Happy Gardens Gazette Page 2
Free Tours
Calling all garden clubs, youth groups, horticulture students, school teachers and any one else interested in learning about growing plants in a greenhouse environment. The Flower Farm offers free tours by appointment. We'll show you how we grow our plants from seeds and cuttings to finished product. We'll tell you about greenhouse components and equipment. We'll have hands-on activities for children. We'll have fun for one and all! The best times for tours are April and June. Just phone 208.263.8764 to set up your tour.
NEW PLANT PICKS
(from previous page)
NEW PLANT PICKS
(from previous column)
We are thrilled to have found a Diascia in an exciting new color. Many of you have enjoyed using orange or pink flowering Diascia as colorful fillers for your combination plantings. This year we are growing it blue! That’s right – blue! Piccadilly Denim Blue features large light blue-violet flowers over compact, slightly spreading plants. These are great in sunny or part shade locations and with an occasional haircut, will bloom all season.
Diascia Piccadilly Denim Blue
Proven Winners scores again with Mimulus Curious Orange. This is not your grandmothers Mimulus. The rangy floppiness has been bred out of this one. The brilliant, long lasting orange flowers caught the public’s eye at the University of Georgia Plant Trials in 2010, scoring in the top 10 vote getters.
Mimulus Curious Orange
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There are dozens more new introductions this season. You can easily discover them all by looking for those that are highlighted in bold on our plant lists here:
New from Syngenta Flowers is Verbena Lanai Twister Pink. This trailing Verbena has truly unique bi-color flowers that will really make your container plantings pop. As with others in the award winning Lanai series, Twister Pink is mildew resistant, tolerant of light frost and thrives even in the highest heat of summer. Use it as a colorful groundcover too!
Verbena Lanai Twister Pink
FERTILIZING
Blueberries prefer an acidic fertilizer such as those found in Rhododendron-Azalea formulations. Avoid manure. Apply according to label directions beginning in late April and continuing every 4 to 6 weeks until mid July. Be sure to water in well.
IRRIGATION
Blueberries require a lot of moisture. Water thoroughly once each week. Drip or soaker hose irrigation is best but if you use sprinkler irrigation, be sure to water early in the morning, allowing the foliage to dry before nightfall.
MULCH
A layer of organic mulch will help conserve moisture, inhibit weed growth and protect the plants through winter. An acidic mulch is preferred, such as coarse sphagnum peat or partially rotted sawdust or pine needles. Apply 2 to 3 inches of mulch in autumn, once the ground has frozen but before snow cover.
PESTS
Blueberries are relatively resistant to insects and disease. Deer or moose may graze on them a bit but rarely do significant damage. Birds may find your berries and if they do, you’ll need to cover your bushes with bird netting once the berries begin to ripen.
Blueberries prefer an acidic fertilizer such as those found in Rhododendron-Azalea formulations. Avoid manure. Apply according to label directions beginning in late April and continuing every 4 to 6 weeks until mid July. Be sure to water in well.
IRRIGATION
Blueberries require a lot of moisture. Water thoroughly once each week. Drip or soaker hose irrigation is best but if you use sprinkler irrigation, be sure to water early in the morning, allowing the foliage to dry before nightfall.
MULCH
A layer of organic mulch will help conserve moisture, inhibit weed growth and protect the plants through winter. An acidic mulch is preferred, such as coarse sphagnum peat or partially rotted sawdust or pine needles. Apply 2 to 3 inches of mulch in autumn, once the ground has frozen but before snow cover.
PESTS
Blueberries are relatively resistant to insects and disease. Deer or moose may graze on them a bit but rarely do significant damage. Birds may find your berries and if they do, you’ll need to cover your bushes with bird netting once the berries begin to ripen.
THE CARE AND FEEDING OF BLUEBERRIES
(from previous page)
You'll be blown away by the glowing peach colored foliage of Heuchera Georgia Peach, introduced by Terra Nova Nurseries. The huge leaves have rounded lobes and a soft silver overlay. These versatile plants will thrive in any light from full sun to full shade, are deer resistant and attract butterflies. Easy to grow, winter hardy and can take the heat!
Heuchera Georgia Peach
It is good to be alone in a garden at dawn or dark so that all its shy presences may haunt you and possess you in a reverie of suspended thought. ~James Douglas, Down Shoe Lane