Clethra 'Sixteen Candles'-Your experience please
laceyvail 6A, WV
16 years ago
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ego45
16 years agothistle5
16 years agoRelated Discussions
Jenni's Garden (lots of work to do!!!)
Comments (52)Thanks guys! Working on this project with Jen (and Bella) is something I'm enjoying so much. And she's so enthusiastic about gardening. That's a dream come true for me! Cynthia, yep that's laitris that's found it's way into the daisy bed. The containers are definitely Idyll inspired. I've taken cuttings of all my coleus for her. In the pictures you can see the first batch here and there where she's placed them directly in the gardens. I've got cuttings of the last batch I got on sale rooting for her now. They'll probably go into the container garden. She's even got her first agave. Yucca Do sent my a extra agave stricta as a bonus so I gave it to her. She's planning to set up lights in the basement to overwinter things. Marie, no they're not moved in yet. Hopefully soon. The floor refinishing guy was slower than they'd hoped and they're still finishing up the new plumbing and some painting. I didn't get before shots but have some during shots and will get afters. The rooms are small which makes it hard to get good pictures though. Eden...See MoreClethra, Ruby Spice
Comments (12)My 'Ruby Spice' is not a strong red in flower (more toward pink, but it doesn't fade out either), nor does it have wonderful fall foliage. It does slightly sucker, but the suckers are easy to dig up - I pot some of them and toss others, depending on if I think I can find a spot here or someone to give it to. However, it is attractive, if a bit late to leaf out. I have it in all day sun, facing SE, in a raised, added bed in front of my porch - it grows about 4', maybe a bit more. I think I would be reluctant to have it as a front-of-the-border plant, though - it is late to leaf and it is a bit leggy for me - which may owe more to the perennials surrounding it than its native habit, judging from the above photo! A better plant for you may be the Fothergillas, or what about one of the evergreen azaleas - I think there are several that would be hardy for you - many of them have foliage that bronzes in winter (it goes back to green with spring). If the Encore series is hardy, you would probably get 2 seasons of blooms. Iteas might be better looking than the Clethra - for me they are a bit smaller, and there are several with spectacular fall foliage ('Henry's Garnet' and "Saturnalia' come to mind) - the flower shape is similar, if smaller and more drooping, and white. If you really want an evergreen, there are any number of different, variegated, conifer species/cultivars that stay smallish, and which have colorful foliage. You could also try a colored-leaf shrub, such as one of the variegated Caryopteris (there is another beside 'Worcester Gold', but I forget the name), with late season blue flowers, or one of the variegated Spireas ('Goldmound', 'Limemound', etc.), with pink flowers in summer. Both will stay 2-3', and can be kept in check by pruning out a third of the stems annually, after it has grown enough. An Abelia, one of the smaller cultivars, could also be good - white or pinkish, summer flowers on arching stems, 'John Creech' is evergreen here. I would avoid most of the barberries, as almost all the ones around are developed from the basic Japanese species, and it has proven invasive in the SE. Pity, because there are some very nice garden forms.......See MoreNeed advice for the front yard landscape
Comments (7)I second the dwarf hawthorns. They are on my short list to get some for myself. I love their foliage and their mounding form. Oleander is an amazing and beautiful shrub, but they are also extremely poisonous. I don't know if you have to be concerned with that, but I thought I'd just put it out there. Lantana is poisonous too, and it isn't evergreen, but is clearly one of my favorite plants because they are carefree, extremely drought-tolerant and the butterflies just love them. I have a good friend with a child with special needs, and now I am always conscious as to the toxicity of a plant before I put it in the ground. Also, I love Mahonia Aquifolium, or "Oregon Grape Holly". They are evergreen, have similiar foliage to the hollies, so they'd blend nicely, but they have yellow flowers in spring, and berries in fall. Also, the foliage turns purple/orange in fall. They're slow growing, but will get pretty tall at maturity. They like sun or shade, deer resistant and drought tolerant. There is another Mahonia, Leatherleaf Mahonia, or Mahonia Bealei, but it's supposed to be invasive in our area. Please don't confuse the two. Also, I don't know how drought-tolerant it is, but IMHO, you can't beat Pieris Japonica for thier foliage, however, I've been told they're more of an "accent" plant, instead of a hedge shrub, so you may want to consider that. But, they are carefree, I've never had any problems with disease, or deer. Also, I am totally in love with Camellias, so I'd have to vote for them as well. I know they get very big, but since there are so many varieties, I'm sure there has to be one that comes in a smaller form. Gardenias do well in either sun or shade, but I think they prefer sun. The deer have never looked at them sideways, and for the first year I owned my house, I never watered them once and they came through the experience without a problem. When I found out they were Gardenias, I watered and fed them, and they bloomed like crazy for me the next season. I understand that they can have a problem with pests, whiteflies???, but I haven't had any problems, yet, knock on wood. Perhaps, if you let us know more about the sun/shade aspect, we can give you better answers....See MoreAnyone changing their gardens this year?
Comments (31)natal, we did consider replanting a tree after we lost both trees over a period of 2 years. But they were such huge old trees, that we would never grow anything like that in our life time. Renee, not quite ready to do it yet, but am thinking hard about it. ghoghunter, if I do it, it would have to be gradual, as I don't have the $$ to do it all at one time. koszta kid, wish there were kids in the neighborhood. But it is an older one with mostly old folks. There are a few young families with little ones, but that's about it. thyme2dig, thanks for the vote of confidence. I'm just not sure at this point what to do. Hard to envision the garden room without roses, but will have to see how this summer goes. cyn247, hope your DH isn't too upset? :-) One thing I have learned is that a garden always changes. Sometimes those changes can be exciting as well as others can be heartbreaking. Annette, thank you for those kind words. I truly never envisioned our gardens would grow to this point when we started. Way more than I ever expected. But yes, we just keep going. Today some of my deep purple and yellow iris are opening, and it brought a smile. Perhaps as mentioned earlier in the thread, it is just that I am a little/lot overwhelmed with all the spring work and this too shall pass? Rosie, no kids available. But as you said I would probably spend as much time supervising as I would doing it myself. Although DH has learned a lot about gardening and is trying to help as much as he can. He has even learned the name of most plants and smiles when he gets it right! bellarosa, I end up using at least 1-2 weeks of my vacation every year working in the gardens. It is usually not a chore, but something I enjoy. Guess I just need to have an attitude adjustment and get back to enjoying it. I think part of my problem is that I am a perfectionist, and I struggle with some of the limitations my changing health has imposed. I just need to get past that mentally. Well, the rain has stopped. I need to get back out and finish pruning the fence. I had to quit last evening as a thunderstorm moved in. Rained off and on all night and this morning. Now the sun is trying to peek out. I will probably get very wet, but that is ok as the temp is fairly warm. Want to get at least that much accomplished this weekend....See Morejoycenh
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