Japanese Holly

I can’t resist a bargain – especially bargain plants. I have ‘Sky Pencil’ Japanese holly (Ilex Crenata) on my list to add some winter interest in the narrow strip along the blank garage wall. At the 50% off sale at Lowe’s this week, I bought three at $3.99 each. I couldn’t pass up that deal.

That started a chain of events.

First, I divided and moved the yellow ‘Autumn Sun’ rudbeckia (Rudbeckia nitida 'Herbstsonne'). It had grown too big for the spot and had to be staked every year. I dug it out and planted one section where I think it may be OK. I put the other two pieces in a temporary bed near the compost bin. (Am I doing the same thing I did with the Red Hot Poker and Liatris? I hope it doesn’t take 4 or 5 years to find them a permanent home.)

Second, I cut off and pulled canna tubers. I need to put them in a bin for the winter as soon as they dry and I can clean off most of the soil. I posted my canna overwintering method (and madness) in the November 10, 2007 post.

Then it was time to plant the holly. They look a bit inadequate now but the slender, slow growing shrubs can grow to 8 feet.

A lump of roots fell away from the soil when I took the holly out of the pots. Roots girdled the pot. I scored the roots and planted them as best I could. I watered them in well.

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I hope they grow an adequate root system to survive the winter. I'll use an anti-desiccant spray to keep them from loosing too much moisture through the leaves in the winter winds and keep them watered until the ground freezes.

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Sometimes, it's the chance you take when you buy plants late in the season. But the price is hard to resist.

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(More information on Japanese holly from University of Connecticut . Scroll down for specifics of ‘Sky Pencil’.)

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New Garden

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We have a truckload of compost in our driveway. My family laughs at my delight at a pile of “dirt”. But it’s just what I needed to start a garden.

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The air conditioner unit moved to a new location last spring. It gave me an excuse to put in garden to screen the big eyesore. In June, I found the Pieris japonica ‘Mountain Fire’ on sale. That was the start.

Last week I put down 4 to 6 sheets of newspaper and topped it with 3 to 4 inches of compost. I’ve used mulch for this same purpose in other gardens and it worked just as well. Over the winter the newspaper will kill the grass and decompose into the soil making an instant garden.

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I tried not to get distracted.

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I’m fooling around with some kind of stepping stone path. I’ve set up some old bricks but I’m not sure what the final path will be. It will be less noticeable when I cover the area with mulch.
Next spring the garden will be ready to plant. I’ll put in some evergreen shrubs, a hosta or two and maybe a mum and a few annuals. Then I’ll cover the area with mulch.

It’s a simple way to start a new garden.

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Allentown Flower Show

2013 -
 ValleyFlower, Garden, and Pool Show  -
3/8-9-10/2013 
Ag Hall, Allentown Fair Grounds, PA

2012

Valley Flower and Garden Show

Ag Hall, Allenttown

• New Dates: March 2, 3 and 4 -- Mark your calendars!!!

Adventures in Agriculture

Palmer Park Mall, Easton

Friday, February 10, 4pm – 9 pm

Saturday, February 11, 10am – 9 pm

Sunday, February 12, 11 am – 4 pm

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Philacelphia International Flower Show

March 4-11, 2012 = Islands of Aloha

2011 SPRING SHOWS -

Adventures in Agriculture Feb 11-13, 2011 http://shoppalmerparkmall.com/calendar/event/11082

Philadelphia Flower Show “Springtime in Paris” March 6-13, 2011 http://www.theflowershow.com/home/index.html

Valley Flower, Garden and Patio Show - Ag Hall, Allentown Fairgrounds, March 11-13, 2011 http://www.valleyflowershow.com/

Lehigh Valley Green Builders Expo March 19-20, 2011 http://www.lvgreenbuilders.org/expo/

ALLENTOWN FLOWER SHOW WAS CANCELLED (2009-10) - NEW SHOW SCHEDULED FOR 2011 (see above)



“Tapestry of Green”Lehigh Valley Flower and Garden Show 2008
Agri-plex Allentown Fairgrounds March 7, 8 & 9
http://www.allentowntradeshows.com/html/flower_show.html

This is the weekend for Lehigh Valley Flower and Garden Show. With rain predicted for Friday night and Saturday, it’s a good way to be dry outdoors, sort of.

As promised, there are a few more plant sellers at this year’s show. Penn State Master Gardeners will be selling all the shrubs in the display. You can stop by the booth and reserve a plant but you must be there at 4:45 to pick up your plant at 5 pm on Sunday or it will be sold on a first come, first served basis. Landscaper’s sale & Lehigh Valley Florists Association auction also take place at the end of the show on Sunday.

The kids will love the train display by Lehigh Valley Large Scalers. And across the way, they will be able to landscape a model farmhouse with miniature shrubs at the Master Gardener exhibit.

Lehigh Career and Technical Institute constructed a sophisticated informational garden. Kutztown High School’s display is quite professional and includes a cold frame and gazebo.

There are booths of crafts, garden “art”, garden structures, demonstrations as well as professional landscapes.

Let’s get out of the rain and pretend it’s spring.

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(I apologize – the sidebar “About Me”, “Previous Posts” and “Archives” has moved to the bottom of this blog.)

Winter Blooms and Buds

The Japonica (I don’t have a genus/species on this one) and Heather (Heathe Erica x Darleyensis ‘Silberschmeize’) have buds ready for winter bloom. These evergreen and almost care-free woody ornamentals are a nice green spot in the brown winter landscape. Both plants are well-established - planted about 9 years ago. I feed with Holly-Tone in spring and occasionally prune a branch. I deep water during dry spells with a soaker hose.

The rhododendrons have large buds ready for spring bloom. Our large (mostly ignored) rhody seems confused. A few buds have opened with the warm fall weather. Every year I vow to pay more attention to this old (at least 40 years - 10 ft. tall) bush. It seems a bit stressed. I'll have to make it a point next growing season to take better care of it.