TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2011

Hey! It's not 4 o'clock yet!

* My Four O'clocks woke up early this morning. Maybe it was the beautiful sunny start to the day.
I'd like to say I have a green thumb when it comes to Mirabilis, but not really. Truth is...I CAN'T GET RID OF 'EM. But I'm actually happy about it now, since they give off fall color.

*Some other flowers notable for fall color are Marigolds, Asters, Zinnias and Dusty Miller. If you plant Dusty Miller in late spring, don't give up the ship if they look beleaguered during the summer - they usually come back to a roaring presence in late summer/early fall.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2011

SEDUM COMING

Yup. It's Sedum time. A bittersweet experience, knowing that the beautiful fall season is here, but also knowing that driving on icy roads is right around the corner. Oh, c'mon Brian - just enjoy autumn and worry about winter some other day!

SEDUM TIDBITS

• Also known as Stonecrop, which is the perfect name to me. I have a gardening client who has pink Sedum growing on a bank with stones interspersed. Great contrast.
• After the first frost this fall, cut the stems back to about an inch from the soil.
• Every spring, sprinkle some compost around the base. No need for fancy additives.

And...
Ford's Dearborn Truck Plant’s living roof has 10.4 acres of Sedum!

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

Turtleheads

*What a welcome sight in September to have our dear Turtleheads back with us.
I have two clients, one in Burlington and one in Essex, graced with the presence of the genus Chelone (kay-LOW-nee), otherwise known to most of us as Turtleheads, or Hot Lips.
These pretty pink flowers give great color to a garden in September, when choices are limited. Chelone is Zone 4 hardy, requires adequate moisture, and some type of  acidy soil amendment once in a while, maybe some coffee grounds.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2011

These baby blue Petunias (pictured above) have been cranking since May. Amazing! We threw in some Dusty Miller for contrast.
Petunias are native to Argentina and are really a tropical flower, which is why I wait til the end of May to plant them - I find they are stronger, more vibrant and last longer if I don't throw them in the ground too early.