Viewing comments posted by BookerC1

Extremely long-flowering, from early spring up until frost. Both flowers and seed heads are suitable for use in arrangements. Prefers partial shade in extremely hot summer climates. Avoid wet soil in winter.

2000 Perennial Plant of the Year

Prefers consistent soil moisture. Grows well at water's edge or in bog gardens. Suggested locations include a lightly shaded garden or at water's edge, planted with hosta, daylily, and spiderwort.

Beautiful rich burgundy foliage and brilliant scarlet blooms.

This is a very showy bloom! The first blooms of the year are sometimes single, though later blooms are very full and ruffled. I planted mine on the same trellis as an older dark purple Jackmanii, and the contrast between the two is very striking. I had envisioned the Proteus and Jackmanii blooming together, but thus far the Proteus has stayed fairly small, around 2 feet tall, while the Jackmanii has spread past the top of the trelllis and throughout the branches of the Redbud tree behind it. It is still a striking effect when they both bloom, but an entirely different effect than I'd planned. I think some radical pruning of the Jackmanii is in order.

Details from plant tag, from Lowes:
"Dig hole 2 times width of pot. Set top of root ball even with ground level. Combine planting mix and soil. Fill to ground level and tamp. Form water basin; water to settle soil. Add layer of mulch. Check often for water needs until established. Fertilize spring and summer, or before new growth begins. Cut back after flowering."

Details from the plant tag:
Dig hole 2 times the width of pot. Set top of root ball even with ground level. Combine planting mix and soil. Fill to ground level and tamp. Form water basin, water to settle soil. Add layer of mulch. Check often for water needs until established. Fertilize spring and summer.

I look forward to this shy little flower every spring! It multiplies very slowly, so don't count on it filling in an area very quickly. The foliage is very narrow and barely noticeable, so be careful not to weed them out before they bloom. Very pretty with Sweet William "Sooty" and heuchera "Plum Pudding."

In zones cooler than 7 or 8, you generally have to dig the gladiolus bulbs in the fall and store in a cool, dark place. I keep mine in a bucket of dry peat moss in the basement, and replant them in the spring.

Two years ago, I tried an experiment, and found it successful! I planted the bulbs much deeper than recommended, and then mulched the area heavily with shredded leaves over the winter. The gladiolus did return the following two springs. I will be checking next spring to see if they will continue to return! This also had the added benefit of making the stalks sturdier, so they didn't need as much staking as the ones I planted according to the label directions.

Hyacinth are not generally very long-lived bulbs. They will return reliably the first few years, and then the blooms will become less dense, with fewer flowerettes per stalk.

These are extremely fragrant. A single stem in a vase can scent a large room. Very sweet scent.

Generally, in zones cooler than zone 8, you need to either treat gladiolus as an annual, or dig the bulbs each fall and store in dry sawdust or shredded newspaper in a cool, dark place. Replant in the spring.

I did have success planting them deeper than recommended and mulching heavily over the winter with shredded leaves. Not only were they sturdier and needed less staking, but they returned the following two years. I will be watching to see if they continue to return in the future, too!

I grow flax at the base of my clematis trellis, to provide shade for the clematis roots. It blooms prolifically, and reblooms repeatedly if I deadhead it. The foliage is lacy and attractive, and the seeds are easy to harvest. I suggest putting a cup or bowl beneath the seed pods and clipping off the stems, as the paper pods tend to shatter at the lightest touch. Good candidate for winter sowing and direct seeding.

I first planted this variety of Celosia from seed 5 years ago. It was very easy to start indoors, with good germination. I provided artificial light, and kept the lights just an inch above the seedlings, so they stayed strong and stocky, instead of getting leggy. They transplanted well once the ground and air temperatures were consistently warm.

It is a really stunning plant, with its deep burgundy foliage and almost neon magenta blooms. It will bloom all summer and up until the first frost here, giving a much-needed punch of color in those late autumn months when I don't have much blooming in my front flower beds. It is an annual, and self-seeds readily. I have at least a dozen of these plants volunteer each year, and I just transplant them to wherever I would like them. The seedlings come up with green leaves, but as the weather heats up, the stems turn red, and the leaves turn bronzy-purple.

This is one of the plants that draws the most compliments in my garden!

This little SDB has multiplied well for me.

Self-seeds, and can spread if you aren't careful to pull up seedlings in the spring. I suggest planting it somewhere it won't get overcrowded too quickly. Bees, wasps, butterflies, and hummingbirds all flock to this flower!

This lily produces HUGE blooms!

This is an egg-shaped, paste-style tomato, similar in size to Roma. As an open-pollinated variety, this is a good candidate for seed-saving for future years. Fairly compact plant, and very productive. I think the flavor is a little richer than Roma, and the texture is not as mealy, so they are good for eating fresh, as well as cooking and canning. My favorite go-to paste tomato.

Great snacking tomato. These are almost too big to eat in one bite. Sweet flavor lives up to its name.

2011 was my first year growing this tomato. I've liked other black tomatoes, and heard good reviews about Black Krim. It was smaller than I expected, but had the smoky, rich flavor I was looking for.

2011 was my first year growing this tomato. It was the highest producing tomato in my garden this year. Very large, meaty tomatoes with a slightly sweet flavor. I'll be growing this one again. Very nice mixed with red and black tomatoes in a salsa or gazpacho.

A yellow tomato, but with more flavor than some "bland" yellows. It has a little bit of a bite, almost a citrusy element to it. One of my favorite tomatoes.

This was my first "black" tomato, and is still my favorite tomato. Very complex, smoky flavor. Wonderful eaten plain, or used in salsa or sauces.