Witch Hazel-The BEST January Blooming Fragrant Shrub for Tennessee

Vernal Witch Hazel (Hamamelis vernalis) has to be my absolute favorite shrub for the month of January in Tennessee. I was looking out my kitchen window and I noticed a shrub that absolutely glowed-despite the 20 degree chill in the air. I had to venture outside and get a closer look at the vernal witch hazel.

From a distance the shrub literally glows because the flowers are so small yet there is a lot of surface area that reflects and captures the sun's rays. From up close the shrub is heavenly with its light honeysuckle/jasmine type scent. Awwww, I just want to stand near the shrub all day to smell it's fragrance and bask in its glory. Fortunately for me, witch hazel limbs make great cut stems inside of the house so that I did not have to stand outside all day.

Grow this witch hazel in full sun to part shade. It will be more open in the shade so be sure to leave room for it amongst your woodland garden shrubs. Mine grows under a mature oak tree where it gets partial sun, no water whatsoever, and little care. I have never fertilized this shrub and think as long as it is planted in an organically rich soil with an annual leaf cover of fallen leaves it will grow forever and live quite happily. Of the three witch hazels growing in my garden (Common witch hazel, and 'Diane'-a hybrid) the Vernal Witch Hazel does the best and never fails to bloom in January in my Tennessee garden....

in the garden....

The article on how to make the plant label pictured in the first picture can be found here. 

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

Santolina chamaecyparissus, aka Lavender Cotton, aka Wonder Plant

It has been quite a while since I have done a Plant of the Month post so I thought I'd let you know about a fantastic plant growing in my garden that tops even the Plant of the Month. This plant commonly called Lavender Cotton or Santolina (Santolina chamaecyparissus) is a contender for Plant of the Year in my gardening book (that is the book I am keeping about my gardens:). 


Lavender cotton is a gray foliaged plant that is soft to touch and has a very fine frilly fine textured appearance. It is slow to get started in the garden but once it settles in and gets going no other plant can match it for endurance and its year round good looks. Santolina needs a well drained area in full sun (but will grow in part sun as evidenced in my garden) with average soil. I never prune my santolina nor do I fertilize it. Be sure to site santolina near the front of your border so it can be enjoyed up close and is not overshadowed by other plants. Being a gray leaved plant santolina does not need a lot of water-I've never watered mine. Plant santolina in any hot and dry area and it will slowly fill in that area making a great evergreen ground cover. 

A few good companion plants for santolina can be sedum (as evidenced in the second and third pictures of this post), irises, baptisia, roses, or salvia. Santolina is actually a plant that can go with almost all other plants except other gray leaved plants that are frilly (like catmint and artemesia). I also think santolina is a better groundcover under roses than the usual lavender but remember santolina does not need a lot of water. Lavender is not always a long lived plant for our area so I am not a big fan of lavender. Be sure to allow for at least a four square foot area for your santolina to grow and spread.







When santolina blooms it blooms a cute button like yellow flower. The yellow bloom is similar to the bloom of tansy but you should not consider the bloom of santolina when deciding whether or not to plant santolina. Santolina is what I consider a foliage plant that truly does not need any blooms to shine....
 
in the garden....
Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

A Simply Spectacular Summer Bloomer for Tennessee Gardens

Always looking for great summer plants that can withstand our Middle Tennessee extreme heat and drought conditions I am excited when I find good ones like cutleaf coneflowers ( Rudbeckia lacinata) 'Hortensia' and 'Autumn Sun'. These two coneflowers are coneflowers that shine in the severe conditions of mid-summer in Middle Tennessee. They are the tall yellow flowers on the right side of the above picture. Let's take a closer look at the garden.

As you can tell the cutleaf coneflowers grow very tall. Also looking at these pictures you can see the coneflowers grow in part sun/shade. I estimate they get perhaps three hours (if they are lucky) of sun per day. Still, they do fine and make a nice backdrop for the rest of the Non-Pool Garden. I have them paired with 'Adagio' ornamental grass, coneflowers, sedums and asters. The 'Limelight' hydrangeas you see in the picture are further down the hill along with a few other prairie flowers and shrubs.

The majority of this clump is of the 'Hortensia' variety. That is they are double coneflowers. These are heirloom plants and many folks plant them to hide things in the yard; like outhouses. For me they remind me of prairie flowers and make a great big impact in this garden. Butterflies love these coneflowers and I have not found mine to be bothered by any pests or diseases. Mine do occasionally need a drink of water; which I do not begrudge since our temperatures have consistently been in the 90s and we've had no rain in several weeks. 


I just love these sunny yellow plants....


in the garden....

I forgot to say, these coneflowers are about 6 feet tall and may get taller in more sun. They spread easily; which is good. Transplanting when fully grown can be tricky as I've found the best time to move these is in early spring once they sprout up. 

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

Plant of the Month-November 2010

From In the Garde

Despite snow and ice, drenching rains, and freezing temperatures the camellias have come through the month of November so admirably they are my only choice for the Plant of the Month for November 2010. I took this shot to show you all the ice and snow we woke up to the day after Thanksgiving on 26 November 2010. It was a very early snow for us here and not all too welcomed. It is all gone now though and the camellias have bounced back as big as ever. If you'd like to see a better picture of them please look at my 'Snow Rose' post found here. The fall blooming camellias here at Tiger Gardens have been blooming since the 24th of October and show no signs of letting up. Now that is what I call a true Plant of the Month!


What is your best and longest bloomer for the month of November...


in the garden....

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, 
 
In the Garden

October 2010 Plant of the Month & a Close Encounter of the Preying Kind

From In the Garden

October's Plant of the Month has to be the asters. One note: I post the first Wednesday of each month my series "Plant of the Month" but that plant of the month is for the previous month's best performer in my garden. This performer also needs to make a big impact. The asters had it for October.

Asters are something I've always loved but found that after a few years the cultivars I grew would die out on me. Not so with a few new ones I've tried. Notably the above blue aster is a huge performer. It came from one of my client's gardens and has been a very reliable performer in her garden for many years. When I had to divide it to keep it from taking over I brought some starts home with me. This section that started from one or two starts has now grown to 3' x 5'! That is a lot of growing in just six months! Its hardiness and longevity in my client's garden makes me feel confident it will do well here at Tiger Gardens too. It seems that the best asters for my garden are the pass along asters-maybe the older cultivars are better adapted? I'm not sure but in the past the few new ones I've tried have died out after a few years. Some other pass along asters I grow are: tartarian asters (love em!), 'Honeysong' (a pink aster), and an unknown purple aster given to me by my friend Naomi. With the wide variety of asters on the market and in gardens everywhere there is an aster for everyone.

I like the asters not only for their lovely fall show but for their drought tolerance. These plants are very tough in the garden and have not received supplemental water from me this year. That says a lot because 2010 has been a bad year for gardening in my part of Tennessee. Asters do best in full sun but also manage quite nicely in part sun and even part shade. Their dainty flowers number in the millions and the butterflies, and bees simply adore the blooms. The asters were the best performers in my October garden and make a huge enough impact that they are my choice for October's Plant of the Month.....

in the garden....

From In the Garden

I can't resist posting a picture of my son, Jimmy. He found a Chinese praying mantis on the driveway and got quite excited to see it. He may be a sweet 16 and a guitarist in a metal band (think tough guy) but he still enjoys the garden and the little things like praying mantids! He was most excited when he called his father and I over to look at it with him. I then assured him he'd be safe if he picked it up and to go ahead and examine it closer. I'm not sure he trusted me entirely but Jimmy was brave and did enjoy handling the mantis....

in the garden...

What was your best performer in your October garden? Any mantids in your garden lately?

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team,

In the Garden

Plant of the Month-Septermber 2010

From In the Garden

This month's Plant of the Month has to be the sedums. It was funny too because I truly did not expect to choose the sedums but here they are! The sedums are one of the most drought tolerant plants in my gardens, they have year round interest, there are tons of cultivars , they are easy to propagate, and they make a tremendous impact in a garden. I love them!!

The particular cultivar pictured above is 'Autumn Joy' and it grows in my Rear Center Garden along the south side under some oaks. The location is a very inhospitable place. A place so awful that not even daylilies like it. I have had to switch out several plants in my garden due to drought conditions this year and the daylilies and sedums were two that switched positions in this spot. More on that at another time.

From In the Garden

Here we have 'Autumn Joy' and 'Autumn Fire' growing in the driveway garden. This is a garden under siege from me! It is normally a spring garden which is all good and fine in the spring when we have rains but when the rains stop I wind up with very little to look at. Enter the sedums and other drought tolerant plants. I am determined to water less or not all next year so I've been busy moving plants around lately. This is one garden that has received attention in the form of added sedums. Sedums can't be beat for low maintenance. Yuccas and artemesia also grow in this garden. All three make good companions. As you can see from the above picture this garden is in part shade, actually mostly shade and under a mature oak tree, yet the sedums do okay. You gotta love that!

From In the Garden

Runners up for this month's Plant of the Month were Great Blue Lobelia (thanks Catherine!) These were started from seed back in February and even though I initially thought they were red valerian I am so very pleased with these lovely blue plants! Here they grow in a bed in the vegetable garden but I might move them all next spring to a flower garden. We'll see.

From In the Garden

Hyacinth beans are simply splendid. Not only do I have tons of seedpods but the vines are still blooming. Here they grow on the huge PVC arbor; which graces the entry to my vegetable garden.

From In the Garden

Lastly the battle for October's Plant of the Month had me seriously considering the salvias and lantanas. Here we have Pineapple sage growing alongside 'Miss Huff' lantana in a vegetable garden border. While lantana is drought tolerant and simply stunning this time of the year the sedums had it beat out for this month's coveted title of Plant of the Month....

in the garden....

What is your Plant of the Month in your garden?

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team,

In the Garden

Plant of the Month-Can You Guess?

From In the Garden

The garden is looking mighty tired but there are bright spots in and amongst the drying and wilting 'sticks' in the garden. The butterfly above (I believe a clouded sulpher) is one such bright spot. It found a roost on the impatien; one of a few that has managed to bloom and do well this very dry summer. Now let's see the contenders for August's Plant of the Month.

From In the Garden

Patrina has been blooming for more than six weeks now and is a stunner! My daughter says it looks kind of like goldenrod but I just don't see it, but then again both plants are yellow. The color yellow is for sure the color of the day in my gardens. Helenium is sneaking in next to the patrina here. Patrina is a definite contender for Plant of the Month, if not for Plant of the Season.

From In the Garden

Sedums, well what can you say that is not good about the sedums? Okay, occasionally they flop but wow when they are happy and looking good! The 'Autumn Joy' clumps in my garden are all in various states of blooms due to the various amount of light they receive. I love them all but this stage of 'Autumn Joy' is particularly attractive to me. Sedums are a definite contender for Plant of the Month.

From In the Garden

The 'Knockout' roses are getting their second wind in the garden. I am a big fan of these since they are such low maintenance plants and since they do okay in the part shade conditions of my garden. This one does have a bit of leaf damage though so perhaps it is not a good contender for Plant of the Month.

From In the Garden

More helenium backed by an unknown grass. I'm not sure of the variety of grass but it does make a great foil for helenium and other perennials. Heleniums are looking good this year though it is far from their best year. Heleniums like a bit more water than what we have had here so the foliage of the heleniums is lacking in beauty. I'm not so sure helenium is the best choice for this month's Plant of the Month.

From In the Garden

Crepe myrtles are shining despite the drought and hot weather. A few do slump and wilt though and their staggered bloom, while great for a long show, does not quite make it the star this month.

From In the Garden

Ah, here we go-can you guess what I have chosen? It is ornamental grasses. Grasses are so easy to grow and require no supplemental watering in my garden. They never fail to bloom and give four seasons of interest. Yes, the ornamental grasses have it here in my gardens. While the other plants are great they do not add as much to the August gardens as the ornamental grasses; in this case it is the variety 'Adagio'. Adagio grows in part shade conditions though it would prefer full sun. It is small and compact yet big enough to make an impact and it is easy to grow and does not self seed. Division is the mode of creating more plants here for this grass. There are several more blooming here but 'Adagio' gets top billing. I think you can't go wrong with ornamental grasses....

in the garden....


Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team,

In the Garden

Summer Celebration and Plant of the Month-Rudbeckias

It is that time of the year again-Summer Celebration time at the University of Tennessee's Agricultural Research Station in Jackson Tennessee. It is one of two gardening events each year that I endeavor ever so hard to attend; the other being the Nashville Lawn and Garden Show. This year's festivities kick off at 10:00 am tomorrow morning. The cost of admission is $5 and this entitles you to tour the beautiful gardens, listen to tons of great local garden speakers, and visit all of the exhibitors booths. My favorite spot to visit is the Madison County Master Gardener's booth for some great buys on plants. When I say great I mean really great. Last year's purchases were the best ever and you just can't beat the great plants offered at this booth for really reasonable prices. In fact, I am profiling one of those great plants that I purchased for my garden at last year's Summer Celebration. It is the giant coneflower, aka Rudbeckia maxima. And this month's Plant of the Month just happens to be rudbeckias-all of them.

From In the Garden

Rudbeckias come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. There are not too many plants that top rudbeckia for adding structure and impact to the summer garden. This plant is easy to care for, versatile, and long lived. Its impact in the garden cannot be understated. With its bright yellow petals screaming for every passing butterfly and insect to stop and take a look the rudbeckias its presence is known and felt very strongly in all gardens its graces.

Here is a different kind of rudbeckia, commonly known as Giant Coneflower. It stands a cool six feet tall in the garden and those cental cones can rise to 6" themselves. Perhaps we should call it the six flower? Just kidding.

From In the Garden

The flowers were so tall I could only photograph them from below but I also tried to get a big view for you. I planted this one plant in my Sunny Perennial Border last July. It barely did anything at all last year so when I noticed the great looking foliage emerging this spring I was pleasantly surprised and happy. It was not until the long flowering stalk began growing that I really became delighted. This rudbeckia, like all rudbeckias, is a long bloomer and quite a lady in the garden. It fits in well with with large prairie style gardens and large perennial borders where it can keep good company with Joe Pye weed and cutleaf coneflowers (Rudbeckia lacinata). Expect it to grow no less than six feet tall-this perennial towers.

From In the Garden

The foliage is most interesting too. The large leaves are similar in appearance to cabbage leaves, though not as round. The flower stalk holds up great under its own volition and needed no staking from me, I did however provide a leaning support for it.

From In the Garden

Other rudbeckias blooming in my garden are cutleaf coneflower 'Herbstsonne', and brown eyed Susans 'Goldsturm' (both are just beginning). All rudbeckias prefer full sun but I find 'Goldsturm' is a very adaptable plant and will bloom in the shade. Well draining good garden soil will see them performing their best in the garden. You really can't go wrong with rudbeckias, though some do tend to take over and need thinning periodically.

If you attend the Summer Celebration tomorrow be sure to check out the plant sales for some really cool plants. I purchased so many neat ones last year that I really should prepare a post on them-bloom day will see a few. One word of advice if you attend Summer Celebration and plan to buy plants-take a perennial or good shrub book with you so you know what you are buying. Some of the plants have some very cool names that are not too common. For me my purchases are usually easy-it has to say shade unless it says rudbeckia...

in the garden....

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team,

In the Garden

Plant of the Month: Who's the Fairest Iris of All?

From In the Garden

Japanese Irises, NOT part of the 'Fairest of the Iris Competition'.

From In the Garden

1. 'Full Tide' (Sunny Perennial Border West End)

From In the Garden

2. Unknown Hot Rusty (Mahonia Garden)

From In the Garden

3. 'Edith Wolford' (Rear Center Garden)

From In the Garden

4. Unknown, but a pretty pink ruffled large iris. (Outside Veggie Garden by peony)

From In the Garden

5. Unknown (Front Center Garden West Side)

From In the Garden

6. Unknown (Front Center Garden West side)

From In the Garden

7. Unknown (Front Center Garden West side)

From In the Garden

8. Lovely Lavender (Forest Pansy Garden)

From In the Garden

9. Spicy Maroon (Front Sidewalk Garden)

From In the Garden

10. Solid Purple (All Gardens)

From In the Garden

11. Unknown (Garage End Garden)

From In the Garden

12. Unknown medium yellow (Perennial Garden-Geri)

From In the Garden

13. 'Batik' (Front Center Garden West Side)

From In the Garden

14. Two toned smallish iris (Mahonia Garden & Secret Patio)

From In the Garden

15. Purple and White 'Look at me Iris' (Perennial Border, Driveway)

From In the Garden

16. Lavender (Crabapple Garden)

From In the Garden

17. Unknown White (Front Foundation)

From In the Garden

18. Unknown (Crabapple Garden)

From In the Garden

19. Unknown (Crabapple Garden)

From In the Garden

20. Unknown (Driveway Garden)

From In the Garden

21. Unknown Pinkish/Purplish Iris (Greenhouse Garden in front of Annabelle)

From In the Garden

22. 'Christobel' (Thanks Randy!)

From In the Garden

23. 'Beverly Sills' (Rear Center, Secret Patio, Driveway)

From In the Garden

24. Unknown Pale Tall Bearded Iris (Crabapple Garden)

From In the Garden

25. Dark Purple from Texas Daisey (Rear Sidewalk Garden by Crepe)

From In the Garden

26. Unknown Pale Yellow (Greenhouse Garden)

From In the Garden

27. Unknown (Crabapple Garden)

From In the Garden

28. Unknown (Purchased at roadside vendor May 10-planted rear center garden)

I have chosen the iris (all types) as my Plant of the Month for May. It is a wonderful plant that just happens to be the State Flower of Tennessee. Iris comes in a rainbow of colors and never fails to please all who look upon its beauty.

Iris blooms don't last but a day or two but most all irises have a minimum of 3-4 buds per flower stalk making the blooms appear to last a week or so. If you chose irises carefully you can have them in bloom for a whole month or more. I grow several varieties and cultivars here. Prior to blogging I used to think irises came in only the bearded type. Ha! I sure had a lot to learn. Now I grow: bearded irises (Iris germanica) several of mine are pictured above but not all due to the tremendous rain, Virginia iris (Iris virginica), Dwarf crested iris (Iris cristata), Japanese roof iris (Iris tectorum), Reticulata iris (Iris reticulata and Iris danfordiae), Standard Dwarf Bearded Iris (Iris pumila, SDB), Siberian iris (Iris sibirica or Iris sanquinea), Louisiana Iris (Iris louisiana), Japanese iris (Iris ensata), and Dutch Iris (Iris hollandica). I have a Yellow Flag iris (Iris pseudocorus 'King Clovis') but for fear it will escape from my property it sits in a pot. I haven't decided its fate yet but do know I will not plant it due to its invasive tendencies in ponds and waterways. So one not so good iris out of several is not so bad. You can see from my list that the iris varieties and types are numerous. They are simply gorgeous in bloom and I think they look good out of bloom too. The straight blades leaves make a good foil for plants like catmint, mums, sedums, brown eyed Susans and many more plants that are standards in the perennial garden. Just don't pair them with crocosmia and gladiolus because they will blend in too much.

Irises like full sun but I have found they do well here in my garden even with all the shade. In fact, some of the old heirloom cultivars like 'Christobel' do great in shade with only a few hours of sun per day.

Irises should be planted in organically rich soil with the top of the rhizome level or a bit above the surrounding soil surface. Be sure not to cover the rhizome (a modified stem) with too much mulch as that will cause problems. You need to divide bearded irises every three years or so. Many gardeners allow bearded irises to go for longer periods and it is possible the plants will do just fine, but I find it easier to divide my irises regularly.

So, now that you know my choice for May's Plant of the Month, what is yours? And might I ask you another very important question favor? Which of the above pictured bearded irises is the fairest of them all? Either respond in a comment or on the poll on my sidebar. You can use the numbers. Thanks!

in the garden....

Thanks for all the good wishes for folks in this area that have been affected by flooding. It is definitely one for the history books though I think many would like to forget it all that is not going to happen. I suspect things will not be back to normal for quite some time, but they will get on track soon. Thanks again.


Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team,

In the Garden