Couldn't agree more, Paul!!!
Summertime plant shopping
shucks ((blush)) Hey Speedie I think I got the Mexican Petunia at your nursery!
Paul, there was an article by Wind as well? I didn't see that, and now it's gone, :(
Could someone direct me to it please?
Sally, you did? I remember you getting the Alstromeria, but the Mexican Petunia too? Cool! =)
Speaking of Altromeria, here's a couple pics of the "Thank You" arrangement that Mama (in law) sent DH and me to thank us for being nice hosts during their visit. =)
Heehee, I seem to remember that Sallyg said she got it there, too, speedie!! It really has a pretty flower.
I love alstromeria!! If I buy flowers for a bouquet it is usually alstromeria plus some fillers. They last a long time.
speedie---
if you still have the latest DG newsletter in your in-box, it lists all the articles for the week.
Wind's article was originally from 2009.
if not--somewhere there is a list of all the articles.....??? DG Forum? Extras????
You can also D-mail wind. But you could have figured all that out yourself---you smart cookie--you!
G.
Here you go Speedie
http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/1370/
Find a post by "Wind" (or another member) and get to their member page where it will list articles they have written near the bottom under Member Contributions, We have some prolific writers in the Mid Atlantic!
If you click on the Guides and Info tab at top of DG pages there is a link to an index of all articles. At the bottom of each article there are links to similar articles, all articles. and other articles by same person.
What a treasure trove of people we are here!
This message was edited Jun 1, 2013 7:31 AM
Anyone interested in Peony "Moonstone" -- Van Engelen has 3 for $24 plus $6.95 shipping -- i.e., a few pennies over $10 each. Chantell and I each want one. I might take the third, but let me know if you'd like to join us. http://www.vanengelen.com/peony-moonstone.html . I can pot it up and deliver at the fall swap (It is probably bare root.) (The photo is from the Van Engelen website -- not my photo.)
This message was edited Jun 1, 2013 9:22 PM
Happy--the link is outdated and will not open.....G.
Happy, yes please!
Happy, yes I would love to have one. Thank you.
When I bought the 'nacoochee princess' Azalea at White's last week, I also picked up a $5 azalea from the sales bin. It came with 1 flower and a few flower buds. It looks really sickly now and completely out of shape. I just thought it would be a beautiful plant if I could nurse it back to health. The flower buds look like little roses, and they open to double flowers. Very pretty.
Gita: I fixed the link -- I had put a period at the end of the link, and DG for some reason scoops that into the link.
Donnerville: The bin azaleas I bought from Mike's a week ago came with azalea lacebug (grr). See http://hgic.umd.edu/_media/documents/LaceBugsHG95pfv.pdf . This site has photos of what the damage looks like: http://oregonstate.edu/dept/nurspest/azalea_lace_bug.htm . If this is what you have, we should talk -- I have spent a ton of time researching what to do.
Re Moonstone peony: If Donner and ssg both want a Moonstone, then if 2 other people are interested in buying one of these, the price drops to $8.58 each (actually, in the end closer to 8.16 because of how shipping works).
I'd still need to buy a bit more to cement this, though, because it turns out VE has a $50 minimum. They have several specials running until Monday. http://www.vanengelen.com/flower-bulbs-index/website-specials.html One is for Hyacinthoides hispanica Excelsior -- 100 bulbs for $23.75 (24 cents a bulb) plus 10% shipping -- that is the per bulb price they usually charge if you buy 1000. I might get those -- I think Jill said they aren't available from the places she is ordering from. Maybe I'm not remembering right. The other specials are for assortments of Darwin tulips, Muscari, and pink daffs.
Anyhoo, let me know if you are interested in anything from that site
Happy, somebody else just posted on the bulb sale thread wanting Excelsior... I thought the VE special was over but hadn't checked. ADR has them by color only: blue, pink, white, or mixed.
Does 'Moonstone' have smelly-goodness? If so, consider my arm twisted. :-)
Critter -- VE says the sale is good until the 3rd at midnight.
I haven't seen Moonstone in the flesh -- maybe Chantell can comment on the fragrance -- but VE says "As fully double as a plump rose, this award-winning 1942 Murawska hybrid has pale blush-pink, almost white, flowers on strong stems with one of the most sweet fragrances imaginable." I have seen it recommended in books.... and the photos of it are to die for.
Now that I am looking at the VE site, there are some other tempting peonies -- http://www.vanengelen.com/flower-bulbs-index/herbaceous-peonies.html -- I could see my way through to Bowl of Beauty or Edens Perfume or Peony Raspberry Sundae. All are fragrant. My first choice of those three would be Bowl of Beauty. Prices are around $10 each, give or take (Bowl of Beauty would be $6.33 including s/h). The all have to be ordered in groups of 3. I have Red Charm and it is gorgeous (of course, with all my shade I only get a few blooms but I can live with that).
Hi Happy, I would be happy to take another peony if you need more to make up the numbers. Any variety you choose is fine with me as long as the flowers are fragrant and do not flop very much. I currently have several peony plants. They are huge monsters, but are all top heavy. I would like to avoid that if I buy new peony plants.
About azalea lace bugs, I took a close look at the photos, and sure enough this azalea has got lace bugs. I am going to spray it now. Thank you very much for warning me.
This message was edited Jun 2, 2013 8:18 PM
Thank you Judy, for the link and the lesson - I hadn't realized we could find articles that way! Very neato!
Wow, that was a great article by Wind, and from it I have learned that I'm not missing out on too much by **not** eating beets. ;)
Sally, the more I think about it, the more I remember you getting *something* else along with the Alstromeria. I'm so glad we were able to provide you with such a lovely baby! =)
Donnerville -- I can't promise anything about stems being floppy or not. But these photos make Bowl of Beauty look quite upright: http://www.obsessiveneuroticgardener.com/2010/12/peony-bowl-of-beauty.html . It is also very popular, which suggests it isn't too floppy, but isn't dispositive. Of commenters on DG, one says it does NOT stand up well to wind/rain, and another says it does: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/38347/ .
I'm leaning towards getting both Bowl of Beauty ($6.33 each, http://www.vanengelen.com/flower-bulbs-index/herbaceous-peonies/peony-bowl-of-beauty.html ) and Raspberry Sundae ($9.66 each, http://www.vanengelen.com/flower-bulbs-index/herbaceous-peonies/peony-raspberry-sundae.html ) if I can get any of you interested in going in with me .... even if not, I can probably pot them up and sell them at the fall swap. I think peonies should be able to grow at the top of my awful front hill...
So where I am right now on peonies is:
Moonstone: 1 each for Critter, Donner, SSG, Chantell, and 2 for me.
Bowl of Beauty: 3 for me unless Donner or anyone else wants one (Donner - I can't promise it has strong stems -- I just don't know. But it is so pretty, and cheap at $6.33 incl. s/h.) I've decided to try putting some at the top of my awful front hill -- I can use them for cut flowers.
On Excelsior: 25 for Critter, 25 for Catbird, and 50 for me.
I'm not going to get Raspberry Sundae unless there is a clamoring.
Devon - thank you for pointing me 'this' way. I've not seen Moonstone in person (except my pendant of course ^_^) but so many sites seemed to rave about the scent - putting it in top three and five for scent.
Donner - sure you know this already but smack a tomato cage around the peonies when they start poking their heads up in spring and whaalaa - no more droopies. Also that Jasmine at Walmart is the one growing up my dwarf Magnolia. It is fragrant but IMHO not the heavy musky scent of our sambacs or Confederate Jasmine. In my yard there has to be quite a few blooms in order for me to detect a scent...and its a cleaner scent...harder to describe. My Confederate jasmine is covered right now. At night - the fragrance is intoxicating...I just LOVE it!!!
Thanks for the info, Chantell -- doubly glad I'm getting a 'Moonstone'!
I bought a 'Bowl of Beauty' at the Balt. MG plant sale, or I'd be going in on that one with you.
Chantell -- that photo is lovely!
Chantell, thanks for the info. I should go look for a Confederate Jasmine then.
I have never used tomato cases for peonies. Must try it next year. I use support rings like this one: http://i51.tinypic.com/2r3gjk7.jpg, but it is not tall enough.
Happy, I would like to have a Bowl of Beauty if you can spare one. The flowers don't look as heavy as the ones I have. Thank you.
This message was edited Jun 4, 2013 11:32 AM
Chantell, if you want a confederate jasmine, I have a starter plant I will send you but I call mine Star Jasmin, not confederate. They are said to be one and the same here on DG, Here is my star. They bloom all year long and I have one starter left you are welcome to if you want. I Have two stock plants for both Maid of Orleans and Star. I got a star from Logee misnamed Royal and it took me years to realize they made an error. I think I spoke about that on DG several times. I finally gave up and went with my own knowledge. I have had two bad experiences with Logees in the past year....they made them both good, but I think they have grown to be so big, they are lacking in quality control. I am not sure I still have your address so if you want this little baby (it blooms too) send me a dmail with your mailing address and it will be yours. I have not taken cuttings this year because they will not stop blooming. LOL I must do it soon.
Donnerville -- you've got it.
Terp and Critter -- this is edited to include your dmailed orders.
I'm also going to order Peony Eden's Perfume if you'd like one. It's $8.80 each. Chantell and I will each keep one; that leaves one up for dibs (if no one wants it I'll keep it.)
So the updated order is:
Peony Moonstone: 1 each for Critter, Donner, SSG, Chantell, Terp and me -- $8.16 each
Peony Bowl of Beauty: 1 each for Donner, Terp and me -- $6.33 each
Peony Eden's Perfume: 1 each for Chantell, Critter and me -- $8.80 each
Peony Festiva Maxima: 2 for Terp, lots for me - $7.01 each (or maybe a bit less depending on how many I order)
Excelsior: 25 for Critter, 25 for Catbird, and 50 for me -- 6.53 for 25
I've added shipping to me to all the prices above. I can drive bulbs as far north as Critter's/Donner's, as far south as Chantell's, as far east as ssgardener's.
If you want to add anything to my VE order, please let me know -- VE has a $50 minimum order and a $6.95 minimum shipping charge -- those would be the only reasons to add on to my order rather than ordering on your own (they charge 10% for shipping).
I'll place the order later today.
This message was edited Jun 3, 2013 8:56 PM
Devon - you ROCK...thank you!! Such great prices....LOVE it!! Didn't realize you were getting Maxima - you'll have to tell me if it's considerably larger (root) then my puny Walmart one..LOL How about we meet for lunch one weekend and I can pick mine up then?
JB!!!! My friend, how are you!?!??! I've missed you!! You are a sweetheart...do you know that?! Ok...you know I consider you the expert on these things but I have to tell you that - that photo is (to the best of my knowledge) a Star Jasmine as you said but the bloom doesn't look like any of my confederate jasmines. Please see photo #3 below. How do your blooms smell compared to the MOOs?
And my apologies but whoever asked for a cutting of my hardy jasmine (see pic #1 and #2) my apologies but that is a Stephen's Jasmine http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/80118/
Pic #4 is the fragrant Nicotinia that self seeds like a trooper...I LOVE the night jasmine like scent of these.
Chantell -- you're on -- a local mini-swap!
Happy, dmail me your address and maybe I can get the 'sode bags' Chantell left at Jan's swap to you to get to her!
When do you expect your VE order to arrive? Nice choices.
Grrr -- I just got an email from them -- “We will ship your flower bulb order to the shipping address below in time for proper fall planting." I emailed back pointing out that most of the order is peonies, and that I had assumed they'd be sending now. I'll let you know what I hear.
This message was edited Jun 4, 2013 2:56 PM
[quote="Chantell"]
JB!!!! My friend, how are you!?!??! I've missed you!! You are a sweetheart...do you know that?! Ok...you know I consider you the expert on these things but I have to tell you that - that photo is (to the best of my knowledge) a Star Jasmine as you said but the bloom doesn't look like any of my confederate jasmines. Please see photo #3 below. How do your blooms smell compared to the MOOs?
Chantell, I found this thread and in the event you did not see your dmail, here is the link that may clarify my statements about confederate and star being used to describe the Jasmine. I had reservations about that until I saw the DG Plant File. I was not going to question the information on there, so I just accepted it. It confused me, but then I am old and easily confused. LOL
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/search.php?q=star+jasmine&Search=Search+PlantFiles
I call mine the Star Jasmine and it is the Jasmine nitidum for sure. (notice they refer to it as Confederate also) ????????????????
This message was edited Jun 4, 2013 2:33 PM
This message was edited Jun 4, 2013 2:35 PM
Van Engelen peony shoppers (Critter, Donner, SSG, Chantell, Terp): I just got the following email from Van Engelen: "We only ship bulbs in the fall. We do not have any stock now. Our Peony roots are harvested in Holland & we receive them in early-to-mid-October. Do you still want to keep them on your order?" It's ok with me -- are the rest of you ok with that late date? It wasn't what I had expected, and I can cancel any of your orders if you like. Probably best to dmail me to keep the clutter out of this thread.
I thought peonies could be planted up until when the ground was completely frozen. (Oct. is OK with me; if you drop the order I'm good also)
They can -- you just might have wanted to plant them next week or the week after.... and I suppose this means the plants will be smaller next year....
I know it is recommended to dig up Peonies in August. They do not, really, like to be moved...
Wonder that that would also be the recommended time to plant them?
I cannot imagine planting them as late as near frost. The DO have to settle in a bit...
G.
Look what I read! "The best time to plant peonies is in early fall — September and October are ideal. If planted in the spring, they may not bloom for a year or two. Purchase divisions containing 3 to 4 "eyes"; divisions with only one or two eyes normally take 3 to 5 years to flower. Be sure the divisions are free from rot when they are planted. Trim away any soft spots with a sharp knife." http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/hil/hil-8501.html Who knew?
Happy, I divided my peonies in late October several years ago, gave divisions to friends, and replanted mine. They all lived through the winter ok and bloomed the next year. They were all very large divisions though. I am not sure of the size of the roots we will get, but I don't expect them to die if planted in October even if they may not bloom the first year.
I am fine with getting the peonies in October. Thanks.
This message was edited Jun 4, 2013 9:23 PM
Thanks, Donner. They are supposed to be 3-5 eye divisions.
I had several peonies broken from the rain and I cut them and did an arrangement for the house. They are still lovely and that was days ago. Do any of you ever use them in floral arrangements? Your plants are beautiful and they would be outstanding.
Stopped by Lowes (AAAGH!!!) today and picked up 4--4" pots of "Japanese Painted Fern"
for 75 cents each.
They are in pretty shabby shape--but i will nurse them on and, maybe, by the fall Swap
they will have perked up.
There were several pots of these--but most of them did not look like the J.P.F. to me.
The little fronds were a bit curly....and one, definitely, was NOT this fern.
However--they all had the same tag in them.
Also--just FYI---they had a lot of 8" pots of the "Confederate Star jasmine" on a table. $7.88.
The bloom looked just like the one in chantelle's 3rd picture above. It had blooms on it--so I know they looked the same.
And--yes--they were fragrant....
That was the reg price--these were NOT on the clearance....
Next to them were piles of tall, maroon-leafed, perennial, Hibiscus. Bright red blooms...$12.98.
G.
American Meadows is having a sale on some fairly tough plants -- I got an email of a 2-for-1 deal (which for some reason doesn't show on their website -- that ends Friday at midnight) on top of 50% off on some of their plants. I'm a little skeptical of American Meadows, but their reviews aren't awful on DG and the plants I am ordering are fairly tough. Some I haven't grown before -- so I'd especially love your thoughts on those. I've put an asterisk by those I am especially interested in comments about. Would I be making a mistake?
I'm thinking of ordering the following:
Russian Sage (for my awful front hill -- dry and fairly sunny, soil has been amended but isn't great)
***Liatris spicata Violet (for the awful front hill)
***Echinops Veitch's Blue (for the awful front hill)
***Bugbane Atropurpurea (for a shady area in the back)
Ligularia The Rocket (for a shady area in the back)
Brunnera Blue (for a shady area -- I already have some Brunnera there but I'm trying to fill it up)
Ninebark Monlo (shrub for the back -- it is supposed to like sun to part shade -- I'll be putting it in a fairly shady spot)
Comments?
If anyone want to tack on, let me know. Their s/h caps at $16.95, and if I place this order I'll hit that, so I could add your orders for no s/h.
ssgardener: They have Jack Frost on the 2-for-1 which works out to $15 total for 2 plants plus s/h -- I'm not sure that's such a great price, but wanted to draw it to your attention. I'm happy to tack it onto my order to reduce the s/h if you are interested.