http://statebystategardening.com/ms/blog_01_summary/ en lgbarton@gmail.com Copyright 2012 2012-02-11T15:17:30+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ms/blog_01/another_cup_of_sugar..._please/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ms/blog_01/another_cup_of_sugar..._please/     This 2nd year clump of 'Sugar Cups' glows in the late afternoon sun. I’m sure that those who have followed this blog for a while will agree that I am a daffodil nut. I have been collecting for years and spend part of my annual vacation making daffodil tours. I know those varieties that bloom early, mid-season and late.  I expect the first in February, peak bloom in March and a few late stragglers in April. But this year…  I would say that my dafs are at least half finished ALREADY! This turn of events has rocked my world.  I am discombobulated for sure. My disorientation is further enhanced by the fact that I am in a new house.  The old garden is next door but the view from these windows is different. The ‘February Gold’ dafs in the sideyard of my old house came and went before February – barely noticed. The treasured ‘Barrett Browning’ blossoms in the back garden were gone before I picked a single stem. Here are my 'Sugar Cups' up close and personal! But there is always a silver lining… When I survey the back garden from my new bedroom I am dazzled by a spectacular clump of ‘Sugar Cups” and a long golden swathe of ‘Campernelle’. The ‘Sugar Cups’ are a tazetta hybrid that is creamy with a deeper yellow cup.  At first glance it looks like a golden tinted ‘Grand Primo’. It is much taller than ‘Grand Primo’ with sturdy stems and an abundance of flowers. I bought 8 ‘Sugar Cups’ bulbs last year from Bill the Bulb Baron.  The bulbs were hefty and, as usual, I planted them in a clump. My theory is that if I dig a shallow wide hole and pack the bulbs in so there is a little space between each, the planting will look like an established clump very quickly.  Truthfully, I came to this method because it was much easier to plant this way.  I use this method almost exclusively. The ‘Sugar Cups’ have responded well to this treatment.  In year two they look like an established stand.  I have harvested at least 9 stems from this planting and there are plenty left. They gleam like a beacon when I look out my new bedroom window.  They are flanked by a fragrant lavender spider azalea and a 100 foot white oak. Life is good! 2012-02-11T14:17:30+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ms/blog_01/grand_primo/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ms/blog_01/grand_primo/     Here is a vase full of 'Grand Primo' and other lovely January flowers. Yesterday after much rain, I ventured out to see what was going on in the garden. I was startled to realize that the ‘Grand Primo’ daffodils were in bloom. ‘Grand Primo’ is a small white narcissus with a creamy yellow cup.  Flowers are borne in clusters and are very fragrant.  It is one of my favorite daffodils. ‘Grand Primo’, in my experience, blooms in late February or early March. And yet – here it was in January. I didn’t know quite what to think. I was delighted to see it and yet sad that it would soon be gone. 2012-01-23T12:07:53+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ms/blog_01/winter_wonderland/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ms/blog_01/winter_wonderland/   My Peggy Clark Japanese apricot looks particularly fetching when adorned with glistening raindrops. It has been unseasonably warm here. The garden has more January flowers than I ever remember seeing. My Japanese apricot (Prunus mume ’Peggy Clarke’) is in full bloom.  The ground beneath is covered with pink confetti.   I’ve been surprised how many honeybees have been out working the flowers. My Professor Sergeant camellia (Camellia japonica ‘Professor Sergeant’) at my old house next door, looks like a red carnation tree.  I’ve been pleasantly surprised that Fess is highly visible from the deck at my new house next door. The daphnes are beautifully mounded and loaded with rounded flower clusters. The Bulb Baron’s fall blooming tazetta daffodils are beginning to put on a show.  I kind of like it that here in Mississippi they will probably consistently bloom in early winter – a teaser before the feature presentation. I'm quite taken with this Chinese camellia that is producing her first full crop of flowers this year. I’m probably the most excited though that my Chinese camellia (Camellia fraterna) produced a good bloom for the first time. This camellia was highly recommended by my bud Bill Fontenot.   On my annual December visits we would always view his prized specimen. Bill loves this camellia because its diminutive flowers have a delicious scent. His plant is a lovely thing with arched branches heavily laden with buds. Heavily budded but unfortunately never in bloom when I was around to see. On one visit I honed in on the plumpest bud I could find.  The bud was showing a little color and looked about ready to open.  I leaned forward and nuzzled it to try and catch a whiff…. but all was in vain. Now, thanks to my friend Margie Jenkins at Jenkins Farm and Nursery, I have my own Chinese camellia. The camellia is absolutely loaded with dainty blooms.  They are about two inches across and white with golden stamens.  The scent is indeed enticing. It was worth the wait. 2012-01-21T17:14:54+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ms/blog_01/its_beginning_to_wreath_a_lot_like_christmas/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ms/blog_01/its_beginning_to_wreath_a_lot_like_christmas/     Oh Christmas Wreath - Oh Christmas Wreath! I spent a ridiculous amount of time today making this wreath for my door. But… it’s okay  because I had fun with the process. First I gathered from the garden: A few sprigs from plants that are bordering on (if not full blown) invasive.  I harvested Chinese photinia fruit that I did not want to go to seed and silver embossed elaeagnus that needed to be curtailed. Plants sporting red flowers or fruit like ‘Professor Sargent” Camellia and ‘Elizabeth Coleman’ holly. Some sentimental favorites like Eastern redcedar, the Christmas tree of my childhood Glossy foliage from ‘Miss Patricia’ holly and my favorite native shrub, Florida leucothoe. I assembled all of the above with electric fence wire that I had on hand.  That makes it a redneck wreath! Then I added a length of spiffy garland to finish it off. 2011-12-16T19:44:18+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ms/blog_01/pushing_the_envelope/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ms/blog_01/pushing_the_envelope/     This colorful arrangement contains camellias, Walter's viburnum, loud orange blueberry foliage & early blooming dafs. First let me apologized for being MIA for the last 6 weeks or so. I have been in the process of moving. Fortunately just next door so I still have access to both gardens. This weekend my dear friend J’Lynn came for a visit. To celebrate –  I made one of the first flower arrangements in the new house. I do love the daffodils.  Last year I ordered some new Narcissus tazetta hybrids from Bill the Bulb Baron . These hybrids are supposed to bloom early – some in fall and others in early winter. I am still discovering what they will actually do in Mississippi.  But… as you can see in my kitchen window arrangement, at least a couple are blooming very early as advertised. 'Autumn Pearl' & 'Princess Hallie's Gold' The white flowered narcissus is ‘Autumn Pearl’ and the yellow (I believe) is ‘Princess Hallie’s Gold’. I wondered when I ordered these bulbs if I was pushing the envelope too much. Is it against God to have daffodil flowers in the fall? Will it make me appreciate them less during daf season? I don’t know but the gleaming pair in my kitchen window two weeks before Christmas make me ridiculously happy. Thanks to you, Bill the Bulb Baron! 2011-12-14T13:01:31+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ms/blog_01/an_unexpected_pleasure/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ms/blog_01/an_unexpected_pleasure/   I picked these roses in mid December in Bill and Lydia Fontenot's garden near Carencro, Louisiana. I’m always delighted in late autumn when the antique roses come forth with one last burst of bloom.  It happens every year but I am usually distracted by the fall foliage, the autumn berries, the sasanqua and aster blossoms.  And suddenly I look up and am dazzled to see all the roses in bloom. Today – out on a Halloween stroll, I realized that my ‘Cramoisi Superieur’ rose was in full bloom. ‘Cramoisi Superieur’ is one of my old friends.  It is one of the first antique roses that I ever planted in the garden. I simply could not resist a rose with a French name that meant Superior Crimson! My lovely specimen has bloomed dependably for an average of 10 months each year for the past 20 years. As my landscape has matured, shade has encroached.  In response this rose started to climb onto an adjacent titi. Cramoisi Superieur is loaded with Halloween roses. What can I say?  She is a survivor. Like many other old roses, her blooms demurely nod.  They are heavily laden with rose red petals and cannot hold their heads upright. Cramoisi Superieur is an old China rose (from 1832).  Blossoms are two toned with  rich red petals that are lighter on the reverse side.  They emit a wonderful fragrance. The stems are pea green and practically thornless. Foliage is deep green and healthy. It’s all good. Cramoisi Superieur is perfect for every garden… except for those people who insists that a rose hold its head proudly upright. I think that Cramoisi Superieur is a proud rose with a modest demeanor.   Her blossoms nod and as I pass by, I nod back. 2011-11-01T01:49:37+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ms/blog_01/freeze_warning/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ms/blog_01/freeze_warning/     The view from my kitchen sink Our first frosts are in the forecast. As usual, the seasonal changes are inspiring me to create flower arrangements. This time of year I seem to almost follow a formula when I head to the garden to collect materials.  I’ve documented my process below. Recipe for an Autumn Flower Arrangement Gather a variety of fall flowers. I scored asters, tea camellias, ‘Silver Dollar’ sasanqua camellias, a lingering sweet olive stem and some Chipola river daisies (Coreopsis integrifolia).  I allowed myself to pick one precious sweet lady’s tresses orchid (Spiranthes odorata).  I raided the prairie garden and snagged grass plumes from big bluestem, switch grass and purple top. Add blossoms from plants that are blooming out of season. The dropping temperatures always stimulate unexpected plants to flower.  I gathered  blossoms from ‘Nastarana’ and ‘Archduke Charles’ roses and was delighted to find flowers on the Sekidera azalea. Combine a pinch of fall fruit. Yesterday the garden yielded stems of rose hips and a fragrant stalk of sweet Annie. Mix well with colorful fall foliage. The scarlet tinted huckleberries (Vaccinium elliottii) filled the bill. Assemble in a vase and fill in with healthy evergreen twigs. I gathered one of my favorites Florida leucothoe (Agarista populifolia). Add water and enjoy. The results reminded me why I love to do floral design.  The vases hold a distillation of a moment in garden time.  My favorites look like a portion of an overgrown flower border where the wild plants mingle with the garden exotics. I particularly enjoy the arrangements that I place over the kitchen sink.   I have plenty of time to carefully study them while I wash the dishes!   2011-10-29T14:08:49+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ms/blog_01/and_so_it_goes/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ms/blog_01/and_so_it_goes/   Our threadleaf Japanese maple was beautiful last fall.    About 20 years ago when we were still in the nursery business, my husband Richard took a roadtrip to some wholesale nurseries in Semmes, Alabama near Mobile. He returned and gleefully presented a beautiful young 3 gallon threadleaf Japanese maple that he had purchased from Steven Sowato.  Richard was particularly impressed the the skillful graft that was done high on the trunk (so that the graft scar would be hidden by the foliage).  We speculated that his prize was probably a 3 year old plant. We owned our own nursery and had little time to garden.  We kept this little gem as a container plant.   And so… through the years it grew and flourished.  We moved it to various sitting places – always in a prominent spot – and greatly admired its beauty. Ten years passed.  The maple was residing in a 15 gallon black nursery pot and was in need of a bigger pot. I was in the midst of landscape renovation and I set it into a plum position in the center of the back garden at our newly purchased house.  And another 10 years passed. We looked down on it from out bedroom.  We photographed it decked out in autumn crimson.   R. I. P. We moved next door to our old house and still visited it almost every day on our evening golf cart rides. A couple of months ago we began the move back next door.  I had mixed feelings about this transition but was looking forward to the view of the maple from my bedroom window. One day I noticed early fall color and then something seemed awry. I looked closer and was shocked to realize that my maple was dead. Logically I knew that it probably succumbed to a verticillium wilt disease brought on by stress from drought and heat and hurricanes.   Joe enjoys carousing in our dead maple. But still I was in denial.  I kept scratching twigs every time I passed – hoping for signs of life.   It still has the same beautiful form and all our friends said “It looks so natural – just like it is sleeping." Attracted by the crispy crackle of the leaves, the kitties began to rompabout in the branches.” Attracted by the crispy crackle of the leaves, the kitties beagn to romp about in the branches.  I shooed them away - still in denial.  Oddly my reaction reminded me of the time my hound Doreen ate one of my Born shoes and I kept the other one for two years just in case the situation could be remedied. Then... the telling sign - a fecund bloom of mushrooms sprouted at the base of the trunk.  Even i could not argue with such strong evidence. Still though,  I have not cut it down.  I’ll let it linger through the fall.  I could probably even let the pretense continue through winter.   But I know now that it is a pretense.  I am looking for a replacement – something unrelated to the maples and un-susceptible to the deadly fungus that lingers in the soil.  I’m considering a large containerized ironwood that like its predecessor needs to be released from captivity. But for the time being,  I’ll admire what’s left of the lovely form and let the disrespectful kitties dance on the grave as often as they like.     Sister Maybell likes the crispy leaves. 2011-10-21T11:58:51+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ms/blog_01/my_current_favorite_dyc/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ms/blog_01/my_current_favorite_dyc/     In the bee meadow, the sweet coneflower mingles happily with big bluestem. Ever since I can remember there have been yellow daisies in my life. First there were the black eyed Susans that bordered the gravel road we often traversed to visit my relative in the country. They were probably just plain old Rudbeckia hirta, the most common black eyed Susan. Still… I admired their cheerful demeanor – colorfully blooming from beneath a mantle of dust in spite of the drought and heat. As I grew older, I was introduced to the exotic zinnias and dahlias in my Aunt’s flower garden.   Their loud colors and pom-pom shapes intrigued me.  They temporarily replaced the wild black eyed Susans as my favorites. Then in college, I took a Plant Taxonomy class and the daisies and their kin fell further out of favor.  There are so many members of the Composite (a.k.a. Aster, Sunflower) family that it is very difficult to key out a damned yellow composite (DYC). I was overwhelmed.  There were too many of them and they looked so much alike! They seemed common and I was immune to their charms until I began to garden with native plants and rediscovered the Daisy tribe. Since then I’ve been enamored of various Rudbeckia species.  I love the tickseeds (Coreopsisspp.), the native sunflowers, rosin weeds and likewise the purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea). The closer you get, the better a sweet coneflower looks! This year I went full circle – back to my childhood favorite black eyed Susan.  The one I love most right now is called a sweet coneflower (Rudbeckia subtomentosa). This charmer hails from the prairies.  It is generally 4 to 5 feet tall with sturdy stems. The flowers are the typically arranged into a chocolate brown mass of disc flowers wreathed by a golden yellow halo of twisted ray flowers.  They smell sweet like licorice and bloom for a long time in late summer and autumn. There is a sweet coneflower selection that is becoming popular.  Rudbeckia subtomentosa ‘Henry Eilers’ was named for the retired nurseryman who found the plant along a railroad right of way in Arkansas. The ‘Henry Eilers’ sweet coneflower was promoted by my friend Larry Lowman and has found its way into many nurseries.  This cultivar’s claim to fame is that the ray flowers are narrow and quill-like instead of wider and twisted.  I grow it also but for now at least, prefer the original. I have been visiting both of them in the bee meadow almost every day for the last two months.  They are still flowering and I am happy when they greet me. 2011-09-30T12:12:19+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ms/blog_01/sweet_olive_everywhere/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ms/blog_01/sweet_olive_everywhere/ One of our released deck plants is quite happy in her new digs. Don't forget to scratch and sniff! I have a keen sense of smell.  I am easily distracted by good (or foul) scents.  In fact I often think that I follow my nose around like a hound dog. And… that’s a wonderful thing this time of year. Right now, the deck door is open and the luscious scent of sweet olive is wafting in on a delightful breeze. Since the scent of sweet olive (Osmanthus fragrans) is one of my favorite fragrances, I decided to revel in it. I planned and strategically planted 4 sweet olive shrubs around the property so that my two adjacent gardens are perfumed when the shrubs blossom. Two of these are retired deck plants.  I potted 1 gallon nursery plants into large terra-cotta pots and lived with them for several years.  When they became pot bound, I dug holes in the back garden near the decks and released them into the wild.  The largest of these is almost 10′ tall now. Then I purchased an “improved” variety from my friend Maarten VanderGiessen’s wholesale nursery. I planted it in the front yard between my two houses. This selection is called Nanjing Beauty Sweet Olive (Osmanthus fragrans ‘Fudingzhu’) and is reported to have more flowers, better fragrance and longer bloom time than the norm.  So far I can’t see a lot of difference. But I shouldn’t judge yet. Mine is a young plant barely 2 feet tall and just now coming into its own.  I will admit that this fall it has done an outstanding job of scenting the two front gardens.   If you want to form your own opinion, this selection is available at Almost Eden Nursery. My orange flowered sweet olive glows in the autumn light. After chancing upon an orange flowered sweet olive in an old garden many years ago, I just had to have one.  I searched until I finally scored the object of my desire at Woodlanders Nursery.  The orange sweet olive (Osmanthus fragrans ‘Aurantiacus’) is prized for use in perfumery.   A solvent extraction process is used to distill a very expensive Osmanthus absolute from the blossoms.  Orange sweet olives are reported to have a more desirable fragrance due to the presence of carotenes in the flowers.   Unfortunately the orange form blooms in autumn only.  Mine is now about 12′ tall and is in full glorious flower right now so I’ll forgive it for not repeating. Sweet olives are evergreen and can become quite large if not challenged by extreme winters.  The white flowering forms bloom in autumn, during warm spells in the winter and then repeats in spring. In my landscape drawings I often site sweet olive near high traffic entrances and adjacent to patios and decks where it is likely to stop unsuspecting passers-by in their tracks.  The individual flowers are tiny (less than 1/4″) but are arranged in larger clusters. I recently learned that in China, osmanthus flowers are used to scent black or green teas.  They are also used to flavor jams, sweet cakes, dumplings, soups and liquor. I’ve never eaten the flowers but they do emit a fruity scent that makes me want to bite into a perfectly ripe peach.   They are a yummy no calorie olfactory snack! 2011-09-18T16:24:01+00:00