Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Early childhood memories

Early childhood memories about a flower, plant or tree are had by many of us. Maybe, if the memory is a particularly happy one, it is what makes us appreciate nature and eventually spark a fondness for gardening in our adult years. There is such a memory for me that is still quite vivid in my mind’s eye. I remember a sprawling tree in my grandparents front yard in Houston, Texas. It was a most inviting friend…a mimosa tree that occupied at least half of the tiny yard. My brother Joe and I would run from our parent’s car to the old tree, scurrying up its capable branches to gain a bird’s eye view of the goings on below. The smooth bark made climbing, hugging (or holding on), and sliding down the naturally made play set an easy task. There were other things about the old tree that made my memories of it even more vivid, like the puffy pink blooms and the fun seed pods that followed later in the year. And, of course, I loved my grandparents. Perhaps the sight of the stately mimosa tree as we approached my grandparents house served as a beacon, guiding us to a wonderful, loving home that we always looked forward to visiting. Do you have a plant related childhood memory?

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Deadheading your pansies

I know it may seem a little cruel; tricking the pansy plant into thinking it’s not proliferating the species. I do this by picking off the little seed head that form after the beautiful flower fades. The pansy does more of what it thinks it needs to do, because of my thievery, to create more pansy plants. It flowers like crazy. Now, other things also help, like having good soil to grow in and proper fertilization, but deadheading is, oh so important. The pansies I have in pots on my front steps…a day doesn’t go by without me picking off at least a few spent blooms. Maybe I’m obsessed, but I have lots of flowers!
How to: Just pinch off the spent pansy bloom at the base of the stem with your fingers or use pruning snips. You’ll become an expert at determining what is a seed head and what is a flower bud in no time.
By the way - at the end of the pansy season, as spring is coming into form, I allow the pansy to go to seed. I may even scatter a few in the garden to see what might come up later in the year.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Yaupon Holly - Ilex vomitoria

Why am I blogging on Yaupon Holly? Could it be because I have one in my front yard? Perhaps I'm blogging on it because it is a fine evergreen plant that works as a screen or a specimen when limbed up. Don't forget that it is native to Alabama and other nearby states and has a fine show of red berries every fall through to spring! Nope....I like it's scientific name and the story behind it - Ilex vomitoria...



Yaupon (Ilex vomitoria) was a sacred shrub to American Indians throughout the Gulf Coast region, where it grows. The leaves contain caffeine and, when used in small amounts, can be made into a mildly stimulating drink. The local American Indians, however, used it in great amounts to induce vomiting (thus the scientific name, Ilex vomitoria) during their rituals. Europeans, observing these purging ceremonies, gave the plant its species name.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Recommended Quick Trip


There are some cool places to visit in our great state. One such place is Wilderness Park in Prattville, AL. What makes Wilderness Park especially interesting is the giant bamboo forest that you encounter as you enter the park. These bamboo reach over 60' tall and dominate the surroundings. It's a very large area of nothing but Oriental bamboo...quite surreal! Definitely bring your camera along for some interesting photo opportunities.


These photos were taken during the day. The bamboo is thick and it's rather dark once inside this forrest.

Sunday, November 4, 2007

Camellia season is here!



Camellia appreciaters everywhere are probably aware of the notion that there are two main types of this cool weather bloomer - Camellia japonica and Camellia sasanqua. While the distinction between these two types of camellia is important, there are new introductions resulting from hybridization between different species other than japonica and sasanqua. There are 80 or so species of Camellia, all of them native to areas in Asia such as Japan, Korea, and Taiwan.

In my opinion, it is wise to research which Camellia you intend on planting in your yard and chose the one that is right for you based on bloom, size, hardiness, pest resistence, etc. Here are a few of my favorite:
Camellia japonica types (typically bloom mid to late winter/early spring; often fuller, showier blooms than sasanquas):
'Debutante' - large, light pink peony-like blooms.
'Nuccio's Pearl' - Spectacular, fully double blooms with pure white petals edged with an orchid pink blush.
Camellia sasanqua types (typically bloom mid to late fall/early winter; often single petal flowering forms; usually more cold hardy than C. Japonica):
'Kanjiro' - Stunning cherise-pink semi-double blossoms edged in red with golden stamens and slight fragrance.
'Hana Jiman' - This is my favorite of all the camellias. Partly because I'm nostalgic about planting it as long ago as 1978 and partly because I love it's flowers (white w/ rose edging).
'Shishi Gashira' - Bright rose semi-double blooms are produced in abundance making this one of the top all time sasanquas. Valued for its half sized dwarf form that's more versatile in smaller spaces.
New introductions:
Camellia X 'Taylor's Perfection' - A cross between Camellia japonica and Camellia saluensis. Handsome evergreen shrub with leathery dark green foliage that backs a profusion of exquisite light pink, semi-double blossoms
Camellia X 'Debbie' - A cross between Camellia japonica and Camellia reticulata. Startling variation in flower size and form make this a unique Camellia. Rich deep rose-pink flowers in both peony and anemone form on the same plant.