Gardening – NANCY WITH THE LAUGHING FACE

May 20, 2023

Bridging the Mid-Spring Flower Gap

As the colorful display of early spring bulbs fades away for yet another year, many gardens fall into a mid-spring flower gap – that pause before the summer perennials and tender annuals really get the party going!

The following are some dependable early perennials I grow in my own gardens that get me through the mid-spring flower gap and beyond with color, fragrance and form:

CREEPING PHLOX

A classic spring perennial here in New England, creeping phlox blooms prodigiously for several weeks beginning in May and is a sight to behold when planted en masse as a garden edge or along rock walls. If I had to choose one plant to carry my gardens through to early summer, creeping phlox would be it!

SNOW-IN-SUMMER

My mother grew Snow-in-Summer in her garden, so for me this plant has pleasant associations that bring me back to my childhood. Although Snow-in-Summer is an absolute stunner when covered with snowy white blooms in May, it continues to please all season long with soft, silver-blue foliage.

IRIS

Iris are typically thought of as June perennials, but many are early bloomers that add subtle fragrance and bold, sword-like foliage to our garden beds. In the photo above, this bright yellow variety never disappoints when it blooms with the lilacs!

BASKET-OF-GOLD ALYSSUM

Golden alyssum looks best when planted in rock garden crevices or spilling over walls with other May bloomers. A stellar companion for all shades of creeping phlox!

Jack Frost Brunnera looks lovely all season – Photo by Nancy Marie Allen

Lungwort sports silver-speckled foliage – Photo courtesy Pixabay

BRUNNERA AND LUNGWORT

I place these two plants together because they have a similar look to their foliage and flowers although the Brunnera is a larger plant and more sun-tolerant. Both have silvery foliage and tiny, sparkling blue flowers that resemble forget-me-nots. In my opinion, Brunnera and Lungwort light up a shady spring garden like nothing else!

Geranium Macrorrhizum – Photo by Nancy Marie Allen

EARLY HARDY GERANIUM

Hardy Geranium Macrorrhizum is a May bloomer with bright magenta flowers that rise on dainty stems above the rounded leaves. As a bonus, fall sometimes brings shades of crimson to the foliage. This particular geranium makes an excellent groundcover as it slowly spreads to fill in any spaces. Hardy geraniums are perfect companions for cottage gardens!

SWEET WOODRUFF

Delicate-looking Sweet Woodruff is an excellent ground cover to grow under trees where it sparkles in the dappled shade. This plant will spread via runners to quickly fill shady areas as long as there is adequate moisture. Lovely for naturalizing in woodland gardens!

SOLOMON’S SEAL

I know I sing the praises of this plant on a regular basis, but Solomon’s Seal is hard to beat for versatility in the garden! Tall and highly ornamental with its artistic splashes of white, variegated Solomon’s Seal will quickly form impressive colonies. I find that it grows equally well in full sun to full shade, and even dry shade. Charming, fragrant bell flowers dangle along the stems in spring and you can look forward to golden foliage and berries in the fall!

Pink Bleeding Heart – Photo by Nancy Marie Allen

OLD-FASHIONED BLEEDING HEART

This large, almost shrub-like plant, makes a powerful floral display in May but then magically melts away once temperatures heat up. Because of the ephemeral nature of Bleeding Heart, be sure to plant them next to summer perennials such as ferns or hostas which will easily fill those vacant spaces come summer.

All of the above plants are deer and rabbit resistant and hardy in my Zone 6 New England garden. The Iris, Basket-of-Gold Alyssum and Snow-in-Summer prefer full sun locations while the Solomon’s Seal, Creeping Phlox, Geranium and Old-Fashioned Bleeding Heart tolerate both sun and part shade. The best plants for shady gardens are the Brunnera, Lungwort and Sweet Woodruff.

May 29, 2021

Stalwarts of the Late Spring Garden

After the early bulbs and perennials of spring have bloomed and faded, many of us experience a garden pause before the June bloomers begin their show.

If you find that you need more color to bridge the gap from spring to summer in your garden, here are a few plants that will easily tie the seasons together!

OLD-FASHIONED BLEEDING HEART

Dicentra Spectabilis, commonly known as Bleeding Heart, is easily the best perennial for blooms that go from early May into June and sometimes beyond. You most often see these plants in the classic pink or white but there are new varieties now available including some with red flowers and golden or fern-like foliage.

In my gardens, bleeding heart begins its show along with the daffodils and continues well into peony season without missing a beat! Bleeding Heart prefers some afternoon shade and is cold hardy to Zone 3.

BRUNNERA

Also known as Siberian Bugloss or False Forget-Me-Not, Brunnera is an early spring bloomer here in New England. Although the delicate blue flowers tend to fade as June rolls around, these plants easily carry on through summer with their stunning silvery foliage.

Brunnera positively shines in the shade garden, blending well with Hostas, Solomon’s Seal and Astilbes amongst others. Brunnera is cold hardy to Zone 3.

HARDY GERANIUM

Bigroot Geranium or Geranium Macrorrhizum is the first of my hardy geraniums to bloom, typically in mid to late May. The bright magenta flowers rise above the foliage on delicate looking stems but there is nothing delicate about these plants. Tough, reliable and drought-tolerant, Geranium Macrorrhizum forms an attractive mound, slowly spreading by rhizomes which make it an invaluable groundcover for sun to part shade.

Trim back the flower stems after blooming and the attractive foliage will look fresh all summer, sometimes turning red in the fall. This very hardy geranium is cold tolerant to Zone 3.

CLEMATIS

Clematis are often thought of as fussy plants but they’re actually very easy to grow in a sunny garden. They come in an amazing array of colors, flower forms, and heights from short to tall, and bloom times stagger throughout the growing season. Taller clematis will need some kind of support for their climbing vines while shorter ones can be allowed to ramble playfully around and through other plants.

If you love clematis, try an early blooming variety to get the show going. Guernsey Cream clematis is one that blooms for me in mid-May with creamy white blooms. Most clematis are hardy to Zone 4 but check to make sure the variety you choose is one that will grow in your area.

IRIS

Many Iris are June bloomers but there are a few early varieties that will make your May garden pop with color. If you’re partial to these beautiful plants and have the space, you can easily stagger the flower show for several weeks.

Iris are sun lovers and hardy to Zone 3. In the photo above, an unknown yellow bearded variety gifted by a neighbor blooms along with the lilacs!

Solomon’s Seal (Photo by Nancy Marie Allen)

VARIEGATED SOLOMON’S SEAL

Variegated Solomon’s Seal brings fragrant blooms and a touch of sparkling white to the late spring garden. The wild form naturally grows here at the edges of the forest, but the variegated fragrant variety (Polygonatum Odoratum Variegatum) is one I have grown in my gardens for years.

The remarkable thing about Solomon’s Seal is that it’s a plant at home in full sun to full shade. Yes, that’s right, the plants shown above grow in full sun in one of the hottest areas of my yard which is a testament to its toughness and versatility. In my shaded gardens, this same Solomon’s Seal grows in great swaths, the white variegation lighting up the shadows.

The tiny white bell-shaped blooms which hang along the stems in spring become dark berries in summer and the foliage turns a soft gold in the fall. This is a perennial that truly spans the seasons!

Plant Variegated Solomon’s Seal where it will have plenty of room to grow for these plants love to spread themselves around. Winner of the 2013 Perennial Plant of the Year Award and hardy to Zone 3.

ALLIUMS

The impressive globes of Alliums add drama and texture to our late spring gardens like nothing else! Many grow from bulbs although a few grow from rhizomes such as our common chives. Again, there are early, mid and late varieties to choose from along with a huge size range from ground-hugging to towering. Alliums love a full sun location and are hardy to Zone 4.

All of the above plants are deer and rabbit resistant in my Zone 6 New England gardens.

September 19, 2020

Choosing the Right Pot for Your Plant

With so many styles of pots to choose from these days, you may be wondering what type is best. In today’s blog, we’ll discuss the benefits of different pots and how to let your plants help you decide on their perfect home!

TERRA COTTA

If I had to choose one ideal all-purpose planter, it would be the classic terra cotta or “baked earth” flower pot. These russet colored clay pots create a healthy home for plants because they’re naturally porous. This means that air and moisture can easily pass through the clay creating a more natural and “breathable” environment for plants. Terra cotta also darkens when the potting soil is moist and then lightens as the soil dries out, thus making a good indicator for when it’s time to water!

Photo courtesy of Bartlomiej Koc on Pixabay

Terra cotta dates back to ancient times when it was used for making everyday vessels, building materials and art sculptures, so when we use terra cotta flower pots, we’re also connecting with history!

Although some consider these common pots to be strictly utilitarian, I adore their natural good looks and collect them for use indoors and out. They age beautifully, developing a darker patina, variations in color and even moss over time.

Photo courtesy of PublicDomainPictures on Pixabay

Almost all plants will thrive in terra cotta pots but SUCCULENTS, CACTI, PALMS, SNAKE PLANTS and POTHOS especially benefit from terra cotta’s ability to dry quickly by allowing excess moisture to escape through its porous walls. If you tend to overwater, terra cotta pots may help save your plants!

CERAMIC

Ceramic or glazed pots appeal to the artist in all of us because of their endless variety of colors and designs. They are basically clay pots which have been glazed with a decorative coating that makes them non-porous. Because of this, ceramic pots take longer to dry out between waterings, making them especially useful for outdoor summer planters or moisture-loving houseplants. In the photo above, baby succulents appreciate the extra moisture in these small ceramic pots.

Photo by Nancy Marie Allen of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

Large, colorful ceramic pots are particularly stunning when they complement or contrast with outdoor plantings and garden art such as in the grouping above. Houseplants that enjoy the even moisture ceramic provides include FERNS, MOSSES, PEACE LILIES, AFRICAN VIOLETS and BEGONIAS. If you often forget to water your plants, then ceramic pots may be your best choice.

PLASTIC

Plastic flower pots have come a long way in recent years with many now designed to look like their heavier and more costly cousins. As you can see in the photo, the large plastic planter on my front stoop looks just like terra cotta when filled with plants.

The main virtue of plastic is that it’s very lightweight so even large-sized planters can be moved around with ease. It’s also relatively inexpensive, neatly stackable for storage, recyclable, and you can’t beat the convenience of small plastic pots for starting plants indoors.

Photo courtesy of Bobana Kovacevic on Pixabay

Plastic pots are extremely versatile and can be used with a variety of plants, both indoors and out. Most of the houseplants we purchase in stores and garden centers come in the standard plastic nursery pots we’re all familiar with. Although these are usually the least attractive choice for your table or windowsill, they’re easy to hide inside a décor-friendly cachepot!

HYPERTUFA

Hypertufa pots are rock-like creations made from Portland cement, perlite and peat moss although coloring and decorative materials such as pebbles, leaves or shells are also sometimes added.

Making hypertufa pots and troughs has recently become a popular hobby and many people are taking it to an art form. In the photo below from Serenity Cove, simple fern fronds elevate this planter to an elegant garden creation.

Although hypertufa pots can be used inside for houseplants, it’s outdoors where they really shine. Unlike terra cotta, ceramic or most plastic planters, they are completely weatherproof, holding up to the freezing and thawing cycles of winter without cracking. This means you can plant them with hardy perennials and leave them outside year round!

While Hypertufa pots and troughs lend themselves to all sorts of planting designs, they’re especially suited to FAIRY GARDEN PLANTS, ROCK GARDEN PLANTS, HERBS, GROUNDCOVERS, SEMPERVIVUM and shade lovers like FERNS, ORCHIDS and MOSSES. In fact, you can easily grow moss on the rough surface of these pots to make them look like they’ve been in the family for generations!

These are just a sample of the many types of pots available to gardeners today. Find styles that you love for indoor as well as outdoor use and then fill them with your favorite plants!

Contributions Help to Keep Me Growing!

Make a monthly donation

Make a yearly donation

Choose an amount

¤5.00

¤15.00

¤25.00

¤5.00

¤15.00

¤100.00

¤5.00

¤15.00

¤100.00

Or enter a custom amount

Your generosity is greatly appreciated – Thank you!

Your contribution is appreciated.

Donate Donate monthly Donate yearly

September 10, 2020September 16, 2020

The Yearly Trials and Triumphs of Gardening

Gardeners quickly learn that everything we plant outdoors is fair game for critters, insects, disease and severe weather, but in spite of all the trials we face on a yearly basis, it’s the sweet triumphs that keep us gardening on!

photo courtesy of S. Hermann & F. Richter on Pixabay

All around us nature is constantly changing and, with this continual ebb and flow, so are our gardens for no two gardening seasons are ever alike. Pests and disease problems come and go; plants and shrubs may bloom profusely one year only to disappoint us the next. The important thing to remember with gardening is that much of what happens is beyond our control and it’s always easier to work with Mother Nature than spend all our energy trying to fight her.

photo courtesy of Evita Ochel on Pixabay

One personal losing battle is trying to keep critters in check; there’s just too much wildlife here in the heavily wooded area of Northeastern Massachusetts that we call home. However, although I know the usual suspects will turn up on cue every year, the population of these creatures rises and falls and with it the severity of any damage they might do to the garden. It’s all a game of wait and see!

photo courtesy of Congerdesign on Pixabay

Apparently this has been a very good year for the common vole who’s been busy raiding my flower beds. These small rodents can create big devastation in gardens as they eat plant roots and then pull the remaining plant right down into their vast network of underground tunnels. Rabbits also easily eat their way through the garden patch, especially in spring when newly emerging plants are tender and succulent. Although Thumper hasn’t been a problem at all this year, it seems that every chipmunk in the neighborhood has been dining on our tomatoes!

White-Tailed Deer are a persistent threat and there’s no stopping them when they’re hungry unless you’re fortunate enough to have a tall fence enclosing your property. They can strike at any time, even in winter, but the damage done is always variable – sometimes just light nibbling of plant tips or buds, sometimes devouring of plants to the ground. There’s also no predicting just what they will eat as they browse their way through the yard. I’ve seen deer choose thorny roses and spikey holly leaves over tender hostas and daylilies, two of their favorite snacks!

Hungry insects such as caterpillars, hornworms, aphids and Japanese beetles can ravage crops and flower beds alike, and then there are the blights, molds and mildew which cause unsightly damage to once healthy-looking plants. And, if all of these aren’t enough to contend with, there’s the weather. Too little or too much rain, heat waves, cold snaps, hail and wind can devastate a garden in short order!

photo courtesy of Heiko Stein on Pixabay

Not all of nature is against us, however! Although we can’t control the weather, we’re fortunate that many creatures and even insects naturally work along with us in controlling garden pests. Northern Barred Owls, Cooper’s Hawks and snakes patrol our area looking for rodents, thus keeping the population in check. Beneficial wasps are constant visitors to the flower garden and when they’re not busy pollinating, they help control aphids and hornworms amongst others. A variety of birds, frogs and toads also come to the garden in search of nutritious insect meals. In this way, nature provides a balance for the benefit of all creatures and helps us gardeners in the process!

photo of Barred Owl by Nancy Marie Allen

In spite of my many gardening trials and tribulations, I still come back every spring with the unbridled enthusiasm that this will be my best garden year ever! I’ve learned to take the inevitable losses in stride, work with what nature provides, and focus instead on the many triumphs and joys that gardening brings to my life. There is always something to celebrate, whether it’s an unblemished apple or a perfectly shaped rose!

As autumn closes in and another gardening year comes to an end, I like to reflect on the past season’s pleasures: The first tiny flowers of early spring bulbs, the sweet fragrance of old-fashioned lilacs, the exuberant blooms of June peonies, the summer garden in full splendor and those luscious, sun-ripened tomatoes. All of these joyful passages through the growing season not only make up for any disappointments, they make it all worthwhile!

Contributions Help to Keep Me Growing!

Make a monthly donation

Make a yearly donation

Choose an amount

¤5.00

¤15.00

¤25.00

¤5.00

¤15.00

¤100.00

¤5.00

¤15.00

¤100.00

Or enter a custom amount

Your Generosity is Greatly Appreciated – Thank You!

Your contribution is appreciated.

Donate Donate monthly Donate yearly

July 11, 2020

The Serendipitous Garden

Some of the sweetest garden vignettes are not planned – they happen by chance! And it’s those unexpected but delightful scenes that give gardening its magic.

A deep purple Drumstick Allium is the perfect companion for pink Hollyhock Mallow

If you’ve had a garden for a number of years, you already know what I’m talking about, for at some point every year there are plants that willingly volunteer themselves for duty. The most common are flowers that have self-sown from previous years’ plantings, but seeds may also be carried by birds from a neighbor’s yard or blown on the wind from a wildflower patch down the road. However these plants find our gardens, it’s always a pleasant surprise when they bloom in a companionable way!

Rose Campion in shades of white, blush and bright pink has a long bloom time and *readily* self-sows

Rose Campion, Daisies, Yarrow and Black-eyed Susans are some of the plants that enthusiastically spread themselves around the yard every year. In the photo below, wild Black-eyed Susans look like they belong next to the mahogany ribs and silvery fronds of a Japanese Painted Fern. Unplanned and unexpected, these two garden companions bring out the best in each other!

Japanese Painted Fern and wild Black-Eyed Susans enhance each other’s colors

Sometimes plants happen to like certain conditions in our gardens and take up permanent residence in unusual places. Along the stone wall surrounding our vegetable garden, native ferns have found a perfect home! Amazingly, these plants grow in fulI sun all day but manage to get enough moisture from the rocks surrounding them to thrive.

Some enchanting color combinations also happen by chance. Many times we place one plant next to another without really knowing if the colors will work together. Color in our gardens is not always dependable in that plants may have a different look when planted in full sun as opposed to part shade, or when viewed in the soft light of morning or at dusk. We may plant seeds or bulbs expecting a certain hue but ending up with something altogether different. All of these variations can make or break a garden’s color scheme, so when colors perfectly harmonize, sometimes it’s just a lucky accident.

Blue Peachleaf Bellflower, Pink Grapefruit Yarrow and Purple Drumstick Allium blend harmoniously

Last fall, I planted a group of drumstick alliums in a garden with other summer bloomers in shades of blue and pink. Since I’d never planted them before, I wasn’t at all sure about the color and how it would look with my other plants. Earlier this month, I was delighted when not only did the rich purple of the alliums make the perfect color companion to my other perennials, these whimsical gems also started attracting honeybees like crazy!

Honeybees can’t get enough of these sweetly scented alliums

Our gardens are constantly changing and each year is different from the last. One thing we can rely on, however, is that beautiful and unexpected things will happen – delighting, surprising and rewarding us for being devoted gardeners!

May 10, 2020

Spring Bloomers with Pizzazz

We gardeners like to grow many different plants but there are a few that, over time, grow on us. In today’s blog, I’ll let you in on a few of my favorite early-blooming garden plants, ones that I feel have pizzazz!

An early spring vignette (Photo by Nancy Marie Allen)

GLORY-OF-THE-SNOW

Snow Glories, as I call them, aren’t the first of my early spring minor bulbs to bloom but they are the most dramatic in appearance. The tiny blue star-shaped flowers have a white center which creates a look that magically sparkles! Preferring the sunnier edges of the garden, each bulb grows to about 6 inches tall and produces 5 to 10 flowers on sturdy mahogany-colored stems. After blooming, they readily self-sow to provide even more sparkling flowers for next spring! Glory-of-the-Snow is hardy in Zones 3 to 8 and should be planted in the fall, so make a note now to add these beauties to your bulb list.

DAFFODIL ‘THALIA’

Serene ‘Thalia’ is indeed a lovely sight to behold in my early May garden as she enhances the blooms of other spring bulbs as well as early perennials. One of the Triandrus Narcissus, each 12 to 14 inch stem carries 1 to 3 blooms with a delightful fragrance. Thalia is an award-winning heirloom variety that dates back to 1916 and is sometimes referred to as the ‘Orchid’ Narcissus. Long-lived in the garden, her delicate appearance belies a tough constitution with the ability to hold up to changeable New England spring weather. Thalia is hardy in Zones 3 to 9, is more tolerant of shady areas and damp soils than other daffodils, and multiplies willingly each year to fill your garden with more of these gorgeous flowers!

Thalia in my woodland garden (Photo by Nancy Marie Allen)

OLD-FASHIONED BLEEDING HEART

Beloved by children as well as grown-ups, Bleeding Heart can grow into impressive clumps up to three feet tall and wide in areas where they receive plenty of morning sun, some afternoon shade and moist rich soil. They bloom with delicate arching sprays of pink or white hearts for several weeks in spring but these plants go dormant and die mysteriously back to the ground once summer seriously starts to heat up. Because of this disappearing act, it’s best to plant later emerging perennials such as ferns and hostas nearby to fill the gaps left in the garden .

Bleeding Heart blooms hang from gracefully arching stems (Photo by Nancy Marie Allen)

Bleeding Heart is one of my earliest blooming perennials and as such combines beautifully with mid to late season Daffodils and Tulips as well as Brunnera, Ajuga, Pulmonaria, Solomon’s Seal, Wood Hyacinth, Forget-me-Nots and Hellebores. Native to Siberia and Northern China, Old-Fashioned Bleeding Heart is hardy even in Zone 2.

White Bleeding Heart with Wood Hyacinth and Variegated Solomon’s Seal (Photo by Nancy Marie Allen)

BRUNNERA ‘JACK FROST’

Brunnera loves part shade and moist but well-draining soil. Tiny soft blue flowers resembling Forget-Me-Nots appear on delicate stems in spring but it’s the silvery heart-shaped foliage that makes this plant light up the garden all season long. Growing only 12 to 18 inches tall and wide, Jack Frost slowly spreads by rhizomes making it a great groundcover for shady gardens or an underplanting for roses. Brunnera, also known as Siberian Bugloss, is hardy in Zones 3 to 8.

Tiny blue flowers cover Brunnera in May (Photo by Nancy Marie Allen)

LAMIUM ‘WHITE NANCY’

Early-blooming ‘White Nancy’ can tolerate quite a bit of sun but grows best in gardens where it receives some afternoon shade. It’s a low-growing plant to about 12 inches tall with a spread of about 24 inches, making it a great filler for gardens where it weaves itself charmingly through other plants. In patio pots, White Nancy not only plays the role of ‘filler’ but also spills gracefully over the side. The white flowers appear in May and repeat in flushes throughout the summer and into fall. The combination of bright white flowers and silvery foliage make this plant positively glow in the garden. Lamium is also an attractive addition to white or moon gardens and is hardy in Zones 3 to 8.

A lamium flower just beginning to open (Photo by Nancy Marie Allen)

All of the above plants are not only super hardy and easy to care for but also deer and rabbit resistant!

May 1, 2020

Getting to Know Veronica

Veronica, also known as Speedwell, is a old-fashioned plant that deserves a place in everyone’s garden. Originating from Northern Europe, they tend to be vigorous, carefree and long-lived perennials that attract butterflies, bees and hummingbirds as well as admiring gazes from humans.

Veronica ‘Red Fox’ (Image courtesy of American Meadows)

Veronicas have an interesting history. According to the Missouri Botanical Garden website, “the genus name honors Saint Veronica who reportedly gave a handkerchief to Jesus so he could wipe the sweat from his face on the way to Calvary, with some genus plants having markings that resemble the markings on the sacred handkerchief.” In addition, parts of the plant were once commonly used in herbal medicine; hence, the common name of Speedwell may refer to its ability to speed healing and feeling well.

Veronica Longifolia (Image by Mabel Amber from Pixabay)

When I first started gardening, I came across a pot of Veronica longifolia at a local nursery. The long, soft blue flower spikes caught my eye and soon it was keeping company with my pink June roses. What surprised me was not only how tall this plant grew in one summer but also how willing it was to keep flowering when I deadheaded the spent blooms; and it’s this ability to repeat bloom over a long season that makes Veronicas with flower spikes such valuable garden plants!

Veronica ‘Icicle’ (Image by Kerstin Riemer from Pixabay)

Not all Veronicas are in the big and tall department, however. Some varieties can be grown as groundcovers or used to soften a garden’s edge while others remain a tame 12″ to 20″ in height. In fact, the array of Veronicas available to gardeners today is quite impressive and that makes them easy to fit into any garden space, design or patio planter.

Veronica ‘Sunshine’ (Photo courtesy of ToGoGarden)

Veronicas are extremely robust and grow best in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 8. They generally have a long bloom season from spring to fall, especially when you remove the spent flowers which will encourage repeat performances. Colors tend towards blues, purples, pinks and white but the foliage can sometimes be silvery or golden, especially in the ground-hugging varieties. Perfectly suited to cottage gardens, companions include Foxglove, Daylilies, Roses, Daisies, Yarrow and Lady’s Mantle as well as late blooming spring bulbs. Although they prefer full sun, Veronicas will tolerate afternoon shade in areas with hot summers. Best of all, Veronicas are deer and rabbit resistant!

Veronica ‘Waterperry Blue’ (Photo courtesy of StoneHouseNursery)

Some popular Veronica varieties:

SUNSHINE – Small yellow leaves cover a low 1 to 2″ tall ground-hugging plant. Blooming briefly with tiny white flowers in spring, this Veronica is grown primarily for its bright foliage. Great in rock gardens, combined with succulents or tucked between stepping stones.

WATERPERRY BLUE – A creeping groundcover growing 4 to 6″ tall and spreading about 12″ wide. This cottage garden classic blooms repeatedly in soft blue flushes from spring to fall when the foliage takes on an autumnal burgundy hue.

GOODNESS GROWS – Medium sized at 12 to 15″ tall with a slightly wider spread. Striking violet blue flower spikes are produced all season. The compact size makes it a perfect “thriller” for pots and planters.

RED FOX – Another medium sized Veronica but with dazzling rosy-pink flower spikes from mid-spring to late summer. Red Fox is salt resistant and grows well in seaside gardens.

ICICLE – Sparkling white 6″ flower spikes adorn this beauty which grows to about 30″ tall. Excellent for cut flowers and a perfect addition to white or moon gardens.

BLUE GIANTESS – A soft lavender blue, this robust Veronica longifolia grows to 48″ tall with a spread of 1 to 2 feet. Plant with tall roses for a sensational early summer display!

March 31, 2020

Versatile Herbs

Popular herbs such as parsley, basil, dill and rosemary are grown primarily to enhance our culinary creations, but if you think that the usefulness of herbs is limited to the kitchen, then think again. Versatile herbs can and should be grown in our vegetable gardens, perennial beds and patio pots. In today’s blog, I’ll share the reasons why!

Fresh picked herbs (Photo courtesy of Gate 74 on Pixabay)

Herbs are a delight to our senses! We can’t resist running our fingers through their foliage or crushing a single leaf to release the heady fragrance. Many herbs beg to be touched with soft velvety foliage such as Berggarten Sage while others impress us with their stunning flower power. Did you know that some of the most well-known flowering plants are also herbs? Echinacea, Yarrow, Monarda, Borage, Catmint and Lavender come to mind and almost every garden has at least one of these stellar summer bloomers!

Echinacea and friends (Photo by Nancy Marie Allen)

With their many colors, forms and textures, herbs lend themselves to all kinds of garden design opportunities. I love to use Golden Oregano for bright pops of color next to the deeper hues of Black Scallop Ajuga; it also makes a sunny spiller plant for flower pots. Gray-green Wooly Thyme creates a romantic look as it softly cascades over a stone retaining wall while other thyme varieties are perfect as fragrant, low-growing hedges or groundcovers. Prostrate or Creeping Rosemary also makes a fast-growing groundcover for dry, sunny areas. Planted in pots, Variegated Sage and dark Purple Basil make pretty partners with flowering annuals.

Borage (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Images on Pixabay)

In the vegetable garden, herbs have many uses as beneficial companions. Growing basil next to tomatoes is a classic combo and supposedly improves the sweet flavor of both plants. Tarragon likes to be planted with eggplant while dill pairs well with cucumbers and lettuce. Many herbs repel aphids and spider mites, helping to reduce infestations. Mint is a garden workhorse as it deters many insect pests as well as browsing deer, but be sure to contain mint to pots as it can spread aggressively!

Basil and Tomatoes (Photo courtesy of CongerDesign on Pixabay)

In addition to being good bedfellows, herbs will attract pollinators to your vegetable garden like crazy! Bees and beneficial wasps love them, butterflies find them irresistible and even hummingbirds feast on their blooms.

Potted Rosemary (Photo courtesy of Diese Lizenzfreien on Pixabay)

Herbs are also beneficial to our flower gardens. Plant chives next to your roses to repel aphids and help prevent black spot. Parsley is also a good rose companion in that it enhances the fragrance of the blooms. Yarrow attracts ladybugs that eat aphids while lavender helps deter rabbits and deer. Catnip is useful for repelling Japanese beetles which damage hollyhocks, dahlias and other flowers as well as roses.

Rose with Japanese beetle (Photo courtesy of Deedster on Pixabay)

Herbs are easily grown in patio planters, too, combining beautifully with annual flowers or on their own. It’s also nice to have pots of herbs close to the house for easy access come dinner time! When placing herbs together in a container, make sure the varieties you choose enjoy the same conditions as far as sunlight and water needs. Since many herbs tolerate dry conditions, they’re also great companions for the colorful rosettes of hardy, water-wise succulents.

Potted Herbs (Photo courtesy of Pixaline on Pixabay)

Herbs are generally easy to grow and rarely bothered by pests or disease. They encourage pollinators to visit our gardens and beautify our plantings with color, texture and fragrance. Try a new variety in your flower or vegetable garden this year, learn more about the benefits of companion planting, and get creative by combining herbs with annuals or succulents. The possibilities are endless!

March 20, 2020July 1, 2022

Growing Hydrangeas in Pots

I adore the big bodacious blooms of Mophead Hydrangeas such as ‘Endless Summer’ and the New England classic, ‘Nantucket Blue,’ but getting these shrubs to bloom reliably in US Hardiness Zones 5 and under can be a challenge.

Hydrangea Macrophyllas, also known as Bigleaf Hydrangeas or Mophead Hydrangeas, are hugely popular and relatively easy to grow but in colder areas that are on the cusp of their growing range, it’s not always easy to get them to bloom.

One reason for blossom failure is that many of these plants form flower buds on vulnerable new wood which can be damaged by late spring frosts resulting in fewer or even no summer blooms. Another reason is that many people prune the flower buds right off the plant without even knowing it while they’re tidying up in early spring! In addition, too much shade, too much sun or not enough moisture can also affect blooming. Fortunately, by planting hydrangeas in pots, we can avoid many of the problems which garden-grown shrubs face.

For success with potted hydrangeas, follow these tips:

Start with a smaller-sized hydrangea variety and a large, lightweight pot that will allow room for the shrub to grow and be happy for about three years. Plant your hydrangea using a quality, moisture-retentive potting soil. Leave a couple of inches of space at the top of the pot so that you can water thoroughly to the brim without it spilling over. Fertilize through the growing season with a liquid organic fish/seaweed blend according to directions. As a finishing touch, add some pretty annual spiller plants such as sweet alyssum, petunias or fuchsias around the base to fill out a newly planted pot!

Photo courtesy of Instagram Fotografin on Pixabay

By potting up your hydrangea in a lightweight container, you can easily move it in and out of direct sunlight as needed during the growing season. You can also place your pot close to the house where deer are less likely to stray and move it inside whenever severe weather threatens. When your hydrangea shows signs of roots coming through the bottom or top of its container, or you find you need to water more frequently, it’s time to upgrade to a larger pot.

Hydrangeas grow best with morning sun, afternoon shade and even moisture. Plants will become stressed, droop and drop leaves when pots dry out, so paying attention to watering is crucial for your potted hydrangea’s health. During the heat of summer, you may have to water thoroughly once a day. Always water early in the morning so that the leaves can dry before the hot sun reaches them; this will protect the foliage from water droplets which can intensify sunlight and burn delicate leaves.

Photo courtesy of Veronica111886 on Pixabay

In late November, move your potted hydrangea inside an unheated garage or another cold-storage area where it will safely sleep out of the harsh winter weather until spring. Water sparingly every few weeks during this time to keep the plant from completely drying out. Move your hydrangea back outside only after the danger of frost has passed and resist the urge to prune until the plant has entirely leafed out. At this point, you can easily remove dead or damaged wood without inadvertently sacrificing flower buds.

Plant now and enjoy your beautiful potted hydrangea(s) for years to come!

January 31, 2020September 11, 2020

Gardens of Thoughts and Dreams

With the days now stretching noticeably longer and the sunlight growing ever stronger, all gardeners’ thoughts turn towards spring and the sweet joys of gardening.

Today, I’d like to share some inspirational quotes about gardening as we look forward to the warm months ahead . . .

(Photo courtesy of Jill Wellington on Pixabay)

In my garden there is a large place for sentiment. My garden of flowers is also my garden of thoughts and dreams. The thoughts grow as freely as the flowers, and the dreams are as beautiful.
Abram L. Urban

(Photo courtesy of Dewdrop157 on Pixabay)

A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all, it teaches entire trust.
Gertrude Jekyll

I have never had so many good ideas, day after day, as when I worked in the garden.
John Erskine

One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it provides.
W.E. Johns

An addiction to gardening is not all bad when you consider all the other choices in life.
Cora Lea Bell

Gardens and flowers have a way of bringing people together, drawing them from their homes.
Clare Ansberry

Flowers are the sweetest thing God ever made, and forgot to put a soul into.
Henry Ward Beecher

The greatest gift of the garden is the restoration of the five senses.
Hanna Rion

DISCLOSURE: This post contains affiliate links to the companies listed below. When you click through on a link and make a purchase, I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank You!