Category Archives: My Gardens

What works and doesn’t work in the home garden. Great garden ideas, practices, blooms and growing suggestions

Oso Easy® Paprika Rose

Posted on May 14, 2011 by | Comments Off on Oso Easy® Paprika Rose
bloom

Paprika starts out bright orange and yellow

This little rose bush just makes me smile. It’s colorful, covered with blooms, needs no pruning, spraying or chemical treatments. What could be better than a carefree rose?

The specifications say these little shrub rose bushes reach 12 to 24 inches, however mine is well over two feet tall. Oso Easy® Paprika rose is extremely disease resistant. I have not needed to spray or prune in the four years I’ve had it. Even better, no need to deadhead.

Starting out as a beautiful orange and fading to a soft coral with a yellow center, Paprika will bloom summer to frost. The spicy orange repeat blooms cover this rose bush beginning in late spring. Mine is covered with dozens of flowers and it is mid May. After occasional flowers during the heat of a very humid, zone 6 summer, there will be an early fall flush.

Paprika

Flowers start out bright and fade to soft yellow

This one inch bloom is a rich orange color and fades to light yellow before the petals fall. The bright green foliage just seems to compliment the spicy colored flowers.

Paprika would flower more if I fertilized. However, it gets compost once a year, lives in a well drailed, raised flower bed and gets a leaf mulch before winter. Who knows how gorgeous Parika could be if someone paid attention to it?

Find a retail dealer at  the Proven Winners website.

Comments Off on Oso Easy® Paprika Rose

Posted in My Gardens, Oh Grow Up!

Tagged , , , , ,

2011 AARS Dick Clark

Posted on May 11, 2011 by | Comments Off on 2011 AARS Dick Clark
Dick Clark Rose

Every bloom is different

Meet the 2011 All America Rose Selection: Dick Clark. This grandiflora is a chameleon of a rose. When these black-red buds open, it is always a surprise. No two blooms are the same.

There are more than a dozen flowers on the bush but no two are the same. The petals ripple with color. There are softer pink and yellow blooms and some bright fluorescent pinks. If you have room for just one rose, consider Dick Clark. It is like getting a bouquet cut from several different rose bushes.

Sometimes the blooms are cream edged and blended with cherry pink. In the sun, the petals may take on a blush of burgundy or a deep dark red. The color is always a delightful surprise.

I moved this rose closer to the patio just so I could enjoy the color show and the mild spicy fragrance. The smell is a sweet mild cinnamon. This May, my Dick Clark rose is covered with blooms.

When the hot, humid summer heat of zone 6 weather hits, the blooms will disappear. When it gets cooler, there will be a last hurrah of blooms.

I have not sprayed, chemically treated, or deadheaded this rose. It does need a good pruning just to keep a manageable shape. After the flush a blooms slows down, I will trim Dick Clark later this summer.

I recieved this rose bush as a trial, before it even had a name. So when the rose won the AARS award, mine was well established and waiting to be christened “Dick Clark.”

Dick Clark Rose

Comments Off on 2011 AARS Dick Clark

Posted in My Gardens, Oh Grow Up!

Tagged , ,

Rain Relief

Posted on April 25, 2011 by | 1 comment

For a short time, a very short time this morning, there was sunshine. After having such a long rainy spell, I grabbed the camera and ran went out to document the fact.

yellow iris

after the rain, a brilliant yellow iris opens up, a little.

Having survived the constant rain, this pretty thing wasn’t going to miss a minute of bloom time.

The rain beat off the petals on the dogwoods, lilacs and the last of the daffodils.

Already, the rain is back. The only plants that still have flowers, are the ones in bud that refused to bloom until this damaging rain stopped.

The flood gates are closed. Many folk are sand bagging hoping to save thier home from the continuing rains. Huge, hundred year old trees have topled over onto many homes.

lantana

little lantana blooms

 

rainy Broccoli

The broccoli is tired of rain

Even the herbs and vegetables are just sitting in the soggy ground, not growing.

Still, it was nice to see the sun and remember what it looked like.

rain and chives

The chives are thinking of blooming regardless.

The Napeta (cat mint) is just waiting for a few hours of golden light to really produce those lavender flowers that the bees love so much. This is a favorite, long blooming, no fuss perennial. Makes a great mounding ground vover.

cat mint

nepta, ot cat mint

Now for a bit of a cat nap on this rainy afternoon. (I love to sleep when it is raining.) Isn’t this Iris a lovely color?

Iris

These dark purple buds be come Lavender blooms.

1 Comment

Posted in Herbs in the garden, My Gardens, My Homeplace, Oh Grow Up!

Tagged , , , ,

Rain, rain go away

Posted on April 24, 2011 by | Comments Off on Rain, rain go away

Red Volunteer will quickly multiply into swaths of red flowers.

It’s been raining for days. Yesterday we had over 3 inches of rain. So far this month we have had 8.36 of rain and it is still raining. Forecasters say this front isn’t moving for at least 3 more days.

The city’s floodgates are closed. We are safe from the rising waters. There is not a flat surface in my kitchen that isn’t covered with plants.

I am inundated with plants. They need to go into the ground. Boxes of trial plants and packets of cool season seeds are arriving. Plants that are waiting for the soil and sun.

 

Before the rain, I planted a few daylilies, including red volunteer and dream soufflé™ from American Daylily & Perennials

The daylilies haven’t had time to develop roots and are just treading in waterlogged soil.

American Daylily & Perennials is also where I buy cannas and lantanas. They are waiting for drier days to be planted. I will share more about these floral beauties on a sunnier day.

Red volunteer is going to be 29″-33″ height with huge 7″ flowers.

Dream soufflé™ will grow 24″-30″ tall and has medium pink double blooms with reblooming 5″ flowers.

Dream souffle™ a delightful rebloomer.


Comments Off on Rain, rain go away

Posted in My Gardens, My Homeplace, Oh Grow Up!

Tagged , , ,

More Thyme in the Garden

Posted on April 6, 2011 by | Comments Off on More Thyme in the Garden

I have a lot more thyme than I used to. If you want more thyme, try these tips.

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is an aromatic herb valued as an ornamental and culinary herb. It has small lavender or pink flowers. Plant thyme in a rock garden or border for decoration; cultivate it for culinary seasoning. Thyme grows around 6 to 12 inches tall. It has a sprawling habit and can easily be increased from cuttings, crown division or seeds.

Strip the tiny leaves off the stem.

Strip tiny leaves from stem.
Photo by Patsy Bell Hobson

After its first year, cut thyme plants back each spring to renew them and keep them tidy. Plants prefer well-drained dry soil. Since it grows slowly, especially early in its life, weed-control is essential. It is a perennial in Zones 5 to 8.

Use fresh thyme with zucchini. Sauté any summer squash in a bit of butter and olive oil with onion, parsley, and thyme.

Read more: http://www.herbcompanion.com/in-the-herb-garden/garden-giveaway-thyme-seeds-spring-garden.aspx#ixzz1IjIlwh4u

Comments Off on More Thyme in the Garden

Posted in Herb Everything, Herbs in the garden, Herbs in the kitchen, My Gardens

Tagged , , ,

Heirlooms in the Herb Garden

Posted on April 6, 2011 by | Comments Off on Heirlooms in the Herb Garden

The word ‘heirloom’ harkens back to a nostalgic time—when life was sweeter, tomatoes were redder and folks actually used the word harken.

One of the best lemony herbs

Open-pollinated, or parent plants that are naturally pollinated, heirloom plants produce heirloom seed. The new generation of seeds will produce plants that are identical to its parent plants.

Many folks say that to be classified as an heirloom the cultivar has to be at least 50 or 100 years old. Others say before World War II ended. (The end of World War II marked the industrialization of agriculture and widespread hybrid cultivation.)

Heirloom plants have proven to be more heat tolerant, drought tolerant, insect resistant and have more vitamins and minerals. If they didn’t have any of these desirable characteristics, we wouldn’t grow them and soon they wouldn’t exist.

Mrs. Burns’ lemon basil (Ocimum basilicum citriodora ) is an heirloom (pre 1940) basil grown by Mrs. Burns in southwestern New Mexico. This lemon basil is taller and has larger leaves than other lemon basils. It also has an intense lemon flavor and fragrance.

Read more: http://www.herbcompanion.com/blogs/blog.aspx?blogid=2890&tag=Patsy Bell Hobson#ixzz1Ij5k9jME

Comments Off on Heirlooms in the Herb Garden

Posted in Herb Everything, Herbs in the garden, My Gardens, My Homeplace

Tagged , ,

Garden Magazines

Posted on March 31, 2011 by | Comments Off on Garden Magazines

Missouri Gardener 2011 March/April

I have a story in this months March/April 2011 edition of Missouri Gardener. That makes me proud and happy.

I think what makes me love this magazine even more, is the fact that this is the second edition, the second month that this magazine has published. When magazines and news papers a disappearing daily, State By State is rolling out monthly magazines about gardening to an ever increasing number of  states.

Today I was in Springfield, where Barbara St Clair lives.

Barbara's Dahlia

I bought a copy of the magazine to take to her and say thank you for allowing me to share her garden with the public. Barnes and Noble bookstore in Springfield has copies of the Missouri Gardener.

She too is a Master Gardener and has donated many (hundreds of) hours to the new Springfield-Greene County Botanical Center in Springfield, Missouri’s Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park and the Xeriscape Garden.

She told me that because the article mentioned her and the Master Gardeners, The Botanical Center had decided to start carrying Missouri Gardener magazine. I was happy to hear that news. I hope theword gets out about Missouri Gardener.

If you have never been to the xeriscape garden sponsored by Springfield Master Gardeners or the Botanical Center.

Make time to see them this gardening season. Become a member or donate online.

I think the Botanical Gardens are a destination site, worthy of a day trip or weekend get away. When you go, tell me what you think.

You can subscribe to your state by state gardening magazine on line.

Comments Off on Garden Magazines

Posted in Gardens (not mine), Go Away, My Gardens, Oh Grow Up!, Ozarks Travel Examiner

Tagged , , , , ,

Bloom Day March 2011

Posted on March 22, 2011 by | Comments Off on Bloom Day March 2011

Bloom Day March 2011 was grey and cloudy. And then, there was a windy day that was just exhausting said the daffodils. But this is their time to shine so I can’t simply ignore bloom day.

Almost every year I get asked what the difference between daffodils and jonquils?

Is narcissus the same as daffodil?

Narcissus: (Narcissus sp.) All daffodils, jonquils, and paperwhites are Narcissus genus. The genus Narcissus is a member of the Amaryllis family. Many folks use the word Narcissus when they are talking about paperwhites.

Daffodils: is the common name for all Narcissus bulbs. All daffodils are narcissus. When I hear the word “daffodil,” those large, trumpet-shaped flowers Narcissus pseudonarcissus come to mind.

Jonquils: are a specific type of daffodil known as Narcissus jonquilla. They are most easily identified by their dark green, tube-shaped leaves as compared to other types of daffodils which have flat leaves.

So, all jonquils are daffodils but not all daffodils are johnquils.

There are about a gazillion folks particpating in Bloom Day. You can’t see them all every month unless you are unemployed, retired, or a speed reader.

To visit other Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day participants, visit our host Carol at May Dreams Garden.

I always wanted to live somewhere where I could grow pine trees and magnolias. Really, I have lived most of my life in that area of the country, or very close to it. Of course, the little ones I planted will surely out live me. This little magnolia tree is loaded with bright white blooms and barely 3 feet tall.

Comments Off on Bloom Day March 2011

Posted in My Gardens, My Homeplace, Oh Grow Up!

Tagged , , ,

What is soil temperature?

Posted on March 21, 2011 by | Comments Off on What is soil temperature?

Wait until the soil warms to 70 degrees Fahrenheit (70°)  to plant peppers and tomatoes.

Plant tomatoes  when soil temperatures are above 60°. Temperatures below 50° are like a polar bear plunge to your lovely tomato plant.

soil thermometers

Warm season crops, like tomatoes and eggplant, need warm soil temperatures. If you plant tomatoes before the ground warms sufficiently they will not grow. The tomatoes will just stand in the soil and wait for warmer days.

Push a soil thermometer 4 inches into the soil where you plan to plant tomatoes.

Test the soil for 3 or 4 days. The soil temperature is the soil average. Measure the temperature in the mornings or before 10:00 a.m.

When the soil temperature is 40°, plant cool season crops kale.

50° – plant leeks and onions

60° – plant broccoli and cabbage

70° – tomatoes and basil

Measure the soil temp. and put the thermometer away.

You can plant the whole garden based on soil temperatures. Be sure to store the thermometer in a safe place. I only remind you because I “lost” my little thermometer last week, when I left it in the garden.

Comments Off on What is soil temperature?

Posted in Herbs in the garden, My Gardens, My Homeplace, Oh Grow Up!

Tagged ,

Supertunia® Giant Pink Petunia

Posted on March 20, 2011 by | Comments Off on Supertunia® Giant Pink Petunia

Look for this plant

 

If you haven’t grown petunias in a while, look again. These Proven Winners bloom continuously with no need for deadheading. Hummingbirds stopped by daily. Butterflies and birds love these flowers.

 

Giant Pink Petunias are heat and drought tolerant. To survive in my garden, flowers need to be care free and low maintenance. My opinion of petunias has changed. I love these bright pink annuals.


 

Supertunia®

 

 

Supertunia® Giant Pink Petunia hybrid

If you haven’t grown petunias in a while, look again. These Proven Winners bloom continuously with no need for deadheading. Hummingbirds stopped by daily. Butterflies and birds love these flowers.

 

Giant Pink Petunias are heat and drought tolerant. To survive in my garden, flowers need to be care free and low maintenance. My opinion of petunias has changed. I love these bright pink annuals.

Supertunia

 

Not to be deterred, this little wren moved in and raised a family right beside the Supertunia®

Supertunia® Giant Pink Petunia

It was my pleasure to trial these plants for Proven Winners last summer.

Proven Winners are easy to find in our area. You could imagine my shock when I read the back of the plant label this spring: “BUY THIS! Even Patsy Bell Hobson did not kill it.” I don’t know if this is a regional marketing strategy or a National Campaign. Let me know if you see this tag in your store.

The Supertunias® were regularly watered, but not fertilized.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Comments Off on Supertunia® Giant Pink Petunia

Posted in My Gardens, My Homeplace, Oh Grow Up!

Tagged , , , , , , ,