The PERFECT spring

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Gabrielle

Belicia Double Tulip

Last year it was a very wet and cold spring and summer.  Spring flowers came and went so fast, with hardly any time to really appreciate them.  Then this year, we had 70-80° in March!  We usually don’t see those temperatures until a few times in May!  I certainly enjoyed the warm weather and it gave all of our flowers a jump-start in growing.

My 1st favorite!

Then the temperatures went back to almost normal spring temperatures, and not much rain until May.  The flowers lasted so long!  My Redbud tree seemed to show off its purple flowers for an entire month! The nighttime was a bit too chilly for me, as I do prefer our summer temperatures.   But I sure appreciated all of the spring flowers that lasted so long this year.

My other favorite!

Van Eijk Tulips & Fortune Daffodils

Pink Renown

(I am partial to pink & purple in my garden)

This will be remembered as thee PERFECT spring in SE Wisconsin!

 

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A treasured classic – Peony

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Gabrielle


They are a classic, because they have been around in so many peoples’ landscapes for years, often outliving their owner.  They are an easy to grow, shrub-like perennial.  Practically no maintenance and no gardening experience necessary!  Peonies can survive decades with no pruning, spraying, protecting or dividing.  If you love flowers, you must have a Peony in  your yard!

They are treasured because of their large blooms (minimum 3″ across), super fragrance, excellent cut flowers, and longevity.   If you have average soil, half sun, and average drainage, you will probably still have an excellent peony that will impress. They bloom in late spring to early summer, and their ‘shrub-like’ foliage looks good into late fall.

I have listed some minor details that may prove to be helpful when growing your peony:

  • When planting, be sure the highest point in crown (new growth area) is only 2 inches below soil
  • Mulch is good, but keep off crown
  • Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil
  • Prefers cool temps, does well in zones 3-8 (if well protected can survive in zones 2 & 9 too)
  • Prefers 6 hours of sunlight; less sun = less flowers
  • If sandy soil, it is good to add perennial fertilizer in spring
  • Never cut more than 50% of blooms at any given time
  • Foliage should be cut back in fall, 1-2 inches above soil (to prevent leaves from harboring any fungal disease)
  • Considered heavy feeders so it is best to wait to move or divide in fall

Peony Garden in Gosen City, Niigata, JapanIn the first 5 years of growth peonies get bushier and produce more flowers each year.  After 3-5 years you can easily divide your peony.  You can dig up the root ball and rinse roots, so you can see each of the tubular roots.  Get a long flat shovel and cut out a ‘slice of pie’; being sure that your slice has 1-3 crown buds in it.  Now, replant and water and wait for more ‘flower shrub’ peonies to emerge next spring.

Peonies are great for borders, including in a perennial garden, and great at covering over yellowing spring bulb foliage.  I am sure you will grow to love Peonies as much as I have!

 

 

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Flowers that never let you down – DAHLIAS!

Posted on April 13, 2012 by Gabrielle

What are Dahlias? – Dahlias continuously bloom from summer through fall, and provide a colorful flower ‘shrub’!  They come in colors galore, some are low growing and some tall growing. They can be grown in the ground or in containers. Dahlias can have tiny flowers or up to 10″ flowers! They are excellent cut flowers and deer resistant! They are a flower lovers dream!

If you haven’t grown these in your garden yet, they are easy to grow and care for, so go for it! Also, here are some tips for growing awesome Dahlias this summer:

  • Plant when the ground temps stay at 60° or above.
  • Pick an area that receives 8 hours of direct sun (if in zones 8-11: only morning sun with some afternoon shade).  Less sun = Less Flowers!
  • The best soil is a loose and drainable soil.  If you have heavy soil, just add a bit of sand or peat moss to allow for more drainage.
  • Dig a hole 2x as large as the tuber, add compost to lighten soil, place the ‘fingers’ partly spread out and facing downwards in the hole, cover with about 1″ of soil.
  • Do NOT cover with saw dust or mulch, because this does not allow soil to warm up and sprout properly.
  • Do NOT water until they have sprouted.  After plant is established, give it a deep watering for 30 minutes a week, if no rain is in the forecast.
  • If you are planting a Dinnerplate Dahlia, you should put stake in ground now; so no damage will be done to the Dahlia tuber.
  • Dahlias are extremely sensitive to any herbicide in soil or near them.  Avoid Nitrogen fertilizers or compost – you will end up with weak stems, small to no flowers!  If you like to help them out with a fertilizer, use high Potassium & Phosphorus, like 5-10-10 to 0-20-20.
  • If you know you have issues with snails/slugs, sprinkle Sluggo at planting and again 2-3 weeks later.
  • To promote bushier plants: pinch or cut the center shoot just above the third set of leaves.

Dahlias can be hardy in zones 7-11, but they grow just fine in other zones that have warm summers!  I have planted some in my mostly clay soil and let them grow with no extra watering and no fertilizer, both in containers and in the ground, in USDA Zone 5.  I have been very pleased with all of them!  Continually shooting up more flowers until a hard frost in fall.  I also cut many for great displays on my kitchen table as well!

You don’t live in in zones 8-10, you should store your tubers in fall and replant in spring.  You can easily store them over the winter.  Gently dig up all around tuber and wash off most of the soil.  Then, let the tubers air dry for about 2 days.  Use a cardboard box or a crate with 10-12 sheets of newspaper on the bottom to set them in.  Also, make sure they are spread out and not touching each other.  Store box in a cool (about 40-50°) and dry area.

That’s a lot of information, but do not be intimidated.  I am a very ‘easy going’ gardener.  I do not put a lot of effort into growing anything in my yard.  I have many, many varieties of flowers, but I do not do much more than hand weed and weed spray.  Dahlias have become my favorite summer flower!

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Skimpy Looking Hyacinths

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Gabrielle

New Hyacinths

Almost the entire plant is covered in colorful florets.  They all have such a sweet scent.  Why wouldn’t you want these in your yard?  (They also are the easiest thing to force, for indoor winter enjoyment.)  So much color and appearing soon after winter has left its mark- what a delight!  I have multiple hyacinth in my front walk planting bed, so that I can smell them each time I leave home or come back!

So many of my Hyacinths come back only with half the punch of color in following years.  They look spindly.  My skimpy Hyacinths have a lot less florets on them compared to the ones I just planted this fall.  I often hear similar complaints from other gardeners as well.

Skimpy Hyacinths- Original spring 2011

 

So what is the deal with these spindly, skimpy Hyacinths?  Much like Tulips, they need the following key requirements met:

  • Cold winters; average of 15 weeks long
  • Dry summers; avoid additional watering during the summer
  • Good Soil; great drainage, they hate to be kept wet
  • Full sun on leaves; let leaves rejuvenate bulbs for next year
  • Dead Head; cut seed pod off immediately after blooming

Even if the above requirements are met, the bulb of the plant may still split and grow spindly in the next years.  I have found 3 options to consider:

  • The first, would be to pull them out of the ground after flowering.  Then plant new ones in the fall!
  • The second, would be to fertilize them after flowering the first year, and before blooming again the second year.
  • The third option would be to dig them up after all foliage has withered, and store them indoors* until fall planting time again.

I am flower bulb crazy, always wanting more flowers.  But I also like easy gardening.  I do not look for extra work.  So,  I may give the extra fertilizer a try and just add new ones each year :-) !

* For more info on storing bulbs: http://flowerbulbcrazy.com/preparing-your-garden-for-winter/

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Stunted and disappearing tulips

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Gabrielle

This weather we’ve been experiencing all over the US this winter and now into spring has been messing with our minds and our gardens!  Here are our tulips – How do your look this year?

Unfortunately the deer got the best of some of them :(

Tulips have grown wonderfully in the mountains of Turkey to the fields of Holland for over 100 years.  What conditions would give us these similar results?  Here is a list of some key points that Tulips need to thrive and return each year.

  • Cold winters; average of 15 weeks long
  • Dry summers; don’t water in the summer
  • Good Soil; great drainage, they hate to be kept wet
  • Full sun on leaves; let leaves rejuvenate bulbs for next year
  • Dead Head; cut seed pod off immediately after blooming

These are the main issues with having and keeping beautiful tulips.  If any of these main points are not met, your tulips may be stunted, disappear, or just stop producing flowers.

Some of the warmer states in the South may not even get their tulips to bloom this year. But, if they grow leaves and the other main steps above are followed, they should bloom for you next year!

I have enjoyed the summer temperatures in March in Wisconsin.  Unfortunately, my Dutch Iris, Snowdrops and Crocus withered quickly in the heat.  All daffodils have bloomed and tulips are up with buds.  Hopefully winter won’t surprise us in the next few weeks to ruin them. 

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Planting for Butterflies

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Gabrielle

Who doesn’t like butterflies?   They flitter and float around in the air,  and their gracefulness mesmerizes us.  They have beautiful coloring and markings to tantalize your eyes.   They don’t bite (making it the only bug I like). These interesting bugs need certain plants for use  by the caterpillar (the host plants), and they need certain flowers for the butterflies (the nectar plants).   Adding a cute butterfly house in your garden may be another nice idea!

If you like flowers even a tiny bit as much as me, why wouldn’t you want to make sure you have selected a few flowers that butterflies love?  There are many flowers that a variety of butterflies typically love.  Most are common perennial or annual classics too!

The most common flowers people will want to plant would be the plants that provide nectar for the butterflies.  This is where we would get the most enjoyment!  These flowers would be: Butterfly bush, Joe Pye Weed, Purple Coneflowers, Liatris, Black-eyed Susan, Phlox, Mallow, Daisy, Aster, Salvia, Petunia, Aster, Cosmos, Marigold, Red Columbine, Oregeno, Garlic Chives, Oriental Lily, Snapdragons, Grape Hyacinth, Lantana and Autumn Joy Sedum.

The other important plants for butterflies would be the host plants.  These are the plants they lay their eggs on and that the caterpillar will use for food.   Most of these plants are not always as attractive and can be ‘chewed’ up a bit when the caterpillar needs to eat!  If you are butterfly crazy- you will want these on your property, but maybe a bit out of the main viewing area.  These flowers would be: Milkweed,  Mallow, Aster, Queen Annes Lace, Parsley, Fennel, Dill, Burdock, Clover, and Thistle.  Trees and shrubs that they use are: Willow, Elm, Aspen, Oak, Poplar, Chokeberry, Viburnum, and Fruit Trees.

There are many varieties of butterflies all over the US that enjoy multiple types of flowers.  So, plant more than one kind!  Here is a collection that has 9 different nectar plants for sale together:  Butterfly Perennial Collection.  These are all perennial in zones 3-9.   Here is a little bonus for reading this blog:  A coupon for $5 off this collection!!  Just enter BBbflyfree into the coupon box in your shopping cart BEFORE checkout.

I have also included a starter garden plan made with the Butterfly Perennial Collection!

Enjoy your butterflies!

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Enjoying the tropics without traveling!

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Gabrielle

Yes- that is my plan this summer.  Doesn’t that sound good to you?  Think of the money you can save.  Hasn’t that been the rave the last few years?  Everyone making their outdoor living rooms, outdoor kitchens, or backyard oasis.  Have you worked on yours?  Do you need to make some additions?

I enjoy any time I get to relax in my backyard.  Though I do like to keep myself busy in my own yard as well.   My yard continues to change and morph every year.  Sometimes I lose a plant, but more often its because I add tropical and annual flowers for extra punch in the summer.

Maybe you can add some tropical flowers to your existing flower beds.  Add tall flowers like Cannas: along a fence, along the garage, in front of a retaining wall, along the side of your deck or patio, or even in containers on your patio.  Add a bushier flower like Dahlias: in front of retaining wall, in front of Cannas, above planted Tulips, in front of your Oriental/Asiatic lilies, or in a large container.  Add average height Calla Lilies: in containers, along a border, in front of dahlias.  Add a tropical ‘shrub’ like Elephant Ears which grow very fast in the heat.


Or maybe you have your flower beds well organized or full already, but you want to add a (enjoying the tropics- van youmore tropical feel.  This is what I am planning to do at the end of my pond. I am going to plant a collection of tropical plants.  This area is also at the corner of my deck and will stop the open line of sight I currently have (to my fruit garden).  The tall plants can help close in an area to make it feel more cozy and intimate.

I made a great collection I named Welcome to the Tropics!  It includes Malanga elephant ear, Hilo Beauty Elephant Ear,  King City Gold Canna, Cherry Red Pfizters Canna, Blue Triumpator Agapanthus, and Regal, Rubylite and Cameo Calla Lilies.  It has height, width and color galore!  This will look great!  Just in case you like this combination and need a little help, I have made a garden plan to go with it!  Based off of recommended spacing, this plan would take up a space of 7′ x 5′.

If this collection is a little too much for you, TulipWorld has a few other ‘tropical’ collections.  If you want some foliage check out the Large Foliage Collection.  Or if you are looking for a smaller planting, check out the Tropical Splash Collection. 

I am looking forward to relaxing in my own tropical oasis, how about you?!

 

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Early spring blooms in 2012

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Gabrielle

Remembrance Crocus

Crocus are up!  Daffodils are about 3″ tall.  Many Tulips and Hyacinths poking through the ground.  :-)

Dorothy Crocus

Dorothy Crocus

more crocus

more crocus

Enjoying the 65-70° temperatures and getting so excited for all my flowers to bloom!  After having 5″ of snow just 2 weeks ago, I wonder what weather we will have in another 2 weeks!

 

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Forcing Flower Bulbs- Part D

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Gabrielle

My first Tulips appeared this past Friday!  They look pretty good!  We will see if the longer chilled tulips look any better over the next 2 weeks.

These Hyacinths smell great, of course.  These were placed in the refrigerator for 13 weeks. Then, I potted them up and left in my warm office.  When you don’t allow for them to root in soil in cold temperatures, they may be a little stunted in their growth habit.

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Forcing Flower Bulbs Experiment Part C

Posted on March 9, 2012 by Gabrielle

We haven’t had to endure too much in the way of snow this winter.  However we did definitely experience a dumping of snow this weekend! (now it has all melted in 60° temps)

Despite this last weekend’s snowfall, I’ve still be enjoying my sights of spring indoors. Here are some updated photos of the bulbs I have forced.  The Hyacinths continue to grow well and keep the office smelling heavenly.  The Tete a Tete daffodils were so cute and adorable.  The warm office makes them speed through their blooms though.  I think a cooler place along the windows would have helped prolong them a bit more.  I keep potting up new Hyacinths each week when I throw out the spent ones.

I brought in a pot of tulips one week ago and another two pots today.  That makes about 13-15 weeks of cold before brought into the warm office.  The tulips are beginning to really push up through the soil.

The Allium do not look like they will do too well.  I gave them about 13-14 weeks of cold.  The leaves really shot up fast but are beginning to flop.  I would have thought the Allium would do better in the warmth, since they grow later in the spring…

We will see how the tulips do shortly!

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