Flowers and Lions and Bears Oh my!

I love plants who belonging to Asclepiadoideae. In fact.. I'd have to say that most of my house plants string from either this subfamily or from Asparagaceae. So when John Pilbeam recently published Stapeliads, I preordered it on amazon as soon I heard it was coming out. (I'm still drooling over this and hoping that one day I can find a copy to look at.)

Realistically speaking though, most of my plants aren't at flowering age yet. The one exception is seemingly my Huernia macrocarpa which has produced at least one flower about every three weeks throughout the summer. I've been very pleased with this specimen. I haven't had any winter rotting. Its flowered enough where I've been able to identify what it is (because Asclepiads are never labeled for whatever reason). So far, no complaints. One other thing about Asclepiads is that they usually are pollinated by flies and like insects so their flowers often give of the smell of rotting flesh. I've detected a faintly unpleasant smell with this one, but I really have to stick my face in the thing to notice it.

Huernia macrocarpa (and coffee pot.)

Cyclamen graecum ssp. anatolicum Rhodes Form

Part of being a plant geek includes picking up plants that you have no business owning. This happens all on a whim, against your greater judgement. For me it tends to happen way more in the winter when I'm garden starved and nothing new has caught my eye outside. 

Sometime in late February we headed out to a witch hazel talk down at Rarefind Nursery.We ran into the Tylers who were selling a ton of Hellebores and we got to talk with them about their book. There was also a cyclamen grower there who had a ton of irresistible, adorable specimens.

I've taken care of florist's cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum) for quite awhile now. I've never had it go dormant on me either which I hear is pretty unusual. Not to mention the thing blooms every 4 months for me. With that in mind, I figured that I could probably handle one that would be a little more exotic. It is pretty big and leggy now, but considering it hasn't hit dormancy, I'm impressed.

I ended up picking Cyclamen graecum ssp. anatolicum. Edgewood gardens has some other lovely pictures.

Unfortunately this is the only picture I have of my specimen. Its the small thing in the glass terrarium. Schrodinger doesn't look too impressed either.

"Cyclamen graecum. This interesting and charming autumn-flowering species forms an entity of its own, with several characters that are unique to the genus. The species Cyclamen graecum is grown for its autumn flowers as well as for its handsome and often striking foliage, which comes in a great range of patterning and colouring. It is native to southern Greece, the Greek Islands, southern Turkey and Cyprus and blooms from September to November and has pale to deep pink flowers with 3 magenta pencil-line streaks at the base of each petal and auricles around the mouth. The tuber is globose and corky and fleshy roots come from the center underside. Cyclamen leaves change even in the same season (but also from season to season as the plant matures). Cyclamen graecum ssp. graecum is found on mainland Greece and some of the Islands. It hasovate leaves that are green or grey-green and pink flowers with well-developed auricles that are mostly unscented and marked with a basal blotch that extends along the veins. Its flowers appear above, or before the wonderfully patterned leaves." (http://www.brags.ca/forms_files/cyclamennotes.pdf)

Sounds nice huh?

This is mostly what mine has looked like since April.

One leaf.

We'll see. Maybe this will go under plants I've killed sometime soon.

I'm going to try more light. I hope that will work. I've just been very disappointed with this thing so far and considering that it should be flowering soon, its got of catching up to do.

Coney Island Aquarium

My fiance and I headed out to Coney island Aquarium for his birthday. I love going out to see it. I have mixed feelings about Coney Island itself, but I love how the aquarium will substitute with  really common fish when some of their fancy exhibits go down.

I have no problem with looking at a whole tank of Neon tetras. 

 I guess my favorite exhibit is always the jellyfish tank.

One of the best things I saw last time was their outdoor water gardens. They really weren't anything special but waterlilies are breathtaking no matter how you put it. It was just nice to see a simple water garden and some koi. 

Some nice clear yellow water lilies.

Ooo over sized gold fish. =]

Hurricane Hurricane!

It's been an odd week here in the north east. Hurricanes, earthquakes, we're just not used to these sorts of things. But I guess while I have some time I'll post about some of the things I've been neglecting.

I got to head down to the Jersey shore a few weeks ago for vacation. It was nice to get out of the city and see natural environments again. Being a plant geek is like being in a natural version of the matrix. Seeing each plant is like reading code.

 

There's nothing like seeing coastal junipers, viburnums, and cranberries... and loads of blue sky and flat lands doesn't hurt either when you're riding your bike.

But sometimes you get to see some interesting plants when you're looking at wild lands. Native plants are one thing. There's a big push to use native plants out in the trade. This term can be very misleading as it just means plants native to the United States in most regards. The problem with this is that not all plants native to one area of the country are native to another. These plants can still spread and naturalize to new areas where they wouldn't normally be found. This becomes a problem when these species out compete those that should be naturally found in those areas. 

 Take Gaura for example. This beautiful plant should be found out in the plains.. not out in the marshes.

While other plants that are native like Hibiscus.. I've never actually seen out in the wild before. It's always fun to see ornamentals in their native environment.

    I also took a walk around some athletic fields and came across some Optunia. 

and.. more Optunia.

Sheesh, what a field managers nightmare.

Lets not forget some awesome signs.

Well, it was a good vacation. I spent most of it on the beach. It was nice to get away and then to come back to hurricanes, earthquakes, and crazies. At least labor day is almost here.

And now from our sponsers... Hibiscus

I'm taking this from another blog I wrote so don't mind the style. I'm on vacation this week so I apologize for reusing a post. Besides, I might be taking a trip down to longwood gardens later on in the week so if that comes to pass, expect a cool post on some plants I enjoyed.

 Hibiscus 'Lady Baltimore'

Is there no better picture of summer than spending the day lounging among bright exotic-looking flowers with a choice tropical drink and a view of the water? Well, the tropical-sounding paradise you might be picturing isn’t exactly what we have here in Manhattan, but it may be close.  Our showstopping hardy hibiscus are in full bloom and if they don’t remind you of the shores of Hawaii, I’m not sure what will.

But wait, aren’t hibiscus tropical? Many of the hibiscus you see sold during the summer months are indeed tropical and cannot survive the hard freezes that we get here in New York. Most common of these annual hibiscus is Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, the national flower of Malaysia. These are grown indoors during the winter months and brought out in the summer when their exotic blooms can be most appreciated. They make excellent house plants, established plants can bloom all winter long if given a sunny window.  These hibiscus only account for a fraction of this beautiful genus.

Probably the most common of the hardy hibiscus is Rose of Sharon, Hibiscus syriacus. These woody shrubs are a garden classic, showing off pink, purple, and white flowers from late July through September. Yet again another hibiscus variety takes the title of national flower, with Rose of Sharon representing South Korea. It is so well looked upon in South Korea that it is mentioned in the South Korean national anthem and its common name translates to ‘eternity’.

Eternity is a pretty good descriptive word for Rose of Sharon. As a cut back shrub, it can be pruned back almost every year to keep it as a small dense bush or it can be allowed to grow to full height and then pruned to tree form. These shrubs are so durable that landscapers tell tales of accidently mowing them over and having them return a year later.

Wildflower enthusiasts might also be familiar with our native perennial hibiscus. These amazing plants range down the east coast from southern Maine to Florida growing wild in wet areas. The most common of these includes Hibiscus moscheutos which can be found natively as far west as New Mexico and has extensive cultivars available in the trade.

At the park we have at least four cultivars of Hibiscus moscheutos. ‘Lady Baltimore’ has light pink, eight inch flowers with deep pink centers. It is interplanted with ‘Lord Baltimore’ which has even bigger red flowers. ‘Kopper King’ is our newest addition to the park, it has similar flowers to ‘Lady Baltimore’ but it has dark purple foliage instead of the classic green.  ‘Kopper King’ is still busy establishing this year but we can expect quite a show from it in the future. Last but not least, we have Hibiscus ‘Blue River II’.  Their dinner-plate-sized pure white blooms are one of the few things that can be truly called both bold and elegant.

If you find yourself hooked on Hibiscus be sure to check out the American Hibiscus Society or if you want to go even further, the International Hibiscus Society for more information.

Plants I've Killed (Euphorbias)

Plants I’ve killed.

Or more aptly titled plants that have just dropped dead for me.

 (Pretty sad looking Euphorbia 'Bonfire')

This summer was to be year of the Euphorbia in the park. Many may be familiar with the more common trade houseplants of the Genus. Pencil cactus (Euphorbia tirucalli), Cowboy cactus (Euphobia lacteal), Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia milii) and even the well-known holiday classic - Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) are just some of the seemingly endless specimens of Euphorbia. While all of those listed above act as house plants and are not hardy to the cool, damp conditions of the north east, there are also a wide selection of Spurges that are supposed to do more than just survive the climate here.  These Euphorbias should be able to tolerant poor, dry soil and sun to part shade. The white, milky, sap of these plants contain latex which not only will give most people a nasty rash, but will also keep any animal with half a brain from eating them.

So how can these plants possibly fail?

Rain, two weeks of rain before establishment has killed almost every Euphorbia polychroma we’ve put in. Less than ideal drainage and two weeks of shade caused complete susceptibility to fungal rot. Meanwhile I’ve noticed that our (non hardy) Euphorbia ‘Diamond Frost’ has been looking very sparse. In some areas the plants are just full of their showy, white, bracts, while in other areas a swarm of pigeons have
descended where people throw bread crumbs on the planting. Pigeons, being as smart as they are, can’t seem to tell the difference between the bread crumbs and anything else in the vicinity the might possibly fit in their beaks. Amazingly, the birds don’t seem to be affected by the plants at all. I’m definitely at a loss there. I suspect our part shade in those areas aren't helping either.

Thursday we made a trip out to long island and I was pretty pleased to see that other nurseries seem to be having the same problems with Euphorbias this year. Everything just looked leggy, wilted, and bare. Luckily, the few I purchased for my father’s house this spring are enjoying the pure sand and baking sun that makes up his yard. While we installed ‘Bonfire’ and its corresponding species, polychroma, in the park I was looking for something darker and more contrasting for my father’s yard. I eventually purchased Euphorbia ‘Backbird’ which apparently is really named Euphorbia x martinii ‘Nothowlee’ with blackbird being its trademark name. Ugh. (Come on patent office, have some pity on hort students who have to memorize this crap.)

Regardless, it’s a beautiful plant. Its dark foliage contrasts great with our gaudy golden spireas and it seems to be thriving in the wasteland of the pine barons. Later I saw that a local nursery had Euphorbia ‘Tiny Tim’ which by ‘Tiny Tim’ I really mean Euphorbia x martini ‘Waleutiny’… Same thing really.

Containers (One of many posts, I'm sure.)

Ah Fridays. Fridays are my Saturdays. I get to sleep late (7 am) and spend time cleaning up some of my plants before I catch up on everything else I've neglected at home all week....

like "fixing" my screen that my cat ate through...

Few New Yorkers have the luxury of having their own yard. For garden buffs like me, it can be a very frustrating thing.  There are hundreds of plants I want to trial. I manage to squeeze some into the beds at work. Others make their way into my father's yard. There's still never really enough space with these two options and both require transportation away from home for my own enjoyment. But even if you don't have the urge to trial almost every Kniphofia you've laid eyes on, you might still want to grow some herbs and vegetables in this urban wasteland.

Container gardens are the most practical way to keep plants alive in the city. I got lucky with my current apartment. I've got plenty of window space and my two front windows connect to a fire escape so I get some sun. I'm aware that having items on your fire escape is supposedly illegal. I'm not suggesting that you do it if its clearly stated in your lease. I recommend that if you do put anything out there, keep it limited and make sure you still have window access. My argument is this, a few pots are not going to hinder a firefighter in the way that an air conditioner will and I see plenty of air conditioners all over the place. The Gothamist wrote something about this in March. If the fire escape is not an option for you, and you have roof access, the roof is an ideal place for containers. (But yet again, make sure you have land lord okay before you build your garden of Eden.) Ground level containers are okay too. Just watch out for theft and vandals and animals... all the same thing really. Windowsill pots are okay too, just remember that they're still being grown inside and they don't always look as great as they would outside.

Your container can be just about anything. I've got a ton of plants growing in soup cans and old yogurt containers. I used recyclables throughout most of college and I still have a bunch of them now that I'm a real person. If it holds soil and drains (or you're really really precise with watering) it can be a container.

 

Like my slightly cracked Caladium teapot.

I'm not going to list what you should plant if do decide to have your own urban garden. There are different plants for different people and not every planting place has the same environmental conditions. Research the plant before you try it. There's no point in planting Hostas if you have full direct sun and you know you're never going to remember to water. Just as planting most culinary herbs in shade won't yield the healthiest looking basil and certainly not the most abundant crop, don't set your expectations high if you can't provide the right conditions for the plant.

Don't be afraid to mix annuals and perennials. Don't be afraid to mix flowers with edibles. Do plant what makes it worthwhile for you. Do remember to water them.

And if you get really adventurous, try a water garden. Mine has been struggling along. We'll see if it ever really flowers. Keep in mind mosquitoes breed in still water so be sure to change out the water on a regular basis... This might not be back for summer 2012.