Coleus

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Mariposa, Freckles, Mama Mia, Velvet Lime (free), Rustic Orange

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I ordered coleus on March 13 from Rosy Dawn Gardens. They arrived March 25.

They arrived neatly packed in cardboard tubes in a USPS mail box. The plants, roots and all, were about 5 or 6 inches - large healthy plants. The shipment included a free plant.

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The little rootballs were wrapped in cellophane and taped shut. When I unwrapped them, the rootballs were moist. It was one of the best packaging from an online nursery that I’ve received.

To me it felt like Christmas morning. I am an admitted coleac. You can search this blog by typing “coleus” in the search box to see how I’ve used them in the garden. And how many times I’ve written about them. It’s a little embarrassing.

As with a lot of addicts, I had a pusher. My friend Myra started the addiction with her large collection of coleus. She extolled the virtues of this plant – easy to propagate, easy to grow, gorgeous colors. She gave me a few cuttings and a few plants.

And, the rest is history as they say.

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Wicked Weed

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Here’s another one I pursue. I don’t know the name so I hope someone can identify it. If you know its name (or even its alias), please leave a comment.

It looks like yellow rocket (Barbara vulgaris) – winter cress.

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But the flowers are white not yellow as in the description. “. . .bright yellow flowers clustered at the tips of the uppermost branches can be observed around fence posts or other structures. . .” (See page 15 in Weed Management in Turf.) The mature height is about 6 inches.

Those pretty little flowers will grow into not so pretty seed stalks. If you come anywhere near them they will violently shoot tiny seeds in all directions.

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Pulling them out after they have seeds is almost useless. They live to grow again

Gotta get them before they go to seed!

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Herbs

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This week I attended the Master Gardener talk “Herbs to Use and Grow”. The presentation was part of Penn State Extension’s “Spring Garden Series” in Lehigh and Northampton County.

The class was super. It included information for growing herbs in full sun, some shade or full shade. Easy to grow herbs and their uses as well as herbal tea, herbal vinegar and household cleaner recipes completed the talk.

A bonus tip:

I have always had trouble drying parsley. I think the temperature in my oven doesn’t stay low enough. The dried parsley ends up brownish and loses some of its flavor.

Here’s the tip. Spread the cut parsley leaves on a tray and put it in the trunk of your car. The heat is supposed to be a perfect drying oven for parsley. I don’t know how long it takes but I plan to give it a try.

The Master Gardener “Spring Garden Series” continues through April. Sessions are filling up fast in both Lehigh and Northampton Counties. If you’re interested, call the Lehigh County Extension office 610-391-9840. Future talks include: “Starting Your Vegetable Garden,” “Rain Gardens,” “Small Space Gardening.”

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(The above picture has nothing to do with herbs. I have had these crocuses in my garden for many years. They are 5 or 6 inches tall with large purple flowers. They are the prettiest of all my crocuses. I don’t know the variety. If anyone has an idea what they might be, please let me know.)

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Wild Garlic War

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(Allium vineale)

The Wild Garlic War has gone on for years. Every spring I prowl the garden like a maniacal secret agent. With my weeder in hand, I’m ready to pounce on any wild garlic covertly hidden in the lilac roots or brazenly positioned in the middle of the lawn.

Wild garlic is a clever, sneaky and sinister plant. In the plot to procreate, it produces bulblets attached to the main bulb. These tiny bulblets (near the tip of the weeder in photo - click to enlarge) slide off when you pull the plant. They stay in the soil. Each one will grow another plant. Getting the entire plant is a thrill better than … well never mind.

Wild garlic will also flower and produce seeds. I am proud to say I have never let one flower in my garden.

Spring, when the soil is soft, is the only time it’s possible to pull them out. Once the ground gets a little dry and hard the stubborn bulbs will hold tight to the soil. Often the main plant will break off at soil level.

I can’t say I’m winning the war. But, I have managed to keep the population under control.

So, I’m off again today to stalk the evil plant. I wonder if I need a disguise?

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(Information on wild garlic and other weeds in Penn State's College of Agriculture Publication, "Weed Management in Turf Grass.")

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Flower Show Plants

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Every year I come home with a few plants from the vendors at the Philadelphia Flower Show. It’s a tradition.

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This year I brought home 2 fuchsia plants and 6 tuberose bulbs. I was very frugal. Some years I had to leave the show because I couldn’t carry any more plants.

Fuchsia - ‘Swingtime’ and ‘Lena’

Philadelphia Flower Show is the only place I have found 3 inch pots of fuchsia. Local nurseries sell huge hanging baskets full of monster plants. I need small plants. (There’s that need word again.)

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I’ll transplant them into 4 inch pots when they get a little bigger. (At least 2 weeks before I put them outside). The 4 inch pots will fit in the wrought iron pot hangers on the shepherd’s hook at the entrance to our deck.

Right now I have these little plants under lights. I’ll feed them every two weeks. Pinch back every second set of leaves. I’ve already taken two cuttings to root. The rooted cuttings will be planted in other porch pot planters.

Flower World USA details fuchsia care.


‘Hawaiian Double Pearl’ Tuberose

We all know how much I need Tuberose. I’ll plant the six bulbs in pots at the end of March. The pots will move to our sunny deck when the nights are reliably at least 60 degrees.

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Hopefully, at the end of summer heavenly aroma will surround us.

I received a free bottle of “Hawaiian Flower Magic” (9-18-9) fertilizer and two free bulbs with the tuberoses. I don’t know what the free bulbs are. It will be fun to plant them and see what happens.

Old House Gardens has information on growing Tuberoses.

So, plants are growing, cuttings are rooting, seeds are planted and I'm a happy gardener again.

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Philadelphia Flower Show

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Bella Italia

As usual for me, the most interesting exhibits were off the main theme gardens.

Temple University Ambler’s “Green Renaissance – The Revival of Sustainable Living”. According to student Denise Wood the main goal is to “help homeowners implement the ideas . . . how to start a home garden, eat locally, use native trees, conserve water.”

The three parterre Italian garden included:

- Xeriscape – (foreground in photo) plants that require little water, recycled porous paving materials – emerald sentinel red cedar, yarrow, sage, silver foliaged plants

- Kitchen Garden (in background in photo) - cool season vegetables, lettuce, leafy herbs and sweet peas.

- Orchard – high bush blueberries, serviceberry, trees and ornamental grasses.

Each garden had its own water feature. Copper aqueducts to harvest rainwater skirted the top of the exhibit (top of photo). It was a spectacular achievement in sustainability, creatively displayed.

According to Dr. Baldev Lambda, Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture the students set out to “educate visitors on so many levels that ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ can be presented aesthetically and artistically.”

Philadelphia’s W.B. Saul High School of Agricultural Sciences ”South Philly Courtyard Garden” included container plants and use of vertical space with climbing plants. The small garden inside the fence was filled with herbs, vegetables and flowers. The garden illustrated first-rate use of a small space with South Philly’s “Little Italy” nostalgia.

PECO (Philadelphia Electric) drew some attention from the crowd with a model of the 45,000 square foot green roof headquarters in Philadelphia.

PA Parks and Forests foundation encouraged viewers to “bring home the natives.”

Philadelphia Water Department’s “Trivoli, South Philadelphia Style” displayed porous paths, a rain garden and some classy rain barrels.

It was good to see large organizations turn out creative environmentally friendly displays.

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Every year I’m amazed at the scale of this show. The time and money spent to produce acres of displays inside the Convention Center is just mind boggling. But, what a great way to spend a spring-like day.
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American Gardens

Restoring American Gardens: An Encyclopedia of Heirloom Ornamental Plants, 1640-1940 by Denise Wiles Adams (copyright 2004)

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I seem to be stuck in garden history mode. I’m reading through the 419 pages of this fascinating encyclopedia. It’s full of wonderful photos and drawings of plants and old gardens. Remarkable facts and stories of gardening in America fill the pages.

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1851 Joseph Breck recommended double digging.

Watson 1859 and Robert Copeland 1867 suggested making compost for the garden and each had his own recipe.

1891 Liberty H Bailey wrote about the renewed interest of native plants. “The interest in native plants has never been so great as now. . .”

1893 “Ornamental Gardening for America”, Elias Long recommended wavy line edges for gardens instead of straight lines and mixing hardy perennials or annuals with woody plants.

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These comments could have been written yesterday. Pretty sharp those ancient gardeners.

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Victorian Garden

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The Victorian Garden, Allison Kyle Leopold (copyright 1995)

This book is more than a list of interesting facts. It includes a sense of Victorian lifestyle. The progression through 19th century gardening is readable, well illustrated. I tried to pick a few highlights to share.

Bedding out

Early 19th century Victorians’ “bedding out” displayed bright colors and elaborate shapes. Imagine a large oval filled with scarlet geraniums next to a large crescent filled with golden coleus.

The well-to-do used combinations of beds. The square, rectangle, round and oval shapes evolved into intricate geometrical designs. Many Victorian ladies planned, planted and pulled a few weeds but never touched a shovel or a hoe. They were much too delicate for manual labor.

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(Photo: A modern example of bedding out at Longwood Gardens along the Flower Garden Walk.)

Great attention was paid to the bed’s surroundings of grass or gravel and the color combinations. Arguments ensued regarding the best plant and color combinations. Bedding plants included low growing annuals with long bloom season in bright colors.


Cottage Garden Revival

Passion for gardening exploded in the last quarter of the 19th century spurred by growing middle class and the development of seed and plant catalogues.

Almost all gardens included a few scented flowers such as lily of the valley, phlox, sweet William, sweet pea, columbine, hyacinth, rose. Soft colors such as pink, white, blue were preferred after mid-century. A well-kept garden was a testament to the gardeners taste, intelligence and refinement.

Specialty gardens came into favor.

Perennial boarders contained an abundance of plants arranged low, medium, tall - front to back. Coral bells, phlox, hollyhock, cleome, stock gillyflower, hyacinth, tulips, asters, monarda, delphinium, penstemon are a few of the plants that overflowed the beds.

Perennial gardeners today face the same problems planning a succession of blooms for color all season and selecting pleasant color combinations.

Rose gardens (Rosariums) arose in every shape from a single specimen bed to central circular bed with pie shaped beds extending from center.


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(Photo: Old rambler rose ‘Blaze’)

Pathways of grass, gravel or patterned brick were installed to view the roses. Old roses and the newly hybridized roses fed the rose fever. Some popular bushes were gallica, damask, alba, centifolia, China, rosa rugosa, hybrid perpetuals and more.

The Shakespeare Garden found a niche in late Victorian gardens and included willow from The Merchant of Venice; primrose, rosemary, saffron from The Winter’s Tale; musk roses, pansies “love-in-idleness”, oxlips and violets in A Midsummer Night’s Dream; hawthorn bush in Henry VI, Part III.

This book was a fun read on a snowy day – providing a feeling of romance and sense of connection with gardeners through the years.
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Saga of the Pussy Willow

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Memorial Day 2007 we came home to find our old, 30 foot tall pussy willow (Salix discolor) lying in the yard. The event wasn’t totally unexpected. The huge tree had been ailing for years. Nevertheless, loss of an old shade tree was sad.

As we cleaned up the fallen branches, scored the stump and chopped the trunk into liftable pieces, we became resigned to the fact that our shade garden was now a full sun garden.

Later that summer we noticed growth at one end of the stump. (New growth at top of picture.)

Last year the pussy willow reached 10 feet.

And … this year it blooms – a happy ending.

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(Information on the Pussy Willow from Westborough Community Land Trust in Massachusetts.)

Crocus

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Carol at May Dreams Gardens is making me a nervous. On February 12 she posted an All Points Bulletin (APB) to search for her missing crocus.

My crocuses were also missing. I tried not to worry. Carol is zone 5. I am zone 6. So I told myself the crocuses in Carol’s garden were probably hiding out from the cold. Surely mine would appear any minute.

I looked through my photos from last spring. In the pictures, crocus began to bloom by March 14. (Picture here from 3/26/07.) Surely mine would appear any minute.

Finally this week, the tiny spiked leaves are barely visible in their bed. (Click on the picture to enlarge and you may be able to see tiny crocuses relative to a maple helicopter seed pod.)

If the frigid weather continues and the crocuses take it on the lam, I’ll be searching again - APB and all. And surely mine will appear any minute.


Carol, I hope the APB works!


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(Crocus information from around the world and through the centuries available from Oxford Journal of Experimental Biology.)
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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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Rain Garden - Part 2

(Picture Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research, New Zealand)
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Is it worth the effort to put in a rain garden?

According to Rutgers Research & Extension Fact Sheet, one rain garden in New Jersey receiving run off from 1,000 square feet could treat about 25,000 gallons of water per year. I think that alone makes rain gardens worth considering. If you multiply by any number of rain gardens, it adds up fast.

How difficult is it?

After checking for underground utilities (“PA One Call” dial 811) and figuring the size garden, the rest is manual labor. Detailed instructions are available from Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources/University of Wisconsin Extension.

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If you can convince a few friends to lend a hand, your only costs may be for mulch and plants (and perhaps a few cases of beer). Maintenance includes watering the first year, weeding and adding mulch when necessary. As the garden fills in, the need for weeding should be reduced. Pruning and trimming will take a little time in spring and fall. If all goes well, maintenance should take less time than mowing the area.

All proponents recommend using native plants. Most native plants grow well in the wet/dry conditions of the rain garden. Also an attractive mix of native plants is more likely to be pest and disease resistant. Natives can also provide habitats for beneficial insects, food for birds and butterflies and add biodiversity in the landscape. You can contact your local extension service for a list of natives for your area suited to rain gardens.

Recent rapid growth in the Lehigh Valley has caused basements and roads to flood. I can’t imagine how it is affecting our streams.

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Rain gardens are being installed as a solution around the world. Google "rain gardens parking lots” for an extensive list.

Whether or not you think a rain garden is for you, encourage municipalities to promote rain gardens in new construction to lessen the impact of urban development.

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Garden Bloggers Bloom Day - February 2009

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The pink hyacinth is the only plant in bloom in my Bethlehem indoor/outdoor garden. See January 31 post for details of my method and madness.

The snowdrops are almost there. I imagine it will be a few days before masses of little white flowers carpet the front garden.

I saw buds on the Lenten Rose on my stroll on the garden paths this week. The Heath and Japonica are beginning to show some color.

The anticipation is euphoric!

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Rain Garden

(Illustration USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service)

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Several weeks ago I attended a Master Gardener presentation on rain gardens. Rain Gardens seem like a good way to help control stormwater runoff. Stormwater runoff carries with it fertilizers, pesticides, bacteria from pet waste, eroded soil, road salt, grass clippings and litter. The runoff ends up in streams and lakes. A rain garden can be as simple or as complex as you have the energy and resources to invest.

If you want to read a scary story about pollution of the Chesapeake Bay read the US Geological Survey about pollution and what is being done about it.

One of the top three causes for pollution of the bay is water runoff from urban areas.

Rain Garden Network lists the benefits of a rain garden.

“Basically, rain gardens are an inexpensive, simple to implement and environmentally sound solution to urban stormwater runoff. A Rain Garden will:

Filter runoff pollution
Recharge local groundwater
Conserve water
Improve water quality
Protect rivers and streams
Remove standing water in your yard
Reduce mosquito breeding
Increase beneficial insects that eliminate pest insects
Reduce potential of home flooding
Create habitat for birds & butterflies
Survive drought seasons
Reduce garden maintenance
Enhance sidewalk appeal
Increase garden enjoyment”

I’ll continue with more information on rain gardens in my next post.

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Scented Garden

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You may have noticed that the three plants in the last “NEED” post are scented plants.

I have been working on a scented garden for six or seven years. The garden is about 10 feet wide by 35 feet long. The Daphne and Casablanca Lily will add their aroma to that garden. (The tuberose will perfume our deck.)

(Picture May 2006)

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I’ve noticed that a lot of flowers in this garden are white. I like the white theme. It’s very restful. I don’t know if this is botanically correct but it seems to me that there are more fragrant white flowers than any other color. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

White blooms:

Sweet woodruff with the tiny white flowers serves as groundcover

White Lilacs bloom in May

Garden Phlox David tall white beauty adds to the summer aroma.

On a summer evening, Nicotiana Fragrant Cloud sends a slight perfume to only the most discerning noses.

The twinkling flowers of Sweet Autumn Clematis lightly scent the air in fall.

Sweet alyssum gives off a heavenly fragrance all summer long.

Other colors: In early spring hyacinths bloom. In April Sweet Shrub’s heady aroma fills this garden and beyond. Summer scent of Lavender Grosso brushes against strollers on the path.

Daphne will add some bones to the garden and add to the spring fragrance. Casablanca Lily will enhance the late summer perfume.

I can’t wait to sit in this garden with a cup of coffee and inhale.

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(Note: Bat white-nose syndrome has been found in Pennsylvania caves. See February 27, 2008 post.)

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Plants I really NEED for 2009

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Notice I didn’t say “want”.

I’ve been thinking about these plants for several years. I have more plants that I would like to have but these three have moved into the “really must have” category.

Tuberose

Casablanca lily

Daphne (Daphne burkwoodii)

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I’m ready to shop!

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Planning for Vegetables

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Have you started planning for spring? I picked up a bunch of seed packs last weekend. Everything except sweet peppers will be planted directly in the garden or in containers.

I haven’t started plants from seeds indoors for years. When we moved into this house many years ago, I found growing from seed didn’t work as well as it did in the old house. I soon realized it was more efficient to buy plants. Well, I’m going to give it another try. I’ll start small with just sweet peppers and see how it goes. I’ll use grow lights. Hopefully, I’ve gained enough gardening knowledge and experience to be successful this year.

Here are the seeds I picked up.

Vegetable Seeds

Oregano (organic) Sweet Basil Ocimum basilicum
Basil - Mammoth
Carrot - Royal Chantenay
Parsley – Forest Green
Lettuce – Salad Bowl
Lettuce – Oakleaf
Lettuce – Prizehead
Lettuce – Black Seeded Simpson
Radish – Early Scarlet Globe
Pepper – Early Sunsation (yellow sweet pepper)

Flower Seeds

Zinnia – Cupidon
Zinnia – Giant Flowered Mix
Sunflower – Chianti Hybrid

I’m going to plant the herbs and some lettuce in the fish boxes I picked up last November. My next step is finding places for the other vegetables in the flower garden. Yes, that’s right. I plan to put vegetables amid the flowers. We’ll see how that works.

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Forcing Bulbs

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I potted some bulbs in November. Watered and stored them in a box in the garage. My biggest concern was about water. Too much might rot the bulbs. But nothing rotted so I guess I did OK. I brought them into the house and put them in a sunny window on January 13.

Narcissus Grand Soleil d’Or is labeled as “Indoor Narcissus.” The package suggests, “Spread some pebbles or marbles over the (potting) mix for a nice appearance and to prevent the Narcissus from falling over when in full bloom.” I haven’t done that (yet). The growth actually started within a few days.

The hyacinth was labeled “Pink”. I used the same method as the narcissus. You can just see the bloom in the center of the leaves in the picture.

It was a simple project and fills some of my need to garden in these cold, snowy months. I’ll post a picture when they bloom.

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(More information on forcing bulbs from Penn State Cooperative Extension - Berks County.)

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Onion Snow

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Or wishful thinking.

The definition of onion snow from Answer’s dot com –

n. Chiefly Pennsylvania.
A light snow in late spring, after onions have been planted.

The onion snow is usually a non-event. A light, short-lived snow that disappears in a day or sometimes in an hour.

I call every snow the onion snow. I’m bound to be right sooner or later.

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Croton

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I reduced my houseplants by 50% last year.

Don’t get me wrong, I still have plenty of house plants. But, I had too many plants and was running out of space and time to care for them. I decided to simplify my gardening life – not as many plants to water, feed, repot, carry in and out. So, I gave half of them away.

What have I been doing lately? You guessed it. I’m lusting after new house plants.

One of the beauties is Croton (Codiaeum variegatum).

Croton’s bright pink, red, yellow and green leathery foliage would cheer up any room. They are tough tropical plants. They need warmth, humidity and high light. The leaves are poisonous if eaten. They may sometimes be bothered by mealy bugs, spider mites or scale. More information from Virginia Cooperative Extension.

I’m not sure they are right for my house. But, wouldn’t it be fun to try?

I’ve managed to control myself so far. I haven’t bought a plant. Hopefully, spring will be early this year and the busy time will take my mind off buying house plants. I hope I can hold out that long.

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