2008 Perennial of the Year

A Blooms of Bressingham variety. There has never been a Hardy Geranium as versatile, heat- and humidity-loving, and long-blooming as 'Rozanne'! In garden trials at the University of Georgia, it outdid all others by a country mile. In Germany, a single plant exploded with color and airy texture to completely fill -- and spill out of -- a hanging basket! And at the 2000 Chelsea Flower Show, Adrian Bloom (of Blooms of Bressingham) declared 'Rozanne' "the Geranium of the Millennium"!

So what's all the fuss about? Well, first there's the bloomtime. Intensely-colored 1-inch blooms of violet-blue with a large white eye begin appearing on this graceful plant in early summer, and unlike most Geraniums (which fizzle when the temperature climbs too high), keep coming until early fall. Fantastic for bedding, borders, patio, and containers in the South and Southwest, where many Geraniums have short and unsatisfactory bloom seasons.

Then there's the habit. Open and airy as all Hardy Geraniums are, 'Rozanne' is more compact, managing to send up more flowering stems in less space than most others. As a result, you get a much bigger bloom show, and the plant looks lush rather than rangy. (How many other Hardy Geraniums would you care to show off, solo, in a hanging basket?)

This plant reaches 16 inches tall and 18 to 24 inches wide, with larger leaves and more robust growth than most Geraniums. Bred from G. wallichianum 'Buxton's Variety' and G. himalayense, its blooms look like oversized 'Buxton's,' and its wallichianum heritage gives it great vigor.

'Rozanne' is not particular about soil type, provided the drainage is good and it receives plenty of sunshine (light shade is fine in warmer climates). Space plants 18 inches apart. Hardy in zones 4-8.

- Wayside Gardens (link here)

We could use a few more perennial geraniums in our garden.

We have one very nice clump that we have had for many years.

Wisconsin cougars

The DNR has received more than 400 cougar observations since 1994 - there were 87 in 2006 alone.

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point researcher Eric M. Anderson estimated that 90% of those who believe they saw a cougar saw something else - coyotes, wolves or bobcats, for example.

- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (link here)

Only DNR guys and UW-system employees are actually dumb enough to believe that a coyote looks like a cougar.

Antero Christmas

It looks like these guys had a very Merry Christmas.

Colorado Ice Fishing

This is how they do it in Colorado.

Seems like an expensive way to go.

Cougar in Wisconsin

Doug Fendry of the Department of Natural Resources took this photo on Jan. 17 in the town of Milton in Rock County of tracks that are suspected to be those of a cougar. If confirmed and if the cougar proves to be wild and not a captive animal that has escaped, this would be the first evidence of a cougar in Wisconsin since the early 1900s.

Cougars, or mountain lions, are pushing eastward. Their population is thriving in the West and this is forcing more competition for territory that pushes some cougars farther east.

The tracks were found about 1 3/4 miles east of the intersection of E. Bowers Lake Road and HWY 26.

- jsonline.com (link here)

Dark Dancer

cv. Dark Dancer. Here's a groundcover with a delightful difference: deep purple to black foliage and white blooms in summer! Ready to spread as far as you will let it, this exceptionally fast-growing, vigorous Four-Leaf Clover keeps its dark foliage from spring till frost, and even year-round in warm climates. The blooms show off the dark leaves to great effect, and the dense habit is quite attractive scrambling across bare ground.

Black Four-Leafed Clover thrives in sun to part shade, demonstrating great resistance to heat, humidity, and other garden stresses. It needs little attention from you to keep looking its best. 4 to 8 inches high, it spreads at least a foot wide unless restrained. Zones 4-11.

- Park Seed (link here)

Lucky four-leaf clover?

Angel's Trumpet Cherub

All Angel's Trumpets deliver a lot of flowers, but Cherub is absolutely the most floriferous yet, with UP TO 250 BLOOMS AT ONCE on a mature plant! Wonderfully fragrant in early morning and late afternoon/evening, these dark peachy-pink flowers are an unforgettable sight!

Developed right here in South Carolina by our own Doc Alston (who brought the world Candylilies as well as several Mandevillas in the past), Cherub sets a new standard of performance for Brugmansia. The petals of these 9-inch blooms are far thicker and waxier than those of earlier varieties, giving them better weather resistance and staying power outdoors. The buds are long and elegant, beginning chartreuse before turning cream and then pale pink. As they open, they abruptly darken to deep peachy-pink -- an amazing sight in itself!

This plant blooms in 3-week cycles all summer long, by far the longest-blooming we've ever grown. It's the ideal plant near an outdoor entertainment spot such as the patio or balcony, for its fragrance is strongest after the sun goes down. Give it plenty of food and water and let it delight you and your guests for months on end!

Plant Cherub in a large, showy container, preferably on wheels for easy moving. A tropical, this plant is hardy only in zones 9-10, so the rest of us will want to bring it indoors or to outdoor shelter before the first hard frost. That said, it will happily live and bloom for many years -- beginning the very first year you plant it!

- Park Seed (link here)

250 huge blooms at once would be most impressive.

Angelica

This genus of 50 species hails from all over the Northern Hemisphere and contains a handful of ornamental herbs and one striking subject for the perennial border. A. gigas, which came to our shores from Korea, has broad, fingered foliage and deep reddish purple stems. This rich coloration extends to the 6-8in broad umbels of minute flowers that cap 5-6ft plants, hence its value as a dramatic accent in the garden. Effective from the middle of August, when the flowers begin to open, until the seed heads ripen toward the end of September. It is adaptable as to culture, growing in full sun or partial shade and average garden soil. In our gardens, it has biennial tendencies, but plentiful seedlings make for a perennial display that is in a class by itself.

- White Flower Farm (link here)

My angelica (a different species) finally died out, so I am ready to try another one.

Logan Petro

Bout four: Joshua Gillespie Vs Logan Petro. The fighters started off with an even striking exchange then quickly hit the canvas. Once on the ground Petro secured a tight triangle that Gillespie defended for the rest of the round. Round two had both fighters making a good showing, but the edge in that round went to Gillespie after Petro received a point deduction for an illegal upkick. Round three had more good striking and ground work from both fighters. The round was punctuated by a spinning backfist from Petro that landed well, and he followed it nicely with a solid front kick to end the round. When the score cards were tallied and the one point deduction was factored in the bout was seen as a tie. In Colorado elimination (amateur) bouts cannot end in a tie so the judges had to award the fight to whomever they saw as the aggressor for the majority of the fight; and it was Petro that earned the win.

http://mmabuzz.com/index.php/Kick-Down-47-Rage.html

We are all very proud of Logan for winning his first UFC fight.

Sunshine Blue Dwarf

Self-pollinating, it's so easy to grow, and the foliage is semi-evergreen!

This Blueberry has so many excellent qualities that it's almost a new kind of plant -- the ultimate edible ornamental! It has a dense, rounded, semi-dwarf form only 3- to 4-feet high and wide, making it a great choice for containers. The glossy silvery-green leaves are semi-evergreen, so you can plant it anywhere for year-round color! In spring, masses of pink flowers (instead of the white typical of Blueberries!) grace the lovely branches, followed by berries ... LOTS of berries!

Each petite plant bears anywhere from 5 to 10 pounds of the most delicious, dime-sized, dark blue berries you will ever taste! The flavor is sweet and juicy, totally unlike the berries you buy long after harvest at the grocery store. Wait until you discover the joy of fresh blueberries, straight from the patio!

And just when you think this delightful shrub can't get any better, its gorgeous purple-red fall color appears! Self-pollinating (so you need only grow one plant) and more tolerant than most of high pH, Sunshine Blueberry is an exceptionally easy berry to grow. It's a southern highbush type with a low chill requirement -- only 150 hours! -- which means it's great for the south. However, it's very hardy as far north as Chicago, too!

Best in full sun and slightly acidic, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Zones 5-9

- Wayside Gardens (link here)

I would be willing to try this in a container.

Kaleidoscope Butterfly Bush

The Kaleidoscope Butterfly Bush is a gorgeous breakthrough—the first Buddleia to offer two colors on one panicle! Lavender and butterscotch yellow blooms blend together on fluffy, fragrant panicles up to 10" long. Butterflies can not resist the hundreds of bright florets. The eye-popping display lasts from midsummer to fall. Grows 6-8' tall in full sun to partial shade.

- Spring Hill Nurseries (link here)

Still on my wish list.

Solanine

Solanine is a glycoalkaloid poison found in species of the nightshade family, such as potatoes. It can occur naturally in any part of the plant, including the leaves, fruit, and tubers. It is very toxic even in small quantities. Solanine has both fungicidal and pesticidal properties, and it is one of the plant's natural defenses.

- Wikipedia (link here)

I had no idea that potatoes were such a risk.

McCulloch MCS 2001

We got this chipper/shredder just before Christmas.

The weather has not been very cooperative, so I have only used it a few times.

It works OK on small stuff (branches up to 1.5 inches in diameter).

Coir

Coir (from Malayalam kayar, cord) is a coarse fibre extracted from the fibrous outer shell of a coconut.

In horticulture, coir is recommended as substitute for peat because it is free of bacteria and fungal spores, and is sustainably produced without the environmental damage caused by peat mining.

- Wikipedia (link here)

I hope I can find a local vendor. I want to try this coir.

Climbing Hydrangea

There are few plants that create as much excitement as does Climbing Hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris) especially when seen in full bloom, lighting up the trunk of a tall oak tree. This is an outstanding plant that deserves greater use.

- Spring Meadow Nursery (link here)

This looks like a very interesting vine.

The Best Perennial Vine for Shade Gardens

Sambucus Black Lace

Love Japanese maples but live too far north to grow them? Let Black Lace™ be the gorgeous substitute! With its deeply-cut leaves of charcoal, PLUS 6-inch clusters of blooms and vibrant autumn berries, this ever-changing beauty is the showpiece of any hedge, border, foundation, or specimen planting!

The foliage is so divided that it has a ferny, lacy look. It emerges rich black and keeps its color right through summer's heat, playing backdrop in early summer to masses of deep pink buds that open to bright, creamy pink blooms. The flowers are held in clusters about 6 inches wide -- very showy indeed against the charcoal foliage!

The early-summer flowers are followed by blackish-red berries that stand out beautifully against the leaves as summer turns to fall. The berries attract songbirds to this shrub, adding even more color to the garden! You can't beat Black Lace™ for ever-changing beauty!

This remarkable breeding breakthrough is the result of 10 years' breeding work, and has already created a sensation in Western Europe, where it is "the" shrub to grow these days! Black Lace™ gives you all the beauty of a Japanese maple, yet is hardy through zone 4 in the north. It withstands cold winds, very low temperatures, and even partial shade without losing a bit of its appeal.

Black Lace™ would make a perfect hedge, foundation planting, border standout, or specimen. It reaches 6 feet tall and 8 feet wide, a good size for a variety of landscape uses. Design a garden display around its black leaves and early summer flowers, and it may become a favorite in YOUR landscape! Zones 4-7.

- Wayside Gardens (link here)

I planted one of these last year, and I am very much looking forward to see how it does.

Delphinium 'Chocolate'

Who Says there's Nothing New Under the Sun?

The most exciting thing that's happened to Delphiniums in decades, 'Chocolate' introduces an entirely new color combination to the family! These large blooms are chocolate-purple with white flecks and the occasional dash of cherry-pink -- utterly unique in the sunny garden.

These large, starburst-shaped flowers appear early in Delphinium season -- earliest summer in most climates -- and make superb cutflowers, their thick, sturdy stalks keeping them fresh over a long time in the vase. The petals are slightly furry, with streaks and flecks of white among the rich bittersweet chocolate, and hints of lime-green toward the base. If you decide to leave them in the garden (the butterflies will thank you), remember to deadhead them promptly, for they repay this sort of attention with a second flush of bloom in early autumn.

'Chocolate' reaches 6 to 8 feet tall when in bloom, and spreads a few feet wide. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, the richer the better, and on the alkaline side -- but it is more adaptable than this description might make it sound. Hardy from one end of the country to the other, it is a commanding presence in the cutting garden, cottage garden, border, or meadow.

Introduced in Britain, 'Chocolate' is certain to become a sensation among Delphinium lovers and cut-flower aficiandos everywhere. Make sure you find a home for it in your landscape this season. Zones 3-10.

- Wayside Gardens (link here)

I have had poor luck with delphiniums, but this one makes me want to try again.

Hot tub at the mansion

I stole this picture from Jon's blog.

Another Fathead Experiment

I added a couple of dozen small fathead minnows to my garden pool today.

If at first you do not succeed, try try again.

Jungle Beauty

The blackest daylily yet!

This handsome midnight-purple variety adds deep, velvety color to the garden. Each bloom is 6 inches wide, with dark hues.

- Jackson & Perkins (link here)

I would very much like to add this daylily to my garden.

Bourbon clematis

For several years master Clematarian Raymond J. Evison has been releasing miniature Clematis hybrids bred for container culture and sporting blooms just as large as those on full-sized climbers twice their size. Bourbon™ is part of the spectacular Patio™ series, reaching just 3 to 4 feet high and wide yet setting enormous two-tone blooms. Content in garden soil as well as flowerpots and tubs, this very high-performing British introduction is a must-have for all Clematis fanciers.

The flowers are single, fully 6 inches wide, and neon-magenta, shading into a darker red edge. Capped by a frilly yellow center, they are riveting when cut and floated in a bowl of water, but on the plant they are nothing short of amazing, so disproportionate is their size to the length of the vine! Repeating heavily all summer, these blooms are among the brightest in the entire Clematis family, and are not to be missed.

Bourbon™ is in Pruning Group 2, and grows readily in full sun or light shade. Give it a small trellis or other support to climb in containers; in the garden, thread it through a hybrid tea Rose, twine it through a fence, or let it scramble over a stump, completely hiding it beneath its abundant mid-green foliage and blooms. Hardy to -20 degrees F, it is very vigorous and adaptable, showing all the gardenworthiness of its larger cousins, but with none of the excess foliage! Highly recommended. Zones 4-9.

- Wayside Gardens (link here)

Million Bells

We first saw this magnificent annual blooming its head off in central Florida one June. The temperature was 104 degrees, the humidity was so thick you could almost squeeze water out of the air, and it was high noon. Already the leaves of everything else had shriveled and lay dangling from their stems like drowned rats. But the big baskets of Million Bells™ looked so good we had to feel a petal to make sure they were real! Not a leaf was lifeless, not a bloom drooping, on these big, amazingly colorful displays! Right then and there, we knew we had the answer for gardeners across the country who need a foolproof, long-blooming, always-fresh annual for their patio, porch, or poolside.

The more we learned about Million Bells®, the more impressed we became. Not only is this little powerhouse immune to hot, humid weather, but it blooms in the cool spring and fall weather too. In fact, keep it watered and fed and it will flower reliably from spring through fall -- am amazing 6 or 7 (or more?) months in most climates!

Now, when I say "Mini Petunia," Million Bells is actually a Calibrachoa. The blooms are smaller than the average Petunia's, reaching only 1 1/2 to 2 inches across. Good thing there's 8 billion of them, then . . . Seriously, this plant takes the word "floriferous" to new heights. Just 12 to 15 inches tall and up to 20 inches wide, it makes a nice bushy mound, so the top of your container isn't just a mass of empty stems, with all the glory hanging over the sides of the pot!

- Park Seed (link here)

We have had very good luck with Million Bells plants the last two years.

Mixed martial artist

Nice picture.

Willis Orchard Company

http://www.willisorchards.com/index

They offer some nice-looking trees.

Ice fishing at Antero

(Thanks to Dad for the picture)

This looks like a lot of fun.

Indoor Plants

Many houseplants slow down in winter, and it's easy to overwater them. Indeed, we see far more plants killed with kindness than neglect. Instead of watering on a set schedule, always check the soil for moisture, and water only when the top inch is dry to the touch.

Hold off on the fertilizer, too. A few Orchids, Cyclamens, and citrus need feeding now (see our cultural instructions for specifics) but wait until late winter or early spring to resume feeding most plants.

The dry air indoors unfortunately encourages some plant pests. It's a good idea to give your plants a shower once in a while, which will make them perkier and often keeps pests in check. We move houseplants to a bathtub to give them a hosing and then let them drain before returning them to their windowsills.

Check frequently for insects such as aphids, whitefly, and spider mites. Regular sprays of insecticidal soap can keep these little villains in check, but infestations are much easier to nip early than after the plants are covered and weakened.

- White Flower Farm (link here)

Snow cover maps

http://www.nohrsc.noaa.gov/

Excellent resource for interactive snow cover maps.

Wintergreen

Flowers, fruits and foliage create an ever-changing display that commands attention throughout the year.

You won't want to take your eyes off of this constantly changing Wintergreen. This small creeping evergreen offers year-round appeal. The fragrant, shiny dark green leaves turn a rich burgundy in fall, and petite, bell-shaped blossoms of white blushed with pale pink are borne in spring.

But the most amazing feature of Gaultheria procumbens is the bright scarlet fruits. These 1 1/2-inch fruits arise in midsummer and continue into the following spring, creating the most unusual sight of both flowers and fruit together! And the foliage is wonderfully aromatic when crushed -- still used in wintergreen tea, it was once also made into an oil.

After spending its first year establishing itself in the garden, this 6-inch plant spreads to make a most attractive ground cover or naturalized woody plant. Native to the eastern U.S., it likes an acid, moist, organic soil and light shade in the North, medium to heavy shade further south. The more sun it gets, the darker are its leaves. Zones 3-cooler portions of 8.

- Wayside Gardens (link here)

I have fond memories of eating Wintergreen berries when I was young.

Heaven Scent

Far and away the strongest-scented Polemonium we have ever grown, Heaven Scent shares its delectable fragrance with the entire garden, first in late spring and often again in late summer! A very vigorous variety that can take more sun than many others, Heaven Scent belongs front and center in the partly shaded garden.

- http://www.parkseed.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?storeId=10101&catalogId=10101&langId=-1&mainPage=prod2working&ItemId=40666&cid=pem000827

I would like to try one of these.

Birdscaping

Birdscaping in the Midwest: A Guide to Gardening with Native Plants to Attract Birds (2007) by Mariette Nowak

Excellent book, worth buying.

The author was director of Wehr Nature Center for many years.

Comprehensive lists of recommended plants.

Lots of good gardening advice.

Quotes Lorrie Otto on the tyranny of the over-tidy yard.

Very much opposed to lawn grass.

Raccoon & fox

We had more than a few successes back in the good old days.

More salmon pictures

Broughton Star

http://www.waysidegardens.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?storeId=10151&mainPage=LGprodview&jspStoreDir=Wayside&ItemId=40798&catalogId=10151&langId=-1&cid=wem000631

Interesting new clematis variety that never needs pruning.

Claybuster

http://admin.wildflowerfarm.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=1&Product_Code=50004

This Claybuster Seed Mix sounds like a winner, but at $90/quarter pound it is certainly not cheap.

Grapevines

Grow Yourself a Grapevine!

Most grapes are really easy to propagate, and middle
of the winter is an ideal to do it.

1. Cut some vines from the parent plant. You can cut
these vines as long as you want, I've worked with vines
12' long.

2. Cut the vines into cuttings. Start at the thick end of
the vine. (the bottom or butt end). Notice the bumps on
the vine. Those are bud unions, and on grapes they can
be as far apart as 6 inches. Make a cut right below, but
not into a bud union. Then skip a bud union, then make
a cut right above the next bud union. The second cut can
be as much as one inch above the top bud union. Each
cutting should have three buds. Top, bottom and middle.

3. Remove any side branches (curly cues) from your cutting.

4. Take your finished cuttings out to the garden, dig a
trench about 8 inches deep and place your cuttings in the
trench, leaving the top bud sticking out of the ground about 2".
Pack loose soil around your cuttings.

5. That's it you're done! If you have some rooting compound
for hardwood cuttings you can dip the cuttings in rooting
compound before placing them in the trench, but you really
don't need it. They'll root without it.

6. Water them as needed when it's dry, but don't keep them
soaking wet.

7. Some grapes are typically grafted, but you can still try
rooting them this way, it might work. Concord, Niagara and
Catawba for sure can be rooted this way.

- Mike Groarty (no link provided)

Tree on house

Very scary when a tree falls on a house. This is from recent California storms.

Salmon

Candy Mountain

http://www.waysidegardens.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?storeId=10151&mainPage=LGprodview&jspStoreDir=Wayside&ItemId=40824&catalogId=10151&langId=-1&cid=wem000635

Interesting new Digitalis selection from Wayside Gardens.

E.A. Bowles

http://eabowlessociety.org.uk/

Site dedicated to the legendary gardener E.A. Bowles.

Generations

Top 10 Herbs

http://www.parkseed.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?storeId=10101&catalogId=10101&langId=-1&mainPage=prod2working&ItemId=90359&cid=pem000825

Park Seed offers the top ten herbs as selected by the Herb Society of America.

Herb guides

http://herbsociety.org/profile.php

Herb guides from the Herb Society of America.