Victory Gardens Making a Comeback

Toni Leland

With the uncertainty of lock-downs, quarantines, and food/supply shortages, Americans are turning more and more to a way of life that carried us through two World Wars.

Read more in my article in The Norwich Bulletin (Connecticut)

Starting Your Seeds Early

Toni Leland

As the world stays at home to contain the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the seasons wait for no one. This might be a perfect time to start your vegetable and flower seeds so they'll be ready for planting time.

I'm not doing a vegetable garden this year, but I do plan to plant some Gourmet Kale 'Purple Moon' from Renee's Garden.

For my flower gardens, I chose Scented Sweet Peas 'Fire and Ice,' Morning Glory 'Early Call,' Heirloom 'Fragrant Moonflower,' Mounding Nasturtiums 'Cup of Sun,' 'Scented Gold Wallflowers,' Heirloom Buttefly Zinnia 'Polar Bear,' and Bouquet Zinnia 'Berry Basket,' also from Renee's Garden.

Tip: write the planting month(s) on the front of the seed packets to avoid having to read the directions each time.

Using trays of peat pots arranged into a little greenhouse type set-up, the potting soil goes in, gets wetted thoroughly, and you are ready to start putting those seeds in. You can also use peat pellets to start some seeds saved from previous years that may or may not still be viable. To check on that, read my post on germination testing.

Finding a warm spot with plenty of light can be the challenge in many homes. 

Seeds just naturally want to sprout, so what could go wrong? (she said)

Starting too early produces seedlings that are weak and spindly because the light and temperature are not adequate. Seedlings stretch to reach as much light as possible, and they end up with long stems that won't support the plant.

Damping off is another worry. Granted, seedlings need to be kept well moistened, but they can rot at the soil level and all the waiting and watching is for naught. Use new clean, sterile potting soil and don't overwater.

Seedlings up!

Once the seedlings are ready to transplant to the outdoors, there's another step: hardening off. These babies have been indoors and tenderly cared for since sprouting. Plonking them outdoors will be too much of a shock and they'll collapse. Gradually acclimate seedlings to the outdoors by placing them in a shaded sheltered spot on a warm, bright day, just for a few hours for a few days. Bring them inside at night.


Good luck with getting ahead of the gardening game!

Visit Marsh Botanical Gardens at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut

by Toni Leland

Spring is just around the corner, but here in Connecticut, it's still quite chilly most days. 

What a treat to roam through the beautiful greenhouses at the Marsh Botanical Gardens at Yale University in New Haven. Four huge greenhouses filled with wondrous things!

Located on the estate of Othniel Charles Marsh, a renowned paleontologist and dinosaur discoverer, the gardens began in earnest in 1922 and flourished greatly during the thirties and early forties, many with the guidance of reknowned landscape architect Beatrix Jones Farrand. As is so often the case, changes in demographics affected the work forces and slowly caused the gardens to fall into neglect. In the 1990's, the gardens again became the focus of restoration and, from then on, have continued to improve and flourish again

To plan your own visit, see the link at the end of this post. Now, enjoy!

Our tour began with the Tropical Collection, a veritable treasure house of luscious colors, textures, shapes, and scents.

Passion Flower (Passiflora 'Pura Vida Purple')

Canna Lily (Canna cv 'Ermine')

Golden Shrimp Plant (Pachystachys lutea)

Costa Rican Butterfly Vine (Dalechampia dioscoreifolia)

Protea (Protea)

Huperzia squarrosa

In another part of this greenhouse, we saw familiar faces from our own gardens.

Golden Columbine (Aquilegia chrysantha cv 'Denver Gold')

Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)
Also known as Mother-in-law's Tongue

Who knew Dill could be so pretty?
Fern leaf Dill (Anethum graveleons cv 'Fernleaf')

Indian Mallow (Abutilon hybrid)

Outside this particular greenhouse, the staff has constructed an outdoor microclimate corner with a Koi pond and a camilia bush that was just about to bloom.

Interesting Koi–note the one on the far left that looks like a skeleton.
(photo courtesy Jennifer Carter)

Leaving the Tropical Collection, we proceeded to the interesting and sometimes creepy world of Carnivorous Plants. Some of the shapes and colors were straight out of a modern art class!

Venus Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula)

Cobra Lily (Darlingtonia californica)

After petting Eli, the resident feline (who was the biggest cat I've ever seen), we moved into the Desert House. 

Succulents & Cacti need little water

Dozens of different cacti and succulents thrive in this beautifully-designed setting.


The outdoor gardens were, of course, still sleeping. But a return visit is planned when spring really gets here.

Where? Marsh Botanical Gardens
Yale University, New Haven, CT

Marsh Botanical Gardens

Begonias - Worth the Effort

A favorite – Yellow Non-stop Begonia

Gazing across the snow-covered landscape, it's hard to imagine that in a few weeks, we will be out in the sunshine, enjoying the true spring. Then, suddenly, it's summer and the garden centers are overflowing with magnificent 'non-stop' begonias blooming in jewel colors. And hefty price tags!

If you start now, you can have those beauties for a fraction of the cost.

Some of the most popular begonias are the tuberous variety, loved for their lush, vibrant flowers. Tubers are available from mail order nurseries, or sometimes in garden centers early in the season. If you purchased a begonia plant last year and overwintered the tubers, you can resurrect that begonia for another season of bloom.

A pot of begonias in a Hosta garden

Begonias are not for every garden. For one thing, they require bright shade, which limits many
gardeners' choices for location. A cool shade garden that doesn't get full summer sun is a good start. A well-shaded patio or deck is another choice for container begonias. Direct sun and hot temperatures will burn the leaves and flowers of begonias, as well as dehydrate the soil and roots. Begonias need consistent moisture, but not too much, as they are prone to rot at the soil level.

 

If you have the perfect spot, buy some tubers now and pot them up for a head start. 

Use one tuber per 12-inch pot. Plant in light, well-draining soil to help prevent root and stem rot. Keep the soil lightly moist, and place the pot in a warm, bright location to encourage growth. Once the plant emerges, be very careful with watering. When the new growth reaches about 6 inches, pinch it back to the second bud from the tip. This encourages a fuller plant and more blooms. Continue pinching monthly until midsummer. If planting in a garden bed, be sure the temperatures have settled; even a 50-degree night can damage a young begonia.

End of the show: After the first frost, dig the tubers or bring the pots indoors for overwintering. Garden consultant Charlie Nardozzi outlines the process for overwintering: "Dig the tubers, leaving some soil on the roots. After the soil dries, break the stems off the tubers and remove the excess soil. Let cure for one week in a warm, dry location out of direct sun. Store in flat containers filled with dry peat moss or sand in a 40˚F-50˚F room." More details from Nardozzi's article can be found here.

Some wax begonias have rich red shiny leaves plus flowers

If you don't have the time or inclination to fuss over tuberous begonias, consider planting the popular 'wax' begonia, also known as bedding begonias. These are of the fibrous type, meaning that they have
roots similar to annuals. Purchase plants from your local garden center (growing from seed is difficult and usually disappointing). Wax begonias are an easier way to add color to a shade garden, though they should be dead-headed to encourage continuous bloom. After the initial planting, pinch them back to produce a fuller plant. In summer, if they become leggy they can be pinched again. Again, don't put them into the ground too soon.

Rex Begonia 'Palomar Prince'

Some of the most beautiful begonias are loved for their exquisite foliage. The Rex begonias are rhizomatous plants capable of performing both outdoors in sheltered shade and indoors through the dreary winter months. Rex begonias thrive in warm humidity, and require watering only when the soil is dry to the touch. They are easy to propagate by stem cuttings.

With more than 1,000 species of begonia, don't you think your garden deserves some?

Rex Begonia 'Escargot'

Rex Begonia (unknown name)

Begonia 'Honeymoon'

Rex Begonia 'Red Bull'

Angel Wing Rex Begonia

Flowers - The Beginning of Everything

Something to think about the next time you pick a daisy, or smell a rose. 

Swallow-worts Saboutage the Monarch Butterfly

Toni Leland

Our world is full of imposters and jokers, and the plant community is no different.

Sneaking into pastures, urban areas, forests, and our own gardens, the highly invasive swallow-worts belong to the milkweed family (Apocynaceae) and, therefore, are attractive to Monarch butterflies.

Why is this a problem?

Black and pale swallow-wort are highly toxic to the Monarch caterpillar, but the female butterfly often can't differentiate between the swallow-wort and milkweed, especially if they are growing in the same area. She lays her eggs on the swallow-wort and as soon as the caterpillars hatch and begin to feed, they die. Swallow-worts are so toxic that livestock—including goats!—will not eat the plants. 

The black swallow-wort vine originated from the Mediterranean regions of France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain, while the pale swallow-wort comes from Ukraine and southeastern Russia. This is another instance of a plant being purposely introduced into North America in the late nineteenth century, with unfortunate consequences.

Identifying Black Swallow-wort

According to details from the University of Rhode Island Biocontrol Lab, Swallow-worts are perennial vining plants with dark green leaves. Black Swallow-wort (Vincetoxicum nigrum) produces dark violet flowers, and Pale Swallow-wort (Vincetoxicum rossicum) produces flowers that are pale pink. The plants have a strong root system and, in late summer, produce slim, light green seedpods.
 

Black Swallow-wort growing up the side of a house in town. ©Toni Leland

How do we control it?

For the homeowner who discovers swallow-wort on their property, there are only a couple of remedies. Early detection and removal are the best management practices for small scale invasions. Dig or pull every plant and place in a plastic bag for disposal. Do not compost! For large infestations, chemical control is most effective, according to the Plant Conservation Alliance Alien Plant Working Group. The link contains complete instructions on effective application of herbicides.

Biological Control?

The University of Rhode Island Biocontrol Lab made the first releases of the moth, Hypena opulenta, in 2017 in the states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The moth was discovered on research studies in Europe and Ukraine, and determined to be the most likely candidate for biocontrol of swallow-worts. As with all experimental biological control studies, time will tell.

Because the swallow-worts disperse seeds in the same way as milkweed, these invasive vines can suddenly appear in even the most well-tended gardens. If you have a pollinator garden, be sure to include plenty of milkweed to give our lovely Monarchs enough hosts to continue the generations. And patrol that garden for swallow-wort.
 

Monarch on Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) ©Toni Leland

Monarch caterpillar on Common Milkweed ©Toni Leland

Lyme Tick Alert February 2018

Don't be fooled by the winter weather we've had here in the Northeast. I just went for a quick walk through the woods behind my house and brought back 6 ticks! Four adults, two nymphs.

With fluctuating cold and warm weather, apparently the tick population is ready to begin its season. Take care to check yourself thoroughly after time spent in woods or grasslands. Read more about why we hate ticks.

Ugh. Now I'm all crawly-itchy!

Adult Tick

Flower Shows: The Answer to Gardening Withdrawal in Winter

by Toni Leland

One of the things I miss most in the frigid months here in New England is being outdoors in my gardens. Even just strolling around each flower bed in the morning with my coffee is enough to set my spirits for the day. If I can dig in the soil – even better! So how do I work my way through the winter months?

Dreaming. And planning. And attending every flower show and garden symposium I can get to. Here are some of the great "cures" I found last winter. At the end of this post, I've listed some attractions that might help you get through the hibernating months.

I'd love to hear your own ideas!

Imagine stepping in from a cold, snowy day to see this!

You can dream about the magnificent spring show provided by Rhododendrons.
This one is Rhododendron 'Yak' – a color palette of pinks.

Flower and garden shows are an excellent way to learn about new varieties of old favorites, or discover specimens completely new to you. The Connecticut Flower Show gave me a glimpse of plants I'd completely forgotten.

My garden definitely needs some of these fabulous Ranunculus plants.
Don't they almost look like crepe paper flowers?

I've never grown Calla Lilies, but these beauties make me want to try

Scattered strategically amongst the unique and new plant varieties are the landscaping favorites we all love.

Pieris japonica 'Brouwers Beauty' fills that partly shady spot in the landscape, growing more abundant flowers ever year.
(This shrub is also known as Andromeda.)

Some planning is definitely  needed to decide where this gigantic Hosta 'Sum and Substance' might fit – but it would be worth it!

Love houseplants? Feast your eyes and soul on the wide variety of beautiful plants in full bloom. Many will grow outdoors year 'round in warmer climes, but for us northern staters, they brighten the winter corners of our homes.

Cyclamen! Exotic, colorful, lush low-light plants to give your spirits a lift.

A burst of summer color is everywhere you look, from perennials to shrubs to trees.

We don't see Gerbera daisies (Gerbera jamesonii) until July, but what a treat!

Not only will you find the perfect plant(s) for your gardens, but gardening and home shows will have hundreds of beautiful and useful items for your outdoor pleasure.

I definitely need this birdbath!

I'm pretty sure I can find a place for this!

Here are some great winter gardening events for your inspection.

• Connecticut Flower & Garden Show, Hartford, CT – February 22-25, 2018
• Boston Flower & Garden Show, Boston, MA – March 14-18, 2018
• New Jersey Flower & Garden Show, Edison, NJ – February 22-25, 2018
• Northwest Flower & Garden Show, Seattle, WA – February 7-11, 2018
• Philadelphia International Flower Show, Philadelphia, PA – March 3-11, 2018
• Chicago Flower & Garden Show, Chicago, IL – March 14-18, 2018
• Capital District Garden & Flower Show, Troy, NY – March 23-25, 2018
• Boise Flower & Garden Show, Boise, ID – March 23-25, 2018
• Columbus Dispatch Home & Garden Show, Columbus, OH – February 17-25, 2018
• Omaha Home & Garden Expo, Omaha, NE – February 8-11, 2018
• For other ideas to lighten your winter doldrums, read my article at Dave's Garden.
• Other venues include garden symposiums sponsored by agricultural colleges, Master Gardener programs, and garden clubs. Check your local listings.

A word of warning: if you go to one of these events, be prepared to come home with dozens of ideas and, probably, a plant or two.