Category: Flowers

Plant Fall Decor – Start a Crop of Sunflowers

August is surprisingly good time to plant sunflowers from seed. Warm yellow sunflowers popping into bloom set the mood perfectly as days shorten and fall arrives. Make plans now for a seasonal transition.

Many sunflowers planted this past spring have already sprung, their flowers are fading, and seed heads are forming. Thanks to our mild California climate we can enjoy a bumper crop and second harvest by planting sunflowers a second time. Planting sunflowers from seed now will give an abundant crop of bouquet-ready blossoms for the fall table.

The best varieties for fall color are generally the shorter ones and the multi-branching ones. “Autumn Beauty” is a moderate grower with multi-branched habit and color perfectly suitable for the season. Sunflowers are easy to grow in any soil. Water to establish and expect blooms in six to eight weeks.

July Color in the Garden

Aaahhh summer! The living is easier.

Summer is definitely the time to enjoy your garden and patio. July is the summer midpoint and a good time to take a second look at those flowerbeds – do they need a face-lift? We have just what you need in the blooming department. 

By adding Soil Moist granules in the planting soil you’ll save 50% of your water.

Marigolds – Marigolds are summer blooming flowers whose colors range from pale yellow through bright orange and then dark rust. They are a favorite for full sun, coming in various heights from 6 to 24″. Brushing against the leaves releases its unique fragrance. Marigolds are said to be excellent companion plants, repelling some of the undesirable small sucking insects.

Petunias – Petunias fill a niche beautifully with their saucer-shaped flowers with a range from pinks through reds and purples. Petunias like sunny locations and can tumble nicely down the side of a pot or basket.

Zinnias – Zinnias make a brilliant addition to the summer flower garden, loved by novice and expert gardeners alike. The pollinators love them too! They bloom effortlessly from summer to frost, and the more you cut, the more they branch and bloom. Keep zinnias consistently moist but not soggy; allowing the top inch of soil to dry between watering once plants are established. 

Vinca – If you love the look & profusion of impatiens but need something that thrives in full sun, annual vinca is a great choice. Enjoy an abundance of small, colorful flowers all summer long and well into our warm fall.

Loads of flower colors to choose from and the deep green leaves are always attractive.

Cosmos – White, rose or dark pink “daisy style” flowers. It is available in a variety of sizes from compact to nearly 4 foot tall. Cosmos have finely textured foliage and is capped by the colorful blooms each with a sunny-colored ‘eye’. hardy through the first frosts.

Peonies

Peonies are among the most adaptable perennials for North America. We have many of them in several forms. They are asleep right now, but will offer glorious blooms soon. Peonies are right at home in our area; growers once grew them commercially in Sunol for the cut flower market.

Peonies include a variety of flower forms and beautiful colors with attractive foliage that remains long after the flowers have faded. They can serve as an accent along a shrub border, fence or wall. If planted close together, a natural hedge effect can be created.

Available in a wide range of colors, from dazzling white to deep maroon, and various flower forms, peonies work well as a subtle divider as a shrub-like backdrop for annual flowers; or along a driveway or property line. Their flowers and foliage make them a versatile landscaping addition for planting in the middle range of perennial borders or beds by themselves.

Whether perennial bush, “tree” form or hybrid Itoh, peonies make a lovely addition to your garden.

The bush form renews itself each spring with new shoots emerging from the ground. They grow into soft green shrubby plants that will reach 2-3 feet high. Choose a spot with at least half day of sun for the best bloom. They love acid soil so use Master Nursery Acid Planting Mix for best results.

The tree form, (really a shrub), does best when planted in the morning or filter sun. These faithfully bloom each year on their woody stems. In the winter the plant loses its leaves, but the woody stems remain.

The plant will slowly grow to a height of 4 to 5 feet; Its flower can be a foot across. The flowers are made up of big soft crepe paper-like petals. Choose from varieties that are pure white, pale yellow, light, and dark pink as well as burgundy. Some are fully double, and others are single with a yellow center.

Itoh Peonies are new hybrids from Monrovia. Tree and bush forms were crossed to create this beautiful new addition. These seven year old plants come with a guarantee of 10 or more blooms the first year. They perform best in bright shade or sun until 10am.

Succulents – Beautiful & Water Wise

What is not to like about succulents? Succulents are the rave right now, and that’s not hard to understand when you see all the advantages they offer.

Low Irrigation
Generally, little irrigation is needed. Succulents can withstand drought better than wet soil. These plants thrive where others wilt from lack of water. Include these plants as an important part of water conservation while landscaping and gardening.

Low Maintenance
These plants are about as close to “plant it and forget it” as you can get. Many are native to harsh environments with little or infrequent watering.

High Versatility
These plants are equally happy to be in your garden, landscaping, containers, and inside your home as houseplants. As long as you keep in mind, they do have some special needs. Most require at least 6 hours of sunlight and fast-draining soil, so location is important, and some will need protection during the colder months.

Good Looks
Fortunately, you don’t have to sacrifice appearance for all these benefits. Cacti and succulents are some of Nature’s most beautiful and exotic plants. Outdoors, your succulents will liven up your garden and give your home an original look. Few plants attract as much attention as these. You can use them as exciting accents or go all out and create a complete desert garden motif. Inside, dish gardens with succulents can provide an attractive tabletop decoration that is sure to be a conversation starter.

Off-Season Blooming
When most other plants are in their dormant cycle, and the rest of your landscaping has the winter color blahs, many of these plants are at their colorful best. The aloes are in their glory from December to January; the puyas, yuccas, and agave flower from April to June. A well-chosen selection and placement of succulents will give your landscaping a year-round color look your neighbors will envy.

Here at Alden Lane, we have a large selection available for you to combine, or we can suggest combinations for you. With their wide variety of architectural forms, succulents are a great garden addition. We just received some beautiful planters.

These plants are among the most versatile of this year’s garden offerings. They can express your artful side or your whimsy, whatever you choose. Also, you might combine succulents with other low water use plants to make a lush garden display. Come in and explore the collection.

Iris Rhizomes

iris-trioBearded Iris rhizomes have arrived!

If you want the impact of large blooming color throughout your garden without a lot of effort, you may find that Bearded Iris was made just for you. Water-wise and long-lived, this perennial is easy to plant and even easier to maintain. It will give you gorgeous color in spring (and fall if you buy re-bloomers). They are the perfect plant to take advantage of our Valley’s “second spring.” Plant immediately & enjoy flowers this coming spring.

Bearded Iris are not only “forgiving” they are such a strong competitor. Bearded iris are often planted en masse or in a row due to the plant’s ability to crowd out weeds. Strong and versatile with high impact colorful appearance, Bearded Iris are ideal both as a border defining plant and as an accent.

Bearded Iris gets its name from the appearance of the flower which has six petals; three upright petals (called standards) and three hanging petals (called falls). A fuzzy line or beard runs down the middle of each fall. Flowers come in many colors including blue, pink, purple, reddish, white, yellow, and bi-colors and have textures from plush velvet to silk — often on the same plant!

You will find that Bearded Iris produces a lot of results for only a small amount of effort and planting and care is easy – just follow these steps:

Choosing a Location
Bearded Iris prefer full sun. However, they are incredibly versatile and will tolerate partial shade. Some of the delicate pink and blue Bearded Iris hold their color better in partial shade. There is a trade-off; however; as shade increases; flowering decreases. The other consideration is good drainage, which is essential for healthy Bearded Iris. Excessive water and dampness are the chief hazards to successful Bearded Iris cultivation. With those location caveats in mind, you should have lots of areas where you can locate this attractive, low-maintenance, high-impact plant to good advantage throughout your garden and landscaping.

Planting
The best time to plant bearded iris is August through October. Early planting will allow them to become well established before winter. That is why they are ideal for our Valley’s “second spring” which starts in mid-August every year.

Iris grow and multiply when growers divide rhizomes, which are sort of like a very thick fleshy root. Bearded Iris produce seed that hybridizers use for developing new varieties.

Planting is easy. Make sure you have a well-prepared bed (see our recipe for good garden soil). Dig a SHALLOW hole about twice the size of the rhizome or clump of rhizomes. Form a mound of soil in the center for the planting base to promote drainage. Make the mound high enough, so the top of the rhizome is slightly above soil level. Spread the roots around the mound, fill with soil, and water. For a mass of color, plant at least three rhizomes (spaced 8 to 10 inches apart) or plant undivided clumps; point each fan of leaves away from the center of the group. Space the clumps 18 inches apart.

Care
As mentioned earlier, Bearded Iris is quite forgiving and require a minimum of maintenance. That is because its rhizomes are nutrient “storage” areas. Like camels, Bearded Iris can tolerate periods of benign neglect and are drought tolerant because each plant has this reserve storage that gets it through. But, rhizomes are both its strength and its weakness. Rhizomes are quite sensitive to moisture, so be sure to keep them well drained and NEVER over water.

Special Tip: Feed monthly from March through September with Maxsea 16-16-16. The last number is potassium, and it is critical to Bearded Iris success. At a minimum, 3 times a year in March, May & September.

Small Flowering Trees – Crabapples Delight

Royal Raindrops Flowering Crabapple

Few trees stand out in the garden or landscape like flowering crabapples. They are coming into bloom now. These trees are very well behaved and perfect for the smaller landscapes typical of many Tri-Valley homes.

Flowering in pale to bright pink, flowering crabapples are real show stoppers.  They would work well planted in a garden with roses. We have a few different varieties blooming in the garden now, so come in and see what you can expect.

Crabapples are easy to work into the garden. Many trees are more massive than crabapples, but these nestle in well, they function like large umbrellas.

Prairifire Flowering Crabapple

Tropical Summer Vines

Flowering vines offer a lot of bang for your buck. Several vines display tropical colors throughout the summer and even into our fall. A few are showing their beautiful summer color now.

Bougainvillea

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These evergreen summer bloomers are stunners. Their hot pink, coral, crimson or purple “flowers” are actually modified leaves called bracts. They can be a particularly showy addition to your yard. They are somewhat frost sensitive so they may need protection if we get a particularly cold winter (under 30 degrees).

Black-eyed Susan Vine

Black-eyed Susan vine and a few of its cousins bloom all summer, mostly orange or yellow in color, often with a black eye. Plant it in a sunny spot and expect to give it some frost protection.

Bower Vine

Bower Vine is an evergreen climber with large white trumpet flowers that bare a pink throat June into October. Perfect in morning sun or light shade.

 

 

 

Trumpet Creeper

Often blooming this month in the vine section now and also along our southern fence, Campsis radicans, or Trumpet creeper lends a tropical flair to any sunny garden. We have three colors to choose from, yellow or orange or red.

Mandevilla

Mandevilla offers a tropical feel with an infusion of brilliant color – red, pink or white. You can provide a simple trellis or other structure upon which to climb and your mandevilla will do the rest. Regular dead-heading will repay you with a continual profusion of fragrant blooms and vines from early spring into fall.

Also blooming at Alden Lane this week, our Chaste tree.

Lily of the Valley – Popular Plant for a Woodland Shade Garden

Tiny, bell-shaped flower clusters of “Lily of the Valley” are in demand. Select yours early, these often come into the nursery and are sold out before some gardeners even have a chance to pick some up.

Growing in woodlands through Europe and Asia, they are charming and fragrant. Lily of the valley was featured in the bridal bouquet at the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton.

The “pips,” like bulbs, are baby root sections of this fragrant favorite grow so well, they often bloom before they are planted.

Give Lily of the Valley pips water and provide some warmth and light and these cuties will sprout and bloom within just 3 or 4 short weeks. Lily of the Valley grows best in woodland conditions, same as fairies: fertile, humus-rich, moist soil and partial to full shade.

Enjoy their fragrant bloom again year after year. Be careful when situating this plant – though it may take a while to get started, this Lily of the Valley will spread rapidly, forming a dense, weed-smothering ground cover. Plant out in the yard, and watch them multiply before they bloom in increasing numbers next spring! Plant with care if you have small children or curious pets.  All parts of the plant are toxic.

Lily of the Valley benefits from annual mulching of acid planting mix.

Daisies of Summer

Daisy-like flowers are a frequent and welcome sight in summer . . . they adorn a number of plants of different sizes, shapes, and colors. Some are great as cut flowers and others make wonderful accents in the garden. Here are some familiar and not-so-familiar favorites:

Shasta Daisy – High on the list for outstanding cut flowers in summer is the Shasta Daisy. This one to three-foot-tall perennial is a hardy grower and prolific bloomer all summer long. The flowers, in most cases, have white petals with golden centers. They prefer a moist, well-drained location that gets more sun than shade. Water regularly and feed with Maxsea Bloom Formula to encourage large flowers and prolonged bloom. Keep the old blooms snipped to keep those flowers coming through the summer.

Gloriosa Daisy – For those who prefer earthy colors, there is the Gloriosa Daisy or Black-Eyed Susan. This hot sun lover reaches 4 feet high with 4-6 inch blooms in yellow, orange, mahogany, maroon and stripes. They bloom summer through fall, and most have the traditional black center.

Osteospermum – This profuse bloomer is otherwise known as the African Daisy. Comes in a wide range of bright colors including purple, yellow and orange. Loves sun and regular water. Will bloom spring through fall.

Santa Barbara Daisy – One of the easiest daisies to grow, and very water-wise. Adds sparkle to the flower garden, usually grows about 12″ high and 18″ wide.

Late Summer Garden Color

There are many garden flowers ready to turn even the most unsightly bare spots into a bright, colorful oasis. Spruce up your sunny flower beds with these options.
August flower beds often suffer something of an identity crisis. Many of the annuals we planted early in the year are past their prime. But, while it’s a hot and dry time of the year, it’s not too late for planting some late-summer garden color.
There are many garden flowers ready to turn even the most unsightly bare spots into a bright, colorful oasis. Spruce up your sunny flower beds with these options.
Low – 4-6.”

alyssum - summer garden color
Alyssum

Medium – 8-10″

marigolds, petunias and vinca flowers - summer garden color

Tall 18″+

cosmos, zinnias and snap dragons

Except for the zinnias, all of the above will do well in half sun, half shade. Begonias will also brighten any spot that gets a full morning of sun or shade. Remember that you can create living bouquets with these annuals. All but the Vinca would also benefit from the addition of Soil Moist Granules which cut the water needs by half.