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!  

It's A Combo

I'm not talking cheeseburger and fries.  I'm talking about color combinations.

Sweeping batches of same color flowers certainly make a statement.  It’s sometimes the best way to catch the attention of pollinating insects and birds.

Using one color shouldn’t be your choice if it’s just because you’re afraid it will clash or be garish.  Let me help a little with color combos.

Purple:  Surprisingly, purple will pair with almost any color in the garden including orange.  When paired with pastels, it becomes part of a soft visual wave.  When paired with bright colors, it often becomes the background that makes the bright color pop.  Lavender needs deep colors around it to make it show up.

Orange:  Orange can be a feature or a background.  If used in quantity for a background, the best colors to plant with orange are:  Bright yellow – not gold.  White – not pale yellow.  Deep purple not lavender.  Lime green not blue green.  Royal blue not dusty blue. 

Red:  Reds have more shades than most any of natures other flowers.  If you have trouble defining the shade, take a pack of basic color crayons and hold each color up to your red.  If the crayon and flower blend perfectly, you know that is the shade of red you have.  Most reds have either orange or purple.  Those two reds don’t usually look good placed next to each other.  Although this isn’t exclusive:  Orange red looks good with shades of orange, yellow, purple, green, and white.  Purple red looks good with purple, lavender, white, chartreuse, and pink.

Yellow:  From soft butter yellow to rich gold, yellow is a great garden color.  It’s the sun, its energy, it can be sweet.  All yellows go with dark green.  Not as good with light green or chartreuse because they are too similar.  It goes with purple, orange, and red.  Bright yellow/gold makes a statement.  Lighter yellows hold a group of colors together.

White:  White calms down a garden full of bright colors or can make a statement used in mass.  Lots of white will glow at night.  White will go with any color although it does different things.  White will weave other colors together.  It can make other colors stand out.  Against dark colors, it can be the feature.

Blue:  Blue, much like purple, can go with most any color without clashing.  The only one I don’t like with blue is orange red.  Blue may get lost when combined with lots of green or in shade.  Blue is a great color to weave other brighter colors together. 

Green:  Green flowers need a lot of other colors around it to be seen.  Many wildflowers are in shades of green.  Chartreuse will hold its own. 

It doesn’t have to be a cottage or informal garden to have combinations of colors.  It doesn’t need to be expanses – try in a container if you’re timid.

To get inspired, check out the two slide shows on my blog “Slide into Spring” #450.  They feature Claude Monet’s gardens in Giverny, France and Annie’s Annuals spring flower show. 

Color combos are as delicious as a cheeseburger and fries and without the calories!

The Lamb

No, not THE Lamb - It's March 1st and I'm talkin' weather.  We've had a faux winter and apparently spring wants to try to top winter.  Hate it when the seasons compete!

We had several days of high winds.  The kind of winds that push the warm air out of a house and make me sympathize with those folks who used to live in the dust bowls in the 1920's.  The howling certainly makes one a little edgy. 

Even though the temperature was in the 40 degree range, the 25 mph winds gave us the windchill of 16.  Today the temps are in the high 30s and almost no wind and I'm thinkin' it's a flip flop kinda day.

If you believe in weather folklore, our spring has entered like a lamb.  Granted, it's a gray dreary-coated lamb.  Are we to expect it to go out like a lion?  Is this type of weather forecasting any better than that silly groundhog routine? 

I love observing weather.  It's often referred to as an old folks "thing", but, I've been into it since I was young.  We have a new fancy-dancy weather system - thanks to a Christmas gift.  I've thermometers in most every room in the house; you never know when you'll need an immediate reading...  Another on the back porch because everyone wants to know how hot it is when your sitting with that glass of iced tea, sweating like crazy and the conversation turns to temperature.

Yes, I'm a weather junky and I'm not content without knowing our local Channel 8 "storm team's" forecast for tomorrow. 

This junky has a weather alert system that sends out a loud warning if severe weather is on the way.  This is tied to an alert system on my computer and cell phone.  Love it!  This home siren system isn't a bad idea out in the country where we can't hear the mega ones in town. 

What reminded me of all this was a fb question "Have you ever been in a tornado?"  Check out "Tornado Alley" article, indexed as "Spring Severe Weather" #309.
  
I don't know if it's the alert system or the change in barometric pressure, but, my heart rate certainly increases when an  "immediately take cover or you will be killed" alert hits the air waves.  There's some springs we've spent many hours in the basement, weather alert radio running, people and pets listening to see if we are the ones who will hear that freight train. 

Unless a tornado has been sighted near our house, I usually take a boat load of pictures of the sky.  Pre storm clouds are marvelously beautiful - well, until they turn that pea green color and then I'm heading down the stairs. 

Here's a photo of our mature cat taking one of her many long winter naps.  She just happened to lay near this magazine - says it all!  And to set the record straight:  I did not buy that magazine!



Check out the "Adventures in Tornado Alley - Storm Chasers"  by Mike Hollingshead and the late Eric Nguyen.  Amazing photos of tornadoes. 

Another book on the subject and closer to home:  "Superstorms:  Extreme Weather in the Heart of the Heartland" by the QC Channel 8 meteorologist, Terry Swails.