Garden Conservancy’s Open Days Program

Need some ideas for your garden beds?  A great way to spark your creativity is to visit some of the private gardens that have been graciously opened to the public through the Garden Conservancy’s Open Days Program.   Volunteers at the Conservancy spend the year scouting out exceptional gardens for the program, and then publish the list in their Open Days Directory. You can purchase a copy of the directory for $21.95 (free for Garden Conservancy members).  Many of the gardens are also listed on their website beginning in April.

You do not need to be a member of the Conservancy to attend the self-guided tours and you do not need a reservation.  There is a $5 admission fee if you pay at the garden (free for children under 12), or you can purchase discounted tickets in advance through their website or by calling 1-888-842-2442.

Visit the Garden Conservancy website for more information.

Coreopsis grandiflora ‘Baby Sun’

Botanical Name: Coreopsis grandiflora ‘Baby Sun’
Common Name: Tickseed
Plant Type: Perennial
Light Requirements: Full Sun, Part Sun
Zone: 4-9
Growth Rate: Fast
Height X Spread: 15-20” H x 12“ W
Bloom Time: Late spring through fall
Bloom Description: 2-inch yellow daisy like flowers with orange center
Foliage Description: Bushy upright stems with medium green narrow leaves
Soil: Well drained, neutral pH
Water: Regular, drought tolerant
Tidy: Deadhead for continuous bloom
Fertilizer: 1 small handful of Espoma Flower Tone
Fertilizing cycle: In spring before new growth begins
Special Maintenance: Cut back to the ground in the fall
Divide: Divide clumps every 2-3 years in the spring
Propagation: Sow seeds in a seedbed in mid-spring, root basal cuttings in spring
Pests & Diseases: Aphids, powdery mildew

Notes: Coreopsis is a drought tolerant plant, but it needs regular watering (1 inch a week) in the first season to establish a deep root system.  Coreopsis attracts butterflies and is ideal for cutting.  Do not over fertilize or you’ll end up with a tall floppy plant.  A small handful of general purpose slow acting fertilizer, such as Espoma Flower Tone, in the spring should be enough for the whole season.  If you want the plant to reseed, leave the dried blooms on the plant at the end of the season.  The flower seeds will mature and drop off the plant into the soil.