Organic Gardening

Since accidentally destroying some of my roses by using weed killer near them, I have returned to not using chemicals. However, I spend a lot of time in the spring removing unwanted grass and weeds by hand from our small garden. Last year, I purchased compost at Costco for one of our garden beds. Brendan recently told me that the plants in that bed are looking great. After watching some of this video, I think that I know why.

Scabiosa 'Blue Note'

Photo taken June 28, 2011

I planted four 'Blue Note' Scabiosas in the garden, interspersing them with yellow Marigolds.

Marian Name: Our Lady's Pincushion
Botanical Name: Dwarf Pincushion Flower 'Blue Note'

Description: Large flowering and floriferous bloomer produces clear blue button flowers that are great cut.

Light: Full sun
Soil: Well drained soil.
Height: 8-10"

Salvia nemorosa 'Marcus'

Salvia nemorosa 'Marcus'

When I saw Salvia nemorosa 'Marcus' (Dwarf Meadow Sage), I thought it might look good in front of my Angel Daisies. Time will tell if I was right.

Angel Daisies and Salvia nemorosa ' Marcus'

Description: This dwarf salvia produces compact spikes of richly colored blooms that are excellent in fresh or died cut arrangements. Great for mass planting the perennial garden. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds and is deer resistant.

Care: Remove spent flowers to encourage additional blooms. Water weekly during dry spells.

Light: Full sun or part shade

Height: Grows to 12" tall
Width: Grows to 12" wide

Hardy Geranium sanguineum 'Max Frei'

Geranium sanguineum 'Max Frei'

When I saw this Geranium at Fred Meyer, I knew that I wanted to add it to our garden. Brendan and Theresa (my shopping companions) agreed that it would look good and it is now planted in our front garden bed.

Marian Name: Madonna's Pins
Botanical Name: Geranium sanguinem 'Max frei'
Common Name: Cranesbill 'Max frei'

Description: Vibrant magenta flowers on compact mounded form bloom May through September. Lovely in the rock garden or at garden's edge. Attractive leaves have scarlet fall color.

Foliage: Herbaceous
Light: Full sun to partial sun
Height: 4-6"
Width: 24"

Platycodon grandiflora Mini Balloon White (Balloon Flower)

I received three of these healthy looking plants from Bluestone Perennials. I was excited to see them arrive looking very healthy and green.

Height: Short 12-16" / Plant 12" apart
Bloom Time: Early Summer to Late Summer
Sun-Shade: Full Sun to Mostly Sunny
Zones: 3-9 Get Your Zone
Soil Condition: Normal, Acidic
Flower Color / Accent: White / White

Description: Pure white balloon pods pop open to 5-petalled starry blooms. A perfect perennial for the novice garden. Absolutely carefree and easy to grow. Long lived, disease and pest free. Platycodons are slow to emerge in the spring but worth the wait. 

Features to Note: Avoid Wetness, Plants that attract Butterflies, Good for Cut Flowers

General Information: Avoid too moist (wet feet), good cut flower. Late to show in the spring. 

Plant Care: Plants can be cut back by half in late May/Early June to promote bushiness and compact habit.

http://www.bluestoneperennials.com/b/bp/PLBWS.html

Mammoth Mum Bronze Daisy

I wouldn't have dreamed of adding bronze flowers to my garden, but this mammoth mum was included in a grab bag that I received from Spring Hill Nursery. The color should complement fall and so I planted it in a sunny location that the plant seems to like.

Botanical Name: Chrysanthemum morifolium

Height: 36-42"
Space: 5'
Sun Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Shade

Viola Etain (Violet, Pansy)

Theresa was happy to plant three of these flowers in her Our Lady of Grace Mary Garden. They arrived from Bluestone Perennials looking a little bedraggled with a lot of brown and yellow leaves around their bases, but they also had a few buds and a couple of spent flowers. They should like their new location and perk up soon.

Photo taken July11, 2011

Religious Name: Trinity Flower

Height: Short 6-8" / Plant 8" apart
Bloom Time: Spring to Summer
Sun-Shade: Mostly Sunny to Full Shade
Zones: 5-8
Soil Condition: Normal, Sandy, Acidic
Flower Color / Accent: Yellow / Lavender

Description: Large pale lemon yellow blossoms with elegant lavender margins. Very floriferous in spring and early summer, it reblooms lightly through the whole season. Lovely fragrance - best in cool, moist setting. Avoid full sun in the south. In spring, purple edges develop as temperatures warm up.

Features to Note: Good for Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Long Blooming 4 weeks or more

General Information: Like miniature Pansies but blooming continuously right through the warmest summer. Perfectly hardy, we have seen them blooming here as the snow melts away. A vibrant splash of color.

Plant Care: Remove seed heads to prevent prolific seeding.

http://www.bluestoneperennials.com/b/bp/VIETS.html

Phlox paniculata Red Riding Hood (Garden Phlox)

I ordered Red Riding Hood Phlox from Bluestone Perennials because of its color and fragrance. I was disappointed to find that one of the plants was broken and many of the leaves were yellowed and/or spotted. Hopefully, they survive.

Height: Medium 20" / Plant 18" apart
Bloom Time: Summer to Early Fall
Sun-Shade: Full Sun
Zones: 4-8 Get Your Zone
Soil Condition: Normal, Clay, Acidic, Sandy
Flower Color / Accent: Red / Red

Description: Strong grower with huge fragrant flower heads on more compact bushier plants. Cherry red. One of the best reds. 

Plant Care: Deadheading can prolong bloom time. Heavy feeder. To force side shoots and secondary blooms, pinch out main flower head when it starts to decline.

General Information:  Prefers a moist soil, good cut flower, fragrant, best selection for the coldest areas (zone 3 & 4), Not for the Gulf states. 

Features to Note: Wet Tolerant, Good for Cut Flowers, Fragrant , OK in containers - see FAQ for overwintering, Not tolerant of Humidity, Plants that attract Butterflies, Plants that attract Hummingbirds, Long Blooming 4 weeks or more

http://www.bluestoneperennials.com/b/bp/PHRRS.html

Photo will be added when they bloom.

Campanula cochlearifolia Bavarian Blue (Harebell, Canterbury Bells)

We purchased these pretty flowers to spill over the edge of some rocks that surround our evergreen azalea. Each year, I plant white alyssum and blue lobelia around the base of this area. It is my hope that the Bavarian blue campanulas will look pretty spilling over the rocks above and will complement the red, white, and blue below.

The three Bavarian Blue Campanulas came from Bluestone Perennials and look very healthy.

Height: Short 6" / Plant 10-12" apart
Bloom Time: Late Spring to Summer
Sun-Shade: Full Sun to Half Sun/ Half Shade
Zones: 5-8 Get Your Zone
Soil Condition: Normal, Clay
Flower Color / Accent: Blue / Blue

Description: Sky blue miniature trumpets cascade down the waxy low growing foliage in a living carpet of color. Neat and colorful all summer. Trouble free. 

General Information: Vigorous sprawling star covered beauty. Perfect spilling over edges. 

Plant Care: Remove about a third of the plant after blooming to freshen the foliage.

Features to Note: OK in containers - see FAQ for overwintering

http://www.bluestoneperennials.com/b/bp/CABBS.html

As always, I will try to add a photo when they bloom.

Geranium 'Rozanne' (Cranesbill)

Photo taken July 18, 2011

Geranium 'Rozanne' arrived from Bluestone Perennials looking somewhat sparse with a lot of yellow leaves and a very dry pot. I don't think that it benefited from spending the weekend at the UPS facility. However, I do think that this geranium likes its new location in our garden. In just a few days, it has started getting some new leaves. Hopefully, it will continue to get more leaves and the plant will start to look more like the photos that I have seen.

Height: Medium 20" / Plant 24" apart
Bloom Time: Early Summer to Fall
Sun-Shade: Full Sun to Half Sun/ Half Shade
Zones: 5-8
Soil Condition: Normal, Sandy, Acidic
Flower Color / Accent: Blue / Blue

Description: Extremely long blooming - even through the heat of August. Mounded, slightly marbled foliage turns attractively red in fall. Very heat tolerant. Has received top ratings in trials everywhere! Flowers are deeper blue (see note in General Info). Rozanne will spread to fill in with moist organic soil, otherwise not aggressive. A Blooms of Bressingham selection. Patented. Large pots.

Features to Note: Deer Resistant, Blooms of Bressingham Selections, OK in containers - see FAQ for overwintering, Long Blooming 4 weeks or more, Edgers

 

General Information: Mounded in form. Cranesbill is a favorite for its excellent habit, and late spring to summer blooming period. Flowers remain nestled among the leaves. Note* Several people have reported that flower color can be "off" as the plant re-acclimates to a new setting. The blue color should reliably appear on new growth.

Plant Care: Can be cut back hard after the first main bloom, or at any time, and will soon releaf and even bloom again.

http://www.bluestoneperennials.com/b/bp/GEROP.html

Arizona Sun Gaillardia

I really like blanket flowers and was therefore very happy to see that four Arizona Sun Gaillardias were included in a grab bag that I received from Spring Hill Nursery.

Marian Name: Mary's Face
Botanical Name: Gaillardia aristata 'Arizona Sun'

Form: Herbaceous perennial

Pruning: Remove spent flowers.
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Height/Habit: 8 - 10"
Spread: 10 - 12"
Spacing: 12 - 15"

http://springhillnursery.com/arizona-sun-gaillardia/p/68528/

Note: Add photo when bloom.

Viola Rebecca (Violetta, Viola, Pansy)

We planted these three healthy looking plants in front of one of our fir trees. I am anxious to see them flower.

Height: Short 8" / Plant 10" apart
Bloom Time: Summer to Fall
Sun-Shade: Mostly Sunny to Full Shade
Zones: 5-8 Get Your Zone
Soil Condition: Normal, Sandy, Acidic

Flower Color / Accent: White / Purple

Description: Clump forming Violetta does not spread. Enticing vanilla fragrance, evergreen foliage. Best in some shade - perfect under deciduous trees. Reblooms consistently if sheared when blooming begins to decline. Flowers are white flushed in lemon yellow with deep violet markings. 

Features to Note: OK in containers - see FAQ for overwintering, Evergreen, Fragrant , Edgers, Good for Cut Flowers, Good for Dried Flowers, Long Blooming 4 weeks or more

General Information: Like miniature Pansies but blooming continuously right through the warmest summer. Perfectly hardy, we have seen them blooming here as the snow melts away. A vibrant splash of color. 

Plant Care: Remove seed heads to prevent prolific seeding.
http://www.bluestoneperennials.com/b/bp/VIRES.html

Twilight Coneflower

This flower also came from Spring Hill Nursery. It is currently very small, but I am looking forward to seeing it bloom this year.

Description: Sweet Fragrance Smells Like a Rose! Rose-red petals create a romantic display in your garden in mid to late summer. Flower heads up to 4" across encircle a large, deep red cone center. Bright color as well as the sweet rose-like fragrance make it a favorite of butterflies. 24-30" tall. Ships in a 3" pot. PP17651. Echinacea ‘Twilight’.

Light: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Botanical Name: Echinacea x 'Twilight' PP17,651
Form: Herbaceous perennial
Sun Exposure: Partial Shade/Full Sun
Height/Habit: 24 - 30"
Spread: 18 - 24"
Spacing: 18 - 24"
Hardiness Zone: 4 - 9

Foliage Type: Lance shaped to ovate, medium green leaves with toothed edges.

Flower Form: Flower heads up to 4" across with slightly reflexed petals that overlap and surround a large cone center.

Flower Color: Rose red with a hint of orange surrounding a large deep red cone center.

Flowering Date: Mid to late summer

Planting Requirements: Very adaptable to soil and climate conditions. Blooms best in full sun.

Soil Requirements: Well drained soil.

Growth Rate: Moderate

Unique Characteristics: The third Echinacea in the Big Sky TM series developed by Itsaul Nurseries of Atlanta Georgia resulting from a cross of E. purpurea and E. paradoxa. Rich rose-red petals with a slight hint of orange, a romantic color scene in any garden or landscape setting. Butterflies are attracted to the bright shade of color as well as the sweet rose like scent.

Pruning: Remove spent flower stems to tidy up plants and promote additional blooms.

Time of Pruning: After flowering.

Additional Information: Coneflowers like it hot and sunny, but will tolerate light shade but flowering is not as productive.

Restricted States: AE AK GU HI PR

https://springhillnursery.com/twilight-coneflower/p/71498/

Butterfly Blue Scabiosa

Photo taken June 28, 2011

Although I purchased this plant from Spring Hill Nursery, I prefer the information that Bluestone Perennials provides about this plant. I also like the fact that the latter company sells this plant for a reasonable price. Thus, I am referencing both companies below.

Spring Hill Nursery's Butterfly Blue Scabiosa arrived looking very healthy and the flowers will be blossoming soon. I am looking forward to seeing them.

Marian Name: Our Lady's Pincushion

Description: Former Perennial Plant of the Year! Lavender-blue flowers with pincushion-like centers bloom in spring; continue all summer into fall. 12" high, 12" wide. Plant in full sun to partial shade. Shipped in 3" pots. Deer tend to avoid. Zones 4-9. Scabiosa columbaria ‘Butterfly Blue’.
http://springhillnursery.com/butterfly-blue-scabiosa/p/72539/

Height: Short 15" / Plant 16" apart
Bloom Time: Spring to Fall
Sun-Shade: Full Sun to Half Sun/ Half Shade
Zones: 4-8 Get Your Zone
Soil Condition: Normal
Flower Color / Accent: Blue / Blue

General Information: Needs well drained soil.
Plant Care: Deadhead to keep plants fresh looking and prolong bloom time.

http://www.bluestoneperennials.com/b/bp/SCBBS.html

Black-Eyed Susan

Once again, this plant came from Spring Hill Nursery. It arrived with only two very tiny leaves.

Religious Name: Golden Jerusalem (http://campus.udayton.edu/mary/resources/m_garden/MG-PA-SM-AN-Plan.html)
Botanical Name: Rudbeckia fulgida var. speciosa

Description: Keeps Blooming Until Frost! Multitudes of large, golden, daisy-like flowers with glistening black centers start blooming in midsummer. One of the few perennials to remain in bloom until frost stops them. Hardy, easily grown plants multiply fast, reaching 18-30" tall. Plant 12-16" apart. Ships in a 3" pot. 

Zones: 4-9

Light: Full Sun to Partial Shade

http://springhillnursery.com/black-eyed-susan/p/76410/

May 31 Update: The Black-Eyed Susan is starting to get more leaves.

Belladonna Delphinium

We purchased two Belladonna Delphiniums (or Larkspurs) from Spring Hill Nursery. We planted them in Our Lady of Lourdes' garden bed. I was impressed with how good the roots looked when I planted them and am happy to say that both plants have leaves (one is larger than the other). I am looking forward to seeing the flowers.

I have to admit that we bought this particular delphinium because of its name. As I told my husband, "Bella donna, makes me think of our Blessed Mother. She is a beautiful lady."

Marian Name: Mary's Tears
Botanical Name: Delphinium x belladonna

Description: Dazzling Blue Blooms for Weeks! Statuesque, 36-48" spires are covered with light blue 1 to 1 1/2" double florets in late spring to early summer. What a wonderful addition to a fenceline or foundation area. Great in the back of a border planting, too. The lush blue color complements yellows and reds nicely. Plant with coreopsis or monarda for a lovely display. Pick some flowers for a fresh bouquet. #1 field-grown plants. 

Height: 36-48"
Zones: 3-9
Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Form: Herbaceous Perennial
Sun Exposure: Partial Shade/Full Sun
Height/Habit: 36 - 48" spikes
Spread: 12 - 18"
Spacing: 12 - 18"
Hardiness Zone: 3 - 8 (-30 degrees F)
Foliage Type: Elegant palmately lobed leaves of rich green.
Flower Form: Showy racemes or spikes
Flower Color: Light blue

Planting Requirements: Set crown so bud tips are just below the ground-level, firm soil and water well.

Soil Requirements: Humus enriched, well drained

Growth Rate: Rapid once established, which takes approximately 4 - 6 weeks.

Unique Characteristics: Grown for their showy spikes of blue flowers. The belladonna group has spikes that are more loose and branched than the Elatum group which are more densely grouped along the stem.

Pruning: Cut back spent flower stems to encourage repeat blooming. Trimming out spent flower stalks can encourage repeat blooming in early fall.

Time of Pruning: After flowering

Restricted States: AE AK GU HI PR

https://springhillnursery.com/belladonna-delphinium-/p/74972/

Pink Peony (Paeonia 'Sarah Bernhardt')

Photo taken May 31, 2011

We added the 'Sarah Bernhardt' Peony to our collection of flowers last week. I planted it in Our Lady of Lourdes' garden bed next to some Daylilies and a Dwarf Lupine Minarette (started from seed). I am looking forward to seeing the first flower bloom.

Marian Name: Mary's Rose

Description: Hardy perennials with beautiful pink blooms in mid-spring. Full sun or shade, moist soil.

Height: 24"

Width: 24"

Hardy to Zone 3

Care: Water thorougly twice weekly in the growing season, or as needed, until established. Spray for diseases and insects as needed. Fertilize 1-3 times during the growing season.

Consult your local nursery professional for further advice and information.

Photo taken May 31, 2011

The Double Knock Out Rose

On Thursday, we planted two Double Knock Out Roses (Rosa Radtko PP#16202, CPBR#3104). We will most likely be buying a third Double Knock Out Rose to make a full hedge.

Marian Name: Mary's Rose

Description: From the same cross that produced the original Knock Out, The Double Knock Out Rose represents the next generation in the family of the The Knock Out Roses. The full double flowers look just like a classic rose. What it gained in beauty it did not lose in performance. It is as resistant to black spot as the famous original and is slightly more winter hardy.

Zone: 5-9

Light: Needs 4-6 hours of full sun for best blooming.

Water: Water well when planting, then as needed until plant is established. Water only at the base of the plant. Do not water overhead.

Flowers: Bright cherry red flowers from mid-spring until the first frost.

Spacing: Plant 3' apart.

Size: 3'-4' wide x 3'-4' tall.

Care Instructions: If unpruned, The Knock Out Family of Roses can easily grow to be more than 3-4' x 3-4' tall. To maintain size and for best performance, cut back once a year or once every three years (to about 12-18" above the ground) in early spring (after the last hard frost).

Combination Apple (Semi-Dwarf)

We brought home a Combination Apple tree in February and planted it next to our Friar Plum tree.

Description: Three or more different apple varieties on one tree. Enjoy various fruits throughout the harvest season. An apple orchard that takes very little space. Self-pollinating.

Varieties on the tree that we purchased: Early Fuji Apple, Honey Crisp, Liberty, Red Gravenstein, and Morning Mist or Chehalis (one of the branches was not marked).

It is very interesting to see different leaves growing on the same tree.

Note to self: Add photo

Friar Plum (Semi-Dwarf)

In February 2008, we bought a Friar Plum tree from Costco. Each spring, it produces beautiful white blossoms, but we have not gotten any fruit from it yet. During the last two years, we constantly saw black ants with blossoms climbing down the tree. This year, as soon as Brendan saw ants ascending the tree, he applied some sort of tape around the base. The tape worked in preventing the ants from taking the flowers. Hopefully, we will have some plums this year. I am slightly skeptical as I have not seen very many bees.

The tree can be seen slightly in this photo to the right of the statue of Our Lady of Grace.

Description: Friar has black skin and amber flesh when fully mature. The fruit contains a small pitted freestone that is resistant to cracking. Good cross pollinization with Santa Rosa. Ripens midseason. Needs pollinizer.

Note to self: Take a photo of the plum tree in full bloom to add here.