13,520 Garden Web Discussions | Perennials

Did you uncurl the leaves to see what is at the center? Hybiscus attracts insects that curl the leaves and build a nest there.

The plant was having yellow leaves before I repotted it. And the leaves aren't curled tightly, they're just "cupped". No insects in there. I've even looked with my magnifying glass. Keep those suggestions coming though!

lilsprout that is a good idea except the temps will probably be another 10 degrees higher when I return and not sure how the plants would take it.

Southerngardening24, I got
3 of : Monarda didyma Balmy Purple
ÃÂ 3 of : Monarda didyma Coral Reef
ÃÂ 3 of : Monarda didyma Gardenview Scarlet
ÃÂ 3 of : Monarda didyma Jacob Cline
ÃÂ 3 of : Monarda didyma Raspberry Wine

I had a red clump in my old yard that a friend gave me, don't know the name but I loved it. I love their smell and appearance. Hopefully they will do well and I don't mind if they want to spread themselves out in my yard :-) I've gotten better at ripping out unwanted seedlings rather than being the boarder I used to be!

Amna
PS I REALLY do not need to know about any other sales , really :-)

Hmm.... Well, thank you everyone for your input! I really appreciate it. It does look, however, like there's not much I can do about it. My yard is full of large oak trees, so I don't think it's possible to get rid of the aphids completely if they are up in the trees. Kinda gross to think that they are dropping this stuff all over my yard, my cars, and even me, I guess, when I'm out there working, lol!

I'm guessing this won't hurt the plants, although I still wonder why its not on any of the other hostas. Maybe the thick blue leaves show it more than the others...

Thanks again!
Dee

one of the most active forums is the hosta forum ...

the blue glaucous coating on hosta.. is a surface wax ... and such wax can be insulted by many things ..

and stuff that might wash off a non-waxy leaf... gets caught in the wax ...and the leaf is stained for the season ... as the plant can not repair the wax ..

it is cosmetic.. it is not a hosta disease ...

ken

Not sure which is more lovely, the fungus itself or the name.... I thnk the name is worse. I've seen this before (often in bright orange) and while not the most pleasant thing to look at, I've seen worse. That name though.... ugh....

Dee

Thanks Ruth. That was my first thought when I saw it (eww looks like the dogs puked), but I knew it couldn't be as it was in the unfenced garden.

Kevin you are too funny! "Cool" was the furthest thing from my mind lol

This post was edited by lilsprout on Sat, Jul 12, 14 at 21:14

Stella, first one looks like squash or pumpkin. Second one bok choy. Fourth one watermelon. Last one cucumber.

Stella, third one, spinach that has bolted (gone to seed).

Aren't they fun to look at? I love them. I let them seed themselves in my garden, so each year I will find them in different forms at different spots. They are so cheerful I don't care if some might think they clash with their neighbors:

I usually grow about 6 different kinds but never got around to sowing my seeds this winter. Luckily I have some reseeders. LOVE them! No photos though, sorry!

Dee

What's the soil like in this bed? Is it heavier with some clay, or looser with some silt or sand? That could be a clue if it is rot or lack of nutrients. I have some plants that yellow in my loose fast draining soil if it rains a lot here. then I hit them with a dose of iron chelate and they green back up. If a plant is rotting at the roots then more fertilizer won't necessarily hurt, but the plant has no way to take it up so it could be all for naught. But it is the new growth that shows the yellowing. I would hold back on the water for this one if you can. Maybe it is closer to the head of the lawn sprinkler head and so gets more water than the others? Just an idea. My shastas are just starting.

And please, do NOT fertilize a potentially sick plant. It doesn't help and may make the situation worse. Fertilizer is not a magic cure. It really isn't.

Kevin

I plant perennials, shrubs, etc. for the express purpose of attracting and sustaining pollinators so don't concern myself with passing them while they're busy on the plants as I walk through the garden. They ignore or bump into me but I've yet to be stung. After observing them these past 8+ years, I know they just don't have time to concern themselves with anything other than the flowers. I finally stopped cutting the bloom scapes off my many hostas after seeing how busy they were on them.

Thuja 'Rheingold' might be small enough to work there.

I'd also think about adding a smaller to midsized hard prune clematis near enough to the 'Bloomerang' lilac that can crawl up into it. If you time it right it might fill one of the spaces when the lilac isn't reblooming, or you could time it to bloom with the reblooming for a mixed bouquet effect.

I hope you'll post pictures when it blooms...would love to see them.

In a way it makes me shutter (abnormal growth), but on the flowering side, it's fantastic!

Pam - I'm sure there must be some less expensive places down there - any avid gardeners in your neighbourhood who could tell you where they are? That's how I heard about Northland years ago. How much space do you have there? Niagara is an attractive area to consider moving to - but I worry about water quality given the relatively high use of agricultural chemicals on fruit trees and grape vines. Are you on a well? If so, did you test for water quality? I'd do that before buying any property there. I really like the little town of Jordan. If we ever considered Niagara as a place to live, that's probably where I'd start looking.

Woody, I drool whenever I go to Jordan. Jordan Station is where you can see the salmon jumping around. It's a gorgeous area. We're way down in Fort Erie just across from Buffalo. I had the water tested (for drinking) and it passed with flying colours..

Yes I'll certainly try and make the effort to look at the local greenhouses. I know they're also suppliers for a lot of S. Ont nurseries so it only makes sense. I should be doing nothing but drinking wine, eating peaches and growing vast amounts of flowers...

I'd just put them right back in. I think we usually plant daffs in the fall because that is when they are available here to plant. If I was receive some in a trade, I'd plant them anytime as soon as I received them.

Linda

i would also just stick them right back in ...

every time i dug them up myself by mistake.. if i put them right back in ... they were there in spring ...

if i dried them out.. and put them in a potato sacks in the garage... i found them years later ... lol.. too many times ..

frankly... they are planted in fall.. because they are sold in fall ... you probably could NOT find one now to buy.. if your life depended on it ... of course.. they sell them in fall.. because that is a better planting time.. but its not that imperative... IMHO ...

if you consider it from the producer side... they wanted to dig them while there was still dried greenery on them.. so they would know where to dig ... and they just dried them.. and stored them for fall sale with tulips and all the other bulbs... and.. its much easier to transport dried bulbs ... in big volumes... i am sure we have all found a rotted onion in a sack ... perhaps that onion didnt dry properly ... for storage in a big warehouse ...

either way.. i dont think its that big a deal ...

ken

Coral Reef acts the same as Cecily's Raspberry Wine here. Bees still visit the spent flowers after the petals fall, so usually don't deadhead, and doesn't seem to slow down blooming. Consider it optional & the spent heads are still decorative. Finches love the seeds & I love watching their swaying sideways antics, so no seedlings in the several years it's been here. Looks like yours is sending up new buds, Sparky. Remember the variety? Totally agree with LOTS of water even in this muggy climate, to sidestep mildew & stimulate growth & flowering.

get rid of the crabgrass .. MIs july harvest.. lol .. i am in adrian ...

i am hoping there is not landscape fabric under the mulch ... which might mean a watering issue

snip off flowers.. and see what happens ...

sometime new plants.. dont quite perform to standard... but there is always next year ... as it looks happy enough ....

straight down pic are tough ... how tall is it??? are the new green shoots significantly outgrowing the old part of the plant... that might indicate its finally getting ESTABLISHED ... as you know.. we had a very extended cold spring in MI .. i have plants that were 4 to 6 weeks late .... and perhaps.. on some level.. yours is also behind the normal curve ...

it otherwise looks happy.. just keep it properly watered in july/august ...

ken