Zone 4b - sunny location - wanting color!
momanda09
5 years ago
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floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
5 years agoNHBabs z4b-5a NH
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoRelated Discussions
A Zone 4b Rose Garden, in pictures.....
Comments (47)I came on here tonight and was delighted to see my old post had been resurrected. THANK YOU to those of you who were kind enough to respond ....I appreciate all of your words of encouragement! You guys are so sweet and your support of my endeavors, both gardening-related and personal, makes me smile....thanks. I wanted to answer your question about the red lily beetles, yorkrose..... Yes, I do grow the true lilies (as well as a few daylilies).... hundreds & hundreds of them! The Asiatics, Orientals, Orienpets, etc. And yes, those pesky horrible red lily beetles are a plague here too. I find it unbelievable that they start attacking the lily shoots just as they are emerging from the soil in the spring. I was told that not much kills them, but I have had fairly good success in keeping them away with Sevin dust, so long as I keep at it. If it rains or I forget to keep up with the ritual of dusting, then they come right back. They will strip entire lily canes of leaves and destroy the blooms if you don't keep up....(but since you asked, you must already be familiar with that nightmarish scene). They are right up there with Japanese Beetles (on my roses) in how much damage they can do and how disgusting they are. And that nasty, sticky black sludge they leave behind with the eggs in it....YUK. organic.... I spend A LOT of time in my yard, more than most people would be willing to spend. When I had a regular job I couldn't devote as much time as I wanted (and needed)to tend to my many gardens. But now that I am home with my mom, I am able to spend more time in my gardens. Mom enjoys sitting outside and watching the goings on, so in between caring for her and the never-ending housework (I still have a teenager & grown daughter living at home too) I never seem to stop moving. I am lucky that my husband is strong and can usually be persuaded to help me with the heaviest of chores, although I am a tough chic and am proud that I can do just about everything myself...! My life seems to revolve around my family, my pets, and my gardening...and thats the way I like it! I just wish spring would come quicker up here in zone 4 so I could start digging! But its getting closer..... Celeste A few of the lilies I grow (I have planted over 400 bulbs over the years!)........See MoreSummer Solstice Week Roses in Zone 4b
Comments (14)Thanks for the comments everybody. RDH and Anne; Borderer is small and has amazing colored blooms that some liken to a miniature Abraham Darby. They don't last long, a day or so, but there are lots of them. I grow mine in a pot wintered in a cold room. Not sure if it will winter outdoors in zone 5. Went out just after the morning sun had a chance to warm the blossoms in order to do some fragrance evaluations, particularly with respect to The Reeve as requested. The Reeve has a moderately strong sweet fragrance with just a hint of myrrh to my nose. It is quite unique and pleasantly soft. It is not a strong myrrh, a mere trace, only a soupçon. David Austin describes the fragrance as: "strong old rose"; I would disagree. Claire Martin says: "strong and musky". Neither description is very useful. However, if by musky we mean very pleasant, and sweetly compelling, then I would concur. Hope that helps. Since I was out and about and there are more roses opening, please forgive me for posting a few more images. The Yeoman, a very early Austin, 1969. A 4th year band from RVR. Still small and delicate, requires coddling, but building stature. The flowers are gorgeous and the fragrance delightful. A collector rose. The Pilgrim, just opened this morning, strong Tea Rose fragrance and oh so gorgeous. And a new spray of Geoff Hamilton; love the petal packed cups, soft pink and sweetly fragrant An image of Claire Rose, 1986. The blooms of this rose are oft compared to those of Souvenir de la Malmaison and there is a resemblance, though I like CR better and it is certainly more cold hardy for those like me who can't grow the tender SDLM. And finally an old image of Jayne Austin for Boncrow. This is my best image of her. She is like a winter hardy Noisette in my view. Her fragrance is unique, a bit of tar and tobacco infused into Tea Rose, I've also heard it called "phenolic". Sounds awful doesn't it. But its not, Jayne is one I like to carry in my pocket just so I can take the bloom out to stick my nose into....See MoreWhen do peonies sprout in Zone 4b/5a?
Comments (7)Hopefully your peonies are ok. It is not good to mulch that deep over a newly planted peony crown. You can put mulch that deep or deeper in the area surrounding the crown but putting more than maybe an inch on newly planted peonies can lead to the crown rotting. It would be a good idea for you to carefully remove the mulch from where you planted the peonies then replace around the plants. You may be able to see pink or white buds emerging from the ground already. As to when peonies should emerge is up to the individual peony as some will emerge early but the flower buds will not expand for at least a month. Some will emerge with flower buds that look like they should bloom at any moment. Don't be too surprised if you have no blooms this year and only a few next year. Some peonies take a while to develop the root structure necessary to support blooms....See Moretomatoes for ketchup (zone 4B)
Comments (16)I think your best bet is a productive old faithful type hearty tomato. I second the Rutgers recommendation. Since tomato is so adulterated in ketchup, it is boiled, salted and heavily condimented ... I wouldn't be concerned about any fancy heirloom and just go for a good acid-balanced producer of old fashioned tomatoes that Campbell's would be proud of, not too way south from your zone, and it will probably taste best. My first choice is actually the OP Marglobe, a basically determinate, stout and vigorous plant. Rutgers (OP) is actually a cross between Marglobe and a Campbell's tomato and Marglobe has old fashioned appeal to me - probably the ketchup my grandparents had as kids. The plants are easy to grow and produce very well, and the disease resistance will be great as a starter. I have grown both Rutgers and Marglobe and they were more fun than my other OPs, except Cherokee Purple which I'm always amazed by (but would prefer Marglobe for ketchup & its production). Best growing....See Moremomanda09
5 years agomomanda09
5 years agomomanda09
5 years ago
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