What's Happening

This is a place to focus on what's currently happening in the gardens. I want to share fun seasonal garden stories & events with you. Josh is going to archive the posting as seasons evolve. We hope you will embrace it with a fun-filled spirit.

June 2008

Jan's Peony 'Carol'

I think the peony should be the May 'Flower of the Month'.

Peonies say 'Memorial Day'. They bloomed on the real 'Memorial Day' this year continuing their show into early June.

Tree peonies bloomed earlier in May and were fantastic. They are so beautiful it is hard to believe they are real and their fragrance is intoxicating to a gardener's soul. The fern leaf peony also was done doing its showing before the bush species began to explode, perfuming the breeze. Fern peonies are temperamental characters especially in comparison with their hale & hardy cousins, bush species peonies

My friend, Jan sent me pictures of a few of her peonies. She wrote that "God could have created a more beautiful flower but he didn't."

Frost and hail and wind are foes of the peony, sometimes ruinning their spring performance but still the fabulous flowers are well worth including in a sunny garden spot.

Peony 'Gay Paree'

Peony 'Top Brass'

See the Perennial page for more info on Peonies.

Contributing to gardening in Iowa

Griffith J. Buck
Prolific Rose Hybridizer

"Wondering what is around the corner keeps us going. If I could guarantee (success), I wouldn't need to do the research. I'd already have the answer. It's the same in all fields of science." -Griffith Buck

1915 – 1991
Bachelor of Science in Horticulture - 1948 Iowa State College
Master of Science in Horticulture - 1949 Iowa State College
Doctor of Philosophy in Horticulture and Botany - 1953 Iowa State College

Griffith Buck's enthusiasm for roses was surpassed only by his persistence in trying to find a better one. Even though he was allergic to rose pollen, Buck was one of the few successful rose hybridizers of his time. Building on the work begun by his predecessors and using his international contacts, he focused on developing hardy, long-blooming roses for Midwestern gardens. He introduced 85 new cultivars before his retirement in 1985. His 1973 patent for 'Red Sparkler' was the first patent granted to Iowa State. The U.S. Patent Office invited him to bring it, plus three of his patented geraniums, to their National Inventor's Day exhibition in 1977. It was the first time plants were included. Researchers and growers in Iowa, Minnesota, Texas, and South Carolina have continued his work and introduced six additional cultivars."

History of Iowa State: People of Distinction - Griffith J. Buck
Griffith Buck (1915-1991)
Buck Rose Website

June Newsletter - 'At the Garden Gate' (pdf file)
Mahaska County ISU Extension Service
Oskaloosa, IA

June Gardening Guide

• Stake or Cage tomatoes
• Mulch the garden to conserve moisture and control weeds
• Keep the compost pile moist and turn frequently
• Visit a local farmer's market for fresh fruit and vegetables
• June 15 Father's Day
• Stop harvesting rhubarb
• Remove spent blooms on geraniums and marigolds
• Harvest herbs for drying before they flower
• Use and store pesticides wisely

(2008 ISU Extension Services Garden Calendar)

Kansas State Flower - Sunflower - (Helianthus annuus)

I love sunflowers! They are just awesome plants, so bold & beautiful. Our roadside ditch is full of wild sunflowers. What a bright, pretty sight they are. In Iowa wild sunflowers are considered noxious weeds by farmers.

I am so amazed at how many different types of sunflowers there are. I wish I had a big farm I would grown acres & acres of sunflowers of all types. Can you imagine the sight when they are all in bloom? Wow! I watched a public TV show recently that explored sunflower fields in Midwest states. What a sight to see!

Kansas State Flower

Kentucky State Flower - Goldenrod - (Solidago altissima)

Golden Rod is another beauty along the roadside ditches. I love it too! It gets blamed for summer allergies as it blooms the same time as rag weed which is the real culprit causing, summer sneezes. The rag weed is not flashy & highly visible like the Golden Rod. There is a garden friendly Golden Rod too. It is wonderful in the sun garden. I have tried to grow it a couple times with no success but I will try again.

Kentucky State Flower

Louisiana State Flower - Magnolia

Nothing says spring like Magnolia trees. The 'Star Magnolia' shown is a small (shrub type) tree in Iowa. It blooms earlier than the saucer magnolias and is an early spring delight.

I have a yellow 'Butterflies' Magnolia tree. Aptly names as the bright yellow blossoms are reminisce of butterflies perched on a flower. I love it! And the neighbors love it.

Even though, often in Iowa, Magnolia blossoms are frozen & ruined by a late May frost, they are more than worth growing for the years they go unharmed and display their fragrant parade of wonderful blossoms.

MM

Louisiana State Flower

Deadheading Perennials - For a Second Act

After the flowers of most perennials fade, you can deadhead the spent blooms to make the plant look better. But with a little more radical pruning, many perennials will rebloom. Here are three methods for cutting back for a second batch of flowers:

Cut to a rosette of foliage. Some perennials, such as meadow sage, produce a rosette or cluster of foliage at the base. Cut all of the stems back but leave the rosette.

Cut almost to the ground. To produce new flowering stems, leave a little foliage to help the plant gather energy and regrow. Catmint will reflower quickly after this kind of trimming.

Remove spent flowers to prevent seed formation and encourage a second bloom on reblooming iris and daylilies.

From Garden Gate Magazine

Cutting Back Mums

Probably the question I get asked most often is, "When do I cut my perennials back." And people want to know when to cut back their garden mums and divide perennials.

See Pinching Perennials - June 2007 What's Happening Page

I thought this short article from "Garden Gate" magazine about the cutting back mums was really good:

http://www.gardengatenotes.com/etips/070619.html

"Garden Gate" magazine is a wonderful publication providing concise information for gardeners. You can also sign-up to be included on their email list then get great articles on-line at: www.gardengatemagazine.com

The question of cutting back garden mums is a matter of opinion. I do it, if and when, I find the time. I cut them back about 1/2 their total stem length. Mid-June to early July might be the best time to chop them in half. I love mums but don’t always have them in the garden because I rarely get them cut back, and then they flop-over, and because they seem to get too big and spread and take-over their growing area. However, they are easily removed and their fall color display is fabulous. And they are wonderful in fall containers. Some times I just can’t resist bringing a new mum home with me.

Hosta 'Diddly-Squat'

The Russ O'Hara Hosta Society Summer garden tours & auction was June 29th. There were hundreds of fantastic plants sold at auction. I was lucky enough to get Greg Johnson's new introduction, hosta 'Diddly-Squat'. It was the first division Greg has let out of his garden. I am so excited to get this plant. I hope it thrives in 'Marlys' Garden'.

I also got Greg's new introduction, hosta 'Jaz'. It has been released for sale. You can own it too! The plant is Greg's 2004 cross of 'Sum & Substance' & 'Yingeri'. It is very heavy substance. It actually feels like plastic.

Hosta 'Jaz'