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Succession of flowering

Melissa Northern Italy zone 8

last year

Understandably, most of us want a lot of flowers over a long time. Many gardeners have a problem with once blooming roses that are in flower for a few weeks and then done for the rest of the year (though watching them leaf out, develop buds, form hips, turn color in the fall, is fun.) Fortunately flowers can grow in layers. My thicket of Gallica 'Gloire de France' at the moment is solid rose foliage and flowers, with no ground visible. However, it's underplanted with double snowdrops, which put on quite a show in late winter, February-March I believe; and the snowdrops were followed by narcissus 'Palmares', which bloomed very nicely in April. I haven't touched any of these for years. So there have been about four months of bloom in that bed: quite respectable, in my opinion. Oh: 'Gloire de France' will go on for a week or two more, I think.

Comments (5)

Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
last year
I too love to see the progression through the seasons, Melissa. I cannot express how my plants enhance my life.
Melissa Northern Italy zone 8 thanked Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
jacqueline9CA
last year
Yes, Melissa, you are exactly correct - gardens can be flowering for whatever their entire growing season is, with different plantings. One thing which I noticed gradually after we moved into our house (it took me years to pay enough attention to the garden) was that the several huge old bushes (each was 20 ft by 10 ft high by 10-15 ft wide) bloomed in exact succession, also in time with some of the flowering trees. My DH's grandparents and great grandparents were real gardeners!

I do not plan enough to have everything timed, but do enjoy the succession of early and late bulbs and iris and day lilies, as well of course as the fact that my once blooming roses all seem to bloom at different times - very clever of them.

Jackie
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This is the water perc test for the Gunnera pit. The plastic bottom liner in the 8x8x4.5' bog pit ends 12" below ground level and has soil connections to a long 2' deep plastic lined Japanese Iris bog (with upper 8" not lined) and non-lined Canna/Hardy Ginger zone. Hedychium 'Dr Moy' is being tested there next to the pile of 12" rocks. It took about 30-40 min for the water in the test moat to drain flush with the soil surface in the trough bottom. Goal is adequate water rention zones based on plant need, surface ground water movement to flush and reduce chance of plants rotting, and automatic water rebalancing if I or rain overwaters a section. The main pond drains at soil level across the walk from the Gunnera pit side. So water can also find it's way from pond run off. Everything looked happy all fall. And now the plants are fresh maple leaf mulched and laurel bush stem covered to stop the loose leaves from blowing away. That large maple nearby has large helpful fall leaves. And I'll Sluggo pellet bait the area. Figure this holds 200-300 gallons of water to support the Gunnera. Winter status: left long bog section eith Japanese Iris ending ending with Siberian Iris (yellow brown wiltted leaves). Laurel branches to rear left hold down 12" loosely packed leaves in Canna test Ginger area. Gunnera has cut Gunnera leaves over the crown held down by laurel. Plastic bottom and side liners are only in the Iris and Gunnera area. Two different 2 5' wide soil water connections, without liner side blockage between, connect the Iris and Canna areas. The wall brick margin on the Gunnera pit was a measure test and is not installed yet!
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Melissa Northern Italy zone 8
Original Author
last year
Jackie, Nature is quite good at this. I have a particular walk I do through the year, and it's noticeable how the wild flowers come and go with the seasons. Sheila, well said.
bart bart
last year
Sad to say, I can't help but feel envious of those of you with your gardens right outside your houses. Here the weather has been quite horrible: extremely hot and humid. I haven't been able to get out to my land since Monday,and rather dread trying to do so now with this terrible heat-and a viral sindrome bothering me as well. What a shame! my roses were looking SO glorious on May 21st; I fear that when next I see them they will be rather a mess due to the heat and humidity.

How sorely do I miss the old Italian climate! this new one sucks.
Melissa Northern Italy zone 8
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
Total agreement, bart. It's been an early and a rather brief flowering, though ours is still going on with the later roses. It's hot and sticky here, too--and at the same time, and unfairly, dry--but at least I can run into the house to cool off.

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