Yellows Are Fine

Saturday, June 19, 2010

54 degrees here this morning and a tad foggy. The back door just slammed as Gail and Karl the Wonder Dog headed out for a walk. We have to get to the nursery early today to get an order ready so Gail has been up and about since before 5. Karl will take his walk and go back to bed. W
ish I could do that too as yesterday's heat was a bit much.

As Gail was shuffling some displays around yesterday she brought some Trollius 'Pritchard's Giant' over next to the various Siberian iris. This contrast was excellent and served as reminder that I wanted to comment on how I use them in the hosta garden.

There are many trollius and we like them all. (Except 'Alabaster' which is a little "iffy" here). They handle full sun well as they belong to the buttercup group. Actually they do best I think in a little light shade and a damp condition. This means they grow well on the perimeter of your typical hosta garden. I especially like Pritchard's Giant because the blooms are 2 to 2.5 inches in diameter and as with all the trollius they bloom for a long time. In the case of PG, the 28" height is perfect when planting with small and medium sized hostas.

Here are some Pritchard's Giant images to get an idea. Many of these are beginning to go by but are still a good representation of the bloom.

Siberian iris work well with trollius because they can handle the same conditions. Although Siberians do best where the sun is good and the ground in damp or even moist, trollius will match the environment as long as the sunlight remains good. This is important in Vermont where sunlight is at a premium.

I have mixed trollius with hostas and like the contrast. I have recently added yellow ninebark (just below and available at nursery) which I'll keep trimmed to three feet. The Siberian iris will come next year, especially the yellows, to the new hosta display garden and I'm hoping this year's planting of Honey Locust seedlings will find me with some better looking whips and eventually mature yellow locust trees.

For right now I am mixing a few hosta yellows such as Piedmont Gold, Lemon Lime, August Moon, Sunpower, Platinum Tiara, Amber Tiara, Golden Scepter and Summer Music. Here are pictures of the first two I mention.

Well, Gail and Karl are already back so it's a quick breakfast and out the door. If you are sliding by Route 2 today and have a minute, stop and see us. If you cannot stop, give us a toot of friendly gardening encouragement. The Cabot Library is sponsoring an 8 garden tour today starting at 11 with tickets available at the library. While in Cabot stop at the Cabot Creamery and get some cheese. Best there is......like flowers from Vermont Flower Farm!

George Africa
The Vermont Gardener
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Hosta Days continues. Great sales, maybe even some things you haven't seen before!