Brand New for 2015: "Icecap" Rose

◼ Rosa‘Meiradena’ PPTBS
Icecap™ displays a dense flush of pure white flowers on a compact, rounded shrub. Excellent repeat-blooming and resistance to many common rose diseases such as black spot, mildew and rust is observed. It has been one of the most consistent performers in our independent trials conducted at trial sites around the country. Icecap™ is the first introduction created from the combined breeding efforts of Will Radler and Meilland International....

Just got one - PROFUSE blooms! Really pretty! No scent to speak of, so far. There were three, side by side, at the nursery - head turning. You have to get one, or two, or three!

◼ link - Cuplike flower form with 25 petals, Very disease resistant, little to no scent, grown on its own root, suitable for mass planting

Bowl of Cream Double Peony

The Bowl of Cream Peony, Paeonia 'Bowl of Cream', blooms in midseason with large, bowl-shaped blossoms of pure white that have hidden golden stamens. The flower width can be as large as 8" wide. The beautiful dark green foliage really makes the flowers stand out. Double. Developed by Klehm Nursery, Hybridized by Roy Klehm in 1963. APS Gold Medal winner 1981.

Large, fragrant, pure white double blooms are displayed on the erect stems of this clumping perennial. Excellent background plant for spring bulbs, or use in perennial or shrub borders. Choice cut flower. American Peony Society Gold Medal winner.

Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. For a neat appearance, remove old foliage before new leaves emerge. Divide clumps every 2 to 3 years in early spring. ◼ link: Monrovia

Peonies are herbaceous perennials arising from thickened tuberous roots. Largely invisible, hidden underground most of the year, they are quite spectacular when they emerge. They respond well to a yearly fertilization, and addition of bonemeal. It is best to leave them undisturbed, dividing them infrequently. Botyritus can be a problem during humid spells. Peonies are one of the longest living herbaceous perennials often found in older gardens, for once established they will survive neglect. One hundred year old peonies are not uncommon. ◼ link: backyardgardener

Mature Height 1.5 to 2 feet, Mature Spread 2 to 3 feet, Full sun, Fast grower to 1 1/2 to 2 ft. tall, 2 to 3 ft. wide.

Christmas presents of sorts

Bought this Madaga Gazebo (assembly required) from Target - sturdy posts look like big bamboo... has curtains and mosquito netting, with the umbrella top... can get an outdoor chandelier, hang plants from the archways, room for lots of seating
Protective Qualities: Weather Resistant, Rust Resistant
Finish: Powder-Coated
Features: Free Standing
Includes: Mosquito Netting
Frame Material: Steel
Textile Material: 100 % Terylene
Care and Cleaning: Wipe Clean With a Damp Cloth
Warranty Description: 1 Year Limited Manufacturer Warranty
Dimension:Height: 120.0 "; Length: 120.0 "; Width: 120.0 "
DPCI: 009-05-0180
ASIN: B000VYLBB2
Catalog #: 10688914
Floor model, deep end of season discount (75% off)

Comments on site RECOMMEND assembling top first, says it take about an hour an a half to assemble... Sunjoy Industries in Steubenville, Ohio for new canopy - phone number is 740-283-2815. Or try Gardenwinds.com... spray the material when new with a UV canvas protectant that you can purchase at your local Marine Supply store. Got that tip from a local canvas awning company. They say it will more than double the life of your canopy material.... i went to sunjoy industries website as instructed by some reviewers. they are available now and actually on sale for $ but please read the descriptions. target has sold TWO different models in since 2005. one is from 2005-2007. and the other is from 2008 to present. the canopies fiT differently. home depot also sells one. so read!...put up curtains and fairy lights and turned the gazebo into a second living room...One hint is to put the top small canvas to the small roof before you connect the small roof to the big one!!

Question now is, where to put it - on the deck? Over the firepit? In theory the canopy makes the deck usable on rainy days, and extends the living area.

The fabulous Playset

Made of Port Orford Cedar, does not splinter, wears like iron. Spent many many hours looking for a good playset, lots of books of plans, responded to an ad in a local paper - Playset for sale, you dismantle and move, something along those lines. It was a doctor who was moving to Peru or somewhere. He wanted $700 and we paid it. One of the best buys, and best investments we ever made. Been in since 1999. Needs new canopies now, but otherwise same as the day it came here.

It has a castle, a sandbox, a fireman's pole, a slide, swings, monkeybars, and a tire swing. It's seen many hours of fun. The monkeybars became a rite of passage, because at first the kids were too little, it was too high, and too scary, and they'd try it and there were many screams for help. But when they mastered it, it was a BIG deal. Not just our kids but the neighbor kids too. They've set up tadpole farms in the upper castle. They've almost outgrown it now, all but the swings. We'll see what this summer brings.

(Just did a quick google search - the company, Krauss Craft Inc. is still in business, selling playsets, but boy have they changed.)

Gotta plant a FIG tree

For one thing, then I can make Katie's Fig Recipe.

Fig Tree tips
Hmmm... Figs are shallow rooted and the roots are aggressive - the tree gets quite large and shades out everything under it....never knew that.
Cooking Light on growing figs Some of the best-tasting figs spoil quickly and cannot be shipped out of the region where they are grown. That's a good reason to grow your own.

Lots to choose from! Violette de Bordeaux - A small, super, jet black fig from Spainl, considered by many to be the very best tasting fig. It's very hardy,good for cold climates. Two crops. It's highly productive in pots. Dwarf and prolific.

Solar lights

Costco has outdoor solar light posts, stainless steel, very nice. $53. Got one today, will see if it works, and how I like it, may want to get a couple more rather than deal with wiring and extension cords in the back yard. Not to mention the cost of electricity. Report: ok. lit up fine two nights in a row, but not the third, the on switch seems to be a bit faulty, it ended up coming on late in the night with no rhyme or reason, but that isn't reliable enough to allow for being out there in the early evening. (Took it in and exchanged it for another one. Costco's return policy is as good as I had heard. Fast and courteous.) Frontgate has the exact same thing (looks like), they charge about $150 + shipping.

I'm giving it one more night and if it doesn't light up, it is going back. This second one lit up perfectly the first two nights. Nothing since and we have had the sunniest of weather. NOT RECOMMENDED.

Funny story. I took it apart and put it in the car to take it back to Costco. Left it in there, took the kids to the school play, when we came back to the car it was dark, and there was the light, upside down on the seat, shining for all it was worth. The batteries definitely charge, and the light definitely works, but not when it is set up properly, maybe it needs to be pressed upward to make some connection happen, a connection that happened when it was turned upside down. Regardless, it is still going to have to be returned.

Baby Buddha

Planted Strawberries and a Lemon Tree in that green pot.

The search for a Shooting Star Hydrangea

I had picked up a Shooting Star hydrangea in the supermarket in Montana a couple of years ago. It didn't survive. Been looking for one ever since. Found this blurb online: ...the true name of this variety is Hanabi which means falling or shooting star in Japanese. That's a real loose translation, some say it means Fireworks or Sky fire. There are several varieties of hydrangea that are close and have the same bloom and cascading effect - Fuji Waterfall maybe Shirofuji.

Shooting Star is a re-named plant that is really Hydrangea macrophylla Hanabi. A tissue culture firm introduced Hanabi to this country under the name Fuji Waterfall. So H. m. Shooting Star equals H.m. Hanabi equals H.m. Fuji Waterfall and also H. m. Fireworks. Just to confuse you, there is also a hydrangea serrata Fuji-no-taki (and that translates to Fuji waterfall). http://www.hydrangeasplus.com/product.php?productid=213">
Sources include
Wilkerson Mill Gardens, (770) 463-2400 hydrangea.com
Hydrangeas Plus, (866)433-7896 hydrangeasplus.com.
I also found links to Amazon - they sell Shooting Stars, potted, at Christmas time, in bloom, but they are not available now.

Ordered a 'Fuji Waterfall' Hydrangea yesterday from Hydrangeas Plus. Two actually. To increase the chances for survival.


Also found this version: ‘Hayes Starburst’ (H. arb. radiata) A superb new Hydrangea with completely sterile, dome shaped flower heads comprised of fully doubled star-like flowers. Hayes Jackson of Anniston, NATIVE: North America. Zone 4, 3-4 feet, gr 1, It's at springmeadownursery.com They have Shirofuji, too.

Update! Wow! My Fuji Waterfall's arrived today - and they're nice! Big! And in little pots! Not just bare root. The packing material still moist, keeping them safe.

I'm very impressed - and I definitely recommend Hydrangeas Plus!

July 4th - picked up a 'florist' Shooting Star in full bloom. With three working for me - I should be successful. Gotta say it is GORGEOUS. Subtle hints of color, spectacular flowers. Really really nice! And so far surviving quite well, potted, and outside.
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◼ General Care

Step 1: Provide at least partial shade. The shooting star hydrangea grows best in morning sun and afternoon shade. Full sun will scorch the plant.

Step 2: Surround your shooting star hydrangea with an inch of organic mulch in the spring before it begins to bloom. This will encourage flower growth and reduce weed growth.

Step 3: Fertilize your hydrangea once in early summer with balanced (10-10-10) slow-release fertilizer.

Step 4: Prune immediately after the blooms start to fade, as the shooting star hydrangea is an old wood plant. This means that the blooms develop on the second-year wood.

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◼ More info:
Shooting Star is not the same plant as Fuji Waterfall. Shooting Star is a Hydrangea macrophylla (Big-leaf) and is most likely a renaming of H. mac 'Hanabi' (Fireworks) and is sometimes listed as 'Sumida no Hanabi' (Fireworks of Sumida), developed as an indoor, potted plant for the Florist market.

'Fuji Waterfall' is a H. serrata (Mountain Hydrangea, small leaf) and is said to be the same as the Japanese cultivar, 'Fuji no taki', which means "Waterfall of Fuji"

The confusion developed when a nursery began distributing 'Hanabi' with the 'Fuji Waterfall' label, whether knowingly or unknowingly and since the florets of the two are similar, no one questioned the name.

...Since the fertile flower colors of both, H.macrophylla and H.serrata, are pH sensitive, you will need to maintain the current acidity level of your potted plants, to retain the blue color (tinge). A small amount of Aluminum sulphate, applied 2 or 3 times each year should suffice. but be careful not to apply too much. Fertilizers containing a small amount of Sulphur can also maintain the correct pH.
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The ongoing saga: One, planted in the front yard has languished until this year, finally a couple of sturdy branches, with rich, healthy, macrophylla leaves, AND a bud emerging. Two more, still struggling to keep a couple leaves going, in pots.

Meanwhile, two full grown large potted hydrangeas, a pink(red) and white, doing great. Going to put the white one (with slightly chartreuse leaves) in the Japanese garden corner under the Bloodgood Maple. Seems funny to be reaching backwards and going with hydrangeas, but they're big, lush, flowery, rewarding and virtually indestructible.

July, 2013 - YEARS down the road, just bought TWO Shooting Star Hydrangeas at the local nursery, so they've finally made it to the nursery market. These two aren't blooming yet, so we'll see if the they're properly named. But they're big and they're healthy, in gallon pots.

July, 2016 - They're big, lush, healthy, and blooming beautifully. Love them. White with that delicate hint of blue, just spectacular. Haven't seen any in the nursery this year, so i am glad I got those while they were available.

SUCCESS! Big, beautiful and lush! Worth it!