Cassie, Sijia, and Miranda reporting from a cold and wet Cuddy Gardens this weekend. Never the less there is always work that needs to be done. Preparing for winter is crucial this time of year when timing is everything.
Dividing perennials such as Pulmonaria saccharata (Lungwort), Colocasia esculenta (Elephant Ear, or Taro) and Pennisetum (Fountain Grass) before the frost, for next summer’s annual plant sale. It’s very important to stake young saplings to help them grow true to form, encourage strong trunk development, and protect them from bending in the wind (we used bamboo stakes).
Winterizing newly planted trees to ensure a proper start to their growth and survival. Using tree wrap, you start at the base of the tree and wrap upwards to ensure water run-off and prevent rotting of the bark (tree wrap also helps protect trees against south west disease); the tree wrap is tied at the top with Jute (a vegetable fiber that deteriorates after a couple years); next the plastic tree guard is placed around the base of the tree to prevent little critters (rabbits, voles, beavers, deer, etc.) from nibbling during the winter months; finally as added protection against critters a wire cage is secured around the perimeter of the tree.
Expanding Cuddy Garden’s Rose Garden!!! Compost was distributed in newly expanded rose beds and then rototilled to mix the nutrients into the existing soil.
The soil was then compacted back down to finished height, which is mounded up in a small hill shape to aid water run- and the beds were beautifully edged. Now it’s ready to be planted.
Finishing touches. Adding finishing touches to garden beds makes them look complete. It’s amazing the difference between a bed that is not mulched or edged with one that is. Spreading mulch evenly along one bed helps decompose those essential nutrients into the soil over the winter months and makes spring planting easier.
Edging another bed to separate turf from garden helps control weeds in the spring.
Plant Profile
Botanical Name: Amsonia hubrichtii
Common Name: Arkansas Bluestar
Family: APOCYNACEAE
Category: Perennial
Canadian Hardy: Zone 6 (possibly 4 in microclimate)
Height: 30 cm – 90 cm
Spread: 30 cm – 90 cm
Growth habit: Round mounding
Landscape Use: Golden Fall colour, mounding, perennial gardens, borders, flowering, attracts butterflies.
Light: Full sun to part shade
Soil: Medium moisture to well-drained soil
Flower: Blue, small trumpet shaped flowers in clusters at top of stem. Blooms late spring/early summer.
Leaf: Narrow, pointy leaves cover the stem all the way around, pointing outwards. Green in spring/summer, bright gold in fall (excellent fall interest), stalks remain throughout winter.
Habitat: Native to North America
Propagation: By seed in spring or fall and division in spring.
Pests: Deer resistant
Other information: Drought tolerant once established. Very low maintenance plant.
Notable Specimen: A.M. Cuddy Gardens, Strathroy Ontario (Perennial Border)
Sources:
Fine Gardening: http://www.finegardening.com/plantguide/amsonia-hubrichtii.aspx
State-by-State Gardening Newsletter: http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/newsletters/stories/perennial_plant_of_the_year_arkansas_blue_star/
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