Holy Crap it is cold. Some of the field plants got hit. The Petunia hanging baskets look a bit sad, but the rain is over and the wind is still blowing up a storm. I spent the afternoon on the tractor mowing the grass in the baby Christmas Tree field. The wind was awful and I was ready for a shower when I came in.
I spent the cold morning riding around one of our nurseries in a golf cart looking at the damage and also looking for plants that I may want. It is a wholesale nursery not far from my house and i went up to pick up a Sweetshrub my kids bought me for Mothers day. It is a Calycanthus floridus Michael Lindsey. I wanted one since I moved here. My grandmother had an big old one that I loved. I am hoping I can propagate it after I read about how to do it. LOL
Those of you in the South call it many other names, there are many varieties of these but not all are fragrant. I have two others I purchased in NC and they said they were the fragrant ones but they were not. I hate when people lie to me just to make a sale.
If you had trouble with DG site today it is because they had a fire in the CA building. It should be fixed soon.
Soup sounds good but I need to check the dog for ticks and brush him, have a salad and go to bed. Maybe tomorrow I will make some soup. Wish it was warmer. I do love to make soup but then I freeze so much and it is not as good after it is frozen. Must go. Hugs. JB
What's happening in your neck of the woods? Spring 2012
I was thinking about ticks today- went on a short hike.
I had a lovely short adventure to Longwood Nursery in Waldorf on Tuesday! Its about an hour south of me. Boy there is still a lot of farmland down route 301. But some major development in spots too. I got to meet our own speediebean! I got a very nice Alstroemeria bowl for "$15.99" nominally tee hee. And a Ruellia, on a whim. Boy speediebean showed me some cool stuff they have, I am not even familiar with. 'Pavorda?" or something...? Sum an Substance hosta, wow. Japanese maple wow. Koi wow...I have some pic to share but I have to get ready for work now...And I will make sure this place has a nice review in Go Gardening.
Lovely morning all!! What a WONDERFUL visit with Sally on Tuesday, THANK YOU Sally, you really made my day!!!!! {{{{HUGGGG}}}} < =) For those of you not yet fortunate enough to have met her in person, I gotta tell ya, this lovely Lady is a real SWEETHEART!! I'm so glad we had a chance to wander around and I could "show off" my happy green little corner of the world. (we now have 3 fewer of those pretty Japanese Maples, I had fun selling 'em yesterday, heehee. One lace-leaf, and 2 uprights). =) We got another small shipment of plants in yesterday so I'll get pictures today to share. If I'd known they were coming I'd have been prepared with my camera! Are any of you familiar with Begonia 'Looking Glass'? I'd never heard of 'em before, but when I saw them yesterday I just fell in love!! The leaves are like a metallic reflective quality and they are just WOW!
So, Sally's visit is the highlight of "what's going on in my neck o' the woods" lately, and then when I got home last evening I just HAD to mow my lawn... unfortunately we'd been having internet problems since I got home from work on Tuesday (hence my late note about Sally's visit), so a guy from Metrocast came out yesterday and now we've got a "temporary fix" of a cable strung out from the house, across the side/front yard and into the woods on the side out to the box on the street. yippeee. NOT! I left that big swath near the cable untouched and un-mowed. If something more goes wrong, IT'S NOT MY FAULT!!!!! ;P Then I got my Milky Spore spread out after mowing, and just gonna let the rain water it in. My goodness, I wish I'd realized before just how much Verbena spread, 'cause when I installed them in that front large bed, I put 'em too close to the front (I left a FOOT of room from the center, thinking that was enough... HA!!) and now they just spraawwllll out all over top of the little Adirondack fence/edging and out into the lawn!! I had to tuck 'em all in behind the fence before I mowed so I didn't run 'em over.. but I think I ran over a few anyway. This Fall I'm going to have to move 'em back, and that is gonna be a CHORE. Those branches take root where they touch soil, so I have a brazillion new little "plants" all over the place now, and it's just the beginning of the season!! ... OK, done whining. Will put on my big girl pants and just git 'er done. =)
Hope y'all are having a great morning, and have an even better day!
Wish we had a little of this brillina sun today- but April showers... etc..
A little sample of speedies Jap maples
A stunning row of Hosta on the stone wall in front of the porch. THe nursery building is house style with this wonderful porch all along the front. At the far end is Sum and Substance, its to die for!
Aha , said porch! All lined and hung with plants, just like if one of us lived there
8 ^)
We were both taken with this potted vine called ...um...Pavorda?? or something? I've never heard of it or seen it. Variegated or green.
Of course there is a greenhouse; here's a Coleus table
I'm splitting up the photos because I may have some taken high resolution and too many at once makes my posts bomb out.
They have several different colors of the Calibrachoa, aren't they cute?
On the way out I had to stop and see these succulents, sort of like huge Hens and chicks, that thing is a good 8-9 inches across.
Morning, another cold rainy day, but they were not calling for that. We were to have some sun today. Never know.
Yesterday we were able to get the grass all mowed here on the farm in the tree fields. That is always a job and takes days when we all have other chores to do. Those little Christmas Trees sure look good with this crazy weather. The 300 new ones we just planted survived the dry spell with irrigation and now it is raining and they are so happy.,
The white peony tree opened yesterday and was wide open with the beautiful yellowish/orange center as big as a silver dollar...I was on the mower and could did not have my phone handy to take a picture. Today when I got to it they are closed partially because the sun is not shining. I am sending a pic of them this morning. They are early.
Also A few years ago I purchased three of the pink lilac that blooms most of the summer. This year it is already at its peak.
Must get to bird cage cleaning. Have a great day.
JB, sweet blooms on that little tree peony! Do you know the name of your blooming & blooming lilac? I have a little 'Josee' from Mamajack's sale last year, and it's just opening up blooms... so cute, and I'm hoping it will rebloom early & often, LOL. I've got a 'Bloomerang' ordered, too.
Sally nice pics and excursion report. Love Japanese Maples and scouting out new places. 'Sum and Substance is # 1 favorite hosta in US. Could that ?Parvoda? vine be pagoda/ Flower color?
If I remember they are Josees. They bloom all summer off and on beginning now. Here is the single one in the field. I can not remember where I got them. I also bought a yellow one that turned out to be white. How those things happen is a mystery. :0
Here is one of the many different iris I bought several years ago and we had a blizzard after they were planted. When the snow was melted, all their identification was gone. I have no idea what it is called but is sure is pretty.
They are all from Brecks. LOL
Thanks! I'm excited that 'Josee' might rebloom multiple times. :-)
Ta daa!
http://davesgarden.com/products/go/view/14502/
~~~
I still can't figure out that unknown flowering vine. I even looked at Aloha Tropicals, trying to spot it. All I got was.. a lot more for my wish list LOL
This message was edited Apr 27, 2012 10:30 AM
Oh DARNIT, I knew there was something I was supposed to look into for you at work today, but I totally forgot, I'm so sorry!!! =( We'd gotten more deliveries this morning, so I was running amuck (is that how you spell that??), getting things priced up and put on the tables, re-arranging perennials left and right, and re-arranging the veggie and herb tables out front... >>huff>> >>puff>> >>wheeeeze>>. Pheewww!!!
THANK YOU for the honorable mention and the glowing review!! < =D
Oh hey whenever, if you get to it...... a visit to Lowe's to ask for Astroemeria gave me a hint at how overwhelming all the plant shipments are at this time of year. Its gotta be nuts for you! I can't imagine trying to work with newbie workers and explain how to keep it stocked and arranged and watered....I'm getting tired thinking about it.
"amuck" is def what you run after a hard rain at the nursery tee hee
Happy to help spread the word on such a nicely run operation as Longwood Nursery. Now can they move it a half hour closer to my house tee hee?
Is it really possible that we'll be flipping our calendars to May? Egads.
Before anymore time flies by wanted to wish everyone a great gardening day and weekend to do those sweat equity projects while it is cool and dream of warmth to come.
Hope all those of us gathering at Meet and Greet in Cherry Hill NJ today will have lots of fun and post some pictures! Cris and Nisi have extensive "haves" lists. Wish I could be thyere for some of those heirloom tomatoes and coleus cuttings...
And Ruby good luck to you and John as I think today is first day of Farmers Market down your way!
One of my goals for the day pre rain is to pull up as many "invasives" or escapees as I can while soil is moist and loose (relatively). Will start with wild garlic mustard before it seeds! I hear there are organized garlic mustard "pulls' in Montgomery cty, VA parks and forests and in DC.
http://www.google.com/search?q=garlic+mustard+challenge+montgomery+county
Garlic mustard produces a chemical which inhibits the growth of other plants around it .
Later all.
eeek! I woke to sun, where did the clouds come from ??
When I got to work at 9AM--it was warmer than at noon. The day just sunk into cold, damp, dankness.
Then--after lunch--(1PM-2PM) the sun came out for a bit--and it was warmer,
By 5PM--it had started to drizzle. Folded up my table, put everything away in garden and called it quits.
In MY Garden---------
Many of my plants I had bought are sitting in my shed--or inside on whatever tables are available.
What is the forecast for tonight??????? I got to check Weather.com.
If it will be in high 40's--I have to put things back outside for fresh air. But--by now it is already dark. It is 8PM.
SO--tomorrow will have to do.
All my HB's of Spiders and Ivy, and Swedish Ivy and both Epis have been outside for a couple of weeks now.
NOT bringing them in!!! So far--so good! Even during the cold nights we have had. YAY!
HATE this indecisive weather. BUT--aren't we all used to it this time of year?????
It sure screws up all the planting and gardening......I hated seeing people buying Impatiens and Coleus
and other tender plants today. Tried to "educate" most of them--but gave up. Their loss!
The rain helps----but not the cold. Gita
Thanks Sally for posting the pictures of your trip to Speedie's green spot. Looks like a wonderful place to visit. I have a question for Speedie please. There is a coleus in the picture that Sally took of the Coleus table. It is lime greenish inside the leaf and maroonish around the ruffled edges. If you can find out the name of that Coleus, I can offer it to Coleup as a named Coleus.
Last summer John stopped by a lady's yard and admired her two types of Coleus she had growing. He asked what she was going to do with come cold weather and she said just let them die back. I remember clearly the evening he brought me home what seemed at the time to be an enormous amount of two different coleus. I overwintered them and have now started many new pots from the clippings and rootings I have been taking all winter. With the name of this particular Coleus, I will be a very happy camper. Thanks speedie if this is possible for you to do.
Yep Coleup, yesterday was first day of local Farmers Market. John sold about sixty dollars worth of his garden plants, took a few orders for other things we grow and I have a special order on an Oxalsis. Seems the little girl who wanted the Oxalsis doesn't like the pink container it was potted in and is going to buy it if it is a different color. Hopefully I can transfer it easily to the same sized pot but in a yellow color.
Anyway.....Two weeks ago today I ordered some unusual house plants from a catalog that arrived on my door step some time back. I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of that shipment so I can begin potting up more things to send along next week or weeks from now after the plants are established a bit more.
While looking through this particular catalog I saw a plant that was named a Ghost plant. I have several that I bought at an end of the season sale at Lowe's for a little bit of nothing last year. They are succulents and I thought for sure the plants I purchased that day would die being indoors and my lack of success with some succulents. Boy have I been thrilled with the Ghost plant and the other succulents that are potted with them. I have two medium sized pots of a succulent garden which I now hope survives being outside this summer. I might even nned to begin thinning the Ghost plants and pot several to send to market. Can't recall if I ordered more of them or not.
Anyway.....happy gardening, whether inside or out. I hope that everyone has a good week coming up.
Ruby
Ruby---
See if this will help you ID your Coleus.....
http://www.coleusfinder.org/pictures.php?table_next_page=10
Jill - was it you who brought the Hibiscus startings to the Spring Swap? It had a huge flower when I took it home. It is re-potted but not much biger than it was. Now it has 3 buds. Can't wait for it to bloom for me.
Love the pics of all the plants.
Great Nursery Tour Sally.
Yep, it looks like I'll have to mosey on down there one day soon. Itching for some new plants haunts to haunt. Same old same old around here. The selection at HD seems repetitive and except for some plants like that primrose Gita found boring.
Did stop by Sams Club and they have 3 colors of "Sunpatiens" in in hanging baskets for under $9 each. I liked the 'sunpatiens' I grew several years ago...they got big (15-20+ inches) stayed big and held up well all season, though to me they worked better as containers than baskets. I just took the hangers off and voila instant container.
Noticed HD has loads of the Kimberly Queen fern about $17 but I divide mine into 4-6 pieces and each one fills out quite rapidly. The KQ ferns hold up for me much better than Bostons but they are more upright growers. I've overwintered them once or twice
Had to laugh at Sally's comments about unloading and "merchandizing" plants at the rtail level. Made me remember the weekend I unloaded and merchandized 7 semi- tractor trailer loads of annuals! I miss being around mases of live plant material fresh from the growers. Consequently, much of my yard is merchandized/containerized and full of colorful visual displays...is this a style???lol
Sally, I am betting that that new vine you and Speedy are taken with is Lipstick vine 'Black Pagoda'. Check it out here:
http://zachandchristie.com/new_plant_blog/2008/12/05/lipstick-plant-black-pagoda-in-bloom/
Your job can certainly give you habits, good or bad. I have 'neater' books now.
~~
Thanks for the suggestion Pagoda. But my vine in question had large (mandevilla size) white flowers with purple tubular center; compound leaves.. Did you notice the article refered back to DG!?
Qwilter, I think my friend Theresa might have brought that little Hibiscus for the gift table, but my memory isn't always trustworthy.
Good morning all!! Lots of busy crazy lately, ...and sadly that means that I've still forgotten to look at the name of that vine. Grrrr, I tell ya's, if I had a brain I'd be dangerous!! I am WRITING myself notes: 1: what is that vine? (for Sally). 2: The name of that Coleus? (for Ruby). I WILL have answers for you two this evening! < =D (I WILL I WILL I WILL!!!)
Good Heavens to Betsy, SEVEN tractor trailer loads of annuals!?!?! I don't think I could live through all that!!! I'm lucky to survive through TWO in one day.... then again, we don't have all the people to help me do it, either, it usually turns out to be just me and the driver... and half the time BossMan too... the other half of the time he's running the front-loader. For some reason, the deliveries tend to come early in the morning before anyone else arrives, so it's just me and BossMan.
I've gotten pretty far in arranging all the perennial tables... or, I should say "RE-arranging". Sun-loving guys on the sunny tables, more shade-loving ones on the shady tables... all "like" plants together. Nothing worse than wanting a certain kind of plant and not finding it, all because they're all scattered on 5 different tables, bleugh! "Why are there bleeding heart out in full sun!?!?!? How come they're not with the rest of the bleeding hearts in the shade!?!?!" Grrrrrrrr!! I do, however, have the entire greenhouse properly organized though, Phheewww!! =)
Brought home 3 flats worth of annuals yesterday to fill in blank spots out in my big front bed and to fill up the water pump bucket thingy... only to find out it's not nearly enough, so need to do more shopping today. The Purple Homestead Verbena is spreading like wild fire, but mostly it's spreading OUT into the lawn! I installed it about a foot into the bed (from the edge), but it's really going everywhere. I'm going to give it a good haircut this evening when I get home, but I'll take "before" and "after" pics to share. =)
The back yard "bed" that is going to house my benches et al is nearing completion. I mention its progress in the "new garden area" thread. Man, I can't wait until that is done! Meanwhile, I have COMPLETELY neglected my driveway-side bed, yipes!! There's just not enough time in a day, nor days in a week, I tell ya!
I am still cleaning up beds. Yesterday was pretty productive. I still have some work to do in this bed. There are 4 small hosta that need to be moved and spread out, a hidden heuchera and those hellebores right out front that need moved. There are still pansies that I want to plant in there as well.
I know only TOO well about neglecting some areas. It's frustrating I tell you!! But, right now I'm watching two of my granddaughters have a tea party. Really cute. The plants can wait for awhile.
awwwww
Reminds me I want to check out Fairy Gardens and Tiny Gardens. Sweet, Jan.
Grandchildren always top any other interest.
AMEN!!!
Aaaaaawwww, how cute, a tea party!!!
I HAVE THEM!!!!! =) Sally, that climber you were admiring is a Variegated Pandorea!
And that Coleus is a Henna. They are quite lovely, huh? =)
aha mystery solved!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/135923/
Distant cousin to our trumpet creeper Campsis radicans.
Doesn't it just bug ya til you figure something out!
Pandorea huh Rhymes with pagodea or parvodea lol Are either of you two going to grow it? Might be a longwood gardens exclusive...
Sallyg nice article yesterday and congrats on 'finishing what you start' Will you be including these beauties in your yard this season?
http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/3707/
Todays article is a great reminder to us all that many hostas out there in the market place are to be considered very carefully before purchase because of HVX hosta virus x.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/1196/
Speaking of fairy gardens....
Love the color on the lamium maculatum Aureum
Irises are really coming now, last one I had to bring in cause it broke off
Roses, Yellow Queen Aquilegia, Daisy, one of my favorite combos geum with geranium
Hey Jen do you have any mini hosta. I could give you a small start of Blue Mouse Ears.
Beautifu pictures.
I have Frosted Mouse Ears...could always use another mini hosta, I have 2 fairy gardens.....THANKS!!!!
The first two Clematis Blooms have opened.
