Gardener's Notebook

Don’t forget the Mistletoe

2011-12-16T17:15:00.000-05:00

Last year, as I was taking down my Christmas decorations, I realized I had forgotten to hang mistletoe over my doorway. As a matter of fact, I don’t remember seeing mistletoe in any of the homes I visited during the Christmas season.

If you do some research, you’ll find that since ancient times mistletoe has been considered to be a magical plant with mystical powers. The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe has been around since the 16th century. Through the years, the reason for the kiss has changed. Some felt it was an important ritual that would bring fertility to a newly married couple. It was also thought to bring peace between a feuding husband and wife. At one point, the idea was that if an unmarried couple kissed under the mistletoe, it would be considered a promise to marry.

I guess in the year 2011 we no longer believe that kissing under a piece of greenery is going to bring any kind of change to our lives. But, it does seem like a shame to let such a lovely tradition disappear. So, while you’re out shopping for your Christmas tree, holly, ivy, and poinsettias…don’t forget the mistletoe.

Can I Prune a Knock Out Rose In The Fall?

2011-10-27T17:02:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, I stopped by my neighbor’s house. As soon as she saw me she said “I know I’m not supposed to prune this Knock Out Rose in the fall, but it looks so bushy that I just have to neaten it up for the winter”. When I got home, I opened my GardenScribe to see what I had written about pruning. Sure enough, my notes said to prune in late winter or early spring. But admittedly, I also had been thinking about pruning my two Knock Outs so they wouldn’t be damaged by snow during the winter.

I decided to see what the experts have to say about fall pruning, and this is what I found. The vast majority of advice agrees that you should prune your Knock Out in late winter when the plant is still dormant. You can remove dead or diseased branches anytime. Additional pruning in late spring and early summer to encourage blooms is fine too.

But, I still wondered if I would do my Knock Out's harm with a fall pruning.

The answer is that it’s ok to remove tall large canes that may snap during a winter storm. But keep pruning to a minimum since pruned canes may dieback during the winter.

It’s Time to Combat Lawn Grubs

2011-09-02T07:22:00.000-04:00

September is a great time to take care of lawn maintenance. If your lawn has been showing signs of severe grub damage, now is the time to take action.

Beetles lay their eggs in late June and early July. Those eggs hatch about 2 weeks later into grubs which feed on the roots of your grass throughout August. It's now, in September, that the grubs are closest to the top of the soil, which is why this is the best time to eliminate them.

Look for products like "Bayer Advanced 24 Hour Grub Killer Plus" in your local garden center and follow the manufacturer instructions.

To learn more about the life cycle of grubs, check out this Cornell University article at http://nysipm.cornell.edu/PUBLICATIONS/grubs/life.asp

GardenScribe Plant Organizer Video

2011-06-08T13:57:00.001-04:00

Check out our new GardenScribe Plant Organizer video.

Top Rated Sustainable Roses

2011-04-15T14:26:00.000-04:00

Due to New York City pesticide laws, the staff at the New York Botanical Garden made the decision to replace hundreds of high maintenance roses with earth friendly varieties. Since 2007, NYBG’s garden curator, Peter Kukielski, has eliminated hundreds of roses and replaced them with hardier varieties, transforming the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden into a “sustainable” rose garden. Using a rating system created by Kukielski, staff and volunteers rate each new rose. To see a list of the top performers, visit the NYBG website at http://www.nybg.org/. Click on “Gardens & Plants”, then “The Collection”, and then “Rose Garden”.

Unfortunately, many of the new roses planted at the NYBG may be difficult, if not impossible, to find at your local nursery. So your next question will be “Then why did you bother to tell us about them if we can’t buy them?”. Well, if we tell our nursery retailers that we love roses, but don’t want to fill our gardens with plants that require pesticides, they will hopefully see the light and start to carry some of the roses mentioned on the NYBG list.

In the meantime, if you’re interested in adding hardy roses to your garden, look for varieties that have received the Earth-Kind® designation.

Scotts Miracle-Gro Offers Garden Grants

2011-03-07T09:18:00.009-05:00

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company has launched a program called GRO1000 which awards each community recipient $1500 to create gardens and green spaces in their local area. The company’s goal is to plant 1,000 gardens and green spaces across the U.S., Canada and Europe by 2018.

Communities interested in pursuing “2011 GRO1000” grassroots grants can apply online by March 31, 2011 at http://thescottsmiraclegrocompany.com/GRO1000 . Projects should include the involvement of neighborhood residents and foster a sense of community spirit.

Martha Stewart’s Great Finds

2011-02-04T13:37:00.000-05:00

We're pleased to announce that the GardenScribe Plant Organizer has been included in the "Great Finds" section of the March 2011 issue of Martha Stewart Living. Look for us on page 38. Martha's chosen 50 great gardening products to showcase in this Special Gardening Issue, and we're proud to be among them. Thank you Martha!

While you're enjoying the issue, be sure to take a peek at the Cinnamon-Streusel Coffee Cake recipe on page 78. Yum !!!

Birdbaths That Birds Really Love!

2011-01-20T10:39:00.001-05:00

For many years I had a terra cotta bird bath in my yard. It looked very pretty as far as garden structures go. Unfortunately, the birds didn’t seem interested in using it. The only attention it got was from wandering cats that would frequently knock the top off in their attempts to drink the water. I was never really sure why the birds didn’t use it, but I assumed that they were just afraid of the cats. Eventually the bird bath broke beyond repair and my husband took me out east (that’s eastern Long Island, NY) to shop for a new one.

I chose the heavy two piece granite bird bath that you see pictured above. My thought at the time was to get something heavy enough to prevent the cats from knocking it over. I placed it in exactly the same spot as the previous birdbath and within a few days the birds were all over it! I’ve counted as many as 10 birds in the bath with many more perched in the branches of my Rhododendron waiting for a turn. We still have stray cats, but the birds don’t seem to mind. I can only guess that they are attracted the natural look and feel of granite.

So, if you’re not having any luck with your birdbath, try one made of natural stone.

Plant Profile: Japanese Painted Fern

2011-01-06T09:46:00.028-05:00

Botanical Name: Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum'
Common Name: Japanese Painted Fern
Plant Type: Perennial
Light Requirements: Full or Part Shade
Special Attributes: Deer resistant
Zone: 5-8
Growth Rate: Moderate
Height X Spread: 15" H x 18" W
Bloom Time: Does not bloom
Bloom Description: Does not bloom
Foliage Description: Grayish-green silvery leaves with burgundy stems
Soil: Neutral to acidic, moist, well-drained, sandy
Water: Regular
Prune: None
Tidy: None
Fertilizer: Shredded leaves and rich compost
Fertilizing cycle: Spring
Special Maintenance: Cut back old fronds after spring growth begins
Propagation: Spring or Fall division or from spores
Pests & Diseases: Slugs and snails

Notes: This low maintenance perennial is happy in the shade, but requires a little bit of sunlight for the most vibrant frond color. Morning sun is best. Regular watering is fine provided the location is naturally moist. Otherwise, more frequent watering would be required. It’s an excellent choice as either an accent or border plant near ponds or streams and contrasts nicely with hostas.

Christmas Cactus

2010-12-01T15:39:00.027-05:00

Botanical Name: Schlumbergera bridgessii
Common Name: Christmas Cactus
Plant Type: Perennial
Light Requirements: Part Sun – bright light but not direct sunlight
Zone: 10
Growth Rate: Moderate
Height X Spread: 1’ H x 1‘ W
Bloom Time: Based on light, temperature and water regulation
Bloom Description: Tubular pink, purple, orange, red, or cream
Foliage Description: Green flattened leaves, scallop-edged margins
Soil: Rich, well drained
Water: Regular, water when top half is dry, water less in winter
Tidy: Pinch off at joints to encourage more branching
Fertilizer: Balanced (10-10-10) liquid houseplant fertilizer
Fertilizing cycle: Spring - at first sign of new growth
Special Maintenance: Control environment to encourage blooms
Propagation: Cuttings of flat-joined stems inserted into vermiculite
Pests & Diseases: Flower drop from too much or little water, or radical change in environment

Notes: Christmas Cactus is a winter-flowering houseplant native to the Brazilian rain forests. Even though it’s called a cactus, it’s not a desert cactus and will scorch in direct sunlight. It’s available in a wide variety of colors including red, purple, orange, pink, fuschia, and cream. In general, it’s an easy to care for plant. However, it does require three things to bloom: long nights, cool temperatures, and limited watering.

To encourage a Christmas bloom, start controlling your plant’s environment about 6 weeks before Christmas by placing it in a dark closet overnight (for about 14 hours). During the day, keep it in a cool 50-55 degree room in indirect light. Reduce watering during this 6 week period so that the plant is on the dry side. Once you see buds start to form, resume regular watering. To keep your Christmas Cactus happy, give it some humidity by placing a cup of water nearby. Or, fill a waterproof tray with pebbles, and add water to the tray about half way up the pebbles. Then, place your plant on top of the pebble tray.

Christmas Cactus is sometimes confused with Thanksgiving Cactus (Schlumbergera truncata) and Easter Cactus (Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri) which have slightly different leaf and bloom characteristics.

Crape Myrtle for Outstanding Fall Color

2010-10-28T15:02:00.000-04:00

In June 2008 I planted a semi-dwarf Crape Myrtle in my front yard with the intention of adding some summer color to my otherwise mostly green landscape. I was taking a bit of a chance since I live in the Northeast and wasn’t really sure how well this plant, typically seen in the south, would do in my area.

So far it’s been a great success. During the summer months of July and August it was in full bloom with large hot pink flowers. But, the real show started about a week ago when the leaves turned bright yellow and orange.

If you’re looking for a shrub or small tree with outstanding fall color, try Hopi Crape Myrtle - Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei 'Hopi'.

Italian Garden at Planting Fields Arboretum

2010-09-27T16:54:00.001-04:00

Well I finally made time to visit the newly restored Italian Garden at Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay New York and it was well worth it.

The quarter-acre garden has been under renovation for eight years and was finally re-opened this past spring.

They’ve done a wonderful job. I sat on a bench under a shade tree, closed my eyes, and listened to the mesmerizing sound of the fountains. After I snapped myself back to reality, I took a stroll around the perimeter and then made a pass around the pool. Even in late September there are quite a few blooming plants. I plan to make a return trip in a few weeks to see the fall color and get ideas for my own garden. This time I'll bring lunch!

Art Exhibit at the BayShore-Brightwaters Library

2010-08-31T08:19:00.006-04:00

If you’re going to be in Suffolk County New York this September, stop in at the BayShore-Brightwaters Public Library to view the work of fine artist Schery Markee Sullivan. The exhibit will include the “Mother and Child”, “Downtown”, “Floral” and “Abstract” groups and will be on display for the entire month of September. Contact the library for directions and library hours.

BayShore-Brightwaters Public Library
1 South Country Road
Brightwaters, New York 11718
631 665 4350

About the Artist:
Schery Markee Sullivan began her formal training studying with abstract painter Robert Kaupelis at NYU. Her watercolors are defined by a dynamic expression of color, line and vibrant energy. Ranging in scope from elegant florals to intricate mask collages, to abstracts and primitive creature pieces or powerful figurative paintings, the work is a diverse spectrum of creative force. Read more…

Identifying Weeds

2010-08-18T17:01:00.000-04:00

Most of us can spot a weed in our garden. But, sometimes a new plant will pop up that you’re fairly certain you didn’t put there. Is it a weed? Or, is it an ornamental that was dropped in your garden courtesy of Mother Nature.

Last spring I had a bunch of "weeds" pop up. I started to pull them out but stopped when I realized that they were a little more attractive than the average weed. My neighbor (who has a beautiful garden) just happened to be passing by. She told me they were Snapdragons. Then it hit me. I planted a Snapdragon last year, which in my area is an annual. I pulled it out at the end of the season. But apparently it had set seed.

So, next time you’re weeding and come across a plant that you’re not sure about, look it up on one of the following sites that help with weed identification.

Iowa State Weed Science
National Gardening Association Weed Library
The Organic Weed Management Website
Virginia Tech Weed Identification Guide
University of California Weed Photo Gallery

Hibiscus syriacus

2010-07-27T17:51:00.000-04:00

Botanical Name: Hibiscus syriacus
Common Name: Rose-of-Sharon, Shrub Althea
Plant Type: Shrub or Tree
Light Requirements: Full Sun, Part Shade
Special Attributes: Deciduous
Zone: 5-9
Growth Rate: Slow to Moderate
Height X Spread: 8-12’ H x 4-10’ W
Bloom Time: June - September
Bloom Description: Red, Pink, White or Purple Flowers
Foliage Description: Dark green ovate leaves, 2-4 inches in length
Soil: Average, Acid, Well Drained
Water: Regular (moderately drought tolerant)
Tidy: Pick off leaves that show signs of leaf spot
Fertilizer: Acid
Fertilizing cycle: Spring
Propagation: Cuttings
Pests & Diseases: Leaf spot, cankers, rust, aphids, spider mites

Notes: Rose-of-Sharon is an easy to grow upright flowering shrub in the Malvaceae family. It’s a slow grower that can reach up to 12 feet in height. There are approximately 220 cultivars that bloom in many colors, but the ones most commonly seen at your local nursery have a flower color that is red, pink, white or purple. Flowers stay open for one day and then close at night. Blooms form on new growth so pruning and shaping can be done at any time, however the best time to prune is in late winter or early spring. Rose-of-Sharon can tolerate a hard pruning. Frequent hard pruning results in fewer, but larger, blooms. Infrequent pruning results in many smaller blooms. Rose-of-Sharon can also be shaped into a small specimen tree.

Heuchera “Can Can”

2010-03-15T13:16:00.025-04:00

Botanical Name: Heuchera "Can Can"

Common Name: Coral Bells "Can Can"
Plant Type: Perennial
Light Requirements: Full Sun, Part Sun, Full Shade
Zone: 4 - 9
Growth Rate: Moderate
Height X Spread: 12" H x 12" W
Bloom Time: May - June
Bloom Description: Bright pink flowers
Foliage Description: Redish purple curley edged leaves
Soil: Average or Moist, well-drained, neutral pH
Water: Regular
Tidy: Remove faded flower spikes
Fertilizer: All Purpose
Fertilizing cycle: First sign of spring growth
Special Maintenance: Divide in March-April
Propagation: Division
Pests & Diseases: Black Vine Weevil

Notes: This plant is a great choice if you want to add a little color to a shade garden. Heuchera will grow in moist soil, but doesn’t like to sit in water so make sure the soil is well-drained. It will grow in full sun, but prefers a little shade during the hottest part of the day. The foliage may discolor or die back during very hot spells in full sun. It stays low to the ground so it can be placed in the front of the garden bed. Heuchera is an easy to grow, low maintenance plant.

How to Design an Environmentally Friendly Garden

2010-03-11T14:41:00.002-05:00

Over the years, more and more homeowners are becoming aware of the fact that when designing their garden, there is the environment that they also need to take into consideration. Rather than designing the layout of the garden with only aesthetics in mind, it is a good idea to also consider sustainability. As a result, you can make sure that you not only have a beautiful but an eco-friendly garden as well. Read the full article.

This article was contributed by Emma Spivey – SolarWaterFountains.org

Hydrangea quercifolia ''Snowflake''

2010-03-02T15:18:00.006-05:00

Botanical Name: Hydrangea quercifolia "Snowflake"

Common Name: "Snowflake" Oakleaf Hydrangea

Plant Type: Shrub
Light Requirements: Part Sun, Part Shade
Special Attributes: Deciduous
Zone: 5-9
Growth Rate: Moderate
Height X Spread: 8’ H x 6’ W
Bloom Time: Early summer through fall
Bloom Description: Creamy white 15 inch dense panicles of double flowers occurring on old wood
Foliage Description: Dark green oak-like leaves with a coarse texture. Leaves become shades of purple in fall.
Soil: Moist, Well Drained, Acid
Water: Average
Tidy: Prune after flowering to maintain size. Prune out weak or damaged stems in early spring.
Fertilizer: Acid
Fertilizing cycle: Twice yearly – once in early spring, again after flowering in summer
Special Maintenance: In zone 5 plant in sheltered location and protect in winter.
Propagation: Take softwood cuttings in early summer, hardwood cuttings in winter.
Pests & Diseases: No serious problems. Occasional leaf blight or aphids.

Notes: The Oakleaf hydrangea is one of the few hydrangeas native to the United States. This large deciduous shrub is great in borders or as a focal point. It is a low maintenance plant that needs little pruning and does well in sun or shade. Although they can tolerate more sun than the typical Hydrangea, plant in an area with some afternoon shade for the best results. The irregular peeling bark on the stems provides winter interest.

2010 Horticultural Events - Northwest Region

2010-03-01T16:53:00.001-05:00

Boise Flower & Garden Show
Boise, Idaho
March 26-28
208-343-8649

Sand & Stone Raking Workshop
Portland, Oregon
March 28
503-223-1321

Early Bloomers Plant Sale
Seattle, Washington
April 10
206-325-4510

Washington Native Plant Society Sale
Bellevue, Washington
May 8
425-452-2750

2010 Horticultural Events - West Coast Region

2010-03-01T16:48:00.001-05:00

San Francisco Flower & Garden Show
San Mateo, California
March 24-28
415-684-7278

California State Flower & Garden Show
Sacramento, California
April 8-11
877-696-6668

Growning Proteas in Bay Area Gardens
San Francisco, California
April 24
415-661-1316

Spring Plant Sale & Garden Tours
Occidental, California
April 10-11
707-874-1557

2010 Horticultural Events - South West Region

2010-03-01T16:45:00.001-05:00

New Leaf Plant Sale
Tucson, Arizona
March 27
520-326-9686

Cactus & Succulent Show & Sale
Phoenix, Arizona
April 16-18
480-941-1225

National Public Gardens Day
Albuquerque, New Mexico
May 7
505-848-7112

Spring Bulb Show & Competition
Salt Lake City, Utah
April 17-18
801-585-0556

2010-03-01T16:43:00.001-05:00

Arbor Day Tree Giveaway
St. Louis, Missouri
April 2
314-577-5100

Tulip Time Festival
Topeka, Kansas
April 10 – 26
785-368-2437

Spring Plant Sale & Gardening Festival
Austin, Texas
April 10-11
512-232-0100

Garden Symposium
Monroe, Louisiana
April 19-20
318-387-5281

2010 Horticultural Events - North Central Region

2010-03-01T16:41:00.001-05:00

Cincinnati Flower Show
Symmes Township, Ohio
April 17-25
513-872-5194

Basics of Composting
Chicago, Illinois
April 24
312-746-5100

Spring Fever Mini-Symposium
Madrid, Iowa
April 17
515-795-3216

Ann Arbor Orchid Festival
Ann Arbor, Michigan
April 17-18
734-647-7600

2010 Horticultural Events - Southeast Region

2010-03-01T16:37:00.001-05:00

Savannah Tour of Homes & Gardens
Savannah, Georgia
March 25-28
912-234-8054

Orchid/Bromeliad Expo & Sale
April 3-4
Davie, Florida
954-473-2955

Flower & Garden Expo
St. Augustine, Florida
April 17-18
904-829-3295

21st Century Plants from Grandmother’s Garden
Belmont, North Carolina
April 17
704-829-1252

2010 Horticultural Events - Mid-Atlantic Region

2010-03-01T16:33:00.001-05:00

Camellia Society Show & Sale
Wheaton, Maryland
March 27
301-962-1400

Virginia Daffodil Society Show
Richmond, Virginia
April 3 – 4
804-262-9887

Wildflower Celebration
Greenville, Delaware
April 25
302-239-4224

Rare Plants & Garden Ornaments
Monkton, Maryland
May 1
410-557-9570

2010 Horticultural Events - North East Region

2010-03-01T16:32:00.000-05:00

Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens Spring Festival
Buffalo, New York
March 20 – April 11
716-827-1584

Boston Flower & Garden Show
Boston, Massachusetts
March 24-28
617-933-4900

Early Spring Specimens
Bristol, Rhode Island
March 28
401-253-2707

Connecticut Horticultural Society Spring Plant Auction & Sale
Vernon, Connecticut
April 30
860-529-8713

Emily Dickinson’s Garden
Bronx, New York - New York Botanical Garden
May 1 – June 13
718-817-8700

2010 King County Master Gardener Plant Sale & Learning Fair

2010-02-16T18:12:00.002-05:00

If you live in the Seattle area you may want to attend the Master Gardener Plant Sale and Learning Fair. It’s being held at the Center for Urban Horticulture on May 1-2.

Plant Sale – edibles and ornamentals marketplace
Ten-Minute “show and tell” demonstrations
Bring-a-Plant-Problem diagnosis
Personal shoppers and advice from 100 Master Gardeners
Garden art
Children's activities
Preview Party on April 30 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. ($35 fee)

Visit their website for more details.

2010 Mississippi Garden Shows

2010-02-11T13:50:00.001-05:00

If you live in the Mississippi area you may want to attend one of these garden & patio shows.

Biloxi
February 26-28
MS Coast Coliseum

Hattiesburg
March 12-14
Lake Terrace Convention Center

Jackson
March 19-21
MS Trade Mart

Visit the Mississippi Nursery & Landscape Association website for details on admission hours, price and directions.

Protect Your Shrubs From Winter Damage

2010-02-10T10:05:00.004-05:00

This week in New York we had a major storm that dropped about 16 inches of snow in our area. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the light and fluffy kind. It was the wet heavy kind that has the potential to damage plants. The following photo shows my Arborvitae which are bent over under the weight of the snow.

I’ve read that you shouldn’t try to remove the snow because you might break the branches. I don’t agree. I use a soft broom to gently shake the snow off the branches. If you’re careful, you won’t cause any damage. I do the same thing for most of my shrubs. I’ve never had a branch break while removing the snow. The worst that happens during the shaking process is that I end up with a lot of snow down my jacket and in my boots.

Don’t Forget To Fill Your Bird Feeder

2010-02-06T14:55:00.005-05:00

Last summer I installed a bird feeder in my garden with the hope that the birds would eat the bugs that munch on my plants. I’m not really sure if the birds are eating the bugs. They are, however, eating a ton of bird seed. My husband and I decided to keep the feeder going throughout the winter. Here’s a shot of a male Cardinal taking a short break from his feeding frenzy.

Plant Profile: Liriope Muscari Variegata

2010-02-05T16:21:00.002-05:00

Botanical Name: Liriope Muscari Variegata
Common Name: Lily Turf
Plant Type: Perennial
Light Requirements: Full Sun to Full Shade
Special Attributes: Drought Tolerant, Low Maintenance
Zone: 5-10
Growth Rate: Average
Height X Spread: 12" H x 18" W
Bloom Time: August - September
Bloom Description: Purple stems with spikes of violet flowers. Dark purple berries in autumn.
Foliage Description: Dense clumps of linear dark green leaves edged with white.
Soil: Well drained, average to acidic soil
Water: Regular
Tidy: Shear in early spring
Fertilizer: All Purpose
Fertilizing cycle: Early Spring and Mid Summer
Divide: In spring
Propagation: Spreads naturally by rhizomes. In spring, sow seed in containers outdoors or divide plants.
Pests & Diseases: Anthracnose, leaf spot, root rot, and slugs

Notes: Liriope is an easy to grow, low maintenance plant that works well as an edging plant or ground cover. It tolerates a wide range of light and soil conditions and also tolerates heat, humidity and drought making it a great choice for any garden.

2010 Carolina Home & Garden Show

2010-01-21T16:35:00.000-05:00

The Home Builders Association of Greater Columbia (HBAGC) presents the 44th Annual Carolina Classic Home & Garden Show at the SC State Fairgrounds Friday, March 12 through Sunday, March 14, 2010. This is the largest home and garden exhibition in the Midlands with over 300 construction, home improvement, and outdoor products exhibits. Educational seminars are free with your admission. Visit their website for more information.

Plant Profile: Stachys byzantina

2010-01-19T16:28:00.019-05:00

Botanical Name: Stachys byzantina
Common Name: Lamb’s Ear, Wooly betony
Plant Type: Perennial
Light Requirements: Full Sun (afternoon shade in very hot climates)
Special Attributes: Drought tolerant

Zone: 4-7

Growth Rate: Spreads quickly

Height X Spread: 12” H x 24” W

Bloom Time: Early Summer

Bloom Description: Pink/Purple flowers (rarely flowers)

Foliage Description: Oblong elliptic wooley gray-green leaves

Soil: Moist well drained soil is best but will survive in average to dry soil

Water: Regular

Tidy: Clean out dead foliage regularly

Fertilizer: Balanced slow-release fertilizer

Fertilizing cycle: Spring at first sign of growth

Divide: In spring

Propagation: Division of the root mass; often self-seeds

Notes: Lamb's ear is a low growing, mat-forming perennial in the mint family that is grown for its velvety white wooly leaves, rather than its flowers. The leaves are 2-4 inches long. Flower spikes appear in early summer and are 12-18 inches high. It is often used as edging in garden design. There are approximately 300 species of Stachys.

Historic Garden Week in Virginia

2010-01-14T16:02:00.003-05:00

Historic Garden Week is the oldest and largest statewide house and garden tour event in the nation and is sponsored by The Garden Club of Virginia. Billed as “America’s Largest Open House”, the 2010 event takes place from April 17th through April 25th. Attendees will have the opportunity to visit more that 250 of Virginia’s most beautiful gardens, homes and historic landmarks. Beginning in February 2010, a guidebook will be available to provide descriptions of houses and gardens included in the event.

For more information about tickets, tour highlights and garden schedules visit the event website.

What's In a Name: The Binomial System of Names

2010-01-10T17:30:00.002-05:00

Did you ever wonder how a plant gets its scientific name? If you have, then you’ll enjoy reading the Master Gardener Foundation’s discussion of Plant Names. This well written and easy to understand article explains the Binomial System of Names, why we have it, and how it works.

I recently came across this site while I was researching one of the plants in my garden, Timeless Rose. I knew the botanical name was Rosa x JACecond, but it wasn’t until I read this article that I learned that the small ‘x’ between the genus and species name means that this is a hybrid rose.

This article is a great way to get your feet wet in the area of plant names before going on to some of the more complicated references.

Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival

2010-01-08T11:07:00.001-05:00

Enjoy gardens, flowers, topiaries, educational events and live music at the 2010 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. It takes place from March 3rd through May 16th at Epcot Center in Orlando Florida. Festival highlights include:

Community Garden – Disney character topiaries.
Herbs and Vegetables Home Grown – Learn how to conserve water wisely.
Green Garden – Use native plants and recycle.
Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden – Topiary garden designed for children ages 2-5.
Minnie’s Magnificent Butterfly Garden – Colorful foliage and free-flying butterflies.

Visit the Walt Disney World events site for more information.

Philadelphia International Flower Show

2010-01-01T14:30:00.006-05:00

The 2010 Philadelphia International Flower Show will take place on February 28th through March 7th at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Attractions include:

150 FREE gardening presentations
Educational displays
Full-scale garden and floral exhibits
Gardening products
Culinary Demonstrations
International Wine and Spirits Garden
International Dessert and Coffee Bar
Daily Live Performances by Brazilian singers and Bollywood dancers

Visit the show website for detailed information on tickets, location and hours.

This is an amazing show. Don’t miss it!

Plant Profile: Aegopodium podagraria 'Variegatum'

2009-12-18T18:03:00.000-05:00

Botanical Name: Aegopodium podagraria 'Variegatum'

Common Name: bishop’s weed, gout weed

Plant Type: perennial

Zone: 4-8

Growth Rate: average

Light Requirements: full shade, part shade

Special Attributes: invasive, ground cover

Height x Spread: 12” x 12” (indefinite spread at a moderate rate)

Bloom Time: May-June
Bloom Description: tiny white flowers
Foliage Description: light green and white ovate leaves
Soil: average, well drained
Water: regular (water well in summer)
Tidy: shear to remove unsightly leaves and promote new growth
Fertilizer: none
Diseases: Leaf Blight in hot and humid summer climates

Notes: Easy to grow in dry to medium well-drained soil in part sun or shade. Foliage will often scorch in hot, dry, full sun conditions. Spreads by underground stems (rhizomes) and can be aggressive.

Identifying Poisonous Plants

2009-12-01T14:15:00.004-05:00

It goes without saying that it’s a good idea to know if your plants are poisonous to humans or animals. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to find one database or resource that gives a complete list of all the poisonous plants in the United States. Here are few sites that you can visit if you’re trying to determine if your plants are toxic:

Cornell University’s Plants Poisonous to Livestock Database
US Army Guide to Poisonous and Toxic Plants
Texas A&M University’s Poisonous Plants Publication

With the Christmas season approaching, it’s a good time to remind ourselves that some of the plants we use to decorate our homes can be harmful to pets. Mistletoe and Holly are two that can be moderately to severely toxic. I always thought that Poinsettia was poisonous, but according the Cornell site it’s not very toxic at all. Still, it’s a good idea to keep it out of the reach of pets and children.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Plants Database

2009-11-10T17:24:00.001-05:00

A great source of plant information is the Plants Database available on-line through the United States Department of Agriculture website. This is definitely the place to go if you want to know everything from plant classification (i.e. Kingdom, Subkingdom, Division etc.) to foliage color.

When you go to the site you’ll find a Search area located at the top left side of the page. Type a plant name in the Name Search field and select a search type (Common Name, Scientific Name, Symbol). The Symbol is a unique name created by the USDA for use within the database. The naming convention is a little complicated so if you want to search by Symbol, first take a look at the Plants Tutorial. If you’re not entirely sure how to spell a plant name or if your search isn’t turning up any results try using the wildcard character (*) in your search (e.g. chrysanth* will return all database records for chrysanthemum). You can also do a state search which helps narrow down the results.

It takes a little practice to learn how to navigate this site, but once you get the hang of it you’ll find a lot of useful information. Here’s an example to help get you started:

Type “liriope muscari” in the Name Search field.
Select the search type Scientific Name.
Press the Go button

A list of plant names will display. You can sort the columns alphabetically by clicking on the column titles (Symbol, Scientific Name, Common Name). This comes in handy when your search returns a long list of plants.

Now click on the entry for “Liriope muscari”. This is where you’ll see specific detail for the plant. On the right side of the screen you’ll see a link for Characteristics. Click on it to drill down even deeper into the database details. Use the information here to fill out your GardenScribe Plant Detail pages.

While you’re on this site, explore some of the interesting sections on the sidebar like “Invasive and Noxious Weeds” and “Threatened & Endangered”.

You won’t find every plant from your garden in the Plants Database. As a matter of fact it’s not really intended for common garden plants. It has mostly native and naturalized plants. But, since many of us have started to garden using native plants, I thought this would be a useful research source. Plus, they have a great list of internet links to help direct you to other plant information sources.

Whatch-a-ma-call-it

2009-10-13T10:40:00.001-04:00

Probably the most important thing you can know about a plant is…the name. I guess that seems like an obvious statement. But, I can’t count the number of times people have walked through my garden and said “Hey…that’s really pretty…what’s it called”, and I say “Um…I can’t remember”. I’ve heard other gardeners say the same thing so I guess it’s a fairly common problem.

My memory definitely seems to be getting worse, but maybe the real reason I can’t remember the names of all of my plants is that I just have too many (at which point all of you gardeners out there should say “bite your tongue…you can never have too many plants”).

I guess it’s not that important to keep the plant name in your head. But, it’s really important to have it written down somewhere because at some point you’re going to want to learn more about the plant so you know how to take care of it, and without the name, you’re sunk. So, before you throw out the plant tag or nursery pot, be sure to write down the name on a GardenScribe Plant Detail page.

As you research your plant, some of the sources that you’ll use will be organized by botanical name and some by common name, so it’s helpful to know both. If you’d like to learn how to pronounce the botanical name, FineGardening.com has a tool that actually speaks the Latin name for you. How cool is that! Just go to the Fine Gardening Pronunciation Guide for Plants and select a Plant Name. You’ll hear a nice lady speak the name.

I think I spent at least 10 minutes selecting different names just to hear the weird pronunciations. While you’re at the Fine Gardening website take a look around. The site has a lot of great features.

Our new blog is Live!

2009-09-22T15:04:00.002-04:00

Welcome to the official blog of GardenScribe.com.