call them.

Philodendrons and pothos are great houseplants. They tolerate low light, uneven watering and neglect. I have a great example of a neglected and out-of-control Pothos.

I picked off the yellow and dead leaves and untangled the stems. When I stretched it out, it reached about 8 feet long.

I took a cutting from one of the tips, removed the lower leaves and put it in a vase to root. I’ve done it before and the cuttings rooted easily from the node or base.

I also put a bit of stem with a few lumpy nodes in the soil. The stem should root at the nodes. I anchored the stem with a paper clip opened to a V pushed into the soil. I’ll add a little potting soil. I hope a new plant will arise.

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(More information from University of Nebraska, Lincoln Extension.)

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Resurrecting Fuchsia

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Last March I bought 2 fuchsia plants - ‘Lena’ and ‘Swingtime’ – at the Philadelphia Flower Show. They bloomed resentfully all summer hanging from a shepherd’s hook near our front walk. Seven foot tall American Dream lilies have grown up around the shepherd’s hook completely overpowering the little fuchsia.

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I neglected them at the end of the summer. When I brought them in last fall, they were sticks with a few tiny leaves. I almost composted them but decided to put them with the other overwintering plants.

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They came back to life. I trimmed back the dead branches. I’ll take cuttings from the new growth.

If all goes well, I’ll have new plants for the little pots on the shepherd’s hook. Maybe they’ll do better this year. Or maybe I’ll find a better plant for those pots.


(Information on fuchsia care from Washington State University Spokane Extension.)

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Spring Shows

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February starts the round of local spring shows. It’s fun to see what’s new while waiting to get out in the garden. (Click on the headings for more information about each show.)

Adventures in Agriculture

Lots of farm, bug, garden, food, ecological and animal related displays. The alpacas are always a big hit - educational and interactive displays and fun for kids. (See February 20, 2008 post.)

Palmer Park Mall, Easton, PA
Friday evening, February 12: 5-9 pm; Saturday, February 13: 10 am-9 pm; Sunday, February 14: 11 am-5 pm. No admission fee.
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The 8th Annual Eastern Pennsylvania Spring Home Show

200 vendors fill Agricultural Hall with everything from gazebos to gardens.

WHEN: Feb 19th - 21st, 2010

WHERE: AG Hall, Allentown Fairgrounds,
SHOW HOURS: Friday, 5pm to 9pm; Saturday, 10am to 9pm; Sunday, 10am to 5pm

TICKETS: $8.00 adults, $7.00 seniors, children under 12 free.
PARKING: FREE

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Lehigh Valley Green Building Expo

An exciting gathering of green living experts will offer demonstrations and workshops on a wide variety of green topics. This is a new one for me. I intend to check out the rain barrels.

Northampton Community CollegeMain Campus - Gymnasium, 3835 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem, PA 18020

Saturday, March 20 – 9 am to 8 pm; Sunday, March 21 – 10 am to 5 pm
Admission $5

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The 2010 Philadelphia Flower Show “Passport to the World”

The over-the-top international flower show has a reputation for huge landscape displays, excellent horticulture and design and a great variety of shopping at “The Marketplace”. I always come home with a plant or two or more. (See blog post March 11, 2009.)

Sunday, February 29 through Sunday March 7

Pennsylvania Convention Center, 12th & Arch Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Hours: Sundays 8 am to 6 pm; Monday through Friday 10 am to 9:30 pm; Saturday 8 am to 9:30 pm.
Admission: Adult $23, Student with ID $18, Child 2 to 16 $13.

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In Search of Lost Roses

In Search of Lost Roses By Thomas Christopher (1989)

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I’m back in my Winter Gardener mode – time to read garden books.

This little book introduced me to the Rose Rustlers - a posse of Texas old rose enthusiasts that gather in November to scour the countryside in search of lost roses. (The term “old rose enthusiasts” does not refer the age of the rustler.)

They start out with buckets and shovels to find roses of Texas’s past. They search through cemeteries, abandoned towns, fields and private yards. Their sense of adventure and quest for discovery encompasses a passion that rivals Columbus. Texas hot, dry climate makes roses that have survived for decades truly a treasure. I would like to read more of their personal adventures.

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(Climbing Rose Blaze - 1932)

Lost Roses chronicles rose history from the wild roses of Greece and Rome through Napoleon’s Josephine’s 10,000 seedlings. Roses that crisscrossed continents with opium traders and settlers. China’s natural order to modern hybridization and genetic engineering. Damask, bourbon, gallca, cyrene, moss and many others are carefully indexed.

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(‘Madame Isaac Pereire’ - Bourbon 1881)

As I read I sometimes googled the rose mentioned to get an idea of what it looked like. With only a thimble of old rose understanding, I found tracing roses from France, Italy, Greece, England, China and America complicated. But, I came away with an appreciation of the depth of knowledge necessary to identify the old roses. The book illustrates the obsessive passion of old rose collectors.

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Spring Garden Series

Penn State’s Lehigh and Northamption County Master Gardeners are offering classes to launch the vegetable gardening season.

If you are browsing those beautiful seed catalogs now, the first sessions on planning and seed starting should push you out of the winter doldrums. These timely topics are offered on February 24 in Northampton County and February 27 in Lehigh County.

The “Mission Possible” series in March “Mastering Home Vegetable Production” continues with planting, spacing, watering, feeding, rotation as well as pest management.

Small space? Container Vegetable Gardening will be covered February 27 in Lehigh County and March 10 in Northampton County.

Both locations will end with “Win with Tomatoes and Peppers”.

Each class costs $6 or $30 for all 6 hour-long sessions at one of location. Space is limited and usually fills quickly. If you are a beginning vegetable gardener or an old hand looking for a refresher or some new ideas, you can’t beat this deal.

See the brochure “Spring Garden Series: Victory in the Vegetable Garden” for all the details.

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Dreaming of Spring

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Every spring I have plants to move or divide. I set up a word document each year to use as my garden journal. I keep lists (there I go with the lists again).

During the growing season when I’m working in the garden and see a plant that needs to be divided, I add it to the “To Be Divided” list. I also have a “Move” list. The “Give Away” list includes requests from friends.. There is also a “To Buy” list but that’s another story.

I’ve been checking my lists. It almost makes me feel like I’m gardening.

To Move.

The pretty hosta will be divided added to the new garden. (See September 29, 2009 Post “New Garden”.) It should add some brightness to this shady spot.

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This little ruffled pink azalea will also move to the new garden. Last spring I thought it was dead. It doesn’t do well crowded where it is. I hope it will have a better chance with more room to grow.

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The liatris (Liatris spicata 'Purple Spikes’) was dug in behind the garage temporarily several years ago. It’s time for a permanent home. I’ll move it next to the liatris that I relocated last spring.

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Give Away.

Sheffield Pink mum – I always have requests for this pretty mum.

Dead Nettle (Lamium) (picture top of post) – a great dry shade plant. A friend has a perfect place for it.

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Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia uvaria) – Another temporary “dig in”. I found someone who would like the plant. I have a huge clump in my front garden and certainly don’t need any more.

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Tansy (Tanacetum) – I have a request for this ferny-leafed plant. I forgot to divide it last year so the request will be filled a year late.

To Be Divided.

Several plants need to be divided and will be looking for a new home.
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Liriope (lilyturf) next to the hydrangea – this tough little grass is overgrown and crowded. I will need to divide it with a hatchet or sharp saw.

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Forget Me Not (Brunnera macrophylla) – Over the years this plant has spread and reseeded to the point of taking over. The profusion of blue flowers is lovely in April but there are just too many of them.

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Tall (6 ft.) yellow rudbeckia (Rudbeckia nitida 'Herbstsonne) – This plant was divided an moved last October when I planted the Sky Pencil Holly in its place. Some of the divisions were “dug in” and need to find a permanent home.

I keep dreaming of spring. Now, back to my winter list. I’ve already checked off five and a half items.

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Happy New Year

January – sigh.

As I looked through my garden pictures from last year I realized it will be at least 2 months before I can work outside again. And fully 2 or 3 months before the garden really comes to life.

The Snow Glories were blooming on March 11, 2009.

The first yellow crocus popped up between the leftover fall leaves.

The pretty purple helleborus was full of buds waiting to open.

The daffodils were budding.

Donna at Momma Mia Days (link at right) got me over the early winter doldrums with her colorful post from her trip to San Diego.

So I made a list. I have books and catalogs to read, a lot of house cleaning to do, income taxes to start, Mom’s apartment to clean and organize, flower shows and meetings to attend and garden plans to make.

I realized I have a choice. I can sit here wallowing in self-pity because it’s cold, icy and miserable outside or I can get some things done so I’ll be ready to garden in March.

On one hand, it looks like a long winter ahead. On the other hand, there may not be enough time to complete everything on my list.

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Beautyberry

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Amid the stark winter landscape at the New York Botanical Garden dotted with brilliant evergreens both tall and small, a stand of beautyberry pops into sight.

I believe the shrubs are Callicarpa dichotoma. I was so captivated by the great color and form that didn’t check the tag. (More info from Dave's Garden here and Iowa State University Extension here.)

I wonder if I can find a place for these beauties in my garden. Plant lust never ends.

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I will be away until after the New Year. I won’t be able to post. I will be answering comments and reading my favorite blogs.

I wish you all a very merry holiday and a successful New Year filled with excitement and laughter!

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(Photo taken at NY Botanical Garden.)

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First Snow

The first snow of the season fell on December 5. It created -


Feathery clumps on hemlocks,

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Fluffy cotton balls on shrubs.

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Snow hats on posts and lanterns,
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And popcorn on the lawn.

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NY Botanical Garden

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I joined a group from the Bethlehem Garden Club to visit the 18th Annual Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden.
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From Statue of Liberty to Coney Island, over 140 miniature buildings and bridges filled the Haupt Conservatory’s entire wing. Model trains and trolleys zipped by. The display, created by the award-winning designer Paul Busse of Applied Imagination, delighted young and young and at heart.

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The buildings made of twigs, bark, nuts, vines fungi, berries, pine cones, seeds and other natural materials create a wonderland display of both the huge and the small.

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Our group was surprised by the New York Yankees car flying past the Empire State Building, the Chrysler and other familiar skyscrapers. We wondered if it would have been Phillies train if our favorite Phils had won the World Series.

Kalanchoe, cyclamen, cactus, begonia, croton, gardenia, miniature evergreens and all manner of plants are set to scale with the buildings and trains creating a natural wonderland.

The train show continues until January 10. It was a delightful way to spend a December morning.

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Bethlehem

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A rainy day at Bethlehem’s City Center Plaza.

Magnolia buds anticipate spring.

A bird’s nest sits vacant.

The advent candles and children’s tree stand alone in the cold drizzle.

But light seems to shine on the Crèche -- even on a rainy day.
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(See the list of “Things To Do” for the holiday season at Christmas City Organization’s site.)

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