Wednesday, September 05, 2007

Diggin' and Plantin'


Wednesday, September 5, 2007

I've been away from the computer for a couple weeks as the move to our new location is on. As our typical season drew close to Labor Day, Gail prepared for a sale of some daylilies and other things she wasn't in favor of moving to our new nursery home. Last weekend Michelle and Elizabeth helped her while I was busy transplanting daylilies down on Route 2. The process we mapped out is working very well and end-of-season sales have been very good too.

The picture above is not the best but it represents what we are moving. This is Artic Snow, another "not white" daylily that blooms very well and grows quickly. Although this is quite a clump, it pulls apart without too much trouble and as a result I planted about 50 for next year.

Here at Peacham Pond Road, many daylilies continue to provide good color despite the hot weather. It hasn't rained here in over three weeks and Gail has elected to water what we have potted but will leave the display gardens alone. When you notice all the weeds laying flat on the ground, you know things are dry. I fear for forest fires more than garden problems as the woods are like tinder.

The Olallie varieties I picked up a few years back are pleasing me with their late August into September. bloom. Olallie Autumn Gold, Rose Persimmon, Vermont Creamy Yellow, Vermont Ocean Swells, and Vermont Rare Gem are some I picked up there that are doing very well right now. Oriental Opulence which I mentioned in an earlier post has twice the blooms it did back then and it just keeps producing. Autumn Prince is standing +5 feet tall and is pushing out blooms and enticing a large doe to return for a snack as she did early last week. This is a stand- out daylily for the fall and it works well with purple or rose asters and sneezeweeds of any color.

A couple other daylilies that I always recommend are Miss Amelia and So Lovely. The first has been blooming for over 6 weeks now and still has a number of buds. So Lovely just started a couple weeks ago and at +3 feet tall, it's more than lovely. Gail has it with some asters and a hydrangea whose name escapes me. It's a noteworthy combination and one to consider.

So despite the hot dry weather, the responsibilities inherent in moving a business to a new location and the end of year chores, Gail has mustered the corps and things are going very well. If you stop by and the place looks like a plant factory in transition, crates and buckets everywhere, you know the reason. By May 2008 we'll be successfully relocated. In the interim if there's something you're still looking for, drop us a note or stop by. No telling where we'll be but we're never too far away. Good gardeners always succeed in finding each other!


Writing from the mountain above Peacham Pond where it's 45.6 degrees outside and quiet. This afternoon a very large black bear visited the lower daylily garden looking for some favorite apples from an adjacent tree. The reminder of the bear in Gail's mind translates to me walking Karl the wonder dog for the last time tonight. Got to go!

George Africa
http://vermontflowerfarm.com
http://vermontgardens.blogspot.com

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