The Obsessive Neurotic Gardener

Author Archives: jmarkowski

Weigela ‘Wine and Roses’ – He’s just not that into you

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Imagine with me, if you will, that you are looking through old photos of an old girlfriend or boyfriend. You have good memories of that “ex” and do not have a bad word to say about them. However, as you thumb through the photos, you notice that each one has the “ex” in it, but they are rarely the center or purpose of the photo. Instead, they were always photographed with other friends and family. The photos are great, but your “ex” never stands out. It makes you question how much you actually thought of that “ex” at the time – maybe you really weren’t into them all that much.

Cut to present day – unlike many of you, I have nothing blooming and we are expecting snow this evening and into tomorrow. I have the gardening itch yet nothing to do to satisfy it. The next best option is to plan and look at old photos as a frame of reference. Well, as I was doing just that early this morning, I realized that Weigela “Wine and Roses” may not be as much of a favorite as previously thought.

I found only one photo where it was the Weigela and only the Weigela. And if you take a closer look at the photo above, you’ll notice that she looks kind of sad, like she’s not really present when the photo was taken. But, when she was photographed with others, she seemed to come alive, like she was making everyone else around her happier just because they were in her presence. 

This revelation immediately made me question if I treated any other past “flings” in the same manner. Well, seems like I felt the same way about the ubiquitous Rudbeckia (Blackeyed Susan) 

In truth, I think she did get around quite a bit so I never did trust her.

I will say, I am pretty sure I found “the one” now and I do have the photographic proof: 

Ain’t love grand?
ONG

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Sedum Red Carpet

Posted on by Posted in Perennials .

An evergreen mahogany/red plant? Um, yes please, I’ll take 10. I give you Sedum Red Carpet:

I found this gem a few years ago at Lowe’s in the dead of summer. There were five of these on a clearance rack looking ratty and on their last breath. At $1 a piece, I couldn’t let them die a slow death so I took them all home.

As you may know by now (through my incessant complaining) I have poor draining soil so you would think these would never work for me. Luckily, I had one spot open along my front sidewalk that actually drains real well because it is mostly sandy from the construction of the sidewalk. These would be the perfect fit … IF they could survive the harsh summer conditions.

I’ll cut the drama nonsense and let you know now that they have thrived since that day. I’ll also give you some additional factoids on Sedum Red Carpet:

    • Size – 4″ high by about 18″ wide
    • Prefers full sun
    • Survives zone 3-9
    • Prefers sandy well draining soil
    • Mine bloomed for the first time last August – seems to be somewhat of a finicky bloomer
    • Typically used as a groundcover in hot dry spots. I have mine along my walkway and they help soften the lines of the stones
  • From what I’ve read online, it is not known to be an overly aggressive spreader like other sedum groundcovers. I must admit, I did just find one popping up pretty far away from the mother plant (did I use the right term there?)
    • As mentioned previously, Sedum Red Carpet is evergreen here in zone 6 and does look fantastic all winter
    • It is mat forming and forms roots at the nodes as you hopefully can see in the photo below
    • Would make a great “spiller” in containers – c’mon Lowe’s, take bad care of more of these and I’ll take them off your hands.
    • I love the way Sedum Red Carpet looks next to yellow or chartreuse foliage and have these in front of a few Spirea ‘Little Elf’

ONG

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This long weekend had it all

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Where to begin? How to share it all? Let’s try chronologically and in bullet form for ease of reading:

Thursday

  • Half day at work 
  • Down to Atlantic City with my boy, Alex
  • Watching NCAA basketball tournament 
  • Many a Guinness in hand
  • No money lost gambling 

Friday

  • Some more basketball watching
  • Nice greasy “breakfast” at Johnny Rockets
  • Back home with the family and still financially in tact

Saturday

  • Children both staying with family for the day/night
  • Daddy getting some “outside time” and a chance to catch up on all things plants. Here are the photos: 

The first blooms of the year … OK, it’s indoors, but still, the Meyer lemon tree is in full bloom.

The garage raised tulips have grown like gangbusters and it’s time to get them outside.

The weeping cherry tree buds have formed so the blooms cannot be too far behind.

While this new growth on the Monarda is exciting, I was more taken in by the scent, that strong mint smell brought me to the summer and love the fact that the deer despise it.

Some serious foliage growth on the Achillea.

And then it was time for one of my favorite tasks. One that symbolizes spring and that the best is yet to come. time to cut down the ornamental grasses.  

The cool season grasses, like this Calamagrostis ‘El Dorado’ already have signs of new growth.

As do the Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’.

  • Saturday night, after a hard day’s work, my wife and I went out for a nice dinner and didn’t have to cut any one’s food or bring anyone to the bathroom multiple times. Here is where we ate – Lily’s on the Canal in Lambertville, NJ. Incredible dinner and an awesome chance to be alone with my bride.
  • Took my Cialis and just like in the commercial, my wife and I were transformed into individual tubs:

Sunday

  • Sleep late and a leisurely breakfast
  • A run outside on a nice crisp morning 
  • More NCAA basketball watching 
  • Some blog time 
  • Kids back home and couldn’t be happier to see them

ONG

Random photos

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There may not be much in the way of blooms this time of year so I took to taking random photos to feed my need for “action”. Some of these I liked because of the lighting, some because birds equal spring and some, well, I just shot for shits and giggles. Enjoy.  

Hemerocallis (Daylily) ‘Joan Senior’

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No “Wordless Wednesday” post for me today. You want to know why? Cause I ain’t got nothing going on. Even after crawling around in the wet, nasty clay, I couldn’t find anything of interest, let alone anything blooming.

So just know that I despise all of you who have daffodils or crocuses or hellebores blooming.

In order to make myself feel better, I am giving you a post about a fave plant of mine – ‘Joan Senior’ daylily.

I am by no means a daylily expert, not yet at least. To get all the information you’ll need on all things Hemerocallis, check out this link –
http://www.daylilies.org/ 

Some quick nuggets on Joan Senior:

  • 30″ tall by 24″ wide
  • Survives zone 3-9
  • Thrives in full sun to partial shade
  • First flush of blooms are in mid summer with reblooming up until mid Fall (photo below is from 2nd week of November)
  • Blooms are creamy white and about 5″ across
  • The blooms have a a yellow-green throat (innermost section of bloom) and a pale yellow watermark (area above bloom’s throat)
  • Each bloom lasts just short of a day but these plants have a high bud count
  • As with most daylillies, they are tough as nails and survive in almost all soils
  • To keep the plant looking fresh and clean, deadhead regularly and remove the scapes when all of the buds have bloomed (below is a photo of the buds which sit on the “scape”
  • They are most definitely not deer resistant so it is a constant battle for me to keep the blooms
  • The foliage is quick to emerge in late winter and I’ll take that whenever I can get it (the photo below was taken two weeks ago)         

Hopefully there will be some action in my gardens real soon so I can stop dreaming of April and May.

Until next time.
ONG

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Viburnum Plicatum ‘Shoshoni’

Posted on by Posted in Shrubs .

This is a re-post of an older entry of mine (with a few tweaks) but felt it was appropriate for this time of year as we anxiously wait for the viburnum blooms to emerge. This one has been a consistent performer for me since day one. Enjoy:       

All gardeners are in search of plants that offer multi-seasonal interest, especially those of us living in colder climates. We also love plants that are dynamic and change throughout the seasons; plants that reinvent themselves as the months go by. Well ladies and gents, I would like to share one of those with you today.

I have lived in my current home for about six years and when we moved in, we had a completely blank slate. Not a plant to be found other than one large tree at the back of the property. The first shrub I planted was a Viburnum Plicatum ‘Shoshoni’. I had never had owned one before (do we really own our plants? A debate for another day) since I didn’t have enough space. Viburnums are typically large specimens but when I found ‘Shoshoni’ at the local nursery (thank you Rutgers Nursery) I was pumped to see that is was more diminutive than most.

Some of it’s attributes:        

  • It is a doublefile viburnum and a seedling of the larger, more well known ‘Shasta’ 
  • It reaches a height of 5 feet and a width of 8 feet
  • Survives from zone 5 to zone 8 
  • Deciduous shrub 
  • It has been deer resistant so far for me (although now jinxed)
  • Blooms in the late Spring, typically for 2-3 weeks in May
  • The flowers are flat topped and are not fragrant (although I have no sense of smell and cannot confirm officially)
  • Thrive in part shade to full sun
  • Produces red berries in August that mature black (I must admit I do not know if the fact that I have other viburnums present lead to the production of berries since this was my first year with berries )  
  • Tolerant of most soil types (including NJ clay)  

Here it is fully leafed out in early spring

In full bloom in May

The leaves curled after blooming giving it an interesting design appeal

The berries emerging in August (which were quickly eaten by the birds)

Phenomenal fall color prior to the leaves falling off

The branch structure even provides a level of interest in the dead of winter

Plants I expect big things from this year

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More than a few times this winter I have reviewed all of my garden photos in a “slide show” as a means to get myself all pumped up for the spring/summer. Each time, there are certain plants that have me dreaming big when they pop up on the screen. These are plants that are only a year or two old and have yet to put on their best show.

I’d like to share my optimism with you today and please, share any experiences you may have had with any of these. Just make sure you lie to me if there is anything negative; I’m on too much of a high right now to be brought back down to reality.

I purchased a bunch of Helenium autumnale at a native plant sale last spring and I was blessed with a never ending amount of blooms in late summer.

But, I did a poor job of pruning for height control and left these in an exposed location so they toppled over rather easily. With a new locale and a pruning plan, I expect monstrous results from these natives this summer.

Another native, Amsonia tabernaemontana (Eastern bluestar), was planted two years ago and has not only remain untouched by the deer (due to it’s sap on the leaves) but has also survived in a spot that remains wet at times. However, it has yet to bloom real well and it’s biggest selling point, the yellow, smoke-like fall foliage has not been there as expected. So, everyone say it with me, this is the year to take it to the next level.

I was happy to get a few blooms on a few different Siberian Iris ‘Snow Queen’ last spring and hope to double that output this spring. Isn’t she a beauty?

I loaded up on Chasmanthium Latifolium (or as you common folk call them, northern sea oats) in the Fall of 2009 and they have not disappointed. They worked from spring to late Fall and I would love more of the same this year, even some reseeding is OK (should I be careful what I wish for?).    

I am a sucker for foliage, especially anything in the red/maroon/scarlet family and I planted a few Hibiscus ‘Kopper King’ late last summer. I honestly could skip on the blooms as long as the foliage looks good all season. I liked how they stood out as somewhat of a focal point and contrasted real well with all of the other green foliage. Bigger and badder this year please.

Miscanthus ‘Super Stripe’ was slow to grow last year but damn, I love that variegation. Let’s agree to double in size this year OK?    

Miscanthus ‘Variegatus’ gets real big and can flop but I’m not scared. I have two planted where they can get as big as they want and I’ll deal with the floppiness if necessary.  

Echinacaea ‘Fragrant Angel’ – beautiful blooms and beautiful scent – just want MORE MORE AND MORE.  

I know that Sambucus ‘Black Lace’ will struggle in my poor draining soil and will be nibbled by the deer but I have to have it. So, I plan on growing it in a large container as a specimen on my deck. That foliage is sweet and hopefully this year it gets close to “specimen” size.  

And last but not least, we have Baptisia ‘Twilite Prairieblues’ which had some blooms last year that were stunning. From all indications, I should expect the plants to at least double in size and produce a lot more blooms this year and that my friends, would friggin rule! 

Good night and welcome back to the work week.

ONG

More photos from the Philadelphia Flower Show

Hydrangea ‘Endless Summer’

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Fourteen years ago, I purchased my very first shrub for our first home. It was a ‘Nikko Blue’ hydrangea and my wife fell in love with the blue blooms. I stuck her (the shrub, not my wife) right next to my front steps, up against the foundation thinking “I’ll have these blooms and wonderful foliage all year. This gardening thing is easy.”

Year one with my hydrangea was OK, but like a gardening novice, I pruned the hydrangea back heavily the following spring and cut off all that year’s blooms. I then moved the shrub to another location which was exposed to the elements and for the next two years, all I got was some weak foliage. I was hydr-angered and ready to give up on this high maintenance SOB.

Fast forward a few years and a few kids later and to a new home. I am now a hardcore gardener with new found patience (kids taught me that) and ready to bring hydrangeas back into the mix. Only problem was that I had very little shade, few “protected” areas and a lot of deer. That is where the ‘Endless Summer’ hydrangea comes into play.

Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Endless Summer’ is a mophead type hydrangea that blooms on both old and new wood. “Old wood” meaning it forms it’s buds the previous season on the older gray looking branches. “New wood” meaning it also produces blooms on the current year’s growth, the green branches. This just about promises you blooms throughout the season even if the old wood/buds didn’t survive the winter or were victim of a late freeze in spring:

Some other little factoids on this shrub:

  • Survives in zones 4-9 – so it is successful in both the north and south.
  • Size averages in the 4 x 4 range so it is a nicely rounded shrub.
  • Prefers partial shade with no afternoon sun, but I have managed to keep one in decent shape in almost full sun.
  • Blooms from early summer to the middle of fall here in zone 6B.
  • They will bloom pink in alkaline soil and blue in more acidic soil. Through the art of transplanting and indecisiveness, I have managed to bring out three colors in these. When they were against my  foundation they bloomed lavender. When planted in two other locations,  I was blessed with true pink blooms and also a whitish/pink bloom.     
  • I have given these very limited winter protection and they have made it through each year without issue.

Here are some additional photos and hopefully, now that I’ve left them in the same location for a full season and do not plan on moving them again, I will get even better photos this summer (assuming the deer still can’t find them).      

As much as I like the blooms, the foliage looks tremendous all spring, summer and fall:

My whitish/pink blooms from last year:

Now I must confess, I feel like I am cheating a bit by using these instead of some of the more classic options (like Nikko Blue) where it takes a little more effort to get it right. I also don’t like the fact that they can be found in every Lowe’s and Home Depot across the country. But, some times something just “works” and you need to accept that and move on. This is one of those times.

ONG 

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Wednesday walkabout

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The original plan was to do a Wordless Wednesday post today, including additional photos from the Philadelphia Flower Show.

Well you know what? Screw that, I want to get down and dirty today. Let’s get ugly and real and blow off those precious blooms that I’ll never dream of replicating. Who’s with me? Let’s do this thing.    

Shit kicking boots on? Check
Hoodie on? Check
Camera? Check
Cell phone in case we get stuck in the muck? Check

You still here? Sweet … onward. 

I’m not sure what you call these creatures but I’ve read about them in an old encyclopedia. The term is “bird” and apparently they reappear here in the Northeast when the weather warms up.

What they said was true, Boltonia is tough enough to survive wet feet over the winter. Now let’s see if all this talk of re-seeding is true. If so, I welcome it with open arms.

Welcome back Lobelia siphilitica, you sexy little native you. You have been added to the tough perennial club for making it through the winter. Now let’s kick some ass all season.

You see that little shot of green on this Siberian Iris? That is what keeps me gardening and gets me all sorts of fired up. This new division from last summer made it and I rule, end of story!
The Iberis (Candytuft) is rounding into form and I welcome their early spring bloom. Don’t ask me how I keep this alive in my clay soil, it is a secret I am quietly copyrighting and then I can fill you in.   

Son of a $%^&%! The cool season grasses need to be cut back now and I need to get going on this gargantuan task.

Seriously? A deer hoof/paw/foot print already in the beds? At least nothing is alive to be destroyed but they are clearly sending a message that they are playing to win this year.
OK so maybe they got to this Euonymus but I didn’t like it any way. It was a late season $1 addition I couldn’t pass up. 
I told the kids that this is a baby tiger and that she is guarding our property. I think my daughter still believes me and I don’t plan on telling her the truth. 

ONG

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