#propagating clematis cuttings

[inthecityofgoodabode]

May 2021: Drilling To Dinner

It rained 2 days ago & this whiskey planter still has about 3 inches of water in it: 

I flipped it over to drill some drainage holes & found happy worms: 

I drilled 5 holes with a 1/4 inch drill bit. You can smell the whiskey when you drill into the wood: 

I filled it with an inch & a half of water. It drained in 15 minutes or so which is about what I wanted: 

Lined with rocks & ready for dirt & plants: 

We’re on the flight path for a couple of hospitals: 

At first, excitement: 

Then disappointment. I try to be mindful that all things have their reason for existing but slugs sure make it hard: 

Volunteer tomatoes growing next to our snap peas: 

Today’s strawberry harvest: 

Actual ripe cherries on our Yoshino weeping cherry. They look big in the shot but they are about as big around as your pinky finger & most of that is pit. The birds will like them: 

My queen made this arrangement with flowers from our yard with the exception of the white rose with the red tinged petals on the right hand side. That one is from the grocery store: 

Some of the store-bought rose stems had new growth on them so my queen is going to try propagating them: 

Our blueberry patch looking awesome: 

Making a little tomato sauce to go with some pasta & veg: 

From our herb garden. I diced up the chive stems with the flowers & added them to the sauce because the stems are a little tough & need to cook to soften. The rest of the chives & parsley were diced for finishing the dish. 

After 30 minutes: 

The finished product: 

[kihaku-gato]

Because it's your birthmonth, you can choose between two questions. (also Happy birthday!) 1) Which plant in your garden are you most proud of? Are you surprised to see it do so well with your care or lack of it? Aaaaand 2) How is your symphotrichums and clematis corner this year?

Thanks for the early Birthday wishes (once it’s Wednesday I’ll be an older lad)!

(I’ll choose both questions cause I love both questions)

Plants I’m proud of… I can’t really recall/think of any from my past that really come to mind (the Jackamanii Clematis and Jack in the Pulpits somewhat come to mind for possible past prides and joys, but I can’t say that with strong certainty since they have both been in these gardens for almost as long as I’ve been gardening, so they’re as much staple to me as Hostas are to a shade gardener). I’d say the fact the Jack in the Pulpits have done so well for me (until the recent summer drought and squirrel harassment started) definitely surprised me, and it still surprises me that I don’t see them more often in peoples’ garden spaces, generally they’ve done great with very little help from me.

For more recent plants, I suppose the dwarf wildtype Iris pumila pair definitely have thrived better than I expected. Like the Iris sibirica in my gardens I was expecting a significantly weaker performance than I got (I expected I’d have to coddle them which is not my gardening style so I expected a guaranteed death from them); they’ve done very very well for an alpine species. Pretty much taller plants or the feet of a untactful person or animal are the only thing I fear for my little dwarf irises now. I hope to eventually propagate them into other gardens so that I feel like I have some more insurance on them.

First time to hear the sunny sector of the Neo garden referred to as the Clematis/Symphyotrichum corner but its definitely an accurate one being they are the plants to roar the loudest in that gardenbed when they flower.

Dandelions and Twitch grass continue to try to encroach the edges of the bed so that annoying work is cut out for me (the Prairie smoke nearly got drowned in dandelion foliage this spring) so I pray I can charge up my weeders ferocity to keep it under control, but luckily the majority of the plants in that gardenbed are looking decent. Though it does feel like my number of Tulipa tarda dropped a little bit.

The Munstead Lavenders look good- or did until I pruned them very very hard and now look half dead (some of that is due to the fact they should’ve been pruned after they flowered last year- so they got woodier than they should’ve been allowed to), luckily the crowns of them look like they’ll give me the growth I need to hopefully rectify my initial mismanagement of them.

The New England asters both in that gardenbed and the greenhouse pots are looking ready to rumble as expected for the true autumn queen. The oldest specimens I’m almost tempted to grab the spade for and divide them and take the divisions to other gardenbeds. Since they did not take the midsummer prunedown last year I plant to hit them just a little harder to try to force away their habitual lankiness. I stg I grow more and more fond of New England Aster every year. I think we kept them from reseeding this time- I think; icr if we pruned off the seedheads by autumn’s end or not but the fact I am not seeing much for “volunteers“ tells me we accomplished that.

When I pruned those Clematis they showed me something I am not used to for a Clematis; thick af stems comparable to young Grape vines. Part of it is likely cause they are species Clematis and also cause they were unpruned for their first/second year in the Neo garden. C. tangutica was a wiry mess to prune but should be easier to prune from here on out. C. virginiana did what they do every year; sneak some vines past my radar and attempt garden/world domination. Had to sacrifice some Hosta sprouts while trying to yank that clematis’ mischievous roots.

Ratibida pinnata at the border of the sun/shade sector also plot world domination but luckily only a few seedlings need to be yanked out; we realized quick enough last autumn that the seedheads had to be removed asap if we wanted to keep order in that section of the garden.

I plan to possibly plant some of my Penstemon hirsutus yearlings from the greenhouse into that garden to give the species a second chance on impressing me; the species has grown well for me in the greenhouse before but have been rather unimpressive for me last time I grew some, but I am taking the theory that the species is the type to give you Bang for the Bed if you plant them in larger numbers and allow them to age a bit (yearlings aren’t that impressive in the flower department- but perhaps older plants are more floriferous?). I’m also eyeing up the stormwater overflow area to maybe plant a Skunk Cabbage seedling and see if  it’ll do well (my choices in wet areas to garden is extremely narrow).

Overall that garden needs a little reweed and a little reapplication of mulch so it’s doing pretty decent I’d say.

[ahamiltongarden]

IN THE LONG GARDEN NOW

From top Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’ with Lavandula x intermedia  ‘Seal’, Clematis ‘Rooguchi’, Echinacea purpurea, Allium ‘Millennium’.

I had the hydrangea in another place and moved it two seasons ago to a half sun-half shade spot. When pruning I cut the existing stems 30 cms above the ground but later read that the plant should be cut right to the ground. I tried this this season and it has grown much better with stronger stems. It is a very beautiful and delicate plant. The echinacea is yet to colour. I do love it at this all green stage. This I find hard to establish in the garden but I love its herbal presence and medicinal history. if you are looking for a little front of the border plant for summer look no further than this miniature mauve allium. if you keep picking or deadheading the flowers, it just keeps throwing up more. This allium loves fertiliser and water. It divides itself as it grows so you can propagate more clumps as time goes on. Nothing eats it.

[rar4oby]

SIMPLE PROPAGATION METHODS

LAYERING SHRUBS AND CLIMBERS This technique is ideal for climbing plants, such as clematis, Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata), and climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris), as well as shrubs with flexible stems, including hazel (Corylus), daphnes, and flowering quince (Chaenomeles). In spring or fall, take a young, flexible stem, trim off side-shoots, and bend it to the ground. Where it touches the soil, remove the leaves from that section and use a sharp knife to make a slanting cut halfway through the stem, about 12 in (30 cm) from the tip. Insert a cane into the soil at this point and bury the wounded stem next to it. Tie the remaining stem to the cane. When it has rooted, you will see new shoots develop at the tip; at this point, you can cut the stem attached to the parent plant.

To propagate more than one plant, make a series of cuts along one stem, cutting just behind a leaf joint or bud. Then peg down the wounded areas, leaving the stems in between exposed to the light. New shoots will soon develop.

DIVIDING PERENNIALS Perennial plants can spread quickly through their root networks. After a few years, a plant may outgrow its space or the stems in the middle of a clump can become congested and will not flower as well as those on the outside. The solution is todivide the plant. In spring or fall, water it well and trim back any long stems. Dig out the root ball and cut it into sections with a sharp knife or pull rooted segments apart with your hands. For large plants, insert two forks back-to-back in the middle of the clump and use them to pry the root ball apart. Discard old or unproductive stems in the middle of the clump and replant the divided sections in prepared soil. Water well during dry spells for the first year.

Read also : PLANTING FLOOD PROTECTIONS

[nozzlesss]

It is difficult to determine a criterion

It is difficult to determine a criterion, according to which a cultivated plant can be called fashionable. A new discovery of stock-breeders? A bright hybrid? An exotic, which settled in our latitudes recently? And may be this is a strange flower, which seeds you have been dreaming to find since you saw it in someone's garden for the first time? Let's hope a beginner will blend with your garden's palette in harmony, and, very soon, it will attract delighted glances of neighbors and guests, who will definitely ask you: what is this?

A wonderful Aquilegia

Aquilegia (?quilegia canadencia) presents her wonderful flowers with long spurs on thin graceful legs. Purple flowers (and in other sorts ? violet, white and pink) appear in the beginning of summer. This flower spreads out in any garden, if it is not only too dry there, feels great in shadow or penumbra. A lot of various double forms are often met. Aquilegia propagates with seeds, sowed in spring and autumn.

Many-sided Clematis

Liana with goldish flowers (Niamatis Tangutica Golden Tiara) ? is a great rarity among clematises and a real find for a flower-lover. Golden Tiara blooms in the middle of summer and makes its owners glad with long blossoming. Two-colored clematises (Clematis Roguchi) are met too, they turn their heads to a midday sun, like they are watching it. One of the oldest hybrids of clematis ? is a light-pink Nelly Iiser, known to gardeners since 1897 and fashionable till now.

Arum nicknamed ?Aaron's rod?

When you imagine this plant, remember a well-known calla, a greenhouse plant with large flowers. A flower consists of one large white petal (veil), wrapping up an oblong ear. Arum's (?risaema triphyllum) inflorescence is the same. An ear of yellow flowers is covered with a veil, not white, but multicolored ? light-green, mahogany or striped. A plant's height is about 40 cm, it is blossoming in May-June, and by autumn a veil fades and falls off, opening an ear with a bright-red, toxic berries. Arum needs a wet fertile soil in a shady place. It looks great on a bank of a small reservoir.

Pumpkin and co.

They are such heavy-weights! However, figures of various builds can be found among a nice gourd family. With a slender waist and in rich shapes, very long, like cucumber, and hanging on props, like pears. The most impressive specimens grow on super fertile compost storage barrows in the corners of garden-plots, wherefrom they are rolled, not even brought, home in autumn. Every year ? we meet new styles: turban, beret, skull-cap. A natural, quaint ornamental pattern also impresses: one half is green, and another - yellow.  All pumpkins are light- and heat-loving. Seedlings are prick off in a house and brought to a garden in the end of May-beginning of July. The best places for decorative pumpkins ? are lattice fences, columns, arbors.

Morning-glory ? a flower for 'larks?

Jolly small gramophones of this wonderful convolvulus can be seen in many gardens. Its time is morning. It opens its charming flowers with the first sun beams, and by 10 am they are already faded. Lots of sorts of morning-glory are replenished by new colors every year. On a picture you can see really a ?fashionable doings? ? a stripped flower (Ipomoea Tie Dye). Stripped carnations have always been in fashion at all tames, and now strips on irises, marigolds, tulips, petunias and bluebells are fashionable.  You can arrange an effective union of creepers in your garden, for example, morning-glory and pumpkin, since they both have the same requirements for growing (both plants are Southern ones).

Begonia

We are used to see begonia on our window, not in a garden. Various sorts of this flower have been decorating our houses at all tames, surprising us with a variety of colors and quaint cuts of leaves. In a garden, begonia is a summer guest. It can live the whole summer in a flower-bed, and in autumn it will return to its ?winter apartment? - window-sill. In a garden begonia prefers shady places. Due to exotic coloring, it looks good on a small pedestal ? on a small stump, stone or low whatnot. (??gonia Chocolate Creme)

A thorny giant

This original biennial plant, called dipsacus (Dipsacus fullonum) reaches 1,5 in height. During the fist year of life it forms a large rosette of leaves with thorns at sides. And the following summer a stalk grows from the midst of leaves, and it water hose spray guns begins twining, forming a candelabrum-like plant. On the edge of each stalk an original flower appears, which strikes with the fact that a bud in the form of oval cone is covered with a corbel of delicate lilac flowers. Dipsacus fades slowly, leaving a beautiful thorny cone, which can serve as an excellent material for winter bunches.

Ornamental cabbage

It appeared on our flower beds quite recently. Anyway, this unusual plant has become fashionable not so long ago, when lots of its sorts appeared. Sometimes passers-by stop at a fence at a loss ? is this lacy creature just a cabbage? Yes, cabbage, but not usual, but ornamental one. There are specimens, resembling huge flowers, like they are in lacy jabots. Small rosettes are also met, 10 cm in diameter. And there are also real 'large fans? of feather-like leaves, forming mighty plants of 1 m height. All ornamental cabbages are hybrids. So, do not try to get seeds: hybrids do not transmit their qualities by right of succession.  (Osaka Pink u White Peacock)

[ancientbrit]

Natter # 17   08/17/2016

Subject: MI MG Natter # 17 Date: August 17, 2016 at 3:27:44 PM PDT This Natter will be something of a hodge-podge (as they all are I hear you say), but things are heating up on the Plant Sale front as we get closer to the time and I realise, rather late in the day, that I have not  yet secured plant donations from anywhere/anyone!! It does have a comical side (who has a plant sale without plants?) but it is also really serious. From class bookings etc and  various MGs who have their ears to the ground, it looks like we will probably have a sell out crowd and if there are no plants on offer we will probably need to bring in armed police. For sure the event wouldn't be repeated next year. So I would like to make an appeal to you all wherever you are, if you have a few decent looking plants in pots or you can pot up. I would be so grateful if you would consider donating them to the cause. We are arranging for any plants so donated to be left at the Demo Garden from September the 21st on, but if you do think you can donate, would you please let me know what and how many as I have to get tags printed and then price them. Thank you so much - you have no idea how relieved I will be to see something green - almost anything! I have quite a collection of rooted cuttings and seedlings in good shape to bring but they won't last five minutes and we need some quantity to be successful. Onward and upward. Last week at the clinic saw the new Pizza palace still going ahead and has now taken the whole of the SE corner, sidewalk  and ALL the mature trees along the south end of the parking lot. We are told that ALL the sidewalk to the west will be gone by the time next Sunday rolls around, so goodness only knows what is planned. Moving our Carousel and bookcase now will mean having to trundle them all the way to the SW corner to access the ramp there and then trundle back east along the road to our spot on the end. I hope our furniture will hold up to the vibration. Last week (continued) I finally removed the Magnolia stellata air layer that I had checked a couple of weeks back. Opening the shell I found that the roots had grown considerably and so I was able to pot it up. The trouble is that although there are loads of roots, they are way smaller than the fan shaped spread of the branch, making the whole thing a bit top heavy. I inserted a small stake down the side of the pot to steady it so that the roots aren't torn. Now I just have to wait for them to grow and anchor the whole thing. Looks good though. Yet another piece of good news if not great (as far as I am concerned anyway) concerns cuttings. I looked at the little propagation case that I won at the F&G show and decided that the cuttings that have been in there lo these many months past looked a little second hand. Some leaves were looking a little old fashioned with crinkles on them. There were four Viburnum carlesii and I pulled on two which came right out with the stems brown and withered, The remaining two however would not move and I had to lift them with my Widger ( I will show that to you some time - invaluable tool) The pots that these are all in have no bottoms. They merely sit on a bed of thick material which wicks up water from a reservoir. As I lifted them it was obvious that they had rooted as they came up holding a large ball of earth - and so into pots with them. The three Daphne odoras looked really much worse, with their leaves all wrinkled. I gently pulled on two and they came right out, brown and dead like the two Viburnums had been, but the third didn't budge. Wow, not a movement. Be still my beating heart! In went the Widger, very carefully, and out came the cutting supporting a large ball of earth. I couldn't believe that it was because it had rooted, so I scraped a little earth away and there they were - beautiful white roots. I almost couldn't believe it. The first time ever! All three of these plants are now safely potted and sitting in moist, dappled shade as they hopefully grow more roots and put out some fresh shoots. Of course, having done this, I went out and took more Daphne cuttings which now sit in the propagating case. Incidentally when I took out all the cuttings I found that the case was incorrectly set up. It was the way I got it and the capillary mat was not dipping into the reservoir, so it seemed that it had been dry most of the time. Now that I have reset it correctly I am hopeful that the results with be much improved. As I felt that I must now be on a roll, I took all sorts of cuttings amongst which were of a different variety of Daphne from a neighbors garden - now in bloom and fragrant too, plus two different varieties of Clematis, both of which are now putting out new growth! Bonus! As I have been forced to pot on many of my Weigela and other plants, I find I have run out of pots as I mentioned a wee while back. I am getting quite desperate with only one gallon pots and a few small 3" pots to my name. The verdampfen deer have been through again and the whole of my runner bean crop is no more. 'Never had a one. The leaves on my strawberries have all disappeared along with umpteen other plants. There was  a small token of their gratitude remaining which I suppose I could add to my compost heap, but my next important assignment is to put up a fence, which I can't see happening for a while. I have to get a large dog or a small cannon. Your fearless leader, Gordon

[agventure007]

Clematis of Ranunculaceae family is native of Himalayan region & commonly called as virgin bower. It is a good climber which blooms in July-August. Leaves are opposite, compound, leaflets 3-5 and ovate-cordate in shape. Flowers are white, fragrant and produced in panicles. Easily propagated through cuttings & suitable for trellis. . . . #agriculture #horticulture #diversity #plant_world #biodiversity #botany #nature #naturalphotography #flowers #floweringplants #ornamental #gardening #production #agventure007 #climber #white #naturalbeauty #plantlover #instaphoto #icarjrf (at Mahendergarh) https://www.instagram.com/p/CE4ehUSHMN-/?igshid=qqlc6l3xv2uj

[bethestaryouareradio]

Cultivating Artful Gratefulness

By Cynthia Brian

"My garden is my most beautiful work of art" – Claude Monet

A vase filled with cascading jasmine sits on my nightstand just inches from my bed, its heady scent perfuming the entire room. Not only is it beautiful, but it is my sentinel alerting me when I awake that I still have my sense of smell. Since one of the symptoms of contracting Covid-19 is the loss of taste and smell, I appreciate the fact that I can smell the roses as well as all the marvelous fragrances breezing through my garden. I have always been filled with gratitude for the simple things in life, but now, more than ever, I am cultivating artful gratefulness with increased urgency.

I am so thankful for my lush landscape. I live in what I call my “private botanical garden” where every day I am greeted by surprising sprouts, sounds, and sights. It’s been eight weeks since I’ve worn any make-up. My daily wardrobe consists of my grubby garden garb, tool apron, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and boots. Splinters, scratches, bites, and itchy poison oak are a blight to my body, yet I am so joyful to spend my days weeding, seeding, and feeding as I witness the magnificence unfolding in this labyrinth of blossoms. Rose entwined arches, mustard growing fifteen feet into the trees, clematis bowered on trellises, a mosaic of colorful floral layers dazzling on the hillside, a parterre of bearded iris, cornflags, daylilies, and roses hemmed by clipped boxwood, butterflies flitting from flower to flower, bees humming in the citrus…nature is a living painting!

My garden is my most spectacular artwork. Some of it is messy and wild, other parts are formal and civilized. As my camellias wane, my florescent pink rhododendrons take center stage. Azaleas in containers, as well as those planted in the ground, are on a continual blooming cycle. A variety of trees, both deciduous and evergreen, fruiting and flowering, screen and define the property. I’ve been pruning, thinning, and cutting deadwood in anticipation of fire season.

My goal during this coronavirus crisis is to keep our immune systems strong by eating as many fresh vegetables, herbs, and fruits from my garden as possible. Artichokes are almost ready to be harvested. My citrus crop has been supplying my family and friends with daily doses of Vitamin C. After delivering lemon limes to my neighbor, she offered me a goji berry plant which I am excited to grow as a living fence. Also called the matrimony vine, goji berry plants can be pruned and shaped to keep them small so that the red fruit which will ripen from July to October can be easily harvested. The berries contain more vitamin C than oranges, more potassium than a banana, and more iron than a steak. In addition, I learned that goji berries contain a high concentrate of vitamins B1, B2, B6, C, E, and eighteen different amino acids and zinc. I am so thankful to grow this new specimen that will enhance our health.

Gardening is not a hobby; it is an essential part of my creative being. Gardening is a survival skill and an art form. It is gratifying to sow a seed, water, fertilize, prune, and nurture that tiny seedling to full bloom. No matter how small a home is, we can always grow herbs in a pot on a windowsill or fill containers with vegetables and flowers displayed on a balcony or porch. With a garden, we bring beauty into our lives. Especially in troubling times, beauty is critical to grow our hopes and dreams. This lockdown has sparked an increased appreciation for the solitude and splendor of gardening.

Let your garden be your most attractive work of art. Plant a painter’s palette of exquisite color. A garden is a refuge, a sanctuary, a quiet, safe place. Propagate positive possibilities and cultivate artful gratitude.

Stay healthy. Stay safe. Stay home. Stay grateful.

Cynthia Brian’s Mid-Month Gardening Guide for May

SCATTER snail and slug bait before they destroy all your sprouts. PREPARE for fire season. Cut out the deadwood from bushes and trees, prune limbs, and clear brush. CLEAN leaves from gutters. CUT tall wild grass to the ground. CHOP leaves and flowers from wild mustard for salads and sandwiches. WATER deeply and when needed. PULL daffodil and other bulbs spears as they dry. DEADHEAD roses, calla lilies, and calendulas as blossoms fade. CLEAN greener this spring by using friendlier ingredients found in your garden such as lemon juice to remove grease, mildew, and stains. WALK a nature trail for exercise, beauty, and curiosity satisfaction, keeping your distance from others, and bringing a mask. PLANT beans, squash, cucumbers, corn, gourds, melons, and pumpkins directly into the garden now. Because of their tender taproots, they do not transplant well. BUY tomato seedlings to plant anytime. COMPOST your coffee grinds, eggshells, vegetable peelings, and tea leaves. BAG your lawn clippings only every other mow. It’s best to leave the clippings on the lawn as feed for the roots, but many people find the extra grass too messy. TUCK edibles into your flowerbeds. Parsley and garlic chives look especially handsome as a border. REGROW scallions by sticking the root ends in water after snipping. You’ll get a fresh crop very quickly. THIN apples and stone fruit to ensure a bigger, healthier harvest. Leave two to three fruit per cluster. HARVEST artichokes, arugula, and Swiss chard.

Happy Gardening. Happy Growing. Photos and article: http://lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1406/Digging-Deep-with-Goddess-Gardener-Cynthia-Brian-Cultivating-artful-gratefulness.html

  Press Pass: https://blog.voiceamerica.com/2020/05/14/cultivating-artful-gratefulness/

  Cynthia Brian, The Goddess Gardener, is available for hire to help you prepare for your spring garden. Raised in the vineyards of Napa County, Cynthia is a New York Times best-selling author, actor, radio personality, speaker, media and writing coach, as well as the Founder and Executive Director of Be the Star You Are!® 501 c3. Tune into Cynthia’s StarStyle® Radio Broadcast at www.StarStyleRadio.com. Buy copies of her best-selling books, including, Chicken Soup for the Gardener’s Soul, Growing with the Goddess Gardener, and Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers at www.cynthiabrian.com/online-store. Cynthia is available for virtual writing projects, garden consults, and inspirational lectures. Cynthia@GoddessGardener.com www.GoddessGardener.com

#coronavirus, #gratitude,#ross,#hikes,,#stayhone, #spring,#compost,#artichokes,,#covid-19, #gardening, #cynthiabrian, #starstyle, #goddessGardener, #growingwiththegoddessgardener, #lamorindaweekly

[goddessgardener]

Cultivating Artful Gratefulness

By Cynthia Brian

"My garden is my most beautiful work of art" – Claude Monet

A vase filled with cascading jasmine sits on my nightstand just inches from my bed, its heady scent perfuming the entire room. Not only is it beautiful, but it is my sentinel alerting me when I awake that I still have my sense of smell. Since one of the symptoms of contracting Covid-19 is the loss of taste and smell, I appreciate the fact that I can smell the roses as well as all the marvelous fragrances breezing through my garden. I have always been filled with gratitude for the simple things in life, but now, more than ever, I am cultivating artful gratefulness with increased urgency.

I am so thankful for my lush landscape. I live in what I call my “private botanical garden” where every day I am greeted by surprising sprouts, sounds, and sights. It’s been eight weeks since I’ve worn any make-up. My daily wardrobe consists of my grubby garden garb, tool apron, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and boots. Splinters, scratches, bites, and itchy poison oak are a blight to my body, yet I am so joyful to spend my days weeding, seeding, and feeding as I witness the magnificence unfolding in this labyrinth of blossoms. Rose entwined arches, mustard growing fifteen feet into the trees, clematis bowered on trellises, a mosaic of colorful floral layers dazzling on the hillside, a parterre of bearded iris, cornflags, daylilies, and roses hemmed by clipped boxwood, butterflies flitting from flower to flower, bees humming in the citrus…nature is a living painting!

My garden is my most spectacular artwork. Some of it is messy and wild, other parts are formal and civilized. As my camellias wane, my florescent pink rhododendrons take center stage. Azaleas in containers, as well as those planted in the ground, are on a continual blooming cycle. A variety of trees, both deciduous and evergreen, fruiting and flowering, screen and define the property. I’ve been pruning, thinning, and cutting deadwood in anticipation of fire season.

My goal during this coronavirus crisis is to keep our immune systems strong by eating as many fresh vegetables, herbs, and fruits from my garden as possible. Artichokes are almost ready to be harvested. My citrus crop has been supplying my family and friends with daily doses of Vitamin C. After delivering lemon limes to my neighbor, she offered me a goji berry plant which I am excited to grow as a living fence. Also called the matrimony vine, goji berry plants can be pruned and shaped to keep them small so that the red fruit which will ripen from July to October can be easily harvested. The berries contain more vitamin C than oranges, more potassium than a banana, and more iron than a steak. In addition, I learned that goji berries contain a high concentrate of vitamins B1, B2, B6, C, E, and eighteen different amino acids and zinc. I am so thankful to grow this new specimen that will enhance our health.

Gardening is not a hobby; it is an essential part of my creative being. Gardening is a survival skill and an art form. It is gratifying to sow a seed, water, fertilize, prune, and nurture that tiny seedling to full bloom. No matter how small a home is, we can always grow herbs in a pot on a windowsill or fill containers with vegetables and flowers displayed on a balcony or porch. With a garden, we bring beauty into our lives. Especially in troubling times, beauty is critical to grow our hopes and dreams. This lockdown has sparked an increased appreciation for the solitude and splendor of gardening.

Let your garden be your most attractive work of art. Plant a painter’s palette of exquisite color. A garden is a refuge, a sanctuary, a quiet, safe place. Propagate positive possibilities and cultivate artful gratitude.

Stay healthy. Stay safe. Stay home. Stay grateful.

Cynthia Brian’s Mid-Month Gardening Guide for May

SCATTER snail and slug bait before they destroy all your sprouts. PREPARE for fire season. Cut out the deadwood from bushes and trees, prune limbs, and clear brush. CLEAN leaves from gutters. CUT tall wild grass to the ground. CHOP leaves and flowers from wild mustard for salads and sandwiches. WATER deeply and when needed. PULL daffodil and other bulbs spears as they dry. DEADHEAD roses, calla lilies, and calendulas as blossoms fade. CLEAN greener this spring by using friendlier ingredients found in your garden such as lemon juice to remove grease, mildew, and stains. WALK a nature trail for exercise, beauty, and curiosity satisfaction, keeping your distance from others, and bringing a mask. PLANT beans, squash, cucumbers, corn, gourds, melons, and pumpkins directly into the garden now. Because of their tender taproots, they do not transplant well. BUY tomato seedlings to plant anytime. COMPOST your coffee grinds, eggshells, vegetable peelings, and tea leaves. BAG your lawn clippings only every other mow. It’s best to leave the clippings on the lawn as feed for the roots, but many people find the extra grass too messy. TUCK edibles into your flowerbeds. Parsley and garlic chives look especially handsome as a border. REGROW scallions by sticking the root ends in water after snipping. You’ll get a fresh crop very quickly. THIN apples and stone fruit to ensure a bigger, healthier harvest. Leave two to three fruit per cluster. HARVEST artichokes, arugula, and Swiss chard.

Happy Gardening. Happy Growing. Photos and article: http://lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1406/Digging-Deep-with-Goddess-Gardener-Cynthia-Brian-Cultivating-artful-gratefulness.html

  Press Pass: https://blog.voiceamerica.com/2020/05/14/cultivating-artful-gratefulness/

  Cynthia Brian, The Goddess Gardener, is available for hire to help you prepare for your spring garden. Raised in the vineyards of Napa County, Cynthia is a New York Times best-selling author, actor, radio personality, speaker, media and writing coach, as well as the Founder and Executive Director of Be the Star You Are!® 501 c3. Tune into Cynthia’s StarStyle® Radio Broadcast at www.StarStyleRadio.com. Buy copies of her best-selling books, including, Chicken Soup for the Gardener’s Soul, Growing with the Goddess Gardener, and Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers at www.cynthiabrian.com/online-store. Cynthia is available for virtual writing projects, garden consults, and inspirational lectures. Cynthia@GoddessGardener.com www.GoddessGardener.com

#coronavirus, #gratitude,#ross,#hikes,,#stayhone, #spring,#compost,#artichokes,,#covid-19, #gardening, #cynthiabrian, #starstyle, #goddessGardener, #growingwiththegoddessgardener, #lamorindaweekly

[kevinscottgardens]

24 February - 14 March

Tomorrow is the Ides of March...what else can happen?

It’s been a busy few weeks in the garden and I’ve been to Antwerp and up to Gresgarth Hall, so a lot to report.

I re-mounted a Platycerium for the first time. It was interesting to see how they pile up on each other and how easy it was to pull off the dead ones and keep the one thriving one. Only two years ago this had only one pathetic little frond. I have nursed it back to a nice specimen and now have given it a new mounting. See photo under plant of the week below...

I enjoyed the last weekend of February in Antwerp with Jody and Steve who live there. It was the end of winter hours at work, so I was able to get away on the 15.00 train. We had a nice weekend.

The first of March brought us back to summer working hours (08.00 to 17.00 Monday through Thursday and 08.00 to 16.00 Friday). I replaced some raised bed wood that had rotted away in the pharmaceutical area.

We had two days of students installing art all around the garden for their course. It was fun to see it installed. It was only up for two days, unfortunately.

Last weekend I went up to Gresgarth Hall as a guest of Arabella and Mark Lennox-Boyd. I work on the database for the arboretum at Gresgarth. I met the new members of the gardening staff and upgraded their databases. Gresgarth is a beautiful place to escape London (and CoVid-19).

Monday morning at 06.13 I took a photo, through the bus window, crossing Putney Bridge on my way to work.

Later that day, one of our volunteers, Charlotte Lorimer, sent me this... Amazing!

This past week I spent three days working on turf, so by Thursday, with sore chest muscles, of course I initially equated that with ‘breathing difficulties’. I stopped, and realised I just had sore muscles. Ah, how CoVid-19 is playing with my mind. I then had an opportunity to add my own art to the garden. I was asked to try to protect new grass seed from birds, this is what I came up with...

We are growing bananas from seed for the first time and this is a photo of them germinating on 3 March and again, one week later on 10 March.

A volunteer donated a tablet to the garden so we will be able to use our database in the garden, once I figure out how to set it up! This is very exciting and should save us a lot of time. We expressed out huge gratitude to the wonderful volunteer who made this possible.

There is a lot of yellow in the garden at the moment, one of the showiest is Forsythia x intermedia ‘Beatrix Farrand’ which are located by the Embankment gate.

Plant ident on winter twigs by Joe:

Betulaceae Betula pendula

Betulaceae Carpinus betulus

Betulaceae Corylus avellana

Cornaceae Cornus sanguinea

Fagaceae Castanea sativa

Fagaceae Fagus sylvatica

Grossulariaceae Ribes nigrum

Rosaceae Prunus avium

Sapindaceae Acer griseum

Sapindaceae Aesculus hippocastanum

Plant of the week 28 February

Polypodiaceae Platycerium bifurcatum (Cav.) C. Chr.

common name(s) - common staghorn fern, common stag's horn fern, Australian elk's horn fern, elkhorn fern, antelope ears synonym(s) - Acrostichum bifurcatum Cav.; Alcicornium bifurcatum (Cav.) Underw. conservation rating - none native to - Eastern Australia & New Caledonia location - tropical corridor, accession 2008-0538, and fernery, accession 2008-0537 leaves - heart-shaped sterile fronds and grey-green, arching, fertile fronds to 900mm long, forked into strap-shaped segments, bearing brown spore patches beneath the tips flowers - none habit - evergreen, epiphytic fern habitat - a bracket epiphyte occurring in and near rainforests pests - scale insects disease - generally disease-free hardiness - to 1ºC (H2) soil - epiphyte sun - part shade, sheltered propagation - sow spores when ripe or detach plantlets pruning - none nomenclature - Polypodiaceae - polypodium - many-feet, Dioscorides’ reference to the rhizome growth pattern, polypody; Platycerium - broad-horned, the stag’s-horn-like, dichotomous lobing of the fertile fronds; bifurcatum - divided into equal limbs NB - AGM

References, bibliography:

Gledhill, David, (2008) “The Names of Plants”, fourth edition; Cambridge University Press; ISBN: 978-0-52168-553-5

IUCN [online] http://www.iucnredlist.org/search [14 Mar 20]

Missouri Botanical Garden [online] http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=b615 [14 Mar 20]

Plant List, The [online] http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/tro-50050265 [14 Mar 20]

Plants of the World [online] http://plantsoftheworldonline.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:17177460-1 [14 Mar 20]

Royal Horticultural Society [online] https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/details%3Fplantid%3D1488 [14 Mar 20]

Wikipedia [online] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platycerium_bifurcatum [14 Mar 20]

Plant ident of Jess’s favourites in the dicotyledon beds:

Apiaceae Ferula communis subsp. communis

Asteraceae Scolymus hispanicus

Asteraceae Serratula shawii

Caryophyllaceae Gypsophila acutifolia

Cistaceae Citrus trifoliata

Fabaceae Coronilla valentina subsp. glauca 'Citrina'

Fabaceae Glycyrrhiza yunnanensis

Ranunculaceae Clematis serratifolia

Rhamnaceae Paliurus spina-christi

Solanaceae Eriolarynx australis x Eriolarynx fasciculata

Plant of the week 6 March

Boraginaceae Echium candicans L.f.

common name(s) - pride of Madeira synonym(s) - Argyrexias candicans Raf.; Echium brachyanthum Hornem.; E. candicans var. noronhae Menezes; E. cynoglossoides Desf.; E. densiflorum DC.; E. macrophyllum Lehm.; E. maderense Steud.; E. marianum Boiss.; E. pallidum Salisb.; E. pavonianum Boiss.; E. truncatum auct. conservation rating - Data Deficient native to - Madeira, Portugal location - glasshouse two Macaronesian plants, accession 1991-0343 leaves - grey-hairy lance-shaped evergreen leaves flowers - dense terminal spike-like panicles of white, pale or deep blue flowers in spring and summer habit - bushy biennial sub-shrub habitat - forest, rocky areas (e.g. inland cliffs, mountain peaks), shrubland pests - outdoors slugs; indoors glasshouse whitefly, glasshouse red spider mite, vine weevils disease - generally disease-free hardiness - to 5ºC (H1c) soil - under glass, grow in a loam-based potting compost, in full light; water freely when in growth, sparingly in winter. Outdoors, grow in moderately fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. Protect from winter frost in situ with horticultural fleece sun - full sun, sheltered propagation - seed at 13 to 16°C in summer, overwintering seedlings at 5 to 7°C pruning - none nomenclature - Boraginaceae - borago - shaggy-coat, burra with feminine suffix (the leaves); Echium - viper, a name used by Dioscorides for a plant to cure snakebite, viper’s bugloss Echium vulgare; candicans - white, hoary-white, with white woolly hair, present participle of candico NB - in California, it is an invasive species. It is removed from native plant communities as part of habitat restoration efforts in coastal parks such as the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. In New Zealand it is a common garden escapee onto road-side verges and shingle banks throughout the drier parts of both the North and the South Islands. In the state of Victoria, Australia, it is considered to be a high weed risk and an alert has been posted by the Department of Primary Industries.

References, bibliography:

Gledhill, David, (2008) “The Names of Plants”, fourth edition; Cambridge University Press; ISBN: 978-0-52168-553-5

IUCN [online] https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/162036/115869493 [14 Mar 20]

Plant List, The [online] http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2784037 [14 Mar 20]

Plants of the World [online] http://plantsoftheworldonline.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:115594-1 [14 Mar 20]

Royal Horticultural Society [online] https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/6290/i-Echium-candicans-i/Details [14 Mar 20]

Wikipedia [online] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echium_candicans [14 Mar 20]

Plant ident on plants from Macaronesia by Louisa:

Arecaceae Phoenix canariensis

Asparagaceae Dracaena draco

Asteraceae Argyranthemum frutescens

Asteraceae Schizogyne sericea

Athyriaceae Diplazium caudatum

Boraginaceae Echium wildpretii

Crassulaceae Aeonium spathulatum

Lauraceae Laurus azorica

Pinaceae Pinus canariensis

Plantaginaceae Plantago famarae

Plant of the week 13 March

Rosaceae Prunus spinosa L.

common name(s) - blackthorn, sloe, sloe plum, buckthorn, bullace, skeg, snag synonym(s) - Druparia spinosa Clairv.; Prunus acacia Crantz ex Poir.; Prunus acacia Crantz; Prunus acacia-germanica Crantz; Prunus domestica var. spinosa (L.) Kuntze conservation rating - Least Concern native to - Europe, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Turkey, Syria & Iran location - useful garden - survival bed, accession 2017-0263 leaves - dark green, ovate leaves flowers - small white flowers in early spring, followed by ovoid, bloomy black fruits 15mm across habit - small thorny deciduous tree to 3m tall and 3m wide habitat - shrubland, artificial/terrestrial, rocky areas (e.g. inland cliffs, mountain peaks), forest pests - aphids, caterpillars, bullfinches disease - silver leaf, blossom wilt hardiness - to <-20ºC (H7) soil - any moist well-drained soil sun - full sun propagation - sowing the stones shallowly (no more than their own length deep) in a well-drained growing medium. In order to germinate, the stones must be exposed to a period of cold for approximately two months. This can be achieved by placing them in a bag of moist sand in a fridge. Semi-ripe cuttings can be taken in late summer. Blackthorn tolerates most soils, except acidic ones, but does not perform well if shaded. Once it is established it is a tough, resilient plant pruning - in mid-summer if silver leaf is a problem nomenclature - Rosaceae - rosa - the Latin name for various roses; Prunus - the ancient Latin name for a plum tree; spinosa - spiny, with spines NB - flavouring for alcoholic beverages (sloe gin), when tea derived from Camellia sinensis (a commonplace drink today) was a very expensive product, the young leaves of blackthorn were dried and used as a replacement for, or to adulterate, the more expensive tea. Blackthorn wood has been used to make walking sticks, clubs and hay-rake teeth. A shillelagh is a highly polished stick of blackthorn wood that was made and used in Ireland, and a blackthorn walking stick is still carried by commissioned officers of the Royal Irish Regiment. Blackthorn wood is especially hard and takes a high polish. The shillelagh was used in self defence and is now used in a form of traditional fighting or martial art. Stout sticks of blackthorn are highly prized since it is rare to find blackthorn grown to this size.

References, bibliography:

Gledhill, David, (2008) “The Names of Plants”, fourth edition; Cambridge University Press; ISBN: 978-0-52168-553-5

IUCN [online] https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/172194/19400568 [14 Mar 20]

Plant List, The [online] http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/rjp-43 [14 Mar 20]

Plants of the World [online] http://plantsoftheworldonline.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:730297-1 [14 Mar 20]

Royal Horticultural Society [online] https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/14041/Prunus-spinosa/Details [14 Mar 20]

CoVid-19 is consuming me now. I altered the way I return home from work after Wednesday’s nighmarish journey on the underground. Trains were only every twenty minutes to Richmond so we were packed in like sardines. Now I’m walking across the river to Queenstown Road and catching a train. There is much more room on the train. I’m addicted to following the numbers on this incredible Johns Hopkins University website:

Stay healthy if you can, and self-isolate if necessary. This will pass in time...

[thehowtostuff-blog]

Pandorea, also known as the bower vine or Pandorea jasminoides, is a native Australian climber with pretty trumpet-shaped flowers. It has tropical foliage that is beautiful even when it’s not in bloom. You can grow pandorea in containers or directly in your garden.

EditSteps

EditSelecting a Planting Site

Choose a site with well-draining soil. Observe the area where you intend to plant pandorea after a rainstorm or watering heavily. If there are pools of water after an hour or so, the soil isn’t well-draining. To amend your soil, dig up the top of soil and mix in a light layer of sand, compost, or dead leaves.[1]

If you’re planting pandorea in a container, choose a loamy soil so it has good drainage.

Pandorea does well in acidic, neutral, and alkaline soil.

Select a spot with full sun. Choose a spot in your lawn or garden that gets sunlight for the majority of the day. A spot that is shaded for less than 3 hours a day will also work, but more shade than that can stunt the plant’s growth and prevent it from blooming.[2]

If you’re growing pandorea indoors, place the container near a south- or west-facing window.[3]

Plant pandorea in the springtime. If you’re planting pandorea outdoors, wait until the danger of frost has passed. To find the average frost dates for your area, do an online search or check your local weather app.[4]

If you’re growing pandorea indoors, you can plant it at any time of year.

EditPlanting Pandorea

Obtain pandorea seeds. If you have a friend or neighbor that grows pandorea, you could ask them for seeds from their plant. Alternatively, you can purchase pandorea seeds from a nursery or online.

Seeds can be collected from the pods of an existing plant after the flowers die at the end of the fall season.

Sow the seeds apart. When you’re ready to plant the pandorea, keep in mind that this is a fast-growing vine. It spreads quite a bit, so you should space the seeds about apart.[5]

Alternatively, you can plant 2-3 seeds in a large pot.

Cover the seeds with of soil. The seeds need light to germinate, so don’t cover them with too much soil. Press the seeds lightly into the soil with your finger, then cover them with about of soil.[6]

Soak the seeds after planting them. To ensure the seeds germinate and take root, you need to water them immediately after planting. Thoroughly soak the seeds and surrounding soil with water. Pandorea seeds will germinate within 6-21 days.[7]

Pull the weaker plants after the seedlings emerge. Once the pandorea begins to grow, inspect the plants. Those that are smaller, thinner, and weaker can be removed. Leave only the healthiest vines.[8]

EditCaring for Pandorea

Provide a climbing support for the plant. Because pandorea is a vine, it needs something to attach to so it can grow vertically. Unless you want it to spread across your garden and take over, you should provide a trellis or climbing posts for the pandorea.[9]

Once the vines begin to grow, wrap them around the trellis or climbing pole. They will then begin to grow and climb upward, rather than outward.[10]

Keep the soil moist. It’s important to check the soil around the Pandorea several times a week. If it looks or feels dry, water the soil until it is moist but not soggy. Depending on your location and soil composition, you may need to water the pandorea every day or once a week.[11]

In the winter, you can water less frequently. Check the pandorea once per week and water it if the soil is dry.

Expect the plant to bloom from late spring to early fall. Pandorea plants develop beautiful trumpet-shaped flowers. Usually, they have white petals and pink throats. Though these flowers are unscented, they are a beautiful addition to your home or garden.[12]

Prune pandorea after it flowers. If you want to shape or trim the pandorea, wait until late fall when it is done blooming. Use sterilized pruning shears to snip off dead or diseased vines. You can also shape the pandorea as you like or cut it back to reduce its size.[13]

When pruning, cut the vines back to a shoot or bud. If you’re removing damaged or diseased parts of the vine, cut it back far enough that only healthy tissue remains.

EditTroubleshooting Problems

Introduce ladybugs if you have an aphid infestation. If you notice aphids, which are small, pear-shaped bugs, on the plant, you can get rid of them without using harsh chemicals. Purchase ladybugs from your local gardening center and gently shake them from the bag onto the vines. They will stay with the plant until all the aphids have been eaten.[14]

Usually, ladybugs come in packages of around 1,000, which should be more than enough to handle your aphid problem.

If you’re growing pandorea indoors, use an insecticidal soap as per the package directions to get rid of aphids.

Another way to reduce aphids is to spray down the plants with a strong stream of water. Do this once every 2-3 days.

Get rid of red spider mites with an insecticidal soap. Your pandorea may attract red spider mites, which are small, yellow-green bugs, contrary to their name.[15] If you have spider mites, you can eradicate them with an insecticidal soap, available from your local gardening center. Spray the vines with the insecticidal soap as per the directions on the package.[16]

Be sure to select an insecticidal soap formulated for use on pandorea. Ask a sales associate for help if you have any questions.

You may need to spray the plants every 2-3 days until the infestation is gone.

Control nematodes with a multifaceted approach. Nematodes are small worms that eat the roots of plants. If you have sandy soil, you’re more like to have nematodes.[17] Nematodes are notoriously difficult to eradicate, but you may be able to control the problem with a variety of techniques.[18]

Amend the soil by adding organic material like manure and compost to limit the damage done by the nematodes.

You can also apply bionematicide on a regular basis to paralyze the nematode eggs so they don’t hatch.

Use solarization to treat the soil after relocating the plant. Work the area with a hoe or tiller, then water the soil until it is moist. Cover the area with clear plastic, and let the heat destroy the nematodes by leaving the area covered for up to 6 weeks.

EditRelated wikiHows

Grow Coral Pea

Propagate Clematis

Prune Clematis

Grow Lemon Myrtle

Grow Australian Native Plants

EditSources and Citations

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from How to of the Day https://ift.tt/2HTjzaV

[indiraalpert788-blog]

Institution Horticulture Programs Plant Seeds Of Healthy Eating

This month's correspondence issues clematis vines, scorched oleanders, dwarf orange trees as well as 30-foot-tall hedges in the Santa Clarita Valley. One of the most apparent technique to offer food for birds in your yard is by making using of a birdfeeder with seed. Great nutrition, appropriate sleeping, fresh sky as well as physical exercise all contribute to a well-balanced landscape. Plant this coming from seed in the trendiest, minimum friendly part of your garden as well as enjoy that increase. Tricia Sedgwick-- the creator from a city ranch and also yard project in Vancouver, The Planet in a Yard-- dug into the ground over the weekend break, but claimed that is crucial for landscapers to take a couple of preventative measures to make sure their blooms carry on in to the springtime. I really love to expand my plants coming from propagation so am on the lookout for a white one I could have some cuttings coming from. Because of the completely transformed Landscape and also redesigned Online forum our company additionally remain to have fantastic success in attracting outstanding companies. White Property staff which usually offer services to select the grass are off on furlough, Gehman Kohan stated. Specialist yard care solutions perform a great job of keeping your garden ship-shape. Besides being actually plant-friendly, you may also produce hypertufa landscape fine art through altering objects besides planters as well as pots. Astilbe is actually a clump-forming floral persistent along with feathery blooms from pink, white or reddish in summertime. To perk up lifeless timber paneling, mix 2 cups cozy water, 4 tablespoons white or cider white vinegar, and also 2 tbsps olive oil in a container, offer it a number of trembles and also administer with a tidy fabric. These forms of hose materials enable landscape hoses to showcase a silky exterior surface area that makes it feasible to pull hoses previous barriers such as supports as well as significant plants. My landscape frequently surprises me, phones me to exercise, get out in the sunlight, odor the flowers, commune with nature if you will. Listed here extras may create the extraction from each backyard weeds and also fertility of soil.There are lots of kinds for getting rid of backyard pots easily offered online as well as offline. Hey there Kitty Orchid Landscape uses a lovable, kitty-fied food selection along with a nearby Singaporean influence. She possesses an exclusive interest in solar energy water fountains and also photovoltaic items for the residence and garden. That is vital to choose pallets that are made off level, unpainted white hardwood though, carry out certainly not utilize addressed environment-friendly or blue wood for your horticulture.

A little set from the seeds was shipped to the White Residence about a month earlier, according http://Behealthwithmila.info to a declaration off NASA Diners in the White House will definitely now be actually consuming the same plants that the rocketeers perform. Exactly what an excellent talent you have and also it's nice that you may spare so much cash on these yard things.

[sensitivefern]

Given passenger pigeons’ Brobdingnagian appetites for mast and maize, one would expect that Indians would also have hunted them and wanted to keep down their numbers. Thus their bones should be plentiful at archaeological sites...

===

...St. Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland... he surely did. It was he who brought Christianity to Ireland, and by so doing drove out the Druid serpents and their wisdom-knowledge. St. Patrick was thorough to say the least, for wisdom-knowledge has never returned; on the contrary, Catholicism reigns supreme. This is the curse of ireland, but sunk in the depths of their Christian ignorance its people cannot see it. It is tragic indeed that a people so potentially fine should be literally damned by their religion. If, as has been said, they are not mature emotionally and politically, the reason is obvious: two thousand years of religious error plus seven hundred of racial hatred. If the Irish would overcome this, they must bring back to Erin the ancient wisdom. With this, they would realize that the thing that’s bedevilin’ them now is not the Satan of religion but the religion of Satan, Catholicism.

[Deceptions and Myths of the Bible]

===

On March 18, 1917... Germany sank three American ships, the City of Memphis, the Vigilante, and the Illinois, without warning. America entered the war.

===

Naples, Florida, January 9 [1972]. At Wellfleet before I left, I found myself surrounded by my books and other belongings, but was now alienated from them, couldn’t really connect with them. Uncomfortable. [...] Yellow and red hibiscus flowers – no suckers dropping from the palms – no traces of wild life whatever except pelicans and other birds – lakes full of ducks and other water fowl, which Audubon must have studied, now built up, surrounded by houses. [...] No corner drugstores or convenient grocery stores. No community existence of even the Middle Western kind. Traffic and crowding of shoppers like Wellfleet in August. You can’t get anywhere without a car and distances too far to walk. Elena was afraid to ask what people’s politics were – our enthusiasm for McGovern was coldly received by... [...] Happily sunk in Balzac again. Easy to get to bathroom.

Elena follows the primary elections and has become somewhat addicted to TV.

[Edmund Wilson]

===

leather flower, vase vine | Clematis viorna ‘Vase vine belongs to a large group of clematis in the section Viorna, along with many other similar native clematis. This is one of the prettiest and most overlooked species in the genus. Plants easily climb 10ft. or more, with thin slightly hairy deep green leaves, divided into five to seven leaflets’... as a general rule this species is more attractive when encouraged to grow over and through shrubs and other plants in the garden as opposed to being forced to ascend a trellis, etc. ... no cultivars per se... Clematis glaucophyllum is also called leather flower... native to Pennsylvania and west to Illinois, and parts south; zones 4-7... full sun with a bit of dappled shade...

hardy ageratum | Conoclinium coelestinum Formerly Eupatorium coelestinum... Rarely found growing in gardens, possibly because the plants ‘resemble the bedding ageratums they just bought at K-Mart, and they don’t need anything else that looks like that’... rhizomatous – and quick-spreading at that... ‘Album’ is a naturally occurring whitey; ‘Cori’ and ‘Wayside Variety’ are more compact... zones 4-9; moist soil, full sun... easily propagated from seed; terminal cuttings from the named varieties – rooting hormone is recommended.. easily divided...

[Armitage’s Native Plants for North American Gardens]

===

❚Paris mayor to spend 1.5 million euros for 'war on rats'

Come and knock on our door... (Come and knock on our door) We've been waiting for you... (We've been waiting for you) Where the kisses are hers and hers and his, Three's company too.

Come and dance on on our floor... (Come and dance on on our floor) Take a step that is new... (Take a step that is new) We've a loveable space that needs your face, Three's company too.

You'll see that life is a ball again, laughter is calling for you... Down at our rendezvous... (Down at our rendezvous) Three's company too!

David Letterman's ugly personality no laughing matter: colleagues Late-night funnyman David Letterman was hardly a barrel of laughs off the air. A new biography of the now-retired talk show host portrays Letterman as more self-loathing than self-critical — and an often miserable man who inflicted his pain on his staff. “He was never truly comfortable unless he was seething with unhappiness at something,” one longtime writer told author Jason Zinoman in “Letterman: The Last Giant of Late Night.”

Eagle Flies Away with Cat

...Here in Finland we even have group on Facebook called "Sipsikaljavegaanit" (literally chips and beer vegans). And rules allow posting only pics and recipes of vegan junk food.

White Evangelicals believe they are more persecuted than Muslims. Also believe the earth is 6000 years old and Donald Trump has...

And now for something completely different, I present to you pic of dude humping Wall Street "fearless girl" statue

[kevinscottgardens]

30 September through 13 October 2019

Autumn is here. The garden is slowing down. The first leaves on the Nyssa sylvatica are putting on their fabulous fiery show.

Last week Louisa and I sewed the wildflower meadow with poppies, chamomile, corncockle and cornflower and barley. It will be nice to see how it turns out in the spring.

This week we started moving the tender plants in pots into their winter homes, mostly into the tropical corridor. The citrus were put into the polyhut to overwinter. Winter protection has started.

This year we are going to do our best to stop using single-use plastic (aka zip ties), returning to twine. It will be interesting to see how much longer this takes. Last year we erected all the structures in record time due mostly to the fact that zip ties are so much faster to utilise than sewing twine through bubble wrap or fleece.

Friday after work I headed to Kew to collect a long-awaited Kerria japonica for the Asian woodland garden. They are surprisingly difficult to find; only the various cultivars are readily available and I only want the species and this one was wild collected, so bonus!

Plant ident of autumn climbers by Louisa

Cannabaceae Humulus lupulus 'Wye Northdown'

Convolvulacea Ipomoea lobata

Curcubitaceae Lagenaria siceraria

Curcubitaceae Luffa aegyptiaca

Geraniaceae Pelargonium [Antik Violet] = ‘TikVio’ (Antik Series)

Leguminaceae Lablab purpureus

Malvaceae Abutilon x milleri

Polemoniaceae Cobaea scandens

Ranunculaceae Clematis tibetana subsp.vernayi

Vitaceae Vitis coignetiae

A funny story about the Ipomoea lobata. When I posted this to Tumblr, their idiotic algorithms thought it was adult content!

We are preparing for the Christmas Fair held in November, so we harvested 200 quince for one of our volunteers who will make delicious quince jam and sell it at the fair.

This stunning sight is on my way home from the station...

Last weekend I was in Paris visiting Lucien and François simply because “Paris is always a good idea.” (Audrey Hepburn) This weekend started with taco and jacuzzi night at Elizabeth and Rob’s on Friday. Saturday it never stopped raining which made doing all my errands a little wetter. I also booked some last-minute trips to see friends before the end of the year.

This morning I found these interesting mushrooms growing in the back garden. I fear it is hone fungus; a neighbouring Prunus suddenly died this summer!

Plant of the week 4 October

Convolvulaceae Ipomoea lobata (Cerv.) Thell.

common name(s) - Spanish flag, firecracker vine synonym(s) - Convolvulus mina Kuntze, Ipomoea mina Voss, Mina cordata Micheli, Mina lobata Cerv., Quamoclit lobata (Cerv.) House, Quamoclit pallescens Brongn. ex Neumann conservation rating - none native to - Mexico location - dicotyledon order beds, accession _____ leaves - three-lobed flowers - crimson-flushed stems bear one-sided racemes of small, tubular, dark red flowers which fade to orange and then a creamy yellow in summer habit - fast-growing, deciduous, twining climber to 5m tall habitat - no information found pests - galsshouse red spider mite disease - generally disease-free hardiness - to 5ºC (H1c) soil - moist and well-drained sand, chalk or loam sun - full sun, sheltered propagation - seed pruning - none nomenclature - Convolvulaceae - entwined, a name in Pliny; Ipomoea - worm-resembling, the sinuous twining stems; lobata - with lobes, lobed, lobus NB - AGM

References, bibliography:

Gledhill, David, (2008) “The Names of Plants”, fourth edition; Cambridge University Press; ISBN: 978-0-52168-553-5

IUCN [online] http://www.iucnredlist.org/search [13 Oct 19]

Plant List, The [online] http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/tro-8501920 [13 Oct 19]

Royal Horticultural Society [online] https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/45959/i-Ipomoea-lobata-i/Details [13 Oct 19]

Plant of the week 11 October

Araliaceae Tetrapanax papyrifer (Hook.) K.Koch

common name(s) - rice-paper plant; Chinese: 通草 tong cao synonym(s) - Aralia mairei H.Lév.; Aralia papyrifera Hook.; Didymopanax papyrifer (Hook.) K. Koch; Didymopanax papyriferus (Hook.) K.Koch; Echinopanax papyriferus (Hook.) Kuntze; Fatsia papyrifera (Hook.) Miq. ex Witte; Panax papyrifer (Hook.) F.Muell. conservation rating - Least Concern native to - China, Taiwan location - revolutionary fibres in the useful garden, accession _____ leaves - rosette of large leaves at the top carried on 400mm to 600mm petioles, the leaf blade orbicular, deeply palmately lobed with five to eleven primary lobes, the central lobes larger and Y-forked near the end; stems and bottom of leaves are covered with an indumentum which can be a lung irritant to some people; avoid looking up while cutting off a leaf above you because the indumentum will fall into your eyes, nose, throat and create quite a painful situation flowers - large panicle of hemispherical to globular umbels near the end of the stem; have four or five small white petals; fruit is a small drupe habit - semi-evergreen, to 7m tall, with usually unbranched stems habitat - forest in subtropical or tropical moist lowlands pests - generally pest-free disease - generally disease-free hardiness - to -10ºC (H4) soil - well-drained sand, chalk or loam sun - full sun to part shade, sheltered propagation - seed, removing suckers pruning - damaged, dead, diseased nomenclature - Araliaceae - aralia - origin uncertain, could be from French Canadian, aralie; Tetrapanax - four-partite, describing the floral structure; papyrifer - paper-bearing NB - monotypic genus; pith from the stem is used to make a substance commonly known as rice paper; more properly termed pith paper.

References, bibliography:

Gledhill, David, (2008) “The Names of Plants”, fourth edition; Cambridge University Press; ISBN: 978-0-52168-553-5

IUCN [online] https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/147626842/147626844 [13 Oct 19]

Plant List, The [online] http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-202449 [13 Oct 19]

Royal Horticultural Society [online] https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/191283/i-Tetrapanax-papyrifer-i-Rex/Details [13 Oct 19]

Wikipedia [online] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetrapanax [13 Oct 19]

[kevinscottgardens]

1 through 4 January 2019

For New Year’s Eve, I had Susie (who captured the evening beautifully with this shot) and Richard over for a quiet evening of cocktails, Champaign, risotto and a bit of fireworks on the telly. Happy New Year everyone.

I worked New Year’s Day and recorded all plants with at least one open flower. We have had an unseasonably warm autumn and start to winter; the result was 159 plants in flower:

Abutilon × milleri

Acanthus sennii

Ageratina ligustrina

Agrostemma githago

Alstroemeria aurea

Alstroemeria psittacina

Alyssum montanum 'Berggold'

Amicia zygomeris

Anisodontea capensis

Arabis procurrens

Arbutus canariensis

Arbutus unedo f. rubra

Argyranthemum pinnatifidum subsp. pinnatifidum

Bergenia × schmidtii

Bergenia crassifolia

Bidens aurea

Buddleja officinalis

Calendula officinalis

Camellia sinensis

Cestrum parqui

Cestrum psittacinum

Chimonanthus praecox

Chimonanthus praecox Grandiflorus Group

Chrysanthemum 'Kakinomoto'

Cistus creticus

Clematis cirrhosa 'Wisley Cream'

Cobaea scandens

Colletia hystrix 'Rosea'

Colletia paradoxa

Coronilla valentina subsp. glauca 'Citrina'

Correa backhousiana

Cyclamen coum

Dahlia imperialis

Daphne bholua 'Jacqueline Postill'

Dasylirion acrotrichum

Descurainia millefolia

Dianthus deltoides

Dianthus gratianopolitanus

Dichroa febrifuga

Drimys winteri

Echium italicum subsp. bieberstenii

Eomecon chionantha

Eranthis hyemalis

Eriobotrya japonica

Eruca vesicaria subsp. sativa

Erysimum 'Bowles Mauve'

Eschscholzia lobbii

Fragaria 'Pink Panda'

Fuchsia 'Hawkshead'

Fuchsia microphylla

Gaillardia aristata

Galanthus 'Armine'

Galanthus 'Art Nouveau'

Galanthus caucasicus

Galanthus cilicicus

Galanthus elwesii

Galanthus elwesii 'Grumpy'

Galanthus elwesii 'Lode Star'

Galanthus elwesii 'Mrs Macnamara'

Galanthus elwesii 'Snowfox'

Galanthus elwesii var. elwesii 'Kite'

Galanthus elwesii var. monostictus Hiemalis Group

Galanthus 'James Backhouse'

Galanthus 'John Gray'

Galanthus 'Lapwing'

Galanthus 'Lavinia'

Galanthus 'Lyn'

Galanthus nivalis

Galanthus nivalis 'Melvillei'

Galanthus plicatus 'Florence Baker'

Galanthus plicatus 'Warham'

Galanthus reginae-olgae 'Blanc de Chine'

Galanthus 'Rose Lloyd'

Geranium macrorrhizum

Geum rivale

Halimium lasianthum 'Sandling'

Hebe salicifolia

Hebe stricta

Helichrysum bracteatum

Helleborus × hybridus

Helleborus × hybridus 'Early Purple'

Helleborus × sternii

Helleborus argutifolius

Helleborus cyclophyllus

Helleborus foetidus

Helleborus foetidus 'Wester Flisk'

Helleborus niger

Hoheria sexstylosa

Hyacinthoides aristidis

Hyacinthoides mauritanica

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Sir Joseph Banks'

Iberis amara

Iberis sempervirens

Iris unguicularis

Iris unguicularis 'Walter Butt'

Jasminum mesnyi

Jasminum nudiflorum

Justicia floribunda

Laurus nobilis

Lavandula dentata var. dentata (Grey Leaved Form)

Lavandula minutolii var. minutolii

Leonurus sibiricus

Leucojum aestivum subsp. aestivum

Lithodora zahnii

Loasa triphylla var. vulcanica

Lobelia erinus

Lonicera elisae

Lonicera standishii

Mahonia japonica

Mahonia napaulensis

Medicago arborea

Narcissus bulbocodium subsp. bulbocodium var. conspicuus

Narcissus dubius

Narcissus romieuxii 'Julia Jane'

Nerine bowdenii 'Mark Fenwick'

Nicotiana rustica

Nicotiana tabacum

Nigella sativa

Petasites fragrans

Polemonium reptans

Polyspora indet.

Primula × pruhonicensis

Primula vulgaris

Prunus × subhirtella 'Autumnalis Rosea'

Prunus mume

Ricinus communis 'Carmencita'

Rosa × odorata 'Bengal Crimson'

Rosa 'Ausmas' [GRAHAM THOMAS]

Rosa chinensis 'Veridiflora'

Rosmarinus officinalis

Rosmarinus officinalis 'Prostratus'

Ruta graveolens

Salvia 'Amistad'

Salvia atrocyanea

Salvia elegans 'Honey Melon'

Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Bloom’

Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue'

Salvia haenkei 'Prawn Chorus'

Salvia involucrata

Salvia involucrata 'Bethellii'

Salvia keerlii

Salvia longistyla

Salvia 'Phyllis' Fancy'

Salvia stachydifolia

Sarcococca confusa

Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna

Sarcococca hookeriana var. hookeriana

Sarcococca hookeriana var. hookeriana 'Ghorepani'

Sarcococca ruscifolia var. ruscifolia

Scabiosa minoana subsp. minoana

Scrophularia lucida

Senna corymbosa

Stylophorum lasiocarpum

Tagetes lemmonii

Viburnum tinus 'Eve Price'

Vinca difformis

Vinca major

Viola odorata 'Czar'

Westringia fruticosa

I finished reviewing all 20,621 accessions and separating our seeds from our plants. I had no idea it would take a week to do this. I’m happy I did it this way; I am more familiar with the data and aware of so many different ways the database has been used over the years.

We made a huge dent in the pile that needed to be shredded and the compost pile has been moved along so we have an empty bay to start filling.

We are working shorter hours now, down to an average of 35 hours per week, in line with the rest of the staff. It is so civilised and European. Because we work 39 hours per week in the summer, we now finish at 15.30 Monday through Thursday and 13.00 on Friday. I’m very happy with these longer weekend. I will be able to take a much earlier train to the continent for weekend jaunts.

Plant of the week

Lamiaceae Rotheca myricoides (Hochst.) Steane & Mabb.

common name(s) - butterfly bush, blue glory bower, blue butterfly bush, butterfly clerodendrum, blue glory bower, blue glorybower, blue cat's whiskers synonym(s) - Clerodendrum dekindtii Gürke; C. d. var. dinteri Thomas; C. myricoides (Hochst.) R.Br. ex Vatke; C. m. var. camporum Gürke; C. m. var. chartaceum Moldenke; C. m. var. grossiserratum Gürke; C. m. var. involutum B.Thomas; C. m. f. lanceolatilobatum R.Fern.; C. m. var. laxum Gürke; C. m. var. microphyllum Gürke; C. m. var. savanorum (De Wild.) B.Thomas; C. neumayeri Vatke; C. savanorum De Wild.; C. schlechteri Gürke; C. sylvaticum (Hochst.) Briq.; C. ugandense Prain; Cyclonema myricoides Hochst.; C. sylvaticum Hochst.; Cyrtostemma myricoides (Hochst.) Kunze; Rotheca myricoides f. lanceolatilobata (R.Fern.) R.Fern.; R. m. subsp. myricoides; Siphonanthus myricoides (Hochst.) Hiern; Spironema myricoides Hochst. conservation rating - none native to - Kenya, Uganda location - glasshouse four, accession _____ leaves - glabrous, elliptic to narrow-obovate, glossy bright green, serrate margins, wedge-shaped bases flowers - showy, five-petaled flowers bloom June to September, showy, curved, outward-arching, purple stamens (resembling butterfly antennae); black, fleshy fruit follows habit - suckering evergreen shrub with a somewhat open habit to 2m tall and 2m wide habitat - in thickets in rocky places, along streams and at the edges of evergreen forest, to 1,700m pests - aphids, whitefly, mealybugs, scale, spider mites disease - leaf spot hardiness - to 1ºC (H2) soil - organically rich, evenly moist, well-drained sun - full sun to part shade propagation - seed, cuttings pruning - prune stems hard to the ground in early spring if compact plant form is desired nomenclature - Lamiaceae - the mint or deadnettle family, gullet, the name in Pliny refers to the gaping mouth of the corolla; Rotheca - Latinisation of the Malayalam ചെറിയ തേക്ക് words cheriga meaning small and thekku meaning teak; myricoides - from the French myriades meaning ten thousand and a Latinization of the Greek –oides meaning to see; resembling Myrica

References, bibliography:

Flora of Zimbabwe [online] https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=149090 [31 Dec 18]

Gledhill, David, (2008) The Names of Plants, fourth edition; Cambridge University Press; ISBN: 978-0-52168-553-5

IUCN [online] http://www.iucnredlist.org/search [31 Dec 18]

Missouri Botanical Garden [online] http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a496 [31 Dec 18]

Plant List, The [online] http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-179968 [31 Dec 18]