The Oregonian’s Kym Pokorny features my photo of Cobra Lily in it’s wildly colorful winter cold flush and gives us the skinny on some other cool killer plants. Kim Pokorny’s blog on Carnivorus plants (Don’t forget to come and see me at the Yard Garden and Patio Show at the Portland Convention Center. February 8, 9 10 at booth 1248.)
Killer Winter Color on Carnivore Cobra Lily, Darlingtonia Californica. Photo 1 26 2013 at Pondcrafters in SE Portland.
My Mom with Oliver, the Hydrangea
Hydrangea Love
There are several lessons in this story for you, O gentle reader………..how to successfully transplant a shrub or tree in July heat……, how to prevent hot weather damage to your plants when we have intense hot weather right on top of weeks of cool rain, (more critical if you agreed to have your garden on a fundraiser tour). This will also work to restore plants in a container that you forgot to water???? ……………..these helpful lessons all fit into this story.
The story: My mom and dad planted and named the two hydrangea by the back patio, Mary and Oliver. Mary was beautiful no matter what but Oliver had troubles. Every year in early summer, Oliver’s flowers would get crisped. If they had planted Oliver a few feet closer to the covered patio there would be no problem and no story. They planted Mary in the afternoon shade of the patio but Oliver got the early afternoon sun in June and July. He was just not a super sun tolerant kind of guy.
He could handle the sun better once the leaves and petals had hardened off in July but in early June, while the leaves and petals were full of spring, freshly unfurled, a 100 degree day or two would toast all the new flowers on the plant. So Oliver’s flowers would scorch and my parents would then over water Oliver trying to get some water back into his petals. They did not understand that once petals are scorched they stay that way. Oliver’s new flowers were fine but now the plant’s leaves looked terrible. Over watering caused the leaves to wilt and yellow. Oliver was a mess. I offered to come over and protect Oliver from them. The human Mary and Oliver had long since gone on so these were not really plants to my parents, but symbols of their dear friends.
The Sheet Trick
So how did I do this? The Sheet Trick! My first solution was to water once a week and the second solution was to protect Oliver from intense sun. My solution was time consuming mostly because I lived in NW Portland and my parents lived in Gladstone. If I was expecting intense sun, I would drive over, get out some binder clips, drape a white sheet over Oliver to cover all his leaves and flowers and then clip the sheet onto various large stems so it could not blow off.
Because the leaves were covered (this is science folks!) they held in the water rather than letting it go, this is called transpiration. Transpiration is part of the plants photosynthesis process with the sun. See Wikipedia on photosynthesis. Since the flower petals and leaves kept their water, they stayed cool enough and did not scorch. I would not leave the sheet on for more three days at a time so I didn’t have to go over there every single day, just when I knew it was going to be hot.
What’s important for you gentle reader is that this sheet trick is handy beyond belief for all kinds of things. Number 1 best tip ever for transplanting a shrub in the summer…….keep it covered for 3 days and I mean immediately or even during the digging of the plant if you are feeling compulsive. Use it to protect flowering plants if we have intense heat while the flower petals are still new and soft. Use this trick if you have had an irrigation boo boo and your plants in one area didn’t get any water and have wilted. Presto, sprinkle the leaves with water gently, water the plant and cover for a few days……..your plant will have a better chance of recovery.
Every generation loves hydrangeas, my parents loved theirs, I love them although confess I have none of my own down here on the floating river house, my step daughters would love to have them…..maybe I can fix that this year. They also look mighty fine with ornamental grasses so not just for an old fashioned garden but could be used in more modern gardens if placed thoughtfully.
Itoh Peony – Low Maintenance Beauty and Thrills for All
Perfect Mothers Day gift for a NO FEAR gardener.
What’s all the fuss about the new Itoh (say it Eeetoe) peony? These new plants eliminate the only weak point of the old fashioned peony, the weak stems which can really spoil the flowers in our often wild and wet spring weather. Okay, they do cost three times as much as the old fashioned but read on.
Why do we want peonies anyway? They are EASY and will outlive you!! The flower is fabulous, fragrant and since the 1400’s has been filled with historical and cultural significance for us humans. My grandmother loved them and picked an armload for the house and to decorate the family graves on Memorial Day.
I grew up loving to play and work in her garden and today I love these new peonies as well because:
#1 Later Bloom – June not May
#2 Sturdy fibrous stems
#3 Bigger flowers in new colors
Itoh cost more than the old fashioned so expect $50 to $100 for a medium priced plant. The tissue cultured plants may be cheaper but I don’t recommend them because they are not as strong rooted. This will effect how many flowers you get on your plant year after year and this is a plant where the flower really matters. The dissected foliage is great but hey it’s about the flower this time.
Here is my best source for peony of any kind, herbaceous, tree or Itoh. Rick Rogers is a second generation peony designer and grower in Silverton, Oregon. His father is an international star of the peony world. Rick grows peonies the old fashioned way, propagating new peonies by extracting these perfect bits of root stock. Taking these cuttings is an art form and his plants will outgrow and out flower tissue culture generated plants easily. Rick’s nursery is called Treony……www.treony.com. Email him for his list of Itoh if he doesn’t have them on his web yet. Also see Wayside Gardens web site, (with fabulous close up of the flowers). Their plants are a lot smaller however than what Rick offers. These are a lifetime investment. They will outlive you and can be dug when you move but plan to dig very very deep.
Now regarding NO FEAR gardening. The Itoh peony can test your ability to postpone gratification. The first year, cut off all flower buds, do not let any of them flower!!!! that takes faith, hence NO FEAR. The second year, let yourself have one flower and cut all the rest off while they are still buds. The third year, let them rip uhm……….flower. Those who cannot do this may have to wait ten years to get anything near the number of flowers that you, gentle but fierce gardener, will have. It rewards those gardeners who can take the long approach to getting their kicks. I think perhaps Dulcy Mahar would have recommended nibbling on some good chocolate while you cut off the buds. I can assure you having an Itoh peony with 40 blooms on it will stop you in your tracks so it is worth it. Did I mention the plant has very attractive foliage, is low water and has golden fall color as well?
