Sunday, March 30, 2014

Verbascum mixed colors


Information and photo from Heritage perennials:

Verbascum phoeniceum hybrids


Showy Mullein

USDA Zone: 4-9



Relatively unknown by gardeners, the Purple Mullein is a worthwhile perennial, especially for hot sunny sites. Plants form a low, ground-hugging rosette of crinkly green leaves, bearing upright stems or spikes of flowers in a range of soft pastel colours, from white through pink to rose and purple. Stems are tall and excellent for cutting. Although not a long-lived perennial, these usually self-sow. Seedlings are easily moved while small. Most effective when planted in groups towards the middle of the border. Also interesting in tubs or mixed containers.

Further details for
Verbascum phoeniceum hybrids

Optimal Growing
Conditions
Appearance and
Characteristics
Sun Exposure
  Full Sun
Soil Type
  Normal or
  Sandy or
  Clay
Soil pH
  Neutral or
  Alkaline or
  Acid
Soil Moisture
  Average or
  Dry
Care Level
  Easy
Flower Colour
  Deep Pink
  Light Pink
  Mauve/Lilac
  Mixed
  Purple
  White
Blooming Time
  Early Summer
  Mid Summer
  Late Spring
Foliage Color
  Deep Green
Plant Uses & Characteristics
  Accent: Good Texture/Form
  Attracts Butterflies
  Border
  Containers
  Cut Flower
  Deer Resistant
  Drought Tolerant
  Rabbit Resistant
  Massed
Flower Head Size
  Very Large
Height
   60-120 cm
   23-47 inches
Spread
   30-45 cm
   12-18 inches
Foot Traffic
   None

Growth Rate
   Fast

Sunday, March 23, 2014

2014 Perennial Plant List


The Pearl Yarrow
Potted perennials:
  • Aster 'Alert' Red New York Aster
  • Amsonia taberamontana - Blue Star great for early butterflies
  • Alstroemeria 'Inca Ice'- soft pink
  • Armeria Giant Flowering Mix
  • Astilbe 'Milk and Honey'
  • Baptisia 'Carolina Moonlight'
  • Chrysanthemum 'Bolero' (yellow) - hardy garden Mum, 'Venus' (single pink)
  • Coreopsis 'Cosmic Eye'
  • Carolina Jasmine new extra hardy strain
  • Delphinium 'Aurora Light Blue', 'Magic Fountains Lavender with white Bee', 'Oriental Sky Blue'
  • Dicentra 'Luxuriant' - everblooming red - shade-woodland native
  • Echinacea 'Solar Flare- bright
  • Echinops 'Blue Glow' & 'White Glow'
  • Eryngium 'Big Blue'
  • Leucanthemum = Shasta Daisy Dwarf 'Snowcap' and 'Becky' (tall), 'Banana Cream'
  • Daylily 'Country Melody', 'Crimson Shadows', 'Emperor's Butterfly', 'Plum Perfect', 'Muffin's Dream', 'Nile Crane', 'Star Dream'
  • Geranium 'Heidi' Blue sprawling ground cover- extra large
  • Gypsophila cerastoides - ground cover
  • Helianthus x 'Lemon Queen' - perennial sunflower clear yellow
  • Helianthus 'Ballerina' perennial sunflower
  • Hypericum Jacqueline - red berries available mid-summer- extra large pots
  • Hellebore mixed colors - small sizes
  • Kniphofia Echo Mango reblooming yellow shades
  • Pineapple Mint
  • Lilac 'Redwine'
  • Linaria 'Cannon Went' & 'Springside White'
  • Tall Garden Phlox Pink and 'David'- white- native
  • Rosemary 'Arp'
  • Physalis - Chinese Lantern
  • Panicum 'Heavy Metal' -native
  • Penstemon 'Red Riding Hood'
  • Lavender 'Grosso', 'Hidcote', 'Ellagance Purple', 'Essence Purple', 'Blue Cushion'
  • Polygonatum - Giant Solomons Seal
  • Rudbeckia 'Goldstrum', & 'Henry Eilers', 'Autumn Leaves' (treat as an annual)
  • Japanese Painted Fern
  • P.G. Hydrangea, Hydrangea 'Pink Diamond', - white, OakLeaf 'Snow Queen'
  • Mock Orange
  • Monarda 'Raspberry Wine' and 'Purple Rooster'
  • Oregano Italian Heirloom
  • Clethra 'Vanilla Spice' & Clethra 'Hummingbird'
  • Symphoricarpos 'Amethyst'--Pink Snowberry and White Snowberry
  • Salvia 'Caradonna'
  • Sedum 'Angelina'
  • Succulents
  • Thalictrum dalavayi lilac-rose and white
  • Ilex verticillata Red Winterberry Holly, female and males- 'Berry Nice' and Southern Gentlemen, 'Jim Dandy'
  • Veronica 'Sightseeing Mix'
  • Verbascum 'Violetta'
  • Viburnum opulus -Snowball Viburnum limited fall sales
  • Viola 'Cuty'
  • Yarrow 'Strawberry Seduction' deep red, long bloom period
  • Yarrow 'Saucy Seduction' - bright pink and Sunny Seduction reblooming yellow
  • Yarrow 'Terra Cotta' unique color
  • Yarrow 'The Pearl' - white

Saturday, March 22, 2014

Blue Bird Boxes

An excellent detailed article of how to build Bluebird boxes. I will add only one suggestion. They love dogwood berries. So plant some dogwoods just for them.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/1093/

With a dwindling natural habitat, the Eastern Bluebird often struggles to find acceptable nesting cavities. A specially designed and strategically placed nestbox can help in their survival. All you need to know are a few basics.

Every bird lover must feel like they are in heaven when they spy a pair of Eastern Bluebirds on or near their property. For those who live in Eastern Bluebird breeding areas, seeing that flash of blue generally is followed by a gasp of delight at the thought of hosting a bluebird pair.
As a participant in the Bird Watching Forum on Dave’s Garden, I quickly learned that THE website for Eastern Bluebird information is Sialis (Sialia sialis is the scientific name for the Eastern Bluebird). If it’s bluebird information you’re looking for, there’s not much you can’t find on this site, including links to other bluebird sites. Also through the forum, I discovered someone I like to call “Mr. Bluebird,” or 2dCousinDave. Dave is an avid bluebirder who gives forum participants daily reports accompanied with stunning photos of his nesting bluebirds. Much of what I have learned about Eastern Bluebirds comes from Dave or one of the other participants who host bluebirds.
As Dave will tell you, hosting a bluebird family is more than putting up a house. It is a serious decision, one that requires a good deal of thought. Because bluebirds face great competition for dwindling nest sites, providing a well-designed and regularly monitored box is extremely important. I strongly recommend spending some time getting to know the Sialis site in order to determine your “bluebird readiness.” If hosting IS for you, your first decision involves a nest box.

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Seasonal Help Wanted



Farm Employee for a wide array of tasks, for a diversity of work projects each day- from seeding to planting to weeding to harvest to processing to selling to general farm maintenance.  Each employee will have a concentration on a certain aspects of the farm, but most often will be working as a team on general farm projects.

Qualifications:  Interested applicants should be enthusiastic about local organic agriculture, ideally have a minimum of one complete growing season of farming experience, be energetic, be able to work outdoors in any weather conditions, be self-motivated and work well with a crew, have excellent quality control while working quickly and efficiently.  Knowledge and experience with cut flower production a plus.  Must be trustworthy, reliable and responsible, a good attitude,  must be able to work a minimum of 20 hours a week including either Sat. or Sun.  and be able to commit to the entire season through the end of Oct. This job includes lots of bending, stooping and lifting.  Employees must be physically fit and have no back or knee problems. Pay starts at $8 per hour for all new Farm Worker positions. 30-40 hours/week may be available to the right person. We are also looking for a part-time 'Creative floral volunteer'.



Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Perennial Plants-Shady Grove Gardens

 These are divisions dug from our garden. 
They will be available for shipment or pickup- until  late April. See link above for more complete list and pricing. All 3.00 each plus shipping USPS at our cost. Please call with a Credit Card. 
828-297-4098

Iris Ruffled Velvet
dahlia Midnight Moon tuber
Lemon Queen Helianthus
Pink Phlox
Lemon Queen
Phlox David
 Bare-root Perennial divisions available for shipment March-April
@ $3.00 each $24 minimum on shipped orders

Call 828-297-4098 to place and order. Shipping added at cost USPS, no boxing or additional charges.
    These are 3.00 per division:
Shasta Daisy 'Becky'
Midnight Moon Dahlia
    Helianthus 'Lemon Queen'
    Iris siberica "Ruffled Velvet'
    Pink Garden Phlox- mixed pink
    'David' white Garden Phlox
    The Following are priced as marked:
    Alstroemeria 'Laura' BR 4.00
    Achillea 'Terra Cotta'- larger gallon size division 6.00
    Achillea 'Coronation Gold' plug size 3.00
    Carolina Jasmine 2 quart size - soil removed 6.00
    Chrysanthemum 'Bolero' 2 quart size division with tag 6.00
    Coreopsis 'Cosmic Eye' with tag gallon size without soil 6.00
    Un-rooted Cuttings:
    Giant Pussy Willow 8'ht, large pussies, 1.00 please order by 25
    Viburnum trilobum - American Cranberry Bush 8-10'ht 1.00 order 25
Cut willow leaning on barn
Alstroemeria Laura
Achillea Coronation Gold
Chrysanthemum Bolero - ~10-12"
Coreopsis 'Cosmic Eye' ~12"ht.
Carolina Jasmine - hardy to zone 6 early bloomer