A Way To Garden

A Way To Garden

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margaret roach, head gardener

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in bloom: kousas, peonies, honeysuckles, a rose

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THE FIRST PERENNIAL GERANIUMS are rushing by; the Viburnum flowers are shattering. But the “June garden” (which started a couple of weeks early, like everything else this strange spring) is in full force here…and moving out of bloom faster than one might like. Who said we gardeners had any control over anything, though? Let’s celebrate, even if it’s a fast-paced party, what do you say? A quick round of applause for things like these:

PEONIES—the big, traditional herbaceous ones, above—are in their peak moment. I grow them in an out-of-the-way spot for cutting only, not in the garden, as I have mentioned before. Have any that didn’t bloom so well? Some tricks of getting a peony’s full cooperation.

KOUSA DOGWOODS are having a really good year in my garden, with a proliferation of bloom, above, that I hope will be followed by good fruit set. Last year, the various Cornus kousa didn’t put on such a big show, and then you may also recall the near-disaster I had with my unusual weeping one. Glad I didn’t cut it down.

DAME’S ROCKET, or Hesperis matronalis, is to some a wildflower and to others a weed. This non-native blows into the surrounding area and even into my garden, and I’ve learned not to fight, but rather enjoy, it. More on this controversial biennial.

THE FAMILIAR PURPLE ALLIUMS are rushing past, but here comes the little yellow one, Allium moly, and an Allium cousin, Nectaroscordum siculum, is in its glory (above).

HONEYSUCKLES may attract aphids in some spots, but I’m happy to hose them down regularly to get to enjoy their glory. In praise of the vining Lonicera.

CLEMATIS and various other perennial vines throughout the garden are popping open daily. Some of my favorite clematis, and a few other vines you may wish to add to the story at your place.

THE GROUNDCOVER SEDUMS are starting to do their thing out by the vegetable garden edge, to the delight of moths (above) and butterflies, and before long I’ll be awash in a sea of succulents again. Not a bad place to be. Some of my favorite low-growing sedums.

PRIMULA JAPONICA, or the candelabra primulas, are on their way out, but you can say a quick hello, if you hurry.

ROSES, YOU SAY? Why didn’t she mention roses? She doesn’t grow a lot of them, you see, but one easy, bone-hardy climber does have a spot here, as raucous-colored as it is. That’s ‘William Baffin,’ above, part of the Canadian Explorer series.

I have never seen it so happy as this year, though William, like everyone, seems to have a train to catch…and figures to be out of here in a flash. Nice seeing you, all of you, my fleeting botanical friends.

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no comments
May 31, 2010

comments

  1. Cynthia McIntyre says

    May 31, 2010 at 10:21 am

    I am so pleased that summer has arrived. The air is alive with the smells of nature and I am serenaded by the birds as I work in the garden. Thanks for the info!

    Reply
    • Margaret says

      May 31, 2010 at 10:35 am

      Welcome, Cynthia. Yes, a lot going on outside, isn’t there? All at once, a rush of sensory stimuli. See you soon again.

      Reply
  2. Sharon says

    May 31, 2010 at 10:22 am

    My train already left the station down here in Roanoke Va (zone 7). But I have some lovelies still blooming, including a new clematis ‘Franziska Marie’ — a spectacular double deep blue violet. I also enjoyed the Nectaroscordum siculum I planted, based on your post last year. Cheers!

    Reply
  3. Kari says

    May 31, 2010 at 11:01 am

    Color combinations work more gracefully in nature than anywhere else. Your peonies are almost the same combinations as my rose and rhodo. (I think Susan Cohan may have bought the coral peony’s cousin at Loomis Creek. It’s a beauty.)

    Reply
    • Margaret says

      May 31, 2010 at 12:50 pm

      Welcome, Kari. I love the coral ones; aren’t they amazing? I saw Susan C. toting that beauty out of Loomis too! Hope to see you soon again.

      Reply
  4. Lisa-St. Marys ON says

    May 31, 2010 at 11:09 am

    I just visited Longwoods and Chanticleer on May 22nd and 23rd and they were spectacular! It was my first time to PA and wow were the Kousa dogwoods out in all their glory! Fantastic gardens. I was disappointed I couldn’t quite manage to fly by your open garden tour as well, but you can’t do it all in one weekend. Our Kousa dogwoods are out right now, but with the hot dry weather everything is over very quickly here too.

    Reply
  5. Diana says

    May 31, 2010 at 11:11 am

    Beautiful peonies, what variety is the orangie colored one in the vase?

    Reply
  6. Gloria says

    May 31, 2010 at 11:35 am

    Yes, so beautiful and all blooming on my little 1/8 acre…

    “The love of gardening is a seed once sown that never dies.” — Gertrude Jekyll

    “Money is not required to buy one necessity of the soul.”– Henry David Thoreau

    It recently occurred to me that obviously David never met Gertrude!

    Now back out to gardens…June 1st my deadline for all mulching done and kayak out!

    Country girl, Gone city… gardens followed. . . who knew?

    Reply
  7. Deirdre says

    May 31, 2010 at 4:04 pm

    I don’t have any dogwoods, but I am going to rectify that this year. The previous owners took out half the root system of a mountain ash, and buried the base when putting in a retaining wall. It’s dying and will have to be cut down before it falls down. I’m going to replace it with a variegated Cornus controversa. I love the way it grows in horizontal tiers, and it won’t carpet the garden with seedlings!

    I love that coral peony. I really need to find a place for peonies.

    Reply
  8. D says

    June 1, 2010 at 8:19 am

    My peony lasted ONE DAY! Seeing that it was fading, I cut the blooms and brought them in. I’ve developed a sensitivity to fragrance (allergy?), especially in enclosed places, but I can’t resist and put the bouquet in the office. Peeked in every now and then to get my flower fix!

    Reply
  9. Priscilla Prince says

    June 1, 2010 at 5:10 pm

    Beautiful, stunning garden! I love peonies and roses, your Sedum ground cover is also lovely!

    Reply
    • Margaret says

      June 1, 2010 at 6:56 pm

      Welcome, Priscilla. Thanks for the words of encouragement. The Sedum is a pretty carefree, colorful groundcover that looks good all but the winter months (and even then it’s not awful). :) See you soon!

      Reply
  10. Lynn says

    June 1, 2010 at 6:00 pm

    My Kousa is looking leggy with some dead branches. Would it benefit from pruning?

    Reply
    • Margaret says

      June 1, 2010 at 6:55 pm

      @Lynn: You definitely always want to take out the three “D’s” — dead, damaged, diseased. Check out my pruning FAQ page. Don’t try to shear it back partway; cut out any damaged/dead stuff back to healthy wood, and see how you go. Sometimes if a branch is half-dead, it need to be cut all the way down, anyway, if leaving it at half mast is going to disfigure the tree.

      Reply
  11. Alvaro Abrego says

    June 1, 2010 at 9:42 pm

    I love my peonies. I have only 2 so far ( Sarah Bernhardt and Doulbe Red ). Sarah has bloomed regularly for the past 2 year, but the Double Red has been more finiky.

    Reply
  12. Dennis R says

    June 2, 2010 at 8:41 am

    i see some of my honeysuckle leaves have holes in them all of a sudden, is that the sign of aphids? would planting some marigolds around the vine base chase the aphids away or do i have to use the hose?

    Reply
  13. Patricia says

    June 2, 2010 at 3:46 pm

    You are so right. every thing seems to be ahead of schedule this year. My peonies lasted 4 days. They opened all at the same time and then this big rain came and they are done! It’s sad, it seems like they were wasted!

    Reply
  14. Lisa @celebrate CREATIVITY says

    June 2, 2010 at 7:00 pm

    Great photo of your peonies and other pretty blooms.

    Alas, the bold and daring deer that live in my neighborhood help themselves to everything like this.

    Enjoy your week.

    Reply
  15. Digital Flower says

    June 2, 2010 at 10:34 pm

    That orange one is really nice. We had a good Peony year. I just heard that Mar.-Apr.-May was the warmest average temperature ever here.

    Reply
    • Margaret says

      June 3, 2010 at 9:12 am

      Welcome, Digital Flower. Yes, it’s a beauty; I love all the coral shades. I am sick of the weather rushing things, but (needless to say) also completely powerless. :) Gardening!

      Reply
  16. Kristina says

    June 3, 2010 at 11:01 am

    Wow! That William Baffin rose is huge! Is it climbing up a tree or do you have it staked to something? Or does it just grow that way?? Beautiful! I love this time of year. I wish I didn’t have to work so I could spend every waking moment outside!

    Reply
  17. monica blum says

    June 9, 2011 at 12:04 pm

    I just want to thank you for all your great tips. Just received my second delivery of Texas Tomato cages (six just weren’t enough) as well as another delivery of fabulous mulch from Farm and Field. On now on to finishing the edging that must be completed. As a weekender it is really tough to stay on top of the chores, but great fun. I love the orange peony and must add some. My newest acquisition is a fig tree that I worry about all week long! I hope to say hello at the Hillsdale luncheon in a few weeks! Again, thanks for the many great suggestions and lovely photos.

    Monica

    Reply
  18. Jeanne Jacob says

    September 12, 2012 at 11:49 am

    I am SO pleased to have found your website again. I thought I had bookmarked it before our house move, but couldn’t find it. I googled “Rosa glauca,” and wonder of wonders, got your compliments on it. I am planning a wildlife hedge in northwest Germany, and want to have wild roses that have lovely hips for birds and other fauna, and other berrying or fruiting plants as well. Rosa glauca is at the top of my list, but wanted to know how it behaves in slightly shadey conditions. Glad to have your endorsement!

    Reply
    • margaret says

      September 12, 2012 at 5:45 pm

      Nice, Jeanne, that we found each other again! Love that rose. I also love the wildlife value of Rosa rugosa (and it has big, pretty hips that are nice to look at, too, and lots of flowers over a long season). There are many “improved” kinds of it, but I even like just the plain old species. You may like some other plants in this bird-garden post in my archive.

      Reply

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I’VE FOLLOWED a vegetarian diet for decades, but it wasn’t until just a few years ago that I mastered a really good vegetable soup. Now I’m learning variations on vegetable-based soups, plus ones with beans and even ideas for mushroom soups, too–all thanks to Alexandra Stafford and these recipes. (Stream it below, read the transcript or subscribe free.)

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awaytogarden

mad gardener, nature addict, award-winning writer & podcaster, rural resident, corporate dropout, creator of awaytogarden dot com and matching book.

Instagram post 2190297402408409324_444552553 Snow day. To be followed by a snow night. #awaytogarden #wavehillchairs
Instagram post 2177779417009402040_444552553 No matter that it was 11F and 17F on mornings this week; my lifelong companions and I are all tucked in, each in our respective offseason spots. Three giant pots of #cliviaminiata that are actually pieces of my long-gone grandmother’s original plant from many, many decades ago, love the offseason bright cold of the mudroom, and get no water till around the new year or so. They need a chill (under 50 but above 35) for about 40 days to trigger timely bloom in late winter/early spring (without it they will bloom whenever, later, like June or even summer). The #alocasia reacts to the cold of the mudroom by shutting down and going dormant and leafless, and then I’ll let it sleep till late winter, when I give it a drink to see if it awakens. That one sleeps and wakes on its own timetable because I do not have a proper spot for it (ideally warm, like 60 or 65 at least, and humid and bright...no can do the humid part here). We have been together probably 10 years anyhow, despite my shortcomings as a #plantparent . #alocasiaamazonica #clivias #houseplantsofinstagram #houseplants #awaytogarden
Instagram post 2172580656557749859_444552553 Gardener: “I raked all the leaves!” Nature: “Oh, really?” (Cue sound of demonic laughter from on high.)
Instagram post 2170506606641504178_444552553 I wanna tell you how it’s gonna be You’re gonna give your love to me I wanna love you night and day You know my love will not fade away Not fade away Nope. Not this #cotinus leaf’s fiery hot love at least. Like the 1957 #buddyholly song I first heard by #therollingstones in 1964, it keeps going. #awaytogarden #fallfoliage2019 #cotinusgrace #notfadeaway
Instagram post 2168987273989949378_444552553 “Jack Frost nipping at your, er, geraniums...” And here it comes.
Instagram post 2166837817953503284_444552553 Constant companions: If you want to keep good company all winter, grow some good keepers. My house is stuffed with piles of #cucurbita awaiting their time in the oven or soup kettle. Each one is a character, distinctive. On one chair in the mudroom two close cousins in #cucurbitamoschata — the horse collar-shaped one called ‘Tromboncino’ or ‘Tromboncino Rampicante’ snuggles with some ‘Butternut.’ The ‘Tromboncino’ are better eaten green and small as #zucchini but I can’t resist their eventual mad size and shape, big enough to wear around your neck. I use their meat for enriching vegetable stock; the ‘Butternut’ are far more rich and delicious. Seed respectively from sandhillpreservation.com #sandhillpreservationcenter and @turtle_tree_seed (whose ‘Butternut,’ selected for “lastingness” for decades, will keep and keep into next spring or more). #wintersquash #awaytogarden #goodkeeper #cucurbitaceae
Instagram post 2162565040882902064_444552553 Furry fall friend: I look forward to crossing paths with this woolly caterpillar of the #giantleopardmoth this time of year, when its fiery intersegmental bands and plush coat seem to be just the right autumn-into-winter look. Miraculously this tiny animal will overwinter in a woodpile or in the leaf litter, even here in the North, building up a concentration of antifreeze (glycerol I think?) in its cells before the worst weather begins to avoid disaster. (Reminds me of the super-hardy #woodfrog who does similarly. Such heroes.) Swipe to see a beat-up pic of the adult moth, tattered with scales missing at its wing margins, but still dramatic. Unlike various spine-covered caterpillars that can sting you, this one’s hairs (or setae) won’t, but he will roll up tight if touched, in self-defense. I am in awe of such complex strategies of survival, I am. #mothsofinstagram #caterpillars #awaytogarden #hypercompescribonia #hypercompe
Instagram post 2161992098629435854_444552553 Beans are life. I mean, not only do I live on them daily (as I have as a vegetarian for 40+ years) but each one is a seed, a living embryo, a distinct and gorgeous little DNA miracle. I have been inspired by the hashtag #31daysofbeans by @lukasvolger lately, loving watching someone unknown to me (um, who shares my oatmeal thing too apparently...also see his #28daysofoatmeal) dish up the #phaseolus. We both admire bean ambassador Steve Sando @rancho_gordo and this photo might be my fave bean of all that I “met” via Steve years back, big and flat and chestnutty ‘Christmas Lima.’ My advice: don’t wait till Dec. 25 to dig in.
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Welcome! I’m Margaret Roach, a leading garden writer for 25 years—at ‘Martha Stewart Living,’ ‘Newsday,’ and in three books. I host a public-radio podcast; I also lecture, plus hold tours at my 2.3-acre Hudson Valley (NY) Zone 5B garden, and always say no to chemicals and yes to great plants.

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