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. 

Week 28, Year 3: Propagation Station

Propagation is a new topic for this blog. The basic idea is to take cuttings from one plant to grow another. The technique is not always so basic and not every plant can be reproduced this way. However, it’s a fun way for gardeners to share their babies with other flower lovers and learn new things about their treasured hobby. One of the easiest ways to propagate is to root the cuttings in water.  

Begonias are easy to propagate this way as I learned a few weeks ago when one of my gardening co-workers brought me a begonia cutting. As is ideal, the cutting was in a small container to allow the roots to release a hormone in the water as they grow. The cutting itself is taken at the end part of the stem. A good how to guide can be found at here if you want to become a propagation expert.

  My new baby actually sat on my desk at work for a week (without natural light or additional water) before I brought it home and planted it with the clematis a few days later. During its time in the jar, it grew the most incredible looking roots.  Almost ethereal in their white, swimming fibers. The plant continued to grow, even sprouting little buds. When I finally planted it with the clematis, it was well on its way to a successful growing season. I can’t wait to see it continue.

Week 27, Year 3: Red, White and Blue

 

In honor of the Fourth of July, I'm spotlighting some patriotic members of my garden: Nicotiana and Scaevola.

The Red - Nicotiana. With its star shaped petals and fragrant evening smell, Nicotiana would appear to be a jasmine family member. Instead, it is one of seventy members of the nicotine family, which includes traditional tobacco (yes, the same stuff that goes into cigarettes). Hence, Nicotiana's more common name, flowering tobacco.

While you can't smoke this stuff, you can grow it. A native of Brazil, Nicotiana was apparently introduced to gardeners in England in the 1820s. Today, it has become a popular annual all over the world and comes in a variety of colors. Nicotiana are shade tolerant, which makes them a great filler to any shade loving container, though part sun seems to be their preference. Sticking to the Independence Day theme, Nicotiana is a presidential favorite, spreading the grounds of Monticello and other Virginian estates. The perfect patriot -- my varietal is red hybrid, which is less fragrant than the white variety, but vivid in color.

White and Blue - Scaevola. A double dipper, this proud American shines in white with royal blue trimmed edges. The fan-shaped flowers appear to have been folded or cut in half, explaining their generic Latin name, which translates to "left-handed."

According to Wikipedia, several legends have sprung up around the reason for this unique shape. One legend claims the flowers were torn in half by a woman after a fight with her lover. In their anger, the Gods turned all of the flowers into half flowers, separating the two lovers who were forced to live out their days searching for another whole flower.

 

Scaevola actually have tropical origins, coming from Australia and Hawai'i. So, they are drought and heat tolerant. My patriotic hybrid is called the Scaevola Diamond. It is playing a filler role in one of my combo pots, growing downward.

  

I've also planted a "blue" variety that has deep purple (blue) flowers with yellow centers in a window box.  This version grows vertically and is often called an Australian Fan-Flower.