Epimediums

Epimediums

Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Epimediums are becoming more and more popular each gardening season. We have been growing a few varieties for 10 years now and are just now receiving regular requests. Some things take a while to get established in Vermont!

Here's a very nice blog from Karen Chapman. You'll pick up some new thoughts and some picture ideas which will perhaps help you in your own gardens. Sign up for her blog.

https://lejardinetdesigns.com/2018/04/03/a-spring-perennial-you-need-epimedium

Best gardening wishes!

George Africa

Vermont Flower Farm and Gardens

2263 US Route 2

Marshfield Vermont 05658

Peonies

Bowl of Beauty

Thursday, April 12, 2018

A nice morning on the mountain above Peacham Pond. The sun is out now and the temperature has risen 5 degrees in an hour. Rain is predicted for later this afternoon but for right now, there is a suggestion to get outside and do some clean up work.

I want to post a copy of this recent newsletter from Garden Design Magazine about peonies. With two feet of snow still on the ground here around the house, it seems premature to talk about peonies but the fact is, they will be with us by late June and that's coming quickly.

Here's the article. Peonies are wonderful perennials, easy to grow and they are very nice cut flowers too. And no, they do not need ants to be nice flowers. Ants are on peonies at times because they use the waxy coating on the buds to build their colonies. Try some!  Peonies, not ants!

https://www.gardendesign.com/peony

George Africa

The Vermont Gardener

Vermont Flower Farm and Gardens

Marshfield, Vermont 05658

Always here to help you grow your green thumb!

802-426-3505

vermontflowerfarm@outlook.com

Tool Care

Monday, March 19, 2018

Early morning here on the mountain above Peacham Pond. Another cold night but warmer now at 4.6° than the below zero it was when I was heading to bed. Actually it's still below zero with the wind chill but that seems to be slowing down even though morning is approaching.

Even the best of gardeners stops  in the middle of a project and walks away leaving a favorite tool where he last used it. I'm no different. One time I looked around for my spade fork and found it laying on the ground after it had fallen over right next to where I had planted a perennial. Pot and fork were a reminder but I couldn't find the fork in the shed where it was supposed to be.

With deep snow here in Vermont and winter weather hanging on, it's a good time to clean up your hand tools for the coming spring. It doesn't require much to do a good job but it does take some time. Here is a link to one of the garden blogs I read regularly, Serenity in the Garden. The article is named Time to Renew Your Garden Tools and it offers simple, easy to follow advice on what to do and what not to do to get your tools ready for another season. I like it!

http://serenityinthegarden.blogspot.com/2018/03/time-to-renew-your-garden-tools.html


Writing from the mountain above Peacham Pond where it's even too cold to think about starting seeds inside--but I do think about spring, warmer weather, daffodils!

George Africa
The Vermont Gardener
Vermont Flower Farm

Allium Leafminer

The Allium Leafminer

Here's a recent article about another insect gardeners should be on the lookout for. Although the allium leafminer has become a serious problem with edible alliums, I am seriously concerned about alliums which have become so popular in our flower gardens. Purple Sensation, Globemaster, the blue allium,  A.caeruleum, the yellow allium, A. moly, and A. cristophii are examples. 

If you see examples of this troublesome insect in your gardens, otify your Department of Agriculture.

https://entomologytoday.org/2018/03/08/invasive-fly-threatens-north-american-onions-leeks-and-related-crops

George Africa

The Vermont Gardener

Vermont Flower Farm

Marshfield, Vermont