Wednesday Garden Tour:

Peruvian Daffodil:

Next year, CG plans on importing some very late blooming regular daffodils from the Back 40 Gardener. If the Peruvian daffodil is started indoors, it might be possible to have a smooth transition of blooming from the regulars to the peruvian.

Asiatic Lily:

Bold, solid color.

Iris:

The varying colors and styles.

CG is patiently awaiting the blooms of the solid white and orange iris.

Siberian Iris:

CG doesn't remember seeing these bloom before. A nice surprise.


Louisiana Iris:

They are enjoying their new home.

California Poppy Weed:

Have at least 12 growing (need to sew at least 12 more).

New Forsythia

They're on the way.

Most were started last fall by covering-up low branches with mulch. In a few weeks, they'll be ready to be snipped-off from the mother plant. CG has identified at least 8 spots for the new forsythia.

It does takes some patience. It's tempting to pay money for instant results, but it is so much rewarding to grow your own. In 5 years CG might have an out of control thicket of forsythia to deal with, but he'll have extra help from his gardening assistant.

'Til Next Year

Today, the daffodils have ended their run. CG is very proud of the effort that the daffodils put forth this year. Almost 2 months of continual blooming. Now the focus is on making sure they are happy- as they multiply and build-up strength for next year's blooms. With the last of the daffodil blooms fading, here's a look back at this year's show...

28 FEB first to bloom:

Have about a dozen of these in the farm bed. The small tips of white at the end of the petals kept them from going in the solid yellow forsythia bed, but there are many other places where these can go.

Solid white:

The Mount Hood daffodils. Thought there were more of these. Need to get a good crop of this type started in the farm bed.

Survivor Sams:

These were some of the few remaining daffodils that were planted in the backyard in 2005 (dogs love soft dirt for digging). They were purchased in bulk from sam's club (dogs were very apologetic).

Not sure what kind:

...but they are nice, with 3 to 4 small blooms per stem. They are the single-type of daffodil that is planted in the cut flower bed. It's tempting to plant other varieties in the bed, but for the near future, they will remain the featured early bloom (hopefully more of them for next spring).

Hmm:

A unique daffodil. Believe it was the only bloom of its type. It's located in the back corner bed with other mixed varieties, so it's where it's supposed to be and doing a good job of being unique.

The Favorite:

There's about 3 to 4 small patches of these. Very pleased with their efforts.

Yellow-Yellow Double:

Maybe a Double Campernelle. Have one small patch of these in the front bed. Not too long lasting, they start to look 'wilty' after a short time.

More of the Favorite:

even after a heavy rain, these large, full blooms are able to remain upright

can't wait 'til next year!

First Asiatic Lily Bloom

It seems like only a few weeks ago that these were in plastic bags in the laundry room.

With nice dark green foilage and large blooms, asiatic lilies are a nice mid-spring plant. CG has learned by experience, however, that one small determined rabbit can ravage dozens of asiatics in a single night. Posting Ranger the guard dog in the front yard is always an option.

An update on the Peruvian daffodil:

..and the 2nd of the 3 that were planted has been spotted!

Iris Update:

going strong!

For the Birds

The backyard landscape seems to be very inviting to many different types of birds.

CG tries to keep fresh bird seed in his 2 feeders, as well as fresh water in the bird bath.

Smaller birds find shelter within the dense mass of burning bushes, as well as the neighboring birch tree.

A few roaming cats have been a problem for the local birds, but CG's 2 outside dogs keep the feline menaces at bay so the birds can play.

CG's gardening assistant enjoys spotting birds and flowers.

Painted buntings and bluebirds are among the favorites.

Alive with Iris Blooms

Daffodils are a nice warm-up for spring, but iris lead the full-on charge towards warmer weather. Each bloom seems to have a personality, from simple and cheerful- to bold and exclamatory.

CG is pleased with the effort of the iris in the front bed. They have good numbers and good health. There will be a lot of dividing of tubers going-on this fall. Not sure where the offspring will be planted, but there's lots of time to consider all possibilities. One thing for certain, CG will be giving/trading iris by the dozens in September.

the front bed is about 90% complete (still need to continue the daylily border)

-but the bed is at it's maximum capacity for iris (still in the early phase of blooming, it will be a few more weeks until the iris reach their peak)

-and isolated blooms beckon to viewed up-close to appreciate their intricate details

A California Presidents' Day

CG's California poppies were planted from seed around President's Day (mid February). And, it was another lesson learned. Soon after sprouting, (which takes only about 4 days) they're ready to go outside- in a warm, sunny, and dry climate. Here in Arkansas, that's about the end May. CG struggled to keep them alive inside the house, but finally set them outside last month. At least 8 of the original 24 have survived below freezing temperatures, 40 mph wind gusts, and small hail.

A few days ago, CG supplemented the original poppies with some newly sewn seeds. There are 3 small mini-beds within the burning bush bed that will be popping with orange poppy blooms (fingers crossed) in a few months.

It's True: There are Californians that consider their state flower (the Calif. Poppy) to be a weed.

A Peruvian StPatrick's Day

It was a lesson learned by CG.

Planting Peruvian Daffodils in the middle of March is not a good idea. CG thought that as long as it didn't freeze, they would be ok. Then he read the back of the package and researched 'Peruvian daffodils' on the internet. Yeah, any time the average ground teperature drops under 60 degrees- it usually is deadly for them.

So, this was a very nice surprise for CG's eyes:

CG will bet his gardening reputation that this is a Peruvian daffodil pushing-up.

(no sign of the other 2 that were planted)

CG promises to take better care of them now. He will dig them, brush them off, cut-off the foilage, and store them (or it) in the laundry room -no later than mid September.

Next Spring, Peruvian daffodils will be planted on Cinqo de Mayo rather than StPatty's Day.

A Louisiana Christmas

Back in December, CG's wife gave him a gift certificate for some mail order plants. At the top of CG's wish list: Louisiana iris. He placed the order (plants are a lot cheaper to order in the off season) even without having a suitable area for planting the water-loving irises. CG figured he could finish the special water-tight, enclosed shaved clay bed before the plants arrived (and the concrete path needed to be finished as well). It took several days of work in below-freezing weather, but it all came together.

The plants arrived Saturday, and after soaking them overnight, CG planted them today:

Note to all aspiring water iris bed builders: hauling 225 pounds of kitty litter thru the snow in a wheelbarrow will get a you a bold check mark in the 'psycho box' on your neighbor's profile log.

a total of 3 were planted (this one has a couple strong shoots)

(4 regular reblooming iris were ordered and planted as well)

Thanks for the great Christmas present BL!

after a top dressing of sand and pine needles, the bog bed is looking a lot better!

(also note the special imported rocks, a continual-source gift from the Back 40 Gardener)

Dwarf Burning Bushes

The burning bushes were an original addition to the backyard landscape in 2005. A total of 12 were purchased (gallon size, $4 apiece). They were moved around quite a bit in the first few years, but have recently settled-in to more permanent locations. The bushes hold-up well to being transplanted, even if it's not the best time of the year to be moving plants around. In addition, dwarf burning bushes are fairly drought tolerant. All of the original bushes are still thriving today.

March 2005:

This will be the first year that the burning bushes have filled-out into a nice looking naturalized mass planting (without any gaps between the bushes). Pruning is done about one month after the last leaf falls. The bushes facing the house keep all of their lower branches, whereas the bushes that border the path around the rock island bed have all of the lower branches removed (to show more of their interesting bark and twisting trunks).

May 2007:

The burning bushes are fertilized each spring and fall with a general purpose (ironite plus) fertilizer. It seems to help them retain more leaves during dry weather, and keep leaves longer after they turn red in the fall. The mulch depth is about 4" around their driplines, and slopes inward toward each bush's trunk. All mulch is kept about 1" away from the trunk of the bush to prevent rotting (and disease from the rot).

April 2009:

Dwarf burning bushes grow to be about 10' tall (non-dwarf varities reach 30'). Regular burning bushes grow quite rapidly and are considered to be highly invasive. Dwarf burning bushes are slow growing and very well behaved. CG's burning bushes average about 4' tall in their fifth year of growing. They tolerate clay soil quite well, and also require thought-out pruning to keep the slow-going growth directed where desired.

Mid April Landscape Notes

1. river birch trees began budding-out leaves by 20MAR
2. expect to harvest over 4 dozen daffodils from the farm bed
3. newly-leafed plants were able to survive a single night below freezing with minimal damage
4. need more daffodils!
5. have too many purple iris- need to trade for more varieties
6. have only 3 strong forsythias...9 range from average to weak
7. the 3 pink azaleas that remain in the front bed are in the back row, bloom earlier than the others, and look red in low light- should they stay or should they go?
8. weeds in the front yard are coming on strong
9. one crazy-tall iris in the front row of the front bed needs to be moved to the back
10. thinking the lone limbed-up burning bush in the side yard can be limbed-up even further

Favorite Daffodil

And CG doesn't remember what kind they are. But there will be more of them next year. They're very fragrant and long-lasting as cut flowers (and inexpensive...probably $5 for a half dozen).

CG's daffodil strategy for 2010 is twofold:

1. establish a few mass plantings of same type daffs (of the Carlton and Bravoure variety)

2. establish more isolated groupings of different varieties (at least 6)

CG enjoys having a wide variety of daffodils, from simple traditional solid yellow trumpets, to the very complex and powerful doubles. An order for a fall shipment of daffodils has already been placed: Double Campernelle, Misty Glenn, and Flower Record. With transplants coming from the farm bed in a few weeks, next spring is looking better already.

Calm Before the Storm

This morning, it sounded like today was going to be a wash- 90% chance of rain, severe thunder storms, and a tornado watch.

No chance of garden therapy for CG today.

(hosta bed is filling-in nicely)

But after a light morning shower, the skies opened-up for some nice warm sunshine.

Just what CG and the plants needed.

the first non-purple iris of the year!

the backyard beds are braced for severe weather

(calif. poppie warming igloos have been stowed away)

the purple iris & daffodils seem to work well together

maybe the last week of daffodil blooms : (

CG is finding the 'non-favorite' type of iris to be more intriguing with each new bloom.

(will be giving plenty of these away in the fall)