Corpse Flower

The city is about to get a snoot-full of its very own, very rare, very huge and very smelly "corpse flower," which is about to bloom at the Milwaukee Public Museum.

This titan arum blossoms only once every six years, and it has its tubers set on nothing less than becoming the biggest flower in the world.

- jsonline (link here)

Recent plantings

41 Triumph Tulips

This brings the fall total to 426 bulbs.

1 Tanacetum vulgare (Tansy)

1 Strawberry (everbearing, but variety unknown)

1 Chysanthemum 'Remos Lilac' (Belgian Hardy Mum)

Blossom Farm

http://www.blossomfarm.com/index.html

They offer over 200 varieties of perennials and herbs, including such treasures as comfrey and costmary.

Sassafras albidum

Recommended as a native alternative to weeping willow by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (link here)

'Birch Mountain' - This unusual mutation features leaves that are marbled with irregular patterns of white variegation. It was discovered by Glastonbury, CT by Mark Sutcliffe recently and has not entered production yet. At best, it is probably a novelty for collectors.

- UConn (link here)

Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Prefers moist, acidic, loamy soils. Tolerates dry, sandy soils. Large taproot makes transplanting of established trees difficult. If root suckers are not removed, tree will spread and begin to take on the appearance of a large multi-stemmed shrub.

- Missouri Botanical Garden (link failed)

TyTy

http://tytyga.com/

Features a lot of interesting history of trees.

Organic Fungicide

Actinovate is an organic fungicide that is perfect for any lawn or garden, used for the suppression/control of root rot and damping-off fungi and of foliar fungal pathogens. The active ingredient is a patented bacterium that grows around the root system or foliage. It can be used as a soil drench or as a foliar spray. When applied to soil, Actinovate also breaks down minerals and micronutrients making them more readily available to plants, resulting in stronger and healthier plants. 2 oz. package makes up to 28 gallons of spray or drench. Can be applied up to the day of harvest. OMRI listed.

- Harris Seeds (link here)

Agastache aurantiaca

A truly amazing display! Tall, brightly colored spikes of tasselled florets appear to burst out like flames from the lanced and highly perfumed foliage. Very quick and easy to grow, this lovely perennial will enhance your borders and containers, whilst its balmy fragrance will attract insects away from your summer patio! Excellent first year flowering variety.

- Thompson & Morgan (link here)

Added to my wish list.

Diatomaceous Earth

There is a lot of conversation these days about diatomaceous earth. DE is a form silica. It is a natural material composed of diatom skeletons. Diatoms are aquatic phytoplanktons which are one-celled plants that are responsible for much of the food and most of the oxygen that is consumed on earth. Diatoms represent the major process where silicates from the earth’s crust are recycled. Diatoms absorb silica acid and use it to make porous microscopic shells composed mostly of silica dioxide (SiO2). When these living creatures die, the shells sink to the bottom of oceans, rivers or lakes and accumulate. Over millions of years the sediments become diatomaceous earth deposits. These large deposits are mined, ground into a powder form and sold as natural diatomaceous earth.

- The Dirt Doctor (link here)

Northern Juneberry

This Juneberry grows wild on the shores of Lake Superior in pure sand and is one of the highest yielding wild species. The plant is covered with 3/8" dark purple to black fruit with a bright plum flavor. Fruit quality of this species is very good and makes a very good sauce even without sugar. Dwarf species shrub from 3 to 8 ft. with heavy production of berries covering the top of the plant. Recommended for more northern gardens. Hardiness -40 °F.

- Oikos Tree Crops (link here)

Added to my wish list.

Recent plantings

35 Triumph Tulips

This brings the fall total to 385 bulbs.

Leonardite

Leonardite as a source of humic acids for crop production was discovered in the 1960's. Researchers at the US Bureaus of Mines began to experiment with applications of crushed leonardite to agricultural soils. They found that applications of the material. at rates of 100 to 2,000 per acre, increased yields of potatoes, sugar beets and other crops.

- Healthy Home Mall (link here)

Humex is a natural soil conditioner and plant bio-stimulant. Contains natural humic substances found in geological deposits that can be best described as highly compressed and preserved organic matter called leonardite. Humex will improve the physical and chemical properties of poor soil, increase nutrient availability and stimulate soil micro flora. Humex contains 12% potassium, which helps make plants more resistant to drought. Humex is good to use in conjunction with other fertilizers to increase their availability. Excellent for seed and transplants. One to two tablespoons per gallon of water is sufficient for most applications.

- Oikos Tree Crops (link here)

Recent plantings

26 Lily (White Flower Farm's Naturalizing Mix)

50 Winter Aconite

40 Grape Hyacinth

6 Allium aflatunense (Purple Sensation)

20 Tulip (Queen of the Night)

24 Triumph Tulip

Total = 166 bulbs

Combined with the previous 184 means 350 bulbs planted this season so far.

Species Tulips

Sources of species tulips recommended by Richard Wilford (2006) Tulips: Species and Hybrids for the Gardener.

http://www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com/

http://www.bulbmeister.com/

http://www.odysseybulbs.com/

Heirloom tomatoes

The result is "The Heirloom Tomato" (Bloomsbury, $35), a book that not only celebrates what it calls "the world's most beautiful fruit," but also acts as a manual for home gardeners.

- Washington Post/Star Tribune (link here)

Hydrangea 'Pia'

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Pia' sports a very dwarf, compact habit only 2 feet tall and wide. And proving that good things do come in small packages, 'Pia' produces truly outstanding flowers that maintain their color regardless of soil pH. The 4- to 5-inch flowerheads are a rich rose-pink, occasionally flushed with purple, even in acid soils.

- Park Seed (link here)