Spending spree #11

bought some annuals today

Avant is nice but the plants will be small - at least compared to FW. Never ordered from Classic yet.

My reading about viburnum told me they must be planted before the hot weather comes, not only because its good to get some growing done, but also because roots like to stay cool and the pots can't keep them cool. I also ordered from Rarefind, which gave me the largest plant, a 'Winterthur,' because that was their smallest size. All of my others were in one or two gallon pots, and pretty small. Don't know how many years it will take to get big bushes, but they are to replace ugly burning bushes and other rampant invaders that used to form a thicket.

It's also intresting to see which ones don't seem to care if they get watered. 'American Spice' a Carlessi hybrid, pleases me because it will top out at four feet tall, but it has a nice presence even without blooms. Mary Milton seems to be fussier and more attractive to critters, so it's now in a wire cage. I;ll send pics later.

"Avant is nice but the plants will be small"
I was pleased with the size tree I got for $39

Love the color on that tree! Rosemary, nice to put in those viburnums instead of invasives....

My photos aren't posting! I will come back here later.

Rosemary- I have had a Winterthur for a few years now. It's a lovely bush. Did you know it needs a pollinator to berry? When we bought it, it was loaded with such gorgeous multicolored ones, but we haven't seen any ever since. The nurseries are very confused about it, but I've done the research and this is the deal: because it is patented, all reproduction is by cloning. That means all the plants are the same sex so can not cross-pollinate. You need another V. nudum cultivar. Winterthur blooms later than most of the others. A new cultivar, V nudum Brandywine (aka 'Bulk'), has been bred specifically to be a pollinator for Winterthur.

It's a Proven Winner, but is very hard to find in the nurseries, at least around here. When I ask for it, they've never heard of it, give incorrect information about the whole question of pollination, and,of course, since I'm not a professional, they act like I'm the one who's wrong. Grrrr...I hate that!

Originally Wayside was the only place to get it, and they're sold out. So are several other online nurseries i tried. Last time I looked LazyS had it, but I just got mine through a co-op run by Mamjack on Cubits, arrived yesterday. She may still have one more, if you're interested, but she was selling out quickly as the sale has been running for a while. And of course, hers will be small. I don't care, I only need one flower this year, and there's always next year if that doesn't happen.

Apparently Brandywine is parthenogenic, will berry without another nudum nearby, which is nice to know if I ever lose my Winterthur. It's also not too big, which is good for me, and has that gorgeous red fall color.

So good luck, whatever you do!

Pam

Any nudum will pollinate Winterthur.

Good info since I received a Winterthur last year at one of the swaps

That's the general rule for fruiting vibs - get another variety of the same species.

Winterthur usually flowers later than the others , that's why there's a problem

Received my bluestone order today, will post pics later

I have had Wintertur and species nudum for years. Tons of berries!

Holland Bulbs has big sale on spring bulbs.

Good to know, Victor.

Thanks for the viburnum posts. This is my first year growing them. I had made a post about them this morning, which didn't send.

Two of my intended pollinators were cancelled and refunded, so no Conoy to pollinate American Spice, I think, nor Brandywine for the Winterthur. I'm also looking around the neighborhood to see what's there before I decide to reorder for next year.

It's great that Winterthur has later blooms. These nudums are fairly shade tolerant too, if the Lazy S symbols are correct. So nice to find a way to extend the pretty season too.

Nudums are cool in that they have different colored berries at the same time.

Santa Rosa Gardens is having a good sale right now. Bought more Phlox, Echinacea, Dianthus, etc. etc.

Crap! I went to Santa Rosa Gardens to LOOK at the sale prices and selections, I am now the owner of.........

Agastache foeniculum Golden Jubilee
Aquilegia caerulea Swan Pink-Yellow
Astilbe chinensis Vision in Pink
Echinacea Hot Papaya
Gaillardia Arizona Apricot
Phlox paniculata Peacock Cherry Red
Phlox subulata Purple Beauty
Phlox subulata Red Wing
Salvia nemorosa Pink Friesland
Sedum Yellow Xenox
Veronica Whitewater

My Winterthur is on a north facing wall. This is from last year, the 2nd year is was in. It's growing well, but not fast, which is fine where it is. The new Brandywines are opposite the ledge, on top of another wall to a lower level. I don't want the bees to have a too long a commute to do their thing.

Pam

Oops- here's the pic

Good idea, Pam.....Pixie, that Cherry Red Phlox may tempt me!

Glad you found the hot papaya Celeste since the ones from the co-op are rotten.. I could have given you golden jubilee you goose.. But have some great things you bought .. Going to make my damage list from the stuff I bought up there later

I really need some great hot pink ones to replace the mud pink ones I have

ok here is some of the damage!!.. didn't photo the herbs & veggies I bought

https://plus.google.com/photos/111926172330822213072/albums/5751104228736234785?authkey=CMPWkc6ukJuliQE

Nice haul!

Love the viburnum shot, Pam. It is so nice to have a beautiful stone wall behind it too.

received my next to last order from topiary yesterday - jm's kamagata (nice big one) and moonrise (not so big although very good shape, conifers picea cumpressina and a alberta spruce called rita that has white new growth. on the way is abies koreana aurea nana.

also ordered a rose colored climbing hydrangea from rarefind to climb up the white oaks in the back. will need to move a white climber there that bloomed for the first time under the deck - blooms are on the inside and not showing into the yard, guess it likes the shade, i use this area for storage so not exactly where you want to go and look at blooms..................

LOL....the plants go their own way, don't they? A pink climber sounds interesting....Allison, I like those hollyhocks...a few seeded themselves in my brick patio, & I just let them grow...they are budded!

that huge bucket was $20.00.. I couldn't walk away from it

Yes, it was $19.95 and had 3 different colored HH in it, all big and sturdy. Really good deal!

my under the sea coleus came yesterday
Bonefish

Gold Anemone

Langostino

MY favorite is Gold Anemone!!

think I am leaning towards the fishbone.. I like loud

They're all really nice....

thanks.. I bought a cheap clam shell planter too

Great idea...very creative!

Beautiful Coleus, Allison!

Love the gold anemone