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A Garden for You
Help for the Do-It-Yourself Gardener
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Ideas Especially
for the Treasure Valley from Lorraine
Favorite Plants: 
Snowdrops, Galanthus nivalis Snowdrops bloom when we still think it is winter. This year mine started blooming in January. Quince comes a bit later and welcomes us to actual spring. It is one of my favorite flowering shrubs and blooms in early spring before most things leaf out.  Flowering Quince, Chaenomeles You can place a stem in water indoors to force buds into flowers as soon as the buds have started to form on the stem, sometimes as early as January.  Spring is such a beautiful time in the Treasure Valley in Idaho, especially as many parts of the country are buried under snow and ice. I had some fun dwarf bulb blooming in the garden last year. These tiny snow drops started in early February. They were followed by the dwarf daffodils and dwarf iris called 'Flight of Butterflies'; both are barely 6 inches tall.  Snowdrops, Galanthus nivalis Dwarf daffodils, Narcissus  Dwarf Iris, Iris Siberica, 'Flight of Butterflies' Hellebores also know as Lenten Rose and Christmas Rose are becoming quite popular. Hellboris also bloom in the early spring. There are several varieties popping up in the nurseries as well as being featured at garden shows. The one pictured below is Helleborus niger.    Roses are so beautiful in June. I hope you have some favorites blooming in your garden. The one above is called Majic Lantern; it changes from a deep coral as a bud to a lovely pale pink when it is fully open. A highlight of the my recent trip to NYC was a full day visit to the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. I will only pick a few photos to give you a little sample of what I saw. Don't miss an opportunity to visit a botanical garden when you travel.     Now that the weather is turning cold and rainy I thought you might also enjoy reminiscing about our beautiful fall leaves.  Ash & Purple Leaf Smoke
Tree Cotoneaster  EuonymusMaybe there it still a little snow outside but we can still think spring. The Cyclamen below makes a great houseplant and is usually easy to find in stores around Valentines Day. There are some Cyclamens that are hardy, but the one below, Cyclamen persicum, is a Florists' Cyclamen and is only hardy in zones 16-24.  The photo of this interesting orchid was taken at the Gaiser Conservatory, which is part of the Manito Gardens in Spokane, Washington.  The photos below were taken at the gardens around the Cloisters in the Washington Heights area of Manhattan.   Beautiful colors are found many trees this fall including the Ash and Japanese Maple leaves shown below. 
 The lilacs are just gorgerous in Idaho in April. Hope you have some in your yard to enjoy.  Usually we think of white, red, or pink for peonies but here is a lovely on in yellow. Consider adding some peonies to your garden this year.  By the month of February we are all in need of some flowers. Here are some just for you. The photos below were taken in the Glaiser Conservatory at the Manito Gardens in Spokane, Washington. The first one features a Foxtain Asparagus Fern surrounded by primrose and daffodils; the second is a Lollipot Plant. I highly recommend that you visit the conseravatory if you are in Spokane. They change the display often so I am always pleased when I visit. 
 The perennial Pincushion Flower, Scabiosa, has pretty flowers that appear from mid summer until fall. They are a great plant for mixing in with other perennials. They grow about 2 ft. tall and are not at all aggressive. Most have pale blue or lavender flowers with fine grayish foliage like the closeup below. The pretty pink one has somewhat larger green leaves. 
 Scabiosa caucasica Would you agree that it is time for spring? Trillium is one of the first flowers to bloom in the mountains after the snow has melted. They are always a delight. It really won't be long before we will be enjoying the tulips that we planted in the fall or sometime in past years. Here is a photo of one of my favorites. 
 Yellow is the featured color for this October. Usually orange is the color for October but I decided to feature yellow instead. The picture of my American Birch leaves was taken last fall. This year the wind is blowing them off as fast as they turn. The sunflower photo was taken on a recent trip to Deer Flat National Refuge. Consider a trip out to see the wildlife and enjoy the fall colors.   The featured plants for August are ones from Finland. First is a grouping of three containers that were each over 3 foot in diameter. The two prominent flowers are dahlias and impatiens.  Below is a photo that was taken at the botanical garden at the University of Helsinki. The gardens were well maintained, well organized, and beautiful.  I especially liked the Scrophularia plant. It belongs to the Figwart family.  Scrophularia Below are some flowers that definitely tell us spring is here.  Oriental Poppy   Columbine Bearded Iris Everyone should have a touch of spring right by your front door to remind yourself that spring really is just around the corner. My little treasure chest contains a primrose, a ranunculus and pansies.   Below is a picture of my fall blooming chrysanthemum. It is one of the last things to bloom in the fall and usually withstands the early frosts.  For September I am featuring Hibiscus. The flowers are so bright and cheerful plus they come in the summer when many flowers are finished and before the fall bloomers have started. Rose of Sharon is a great shrub for our area. It can also be trimmed to make a small tree. It also comes in a variety of colors and has single or double flowers. The double flowers are usually smaller without the characteristic look of the Rose-Mallow family.  Rose of Sharon, Hibiscus syriacus Hardy Hibiscus has huge blooms, sometimes as big as a dinner plate. The unfortunate thing is that the individual bloom usually last only one day. The good part is that there are many blooms on one stalk so when one withers there is another one to replace it. (Scroll down near the bottom of the page to see a picture of a bright red bloom.)  Hardy Hibiscus, Hibiacus moscheutos There is another Hibiscus called Confederate Rose, H. mutabillis, which is a deciduous shrub and has flowers that are 4- 6 inches across. Chinese Hibiscus or Topical Hibiscus, H. rosa-sinensis, is often grown in greenhouses, especially in butterfly gardens. (Scroll down to see a pink blossom.) Hollyhocks, Alcea rosea, is an old fashioned favorite that has similar blooms. They all belong to the Rose-Mallow Family, MALACEA. English Lavender This has been a good year for lavender and other herbs. I have two different English lavender in my garden. Lavandula anugustifolia 'Hidcote' is a dwarf variety which is fairly slow growing and makes a mound about 15" wide. The foliage is silvery gray and the flower are deep purple.  Lavandula anugustifolia 'Hidcote' Clematis Our spring weather has been perfect for Clematis. If you look around town you will see many different ones in full bloom.  Delphinium I planted the delphinium below in a barrel for several reasons. First, it is a favorite flower of my gardening buddy; second, the spot I have used before just wasn't working; and third, I didn't have anything to put in my barrel at the time. This is the second year for it and as you can see it is beautiful. D. belladonna has a short and sturdy stems with especially nice large blossoms.   We know that spring is really coming when we can enjoy the many spring bulbs that come up and bloom regardless of the blustery days. Here are a couple of photos of some of the faithful bloomers that appear in almost everyones gardens.  Daffodil, Narcissus  Grape Hyacinth, Muscari armeniacum Hydrangeas have become very popular lately. They are easy to grow in rich, porous soils but require quite a bit of water. The color of the blossom can be manipulated by changing the pH of your soil. If you want a challenge you can try your luck at getting blue blossoms.   Hope you have been enjoying the fall colors. Thanks to our wet spring and beautiful fall weather they have been especially nice this year. On our recent trip to Oregon through Sisters we were once again amazed by the beauty of nature. The contrast between the colorful maples and the green cedars was striking.  Do you have any Asters in your garden? They are easy to grow and put on a spectacular show in the last summer and fall.  Gladiolas have been loved for generations. I have fond memories of planting them with my mom. The biggest challenge to raising glads is to keep the flower spikes from bending over and breaking off. This year quite by accident I came up with a solution. After I planted the corms I placed a wire cage, which I normally use for my tomatoes, over the area as a deterrent for digging dogs, cats and squirrels. I didn't get it moved and the foliage grew up in between the wires, which helped support the stalks. After the flower spikes appeared I added a few garden stakes to support the blossoms. It wasn't necessary to use very big stakes because the plants were already supported.   Peonies have also been a favorite of gardener for generations. They give us colorful blossoms between early spring bulbs and summer roses. The Owyhee Gardeners recently visited a wonderful garden near Adrian, Oregon. Below are photos of two spectacular tree peonies in full bloom.   The photos below were taken in August from the Butchart's famous Sunken Garden on Vancouver Island.   The beautiful border of colorful flowers are visible from the stairs as you start down the steps into the sunken garden. No one in our tour group knew what they were even after we were close. We checked the flower & plant guide that they gave us and to our surprise they are a tall Lobelia.  Dutch Iris come in many colors–white, blue, orange, purple, yellow and bicolors. They blooms a little earlier that bearded iris, and their long straight stems make them good for cut flowers.  Are you tired of winter and ready for something green? Below are some photos taken at the Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island in Puget Sound.    As part of my garden tour last summer I visited the Victoria Butterfly Garden. The butterflies were fascinating and the tropical plants were amazing.  Owl Butterfly I have chosen two pretty pink blossoms to get us in the mood for Valentine's Day, Chenille and Pink Hibiscus.   For December I thought we should visit Chinese gardens for a little peace and tranquility. Chinese gardens feature unique use of water, rocks and plants. The detail work in their rock paths is amazing. Various stones are turned on edge to create the desired pattern. More from the Minter Gardens: Minter Garden Waterfall Fall crocus are such a delight when they pop up with these beautiful blossoms. Their foliage appears in the spring and then completely dies down. I usually forget about them and am always a little surprised when they send up flower shoots in late summer. Fall Blooming Crocus The climate in the Vancouver area is perfect for Hosta. With a little extra care and a nice shady spot we can also grow them in the Treasure Valley. Hosta Foliage Ginko is one of my favorite trees. It has unique fan-shaped leaves; it is slow growing and is very hardy and pest free. Queen Elizabeth Park Ginko Tree with Blooming Hosta I recently had the opportunity to take a bus tour of gardens in British Columbia. We visited 12 gardens in 6 days. The gardens were unique and spectacular. The experience was awesome, inspiring and at times overwhelming. The first garden we visited was the Minter Gardens near Chilliwach, Canada. The Minter Gardens were envisioned and built by Brian and Faye Minter on an 18 acre site that was created by a massive rock slide from the 7000 foot Mt. Cheam. The gardens have been nestled among 80-100 foot native Cedar trees. You can get a glimpse to one of the gardens through this unique waterfall. Tropical Sunset, my favorite rose from the Minter Rose Garden. For August I thought I would feature some of my favorite succulent plants, Sedums or Stonecrop. Their thick leaves help them survive our hot dry weather. Many are groundcovers that are grown for their low growing foliage; a few have very nice flowers. Sedum spurium 'Tricolor' pictured below is one of my favorites. It has variegated leaves with pink edges and these nice pick flowers. The sedum pictured below has very nice deep-green foliage and these pretty yellow flowers. The leaves have slightly toothed edges, which adds interest. It spreads rapidly and is only 3- 4 inches high. 'Autumn Joy' is a taller-growing sedum that has pretty red flower clusters in the late summer. The clusters start out cream-colored and turn red by late summer. Later in the fall the flower clusters turn a nice rust color. If left in place after they dry out, they add interest to a winter garden. In the spring the foliage forms nice gray-green rosettes around the old stems, which should then be removed. Are you in need of plants that can take the hot weather? Purple Cone Flower, Echinacea purpurea, is an excellent choice. The plant below is only two years old and is giving me some lovely flowers. It is fairly drought tolerant and thrives in the sun. The companion plants are Camellia Flowering Balsam and Purple Majesty Millet. They both require a little more water that the cone flower; however, they take the hot afternoon sun that this bed on the south side of my house receives. See below for more photos of them. Purple Cone Flower, Echinacea purpurea Meadow Sage starts to bloom in late May and last all June. It is a very nice addition to most gardens. Meadow Sage, Salvia nemorosa 'Blauhugel' Flowering Dogwood in Riggins, Idaho. Next spring take a drive; it is worth it! Did you lose any precious plants in our recent hard frosts? Almost every yard has some cold spots and some relatively protected spots. Take note and try to find the right place for your tender favorites. I have bleeding hearts on the north side of my house. They do great there except that I have to cover them several times every year or they freeze right after they are start to bloom. If I forget I miss out on one of my favorite flowers for the year. My neighbor has a very nice plant on the east side by his chimney; it has never frozen even though he has never covered it. Bleeding Hearts Dicentra spectabilis I am always in awe of the beautiful flowering trees that we have in this valley. The photo below is of a Flowering Weeping Cherry, Prunus subhirtella 'Rosea'. 'Rosea' has reddish buds that turn into a profusion of single pale pink flowers in early spring. It grows from 20-25 ft. tall and up to 30 ft. wide. 'Pendula' is slower growing, usually only 10-12 ft. tall and wide. It has single pale pink blossoms in mid season. Other varieties have double blossoms. Weeping cherries are usually grafted onto hardy rootstocks at about 5-6 ft. high. Early spring is an excellent time to plant trees so why not add one this year. How about this for fall color? The rosebud is on one of my favorite roses. Antigua is a tall rose with long slender buds. After two nights of killing frost, I am sure this is my last pretty rose of the year. The Burning Bush behind it is signaling the change of seasons in a big way. Euonymous alatus and Antigua Rosebud Spotted Dead Nettle, Lamium maculatum, is a great ground cover for dry shady areas. There are many choices of varieties, which vary in flower color as well as leaf shape and color. Most bloom from spring until mid summer. This photo was taken in mid October in a friend's yard and as you can see it is still blooming. Lamiums are also useful in hanging baskets. Keep it in mind for next year. Lamium maculatum Some fall blooming crocus are a nice addition to any garden. If you are like I am, you forget that they are there and suddenly these pretty lavender flowers pop up and last for at least a week. Their foliage comes up in the spring and then dies back completely by early summer. Crocus sativus Another pleasant surprise I had this year was an abundant reseeding of Portulaca or Rose Moss. They have bloomed all summer. The original plants were planted three years ago and were only an orange color. This area of my garden was originally designed to be a dry river bed but I think the Portulaca was a nice addition. Portulaca grandiflora Here are two photos of Purple Fountain Grass, Pennisetum setaceum ''Rubrum'. Purple Fountain Grass is only hardy to 20 degrees F so it considered an annual in the Treasure Valley. It grows very fast and forms these beautiful clumps in one year. I think it is a good idea to get at least a gallon size, which will reward you with a clump of up to 3 feet tall and wide. I have seen this grass used very effectively in large containers as well.  Purple Fountain Grass, Pennisetum setaceum ''Rubrum' The Cypress bellow is one that I planted at the new Memorial Garden. It is compact and has this beautiful bluish green foliage. It is supposed to get 10-15' tall by 4-5' wide. 'Cyano-Viridis' Boulevard Cypress.JPG This spring I purchased the new type of summer squash. I have been very pleased with the fact that the plant is rather upright. It has not taken over the garden and picking the squash have been easy. Summer Squash.JPG The name of the squash "Eight Ball" is also unique. I find that is goes from being eight ball size to bowling ball size in about two days. However, they seem to still taste great. Eight Ball Zucchini.JPG Do you enjoy Evening Primroses? According to the Sunset New Western Garden Book, Evening Primroses are valued for showy early summertime flowers in tough, rough places. One variety that is common here is Mexican Evening Primrose, Oenothera berlandiere. It has 1 1/2 inch rose pink flowers and blooms in the daytime. It can be invasive but is beautiful ground cover for a dry slope or a corner by a driveway. Oenothera missourensis shown below has yellow flowers that are 3-5 inches across. It is fun to discover the new bright blooms in the early morning. It also has attractive 5 inch long leaves. It is a good choice for rock gardens. Some things are worth the wait. My Clematis 'Nioble' barely came up last year and I thought it was a goner but this year it is very healthy and has these gorgeous 4 inch blooms. A good lesson in not to give up too soon. I planted this pink Penstemon late last summer and it has already become a favorite. We are finally having spring in the Treasure Valley and are blessed with beautiful flowering trees and shrubs. Below are two of my favorites. Flowering Almond Prunus triloba Flowering Dogwood Corunus florida 'Cherokee Chief' I love the beautiful yellow spring flowers starting with the early crocus, followed by daffodils and forsythia. I featured forsythia below and didn't have a photo of daffodils so I am including a photo of a pretty tulip variety, Orange Lion; they bloom in mid April. The Oregon Grape shown below has nice yellow flowers and also bloom this time of year. This variety, Mahonia aquifolius 'Compacta', is lower growing than some varieties (about 3 ft. high and wide). The yellow blooms turn into blue berries, which hang on into winter. New foliage is a glossy light to coppery green; it turns dark green in the summer and wine red in winter. Mahonia aquilfolium 'Compacta' Even though February days are chilly, promise of spring is just around the corner. When I returned from sunny San Diego, I was greeted by little yellow crocus; on close inspection I found that my snowdrops were blooming. Snowdrops Galanthus nivalis While in San Diego, I was able to visit Balboa Park and check out the Botanical Building. This lovely Cymbidium Orchid caught my eye. Most larger cities have some type of plant conservatory so plan to visit one next time the opportunity arises; you won't be disappointed. Cymbidium Two years ago my daughter gave me the perfect plant to give some height to my front planting. The Purple Majesty Millet pictured below is an annual and is more commonly used for bird seed then for garden plantings. In fact, I had trouble finding a replacement last spring and my attempts to start it from seed were unsuccessful. I was also unable to find a scientific name for it in my plant books. So... help me out if you happen to find it next spring, let me know. The source I eventually found has now closed their nursery business. Note! My Aunt Helen found the scientific name for me. It is Panicum miliaceum (Panic Grass). I have really been enjoying our fall colors this year; hope you have also. Here is a close up of the leaves on my new Dawn Redwood tree. The photo was taken in the early morning just as the sunlight hit the leaves. In that light the twigs and branches look dark maroon.  Dahlias have also been very nice this summer and fall. The purple one below is one of mine and the gold one was in the Manito Gardens in Spokane. Plan to plant some next spring. They are grown from tubers planted after the danger of frost is past and the soil is warm. They like full sun with a just little shade from our hot afternoon sun. If you planted some Dahlias this year and want to save the tubers for next year, dig them after the plants have started to die back. You can divide the tubers before storage or leave them as clumps. Place the tubers in sand, sawdust, or vermiculite and store in a cool dry place until spring. You may want to dust them with sulfur to prevent rot.   Pictured below is one of my favorite groundcovers, creeping thyme called 'Elfin'. Thymus praecix 'Elfin' forms a mat that is only about 1 inch tall and at least 2 foot in diameter. It was covered by lovely lavender flowers that lasts from June through most of August.  My gorgeous red Hardy Hibiscus is doing its thing again this year. The blooms really are as big as a small plate. Each bloom lasts only one and a half days but they are spectacular and a new one opens each day. This year my plant has two stalks so I have two blooms per day. I find that not much else is blooming during these hot days of late summer so they are a special treat. If you live close, please stop by and take a peak or better yet go to Fruitland Nursery and get one for yourself. They offer a discount for Garden for You Customers. Have you tried to grow some of the new varieties of Coleus? They are no longer used just for houseplants. According to P. Allen Smith on his PBS Garden Show, some will even tolerate lots of sun. Keep in mind he gardens in the South where humidity is high. Paul and I recently took a trip to Kansas City, MO. I took the picture below outside a store in the "Plaza" area. To my surprise when I returned home the seedling that Paul and I started in the greenhouse this spring (which all looked the same when we left) had turned into a nice variety similar to these. Our plants were still in 4 inch pots and were about 6 inches tall. I transplanted them to two larger pots and will keep one on the patio and the other inside.  Double Syringa also called Mock Orange blooms for almost the entire month of June. It has a wonderful aroma which can fill your entire back yard. Last week I had a chance to see the native version, Philadelphus lewisii, growing and blooming on the hillside of Ola Summit Road. Syringa is Idaho's state flower. 
 The Creeping Phlox and Iris are both spectacular around town right now. Take time to make note of your favorite colors so you can add them to your garden. The magenta creeping phlox below is my favorite. It is harder to find at nurseries but is worth the trouble. If you have some older iris varieties that are not you favorites why not tag them now so you can dig them later and replace them with some new hybrid varieties. I have some of both and the blooms on my hybrid varieties are much larger.   Apricot Beauty is one of my favorite tulips. It blooms fairly early and holds its color well.  Persian Lilac is one of my favorite lilacs. It has a graceful form with dark green leaves and reddish lavender flowers. The shrub grows about 6 ft. tall and its leaves are somewhat smaller than those of common lilac.  It won't be long before the Forsythia will be in bloom. Forsythia is another good candidate for forcing.  Many Christmas cactus actually bloom at Thanksgiving or other times of the year. This Christmas cactus bloom is on a one year old start that my sister-in-law give me, which in turn came from a niece. The bloom was at least 2 1/2 inches long.  My Purple-leafed Smoke Tree, Cotinus coggygria, and Pyracantha, P. angustifolia 'Yukon belle,' have been especially nice this year. In fact I threatened to take out my Pyracantha but instead I trimmed out the bottom branches and it responded with a beautiful display of orange berries.  I have had fun with my Camellia Flowering Balsam, Impatiens balsamina, that I first planted from seed about three years ago. I started seedlings in the greenhouse and then moved them to an area next to the house on the south that was fairly hot and dry. They did well plus have self sowed each year since. This year I am collecting seed for friends. I have tried them in other spots with similar success. They come up about two weeks after the first good watering. Blossoms form on the stem among the leaves, opening first about 8 inches from the ground. They work their way up from the bottom to the very tip of the plant. Colors include pale pink, orchid, magenta, and salmon.  Karl Forester, Clamagrostis arundinacea, is living up to its name as "Plant of the Year" for 2003 selection. It is also called Feather Reed Grass. It forms clumps about 2 ft. high and wide with golden plumes that extend another 2-3 ft. high. The plumes wave in the wind and add color to the fall landscape and interest to a winter garden. Plant this grass instead of Pampas Grass. See below for problems with Pampas grasses.  My Caryopteris 'First Choice' was in full bloom in August. Its deep purple-blue flowers can add a great focal point for your garden in late summer. The flowers attract butterflies and honey bees so be careful not to put this small shrub near your patio or walk, especially if someone in your family is allergic to bees. 'First Choice' grows from 24-36" tall and wide. It likes full sun or light shade and moderate water. Since blooms form on new growth, it should be pruned in early spring. 'Jackman's Blue' Rue, Ruta graveolens, is turning out to be one of my favorite plants. I was told it would stay evergreen over winter in our climate and I didn't believe it but it really did! I did a minimal amount of trimming in the spring when new leaves started to form. Mine has been planted for two years and it is about 2 ft. high and almost as wide. Rue has aromatic leaves that can be used in seasoning and teas. Sunset Western Garden Book suggests that its sap causes dermatitis in some people so be careful.  My Chicago Peace Rose has turned out to be a wonderful addition to my garden. It has large blooms that are perfectly shaped. The main color is a dark pink but the lighter highlight make each bloom extra special. The leaves are dark green and have shown no tendency to get mildew, which was a problem with the regular Peace Rose that my mother raised.  Physocarpus opulifolius 'Monlo', Diabolo Ninebark is proving to be a great addition to my garden. The shrub's common name comes from the fact it has peeling bark, which adds winter interest. This spring it was covered with clusters of white blossoms, which stood out against its 3 inch reddish purple leaves. The surprise was that the blossoms turned into clusters of deep red fruits; it was like having a second bloom.  Flowering trees: Hope you have been enjoying the beautiful flowering tree this spring. The Magnolia or Tulip trees were especially nice (they often suffer from an early frost). Another especially nice one is the Redbud, Cercis canidensis, which have small lavender or magenta flowers attached to its branches. They bloom before the leaves come out so there is a stark contract between the dark branches and the blooms.  Gardening Ideas to Try: Do you have trouble keeping track of what you plant each year? Buy a recipe file with index tab. Create a section for each individual garden that you have. Keep the tags from your new purchases and add them to the appropriate section. I also have a section for non-survivors as I may want to try them again but perhaps in a new location. Do you have a pet problem? I have found that gardening and owning pets demands some extra time and patience. I would like to pass on a few tricks. If you have dogs or even cats that likes to dig, I have found that carefully placing obstacles in their way works much better than scolding. Garden art, rocks, and small tree limbs work great and add interest to the garden. The limbs also work to give your cat a place to sharpen his claws. It is also good to give the dogs one place where they can dig. A back corner that is shaded by a tree is ideal. If they are prone to returning to the same spot, I have resorted to putting down pieces of chicken wire or garden cloth to discourage my pets from digging. Also, carefully placed lawn chairs will keep them off from a favorite area of ground cover. This technique works well to prevent them from making paths in the lawn. (More on paths next month.) Consider creating a rock path around the perimeter of your yard just inside your fence borders. I recently added a wide rock path to the rest of my yard. (I previously had added board walks on two sides to keep mud off the patio.) The dogs love it. They use the paths almost exclusively; they get more exercise and trails through the lawn are no longer a problem. I am finding I do the same thing to check out what is in bloom in the early morning. Now I can avoid getting wet feet. Problem Grasses and Weeds Pampus grass Cortaderia sp. is one of those grasses that you should not plant unless you are certain that it is not a weedy species. Some of the early species esp. those planted in California were very aggresive (they are native to the Argentine grasslands). When given plenty of water they grow very large and are difficult to remove. Also the leaf blades have sharp edges. USDA Plants web site gives valuable information on all types of plants and also has a link with pictures of Idaho's Invasive and Noxious weeds. I will give you a short list below. Leafy spurge is not a big problem in our immediate area but it if you go to the USDA Plants Website and click on the link to Invasive and Noxious Weeds for Idaho, Euphorbia esula L. and Euphorbia esula L. are both listed. There are several horticultural varieties that are currently being sold in nurseries. I think it is important that we are cautious and aware that their close relatives are noxious weeds. Canadian Thistle is a noxious weed that is hard to control. Persistence is the key. Spray or dig out all plants including roots and make certain that you don't let any go to seed. Most of us know about Puncture vine or Goathead. It is a real problem in the Treasure Valley. The vine hugs the ground and a small 6 inch plant can spread to a 4 foot circle before their cute little yellow flowers turn into the dreaded seed pods that are deadly to bike tires, etc. The seed are easily spread and have great longevity; once an infestations gets a toe hold it is hard to eliminate. Be vigilant and be willing to spray those plants that appear on road right of ways and in sidewalk cracks. One more weed to watch out for in you garden this spring and summer. The birds like to plant its seeds in the center of shrubs and it can get fairly well established before you realize that you have a problem weed. Follow the vines down to the roots and pull it out before it gets too big. Field Bindweed or Morning Glory is a problem in agricultural fields and in our landscapes. The vine just loves to attach to one of your favorite shrubs and before you know it the shrub is engulfed with the uninvited vine and its white flowers. Once again persistence is the only answer. You may have to spray three or more times in two week intervals. It you want to save the shrub, you will have to untwine the vine and lay to the side in order to spray it and not the whole shrub. Good luck! A recent article by Maureen Gilmeridy in the Your Home section of the Idaho Press Tribune pointed out the problem of trying to remove Pampas grass, Cortaderia selloana and C. jubata, after it is well established. Well established clumps reach well over 10 feet tall and wide. Also, the root crowns is very dense and difficult to remove. The plumbs look beautiful blowing in the breeze but spread seeds for new clumps. Another problem non-native plant that was originally brought to this country as an ornamental is Purple Loosestrife. Check out Susan Kain's article in the Press Tribune on Sunday March 2. If you find this "pretty" purple established plant growing along your ditch bank or wet area, get it rooted out right away. Once established it chokes out all the native vegetation. It spreads by roots and seeds and sprays are not effective on this plant. Handy Garden Log Consider starting a garden log or diary to keep track of what you do this year. A 3-ring binder with pockets works well. Be sure to include a sketch of your individual garden areas. Add a section for wants for next year. You can choose the bulbs to plant next fall by observing local gardens as their bulbs bloom this spring. The Christmas Rose A well known English plant, the Christmas rose, is a true Christmas flower. It is sometimes called the Snow or Winter Rose. It blooms in the depths of winter in the mountains of Central Europe. Legend links it with the birth of Christ and a little shepherdess named Madelon. As Madelon tended her sheep one cold and wintry night, wise men and other shepherds passed by the snow covered field where she was with their gifts for the Christ Child. The wise men carried the rich gifts of gold, myrrh and frankincense and the shepherds, fruits, honey and doves. Poor Madelon began to weep at the thought of having nothing, not even a simple flower for the Newborn King. An angel, seeing her tears, brushed away the snow revealing a most beautiful white flower tipped with pink - the Christmas rose. Also in central and northern Europe it is the custom to break off a branch of a cherry tree at the beginning of the Advent and keep it in water in a warm room; the flowers should burst into bloom at Christmas time. |
| Please email me with comments: lorraine.garden@gmail.com |