Wallaby-saw in a previous post you mentioning your greenhouse-would love to see photos-I have tried to look up everything you have posted!!!! love your yard so-dont worry-I am a 55 year old woman in Glendale Arizona-you are safe!!
Thanks
Pam
By special request.
I have 3 greenhouses, only 8' x 6', and they are all stuffed full, so much that as I'm taking plants out I fill them up again. They have all suffered some broken panes with wind damage, or an apple blowing into one, but they still give good protection. You will only see heaps of plants!
This is one taken 21st June 05, I would normally have taken the Arisaema out but it was a very cold summer so it stayed in. Behind that you can see a Dracunculis vulgaris.
The pot area is overflowing around the greenhouses, these are Washingtonia filifera I grew from seed. They have been outside this winter and I 'hope' to have them in the ground this year. Two of the greenhouses are in view. Look back at the view of the back garden over the hosta bed, you can see the other one there.
I have been a lurker for ages ,and just love everything (Joyous -your home is delightful)
What specially strikes me is how much we are all alike in our thinking .We have all come from the same people I think -(just forgetting Historical politics ! )From Britain to North America ,Australia and New Zealand .So that when I sew patchwork for instance ,I think of all the women in our respective countries doing the same ... When I see everyone's picket fences ,and vegetables ,fruit and flowers happily growing together ,I feel 'home'.
Picket fences are so special ,but I couldn't have one here ,so I made a picket gate ! Over the top I have jasmine -wonderful to walk through .
Emelle.
Emelle, my dh made all the pickets for the fences and even for the railing of our porch. He tends to spoil me. Sure wish I could have jasmine growing over mine. Saw/smelled a huge hedge of jasmine once in Florida it circled a pool made in the shape of FL. Never have forgotten the scent of that hedge!
Wallaby1 I love how full your ghs are.......mine is cold and dark but hopefully I can start it up again in about 1 month. The temp in it right now is 14*F and 9*F outside so it would take way more fuel to heat it than I can afford. Have thought of a way to extend it next season by putting foam insulation on the side walls and bubble wrap on the inside of the roof. We will see, so often my ideas are way bigger than my energy or $$. We are in the first stages of a big winter storm that may bring us 15-25 inches of snow by tomorrow night. We live about 50 miles south of the big lake effect storms that have brought up to 146 inches of snow in the last 10 days. Don't miss that at all but it sure would be good cover for the plants, probably till about July!
Joyous, stay warm and safe!!
"When I see everyone's picket fences ,and vegetables ,fruit and flowers happily growing together ,I feel 'home'." Beautifully said, Emelle!!!
Joyous I think I am lucky then, our lowest temp. got down to -7C in my neighbour's greenhouse, probably -9C outside, or 16F. That is a rarity, we have had a few frosts to -5 or -6C and the hard one has knocked back my outside fuchsias which were actually growing new shoots and buds, and had still got most of their leaves. That is also an unknown, but now I guess they will just grow from the base as usual. A lot of tender plants were in growth still in the GH until that hard frost. Your temps are just a little too low for may plants, good luck with the ideas!
In the end greenhouse I have a grape vine, it had plenty on last year and I had some beautiful queen wasps to share them with me. They are fairly small and sweet, but have too many pips, but can be crushed to make great fresh juice.
Emelle, nice looking picket gate, can't grow jasmine outside here, too cold.
You folks in the east are getting the snow and cold that we had all of Jan. Now that it is mid-Feb. we are finally losing a lot of the snow, and begins to feel like spring is coming.'
I planted seeds yesterday, in the gh.
Donna
Wallaby1 your grapes look like some that are from here called Himrod. They are a green grape. We live in the heart of wine country in the Finger Lakes of NYS and have vineyards all around us and at least a dozen wineries with in 5 miles of us. Grapes/wine are really big here. We love the fresh concord juice that some of the wineries produce.
I am surprised at your low temps! But you are able to grow dahlia's in the ground and not dig them up in the fall, that would be a great plus. Our son just came in from shoveling 18 inches of snow off our roof he was sweating and it is still only 10*F outside. He still has much snow blowing to do so I have warmed him with some hot chocolate and toast!
Donna we certainly are getting a good dose!
Time to clean the birdfeeders off yet again.
Joy
I still have the label that came with the vine, one of those names that you can only find someone else asking if anyone else has heard about it! Vroege van der Laan, it sounds Dutch, I just googled and found a lot of mention now but most in Holland and Belgium. It's too cold to grow grapes outside well here, it does seem strange that your area grows them, but your summers are probably more reliable. There are some vinyards here, Lincoln has one somewhere belonging to the Castle but I can't find anything about it. I did find a 'tour' of Lincoln, continue to other pages at the bottom, the last has the only Roman Arch in Britain which has traffic going under it.
http://www.lincoln.gov.uk/tourism_det.asp?id=5498
That's a lot of snow weight on the roof, I guess it would be dangerous to leave it on?
Here is one of my beautiful Queen wasps, there was two and they both make a quick escape when I came, but this one got used to me. It had very unusual markings.
Wallaby1 I think I see 2 of you Queen wasps in the picture. Are they beneficial? Looks like an interesting site you posted. Here is a site about the wineries around our lake we are located a little more than half way down the left side of the lake. This map only shows the wineries around one of the many Finger Lakes. Our area also has a large Mennonite population quite a contrast between the two.
http://www.senecalakewine.com/jc/content/view/25/49/
The roof clearing is because of a problem between the addition and old house. Ice can build up and cause some leaks inside and this is just done in one area. Actually the snow is very light I just spent about 45 minutes snow blowing and the only problem was it was almost to deep for the blower.
Thanks for the information about your area, I will enjoy looking around on the site.
This is an amazing thread. Thank you so much Wallaby for sharing so much information, history, and your lovely gardens. :)
Joyous, we're in the same zone. I have a true jasmine thriving outside that I discovered searching through vendor web sites from the plant files. Lazy S Farms ( http://www.lazyssfarm.com/Plants/Vines/vines.htm ) has a jasmine clone, jasminum x stephanense http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/80118 , Stephan's Jasmine, that is usually rated for zone 7 or above. They say their clone is hardy to zone 5. I can tell you mine is planted next to one of the supports on my front porch, and in its first season has grown six feet. It still has nice green leaves on it, and we've hit -8 F.
I think they're right on the mark with its hardiness.
Mine hasn't bloomed yet, but it supposedly has many fragrant pink blooms.
-Joe
Joyous, the other one is a huge hairy fly of some sort, last year I never saw so many different flies. There are horses nearby but there always has been, it must have been the heat. Towards the end they came in force so I left the rest of the grapes to them.
joegee I have a Jasminium x Stephanense in a pot, it's been there for years and it hasn't flowered, but has lived. I think I left it outside this winter, it might be a good idea if I planted it if I can find a spot so it can grow some more!
These Delphiniums have been around for a few years and have crossed and self set, most of those at the back are new crosses. The bank behind is where the Anemone blanda grow earlier, I will post a pic of the Lespedeza which covers the area next.
The Lespedeza thunbergii can be seen starting to grow in the last pic, I leave the previous years stems on the plant as they curl and look attractive, besides they support the new growth the following year. I take out 2 year old stems each spring.
Taken 1st October 06.
The delphiniums are glorious!! I'm not familiar with the Lespedeza thunbergii, but it is just lovely!!
Lespedeza is not seen around much, it should be, it is great tumbling down a bank. The flowers are pea-like. The ends of the stems make loads of flowers and go flat, they grow quite long, I often have to bend them back off the path. The stems look great with snow on!
I forgot to mention about wasps, I have read they eat bad bugs, so many people think they are a nuisance and try to kill them, they need to be educated.
Charming! I will definitely look into it. Thanks, Wallaby!
Murmur, I have Lespedeza, located on east end of house, has been there about 12 years and is doing well. Gets quite large by bloom time. I usually cut it back to about 10 inches above ground in late fall after hard frost. Is very pretty in bloom.
Donna
Thanks for that info, Donna - I am really intrigued by the plant! Such fun to think about something I've never grown before (or even heard of).
what a treat to find this thread.....so many ideas I can't even fathom being this original!!!
Duh, I think that was a compliment bettygail? Originality is a thing that creeps up from behind when you least expect it, so be prepared!
The bed with the Delphiniums, I have a mature Phormium Evening Glow on the bottom edge with ground cover and purple paddle slates surrounding it. Ophiopogon planiscarpus nigrescens is planted in cut holes and has spread, I have had to 'release' some from under the cloth but now I let them go, they go to the edges, seeds drop and set. I have dug up several which have been in pots for about 3 years now, I will have to get them planted in the ground, I have a place in mind with a new bed.
I love the way the Phormium echoes the rose tones of the blooms behind and the burgundy of the foliages. Do you have a close up of the Ophiopogon?
Originality is a wonderful trait in a garden/gardener! Give yourself a pat on the back:)
Joe I have that jasmine in my to have file for plants in 2007, right now we are digging out of the blizzard from yesterday about 20" of snow. Most snow in quite a while. I have a micro climate between house and garage they form a 'U' shape facing south. I think just the spot for this plant.
Now I have been teased by Wallaby1 and am curious about Phormium Evening Glow. Must do some digging on the net! Must also check out the Lespedeza.
I have a pic taken a few years ago when they were still only a few, but it's a good one showing the flowers. I have another taken in late March last year showing a few berries still on, not the best of pics but shows the growth habit.
This is a digi of a photo
Lovely pic! The slate compliments the planting beautifully. I was just eying Ophiopogon in a catalog a couple of days ago- stunning accent plant.
It's a great plant, it never looks shabby, it increases well by runners and seeds, who could say it is an invasive? It takes a little while to get going, each plant will flower in about 2 years from a runner, then sends out another 2 or so runners. Mine is growing into the bed at the back of it, I have taken out those which grew on the grass edge.
They make tubers at the end on long roots, so you have to be careful when lifting them.
Last year they still had some berries in late March, the season was late so there's still leaves etc around not cleaned up in the pic. I noticed one germinating the other day when having a clean around the area. The seeds do germinate easily if left out, those covered by leaves or found their way to another part of the garden, but not many grow this way. It doesn't seem worth the effort to grow them from seed when they make runners. I can 'put you some in' Neal!
Oh goodie! That would be wonderful! That last pic is striking, they look metallic.
I wish phormium was hardy here but isn't, I have tried a couple of times. Even brought one into the bonsai storage room for over winter, but they get pretty big for that.
Murmur if I can locate a good photo of Lespedeza I will send it along.
DonnaS
Is Lespedeza easily started from seed or cuttings?
I got mine as a plug plant from a company that sold them cheap, but I haven't tried from cuttings, I imagine it would work. I haven't noticed seeds on mine, but have had a couple of self set somethings that look like it but with larger leaves, I pulled one out when clearing the rose bed and realised later what it was. I think they could be late germinators of an unknown species of the pea family Indigofera I grew a few years ago, I often recycle the compost.
Donna yours is huge! Some Phormiums don't get as big, I have Jester in a large pot next to the back door with drooping leaves, it seems happy but I often think it may need a larger pot. There are some dwarf ones with upright leaves you could try.
You can see Phormium Jester behind the Ensete maurelli, which is in the garage, alive thankfully so far but got frozen. I was going to bring it inside, but look at the size! A frost got it early on, one of those harder than they forecast, and it took several frosts to -5C outside the garage but I moved it into the garage, the centre is growing a little. I can't lose that!
Phormiums (flax) are native to NZ ,and I couldn't be with out them in my garden as they have such beautiful texture and subtle colours .Our winters are not cold and they live happily outside all year .Looking at everyone's photos again I have this warm fuzzy that we all love the same plants and style of growing them
The photo is of spring - flax (phormium) with choiysa ,primulas and daisies .
Emelle.
Gorgeous Emelle! Is the Choiysa the taller plant in the background with white blooms? I also see what looks to be a little purple iris, but one I don't recognize; is that correct? Those blue daisies are lovely too.
I think you are right Emelle, but I guess we all get what is commercially available in the main part, those plants which look good and perform well. Except when we get to the point of fulfilment on those, then we do what I am doing, go for the unobtainable!
Your blue daisies would be Brachycome? It's grown as an annual here.
I have Choisya ternata, it is hardy here but I'm not sure if it would take your cold Neal. They have a lovely strong scent, and can grow quite large. Mine got blown sideways with the strong winds but is OK. It's an evergreen.
The white flowers at the bottom are Viburnum plicatum Mariesii which is now dead after last summer, such a shame it was so pretty!
Your garden is so delightful ,Wallaby -I have been following it .(love the 'self-somethings')..I always wondered why my cottage garden looked 'skimpy' ,then it dawned on me one day ,that I needed foliage as a base .Your garden is a perfect example of giving a garden strength .Your choiysa is gorgeous .My photo shows a new garden area -it has filled out now 6 months later .The purple flowers are spring bulb ' babiana'The blue daisy is 'Felicia' which flowers all summer if you cut it back after each flowering .and is dormant in winter.I also like to have knifophia 'little maid 'it is in a clump by the flax.
Emelle
Janet, that last pic is enchanting! Makes me long to sit right there and drink in the beauty and fragrance. Seeing the Choisya closer, it puts me in mind of jasmine. What a shame about the Viburnum; was it the heat last summer that did it in?
The problem of ground cover will sort itself as plants set themselves around, and others fill out. I find some pleasant surprises when some plants set themselves in the best of places. It is surprising how quickly a new bed fills out, the best is yet to come!
I have thought of trying Babiana but I'm not sure if it would live outside here, and as I am growing so many species Gladiolus I thought I should draw the line somewhere. Looking at yours I may change my mind! They do look like a dwarf Iris from a distance, do you know which species they are?
I bought a shrubby Felicia once by mail order, it looked half dead when I got it, then it was dead! I should try it from seed, they are so pretty.
The area behind the Phormium I have some Aquilegias which have crossed and self set, also Commelina dianthifolia which self sets and some crossed pansies helping to make a little extra colour. The ground is now well covered and always has something flowering until winter.
Babiana is special! Lets face it Janet, we're no good at drawing lines, lol.
Do you have a pic of the Commelina dianthifolia? I've wintersown the seeds you sent, and keeping my fingers crossed.
My post took a long time, Neal I'm not sure if the heat finished it off, it was very hot and very dry and I think it probably needed water, although it's root system was huge. I planted it first then made the bed around it, it took a couple of years to establish and used to droop when it was dry, I was always watering it then but as an established shrub I would have thought it would be OK. There was a stem which died back the year before which I had cut off, the rest was a good new stem so I was surprised. Viburnums are subject to a disease just for Viburnums I think, so that may have been it.
I have put a Magnolia sieboldii in it's place, the area behind I have had to revamp too as some things were getting too big.
This was in late May 05.
Commelina dianthifolia, yes, but the colour is a rich gentian blue which is difficult to capture.
That does seem odd for an established shrub. I've seen other woodies behave that way, losing a limb or two, then completely dying. I've seen this in dogwoods with borers.
How big is your Magnolia sieboldii? Mine was planted in spring of '05 from a 1gallon pot and is now 4-5' high now.
I'm very fond of those double-file viburnums, and yours was particularly beautiful. I love how in all your pics there is something peeking from behind that will steal the show as the season progresses. Is that a tall lily I see behind the viburnum?