Gardening Programs
daffodils and pansies share the spotlight
I will be presenting a free program on March 6 th at 2PM at the Public Library of Anniston-Calhoun County: "How does Your Garden Grow." Grady Woodall will present a free bonsai program at the Library on March 13 at noon and then there will be a hands on workshop on March 30 (call the Library to register as there is a fee for this workshop).
Hayes Jackson is doing a "Rain Barrel and Cisterns" workshop at the Anniston Museum from 10 until noon on March 29 th . Please check with the Museum at 256-237-6766 to register.
Looking ahead "Lunch and Learn" with the Calhoun County Master Gardeners starts back on April 25 at noon. Dr. Harry Holstein of JSU will be our speaker. The first MG plant sale of the season is April 21 from 8 until 11. Both events are at Cane Creek Community Gardens.
Celebrating Arbor Day
For those of you who can always use another tree there will be 2 tree giveaways in the county this month:
Jacksonville Arbor Day Tree give away: Friday, Feb. 17 th on the Square from 3 until 5 PM
Calhoun County Beautification Board: Friday, February 24 at Foodland in Alexandria from 2:30 until 4:30 PM.
The Flowering Quince
The flowering quince (chaenomeles) around town have been putting on a show now for a couple of weeks. This wonderful deciduous ornamental is just about the first thing to begin blooming in the garden each year; I have seen the quince in the photograph start to bloom in January. This is an easy plant to grow; flowering quince doesn’t seem bothered by insects, diseases (except perhaps leaf spot in the summer), or deer. If it had one drawback, perhaps, that might be the thorns. Flowering quince want full sun and, like all plants, well-drained soil. It is neat to bring branches in the house and watch them bloom during late January. The flowers make a glorious flower arrangement. The quince pictured here ( I don’t remember the cultivar) grows only about three feet tall and about five feet around. There are many, many cultivars of flowering quince available to the trade: some grow tall; others remain dwarf size. There is a wonderful assortment of colors, including coral, pink, red, white and, my most favorite, the one that sports pink and white and red blooms all on the same branch (‘Toyo Nishki’). I have been told that quince can even survive in dry shade--the gardener's worst place to get something to grow, but I have not been successful in that environment.
Flowering quince is a wonderful addition to your garden. It might almost be described as bullet-proof, a gardener’s favorite plant description.
THE SOUTHERN LIVING GARDEN BOOK was the source for my information.
The Jewels of the Winter Garden
a weeping yaupon
Many winter days can be very gray with bitter temperatures and blustery winds. We are worried more about our freezing pipes than gardening chores. This year so far our winter has been rather balmy. Winter does not have to be colorless or boring in the garden. The tropical leaves of the fatsia japonica or the reddish cast of a loropetalum’s leaves can brighten up our surroundings. The breath-taking blossoms of a camellia japonica, the cheery faces of the pansies, or the bright yellow trumpets of the early daffodils can add the burst of color that gardeners long to see twelve months of the year. Some of the most wonderful splashes of color in a winter landscape can come from berries. The weeping yaupon (Ilex vomitoria ‘Pendula’), nandina (Nandina domestica) and various cotoneaster cultivars sport wonderful bright red winter berries.
By mid-January the weeping yaupon is covered with bright red berries that sparkle in the sun like round jewels. As do most plants, the yaupon prefers well-drained, fertile soil. It will grow in part to full sun but will have more berries in the sun. This yaupon can reach 15 to 20 feet in height and about five to six feet in diameter. Deer don’t care to eat it. It is a trouble-free, easy-to-grow evergreen; the glorious fruit is just one more reason to add it to your landscape–provided you have the room to let it do its thing. This plant is one that must be planted in the right place because of its size at maturity.
Some gardeners have a love-hate relationship with the common nandina, a member of the bamboo family. I am not sure why as it can survive just about anywhere and be completely ignored. I have seen it growing, and even thriving, where it receives absolutely no attention. As do all plants, a nandina prefers well drained fertile soil with regular watering but it will grow in tree roots with dry shade. Nandinas can appear far from their original home as the birds drop the berries; since it spreads by underground stolons it can also creep out of its original planting space. For color, from both the leaves and the berries, it does deserve to have a place in the garden. It is tough as nails, doesn’t seem to be troubled by pests or diseases, and is not too picky about its growing conditions or its environment (grows in sun or shade). Improper pruning techniques, however, can quickly ruin a nandina’s appearance. Shearing it into a hedge, a square, or a round ball are all misdemeanors in the gardener’s book of pruning. If a nandina needs a little pruning,, that is best done with a hand pruner. One can also cut one third of the canes to the ground each year for three years. There are so many cultivars: ‘Firepower’ grows two feet tall; others such as ‘Plum Passion’ reach four to five feet. The common nandina can reach six to eight feet.
Another beauty in the winter garden is the cotoneaster as the berries appear sooner than those of the nandina and yaupon. When its weeping branches are covered with hundreds of red berries, it is a standout in the winter garden. Cotoneasters require little care and should not be heavily pruned as that will ruin its natural shape. It would make a beautiful espalier across a fence. Most cotoneasters prefer full sun, but will grow in light shade also. They will survive on little water. Although they do well in drought conditions they are prone to a type of blight which will mutilate and kill them.
When you are choosing plants for your landscape, remember those whose beauty is in the berries During the cold days, your winter jewels will warm your heart.
The Joys of the Garden in Winter
The blooms on 'R.L. Wheeler' sparkle in the sun
Although tree bark, form, and evergreen foliage generally can certainly liven up the winter garden, there is probably nothing that cheers us in the middle of winter like a splash of color. Our daytime temperatures have ranged from near 70 to the high 40's. There have been days with bright blue skies and days where we never caught even the smallest glimpse of the sun. On those gray days dashes of color coming from the cardinals visiting the bird feeder were certainly welcome. Some of the garden appears to be resting, but many of the plants are putting on a brilliant winter show; after all, it is officially winter until almost the end of March. Unfortunately, there may be a lot of green in the lawns these days as winter weeds are making their appearance – probably the only spot of color in the winter garden we do not relish.
If you peek under your mulch you will see that the daffodils are coming up; soon our gardens will be full of the quintessential winter bloomer with bobbing, waving heads of bright yellow. My first daffodil began to bloom last week. If you plan carefully, you can have them blooming for several months. Daffodils come in an array of flower sizes (from the tiniest jonquil to the huge King Alfred), in colors from bright yellow to white to pink, in stems in different heights – in various blooming times.
I love to plant for winter color; following are a few of my favorites from the more than 400 plants which can bring life to the winter landscape. Hope these will inspire you.
Camellia japonica – these wonderful evergreens also like the same conditions as azaleas: acid, well-drained soil with filtered sun – so many to choose from (more than 3000 named ones exist): ‘R. L. Wheeler’ with its huge rose red blossoms, ‘LA Peppermint’ with it pink and white striped flower, ‘Lady Clare’ an oldy but goody with semi-double deep pink blooms , ‘Professor Sargent’ with dark red anemone-like flowers with ruffled petals in the center, and ‘Magnoliiflora’ (one of my very favorites) with its pale pink semi-double flowers. Camellias like to stay out of the early morning winter sun and very cold winter winds. My mom used to say camellias could break your heart because just as they began to put on their show there would be a killing cold snap which would destroy the blossoms. However, buds that are tightly closed can usually survive the cold.
Helleborus orientalis, the Lenten rose – forms a wonderful evergreen ground cover, and is a prolific reseeder (almost to the point that some may consider it to be invasive); it blooms in late winter to early spring in shades of cream, light green, or purple to brown (most blooms turn light green as they age) preferring areas with high shade. Lenten roses are fairly drought tolerant once they are established although mine needed supplemental water in last season’s drought; they will need tidying up in the late fall to remove tattered leaves. They dislike being disturbed and will pout if they are moved and take a couple of years to get going again; ‘Royal Heritage’, fairly new to the trade blooms pink to purple to black. There is absolutely nothing to bring life to the winter garden like a bed of Lenten roses with their (droopy) multicolored faces.
Pansy – no winter landscape is complete without pansies –whether in containers or in the ground
Chaenomeles, the flowering quince – produces flowers (some varieties double and others single) on thorny branches, with the shrub blooming before the leaves come out – very easy to grow, possibly bullet-proof. It is not very particular about garden soil – takes full sun; once established it is fairly drought tolerant. It is a marvelous sight in the winter garden as it is one of the first to bloom. A special treat is to take a branch that is budded and bring in the house to watch the flowers open up. Of note is ‘Toyo Nishhiki’ which sports pink and white and red flowers all on the same plant.
Daphne -- the most familiar may be the evergreen Daphne odora (winter daphne), prized for its heavenly fragrance and the dainty pink/purple blooms in late winter. WARNING!! Daphnes can succumb to sudden daphne death if they are not given perfect drainage; plant your daphne high just as you would your azaleas. Mine is in a huge pot close to the front door for two reasons: to smell whenever I come in and out and to monitor its growing conditions. Daphnes like to be protected from the mid-day sun and overwatering is a no no.
Edgeworthia chrysantha, the paper bush – deciduous plant that is a must for the winter garden with charming fragrant yellow flowers; it requires same growing conditions as azaleas and ample moisture during summer’s heat and drought.
Mahonia bealei, the leather leaf mahonia (also discussed in an earlier blog) -- planted not only for its wonderful holly- like foliage but also for the spikes of vibrant yellow flowers. It prefers a part shade location with rich soil and regular water (but a well-established plant has been known to tolerate dry shade)
Corylopsis, winter hazel – another one where flowers appear before the leaves– there are many to choose from but all have fragrant flowers shaped like a bell that hang in short chainlike clusters from the branches; another one that likes the same growing conditions as azaleas.
If you still need some winter cheer, please don’t forget the crocus blooming in late winter and signaling to us that spring is around the corner. Mass them; don’t plant them deeply, and hope that the squirrels and the chipmunks aren’t watching you the day you plant them.
Winter does not need to be a drab colorless season. With a bit of research and planning, something can be blooming twelve months of the year in your garden. I have used a book called THE WINTER GARDEN by Peter Loewer and Larry Mellichamp and THE SOUTHERN LIVING GARDEN BOOK for my inspiration and my plant facts. A walk through your favorite garden shop to see what is blooming at this time of the year may also spark your imagination. Remember we are in the middle of the best time to plant in our 7b to 8A area – so go for it!
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Wednesday, 19, 2013
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Pond Spring- The Gener... 3:50 PM
Oxford Farmers market 12:00 AM to 11:59 PM
Join us for the kick-off of Oxford's first...
Oxford Farmers market 12:00 AM to 11:59 PM Join us for the kick-off of Oxford's first...
Hip Hop Hope Vacation ... 12:00 AM to 11:59 PM$0 The Living by Faith Ministry will host Vac...
RMC opening critical care clinic in Piedmont
Jun 19, 2013 | 38 views | 
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| 3 | | Ohatchee council wants to know what’s underground before accepting land from county
Jun 19, 2013 | 47 views |
| 3 | | J'ville planning commission finds Mountain Street rezoning proposal OK
Jun 19, 2013 | 66 views |
| 6 | | Piedmont City Council spends $48K to improve electrical substations
Jun 19, 2013 | 54 views |
| 8 | | George Smith: I just love watching Ozzie ...
Jun 19, 2013 | 223 views |
| 5 | | WEDNESDAY’S LIST . . . of beans ’n greens ’n other things:
***
DON’T TELL me I’ve nothing to do.
From the window of my barn I see Ozzie coming through the hedgerow from next door. I like Ozzie a lot, but I’m not sure he feels the same. Efforts to pet and feed over the years have been a flop at best.
What Ozzie likes to do is hunt. I mean really hunt.
You see, Ozzie is a brindle, bob-tailed, three-legged cat and he loves to feed on whatever he can find in the hedgerow across my back yard, including field mice and squirrels.
Ozzie is flat out deadly, too.
Since losing his right front leg to a tumor a couple of years back, he has taught himself a new way to hunt. He keeps stalking to a minimum. But with the patience of Job, he settles down and waits for a meal to come within striking distance.
When the meal does, it’s “Wham” and Ozzie heads for the dinner table.
He’s a wonder to watch ...
^^^
IT IS A typical day at the Smith Estate. I am out in my barn kicked back in what I call “Archie’s Recliner.” I am reading a book, listening to Merle Haggard on the stereo, and watching TV (how’s that for multi-tasking, huh?) The blonde is out and about.
The phone rings. It is from the blonde. She is at Sears in the Quintard Mall ...
“Sweetheart, I’m at Sears looking at vacuum cleaners. I can get a small one to go with a regular one. What do you think I should do?”
Recovering from the shock of her asking my permission for anything, I agree to the double dip and then make a mistake with “What’s going on, you asking my permission?”
From the other end, there is a happy laugh with:
“It’d be different if it were shoes and a dress.”
I managed a quiet goodbye (without choking), hung up, and went back to singing along with Merle. It seemed fitting he was in the middle of “I’m Gonna Sit Right Here And Drink” at the time.
^^^
JOE ESTEP deserves a standing ovation. Joe runs the Calhoun County Sports Hall of Fame and, this past Saturday night, put together another classic.
Held at the “new” Oxford Civic Center, the 2013 induction played to a near packed house.
Outstanding Joe, outstanding.
^^^
FOR THOSE asking, the Peach Man’s tomatoes are a week away, but Ken Easterling will be at Regions in Oxford on Friday morning at 6 with another load of Chilton County peaches.
If no sell-out in Oxford he heads for the Anniston post office along about 8 . . . but don’t bet he gets there.
^^^
IF YOU’RE lining up at the Walmart deli at Lenlock, I hope you get lucky and a young lady by the name of Vanesa Durham waits on you. She did for me a few days back and while I’ve had an unpleasant moment or two there, Vanesa left me feeling pretty good.
Walmart could use more like her.
^^^
BIRTHDAYS: June 12 – Annette Vice; June 14 – Sage Snow; June 15 – Twins Brettnie and Dakota Smith; June 17 – Aiden Lloyd; 11; June 18 – Don Beabout.
And Jeff Jones, June 17. A member of a vanishing breed (The Great Generation), Jeff drove a “weasel” jeep ashore at Normandy, June 6, 1944.
^^^
QUOTABLE: “My doctor tells me I should start slowing it down - but there are more old drunks than there are old doctors so let's all have another round.”
--Willie Nelson
Thanks for visiting ...
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George Smith may be reached at 256-239-5286 or email: gsmith731@gmail.com.
