Native vs Happy Non Native

Above: Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica)
One of my favorite early bloomers. I planted several Virginia native bluebell roots a few years ago. They bloom with the daffodils, tulips, cherry tree, among others.

I love seeing the daffodils popping up all over the place, but I have been wondering if they are 'supposed' to be doing that. Thankfully, Blue Ridge Naturalist, Marlene Condon, author of the linked article, believes it is okay too. I guess the same applies to the Vincas that are popping up with my Virginia Bluebells and Daffodils. I'll just continue to enjoy the Vinca's lovely little blue blooms. They are back this year in greater number already so I'm going to be watching them closely! The Morning Glories that grow like crazy in my vegetable garden is another issue, but like each year, I always leave a few along towards the end of the season and enjoy the beauty and blessing of these guests. Maybe this summer I will leave a few more.

"This situation begs the question, “Should nonnative plants be considered pestiferous when they spread?” I say absolutely not in most cases, especially in back yards, along hiking trails, in meadows and fields, and by roadsides. These plants are providing an invaluable service to a degraded environment" (Condon, Marlene 2015). Crozet Gazette http://www.crozetgazette.com/2015/06/blue-ridge-naturalist-invasive-plants-invaluable-to-degraded-environment/

Vinca bloom March 22 2016

Virginia Bluebell, Daffodil, and Vinca sprouts March 22, 2016

Roses Roses Roses

I have 19 rose bushes now. 10 were planted in 2015 and I have purchased 8 in 2016 (so far). The 10 planted last year were fertilized today- 1/2 strength Bayer 3 in 1 (food, bugs, fungus).

From 2015:

2 New Dawn climbers - own root from Heirloom Roses
2 Hybrid Teas from Tractor Supply - grafted/potted
1 Zephirine Drouhin - own root from ebay
4 Knockout Roses - all rescues from end of season dying bargains (Tractor Supply and Lowes) - correction: 2 of these are drift roses.
1 Betty Prior - also a rescue bargain from Lowes

2016:

All are bare root grafted bagged roses from Walmart purchased and planted in March.

Climbing Roses:
Blaze -red
Don Juan -red
Pinata - multi (orange, red, pink)
Golden Showers - yellow

Hybrid Teas:
New Day - yellow
Mister Lincoln - red
Proud Land -red
Arizona - orange/apricot
Heirloom - lavender



Note for me: On 4/22/2016 I gave all of the new rosebushes 1/2 strength Bayer 3-1. I started to fertilize the older bushes with full strength solution, but ran out of solution. The rose bushes that still need treatment include: the two farthest knockouts bushes near the rooster coop, Betty Prior in front, and Zephirine Drouhin.

Tent Caterpillars are eating my rosebush leaves! I think the Bayer slows it down. The Pinata plant was eaten badly while I was out of town for a few days.

5/28/2016

I finished feeding the other roses a few days later (ref above post).

Today, I decided to use the Bayer again. Two of my hybrid tea roses (the two from last year) aren't blooming like they should. They are covered in buds, but as they open the edges seem a little burned and as the flowers open, the look sort of rotten. Reading about this, I thought I might have thrips which also might be why a couple of the newer bushes are wilting. So, I was about a week or two early, as I had planned, but all of the roses are fed again. Most of them got a full strength dose. I ran low, so had to ration on a few, but not much.

7/3/2016
One bottle of the Bayer is just barely enough to feed all of the current rose bushes. If I get anymore roses, I will need two bottles per feeding. Today all of them had Bayer 3-1 though the last bushes were shorted just a tad. I gave the New Dawn's a little extra because of their size.

Some Eggs!

I have a chicken laying some monster eggs.

Gardening in 2016

I have been obsessed with gardening! I think it is because I am in love and the happiness in my heart is overflowing into flower obsession. Thankfully my dear husband happily allows me to indulge in my hobby.

I think the first bulbs planted after the wedding (8/23/2014) were Virginia Bluebells, early spring of 2015. This is what really began my  new flower garden hobby, although the flowers and sunshine of spring have always made me happy. The Bluebells didn't bloom in 2015, but they are poking out now. My love for native plants remains. I just bought two Oakleaf Hydrangea starts from Tractor Supply. They are in pots waiting for an autumn transplant.

In the fall of 2015 I planted many bulbs: crocus, daffodils, tulips, iris, peonies, and many lilies. A few weeks ago, Walmart received a shipment of bare root, grafted, rosebushes. I have since purchased 8 new rosebushes over several different visits, all are planted. They were only beginning to come out of dormancy, along with the several rosebushes planted last summer.

I'm happy to say I'm really getting the how to/when to idea of planting and hardiness guides with all of my gardening. The lily bulbs from ebay went straight into the ground (March 2016) as soon as I received them as did the Crocosmia, Hot Pokers, Daylilies and  Hostas from Walmart. The begonia bulbs are in pots, along with the Elephant Ears, blackberries, Cannas, and Hydrangeas. I'll plant the blackberries in the garden in a few weeks. I'm not sure about the others except the hydrangeas. I have so many vegetable and flower seedlings growing under my new grow light setups too.

New rosebushes: Blaze (my replacement of the first ever rosebush I bought, never saw a bloom), Don Juan, Pinata (the 3 climbers). Hybrid Teas: Mister Lincoln, Proud Land, New Day, Arizona, and Heirloom.

I will be using Bayer 3-1 systemic rose and flower care this year, the first feeding after the quick and light cold snap we are expecting the next couple of days. The treatment takes care of feed, bugs, and fungus. Last year's roses are growing green very quickly, new growth from 2-5+ inches already thanks to our mild winter and early spring weather! I am going to give the first feeding at 1/2 strength. I've read that young bushes are sometimes burned from the treatment, so I'll be cautious. I am also purchasing Grub Guard (beneficial nematodes will dig in the soil and eat the grubs) to stop the breeding of Japanese Beetles. I just know I will have beautiful roses this year!

Even most of my late in the 2015 season rose bush "rescues" are doing great. I only lost 2 of 7. The other 5 are growing beautifully:  Betty Prior and 4 knockout roses of various types.

Here are some pictures of my new flower beds starting to come to life.

Va Bluebell early March. I planted 20 tubers in April 2015. I have found about 18 sprouts this Spring

Fall planted peony. March sprout.

                                       

 Dwarf Iris. I had about 20 of these blooms in early March. They are about finished this year.

The daffodils and tulips are expected to naturalize. I ordered tulips specially designed to do that.The volunteer Crab Apple (???) tree is in the top left corner. I can't wait to see those flowers!

Asiatic Lily sprouts, March 19 - double pink. 

                                           

Va Bluebell flower buds, March 19, 2016

                                               

Volunteer Tree

I love this determined tree. It bloomed beautifully this spring, along with the hyacinths, tulips, daffodils, and Virginia Bluebells growing underneath and around. These photos were taken the end of March, early April 2017.

3/23/2016 Its starting to bloom and most definitely some sort of cherry tree! I love it.

Edited to add: I think my husband is right, a cherry tree - check the bark. Yay. How wonderful is that?

This tree was determined to live in this spot. For the last 3 or 4 years, thinking it was a weed, I have been cutting it down. It usually has many suckers and sprouts at the bottom and very fast growing. Realizing last year it is a tree and not a weed, I decided to let it grow after cutting the bottom branches because it was sprawling so much, so quickly.

As my interest and fondness for the tree grew over the summer, luck would have it that the neighbor's fence (behind the tree) would collapse and lay on top of and supported by the tree for weeks (if not months). The tree remained. It grew at a slant, and I waited for my neighbor to fix the fence. He did, only to have it collapse once more. The tree was growing at about a 50 degree angle, strong as ever.

In the summer of 2015, my husband and I decided it was probably some sort of elm tree based on the leaves.

To my delight, even bringing tears of joy to my eyes, I observed the tree yesterday morning and found it covered in pink buds. I have lived in this area for 12 years, and each year, the spring display of the many red buds take my breath away. I had never noticed them prior to moving to this area and have always planned to plant one in my yard. My husband, also only in the area for 14 years, also only noticed and loved the red bud display when he moved to the area. My first thought was I have a volunteer red bud!

After further study and conversation with Alvin, I decided it was not a red bud, but I was and still am determined to find out the type of tree set its heart on gracing my yard. I am now leaning towards crab apple, a type weeping crab apple and am anxiously awaiting the flowers. My husband thinks it is a cherry tree because of the bark.

Its trying to straighten up!