HHH: I've ordered through Ensata and Iris City Gardens but Aitken's is my favorite (Aitkens Salmon Creek) though their online catalog is missing so many photos.
Patti: my SIL moved two gigantic yuccas. I didn't think it was possible but he did it and they're thriving so I know it can be done.
Visions of Spring '08!
OMG Pirl, I went to Aitkens Salmon Creek and had to put double bibs on!! Will be at the website drooling if you need me.
The photos are very nice at Ensata Gardens, too. So if you can't find the photo for one you like at Aitkens try Ensata. I'll drop you a Dmail on it.
No need for bibs while looking at JI's. Credit cards are much more worthwhile!
Pirl, you evil woman you...lol.
First I have never heard of Ensata Gardens.
Second, not only do they have JI's, they also have Daylilies, and Hosta.
Thirdly, bad bad bad Pirl...lol.
It's like one stop shopping...Naylor Creek who? Oakes who? Klehm's who?
Oh boy...now I have to change a few orders around...I can't pronounce half of the varieties, but I have my eye on about 10...maybe 15 or 20...something like that...lol
Patti, that Golden Sword is very pretty - I may have to check into that one.
That's my nature and some other JI people assist me greatly. I'd like to say I'm sorry I spread the JI infection but they're so lovely, graceful and regal that I can't be truthful if I say I'm sorry.
I love Oakes! I love Klehm's! They all have their place and their mark in my checkbook, too. Add Dutch Gardens for good measure and Caladiums4Less (on a co-op right now).
Pronunciation is an experience with the JI names! I've learned "Beni" means red and Beni Tsubaki is pronounced as one word "beNEETsubaki". Now I hope I've helped!
Ensata: http://www.ensata.com/HTML/GeneralPages/catalog_index.htm
Iris City Gardens: http://www.iriscitygardens.com/japaniris1.html
Aitkens isn't totally ready with the JI's for this year, sorry! I know there's a way to get to their listings but can't remember. More coffee is required.
Patti, the Plant Files says that Golden Sword grows 3'-4' high, and 4'-6' wide.
Oh, and for the person who was checking into yuccas...and I believe someone else eluded to this...where you plant a yucca, make sure you want it there...because after it has become comfortable, you are going to need a backhoe to remove it...lol...
If you have a bed of TBI, Siberian, and Japanese then you can have 4 to 6 weeks of Iris blooms? My wheels are starting to turn! And does anyone have Siberian "Steve"? Love the picture of it.
Oh no! I'm sure I sent it to many people just this past fall. If I find more I'll let you know.
It's so spring like here that I weeded for an hour and it felt so heavenly. More of the same weather (even better) for tomorrow. Joy to the world!
Patti, sorry, I just got home. I would love to let you know which lilacs I like from your lists. And if I can't help, I have Father Fialas lilac book. I can give you all the info on most of them. I assume you meant AA as in Arnold Arboretum, or you have one of the most interesting Alcoholics Anonymous groups going. 6 should be a good start, LOL. I wish I could send you some, but I have not had much success propagating them.
Venu, if you can get the very early bearded iris, like the MDBs, and end up with late JIs, I bet you would get a good three months. My first iris is a bulb, histriodes George, blooming in late March, then I have Jis blooming into late July. Steve is a lovely sib.
Hi Everyone.......this is a wonderful thread, Victor!
I had a peony tree once, may it rest in peace.
I'm putting in a new calla lily bed this Spring. I've already got the calla bulbs ordered from Lakeside Callas....hope it's a good place to order from, my first time with them.
I ordered nine to start out with.
Then, my dh has promised to build me a pergola to connect two of our iris beds. Here is drawing I made to kind of show him what I was thinking of.......(now don't laugh!!!...an aritist I am not!!)
I am also taking out the Iris on the east side of the house, raising the bed using 'country stone' pavers, and then resetting the bed,...all of this after they are done blooming and had a nice rest, of course.
My dh wants to put in a new patio, using 'country stone' pavers, but this project is still undergoing serious negotiations!
As always, I have more daylilies and trumpet lilies coming, so a nice spot will need to be found for them. Tomatoes and Peppers will have to be started and planted, the Canna bulbs planted.....and then we musn't forget the annuals!!
Oh my.....I can hardly wait!!
That looks like it will be very pretty Granny. Are you planning on having a sitting area inside the gardens? What are rusk rolls?
Looks good granny. The sketch gets the point across!
Oh granny, your so lucky your DH is building you a pergola!! DH had said he would build one but got hurt at work. That was 5 years ago on Jan. 2nd. I don't think he'll be building one now as he goes for surgery #5 on friday. Can I borrow your DH? LOL
I love the drawing, it has so much character already and thats just in black and white! Please take pictures of it when it's done, I can already tell it will be beautiful!!!
Good luck again, Celeste!
Everyone has such great ideas. All this warm weather during Jan. is really getting the spring fever revved up. I want to put a few no muss no fuss perennials in the new shrub border and was thinking catmint would be a good blue. Which one do you think would bloom best and give the best color the longest? Also putting in 'Stella d' Oro' DL, mums, earthkind roses and iris.
Victor, I broke down and bought the back porch compost tumbler. It's on wheels so that should be handy for me as I can wheel it to the garden I am filling.
https://www.compostumbler.com/StoreFront/IAFDispatcher
Also, it does not break down once the temps reach below 40 degree's so it would be useless to me from Nov.-March for the most part. I figured this one is small enough and on wheels so I can put it in the basement for the winter months and have compost ready for spring!
Please let us know how happy you are with it!
Hi venu209.........it was suppose to say 'rock walls', but I was in such a hurry the day I drew that sketch, and my dh teases me about it every now and then, so I just left it on there!! In fact, he refers to the whole area there as the 'Quarter Moon Iris Beds' !! The center circle is a daylily bed with a dwarf alberta spruce, and dh calls that the 'full moon'.
(He's a funny guy !....lol.....but I love him and he builds me things !!) I have a cement bench and a wooden backless bench, but can't decide which one to use out there....what do you think?....any suggestions?
Thank you, Victor........my dh got the idea after he saw it and said "yeah, I can do that".
Hey Pixie........hang in there, girl.......our T&P's are with you and your dh....good luck on Friday. I'll pass your nice comments on to my dh.....maybe it will inspire him...lol !!! That's a promise on the photos.
I too am planning a pergola - on top of the deck that must be built first. Too big a job for me. My carpentry skills are limited to toothpicks and splinters.
Grannyh, given a choice between cement and wood, consider how much water exposure it will get. If you have put a proper sealer on your cement, it will stand up to the watering and weather much better than the wood. But then again... maybe I'm bias? I have molded SEVERAL cement benches and have not made any wood! (although I have some wood ones I bought cheap) ~ Pat
Good points Pat, weather really does do a number on wood.
ngam - do you have cats? I can't remember. I had a nice catmint plant but my 3 cats rolled in it and ate it, literally, to death! So I bought another one and, being wiser, now put a wire fence around it in the spring until it's big enough to fend for itself. Then the cats can only lay next to it to nibble. Haven't killed this one yet!
Yes PrimroseSue I have two cats that let me live with them, but they do not go outside. I used to let my cats out but now there are coyotes and a fisher family (giant vicious weasels) around here. I do have 'Walker's Low' in the garden and the cats that occasionally wonder through the yard don't seem very interested in it, at least not so far. It is probably a good idea to protect a new plant though as you suggest, thanks for the idea. :)
We, too, have the coyotes, and fishers, and foxes, and deer. I keep saying I wouldn't be surprised to see a bear walking through my back yard one of these days!
ngam - so many people share your fears about letting cats out. My daughter always let her cat out but it stayed in the fenced in yard, being a much older cat. Now it rests beneath a handmade stone in a corner of the yard. There are so many crazies out there just waiting to keep people and their cats far from one another that I think I'd be a wreck to let a cat roam free but two of our neighbors do it without any hesitation.
Thanks for enlightening me on the "rusk rolls" granny. I thought I was out of the loop on something again. I'd put a vote in for the cement seat also. It just doesn't deteriorate like wood does.
ngam, I might have some nepeta for the asking this spring. It's a very quick grower and adds a nice gray/blue accent to the garden. I don't like the smell of the foliage however. But since it's a very low maintenance plant, it's not often I have to get my nose that close.
The recycled plastic is looking better and better. That's what I will use for my deck and pergola.
Cats should be kept ins for many reasons - their safety, ticks, they kill many birds, etc.
I worked today on one of my planned projects which had to do with clearing some of the bramble on the edge of the yard. I have another day at least, plus I am going to start to tackle that old veggie bed. Starting to check my list off. yippee!
Going back to yucca moving, no problem. But count on them growing back where you think you moved them from. Kind of like horseradish. I hope my golden one is not that big. egad!
Victor, what will you plant on your pergola and how big is this deck? I need the vision thing. I have used the composite decking materials on several jobs in FL, Me, Ma, NY and the are all holding up well and looks good. The one in Fl has changed colors the most, but still looks good. No real savings over better decking woods, except that it won't need replacing and is a good recycled use, but they do need cleaning to prevent mildew in some environments. Make sure your carpenter guy know how to lay them, as it is structurally a little different than wood.
Victor, Will you be able to see your beautiful pond from it? After seeing those pictures, I am now hoping that I can get a thread leaf Japanese maple for the end of my new endless stream. I am reading about them now. I actually have one that where given to me and I would love to move it, but it has been in its site for 16 years. Any ideas about moving one? It is small, 4' maybe. Patti
Patti
The deck will be pretty large and low to the ground. I'm trying to avoid handrails if I can. Irregular shape. A very rough guess is 15 x 20 maybe. Haven't thought about the pergola much yet, but I will grow something up it.
Yes, I will definitely design it so I can see the pond. The deck will go close to the stones that are around the pond.
4 feet is still pretty small. I would move it. I would do it before it breaks dormancy. Just get as much of the root ball as possible.
Boy, I'm gone for a week and it's taking forever to keep up with all of you!
Victor, I can't remember, what were your questions about tree peonies? I had one growing in Maine (Z4a) and dug it up and moved it to VA with me to plant next to Rick's. Funny story, when a friend and I went to a nursery to choose what we wanted, I chose the darker purple red and she chose the light pink. Somehow in the back of her truck they got mixed up (no tags) and when they bloomed we realized that we had switched them! LOL Odd thing is when I brought my light pink one to VA to plant next to Rick's, he had the darker one I had wanted in the first place! We've actually seen a few small seedlings show up in the garden but they're not large enough yet to flower - so time will tell which one we get!
Someone mention Yucca? Love 'Color Glory'! Haven't seen it bloom yet - this will be its third year in the gardens and I can't wait! Have two others to plant this year - 'Bright Edge' which doesn't look much different and 'Sapphire Blue' which hopefully will be a nice companion for the bright variegation of 'Color Glory'. One of the things I really like about CG is the pink/red hue it takes on over the winter (I think I have a picture of it from last January - found it!).
PrimroseSue - I'm from Bangor! Maybe I know some of your DH's family? Just returned from a trip there - they sure have lots of snow!
Debbie - just wanted to know if anyone grew it successfully. I tried one and it died, but as I said, I think it received too much sun and exposure to wind.
Just curious, did you plant a bare root, or a potted Tree Peony? Ours are actually in full sun until mid summer when the Paperbark Maple finally offers a little afternoon shade and I guess they are protected from the wind as they're planted in the border in front of the house.
I think it was bare root - it's been 5 or 6 years now.
Bare root are tough, i.e. difficult, unless they're planted in the fall. If you ever find the opportunity to buy a potted plant, try it again, they're much easier. We picked up a beautiful yellow Tree Peony two years ago at a mid summer clearance while traveling in Michigan - a steal at $10!! The only fault I have with Tree Peonies is that their blooms don't last very long, but they're still worth it.
Very pretty! I like the foliage too. I did plant mine in the fall.
Just looking through my Fairweather catalog. Tree peonies are expensive - due to the slow propagation times. From $60 to $90 for 1 1/2 gal plants! And that's before shipping. Some are gorgeous though - and fragrant. They have a real dark burgundy one that is stunning.
ouch... sounds nice though