Plant notes
IN FRONT BED 2020 - The Fairy Rose - blooms early summer til frost - apple-scented. The vigorous, low-growing dense habit of this rose makes it an excellent ground cover or container plant. Covered with sprays of frilly double pink flowers all summer. Foliage is glossy green. Height & spread 2 1/2 ft. This Polyanthus type produces a cloud of small, fully double pink flowers all summer with an especially heavy flush of bloom in fall. The bush is compact, seldom growing above 2′, which makes it effective as a ground cover, a low hedge, or a powerful presence in a mixed border. How such a little bush makes so many flowers is a mystery.
Planted in front 2020. JoAn’s Pink Perpetual - One of the mystery roses from the historical Fairmount Cemetery in Denver. Deep, rosy pink blooms are very full and fragrant on a six foot shrub. Heavy spring bloom is followed by some repeat through the summer. The study name “JoAn’s Pink Perpetual” is dedicated to the proactive efforts to protect Fairmount Cemetery’s roses by former publicity director JoAn Cullen.
Planted in front 2020 - Fairmount Proserpine - Another lovely rose found at the Fairmount Cemetery in Denver, probably a Bourbon rose. Fragrant, double, deep fuchsia-magenta cup shaped blooms with a knob of center petals. Repeats bloom if dead-headed. Dark green foliage on a shrub reaching 5 feet tall and 4 feet wide. Produces small, orange hips in the fall. The narrow upright shrub will fit into even small gardens, reaching 5 feet in height and just 4 feet across. From June through October in Denver it offers a complex Old Rose form, highlighted by a charming "knob" of unopened petals in the center of each unfurling blossom. If one is lucky, it will open right before your eyes, or if touched by a finger to prompt it like a Jack-in-the-box! At that moment the perfume is startlingly intense. By autumn these blooms have transformed into small, oblong, bright orange hips for a final color feast.
Stachys Hummelo Betony - bought at Tagawa summer 2020 - Foliage clump gradually spreads by creeping stolons. Stachys grows best in full sun but will also tolerate partial shade. Good drainage is essential for this plant. Divide every 3-4 years in spring or more frequently if plants become woody in the center. A dense mound of foliage formed by delicately scalloped, heavily puckered, crisp green leaves, topped with tall purple-pink flower spikes in early summer. Excellent for edging a pathway, at the front of a sunny border, or for use as a container specimen. 2019 Perennial Plant of the Year.
Fanal Astible - got at Tagawa summer 2020 - plant along firepit wall. showy bloomer for beautiful summer color in shaded areas. FULL SHADE TO FILTERED SUN. Tall, feathery blooms of deep garnet-red valued for their light, airy quality rise above graceful mounds of bronze-green foliage. Thrives in dappled or full shade borders. Gorgeous in mass plantings. An herbaceous perennial. Light Needs Full shade to filtered sun
Tiarella Sugar and Spice - bought @ Tagawa summer 2020 - Semi-evergreen so do not prune for winter. A reliable and easy growing great groundcover for shady, moist flower beds. Fills in by runners, like a strawberry. Loads of airy bottle-brush flowers open blush white from rose pink buds. Noted for its shiny polished lacy leaves with deep crimson markings and heavy flowering habit.one of the best tiarellas with highly shiny, lacquered leaves, which are lacy with a heavily marked centre in summer and winter. Masses of starry whorls of lightly fragrant flowers, frosted pink with a white interior are borne over the lovely foliage in spring. Plant in a lightly shady spot in borders or as a brilliant container plant
Shade - "Balsam" old fashioned impatiens - seeds sprout in 70 degrees in 4 days. Like cosmos and cleome, balsam reseeds prolifically. Plant these three flowers together, and you will have a self-perpetuating garden that attracts butterflies and sphinx moths. Plant a large stand of balsam in your cottage garden to give it that heirloom authenticity. Balsam flowers grow well in the container garden. Their upright habit complements trailing flowers like portulaca or verbena.
Lychnis Rose Campion - in veg garden - nearly 3 ft high in 2020. 1 foot in diameter. This plant puts on a dazzling show of five-petaled magenta flowers on straight stalks about 2 feet high in mid-spring. Noteworthy Characteristics Disease-resistant and easy to grow. Effective when massed. Self-seeds freely. ‘Alba’ has pure white flowers; ‘Angel’s Blush’ has white petals with faint pink centers. Care Grows well in sunny, well-drained, lean soil. Propagation From seed. Or divide and take basal cuttings in early spring.
Rose de Rescht (at front corner inside veg garden) is one that is often recommended to people who are contemplating buying their very first Old Garden Rose. It is quite literally the antique rose of choice for beginners. It is easy to grow, trouble free, well behaved, hardy and lovely to behold. Few other Old Garden Roses compare with this one for repeat growth habit, compact size, ease of care, eye-catching color and enchanting fragrance. It is an outstanding example of the Portland class and an absolute must for the gardens of all lovers of Heritage roses. I suggest you give it a try.
BASIL - plant with tomatoes, peppers, lettuce Make a late spring planting of seedlings started indoors or purchased. In summer, after the soil is warm, sow more basil wherever you want it to grow. Notes: Cover transplants with flowerpots to shade them from strong sun for 2 days or so. To keep new leafy branches coming on, pinch off the upright flower spikes as they appear. Harvesting Harvest leaves a few at a time as you need them in the kitchen. In midsummer, cut plants back by half to stimulate new growth, and make big batches of pesto with the trimmings.
Insectary Plants for Late Spring Bloom: Overwintered brassicas (mustard, turnip, mizuna), cilantro, arugula, radish, phacelia Insectary Plants for Early Summer Bloom: Alyssum, arugula, comfrey, dill, fennel and other carrot family crops, buckwheat, monarda, phacelia Insectary Plants for Mid Summer Bloom: Alyssum, borage, buckwheat, catnip, comfrey, dill, fennel, monarda, thyme, sunflower Insectary Plants for Late Summer Bloom: Borage, buckwheat, catnip, comfrey, mint, oregano, sunflower
COMPANION FLOWERS My goal is have beneficial insects active in every part of my garden, so I tend to anchor the outside corners of my garden with weed-resistant perennials that always attract plenty of buzzers – catnip, oregano and mint, for example. Among annuals, herb fennel, dill, and sunflowers make wonderful insectary plants to station around the garden’s perimeter. Cornflower Cornflower To achieve better diversity inside planting beds, I like to plant small clumps or pairs of insectary plants near crop plants, for example pairs of staked cornflowers near tomatoes, and borage twins adjacent to cucumbers. I’ll plant a pinch of buckwheat in any empty spot in summer, and I often use sunflowers to please bees while offering filtered midsummer shade to peppers and bush beans.
sweet alyssum attracts hoverflies (also known as syrphid flies) in search of nectar. In turn, hoverfly larvae scour leaf undersides, eating aphids and mites before you ever see them. In similar fashion, phacelia attracts a wide range of beneficial insects including bees, wasps and hoverflies. The nectar produced by cornflowers is extra sweet, which is quickly discovered by little beneficial bugs.
borage - plant on edges of garden to protect tomatoes and squash - Borage will bloom for many weeks if the older flowers are trimmed off, and you can often push tattered plants to make a comeback by pruning them back halfway in midsummer. Healthy borage plants shed numerous black seeds, so expect to see volunteers for two years after growing borage. Self-sown borage seedlings are easy to dig and move, or you can pull and compost the ones you don’t want.
OOCHIGEAS ITOH PEONY - Planted spring 2020 in front new bed: Itoh peonies are among the most coveted perennials of the border. Aside from the exquisite blooms on strong stems that remain upright even after a heavy rain, their lush, vigorous foliage holds through summer, making them outstanding in foundation planting and beds close to outdoor living spaces. They can also blend naturally into more casual settings creating focal points and bold color in season. A gorgeous plant for flower-filled lawn islands and in high profile front yard locations. Cut peonies are the epitome of romance. When cutting for arrangements, leave at least three leaves on the stem. For longest vase life, cut stems in the morning, choosing buds that have a marshmallow texture with the petal color just peeping through. Companion Plants: Hydrangea (Hydrangea); Mock Orange (Philadelphus); Coneflower (Echinacea); Phlox (Phlox); Bellflower (Campanula)
Judd Viburnum 6x6 Group this viburnum with large flowering shrubs such as Pocahontas Canadian Lilac, (Syringa x hyacinthiflora 'Pocahontas'), Roseum Elegans Rhododendron, (Rhododendron x 'Roseum Elegans'), Helene Rose of Sharon, (Hibiscus syriacus 'Helene') and for fall color use Cole's Compact Burning Bush, (Euonymus alatus 'Cole's Compact').
Judd's viburnum - moved to front 2020 spring - didn't survive
Tahiti sunrise dahlia - 30" tall
Isabel dahlia
Isabel - from Arrowhead 2020 - 4' tall with 3" flowers - NEW BALL PINKISH LAVENDER BLOOMS. WILL HAVE A FEW OFF COLORED BLOOMS, (PEACH PETALS) BUT WONDERFUL CUT FLOWER. WORTH GROWING.
Diva Dahlia
Diva Dahlia - from Arrowhead 2020 - 4.5' Tall plants hold nicely formed blooms. Great color! Cut flower.
Zundert Mystery Fox: CORAL-PINK BLOOMS. MUST NEEDED CUT FLOWER. LOADED WITH BLOOMS ALL SEASON.
Dahlia Zundert Mystery Fox - bought 1 from Arrowhead 2020 - 4 feet tall. Red Daisy says: a coveted Coral dahlia! Her color is amazing and changes from light to darker with the temperature changes. Shes a great cut flower, producing blooms ALL season long! She’s also a good tuber producer! A true must-have dahlia!
Gingersnap Dahlia - 1 from Arrowhead 2020 - grows 3-4 feet tall. Flower Size – 4 to 6 inches Form – Waterlily Color – Orange/golden/yellow One of the best dahlias for cutting and great in autumn bouquets. Produces very long stems.
Camano Buz - bought at Arrowhead. Floret says: A new favorite and one of the best orange varieties we’ve ever grown. Plants are smothered in warm orange blooms all season long. Strong stems are great for cutting and the perfect size for bouquets. Details: Flower type: ball Height: 4.5’ Site: full sun Days to maturity: 80-100 days Plant spacing: 12-18” Pinch: when plants are 12” tall
Cornel Dahlia - bought from Arrowhead 2020. FLoret says: One of the most productive and reliable varieties we’ve ever grown, ‘Cornel’ makes our top 5 list every year. Plants reach a height of 4 feet and produce long, strong stems, perfect for cutting. Blooms are 4 inches across and feature dark, cherry-red petals that resemble rich velvet. Hands down, the best red variety on the market. Ball-shaped flowers are weather resistant and last an extremely long time in the vase. Details: Flower type: ball Height: 4’ Site: full sun Days to maturity: 80-100 days Plant spacing: 12-18” Pinch: when plants are 12” tall Harvesting/Vase Life: Cut when blooms are ¾ of the way open, but not overly ripe. To do this, check the back of each flower head, looking for firm and lush petals versus papery or slightly dehydrated ones. Place into water with hydrator, or sear stem ends by placing into 160-180° water and allow to cool for 1 hour. Blooms will last 5-6 days.
Andrea Lawson
Dahlia Andrea Lawson - bought 1 from Arrowhead spring 2020 - 5' tall - White ball with lavender center - great for cutting
Nasturtium from seeds - Other quick flower seed choices are sweet alyssum, marigolds, and cosmos which can sprout within five to seven days.
Dahlia: “The Valley Girl” The dahlia, discovered by early Spanish explorers in warm South American climes, actually means “valley flower” in Swedish as a result of a transcontinental mix-up. And yet, true to its name (and to San Francisco, where it’s the official flower), the dahlia lives up to the name of valley–and Valley girl. Valley girls, or should we say dahlias, refuse to live anywhere except regions that are free of frost. Dahlias love to be pampered, and cold spells make them pout. They compete to wear the loudest clothes, in colors that range from spray-tan orange to bubble-gum pink. And they always travel in a pack. Dahlias prefer to be surrounded by their own kind, so they can gossip freely, away from large trees and shrubs that would lap up all their drinks. Photograph by Erin Boyle. Above: Photograph by Erin Boyle. The celeb du jour is the blue dahlia, but it avoids the cameras, leading to the consensus that this highly desirable hue of the flower does not actually exist. (Back in the 1800s, a horticultural society in Edinburgh offered an impressive cash prize to anyone who could find it.) Photograph by Emily Daniel. For more, see Field to Vase: A Friend to Loca...
Ivanetti Dahlia
Dahlia Hollyhill Black Beauty
Moonflower plants like full to partial sun during the daylight hours. You will like the fact that Moonflower thrive in poor, dry soils. That makes them useful in areas where many other popular plants just won't grow. It also makes them easy to grow with little care or attention. Just plant them, and away they grow!
4 x 8 foot remesh
tomato trellis with concrete mesh sheets and cedar posts
6 ft plant
5 ft plant
7 ft plant
Black Krim
Indian Azalea indoor
make a maypol? post with finial and garden twine to climb - for center - morning glories and moonflowers? clematis? roses?
Fordhook Zucchini has cylindrical, smooth, dark green, straight to slightly curves fruits with creamy white, tender flesh. The bush-like plants are vigorous and the fruits are best when 6-8" long. Harvest in about 57 days.
45 days to maturity Plant Dimensions: Vines up to 2' form a 3'–4' bush-type plant. Variety Information: Pick when 4"–7" long. Fruit is lemon yellow, club-shaped. Type: Bush
Zucchini ‘Costata Romanesco’ is lovely with dark green flecked flesh & strong ribbing. It doesn’t produce a ton of fruits, so you won’t be swimming in zucchinis you don’t know what to do with but the ones you do get are so much better tasting. The fruit is firm & tasty & a bit nutty-flavored. Produces a lot of male blossom buds that are great for stuffing. A robust plant, give it plenty of space – 3-4’ around should do. Better air circulation will help prevent mildew of the leaves, to which squash can be susceptible. I like to let the fruits grow gigantic (they don’t get spongy!)
These are redbuds I have - Don Egolf - dwarf variety 10x10
purple bumblebee favorite 2019
Amethyst cherry tomato 2019 favorite
other fragrant hardy viburnum is Viburnum x juddii (Judd). Michael Dirr thinks it is superior to V. carlessi, probably because it is resistant to leaf spot and bacteria. Judd viburnum is a cross between V. carlesii and V. bitchiuense with the best features of both parents. The hybrid was raised in 1920 byWilliam H. Judd at Arnold Arboretum. It has proven to be one of the best fragrant hybrids.
Judd's viburnum in fall - juddii - planted summer 2019 in garden
Bobo Hydrangea - in garden July 2019: 30-36" tall Panicle Hydrangeas bloom on new wood. They should be pruned in late winter to early spring. You can cut them back to the ground, or if you want taller plants cut them back to 1-3′ feet.
Sea Foam - my white ones? Shrub (Schwartz, 1964). Clusters of blush-pink buds open to double white blooms. Notably glossy foliage on a trailing bush 2 to 3 feet tall makes it an excellent ground cover or shrub for the front of the border. It can also be trained to climb. One of the "Earth-Kind" roses, Sea Foam is very disease resistant and hardy.
Ruby VooDoo - planted by side fence
Planted by side by Zeph rose - 2017? Ghislaine de Féligonde Rambler (Hmult) (Turbat, 1916). This old-fashioned rambler forms a large shrub with few thorns. Fragrant bloom clusters open apricot, aging to pale yellow. Occasional repeat bloom. Canes can reach 6 to 10 feet. Our stock was obtained from Denver's historic Fairmount Cemetery.
Still Waters Clematis on mailbox summer 2018
ROSE NOTES: Winter Protection. Most young roses need some winter protection until they become established. After the leaves begin to drop or night-time temperatures are consistently below 30 degrees, pile soil, compost or mulch 6 to12" high around the base of the bush. For tender roses, or in the most severe climates, you may want to wrap the plant with burlap for added protection against drying winds. If the winter is dry, water the roses about once a month. Pruning Roses. For the first 2 or 3 years, prune only the dead wood from the plant. If the rose is a type that blooms only once in the spring, wait until after it is finished blooming to prune. If the rose blooms repeatedly throughout the season, prune when the leaves begin to emerge in the spring. To encourage open growth in your rose, make all cuts about a quarter inch above a leaf bud that points out from the center of the bush. As your rose matures, thin out a third of the oldest canes at ground level. Also remove any branches that cross or grow inward. To encourage new blooms during the season, "deadhead", or remove spent blooms from the bush by pinching off the bloom just above a leaflet. Some people prefer cutting th...
Planted front Spring 2022 - Dark Knight spirea is one of the easiest small shrubs to grow in a low water landscape. Throughout spring and early summer, it grows as a compact mound of upright branches covered with grey-green linear leaves. In late summer, dark blue flower spikes cover the shrub. The flower spikes mature into tan seedheads that persist throughout the winter, capturing snow during winter storms. It can be an excellent, all-purpose, tidy low water shrub.
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