Crocus Anyone?

I was in a bit of a quandary about a story topic until our granddaughter, Gracie, and I walked the yard.  Although things are definitely coming up spring, it’s still a rather drab messy time of the year in the gardens.

When what to my wondering eyes should appear?  The bright golden crocus I planted last year!

 
Like all spring flowering bulbs, crocus leaves need to absorb sunlight to enhance the next year’s growth.  Crocus naturalized in the lawn grass doesn’t work for me because the grass always needs mowing prior to the leaves dying back naturally. 

I’ve planted here and there in the flower beds only to forget and dig them up later in the season.  Still I’ve refused to give up on these little beauties.  This current batch is planted under the old walnut tree where the comfrey will grow later in the summer.

Crocus are among the first spring flowers to bloom.  They’re like a rainbow after the winter storm.  They come in a mass of brilliant colors:  shades of blue, gold, purple, white, mauve and stripes.  There’s a few new varieties pushing the old boundaries of color and form.   

Crocus are carefree:  Plant them in this area of the Midwest and forget until they put on the show.  Plant in sun or partial shade (during bloom time) and well drained soil.  They have good drought tolerance.  They are disease, deer and pest resistant.  Cover with screen wire if squirrels dig up bulbs in your yard. 

Spring-blooming crocus should be planted in the fall. Fall-blooming crocus should be planted in late summer or early fall. Plant the corms with the wide side down and the buds facing up. Place them 2 or 3 inches deep and about 3 or 4 inches apart; they will spread.

Crocus look best when planted in drifts or patches.  Because they only get eight inches tall, they will get visually lost if not planted in groups.  I dig one hole, plant several, and dig another hole and repeat.  Don’t much too deep. 

Unlike this year, crocus often bloom while there’s still snow on the ground and the weather freezing.  Plant where you can see them from the window if you want full enjoyment each year. 

 The bulbs (actually called corms) are from the iris family.  Different kinds bloom in spring, winter or fall.  They are not native to the United States.  When buying crocus corms, the bigger the better.  The better the more expensive.  Now the reality:  cheap and small isn’t all that bad either. 

One interesting little fact:  The spice saffron comes from an autumn blooming crocus.  Most original words for crocus mean yellow saffron.  It takes thousands of crocus flowers to make an ounce of saffron – hence the cost.

 If you’re looking for a little brightness to bring your spirits up next spring, plant a batch of crocus this fall!   (Or is it a covey, or herd, or gaggle?)         

Seriously Sweet!

Do you have a sweet tooth you can't tame?  Dr. Diane's scientific data confirms that I think it's a part of my DNA.

My dad sold feed to other farmers.  The feed companies would send us wonderful treats each Christmas such as crates of oranges or grapefruit.  Both were a luxury up north.  Those were good, but my true interest was the boxes of candy dad received. 

We had a routine:  Dad would open one box (and store the rest some unknown place) and place it in the top drawer of his dresser.  The boxes of candy always had two layers.  Dad rationed out a piece of candy on his whim and that whim was not consistent with my desire for more.  I'd sneak into the bedroom and quietly lift the first layer of candy and take a piece from below.  I thought I was incredibly smart to take pieces he couldn't see.  And yes, obviously when he was done with the first layer and lifted the little white cardboard, he had to figure out my scheme.  I never thought that far ahead (typical kid logic) and he never called me on it.  Dad had a sense of humor and his own sweet tooth; I'm guessing he got a laugh out of it each time. 

Back to sweets:  I tried something last year; I planted "Stevia rebaudiana".  Stevia is in the sunflower family.  It's grown (and sold) for it's sweet leaves.  The leaves of the stevia plant have 30–45 times the sweetness of table sugar.  The leaves can be eaten fresh, or put in teas and foods.

It's been used for decades in many countries as a sweetener.  Not without controversy, the extract was banned in the U.S. in the 1990s and now must be labeled a dietary supplement.  The extract has 300 times the sweetness of sugar.  It has been a sugar substitute for people wanting to limit their carbs. or watching their blood glucose.

Beverage companies are using sweeteners enhanced with stevia in soft drinks.  Some of the  names you may see on a can are:  "Purevia", "rebiana", "steviol glycosides", "Truvia", and "Rebaudioside A".  Interesting that along with the sweet drink industry, Cargill is involved in developing this product.  Part of the process for extracting the sweetener used in soft drinks typically involves the use of  ethanol or methanol as the solvent. 

Once stevia extracts and components hit the US market, testing started and with mixed results.  Is it toxic?  Does it have adverse components?  Does it cause birth defects?  Right now, none of these are proven to happen because of stevia or it's components.

It's been shown to improve insulin sensitivity on animals and the hope of reversing diabetes. "In addition, a 2009 FDA review study found that stevioside and related compounds have anti- hyperglycemic, anti-hypertensive, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-diarrheal, diuretic and immunomodulatory actions."  

Politically, it's been a bit of a hotbed of complaints, industry and legal maneuvering, and laboratory findings since it cannot be patented.  Leave it to large industry and the government to take a good thing and crush the sweetness right out of it!  www.stevia.net has some interesting research.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What does the gardener need to know?

You may find plant sets available at nurseries in your area (this is where I purchased mine).  I've seen it in catalogs and on the web.  Planting from seed requires more patience than most home gardeners have because of a low seed germination rate and varying sweetness of plants. 

I planted mine in a pot and it was easy to grow with no extreme measures for care.  It's not a particularly outstanding plant visually - medium green leaves on stiff stems that can look like a shrub. 

In this area, it would be considered an annual or plant in a pot.  Typically it has a one year life cycle.  It makes an excellent herb for those wishing to have an organic sweetener (assuming you do not use chemicals in your own environment). 

Don't put outside until all danger of frost is over and ground temperatures are 50-60 degrees.  Plant in rich loamy, well drained soil, mulch to keep surface roots from drying, and fertilize with a low nitrogen organic based brand.

Harvesting is not a summer long process, rather wait as late in the fall prior to a frost and cut the branches down, strip the leaves, and dry the leaves.  Crush dried leaves if using as a tea or powder to use in recipes.

Chewed fresh leaves have a sweet licorice taste and long after taste. 

Using stevia requires some trial and error because your plant will have it's own sweetness level.  The leaves can be made into a liquid that may help you measure into drinks.  There's a conversion chart on the stevia web site. 

My little bit of advice:  Don't use too much at a time - although I can't imagine anyone able to tolerate large amounts in one bite or drink.  As with all natural supplements, use wisely.  

All photos are from the open web.

Windy in the Country

The daylily "Country Fair Winds" has a name that's perfect for where we live: 

In the country - check. 
Fair amount of wind - check.

Other check marks for this pretty daylily:

Inexpensive - check!  Two-three fans from Oakes Daylilies for under $6.00.

Dormant - check!  I often have the most success with dormant varieties.

Hardy - check!  This means it will be hardy to Zone 3.  
 
Late season bloomer - check!  Blooming in July and into August when other daylilies have finished.

Medium big bloom size - check!  Consistently has six inch blooms.

Good height - check!  Registered for 25 inches tall, mine is often more like 36 inches. 

Solid breeder - check!  All my daylilies from Klehm are healthy, sturdy, and have many flowers.

 Pretty - check!  The flower is a light peach (some areas get a little pink) with a greenish gold throat.  The peach and gold make a beautiful and unusual combo.

Unusual - check!  It has a thin gold, ruffled edge that glows like a strip of fine gold glass spun over the edge..

Fragrance - check!  It has a strong scent.

Photogenic - check!  This is one of those lilies where you will have loads of pictures because every day there's a beauty.  It's also one of those lilies that's even prettier in person.

So:  check - check - check!  I bought this daylily because it looked good and was cheap.  Yep, nothing scientific or lofty.  No research, no color matching, no checking anything much.

Isn't it a lovely surprise when all the checks are met without deserving on our part?  If you're new to daylilies or a seasoned collector, I recommend "Country Fair Winds" for all the reasons I've check!

“Lone and erect,

beneath light's primal flood,

A lily! and pure as any one of you.”

~Mallarme

Raise Your Rake

Anyone else work outside these past two days

while the temperature reached almost 70 degrees? 

While shopping this morning for paint, I picked up some caladiums.  Caladiums aren't the cheapest tender bulb to have in our Zone 5 gardens.  It may be why I don't see many in local gardens. 

The "how to" portion:

Plant after all danger of frost is past and the ground has warmed.  They are native to the Amazon and the hotter the temps (both day and night) the faster they germinate and grow.  Either start inside, buy sets, or wait until June. 

With most all bulbs, the ground should be well drained.  The other side of the coin is they like it moist.  Meaning:  Water often but don't let them sit in water.

The bigger the bulb, the bigger the leaves.

Fertilize every six weeks and they do much better if planted in fertile soil.  "Miracle Grow" may cause the colors to change - not the best idea.  Some varieties change color as they mature.

Most Caladiums like some shade especially if it's a hot site or if you live in the South.  I typically plant them in shade although not total dark.  The deeper the shade, the more green the leaf shows.  Highly acid soil will cause the leaves to be darker in color.  If planted in too much sun, the leaves will get sun spots.

All parts of the plant are poisonous. 

Dig up before first frost and store like cannas and glads.

And then the beauty of it all:  Caladiums varieties are strap, dwarf, fancy leaf.

Fancy:  Large heart-shaped leaves. Height 18" to 22." Most prefer filtered shade or afternoon shade with morning sun. Some varieties are tolerant of sun all day.

Strap or Lance:  Elongated heart and narrower shaped leaves. Height 12" to 14." Uses: hanging baskets, borders, plantings in front of fancy type. All varieties are tolerant of all day sun.

Dwarf:  Leaves are heart-shaped like Fancy, but smaller. Height 15" to 17." The light requirements are similar to Fancy. Miss Muffet and Gingerland are unique speckled varieties. Fantasy and Moonlight are sun tolerant. 

Typically, they are referred to as "reds", "pinks", "whites" and "mixed".

Today, most large commercial growers are in central Florida.  Lake Placid FL has an annual Caladium Festival each August.   

Use them in planters, hanging baskets, around trees, as an edge, and tucked in between perennials.  The cut leaves will keep a week in vases.  Make a point to try some this year.  Most nurseries (local and catalog) carry several varieties potted.  Big box stores are already carrying the bulbs and will later carry plants. 

And today as you raise your rake in joy for warm weather - scope out sites for a few caladiums this year.      

 

Less Said

Sometimes the less said, the better.



Eye Poppin Sculptures

I appreciate artistic talent and I'm glad there's enough individuals with talent to supply the needs to the most common or eclectic. Here's some I've enjoyed, either up close and personal or on the web.

This is putting the "flower child" description to the test.  Is it
1.  an old car,
2.  a yard sculpture,
3.  a flower pot,
4.  junk,
5.  art,
6.  or all of the above?

I've seen several of these and most would take a farm sized back yard.  Some are arks while other's look like pirate ships.  This is just what we (our grandchildren) need in our yard!  I'm just sure it's another one of those projects that will only cost "a dime more than a dollar" or "a minute over eternity.."

How cute are these herb garden markers made from wine corks?  Yes, I consider it art since it takes a creative person to come up with the idea.  Admittedly a wine drinking creative person!                                                                

This old truck is out front of a car repair business located beside the Greentown, Indiana county fairgrounds.  Note the water  shooting out the radiator into the pond. 

I've seen several of these tongue-in-cheek garden beds but this has to be one of the most perfected.

This is my Praying Mantis.  I saw this at a local nursery and thought it would make a nice happy birthday present to me.  When we inquired, we were told the man who'd made them was retired and they wouldn't sell their last one.  My husband came home and made this for me - perfect!  Both of them! 

Gardeners may not realize glass can be a beautiful focal point in flower beds.  The whole Dale Chihuly garden exhibits have opened up this garden art medium to the masses.  Perhaps you won't put a Chihuly in your garden but definitely some glass.  Mirrors on a fence or in a knot hole, glass art balls, or the old gazing balls. 

And one of the most fun ~~ an art sculpture made from flip flops.  It's enough to make you want to skip!

 Serene and modern, this beauty is an example of stainless steel sculpturing.

Something for everyone - to buy or to make.  I'm sure you can get a little art mojo workin' in time for perhaps the final snow of the season.  

Spring This and That

The Van Bourgondien family has been growing and selling Quality/Heirloom flower bulbs for over a century. "The world of mail order nurseries suffered another hit this month with the bankruptcy of K. Van Bourgondien, which first filed for Chapter 11 protection on January 26.  It remains unclear at this time if the company can find a way to remain viable."  We don't always think hard financial times involves in the garden world - this should be an indication it's not insulated from the economic pressure of small commercial business.   

Hort Couture: Flowers and fashion have a lot in common. Vibrant colors. Rich textures. The power to inspire—and make jaws drop. This year at the Chicago Flower & Garden Show, March 10-18, 2012, the worlds of fashion and horticulture will collide, creating an experience that rivals the hottest runway show or A-list after party

Chicago Botanic Gardens "Antiques and Garden Fair" Friday – Sunday, April 20 – 22, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.  Celebrating 12 years, the Antiques & Garden Fair continues to offer the best in classical and contemporary garden furnishings, botanical art, and home and garden design from more than 100 exhibitors from the United States and Europe.  www.chicagobotanic.org 

The Chicago Botanic Garden website has a spot on page for a monthly checklist of things to be done in the garden.  For those of you chomping at the bit to get outside - March's list provides some tasks for those nice days.

http://www.pantone.com the fashion industry's "all things color" business has decided "Tangerine Tango" is the color for 2012.  Expect to see it in clothes, furnishings and perhaps garden flowers.  It does rather make me want to sink my teeth into some citrus.  As far as rushing out to pick up some vibrant orange for the garden - well maybe not in my garden.  Granted, it does pop.  The trick is ~ I have enough orange considering I'm not an orange fan.  Although, I do have a couple of stunning orange daylilies.  Then there are the some great orange annuals - OK OK OK - so maybe I don't dislike orange all that much.

Don't forget the Galva Arts Council will be bringing back their garden walk this summer.   We have some pretty awesome gardens lined up with completely different styles located from Galva to Bishop Hill.  I'll have more on the dates and gardens.  More about other area garden walks and fun events for the summer. Fun in other gardens and in your own gardens.  Who ready?  Raise your hand and let's get this Spring show on the road!!!!

Top photo is mine - other three are from open web sites.  Dress is available from prom stores should you want to purchase to wear at your next garden party - in theme, in fashion, in color - what more could a girl want?   Not the prom dress kinda person: orange tux?  Orange t-shirt?  Orange shorts?  Orange flip-flops?  Orange hair?  Perhaps just a really good Dreamsicle!