Companion bulbs, often called “minor bulbs”, are early signs that spring is coming. Three of the most reliable are snowdrops, winter aconites and Glory of the snow. They bloom before crocus. Winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) returns with floral beauty less than three months after planting. Plants poke through the ground, grow and flower 3 to 6 inches […]
Archive for the ‘Spring flowering’ Category
Minor Bulbs Get A Jump On Spring
Posted by Hugh on October 18th, 2012
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Chionodoxa (Glory of the Snow), Flowering Bulb, Landscape ideas, Perennials, Purchasing Plants, Snowdrops (Galanthus), Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Spring flowering bulbs, Uncategorized, watering tips, Winter aconite (Eranthis), Winter flowering, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Minor Bulbs Get A Jump On SpringFull Moon Japanese Maple Is Very Popular
Posted by Hugh on October 13th, 2012
The term “full moon Japanese maple” may be confusing. There are actually three species and cultivars of Asian maples that are referred to as “full moon”. The most popular full moon cultivar planted in the Northeast and Southern Appalachian regions (USDA zones 5 thru 7) is Acer japonicum ‘Acontifolium’. A. j. ‘Acontifolium’ is hardy […]
Posted in acidic soil, Japanese maple, Maples (Acer), Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Staking, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on Full Moon Japanese Maple Is Very PopularDon’t Forget The Sassafras
Posted by Hugh on October 7th, 2012
A common woodland tree, sassafras (Sassafras albidum), aka mitten tree, is a small tree which grows 20 to 40 feet tall; some may top out at over 60 feet. Tree spread is two-thirds its height. Sassafras’ mitten shaped leaves, are easy to identify with one, two or no lobes. All three leaf shapes may be […]
Posted in acidic soil, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Pruning, Root suckering, Sassafras albidum, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Wildlife attractant, winter injury Comments Off on Don’t Forget The SassafrasPeonies Require Very Little Care Ever
Posted by Hugh on October 4th, 2012
Lovely White Flowering Peony (P. lactiflora) Grandma’s peonies (Paeonia lactiflora) are back in vogue. There are single- or double- flowered varieties. The single petalled types appear to Southern U.S. heat better (USDA hardiness zones 3-8). May blooming peonies come in red, pink, purple, yellow, or white colors. Depending on variety, plants grow 3 to 4 feet high and wide. […]
Posted in Bee Favorite, Heat Tolerance, mulching, Peony, Perennials, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, watering tips Comments Off on Peonies Require Very Little Care EverSuccess With Blue/Pink Mophead Hydrangeas
Posted by Hugh on October 1st, 2012
Mophead hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla), the blue/pink flowering species, have been the gardening rage since the early 1990’s. Endless Summer® hydrangea started a wave of new repeat blooming (remontant) cultivars. They bloom on both new season’s as well as old wood from the previous year. These hardier cultivars extended the flowering time by 8 to 10 more weeks and bloomed in cooler climates formerly unable to […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Failure to Bloom, Hydrangea, Hydrangeas, mulching, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, watering hydrangeas, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Success With Blue/Pink Mophead HydrangeasThis Korean Maple Deserves To Be Planted More
Posted by Hugh on September 4th, 2012
Ullung-do Island Korean maple (Acer pseudosieboldianum ‘Takeshimense’) is a small deciduous tree which will grow to be 20 -25 feet tall tree, with a spread of 15-18 feet. It tends to branch low to the ground. It originates from the Ullung-do Island in the sea of China. Korean maple is one of the best maples […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn foliage color, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Korean maple, Maples (Acer), Ornamental fruit, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on This Korean Maple Deserves To Be Planted MoreGrowing Full Moon Maple in the Southeast U.S.
Posted by Hugh on September 1st, 2012
Simply put, golden full moon maple (Acer shirasawanum ‘Aureum’) is a stunner (USDA hardiness zones 5-7). It is a slow growing maple, eventually reaching 18-20 feet in height and spread at maturity. It tends to be a long-lived tree if properly cared for. Leaves are circular with 9-13 short pointed lobes. Each lobe does not […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease resistant, Fullmoon maple, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, Winter Protection Comments Off on Growing Full Moon Maple in the Southeast U.S.‘Senorita Rosalita’ – A Welcome Spider Flower Addition
Posted by Hugh on August 23rd, 2012
Cleome or spider flower (Cleome hassleriana) is the 5-6 foot flowering annual that your grandmother grew in her garden. Long stamens extending from the flowers look like spider legs, hence the common name. The old fashioned varieties produced lots of seed pods which meant lots of weed seed in next year’s garden. As summer temperatures […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Butterflies, Container growing, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Southern Appalachian Region, Spider flower (Cleome), Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on ‘Senorita Rosalita’ – A Welcome Spider Flower AdditionStar Zinnias Handle Heat and Dry Weather
Posted by Hugh on August 21st, 2012
Wanting two seasons of spring-summer color, heat and drought tolerant, and no disease or pest problems? You should be planting Profusion and Zahara zinnias, also called “star zinnias”. They are very resistant to powdery mildew, a disease which plagues many kinds of zinnias. Profusion and Zahara zinnias bloom non-stop for almost 6 months (mid-May thru October) in the […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, mulching, plant nutrition, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Star zinnia, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on Star Zinnias Handle Heat and Dry WeatherFall In Love With Sweetheart Tree
Posted by Hugh on August 20th, 2012
The late J.C. Raulston introduced euscaphus tree (Euscaphus japonica) to gardeners in the 1980’s. Tennessee nurseryman Don Shadow is credited with naming it “Korean sweetheart tree” which has become its more popular name. It is reliably winter hardy to USDA zone 6-b. Sweetheart tree is a small 15-20 foot tree or large shrub. The pinnately compound foliage is […]
Posted in acidic soil, compost, Disease resistant, Heat Tolerance, Ornamental fruit, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Sweetheart tree (Euscaphis), Winter Garden Interest Comments Off on Fall In Love With Sweetheart Tree
