Bloom Explosion

Saturday, July 7, 2012

Saturday morning already and the predicted rain has just begun. Karl the Wonder Dog just returned from his morning walk but right now he is hiding under my desk. We both heard a clap of thunder and Karl doesn't do well with the unexpected. I have been thinking of buying him a thunder jacket to try as they seem to get great reviews. Does anyone have comments on one for their dog?

The flower farm has shown a little more business this week but it's waiting for summer traffic which just has not started yet in Vermont. I have visited a couple larger garden centers and was one of the few visitors so I know it's not just Vermont Flower Farm that is waiting for customers. Vermont's economy is not what officials tell us it is.

Daylilies are beginning to bloom and they serve as a visitor magnet as many have not seen the available colors. The early blooming yellows and oranges have be joined by every color but blue and pots are getting loaded into cars at a rate that is making me a little happier.

Red Rum up top has taken a few years to get settled into our gardens and now it's producing well. It is not a bright red like some people like but the shade works well with many complimentary colors, especially the blues and pale yellows. The profusion of bloom makes folks smile too.

Stamile's older release of Omomuki is not just another yellow (just below here) It has great substance and it blooms on thick scapes over a long time. I love the edge and the fact that in heavy summer rains it holds tight and does not fade. It also does not brown up on the edges if it gets bruised by heavy rain like Imperial Lemon sometimes does.

People either love reds or they hate them and they are quite vocal about their persuasion. Red Volunteer is perfect for the "lovers". This is a taller daylily on thick scapes and it produces blooms for a long period. It is a vigorous grower and I have found myself doing exercises before dividing clumps after a few years growth. If you grow one, you'll know what I mean.

Wayside King Royale is a purple with yellow throat that is a "must have" as far as I am concerned. I planted 30 of them in a group down in front of the hosta display garden and when they bloom, the show from Route 2 and from our parking lot is noticeable for sure. The bloom period is long and you don't like to see it end. We have this daylily in pots and also dig from the gardens if you are interested.


If you're out and about today, stop and see the daylilies beginning to bloom. There are umbrellas available if it's raining but remember that we close everything down and retreat inside the office if there is thunder in the air. Respect yourself and don't ask if you can walk the fields in a thunderstorm. Some people ask and I make a very "just-ate-a lemon-face" when I have to say "No!!!!" Common sense is always available at Vermont Flower Farm and it comes for free....kinda like our sign, a crafted gift from friends Dianna and Tracey---"Free Weeds"

Writing from the mountain above Peacham Pond where light rain continues as a little chipmunk drinks sugar water from the honey bees feeder and washes its feet together while looking straight at me.

George Africa
The Vermont Gardener
Vermont Flower Farm Open 9-5 every day until Labor Day
On Facebook at Vermont Flower Farm and Gardens and also at George Africa
On Twitter as vtflowerfarm
And at the farm where we are always available to help you grow your green thumb!

Morning Drips and Drops

Vera Biaglow

Sunday, August 23, 2009

64 degrees here on the mountain this morning. It rained again last night but not enough to amount to much. Some places in Vermont are still cleaning up from Friday's downpours but here the rain was limited and the gardens are dry enough that even the zinnias are almost falling over.

Karl the Wonder Dog was up again at 4:30 begging to go out. Morning walks are common in our house as it's a nice way to start the day. It's trickier now because the sun is still sleeping until almost 6 and the local bear population is staying close to the house eating choke cherries and creating scents that Karl cannot avoid. This morning the walk was going fine until Karl jumped off the roadbed and growled and barked as something heavy crashed through the brush. My aging eyes couldn't even pick up a form but there was an odor in the air suggesting to me that it was probably a bear. They don't practice great hygiene!

Rococo

I like this spider. It's an older one, a vigorous grower and the right height to show off it's special curl.

Yesterday at the nursery was a good day for us. In Vermont, the governor came up with this "no tax day" which makes no sense at all but some people love it so they can save a couple bucks on big ticket items like washers and dryers, stoves or furnaces. People will drive a hundred miles to save $60 on something they should have bought anyway but they think they are getting a good deal. All the financial pundits say this makes no sense but the Governor is the top dog and just like Karl he can jump off the road if he wants to. For us it means that no one shows up at the nursery until after they have done the "important" shopping.

About 2PM yesterday I told Gail to go home and I'd call her if I needed help with customers. She had been gone a little over an hour when I looked up from pulling weeds and six cars had rolled in to look at daylilies. I called for help and got digging. The balance of the day until 5:30 was busy and that was good. Gardeners like sales and bought several anenomes, a few astilbes and lots of bare roots. I dug 15 daylilies and Gail probably dug another six. It was sticky hot but at closing time we celebrated the good day and began to dig bare roots for today's sales.

Although the field is not as colorful as it was three weeks earlier, many of the later daylilies are worthy of note. Remember that we go for the older daylilies, not the newer, more expensive ones but we can offer real good clumps at "not bad" prices. You kind of have to see the place to understand what we sell.

Here are a few more pictures of what is blooming or just finishing up. Stop by for a visit if you can!

Omomuki

Dragon's Eye
Smaller bloom, good bud count.

Catherine Woodbery

Sometimes people miss on the spelling but this old flower, now on 4 foot tall scapes in the garden, waves like colorful flags, drawing in honey and flower bees from afar.

Beauty To Behold

I really like this plant but it doesn't sell that well. Lots of bloom substance and a great bud count that goes on and on but I guess the shorter statute and the way the bloom is held to the plant body detracts from what folks want.

Bama Music

We are selling these as bare roots today. Can't miss that bargin!

Amazon Parrot

This is one of Alex's choices from some time back. It finished blooming Friday but has been very popular this year even though it's been around a few years.



Have to go!

Good gardening wishes from the mountain and the nursery!. Stop by and visit if you can. We are open every day until Labor Day, then by chance or appointment.

George Africa
The Vermont Gardener

Web sales continue year 'round at http://vermontflowerfarm.com