NARCISSUS 'ICE FOLLIES' DAFFODILS

The Master Gardeners will soon be planting hundreds of these daffodils around the Arboretum.  It will be welcoming spring site for you to see.  When is the best time to plant bulbs for spring blooms?  Now through November will do.  Click below for some more bulb planting tips:

HINTS FOR FALL - PLANTED BULBS

An interesting fact from the book 'Narcissus and Daffodil: The Genus Narcissus' -

"Narcissus 'Ice Follies' is a fast growing and popular cultivar, ranking third in flower bulb sales according to the International Bulb Society, Pasadena, California."

MASTER GARDENER DAY TRIP

Once in a while the Master Gardener Volunteers enjoy visiting other Arboretums and Botanical Gardens to see what other counties are doing.  Last week a a group went to the Cape Fear Botanical Garden in Fayetteville.  It was a gorgeous fall day to gather lots of laughs and lots of learning.

The Group

A closer look at the plantings

 

 

 

The Heritage Garden (left corner, then clockwise:  Corn Crib, The Garden, General Store, Tobacco Barn and the 1886 Farmhouse)

OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW

CHANGING OUT THE VERTICAL GARDEN

SPRING/SUMMER TO FALL/WINTER

One last look at the spring/summer collection

We knew this was going to be a learning experience.  Plants that did well, did REAL well.  Their exuberance perhaps contributed to their neighbors demise.
A few standouts:

Fescue 'Elijah Blue', English Thyme, Ornamental Pepper 'Black Pearl' (a true crowd favorite also), Sedum 'Limelight', all of the sages, and the Zinnia 'Star White'.
Some of the disappointments:  Calibroachoa, Dianthus, Ice Plant, and the Yarrow.

The frost tender and the failed plants have been removed.  For the cooler months we have added some winter hardy vegetables (mustard, chard, pak choy), trailing violas, and euphorbia.  Plants should begin to take root with a little watering and a little more warm weather.  An update will be posted in February to see how it is holding up.

The new plantings have some room to grow.

Here is an article written by an extension agent for ideas on fall/winter plantings.
Plant Flowers and Veggies for Winter Color 

Photos by C. Taylor

FALL FLOWERS IN BLOOM

Here is a sample of what is blooming at the Arboretum this week:

1. Salvia guaranitica
     Black and Blue Sage
2.  Verbena bonariensis
     Verbena on a Stick
3.  Lantana Miss Huff

4.  Buddleia davidii
     Butterfly Bush
5.  Hydrangea macrophylla
     Mophead Hydrangea

6.  Salvia leucantha
     Mexican Bush Sage
7.  Helianthus augustifolius "Gold Lace"
      Narrowleaf Sunflower

8.  Pennisetum alopecurides "Hamlin"
     Dwarf Fountain Grass
9.  Miscanthus sinensis
     Zebra Grass
10. Ruellia brittonia
      Mexican Petunia

ARBORETUM WORK DAY

A crew of Master Gardeners and Trainees worked in the gardens at the Arboretum this week.  Early fall chores included weeding (as always), pulling out errant vines from shrubs, deadheading perennials, light pruning of wayward branches, and mulching.  Here are a few pictures of the happy workers.

Photos by K. Dawkins