THE DAYLILY DISPLAY GARDEN

THE DAYLILY DISPLAY GARDEN

A below zero morning with wind gusts in the 15-22 mph range. Not a nice day to travel as the wind is blowing the snow so hard that visibility at times is difficult. Just the same, memories of summer and gardens makes everything seem a great deal better. Here are some pictures of our daylily display garden from mid July when the daylilies were just beginning to look nice.

Years ago Gail hired a young college aged guy for a couple-three summers. This was when we were getting the  flower farm set up and Austin got this daylily display garden started after Brien Ducharme layed out some incredible stones. Austin was like Alex, he had no fear of using a shovel and he planted a couple hundred clumps of daylilies to get us going. Now twelve years later the garden is still not what I want it to be but it's getting closer. It's certainly worth a look-see if you come to visit.

The garden now has well over 300 clumps of the +700 daylilies we raise and those daylilies have plenty of company. 20 varieties of astilbes (we grow 55 varieties)  join 5 varieties of vernonia/ironweed  and three varieties of veronicastrun which add some height. Ninebark Diabolo, some Dolgo crab apples, and half a dozen different dwarf conifers add to the mix. Hollyhocks in whites, dark reds, roses, and yellows are planted here and there. Garden phlox are coming along and should look great in 2019 in the company of butterfly weed, 400 liatris, helenium 'Salsa', a turtlehead name 'Hot Lips', and three varieties of monarda/bee balm. Jacob Cline, Raspberry Wine and Gardenview Scarlet.  Jody and Michelle planted a couple bushels of daffodils this fall so they should catch your eye as you pass along Route 2 this spring.It's coming!

Gail is our authority on Hydrangea paniculata and she has this habit of laying out pots of new-to-us varieties she thinks will look nice incorporated with the daylilies. I'm the planter! Little Quickfire, Zinfin Doll, Invincibelle Wee White and Pillow Talk are some I remember planting this fall. There may be others. One thing is certain.... in 2019 this will be one  very nice garden. Come visit!

George Africa
The Vermont Gardener
Vermont Flower Farm and Gardens
Marshfield Vermont

MAYAPPLE

PODOPHYLLUM  PELTATUM

Sometimes it takes me a while to catch up with a plant I have been looking for. Last summer I found a Vermont wholesaler and I didn't even ask the price, I just bought myself some. Mayapple. I wanted to add some to the perimeter of a shade garden but especially wanted them because they pop up early, have a nice shape, a noteworthy little flower to which a fruit follows. Buying them created trouble from those who, like me, were looking for them for a while. I could tell what the question would be whenever I saw lips pursing "Where....?" (did you find those? I did not sell many last year and may not have any for sale this year. Too early to tell. The plants are poisonous but I still think they are neat! Still interested?

Here's a link from the University of Wisconsin which will provide a few more details. I am intrigued by mention that it belongs to the barberry family too.  Read on!

https://wimastergardener.org/article/mayapple-podophyllum-peltatum

Best gardening wishes!

George Africa

Vermont Flower Farm & Gardens

Marshfield Vermont 05658

HOLLYHOCKS

Hollyhock Seed Pods Drying On The Stalk

Hollyhock Seeds

Hollyhock plant showing root system

Hollyhocks are admired, especially by older gardeners who remember them from their youth at times when hollyhocks were planted near every barn, outbuilding, outhouse, house door, woodshed. Rarely do I grow any for sale because they require care when transplanting because of their root system as evident in the last picture here. If the roots are injured when transplanting, they will look great for the balance of the growing season but probably will not overwinter. I hear questions all the time from people who have had repeated failures and tell me they must have a black thumb. The issue is the roots, not the color of the gardener's thumb!

The easiest way to grow hollyhocks successfully is to start with seeds. They need sun, benefit from good soil, and do not need a great deal of moisture. Plant them in the spring by sprinkling them on the ground and then covering the seed lightly. They will bloom the following year. Single and double flowering types are available.

If they are planted in a windy location, stake them early on or they might topple and be lost for the season. This happened to me last July. They typically produce copious amounts of seed as shown here and the seed can be picked  and direct seeded in the fall or saved until spring. If you want an individual color .....say white, dark red or dark pink....... order early as these flowers are not grown for seed as much as they were even 15 years ago.

Hollyhocks are best planted at the back of the border or some distance from walkways because they are a natural magnet to Japanese beetles and they are susceptible to rust. Neither of these problems will kill the plants but will discolor and misshape the leaves. If you plant them back a bit, neither problem will be obvious.

My mother used to dry hollyhock blossoms in a 50-50 mix of Borateam (boraxo) and corn meal.  Mix well and then layer the bottom of a container (she used to save shoe boxes for this)  with the mix and then spread out the blossoms so they don't touch. Cover with a layer of the mix, add another layer of the blossoms and continue on. In about two weeks they will be dried and can be used in dried flower arrangements by threading a plant wire through the center. They hold the color very well! Surprise!

Best gardening wishes!

George Africa
Vermont Flower Farm and Gardens
Marshfield, Vermont

Welcome Back!

December 12, 2018

Welcome back to The Vermont Gardener.  We have completed another successful season growing flowers and have retreated to our home here on the mountain above Peacham Pond for the winter. We hope that you followed us during our programs at the flower farm or on our Facebook postings at either my George Africa site (https://www.facebook.com/george.africa) or at our FB business site Vermont Flower Farm & Gardens (https://www.facebook.com/Vermont-Flower-Farm-Gardens-198640921659). Perhaps you have begun reading our monthly article on The North Star Monthly (http://www.northstarmonthly.com) , or maybe you read the article  about growing astilbes that we contributed to in Fine Gardening Magazine's last Spring issue.  You might have seen some of our commentaries on other social media sites which discuss horticultural,  flower gardening in the northeast,  or Vermont hardy perennials including astilbes, baptisia, daylilies, hellebores, hostas, hydrangeas, iris, lilacs, monarda, primula, pulmonaria, trollius....on and on. We truly love flowers and hope you do to.

Now that the gardens are put to bed for a few months we are ready to get back to writing. If you have topics you wish to see developed, drop me a line at vermontflowerfarm@outlook.com or call 802-426-3505. Besides growing fine perennials for your gardens, we feel obligated to share good information with you. Growing green thumbs is part of that! Follow us!

Daylilies on Display

It was October 2007, when I decided to build a daylily display garden parallel to Route 2, the location of the "new" Vermont Flower Farm. I hired Marshfield native Brien Ducharme to bring in loads of large stones on the last day he owned his log truck. I always remember him driving up in his pick up about 2 in the afternoon and asking if I still wanted him to do the work. I said "Yes please" and hours later the design of the garden was mapped out in thousands of pounds of large stones. 

Today as I walk the garden, I'm ever so happy I moved on with the project. The garden is now home to well over 350 of the +700 varieties of daylily we grow-- as well as a few dwarf conifers, some ironwoods, garden phlox, wiegelea, ninebarks, and hydrangeas. These all grow near two acres of daylilies on one side of our office and sales center and another acre on the other side. It's worth a visit. The daylilies are wonderful right now but so are the astilbes, hostas, hydrangeas and an assortment of Vermont hardy perennials. July is the time for a visit, a walk, a tour. Come visit! We think you will agree that it was worth the drive!

George Africa

The Vermont Gardener

Vermont Flower Farm and Gardens

2263 US Route 2

Marshfield, Vermont 05658

Our Hosta Display Garden

Thursday, June 28, 2018

A shutterbug friend stopped by today and suggested I get into the hosta garden for some picture taking for those who may not have been able to see the garden yet. Cameras never have bothered me although I admit that my 70 years are showing more than before. Here are various pictures. The whole garden is not covered but you can get an idea what it currently looks like. If you are out and about  this holiday, stop by and say hello. Bring your water bottle as it sounds like it will be hot.

George Africa

Vermont Flower Farm

2263 US Route 2

Marshfield Vermont 05658

A Garden of Change

 Tuesday, June 12, 2018

A cold morning here at the flower farm. 39.1° right now but rising to +70° by noontime. Everything seems to be growing despite the lack of water. The weather folks said June would be cooler and it is but the lack of rain is very obvious. Rain is predicted for tomorrow and I do hope that materializes.

Everyone who likes hostas and their companions cannot make it to our place so I am posting more pictures. I'm really busy so do not have time to add comments to each but take a look and forward questions if you have any. We are giving tours every day because the hosta are all large enough by now that the name tags are hidden. The great thing about the garden is you can see the actual mature size and plan for your own gardens.

A great resource if you love hostas is the Hosta Library. http://hostalibrary.org. The thousands of different hostas which are pictured have an accompanying database which provides great information on the plant, sports, sizes, etc. Take a look.

Best gardening wishes from your friends at Vermont Flower Farm and Gardens!

George Africa

2263 US Route 2

Marshfield Vermont 05658

802-426-3506

A Hosta Display Garden To Visit

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

It's a busy time at the flower farm. The weather has been up and down and today as example is a day to have a jacket and be prepared for showers. I want to point out  that our hosta display garden is in its prime right now and deserves a visit if you're in the area.

Over 500 hostas are displayed with a variety of accompanying shade related plants. Hostas from 2" tall to 7 feet tall are available in various stages of development. These pictures should give you an idea of why a visit will become something to remember. Come see us!

George Africa

Vermont Flower Farm and Gardens