It's so much fun to peruse glossy catalogs of beautiful veggies and flowers in the depths of winter. It's even more fun to grow unusual varieties that no one else can buy at the garden center by starting your own seeds.
It’s that time of the year, dear friends – the time when flowers are everywhere…in catalogues. But we can still plan for floral pleasure in the darkest days of the year. Martha Marsh sent me an email on Christmas; honeybees are mobbing her Helleborus niger, the Christmas rose. In my garden, being hit by ice pellets as I write, three of my Hamamelis are in full and fragrant bloom.
At our October 31st meeting, Jane Ellison told us about invasive plants that have no nutritional value for birds - like Halloween candy! The next day, the monthly publication came from Summit County Master Gardeners highlighting the native shrub Ilex verticicllata, Winterberry holly, and its wonderful nutritional value.
During the grey days of winter, a blooming Amaryllis is always a welcome treat. There are so many beautiful varieties of Amaryllis; it is hard to hold back when purchasing new bulbs.
Which is it? It bloomed at Halloween this year! Judging by the diagram I found on the internet (see below), I’d say it is a very confused Thanksgiving cactus, Schlumbergera truncata.
II enjoy watching Monty Don’s Gardeners’ World. Monty always reminds viewers to use peat free compost, his plea made me wonder why is peat so bad? In the United Stated, peat is commonly used to aerate soil and to promote water retention. Peat is used in most seed starting mixes. Peat is formed over thousands of years in bogs know as peatlands, and most of the peat used in the United States comes from Canada.
With many of us experiencing our first frost, dahlia season has come to an abrupt end. But that’s ok, because it is time to dig and divide now. I first begin by cutting the foliage back to about 6” above the ground.
Ladies, PLEASE if you have anything in bloom in your garden, or a good green plant sprig, an herb that is not moth eaten, or ANYTHING that is showy, PLEASE bring it to the show!
It is time for Lesser Celandine to emerge. While your first reaction may be delight in seeing pretty yellow flowers in your lawns or garden beds, these are NOT your friends.
Event check-in opens at 8:00 am with the program at 9:00 am
Cleveland Botanical Garden, Woodland Hall
Please note: Affiliate Day is open to all affiliate members whose garden clubs are in good standing. Online registration is required. Also, this year there is a $16 program fee (includes parking fee). The final day to register is Thursday, April 13.