13,520 Garden Web Discussions | Perennials
So my advice: If you grow these, be prepared to do a lot of grooming unless of course ugly, spent flowers don't bug you that much.
Isnt there a variety of zinnia that is of course still very floriferous but at the same time requires none or little dead heading?
rouge
I've only been growing zinnias for a few years and only in my Blvd. garden, so I am by no way very knowledgeable as to what is available and characteristics of each. Also, I've only been growing the taller varieties - 2 1/2 - 3+ feet, but I rarely dead head any of mine. I start out with good intentions of doing so, but midway through the season, I just kind of give up. With the ones I grow, the new foliage and blooms seem to cover up most of the spent blooms.
The main thing I didn't like about the Profusions was the fact the old flowers kind of bleached out as they aged and became almost a white-ish color which really stuck out amongst the brilliant orange flowers. With the taller varieties I have grown, as the flowers age, they simply turn dull before they die completely. So something that starts out as a brilliant yellow flowers ages to kind of a dirty yellow flower which isn't nearly as noticeable as something that bleaches out completely.
I realize, I really should dead head regularly, but my plants really don't slow down that much in flower production until late in the season (mid October or so) and by that time I'm tired of them anyway, so I just pull them out. For me zinnias are hot weather flowers and by the time the cooler temps of fall arrive, they just don't seem appropriate any longer, so I'm ready to get rid of them.
I'm still experimenting with colors and varieties, but this was my zinnia garden in 2012. I didn't like what I did this last summer, so I didn't take any photos.
Kevin
Rouge, the 'rudbeckia garden' is of good size and impact, about 30' x 15â wide, I think it's gonna overtake the entire garden and I don't mind a bit lol.
SunnyBorders, I had purchased 'Little Goldstar', though for the irritated life of me, I couldn't find the potted plant, when soon afterward, I gone to plant the thing. It was one of those disappearing mysteries ... until much later, I had found a rotted mushy mess at the bottom of the rain barrel. It had gotten blown off the deck in a strong wind and landed in there, out of site, out of mind, lol. Thanks for posting the photo, I'll be getting another one that will then immediately go in the ground, lol.
Dayscapes, the hydrangea is 'Little Lamb', one can see by the small blooms that the soil is lacking in nutrients and I had forgotten to give it a good layer of compost last spring.
I do not have full sun anywhere, but have afternoon sun in one area. I certainly have seen this Dicentra in full sun and it is worth a try as it blooms forever. Euphorbias can be tricky unless in a pot (which you could try), unless E. Robbiae which will take over your entire garden! when you say full sun, do you mean from early morning until sunset?
also meant to add>>>camassia in front of border is dealing with all that dying foliage after the blooms. Unless under planted with something to cover it. I have had terrible luck with the white double...it NEVER opens all the way and I end up just cutting the stems to the ground. arrrrgh
I donâÂÂt have any âÂÂKryptoniteâ plants, but if I had a larger property, I could definitely have one with roses. I have childhood memories of a few enchanting old rose gardens that propel me in that direction. But I did get the âÂÂfrugalâ gene and I would have a hard time paying unreasonable prices for a plant, even if I really wanted it.
âÂÂAutopilotâ plants, maybe. I automatically look for epimedium, ferns, hellebores, bleeding hearts, tiarellas and I add some every year. I donâÂÂt feel guilty about it though, because I still have plenty of shady spots that need those plants. IâÂÂm starting to be automatic with clematis too. Clematis though, are hard to collect, since you have to have vertical support for them.
I also love trees and if I had a large property, I would be buying a lot of trees and having a wonderful time doing it. Our family had a property that had a 50 year old copper beech on it, it was massive! Loved it.
IâÂÂve added bulbs most years, but now IâÂÂm having to try different kinds because IâÂÂm almost out of room for more daffodils. I tried Leucojum for the first time this year, and excited to see how those will work out in spring.
gb - it was chilly and damp here yesterday but no snow.
'dee - yes, that's the sage on the right side in that picture. The sage is just the ordinary Salvia officinalis that you can pick up dirt-cheap just about anywhere that sells plants. They're very hardy and turn into lovely garden plants. The flowers get ratty-looking as they start to fade so need deadheading: just grab a handful of stems and whack them off at the base - no delicate treatment required!
thyme - yeah, it's been not a stellar fall here for color either. Too warm (especially at night) and too wet after a tough summer. The rain was much needed; after several years of dry falls and almost snowless winters we're finally heading into colder weather with some decent moisture in the ground. Snowless winters are nice in that I don't get stuck in the house so much - but they are very hard on the garden so I'm hoping the damp fall this year may be a sign of a snowier winter to come too....
The dry winters (and summer dry spells) have taken a huge toll on that beautiful Vyvyan Pennell clematis unfortunately. After the wisterias it is/was probably the showiest/most memorable bloomer in the garden here. A The President clematis was also a big star a few feet behind where Vyvyan is. Both are barely hanging on for the last two years! They are in the rain shadow of the roof hangover of the front porch so need supplemental moisture. A snowy winter adds a nice amount of mosture to the soil to start things off - but the soil has been bone dry after the last couple of winters! DH retired a couple of years ago and took over responsibility for watering the stuff on or near the driveway. I think he concentrates on the pots and forgets about the plants in the porch bed and/or does not water them enough. I intend to take over watering the porch bed next year to see if I can revive them before the clematises expire completely!
A history of a beautiful clematis:
Vyvyan near her prime in 2006:
After a hard winter she stopped climbing but still flowered well - 2008:
Tidied up the old stems in early spring 2010 in hopes of reviving her enough to start climbing again - I called this 'the goose' phase:
By June/July it looked like the rejuvenation had worked - she had climbed to the top of the lattice and was producing the summer flush of single flowers:
And then disaster struck! There was an explosion in the snail population. Even though I dusted almost daily with diatomaceous earth, the cursed snails took out all those lovely new stems! :-( And then she's has to cope with a succession of dry winters and long stretches of summer dry spells...
Vyv is still hanging on, producing a few flowers in June but it's so pathetic in comparison to previous years that I haven't taken any pictures since 2010! I hope improved watering in 2014 might help - as long as the snail don't respond with a growth spurt too. We miss the beautiful Vyv, so it's worth another attempt to revive her.
When I first saw the title of this tread I thought it was going to have a sad beat up garden in it. Having everything flattened here by storm Atlas I guess I expect the worst. So what a nice surprise to see the pretty flowers, and read a nice story about clematis history.
My experience of growing culinary sage is it is very easy, and always comes back, but gets kind of rasty and large over time. They are easy from seed, so they are easy to replace. I have grown them in clay and in silty loam, and they like the silty loam more, but so do most things.
I like to see what you have, woody since it is nice to see the possibilities in places where it rains more. I guess the snails are the downside to that. I have a few, but not enough to destroy anything. Thanks for the pretty pictures.
christinmk, I'm wondering if you'd be willing to comment more on your favorite geums and the 15 you've tried. I'm trying to pick a few to trial next year. Some I'm considering: Alabama Slammer, Fireball, Mango Lassi, Mai Tai and Tequila Sunrise. I'd love to hear about your experience with these or any others.
Sounds like a good reason to me to stay out of stores for the next few weeks. Hope that ends up being possible, except checking the Thanksgiving cactus situation of course. I can't shop under such adverse conditions, and will buy no seasonal crud until it's a proper time to do so.
Jujujojo--- I don't understand a word of Chinese but really enjoyed the video of those two excited and vibrant young people exploring a new culture. (I'm guessing that's a travel show/video?) Loved Jason's expressions as he ate --- especially the lobster--- and his eyes rolled back in his head!
Molie
I was reluctant to order too for next year. Seems so far away!
BUT, I know I want to try a few Havana Blues Geranium, one I have never seen in a local nursery. Here even Rozanne tends to be $12-$17 although in a gallon. Also, I purchased a carex from SRG this summer which has done quite well so I am adding a couple more next year in a recently expanded area. Now I just have a few *known elements* to factor into my winter planning. :) I am trying to use sales like this to get away from the one-plant-itis I tend towards.
Plants from SRG I purchased and planted in July have all performed well.
When you have under $30 per month for discretionary spending and have to save that each month so you can splurge --- this 50% sale is great no matter what time of the year it is!!!!
Not complaining mind you. Very glad I have any $$ at all at the end of each month! For people in my shoes, sales like this as well as the Seed Exchange and Winter Sowing forums are just the ticket.
BTW, I am blessed with many acres to fill with these treasures.
My 'Ozawa' are still in full bloom now (Oct.30) which I think is pretty terrific in my zone. Chrysanthemum Hillside/Sheffield, a single apricot pink, is still looking great as well. Physostegia 'Vivid' is just past its best, but continues to exhibit lots of bright purple-pink colour.
As you already mentioned - you probably bought it for some fungal problem. Sulfur is one of the oldest treatments for all sorts of fungal issues - powdery mildew, black spot etc.
I've used it for treating nicks and cuts in various tubers and bulbs just to prevent any fungal issues from arising.
Kevin
sukie...
you need to start your own post...
and list the plants you are talking about ...
if you want some precise answers ...
in my experience.. flopping plants is due to over fertilization ... and i would discuss that in your new post ...
ken
ps: june or july is WAY TOO LATE .... it would be now or april ... before new spring growth starts ....
mxk3 - I really like Daphne x transatlantica 'Summer Ice.'
It's perhaps 6 years old, spent its first winter in the small nursery pot it arrived in because its spot-to-be had some construction going on nearby, has survived munching by voles at least one other winter, and even so is a beautiful though quiet presence here every year for the whole growing season, though a bit homely by the end of winter. With the exception of the witch hazels, it is the first shrub to bloom in my garden and is also the last and blooms the entire time in between, though never profusely. Between the narrowly variegated leaves and the constant bloom it is quite lovely, though not a shrub that announces its presence from a distance like Carol M. Mine (bought online from Avant Gardens in MA) is planted in a mostly shaded bed that has perhaps 3 hours of sun near midday and is composed of well composed manure over fine sand and mulched with wood shavings.
In my experience this is an easy plant that is well worth growing.
Here is a link that might be useful: Daphne x transatlantica 'Summer Ice'
Oh no, it was definitely the daphne I admired - I didn't know what it was so I asked about it and you told me so (whether you told me the cultivar I don't remember, just that it was a daphne).
I looked at Arrowhead's catalog - couple variegated ones there. I'll take a trip out there next spring.
I bought in spring 2012 a Caryopteris Little Miss Sunshine, and it did winter over just fine and really looked nice this year until Storm Atlas flattened it out. Very nice color for fall. It starts out very yellow in the spring, but gets a bit greener as the year wears on. The blue flowers are very nice.
Here's a photo of the 1st path the summer after planting in spring. I might have an updated photo in my picasa, but it's not uploaded yet.
I have surgery tomorrow & need to stay on task today before work. When I'm feeling better in a few days I'll try to find a photo of the other dry river bed with the path across. If I forget email me through GWeb.
Corrine, that looks nice! I can see the white stepping stones in the river bed. That looks like it keeps the weeds down for sure. It's a little shady there, if the hosta is an indication, which would help too. Pretty blue pot!
Oh, so sorry you are having surgery tomorrow. Don't give the 2nd photo another thought, just take care of yourself. I hope it is not major surgery and that your recovery is swift! Nowadays, I think they can do some amazing things with surgery. See you when you are back on the forums. :-)