PLANTS FOR HOT, HUMID SUMMERS

It is easy to have a great looking garden in May and June.  But the true test of a plant here in Eastern Carolina will come in July and August.  Hot, humid weather and irregular rainfall take its toll on all living things.

Come out to the Pitt County Arboretum this Thursday, August 4th for a free walking tour.  Master Gardener Volunteers will be highlighting perennials, shrubs, trees, herbs, and even vegetables which are thriving and which are not!

The tour begins at 9:00 AM under the Green Roof Shelter in front of the Ag Center Building (click on the map link in the right column for directions).  The tour lasts about an hour and is given rain (wouldn't that be nice?) or shine.  Bring your friends, neighbors, and your questions!

STAR ATTRACTION THIS WEEK: Cosmos

The Arboretum's Fire Hydrant Garden was created to demonstrate what can be grown in small, sunny, dry and rather inhospitable spot.  This small bed contains assorted sedums and grasses.  But scattered throughout is a nice annual that conveniently reseeds itself each year:  Cosmos sulphureus.  

This plant stays about a foot tall with golden flowers of about an 1" to 1 1/2".  It has ferny foilage.  But best of all it blooms and blooms and blooms.  It readily reseeds to ensure more blooms until frost and then if you have let some go to seed, they will start blooming again after sprouting when the soil warms next growing season.  This flower doesn't need fertilizing or much water.  Plants under stress tend to just be smaller.  Watch carefully for new seedlings sprouting around the base of the plants this year so you won't mistakenly pull them out next year thinking they are weeds.  Below you will see them in the Fire Hydrant Garden:

So, if this hasn't convinced you to grow these easy care annuals, read this from the AgriLife Extension from Texas A&M.  (NOTE: List has been edited for space.  The full article can be found at Aggie Horticulture)

THE TOP TEN REASONS EVERYONE SHOULD BE GROWING COSMOS ARE:
#10 -- Cosmos is one of the easiest-to-grow flowers... and is generally a pest-free annual.
# 9 -- Cosmos is THE BEST annual for Hot, Dry Locations
# 8 -- Cosmos is THE BEST annual for Poor Soils
# 7 -- Cosmos is a self-seeding annual
# 6 -- Cosmos is an annual which can be direct - seeded into the planting area
# 5 -- Cosmos flowers can be used as Cut Flowers.
# 4 -- Cosmos flowers are suitable for drying.

# 3 -- Cosmos are suitable for backgrounds and screens. 

# 2 -- Cosmos attracts birds and butterflies such as (Monarch - Danaus plexippus)

AND, THE NUMBER 1 REASON everyone should grow cosmos is -- Growing cosmos is as close as any of us will ever come to actually causing a "cosmic event" but it will be easy for ANY of us to produce showy flowers in an orderly arrangement of cosmic proportions.

VIVA LAS VEGAS IN THE CHILDRENS' GARDEN?

Gomphrena Globosa 'Las Vegas Purple' is what you will find in spectacular bloom this week.  Even after another scorching hot, humid week this Globe Flower or Globe Amaranth (as it is commonly called) is looking fabulous.  This excerpt from the Learn2Grow website describes it perfectly:

"Distinctive, round, brightly colored flowers cover this popular warm season annual in the heat of summer. Globe amaranth is an attractive, bushy bedding plant that is native to the southern regions of Central America. Its papery everlasting flowers dry and hold their color well, so they are especially popular for crafting and flower arrangements.

Globe amaranth forms neat clumps and has simple, slightly fuzzy green leaves of medium green. From summer to fall, its stiff, upright branches hold small, round, clover-like heads of papery bracts (petal-like leaves) that subtend tiny yellow flowers. The flower heads attract butterflies and are long-lasting. Deadheading is only necessary when the blooms turn brown. Full sun and summer warmth are essential for this effortless ornamental. It grows best in perfectly drained garden soil and will withstand some drought once established. It has few to no pest and disease problems but will develop root or stem rot if planted in poorly-drained soil. Enjoy this long-blooming annual in containers or sunny mixed borders. More compact cultivars, like those in the Las Vegas Series, are ideal for smaller garden spaces. The flower stems are long enough for cutting."

A GOLD STORM IN OUR PERENNIAL GARDEN

Doesn't just seeing this plant make you smile?  It has been a steadfast performer at the Arboretum returning year after year through the coldest of winters and hottest, driest of summers.  It is commonly called Black-eyed Susan and is currently in full bloom in the Perennial Garden. 

Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm'

Below is an excerpt from the Perennial Plant Association's website:


Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm' has been selected by the Perennial Plant Association as the 1999 Perennial Plant of the Year. Acclaimed internationally as one of the most popular perennials for the past fifty years, its bright golden-yellow flowers shine in gardens worldwide. In 1937 Heinrich Hagemann observed a glorious stand of Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii at Gebrueder Schuetz's nursery in the Czech Republic. Recognizing the superiority over other commonly-grown Rudbeckia species, Hagemann convinced his employer Karl Foerster of Potsdam, Germany to propagate his discovery. World War II interfered with the planned debut of the plant and it was not until 1949 that the triumphant success of Rudbeckia fulgida var.sullivantii renamed 'Goldsturm' began. 'Goldsturm' translates to English as "gold storm." Heinrich Hagemann, although retired, maintains an active interest in his company, the world-renowned Hagemann Staudenkulturen. A member of the Asteraceae (Compositae) family, orange coneflower or black-eyed Susan has a native range from New Jersey west to Illinois. 'Goldsturm' orange coneflower is significant in its compact habit and 1-2-inch golden-yellow petals which encircle a nearly black cone of disk flowers. The leaves are coarse, dark green lanceolate to ovate, 3-6 inches long; stem leaves are smaller, almost bract-like. The "gold storm" blankets the tops of 18-30-inch tall plants from mid-July to October. Plant width is 24 inches.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY

GOD BLESS THE USA

HERBS for HOME

Thyme 

Did you know that many herbs thrive year round in our area?  Come to the next free Walking Tour of the Arboretum when the Extension Master Gardeners will be featuring our Herb Garden.  You are sure to pick up useful tips for growing herbs in your own gardens.   The tour lasts about an hour and is given rain or shine.

PITT COUNTY ARBORETUM

WALKING TOUR

on

THURSDAY, JULY 7th

STARTING AT 9:00 AM

Meet under the Green Roof Shelter in front of the Ag Center

(click on the Map link in the right column for directions)

If you'd like to do some reading before coming, click on this publication:  Herbs for the Home Garden