Thursday, July 11, 2019

Back around 2007 when the Coastal Maine Botanical Garden was finishing up construction, I paid special attention to how they planted masses of the same flower near the parking lot lights and carried the use of mass plantings through the entire garden. At the time I was trying to figure out the piece of swampy land that would become our hosta display garden/shade plant garden. After I drained the area and removed the cattails and alders, I added lindens, yellow locusts and half a dozen hybrid maples. That's when it became obvious that planting 6 different daylilies in masses between each tree along the edge of the garden would give a great look from Route 2. I planted 25-30 daylilies between each set of trees as you can see from this picture of Daylily Lemon Lollypop. Over time we sold out popular daylilies such as Wayside King Royale but the timing was consistent with the growth of the trees and the extra shade they provided which was more than the daylilies preferred. Today the shade opportunities are more conducive to hostas and since the +600 hostas has maxed out the initial planting area, the new space is working well. If you stop by you'll see how the mass of daylilies works and also see the new hostas we are adding to the understory. If you are contemplating a new or restored garden, keep these thoughts in mind. If you need help with a garden design, Gail does excellent design. Don't expect to come away with a CAD presentation, expect a garden design with plants that are low maintenance and Vermont hardy. Give Gail a call at 802-426-3506 or email at vermontflowerfarm@outlook.com and she'll set up a time for you. #hostadisplaygarden; #shadegardens; #massplantings; #vtflowerfarm;

George Africa
Vermont Flower Farm
2263 US 2
Marshfield Vermont 05658

http://vermontflowerfarm.com
On Facebook as George Africa and also as Vermont Flower Farm and Gardens

LILY OF THE VALLEY

Lily of the Valley

Another soggy morning here at the flower farm after another 2.4" of rain over the past 30 hours. This time the Winooski River did not come over the banks but the ground is wet just the same. I just dug 50 holes for sunflowers which I have postponed planting for as long as I dare wait. I am hoping that the wet soil and a couple 80 degree days coming this Sunday and Monday might push them along. I plant hills of the giant flower types just as attention getters but plant the Pro-Cut series in different colors for cut flowers. I always buy my seed from Johnnys in Maine but the way spring has been in the East this Spring, it might still take more than great seed to get nice flowers.

I am writing a quick note this morning after having the fourth person stop here in three days asking for Lily of the Valley. When I was a kid I remember my Dad picking bouquets for my mother as soon as they bloomed. She loved the fragrance and loved to have little vases here and there around the house. When we moved to Vermont in the early 50s I remember my Dad shoveled clumps into cardboard boxes and brought them along. They are probably still doing well up on Church Hill Road in Woodstock where we lived.

My point in writing about them today is to remind everyone that Lily of the Valley (Muguet de Bois), is in the top 5 list of poisonous plants in the east. They have beautiful little white or pink bells and wonderful fragrance, but they are poisonous and will cause spontaneous trouble leading to death. On top of that, they are on the invasive list in many states and over a short time will take over your gardens. People use them as a ground cover but I ask that you consider the less favorable attributes before planting them. Please. If you have children, think again about growing them.

Writing from Vermont Flower Farm where summer is welcomed but a few days of warmer weather would be nice. Come visit us at 2263 US 2, Marshfield Vermont. We are here 7 days a week through October.

George Africa

The Vermont Gardener

Spring Arrives Differently

Saturday, April 20, 2019

Spring arrives differently depending upon where you live. I always read the latest home and garden notes from the University of Connecticut's newsletter because Connecticut is just far enough from Vermont that it often lends encouragement that spring really is coming soon. Here's the URL for that blog.

 https://uconnladybug.wordpress.com/2019/04/20/yellows-of-spring-and-a-few-other-colors

This has been a terrible winter in Vermont, unless I suppose, you like outdoor winter sports. The snow totals this winter were exceptional and even after fours days of warm weather and heavy rains, our highest mountain, Mt. Mansfield, still has over 100 inches of snow at the top. As I write, many places in Vermont are flooded as Lake Champlain surpassed it's 100 foot flood stage yesterday and the main rivers that flow into it including Otter Creek, the Winooski River, the Lamoille River and the Missisquoi have flooded roads, homes and businesses in many locations. Emergency management folks and insurance adjusters will be busy for some time. 

Just the same, better weather is coming and the spring ephemerals will make us feel happier. The Connecticut Home and Garden Newsletter mentions some flowers and shrubs that are flowering down there but it will be a month in some parts of Vermont before we see the same colors. Across the Winooski River at our flower farm, there are 4 feet of snow on the ground and the river itself is less than  1.5 feet from coming over the banks. Down the road from us only a half mile, the fields have been flooded for two days. The fields have become waterfowl habitat which represents the fun part of watching those floods. All sorts of ducks, Canada geese, and Great Blue Heron are common. Two days ago I spotted a mature Balf Eagle fly by as I drove across the flat entering Plainfield from the west. I have never been that close to an eagle in Vermont.

Bloodroots, both single and double flowered are a favorite of mine. They are often found along the banks of rivers where soil tends to be moist and alluvial with a seasonal replenishment of organic material thanks to the high waters. They are one of many spring flowers that will show color in coming weeks. If you get a chance when this rain passes, get out and about and witness the beauty of spring. If you pass Vermont Flower Farm and the gates are open, stop by and say hello. We don't open until Mothers Day but we're happy to discuss flowers and answer questions any day.

Writing from the mountain above Peacham Pond where the fog is forming and the temperatures are decreasing. Be well and Happy Easter!

George Africa
The Vermont Gardener
Vermont Flower Farm and Gardens
2263 US 2
Marshfield VT 05658

I write regularly on Facebook as George Africa and also on a Like Page, Vermont Flower Farm and Gardens. I write monthly on some aspect of gardening for The North Star Monthly and follow gardening media from around the world. If you have questions, write me at vermontflowerfarm@outlook.com or call at 1-802-426-3505.

Impatiens Downy Mildew

Friday, March 29, 2019

During the past year and especially last spring when gardeners were thinking about what annuals they usually grow or purchase for their gardens, I mentioned that progress was being made with Impatiens Downy Mildew which in previous years knocked out impatiens in much of the East Coast but also in many points worldwide. I mentioned how the plant industry was recommending many other plants as substitutes which like impatiens could tolerate some shade. New Guinea Impatiens were recommended as were various seed begonias and coleus.

I am offering this research update because I don't want to leave folks thinking that the problems are gone and impatiens purchases will be completely fine this year. Obviously, there is a wide chain of seed and there is always the possibility that seed that grew plants that were susceptible to IDM is still out there and might be used. 

This article from one of Ball Seed's publications says that things are looking better in the research arena but final research and testing, eventual seed production, growing and testing, are still required. I was interested to see mentioned that the disease was in the soil for a long time but only in very recent years did it begin to multiply. I will never be a scientist but I do know that half a degree in temperature change has taught me how quickly new insects make their way to Vermont and invasive plants or plants we never before saw as invasive are suddenly overtaking areas where we previously planted them intentionally after purchasing them from dependable nurseries and greenhouses we had used for years. 

Check out the news release and keep a good eye on all your plants!

https://www.growertalks.com/Article/?articleid=23505

George Africa

The Vermont Gardener

Bumblebee Watch

Friday, March, 29, 2019

It might be strange for me to be talking about bumblebees when there is still 4 feet of snow on the ground outside my office window but bumblebees are a bee I will be studying this summer. I have always been interested in bumblebees and for years at the flower farm, I have intentionally grown a few rows of Helianthus 'Lemon Queen' which appears to be a regional magnet for various pollinators including bumblebees. I joined up with the Xerces Society last month and just noticed a blog about a study being conducted by York University in Toronto, Canada. Part of the project is identifying Pacific Northwest bumblebee species in the states of Washington, Oregon and Idaho.  Long haul from Vermont and the east, right????

Take a look at  https://www.bumblebeewatch.org/ and click on the Bumblebee Species tab and when it opens, on the top right is a drop down for bee species. As you click through each one you'll notice a map of the Continental US at the bottom which is shaded for each bumblebee's geographic presence. Surprisingly, many of the bumblebees which live in the west also live in the east.

My experience so far is that from year to year there are more or fewer bumblebee species at the flower farm. This past summer it was exceptionally dry and the bee populations were very high in number. This was true of all insects including butterflies and moths. During springtimes when snowmelt has been slow and snow was deep, to begin with, bumblebee numbers have been down. I have always attributed this to rodents seeking out queens and eliminating the opportunity for a ground hive early in the summer season. I may be wrong on that but Spring 2019 will be a great year to test the theory after all the snow we have received. If you notice a queen flying around your gardens, check the species pictures and try to identify which one you have.

Writing from the mountain above Peacham Pond where +40 evening grosbeaks are cleaning up birdseed right now.

George Africa
The Vermont Gardener
vermontflowerfarm.com
On Facebook as George Africa and also as Vermont Flower Farm & Gardens
Just today wrote about migratory birds returning to western Vermont