I've been looking at his website. The varieties he has available are outstanding. I need to let the DH look at it to determine which ones he would like.
I was fortunate enough to have the bulbs bloom true to their names. I'll have to check the packages and write them down. The bulbs are now all mixed up.
I do have a semi shaded in front of the house now that could use some caladiums, now that the Cryptomeria has been trimmed up. I'm going to get them from Bill. He's also active in the aroids section on the other website.
Clematis chat - heading into winter
Those caladiums are beauties....so is the dwarf iris! I have quite a few, but no blooms this time of year.....
I think the latest blooms I've had on a TBI were late October to early November. Must be nice having the iris in bloom now and it makes it extra special.
The combination of this caladium and the sedum really pleased me. I love how the white markings on the caladium went with the sedum.
One of those 'happy accidents'!
Wow, that combo is gorgeous Arlene. I love the way you combine your colors.
Thanks, Annette. It was a "happy accident" as Marilyn said but they are the things I love to spot.
I'm going to start my post with saying, a gardener has got to do what a gardener has to do...... Today our temps remained in the 50's, and it rained all day, with light showers and intermittent heavier downpours. I had a lot of yard work to do since my activity has been limited since August. So I suited up in jeans, a long sleeve t-shirt, a sweat shirt, rain poncho, and my rain boots and headed outside for 5 hours.
I now have rediscovered muscles I haven't used in a few months, and my neck is really sore, but I got a lot accomplished. I must also say, I've never been so muddy in all of my life, LOL.
I finally got Ramona, the last of the clematis in a pot planted in the ground. I also planted 5 peonies, 100 Iris Rosario, and 5 Iris Dardanus in the back beds. I trimmed Josephine, Huvi, Durandii, and my viticella NOID.
I'm so happy with how much I got done today, I still have 35 lily bulbs, and
12 bearded iris to plant, but I may just heel them in for the winter in a bag of potting soil, and plant them in the spring, if I can't get them done next Saturday. Annette
Well done, Annette! Can you hear me applauding you? I've gone out on days like that and got a lot done as well. By evening we may be sore but at least we've accomplished something worthwhile.
In the past three weeks I got all 34 dahlias dug, cleaned, put away, 490 alliums planted and at least 200 Louisiana irises lifted, old ends cut off, and replanted in the new garden. Many tall bearded irises have been dug and moved. That's aside from all the hydrangeas I moved to the new garden and Callicarpa, etc.
In the past I have potted up both irises and lilies and they all did fine so if you don't get to the garden to get the jobs done, they'll be fine in pots.
No wonder we don't mind a rest in winter!
So true Arlene, so true. I forgot to add that I also did 3 large pots today for the DH's office. Here they are in the garage tonight. He's taking them to work tomorrow.
Also, here are Snow Queen, and Barbara Jackman their new homes. I thought I also took a picture of Ramona, but in my damp delirium I must have forgotten ;~) the last picture is of the trimmed Josephine. In that same bed in the middle is Japanese Iris Geisha Girl that I've never seen bloom. I've had it for several years, and moved it this past spring, but I think all the other plants in the same bed grew and overshadowed it, and it didn't do very well. What's your secret with the Japanese irises to make them thrive? I grew them successfully at my last home, but can't seem to get it right now.
It's amazing what we go through to maintain our gardens. I'm quite sure that my neighbors think I'm crazy. However, they also get to enjoy the benefits of my hard work, getting to see all the blooms. I only have 1 neighbor that is as interested in gardening as we are. She's also a DG member.
Arlene, I also wanted to know if you kept your potted lilies and irises inside or outside? Two years ago I heeled in some TB irises in a cut open bag of potting soil that was kept in my basement in a Radio flyer wagon during the winter, and the wagon was taken to the back deck in the spring. The irises weren't planted until last fall, and they did extremely well.
So where do we get all this energy from so we can work like crazed people on days when others are reading the Sunday papers in front of a roaring fire? Hopefully they have fireplaces!
Geisha Girl should not have given you any problem. Tell her to behave and give her some manure and more water come spring. A little camellia food would be a good idea. I seldom feed my many JI's and they all seem to grow well. There are always a few that increase so sparingly that I wouldn't recommend them and one that has given me just one flower in 9 years = dud.
Long ago I gave up on being concerned what the neighbors thought of me and my gardening. Maybe I don't think too much of playing Bridge or their other games and drinking. To each her own.
I always kept the irises and lilies potted outdoors so they could get used to the weather. They do develop great roots in pots since they have no competition at all. Here is Royal Sunset, potted early April and transplanted late July.
Thanks for the info about Geisha Girl. I need to put a new tag on her so that I can find her more easily in the spring, and I will do as you suggested. BTW, that is one good looking rootball
The energy for gardening comes from knowing that for all of the hard work we put in now, we will be rewarded with years of beauty later.
You're so right about the neighbors. I only wish that they would respect my garden, and not do things to deliberately destroy it. I had an episode recently where I found 9 bags of dog feces that were thrown down behind my dragon wing begonias, and on top of my Citronella lilies in one of my beds close to the street. I was livid when I realized what had happened. I immediately called security from the neighborhood, and had them document the incident, and we wrote a strongly worded letter to the HOA regarding how deliberate this act was. The plastic from the bags smothered the lilies and killed the plants off. Luckily, the bulbs seem to be okay. We'll see how they perform next year.
I also had an incident last year where someone came into my front yard, and cut one of my TB irises, and took a part of the rhizome and a bloom stem. Now that's really neighborly!
Geisha Girl should really grow without you tending to it more than you already do with giving it good soil and watering it if you don't have enough rain. Maybe this will be the lucky year.
I agree that it's worth the work and yet there's always another garden to be done over or plants that get too much or too little sun.
I'd love to know the thought behind dumping the bags of feces on your flower beds. I wonder if it's jealousy or just plain nastiness. How disrespectful and absolutely rude.
While I can imagine someone loving an iris I just can't imagine anyone stealing it, rhizome and stem. I'd gladly share with a neighbor and have done so. I imagine you'd do the same, so why can't they just ask or drop a note?.
I would also happily share plants if anyone one asks. Some people now do, or take what they want without consideration for others, which is unfortunate.
Geisha Girl is planted in a bed that has a sprinkler head. I'll try the fertilizer that you recommended, and I'll make sure that it's no longer overshadowed next year. It may have to be moved again to a spot that gets more sun.
As gardeners we automatically want to share the beauty but there are those who, obviously, will take plants without asking.
JI's want sunshine. They can take some shade but bloom much better in full sun.
I want to share my picture of my camelia Yultide, it is in full bloom. It was just sitting there for few years, in the last two years grew about 2 feet. I would like to learn how to propagete camelias, it is so many available around me, but the one in the stores cost to much. Etelka
I feel like a slug after reading how much work was accomplished....I'm not a fall gardener...the sap begins running in the spring for me! Etelka, what a pretty shrub to have blooming right now.....
Here's what I found on Google about propagating camellias, Etelka.
http://voices.yahoo.com/how-propagate-camellia-through-cuttings-5573767.html
Marilyn - it's only the urge to get ahead with every garden that keeps me moving in December and any nice winter days. Somehow I convince myself it is possible to be ready for spring and have most of the hard work done before spring actually arrives. I'd rather do hard work when it's cool out than try to do it on the hot days.
It's very nice that we've had these days of soft rain for all the Louisiana irises. They have to love it.
I love it more then snow!
Me, too. I left the house around 9:40, did all my Christmas shopping, and was home before 4 PM. It wouldn't have been as good or as easy if it were snowing. I do love looking at snow and love photography on snowy days but it soon turns brown and that's just not pretty.
thank you Pirl, you are very kind to take time to help. Etelka
The picture you have sent me is of the Iris you have sent me last year never bloomed, hope to see it this year.
I am not a snowbunny, never have been. Give me gardening weather! ^_^
You're welcome, Etelka. That iris just might need one extra year before it blooms, then it probably will bloom every year.
Such nice photos, Carolyn. Makes me dream of May and June.
I love those bright lilies!
Robin
Thank you - the first one is Monte Negro and the second one is one of the Tango lilies. I ordered a bunch of the Tango lilies, so I am not sure which one that is.
Our weather is supposed to turn colder at the end of this week. I had hoped to get out to the garden while the weather was still decent, but I can see that isn't going to happen. Not that I have anything that really has to be done in the garden right now, I just thought it would feel good to dig out there.
I have always loved lilies, the red lily beetle has made me ill....I still plant many bulbs every year, knowing some will only be annuals.....Monte Negro is a great color.....
Nice pictures Carolyn, I love Monte Negro, it's one of the first lilies that I grew, and I also have Tango Dot Com. Every spring bleek does a lily co-op, and I get a few more lilies then.
The weather here is colder this week as well, so I think the irises and lilies that I have left to plant are going to wind up in pots.
It will be garden clean up time on the rest of the warm days that we may get. I'm thankful for he colder days that are coming, which will help the peonies, and bulbs that need the chill time. Annette
Hi Everyone, I noticed Carolynn mentioned growing c. Mayleen in her northern Pa. garden. Are others able to grow this tribe in zone 5 or further north? I have never tried them but the literature says they are not hardy in the northern climes. I have also wondered, if like other plants if flowering growth is killed but structural growth survives ? I am sure willing to try! Lee
Lee
Mine did well for me until the voles decided to dine on the roots of poor Mayleen. I planted mine about 4 feet to the left of my clothes dryer vent. This created a microclimate that allowed Mayleen to flower and thrive. If you are going to try Mayleen- I would definitely utilize the microclimates in your yard.
Carolyn
Happy New Year everyone. May you all have a wonderful gardening year in 2013.
Ditto!
Is anyone looking for clem's for 2013 yet?
Thanks Annette for the well wishes, same to you and all our friends here. Arelene, I'll be looking soon as the weather permits. I'm still aiming for replacing my Climbing Roses arbor with Clematis this year. A major 'make over' for the front yard.
Thanks Arlene and Kim. Arlene, here is my list.
Want for Spring 2013:
Clematis Beauty of Worcester
Clematis Kiri Te Kanawa
Clematis Andromeda
Clematis Dancing King
Clematis Veronica's Choice
Clematis Sakala
Clematis Richard Pennell
I've had this list since last year, but now if I order them, I'd have to figure out where to put them. I can't believe I have to say that I'm running out of room ;-)
Wow! That's an ambitious list!
Lily Love I am going to do the same thing with a trellis . The climbing rose did nothing but put out branches 10 ft long. I have only had 4 blooms in 5 years. So out it will come this spring, then chicken wire for the clems to climb.
Happy New Year Marie, my task is a little more difficult. My roses arbor adorned with most of my favorite roses, and they've been blooming well. It's just that they're more challening each year (as we grow older) to keep them trimmed and cared for in order to look its best. DH is frustrated having to battle the thorns while climbing up and down the roof (the arbor was placed right in front of our roof line where the gutter needs to be kept free of debris and clog up with fallen leaves from large trees each year). He does the trimming each year at the end of the growing season, thus cut off the rose canes that carry the following season buds.... It pained me so to part with my favorite roses such as Climbing Dawn, climbing Don Juan and Cecile Brunner ect. But, consider DH's comfort, I have to chose DH over the Roses.
I best hope is that with careful chosing of climatis for future beauties, and ease of care, will ease the pain of losing my beautiful roses. Time changes, I'll need to adapt with the changes.
Annette, quite impressive a wish list it's! Your garden is going to be a show stopper!
I grow the climber John Davis....pink flowers all summer....I do absolutely nothing to it....almost thornless, easy to prune, growing in the shade of an apple tree....actually, it's climbing into the apple tree.....Canadian bred, very hardy. I'd love another clem, but have no idea yet which one....
I am sorry to hear that you will be loosing your roses. I do understand what it like to loose a favorite plant.
The age part I am understanding too, each year I find it harder to do what I use to. The pain in the knees and back, and now the other shoulder tells me, Marie you got to slow down. But Gosh, I sure do like seeing the results of my labor.
Hello everyone, hope you're all doing well, I took a quick stroll in the garden today to check on the clematis. It's interesting to see that despite the cold weather we're having, some of the clematis are putting out pips. Don't these plants know that it's winter. I hope we don't get the quick warm up like we did last year, that started in late January, and never looked back. It caused everything to bloom much earlier last year.
I had thoughts about doing some work in the garden today, but it's too cold for that. Poor m. Mayleen still is slumped over, yet to be put back up on the drain pipe, but at least it has Camellia Mathotiana to keep it company. Nuccio's Pearl also contnues to bloom in the front garden.
Edited for spelling
This message was edited Jan 6, 2013 5:57 PM
There is a limit as to what we can do in the garden so Mayleen may have to remain slumped until you can get to her. Annette, is the color of it lavender or pink. Maybe it's my monitor but it doesn't seem to match the description as far as color:
http://www.gardencrossings.com/plantname/Clematis-Mayleen
Your camellias are so beautiful and anything blooming in winter is a huge bonus for gardeners.
I would love to see anything but snow at this point! I was listening to a garden show on the radio today, & the hosts were saying many plants were confused by the warm fall, some PG rhodos & forsythia began blooming.....then a few nights ago the temp went down to zero!