Tulips

Tulipa Darwin Hybrids

Varieties:

Design Impressions

unknown

Hardy to:             4a

Plant Height:      18-24"

Spacing:               6-9"

Sun Preference:  Sun to Full Sun

Flower Color:     Pink

Zone info

This is one of my favorite flowers from my childhood.  I have a few on the south side of my house, but they don't tend to do very well.  They have been in the ground for a long time but they do produce flowers each year, but they just wither up.  I am not sure as to why, whether they are old and worn out or whether they get baked by the sun and side of the house.  I am going to try to water them well this spring to see if they will actually bloom and then I will dig them up and see if there are any small bulbs I can plant elsewhere.  

The tulips I bought a few years ago and have near the front door are beautiful however and are growing well.

The tulip has been the favored spring bulb for centuries. Thriving where summers are dry and winters are cold, this bulb is treated as an annual where summers are hot and long. A genus with around 100 species, tulips are divided into 15 distinguishing divisions. Best planted in large drifts, tulips can be used in rock gardens, containers, overplantings above perennials, forced indoors, and as a cut flower. Make your selections according to what zone you live in. Largest selections are available for USDA zones 4 through 6, fewer for USDA zones 7 through 8.  Plant between 8 and 4 inches deep in early fall in USDA zones 4 through 8 or late winter in USDA zones 9 and 10. If you live in an area where your tulips will be perennial (zones 4 through 6 and sometimes 7), work bonemeal or bulb booster into or around planting hole per label directions. While growing, water periodically and fertilize with a liquid fertilizer every 4 weeks. Once flowering is complete, remove spent flowers and allow foliage to yellow and wither for 6 weeks prior to cutting back foliage. Greigii and Kaufmanniana Group tulips may remain in the ground for several years, where other groups may be removed annually and stored in a warm, dry place. Replant the largest bulbs the following year, allowing smaller bulbs to grow out in nurse beds.  source

The Plant Expert

Dave's Garden info

Design Impressions on 4/22/09

One of my unknowns on 4/22/09

A group of unknowns (the same as the right group on the top picture)

Thunbergia

Thunbergia alata

Variety:

Spanish Eyes

picture of pink flowers

picture of vining plant

picture

Hardy to:             9a

Plant Height:      6-8'

Spacing:               2-3'

Sun Preference:  Part Shade to Full Sun

Flower Color:     Burnt Red, Rose, Pink, Salmon

Zone info

This was another flower I was attracted to in my search for climbers.  The package had pink flowers... how could I resist.  Unfortunately the species names were not given so I will attempt to identify after they bloom.

Unique mix of shades for Black-eyed susan vine, including burnt red, rose, pink and salmon.  Begins blooming just 6 weeks after sowing and continues for 6 months.  (from package)

Perennial climber, grown as an annual, with opposite, oval to rounded leaves and trumpet-shaped yellow, orange or white flowers with almost black centers. Great used in containers, trained on trellises, or in hanging baskets.  source

a possible identification on Dave's Garden

Sunflowers

Helianthus annus

Variety:

mixed

picture

Plant Height: 4.5-11'

Spacing: 18-24"

Sun Preference: Sun to Full Sun

Flower Color: Yellow, Red, Mixed

Self-Sowing

Shasta Daisy

Leucanthemum superbum

Variety:

Alaska

seeds

Hardy to: 4a(DG) 5(BG)

Plant Height: 24-36"

Spacing: 12-24"

Sun Preference: Dappled to Full Sun

Flower Color: White

BG: Backyard Gardener

DG: Dave's Garden

Zone info

'Alaska' bears single, white, 2 inch diameter flowers. Often sold as Chrysanthemum maxiumum. Clump-forming perennial with fleshy, toothed, glossy, dark green leaves. Single, snow white flower petals ( 2 to 4 inches across) and gold centers begin blooming in May, with largest show around early June, then continue sporadically until frost. Flower stalks are 2 to 4 feet tall making these splendid in borders. Shasta Daisies make excellent cut flowers, as they are long lasting ( most Chrysanthemums are). Tolerant of many soils, but do require water in hot, sunny climates. Divide clumps every 2 years or establish plants from seed. Grow Shasta daisies if you love to share plants with your friends. You'll all have plenty within 3 years! Remove and discard spent flowers to prolong bloom period. source

Dave's Garden info

Lily of the Valley

Convallaria majalis

Lily of the Valley

Hardy to:             2

Plant Height:      6-9"

Spacing:               6-12"

Sun Preference:  Shade to Sun

Flower Color:     White

Zone info

Photo on 4/22/09

This is a new one I got and planted this week. I have one bed in the front of my house that is primarily in the shade, although it gets a bit of morning sun. Here is some good info I found:

A slow but aggressive spreader, Lily of the Valley will tolerate dry conditions but after blooming the foliage will die back. Constant moisture will keep the plants green throughout the growing season. They prefer shade and will grow in most soil types. Fragrant bell shaped flowers are followed by glossy red berries.

Transplanting is easy - dig the roots up at any time and cover with a couple inches of soil - keep moist until established then spend the rest of your time trying to beat it back. Once established it is hard to get rid of. The smallest piece of root will start the cycle all over.

Requirements:

Soil Type - Sandy loam to clay soils
Soil ph - neutral to slightly acidic
Water - moist to dry
Light - Full Shade to full sun

Characteristics: Height - 6 in.
Time of bloom - May
Flower colors - White
Propagation - division
Transplants - easily  source

Gardening-Tips-Perennials info

Backyard Gardener info

The Unknown

Okay, so I may not be the brightest tool in the shed, but I did something silly. I bought a pack of groundcover perennials last summer/fall, planted them according to instruction and tossed the identification stake. So now I am left with plants that survived (which always seems to shock me) and no idea of what they are. Best guess: a sedum of some sort, but considering there are 600+ species I haven't been able to figure out which one exactly. Now I will just have to wait for Lowes to get all of there plants in and go hunt it down, unless someone can identify it for me...

Salvia

Salvia

Varieties:

St. John's Fire (Salvia splendens)

Blue Bedder (Salvia farinacea)

Blue Bedder

Hardy to: 7b(DG) 8(BG)

Plant Height: 30"

Spacing: 8-12"

Sun Preference: Part to Full Sun

Flower Color: Blue Purple

BG: Backyard Gardener

DG: Dave's Garden

Zone info

St. John's Fire

Hardy to: 5(BG) n/a(DG)

Plant Height: 12"

Spacing: 8-12"

Sun Preference: Part to Full Sun

Flower Color: Red

BG: Backyard Gardener

DG: Dave's Garden

Zone info

This is an upright, bushy perennial that is usually treated as an annual. Grows up to 12" tall and wide. Leaves are oval, serrulate, pubescent, light to deep green, up to 3" long. Widely grown for its dense, terminal spiked, brilliant red flowers that are tubular in form and encased in bracts of the same color. 'St. John's Fire' blooms early in the summer and continues until frost. Outstanding for mass plantings, borders, or containers. Thrives in full sun. Heat and drought tolerant. source

Blue Bedder:

Fast growing perennial, up to 30" tall. Leaves are whitish gray to medium green, lance shaped and 3" long. Valued for its dense, long lasting, blue-lipped flower spikes that grow to 12" tall. Outstanding in mass plantings, borders or containers. Thrives in full sun in well drained soil. A welcomed blue addition that blends or complements just about any color in the border. source

Dave's Garden info

Blue Bedder

St. John's Fire