Off to a Good Start

Amaryllis in bloom

A slightly belated Happy New Year!  I normally don't post in the dead of winter but this is something worth sharing.  My amaryllis have bloomed and they look terrific.  Unfortunately, I did not keep the tags for these bulbs so I can't provide their exact names.  I bought them at my not-so-local nursery.  They sell lots of varieties--some more exotic than others.  But if you want just basic white or bright red blooms, you can usually find them at your local big box stores beginning late October. 

Amaryllis take a little longer to get to the blooming stage than paperwhites.  Usually you can count 3 weeks from the time you plant a paperwhite to the time it blooms.  With amaryllis, it's more like 5 or 6 weeks.  Which explains why I never have blooms before Christmas because I never remember to plant the amaryllis that far in advance.  But I'll try to be more on the ball this year and I'll put together a little photo tutorial.

I'll return to weekly (or more) posts beginning in March when I start making preparations and placing orders for this season's garden.  Meanwhile, if you're in a cold place, keep warm this winter.  And if you're in a warm place, all I can say is, lucky you.

Amaryllis in bloom and paperwhites sprouting

Bookshelf:  Container Gardening Books

Don't Let the Cold Weather Stop You

Blooming Paperwhite Narcissus

Loose Paperwhite bulbs

There may be a chill outside but that doesn't mean you can't plant some flowers indoors.  The solution:  Paperwhites.  I have posted on this topic a few times in winters past.  This is so easy that I can't think of any reason on earth why you wouldn't want to do it.  I'm going to recap the main steps here, but for more pictures, you can go to my previous posts:  Winter Blooms and Flowers in Winter. 

1)  In many of the discount chain stores, you'll see paperwhites in kits.  You can buy those, but I like using my own containers so I buy my bulbs loose at my local big box store or nursery.  You decide what you prefer.  More than likely, the label will say something like Paperwhite "Ziva". 



Paperwhites planted in rocks and water



2)  Put soil or rocks in a container.  For once, you will not need (or want) drainage holes in your container.

3)  If using soil, dampen it a bit but don't soak it.  If using rocks, bring the water level up to the top level of the rocks.

4)  Place bulbs root-side down on damp soil or, if using rocks, on the surface of the rocks so that a little water comes in contact with the roots.


Paperwhites sprouting in soil



5)  Put container indoors in any place where it will get at least medium light.

6)  Keep soil damp (not wet) or water level of rocks in contact with bulb roots.
7) Wait about 3 weeks for stems to start growing and blooms to appear.

Be aware that most paperwhites will have a scent.  Some people love it (me), some people hate it (the husband of the lady who I encountered at the nursery a couple of years ago).  My local nursery started stocking individual bulbs that produce unscented blooms. 

I have more to say about bulbs in winter, but I'll talk about that in future posts.

Close up of Paperwhite blooms

Bookshelf:  Container Gardening Books

Last Days of Mandevilla

Mandevilla

It's great to still have new blooms (and buds) on this plant so late in the year.  This is Mandevilla and it's a tropical (and subtropical) flowering vine that is native to Central and South America.  In my zone, it's an annual.  I plant it every year because it adds vertical interest to a container garden.  You do have to grow it on some type of structure--mine is on a wire trellis that's about 5 feet high.  I plant mandevilla every spring once the night time temperatures are consistently above 55F.

You'll typically find mandevilla with white blooms, red blooms, or pink blooms.  It requires full sun and plenty of water.  It grows super fast and does not require any maintenance on my part. 

I know that people successfully overwinter mandevilla by putting it in a garage or a laundry room that gets some light.  I have a friend in Pennsylvania whose mandevilla is on its 7th year. But my garage has no window and I don't have a laundry room to speak of.  Plus I don't have a lot of extra space to be storing plants indoors so I buy a new plant every year. 

Check out one of my earlier mandevilla posts (from 2008) to read about my planting technique and be sure to add this plant to your shopping list in the spring.

Bookshelf:  Container Gardening Books

Herbs Still Going Strong

Purple Sage

It's November and many of my herbs still look fantastic.  I always grow lots of herbs.  I do a decent amount of cooking and there's nothing like going right out onto the deck and clipping a few herbs for a marinade or a pasta sauce.  Also, I like how they make such great companions in a mixed container planting (oregano notwithstanding--it's terribly invasive).  So here are three that are still going strong.

Sage:  This is an old standby for me.  It's perennial in my zone so it returns every year.  I'm partial to purple sage because it plays well with bright colors in a container.  Also, the texture of the leaves adds interest to a mixed planting.  It likes full sun.  For cooking, it's a great addition to pork, turkey, and even cheese dishes.  I always put a few leaves under the skin of my Thanksgiving turkey before I roast it.  But be careful not to use too much as it can be overpowering.



Italian Parsley



Parsley:  I grow flat leaf (Italian) parsley.  What's the difference between that and curly parsley?  Well, I think the flat leaf just looks better, more elegant, in the garden.  Also, most cooks prefer flat because it's more pungent.  Typically you would only see curly parsley as a garnish.  Parsley is a prolific grower and likes full sun.  Although I've read about gardeners in colder zones than mine having luck with their parsley returning, mine has never survived my zone 7 winter.  I have to buy new every year.  Because there's even more flavor in the stems than in the leaves, I just chop up an entire bunch, stems and all, into my marinades and pasta sauces.  Also, consider adding parsley to your salad. 

Thyme:  This herb is super easy to grow.  You can start it from cuttings with almost no effort.  It is very hardy (zone 4) and likes full sun.  Because its leaves are so tiny, it is a great addition to a mixed planting and it tends to have a spillover effect.  For cooking, try it in your marinades, meat dishes, soups, and stuffing. 

Thyme

My most favorite herb, Rosemary, is missing from this writeup.  For whatever reason, it did not perform well for me this year, and I had three plants!  I usually have great success with it but this year, I think I'll barely have enough for my Turkey Day preparations.  Oh well, better luck next year!

Bookshelf:  Container Gardening Books

Maybe with a Little Imagination....



Cuphea "Tiny Mice" or "Bat Face"


...you'll be able to see why this plant is nicknamed "Tiny Mice" and "Bat Face".  Its official name is Cuphea (phonetically:  kew-FAY-uh).  Click to enlarge the picture to the left and maybe, if you sort of squint, and look a little sideways, you can see that it somewhat resembles the face of a bat (although I've never been nose to nose with a real bat, and don't hope to be, so I can't say for sure).  Or you might view the little red petals on each side as the ears of mouse and the purple part, the face. 


Cuphea "Tiny Mice/Bat Face"



All likenesses aside, I think this is a nice plant to have in the garden because its tubular shape is so different than most flowers you might already have.  Also, it attracts hummingbirds.  I've only seen a hummingbird a few times this season, but that doesn't mean it doesn't visit with more frequency when I'm not looking.

Cuphea likes part to full sun, is heat tolerant, grows to a height of about 10 inches, and it's only hardy to zone 8.  So I will have to buy another one if I want it in my garden next year.  It blooms from spring to frost so even though you'll only have it for one season, you will definitely get your money's worth.  I have mine planted in a small terracotta pot along with only one other plant:  a creeping wire vine.

Bookshelf:  Container Gardening Books

Premiere Performance

Blush Euphorbia close up

This is the first year I've grown this plant.  It's called Blush Euphorbia.  It's a dainty little plant with all of these delicate blooms all over it.  And it blooms like crazy all summer long.  It has dark green leaves with tones of burgundy and red.  I have found it to be a fantastic "filler" plant for a container.  Unfortunately, it is not perennial in my zone but that's okay, it's going right back on my shopping list for next spring. 

Blush Euphorbia likes full sun, is heat tolerant, and grows to about 12 inches high.  I think it would be a great filler in almost any mixed container planting.  Maybe next year I'll put it with a plant that only produces foliage, like heuchera.  

Blush Euphorbia



 I read that Blush Euphorbia was recognized for Excellent Container Performance in 2010 at the University of Colorado.  I wholeheartedly agree with that honor.

Bookshelf:  Container Gardening Books



Strawberries in October?



Strawberries in October

 It was quite a surprise to see these yesterday.  I'm not sure we'll have enough warm days left for these guys to ripen, but it sure would be nice to have strawberries this late in the year.

Bookshelf:  Container Gardening Books