Sept 20-22

 Jaimi and Brittany

We arrived at the Cuddy Gardens Friday morning eager to work. Just our luck, the day started off a little on the wet side as the rain poured down and thunder rolled through the clouds. We marched from our cars into the classroom where we met Lucas and he gave us a first task; to move all the succulents and cactus from the back patio into the car port so that they can be cleaned and moved into the house over the winter. Unfortunately this didn’t last much longer than half an hour, when lightning started to strike and we took cover back in the classroom. To keep busy while the storm passed we helped Adam and Evan extract the seeds from some Magnolia acuminata and Cornus kousa fruit for propagation. After a short visit with Mike, the sun decided to shine for the remainder of the day. We toured around the gardens, paper and pen in hand and jotted down notes as Lucas gave us our instructions for the remainder of the weekend. We quickly and efficiently moved some bulbs into a section of the Woodland Garden and then moved to the front of the hatchery where we began pulling weeds and pruning back the Cotoneaster. After an encounter with some wasps, we finished up our area and moved on to prevent any further injuries. The day ended with a quick lesson from Lucas on irrigation for our CLT exam and some more weeding along the side of the hatchery.

 

We awoke Saturday morning to a record amount of rainfall. Decked out in our finest rain gear we walked outside ready to take on the day. We started where we left off and finished weeding along the side of the hatchery. Next, pole pruners and hand saw by our sides, we cut back the Magnolia, Oak and Paper bark Maple trees along the side of the hatchery. In the afternoon, we spent our time in the not so dry, Dry Garden. We weeded and cut back any perennials that were done blooming. We ended the day by finishing off on the side of the hatchery where we previously encountered the wasps. 5 o’clock rolled around and we put away our equipment and washed our tools, done for another day.

 

Sunday we faced the same weather as we had all weekend, gloomy and cloudy and noticeably colder temperature. We started the morning by cleaning off the cactus and succulents that we previously moved into the car port. After lunch, once the Dry Garden had some time to dry, we removed the remaining tropical plants and cacti and cultivated the rest of the beds. We finished off by raking all the gravel and sweeping off the edges of the beds.

 

 

 

 

 

Solidago rugosa ‘Fireworks’ (Fireworks Goldenrod)

This herbaceous perennial is a fantastic addition to any garden for autumn interest.  Blooming from late August to mid-October, its bright yellow flower clusters shoot out in all directions, resembling fireworks.  Unlike other cultivars of Goldenrod, ‘Fireworks’ is less aggressive and easier to keep maintained within a garden.  It is native to North America and is an attraction for birds, butterflies and bees.

Genus: Solidago

Species: rugosa ‘Fireworks’

Family: Asteraceae

Category: Herbaceous Perennial

Flowering Period: Late August to mid-October

Zone: USDA 4-9

Origin: North America

Pests/Problems:  This perennial is not typically a target for pests, however can be vulnerable to powdery mildew, rust and fungal spot.

Landscape:  A good boarder plant, in masses or in wildflower gardens.  Plant in front of dark green plants (evergreens) for great contrast. 

Propagation:  By cuttings or division in the spring.

Habit: Fireworks Goldenrod grows in full sun and medium to moist soil. 

Shape: upright, clumping

ID Characteristics:  Dark green foliage with golden yellow flower clusters shooting out in all directions.

Flower description:  golden yellow flower clusters in plume-like panicles.

Leaf description: Deep green, alternate,  serrate and lanceolate in shape.

Works Cited

"Solidago Rugosa ‘Fireworks’." Perennials.com. Perennials.com, 2012. Web. 22 Sept. 2013.

"Solidago Rugosa Fireworks." Solidago Rugosa Fireworks. Missouri Botanical Garden, n.d. Web. 22 Sept. 2013.