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

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/

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/

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).

Pruning Hydrangeas

I always forget to prune my hydrangeas in a timely manner. Ed Hume gives the following tip about pruning these plants:

Varieties that bloom after June should be pruned during the winter. I recommend Mid-February as the ideal time to prune them. Cutting off flowers for drying, is also an excellent way to keep plants within bounds. Avoid severe pruning, as it often results in the development of lush stem (vegetative) growth and as a result, poor flowering. (http://www.humeseeds.com/efhydr.htm)