Speedwell

Speedwell belongs to the genus Veronica which contains colorful perennials that are both upright and creeping. Both the upright and the creeping plant have “terminals” with flower clusters. The upright have long, tall spike like terminals while the creeping have smaller, trailing spikes. Colors may be white, pink, rose, purple or blue depending on the species.

Speedwell needs full sun but will tolerate some shade. The soil should be average to rich, well draining. Divide plants in the spring or fall to control the spread. Speedwell can be as low as 3 to 8 inches (V. prostrata) or as tall as 2 to 6 feet tall (V.virginica). Depending on the species it is hardy in zones 3 to 8.

Celosia

Celosia is a colorful annual that has feathery plumes instead of the usual flower petals. Depending on the species it will grow from 6 to 36 inches tall and may be yellow, white, orange, red, purple, or light pink. It does best in full sun but will tolerate some shade. In the picture above Celosia is shown with hens and chicks and is used as a boarder along the driveway.

Old fashion celosia is not difficult to start form seed in the garden. However the newer hybrids are best started from transplants as they are fussy about moisture and temperature. In either case make sure not to set out the transplants or seed the garden before the soil has warmed sufficiently about 2 to 3 weeks after the last frost. Give transplants plenty of room to branch and be sure to water properly. If celosia is too cold or too dry they will not bloom well once they mature. If you want the plant to become “full” pinch the center bloom which will encourage many smaller plumes.

Be sure to visit your local garden center and ask for celosia. It is a reliable source of long lasting, heat tolerant, color from summer to fall!

Snapdragon

When fall begins many gardeners head to the local garden center to purchase pansies and violas for their fall/winter bedding plants. Many overlook the lovely Snapdragon or "Snap" as some prefer to call
this cool weather flowering plant. In the south the Snapdragon will bloom right along with the pansies you have planted in your garden and will add some height for interest. When spring comes the Snaps will continue a little longer than the pansies.
Snaps are classified by how tall they grow. They can be as low as 6 inches or less or as tall as 3 feet. The blooms can be  double, bell-shaped or azalea-shaped and are white, yellow, purple, pink , lavender or red. The shades of color may be vivid or pastel.
As said Snaps like cool weather. They enjoy night temps of 40 degrees and day temp of 70 degrees. They like full sun but will tolerate a little shade. In the winter they need regular watering. Once they are hardened off they can withstand periods of sub-freezing weather. So it is important to get your transplants out in mid-October in the south to give them a chance to  get established before the very cool weather comes.
If growing the tall snaps a few helpful hints to keep them blooming: when the first spike of flowers fade cut it off at the base of the spike to prevent it from going to seed. This act will also encourage the plant to grow more spikes. These secondary spikes will be smaller but continue to produce flowers. Continue to pinch off old blooms because  if the plant goes to seed it will stop producing flowers.
Snaps are annuals but may self seed in your garden if conditions are right.  So when shopping for colorful fall bedding plants don't forget to pick up some Snapdragons and give them a try.

Vinca (Periwinkle)

Fall garden Vinca Periwinkle

I would like to begin with a clarification of this plant's name. It is well know as Vinca but in actuality it is Madagascar Periwinkle or Periwinkle. Its scientific name is Catharunthus roseus. It originated on the island of Madagascar and that is why it is sometimes referred to by the name of Madagascar Periwinkle.
Its common mane of "vinca" can be confused with the perennial vines vinca major and vinca minor which will be explored under a new blog.
I must say that although I seem to be tired of this plant it does not tire of being wonderful in the garden as a colorful boarder. It prefers full sun but does fine with at least three hours of sunlight. It is moderately drought tolerant and is not the first choice of rabbits and deer. No dead heading is necessary. It can be grown almost anywhere in the US as there are so many cultivators available. Any well-drained soil is fine. It doesn't like to be too wet so regular watering is fine but lightly. Height is 6 - 24 inches and spread is generally equal to the height. BTW it may self seed and show up in next years garden but it remains an annual.
I must confess as my vegetables and other plants give way to the fall process it is very nice to look out my kitchen window and see these white Vinca (Periwinkle) winking at me, almost saying "See, we are worth it!"

Zinnia, Star White

Zinnia angustifolia,'White Star'

It is mid October and my garden is looking thin but this little Zinnia continues to shine! I don't believe I ever planted this particular Zinnia before but once again I am in love! It starts to bloom in late spring and has continuous blooms until frost. Butterflies and bees enjoy this plant also. It is drought tolerant, heat tolerant and mildew resistant. It grows between 8 to 14 inches tall and is spreading in form. It is a gentle, graceful plant with star shaped flowers. This Zinnia likes full sun, well draining soil and light water. I also have Star Gold which I planted in a container with a white Mum. This annual is a little keeper for me!

Confederate Jasmine



Confederate Jasmine at the well.



 Confederate Jasmine is also know as star jasmine. It grows in zones 7 - 10. I may be a Yankee but I love my confederate jasmine! I have researched it on the Internet and do not agree with everything I read, so this is what I know to be true about this wonderful vine.

  It is hardy in Raleigh, NC, zone 7 on the "map ". It is evergreen and has wonderful, fragrant, white flowers in early spring. It seems to be very drought tolerant once established and likes sun or part sun.

We had a very cold winter last and it did brown a bit but not so much that it bothered the plant or myself. What you see in the picture is actually two plants, one planted on each  side of the "well". The plant on the left was a lot slower to get going than the one on the right but they are both doing just fine now. The plants are 4 or 5 years old. I consider it a moderate grower. The Carolina Jasmine is much more aggressive. I have that on my back fence.

Confederate jasmine does need to be pruned once or twice in the summer growing season and it does have a sticky milky substance that oozes out when you cut it. Other than that it is fairly maintenance free.

I love that it is evergreen and the leaves are thick, dark green. Definitely a gardeners keeper in my book!



 

Fall garden

Tivo Le enjoying the fall sun!

 It is fall and Tivo has the right idea, take in a few "rays" in a bed of fallen oak leaves. The sun is lower in the sky these days and my veggie garden no longer gets the amount of sun it needs to be fruitful. So it is time to clean it up and put it to bed for the fall.

I did grow some annuals in my garden that are still showing color. The white vinca, yellow marigolds and a few garden mums, yellow and white. I planted a few pansies very early and now it is time to add to the few I have. I will plant some light blue, white, and yellow as they will show off their color as the days get cooler. They will take the place of the vinca after the frost comes.


The fall garden



This is the time of year I begin to think about what I want to do different next year. This is only the second season I have had a garden in this location. It has done well as I made raised beds and fenced it in to protect my plants from Tivo and the rabbits. Some of my veggies did not do well here this year though and I think the competition for water and light from my very large Oak tree made it difficult. The tree drip line is now just about the middle of the garden. I will keep the garden here as it was too much work to put up the fence but will rethink what I will plant. I am thinking I will place some perennial and a lot of annuals next season with some lettuce for the early spring.

One of the wonderful things about gardening is that you can rework and move things around. Now I don't mean large trees and mature bushes but I do mean perennials and even small bushes. I have moved azaleas, and other small shrubs successfully. I like to be able to mix it up! and "Mother Earth" is happy to let me do it!



Ornamental kale and cabbage

Ornamental kale and cabbage are both cool weather plants that flourish in cool weather. Because they are grown for the use as an ornamental plant it is probably best not to eat any part of the pant as they are probably treated with pesticides or other harmful chemicals. As the weather cools and a frost sets in the colors of the plant should deepen. They are a good choice in the fall/winter garden for interest and color along with pansies. Kale and cabbage are closely related, one forming a head the other not. They will both flower at the end of the season. I recommend them as a fun species to add to the winter garden. Check with your local garden center as to the variety that is available in your area.

Muhly grass



Muhly Grass - Atlantic Ave Orchid  and Garden

This is a picture of Muhlenbergia (myoo-len-BER-jee-ah) capillaris (kap-pill-LAIR-riss), a close cousin to purple muhly (muhlenbergia filipes). According to my research the above is  called hairy awn muhly or purple muhly. No matter they are both very similar differing mainly by muhlenbergia filipes' stouter flowering culms, and a latter blooming time.
They are both clumping, warm weather grasses. They show the beautiful color in the fall as the plant starts to go dormant for the winter. They are deciduous, meaning the top growth will die in the winter, however the leaves will remain for winter interest. Muhlenbergia capillaris (above)grows to about 3 feet by 3 feet, with the culms, (stems) rising another 2 or 3 feet.
This grass does best in full sun and well drained soil. It tolerates drought and wind but like all of us, will take a drink of water when there is a prolonged drought. It's fall flowers add a stunning touch to fresh or dried flower arrangements. Muhlenbergia capillaris is native to Florida. It growes well in zones 7-11.

Hens and Chicks

Hens and chicks are succulents that belong to the Crassulaceae plant family. They are also known by the name of "houseleeks". Hens and chicks are native to Europe and North Africa but can easily be grown in zones  3 to  11. They like full sun but will tolerate some shade especially in the south's hot afternoon sun. They do not like to be consistently moist and will begin to rot from the outside in if given that  condition to live in. They are therefor very drought tolerant and make a good ground cover for a dry sunny location or rock  garden. 
Hens and chicks come in several different colors, lime green, burgundy and purple. Their leaves can be thin and spiky or  thick and rounded with a pointed tip. They are as small as 1cm (.39 inches) or as large as 20cm  (7.87 inches). "Cobweb Houseleek" has fine spider like web  filaments that grow from leaf edge to leaf edge, forming a  white cover on the  top of the plant.
The "mother" hen is a single  rosette  with small chicks or offsets growing from her edges. To propagate simply remove one of the offsets,  and place it in the soil making sure it makes good soil contact. That easy!
The mother hen will reach maturity at 3 or 4 years old. At that time a single stalk will  grow from the center and form a head. The stalk will be about 2 to 10 inches tall and the head will  consist of a cluster of star shaped  flower buds. It will flower for several weeks and will be dark  pink to yellow. Yep you guessed it, it will die after that. But it will have left many "chicks" to keep the family name going!

Grasses, General

When I think of  "grasses"  I think of the large ornamental specimen placed near the edge of the yard's property line or by the driveway to the house.  Many people probably immediately think of the green stuff in their front yard. We are both right from our own perspective but when shopping for "grass" it is good to refer to the grass in your yard as "turf" and the decorative grass as "ornamental grass".
The term "ornamental grass" refers to what is both true grasses, close relatives and grass like plants. As I am not interested in complex botany I will use the term "ornamental grass" to  share about grasses that are used chiefly for ornamental purpose in the garden setting;  true grass and grass like plants.
Briefly ornamental grasses are either classified as warm season or cool season grasses.  Warm season grasses liking of course warm weather, just like me! These grasses thrive in temperatures between 80 and 95 degrees. They grow vigorously, until the fall when they flower and begin a period of dormancy. Like the trees of fall the grass will turn color, the color depending on the particular plant, as it continues on to dormancy. With complete dormancy in the winter the grass will turn tan, wheat, or white and become dry. The foliage will usually stay throughout the winter adding interest to the garden. In spring new growth begins and the cycle continues.
Cool season grasses like temperatures between 60 and 75 degrees and require more moisture than warm season grasses. They begin new growth in the fall or very early spring. The leaves of the cool season grass generally are evergreen and may be red, plum or purple in the winter. These colors will fade as the warm weather takes over. New growths begins again in the fall and the cycle continues.

Brussels sprouts

From my point of view the Brussels sprout plant is unique in looks compared to other garden veggies. The sprouts we eat are of course the future flowers, then seeds, of the plant. I have not grown Brussels sprouts but have read about a technique to help keep your plant producing.
The sprouts start to form on the bottom of the stalk where a leaf grows out. When you see the tiny sprouts begin to form, break off the branches starting at the bottom and continuing up 6 to 8 inches. This technique helps to stimulate growth in the plant so it will grow taller and continue to produce sprouts and it also gives more energy for the sprouts to grow faster. If you continue to strip the branches after you harvest the lower sprouts the plant (should) continue to grow taller and produce more sprouts.
Brussels sprouts are a cool weather plant and some people won't plant them in the spring as they believe they will be bitter in the heat. But if you pick the sprouts when they are very young in the summer they are said to be tender and good to eat. And remember that if the sprouts send out seed stalks the plant is no longer "tasty"!
For fall planting, plant seedlings 10 to 12 weeks before the first fall frost date.

Broccoli

Broccoli is a cool weather crop. Plant early in the spring, 3 or 4 weeks before the last spring frost date. Plant again 6 to 8 weeks before the first average fall frost date. To harvest broccoli cut the center head when the "buds" are lose but before they open. Rub your thumb across the head if the buds are tight let it continue to grow. As soon as they feel lose cut the head even if it seems small for once the head flowers it will go to seed and stop producing. Depending on the broccoli you planted it should continue to produce "side shoots' on the stem which will  develop  small heads. It will continue to produce until the head goes to seed. If you check and collect every other day you should have broccoli for a good while.

Fall Veggies

As the heat of the summer fades into the early sunsets the avid gardener is beginning the fall vegetable garden. Not only is it cooler to work the garden in the fall but there are less pests to bother you and the plants! Here is a helpful little chart to help you plan your fall planting. Keep in mind  you need to know the first fall frost date in your area. In Raleigh, NC we can expect a frost between the end of October and the first week of November. This chart is for sowing seeds directly in the garden:

1.  Broccoli   10 - 12 weeks before the first fall frost
2.  Brussels sprouts  12 - 16 weeks
3.  Cabbage  and  cauliflower 10 - 12 weeks before
4.  Chinese cabbage  8 - 10 weeks before
5.  Kohlrabi   6 -  8 weeks before

For transplants: on average 4 weeks later than above.

1. Broccoli       6 - 8 weeks before
2. Brussels sprouts  10 - 12 weeks
3. Cabbage, cauliflower and Chinese cabbage   6 - 8 weeks

As is the case with so many plants, the timing may be different in your area or even in your backyard!
 

Dahlia

 Dahlia. This is the first time I have ever planted dahlias. I selected the bedding size plants for my first go around. I don't know if it is just by the luck of the draw but this is also the first time I have had a serious whitefly problem. The only plants infested are the dahlias. The good

news is the flowers are doing just fine, the leaves are affected but I guess not serious enough to cause much harm at this time. I did spray with a home-made soap and oil concoction.

The colors of the dahlia are vibrant and my photos do not do them justice. You can find dahlias in red, orange, yellow, pink, burgundy, purple and white. The plant likes full sun and enjoys the coolness of early fall. The tall selection (they can be up to 6 feet) need staking which should be placed in the ground when you plant as not to harm the tubers. If you fertilize use a low nitrogen formula such as 6-12-12. Too  much nitrogen will make the stems weak. Note the larger selections are planted from tubers that are packaged like bulbs. They are specific about how they are planted and directions should come with the purchase of the tubers. Dahlias are considered perennial in zones 4 to 10 but care needs to be given to the tubers during the cold. You could probably save your bedding size plant tubers but that would seem a lot of trouble for the price of new plants. I will choose new if I plant them again.