Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day – April 2009

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I’ve been posting pictures of flowers blooming in my garden lately. Here’s one that I haven’t posted.

Daphnie x burkwoodii ‘Carol Mackie’

I ordered the shrub from Bluestone Perennials. It arrived in a 4-inch pot holding the promise of heavenly scent. There was a slight aroma from the few blooms. (Do all gardeners go batty over the arrival of a new plant?)

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I saw, or should I say smelled, one in a friend's garden last spring. According to Bluestone’s plant description, “Garland flowers are prized for their early spring bloom of exquisitely fragrant palest pink flowers in profusion.” It was an immediate addition to my “must have list”.

I did internet searches and found that this shrub sometimes succumbs to Sudden Daphne Death Syndrome. It also requires well drained soil. It may become infested with aphids, mealybugs, scale or fungal disease.

I bought it anyway. I can’t wait to plant it in the scented garden. The aroma is enough to make me try it more than once.

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GBBD thanks to Carol at May Dreams Garden. Have a look at what is happening in other gardens around the country and around the world.

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Home Show

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Although there’s a cold wind howling outside, we must be close to spring. Home shows are popping up faster than dandelions in April. It’s a good time to get out of the wind and check out local home products and services.

Master Gardeners will be available at the Eastern PA Spring Home Show in Ag Hall at the Allentown Fair Grounds February 27 through March 1. (Click on the link for more information and directions.)

Gardening for all ages, gardening in small spaces, gardening with children and gardening without breaking your back will be part of the display. Master Gardeners will be available to answer questions. Informational fact sheets may help with problems you had last year or point you in a new direction this year.

If you’re interested in growing a pot of tomatoes, a garden full of produce or improving your landscape with some new plants, stop by and talk to a Master Gardener.

Spring is only 27 days away.

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Garden Blogers Bloom Day - January 2009

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Nothing blooming in my house. My garden is mostly brown among the evergreens and snow.

Since nothing is blooming in my garden I thought I’d post some pictures of plants I saw on my vacation – sort of borrowed gardens. Anyway, here are some pretty colors.

I need help with plant identification. If you recognize any of these plants please let me know.

Can you guess where I was?

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Flowers Speak

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When words escape, flowers speak.- Bruce W. Currie

Fuschia

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Stock

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Maximilian Sunflower

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Cosmos

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Tuberose

Sweet Pea

I’ve tried for the last two or three years to grow sweet peas. Last year I got a few beautiful blooms from Ferry & Morse seeds Sweet Pea Early Mixed Colors. (See December 29, 2006 post.) I guessed that there were so few blooms because they didn’t get enough sun.

So this year I planted Burpee Sweat Dreams and Streamers Mix in the rose bed in full sun. I’m not sure it was good for the roses but I finally got more sweet pea blooms. Planted May 2, they are coming into full bloom now.

Burpee description of Sweet Dreams says, “Old-fashioned fragrance”. The fragrance is really not noticeable but the flower is large and bright.

The Streamers Mix is a really spectacular color although I have only seen lilac-colored striated flowers. According to Burpee, “The pure white flowers are infused with intense tones of purple, rose, pink, blue and orange.” Streamers is also supposed to be fragrant but I really can’t notice any aroma.

There are lots of buds. I hope to see many more flowers before frost.