Week 34, Year 3: Daisy Chain

When you think of daisies – you think of fun, fresh and bright.  You can always count on a daisy to cheer you up and put a smile on your face. That’s why this year’s garden features a number of daisy or daisy-like varietals.  True daises are those plants that belong to the voluminous asteracae family, which is the second largest plant family with over 23,000 species. The common name of “daisy” derives from an old English term meaning “day’s eye”, so named because its petals open at dawn and close at dusk.  

“Sunny” Lemon Star Black-Eyed Susan Vine (Thunbergia alata)

The black-eyed susan vine is easy to grow and a great addition for novices and experienced gardeners alike. The vines can adapt to various conditions, managing in containers, part shade and without a lot of maintenance. The plant can grow up to 8 feet, though you will want to provide a climbing structure for that kind of growth.  Although not a true daisy, the flowers are reminiscent of a sunny daisy -- the vine features five petaled tubular flowers, in orange or yellow, with purplish brown centers.

A returning favorite, this year’s vine is a sunny lemon. Unlike previous years, I planted it in a window box. I had planted previous editions in a pot with a trellis. However, the plant had trouble flowering and I hadn’t been happy with the results. So, this year, I figured I would mix it up a bit – and boy is it working. The vine is managing to hold its own against the aggressive picasso petunias and seems to be thriving as a down climber (rather than being forced up a trellis). 

“Daybreak Red Stripe” Gazania (Ganania)

A true member of the daisy family, Gazania is a a native of Africa and was introduced in the late 1700s.   It is an annual in the midwest, but can be a perennial in milder climates. True to its origins, Gazania is tough. It does well in dry, hot condition and features the bold, vibrant colors of an African savannah. The Daybreak Red Stripe features bold daisy-shaped flowers with dark ringed centers, growing on toothed (jagged edged) foliage. The florets are a vibrant yellow, with golden brown center rays.  The  petals start as spiky rays and then flatten their way into curved petals.

      

It is doing fairly well in a mixed container my garden, but could be doing better. I’ve realized I’m overwatering it a bit, but am also stuck with the fact that its co-habitants require more moisture. So, I have to settle for less than perfection.

“New Amethyst” Brachyscome (Brachyscome)

According to Wikipedia, there are more than 70 species of brachyscome, a member of the daisy family. The brachyscome are found in a variety of climates, but all bear the daisy flower or “head” with ray florets (petals) narrowing into a disc-shaped yellow center.   The “New Amethyst” species is true to its genus with masses of tiny lavender daisy blossoms with yellow centers amid lacy green textured foliage. It has a “mounding” growing habit, which means it grows in great rounded “mounds” or clumps. In my garden, the brachyscome plays a filler role in a mixed window box. However, it can also work in landscaping jobs as ground cover in the cooler areas of your garden.

Fleabane “Prosperity” (Erigeron)

Often mistaken for an aster, Fleabane is in fact a perennial member of the daisy family and has its origins as a wildflower.  The fleabane has daisy-like flowers with purple florets and chartreuse centers, sort of the bigger version of the brachyscome. They do best in part shade, and, apparently, can bloom continuously all summer. I say apparently because mine have not been so successful. I think its because they are overcrowded in a window box that includes three other inhabitants.

“Sun Brella’s” Corona African Daisy (Osteospermum) 

Osteospermums are  relatively new to the gardening scene – less than 25 years old. However, these annuals are incredibly popular and can be found at almost every greenhouse. Although a member of the sunflower family, African Daisies are so named because of their daisylike flowers with disc centers and ray florets. They require full sun and can grow fairly tall.

When I say it requires full sun, I’m not kidding. Growing osteosperumums has always been a challenge for me because of the sun. I find them a bit high maintenance between the sun issues and the deadheading they require. However, they make a nice addition to any container.

Week 30, Year 3: Fun with Foliage - Caladium

 

While flowers often steal the show, foliage plays an important role in any garden – adding color, texture and contrast. I’ve decided to focus a few posts on some of the supporting players in this year’s garden, starting with Caladium.

Often called Elephant Ears, there are over 1,000 variations of this South American native. Although wild plants continue to grow mostly in Brazil, 98% of all caladium bulbs in the U.S. originate in Lake Placid, Florida – how’s that for some trivia? Known for their heart shaped leaves, varying in green, pink, white and red patterns, caladium can grow up to 24 inches.

 

In my garden, I have three caladium residents. Two are brightening up combo-pots and the other is on its own. I’ve learned they are not exactly the hardiest and tend to get overrun by other pot mates. They also are a rare breed that prefers shade to sun.

 

The first is a traditional caladium with white leaves and green veins with slight pink centers. This one resides with ornamental pepper, ornamental oregano and picasso petunias. The leaves are almost papery thin and are almost transparent like an onion skin. You really can see the “Elephant Ear” motif with these in the shape of the leaves.

 

The second plant has pink leaves with green blotches and look as if it has been graffiti-ed by a green slinging tag artist. This varietal makes it home with tuberous begonia, sedum, mimulus and nicotiana. The leaves are a bit sturdier than the white varietal and are supported by brown stems.

  

The last version has its own pot. This guy has chartreuse leaves with white veins. The leave lightens toward its center, giving it an antiqued look that marries with its romantic pot splendidly. This one seems to be the most fragile, though, and hasn’t had as good of a run as I would like. I’m not sure if its been the historic high temperatures or if it’s getting too much sun or if it’s just a bad plant. I’ll be keeping my eye on it in any case.

Week 31, Year 3: Petunia Parade

Petunias have always been a favorite of mine. The past few years, I’ve planted two varieties of purple wave petunias and let them climb down the railing. This year, however, I had to make a change because I purchased all of my flowers at a different nursery. So, I expanded.  This year’s four petunia varieties play star and supporting roles in the garden.
Starring Roles
The two leading ladies are considered “designer” petunias – which are basically exotic hybrids that have been cultivated by a specific grower to be particularly unique or showy.
Antique Shades Petunias
These petunias are aptly named. They have a romantic shabby-chic-ness to them. Their frilly edges and fading flowers make them look like they’ve actually been “antiqued”. 

Sticking to the motif, the flowers seem to change color over time, similar to an antiqued cabinet.  The flowers start out with a light, romantic pink fading into light yellow and green centers. However, two months later, the flowers are a deep pink with a golden yellow throat. You can really see the difference in the photos below which show the progression from light to dark flowers.

“Pretty Much Picasso” Petunias

Picasso Petunias were developed by Proven Winners and are relatively new to the scene, but they have quickly become a crowd favorite. With their bright color scheme and trailing waves, Picassos are hard to resist.
Unlike the antique petunias, the link between the petunia and its name is unclear. While Pablo Picasso was known for his bright paintings, these flowers seem unworthy of his name. Unlike a Picasso painting, Picasso Petunias do not reflect the distortion and layering of cubist art, but have very sharp features – the bright purple flowers feature a crisp lime green edge. I have not found much information on the name, so I’m thinking some marketer thought it would make them sound more unique and interesting to name them after the iconic painter.  

Picassos are wave petunias. Proven Winners advertises them as “vigorous” and they weren’t kidding – my Picassos have overtaken the two containers I’ve planted them in. I’ve cut them back twice and they’ve grown back just as strong.  Despite this, I’ve really enjoyed them and I hope I can find them again next year.
Supporting Roles
Not to be forgotten, my other petunias are playing a supporting role in window boxes and combo pots. Each adds its own brand of cheerfulness and color to its pot.
Blue Vein Double Petunias

Double petunias are exactly what they sound like. The cultivator grows two petunia blooms on one stem, creating an extra full flower. My double petunias are wave petunias living in a purple themed window box. Named “blue vein”, my double petunias are a light purple with (you guessed it) a dark blue vein traveling the blossoms.
                             
My one complaint about double petunias is that they are not self-cleaners like regular petunias. So, they need to be deadheaded, but the dead flowers are not that easy to remove since the stems are coated with the same sticky substance as regular petunias.

Suncatcher Yellow Trailing Petunias
             
Last, but not least, is the suncatcher trailing petunia -- a cheerful white petunia with a bright yellow throat. This sunny petunia is residing at the base of a small ornamental tree. Its trailing elements are the perfect effect for this pot.  The stems cheerfully spill out over the sides of the green container and create weight at the bottom of an otherwise tall focal point.  The slightly smaller blooms also make a great complement to a combo pot. 

Week 30, Year 3: Clematis Files

Yes, you read that right – I still have not learned my lesson and I’m back for more punishment at the hands of a clematis vine. For those of you who have followed this blog from the beginning, you know that clematis have been a particular struggle for me. The beautiful climbing vine has a mind of its own, and that mind usually does not prefer confinement in a pot. While many Wisconsin gardeners find easy success with clematis, I’ve always been challenged to find success. The critical difference is of course the container. Clematis are just not meant to be container plants, but for some reason, I’m bound and determined to try year after year.

This year, I really thought I would resist. I truly had no intention of buying a clematis (do I ever?). However, I just could not resist this year’s clematis when I saw it growing on this beautiful trellis. So, I figured the clematis struggle would be worth the long term joy of the trellis, which could easily be repurposed for less frustrating endeavors once I killed off the clematis. 

 

So, I set this year’s clematis up to be even more of a failure than the others. I planted it in a small pot without much concern for its well being and I shoved the angel wing begonia in it four weeks later when I was looking for a place to put the cutting. Once the original flowers died, I sat back and waited for the shriveling, frustrating misery of years past.

Well, the joke was on me. Apparently, clematis really do have a mind of their own – a contrary, curmudgeony, stubborn mind. This year’s plant must have realized I wanted it to do die, so it decided to thrive instead. Two weeks later, a bud emerged and bloomed a few days later – into a healthy, purple flower. 

 

 

 

 

It’s bloomed twice since I bought it  and it has continued to grow on the trellis. The vines are healthy, the leaves look great and it hasn’t shriveled up after blooming. Frankly, I don’t understand it, but I’ve stopped trying to because I figure the minute I actually think about it, the clematis will die. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this post doesn’t send it over the edge.

Week 29, Year 3: Beautiful Begonias

This week's post is all about the Bs. And no, I'm not talking about Beyonce. Begonias - big, beautiful and bold begonias. Each year, I've had one begonia occupying my side table for our chairs, but this year's garden is a begonia festival, host to three varieties - Tuberous, Ballerina and Angel Wing (maybe).

Although they are often overlooked for flashier annuals, there is so much to love about begonias. The way the flowers bloom is incredibly unique. Each bloom grows from underneath the leaves, starting with a small envelope and exploding into a cascading bloom.

The leaves could give hostas a run for their money. The underside is always rich in red details while the top shows interesting textures and patterns. The flowers themselves last for a long time and continually bloom if you get it right. They are always delicate and show an incredible depth in texture and color. What’s more, they are easy to grow. They love shade to part shade and are drought tolerant. Plus, begonias are easy to propagate (see the prequel post) – which brings us to the first variety.


Spotted Angel Wing Begonia (I think)

This plant was the result of a cutting a fellow gardener took from her sister’s overgrown begonia bush. I’m not entirely sure of its variety, but a quick Google search suggests its a Spotted Angel Wing Begonia. The giveaway is in the leaves, which have unique white spots.


I have it planted with my clematis. It hasn’t bloomed yet (probably due to its week long stay in the fluorescent lighting of office), so I can’t be sure, but I haven’t found any other varieties with this unique leaf pattern. Even without flowers, this is a great plant. The detail in the leaves is fantastic, especially the underside of the leaves – an unexpected bright and juicy red.


Ballerina Begonia
If propagation isn’t for you, the next option is to grow from seed/bulbs. I picked up my ballerina begonia bulbs at a garden show in February and planted them during a warm spell in March. Now, they are all grown up and ready for their blog debut. A unique begonia, the ballerina enjoys the spotlight, tolerating full sun. The leaves are equally eye catching,  showing a bright chartreuse. 
But in truth, as with any prima ballerina, this plant is all about the unique, ruffled flowers. The layered texture evokes the taffeta of a blushing ballerina. The colors honor the theme, layers of hot pink, orange and canary softening into pale yellow, apricot and ballerina pink.
                                                      


Tuberous Begonias


Finally, if seeds and root cuttings are too much work, there is the ready to go greenhouse option – which brings me to the last variety. The tuberous begonia is probably the most common begonia varietal at your local greenhouse. These annuals have benefitted from breeders and hybridizers and come in a variety of sizes, flower shapes and growing styles. Tuberous begonias are so-named after their thick “tuberlike” root systems. They can grow upright, planted in containers with branches growing skyward, or pendulous, planted in hanging baskets with branches drooping downward. The leaves on the upright are jagged-edged arrows, ranging in colors from shades of green to variegated reds and bronze patterns. The flowers can be single or double ruffled layers curling outward, or straight, rose-like layers curling inward.


In my case, I have two upright tuberous begonias growing in my garden – apricot and yellow.


The yellow version has its own pot and first occupied the treasured side table spot of my predecessor begonias.  The variegated leaves have a network of maroon veins running through their tops and bottoms.  


The tag claims the flowers are pure yellow. However, my plant seems to have other ideas in mind. When it first bloomed, I had bright pink buds, which quickly grew into ruffled globes on par with the ballerina, showing layers of yellows, pinks and oranges. 

The apricot tuberous begonia is hanging out in one of the more colorful combo pots.  This guy is a fighter and has been in continual bloom since first planting. While the leaves are a relatively straightforward green, the flowers are incredible. Apricot is actually a vivid orange that has traces of translucent pinks, yellows and purples on the edges.