Dalmatian Peach Foxglove

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'Dalmatian Peach' Common Foxglove

Digitalis purpurea  

(dig-ee-TAH-liss) (pur-PUR-ee-uh)

This Foxglove is part of the ‘Dalmation' series. They are colorful and tall but still a biennial. I used to worry all the time about my Foxglove plantings but have lately taken to letting them find their own balance. All the careful deadheading, staking, pinching never really produced better results then just letting the plants bloom and go to seed. The mother plants will die and even if they live to a second or third year they are not very vigorous by then. If the patch starts to look at little dilapidated adding a few plants to the gene pool can be helpful.

I don’t think that these flowers were quite living up to their color potential on the nursery bench. They should gain better color after being planted.

Chocolate Cosmos

Cosmos atrosanguineus 'Chocamocha'

(KOS-mus) (at-ro-san-GWIN-ee-us)

This is an interesting species of Cosmos that certainly bucks the popular trend of pastels, washed out colors and yellows that seem to be dominating the color space right now. In this climate Cosmos is treated as annual but is a very reliable self seeder. The flowers of this particular species are sterile and the plant is extinct in the wild. All plants are from a single vegetative clone. It has been hanging on that way since 1902.

The slightly fragrant flowers appear in summer and keeps blooming until the frost. Like most Cosmos this species is a native of Mexico.

Yellow Million Bells

Yellow Million Bells

Calibrachoa

(kal-ih-bruh-KOE-uh)

We grew a lot of annuals this year. Several weeks in the spring were devoted to procuring and planting them. Among the many species were several varieties of Calibrachoa. This used to be one of my favorite flowers but it seems that many of the new varieties are not as vigorous as they should be. The dreamy almost impossible colors are eye-catching and hard to resist at the nursery but next year we will not be buying as many.

The mounding and trailing habit are useful as is the spilling effect in containers. Million Bells grow 6-8 inches tall with a large spread. They are one of the plants that truly lives up to the phrase, “blooms May to frost”. Calibrachoa can tolerate some very cold weather and slightly more than light frost. It was the last good looking annual plant in several gardens.

Now I know that if a plant doesn’t do well it is usually not the plants fault. It’s because I failed to provide it with the ideal growing conditions. We are lucky that many of our annuals are grown in the same location every year so the soil is loose and amended. Now if the weather doesn’t cooperate there is not much you can do about that. In the case of Calibrachoa I have found that they are best grown on the dry side and lean soil.

Here is another annual flower. While I have grown the blue form for many years this is the first year we grew the pink flowered one. It really looked nice while filling it’s space up.

Pink Fan Flower

Scaevola aemula

(skee-VO-luh)

“All the leaves are brown, and the sky is gray.

I've been for a walk on a winter's day.”

Santa Monica Pier

White Zinnia

White Zinnia

Zinnia elegans

(ZIN-ya) (ELL-eh-ganz)

One of the benefits of our dry summer was good Zinnias. The foliage stayed remarkably clean with a very light spray schedule. The roses we grew were also strong blooming on huge canes. Both the roses and the cutting garden Zinnias were on drip irrigation which helps keep the diseases in check.

In my pack of mixed Zinnias this white beauty appeared. It seems to have been some sort of mistake as all the others in the flat were typical reds, yellows and oranges. We had a freeze warning last night but I don’t think it got as cold as they said. Isolated pockets of frost and freeze probably happened but it wasn’t general so the season rolls on for a few more days anyway.

Spanish Flag

Spanish Flag

Lantana camara 'Luscious Citrus Blend'

(lan-TAN-a) (kuh-MAR-uh)

In keeping with the random theme that developed here this post deals with another tough and not thirsty annual flower. Lantana is a dependable plant that is native to the tropical areas of Africa and the Americas. It has spread as an introduced species in many other areas and is considered a weed in some places. We grow it here as a seasonal plant and have never had any trouble with it seeding. Lantana has many uses including display plantings, containers and butterfly gardens.

This cultivar exhibits a common trait among Lantanas as the flowers change color as they age leading to a multicolored display on the same plant. This cultivar is also said to have color variations due to the amount of heat the garden gets. They like to grow in full sun and don’t need much water. Some Lantana I have grown have been completely wilted and after application of some water have returned to form barely missing a beat. They don’t need much attention but I think they taller varieties benefit from a quick snipping the long branch ends to promote bushiness. The metallic berries are said to be poisonous but there is some debate about that. The birds seem to relish them.

Moss Rose

Moss Rose

Portulaca grandiflora

(por-tew-LAK-uh) (por-tew-LAK-uh)

This is a flower that has never been featured here at Digital Flower Pictures.com. My experience with this plant has been either you like it or you don’t. I do like it especially when I consider it is a colorful problem solver than can grow in sometimes almost impossible conditions. It is a low growing, mat forming annual that can grow in masonry cracks and very hot and dry conditions. It freely self sows and comes in a mixture of bright colors, including some striped and spotted types.

Portulaca can grow without regular watering but flowers better with a little bit of added moisture. It is native to hot and dry areas of southern Brazil, Uruguay and northern Argentina. It does well in the front of the border, between stepping stones and as a spiller plant in containers.

Fan Flower

Fan Flower

Scaevola aemula 'Purple Fan'

(skee-VO-luh) (EM-yoo-luh)

This is a plant that seemed to take the botanical world by storm several years ago. It doesn’t seem quite s popular now and I am not sure why. Used as an annual in most climates it is actually a tender perennial. While it needs water it can thrive in the hottest locations and provide a ground covering mat of blue flowers. A white form and rarely a pink colored version is available.

Hailing from the hot and dusty Australian Outback this flower grows well in containers providing a nice spilling accent in pots. I have been going through this site and trying to remove some of the broken links and get it up to date. That is going to take awhile.

Bonus picture! A rather strangely colored version of Sunrise Coneflower. I don’t know if this is just an anomaly of the season or some Coneflowers are just revolting against the overbreeding they have been the subject of.

Sunrise Coneflower

Echinacea 'Sunrise'

(ek-in-AY-shee-uh)

Yellow Zinnia

Zinnia

(ZIN-ya)

Wordless Wednesday

Marguerite Daisy

Marguerite Daisy

Argyranthemum frutescens 'Molimba Mini Yellow'

(ar-ji-RAN-the-mum) (froo-TESS-enz)

Synonyms: Argyelsin, Summer Daisy

Here is a happy group of Daisies to celebrate the above average temperatures we have been enjoying in the Northeastern United States. There is still plenty of time for the pattern to change and for winter to settle in but so far December and January have been somewhat mild. One thing that I have noticed about the climate on Long Island is the fact that it is almost always windy and damp. It is just a couple of degrees warmer than Connecticut, which can be helpful during winter weather events. This Daisy is a nice soft yellow that tend to glow under the right lighting conditions.

Here is a bonus snapshot since I have been so lackadaisical in updating this blog. I have really been concentrating on doing a good job at my new job and that has been taking up a lot of my time. Once springtime comes I hope to be back on a regular schedule.

Garden Cosmos

Cosmos bipinnatus

(KOS-mus) (by-pin-NAY-tus)

Clivia Lily

Clivia Lily

Clivia miniata cv.

(KLY-vee-uh) (min-ee-AH-tuh)

Synonyms: St. John's Lily, Fire Lily

Since there are quite a few Clivias at work I thought boning up on their culture was a good idea. In the past we have had good luck with Clivia but some specimens have proven to be very stubborn about blooming. Breaking it down to a few simple rules of cultivation can be helpful. They like bright light but never direct sun. Potting mix is also important with a good coarse Orchid Bark working well. Watering is also a major factor. Clivias do not like excessive moisture and can be literally watered to death. Keeping them mostly dry during the winter is important. My personal experience leans towards letting the plants get really root bound in their pots and to avoid dividing when possible. They flowers on the plants at work are white and I hope to see them next cycle.

Work is progressing on the clean up on the island. Thankfully there were some temporary traffic signals installed on the main road. The gas lines there were incredible. I have to go to Manhattan today and assess the damage to the gardens down there. After being flooded by seven feet of saltwater the prognosis is not good but I still have to try and look at what can be saved.

Here is today’s bonus snapshot:

This was quite a strange looking Pansy. The face was amazing to me. Our garden mums and Pansies did well through the storm.

Marguerite Daisy

Marguerite Daisy

Argyranthemum hybrid 'Sunlight'

(ar-ji-RAN-the-mum)

Wordless Wednesday

Blue Frost Pansy

Pansy

Viola x wittrockiana 'Matrix Blue Frost'

(vy-OH-la) (wit-rok-ee-AH-na)

Wordless Wednesday

Purple Petunias

Petunia

Petunia hybrid

(peh-TEWN-ya)

Canna Lily

Canna Lily

Canna x generalis

(KAN-uh) (jen-er-RAY-liss)

Wordless Wednesday

Another yellow Canna.

Canna Lily

Canna Lily

Canna x generalis

(KAN-uh) (jen-er-RAY-liss)

We are once again enjoying having some Cannas in the garden, well in containers actually. This one (sorry it came without a name) has been really cheery and bright up against the white house walls. The foliage is good and has a nice pattern of gold stripes. More than half the fun in cultivating these plants are in the leaves although I have noticed that the newer varieties seem to be very good at self cleaning and don’t really need deadheading. We do continually groom these particular specimens just because of their central location.

The country fair was interesting yesterday. Erika had a good time seeing all the animals and riding the various rides. I enjoyed the Border Collie demonstration and the tractor pulls. The musical entertainment was a little lacking and there should have been a couple of bands. We had a good time and there will probably be a few pictures coming up this week.

Gilded Grape Wishbone Flower

Wishbone Flower

Torenia fournieri 'Catalina Gilded Grape'

(tor-EN-ee-uh) (for-NEER-eye)

Synonyms: Bluewings, Dancat266

This was a new flower for me. Of course I am familiar with Wishbone Flower but this looked so different that didn’t even cross my mind until close inspection. Its not new to the market (introduced in 2008) but Torenia has never been real popular around here. I have very limited experience growing Wishbone Flower and only in containers. The velvety blue and purple are eye catching and fun to have.

This color combination was a little odd to me at first but the more I looked at the several flats sitting together the more I liked it. They have a trailing habit and were trying to exhibit that in the pots. It is a nice flower for shady somewhat moist locations. It is heat tolerant and gives good color throughout the summer.

Since I feel a little guilty about not posting yesterday (out late rehearsing) here is an extra picture. Normally I wouldn’t have taken this picture because the plant is just a wild growing weed but the light was nice and the super washed out color attracted me.

Morning Glory

Ipomoea sp.

(ip-oh-MEE-uh)

Senorita Rosalita Spider Flower

Spider Flower

Cleome 'Senorita Rosalita'

(klee-OH-me)

Synonyms: Inncleosr, Grandfather's Whiskers, Spider Legs

This flower was featured on this blog on Thursday, July 10, 2008 and at the time it was new to me and everyone else as it was introduced in that year. It performed well as a mid-season container replacement without some of the common problems of Cleome culture. It doesn’t smell that bad (like the species) and is also thornless. They also are more heat tolerant and don’t need deadheading.

'Senorita Rosalita' has really stormed the market as far as I am concerned. You can see it planted now and growing all most anywhere. I really didn’t think it would catch on that big but it has. Plant breeding is so amazing to me. Annuals have come so far since I started my career. It’s kind of like watching history and if you do not keep your eyes open it just assimilates into life. Cleome 'Senorita Rosalita' is a flower that has joined the ranks of being a well-bred good garden citizen and that is something the Species could never (or it would take millions of years) do.

Peach Trailing Verbena

Trailing Verbena

Verbena 'Lanai Peach'

(ver-BEE-nuh)

This flower seems to illustrate a growing trend towards coral, peach and apricot flower colors. They are everywhere now and are easy to work into the landscape. This Verbena is growing in the container garden and has done well. A few of the pots were not getting hit with the irrigation water and the Verbena fought it off and is still looking good. When planting ‘dry’ pots we usually use a mixture of Verbena and Lantana and sometimes Moss Rose (Portulaca grandiflora).  

Ugh it is raining here again this morning. We have had over four and a half inches of rain this month, which is unusual. It stopped work on Friday but will not today. It just makes everything harder and less comfortable to do.

African Daisy

Cape Daisy

Osteospermum ‘Crescendo Yellow’

(oss-tee-oh-SPUR-mum)

Synonym: African Daisy

 This post was going to be about Columbine when I realized the photos had been used previously. Instead this fine group of Cape Daisies made it instead. They seem to be blooming well and I am starting to think they are more heat tolerant then they are given credit for. Straw colored flowers are not my favorite but these seem to be able to hold their own. They are making a bright, vivid color display without much work.

Since it is Sunday here is the bonus shot.

Washington Crossing the Delaware

1851, Oil-on-canvas

Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze

This famous painting is only partially rendered here. It was pretty good sized painting (liked 20 by about 12 feet big) and this was as wide as the lens went. There is quite a bit of history behind this painting, It is a replica of the original, which was lost during a World War II air raid.

Here is the Wikipedia Story of the painting.

Fuchsia

Fuchsia

Fuchsia

(FEW-she-uh)

Mr. Lincoln Hybrid Tea Rose

Hybrid Tea Rose ‘Mr. Lincoln’

Rosa (RO-zuh)

It is always fun to cover a classic here and this rose is one. ‘Mr. Lincoln’ grows with a typical hybrid tea form and can get a little tall and thin if left to its own devices. Overall the wonderful color and fragrance win the day for this rose. It can get diseased but is fairly resistance for one of the older roses in the garden. If you like red roses “Mr. Lincoln’ delivers a powerful punch.

‘Mr. Lincoln’:

Type: Hybrid Tea

Introduction: 1965, Conrad Pyle Roses (Star)

Petal Count: 35

Fragrance: Yes, strong

Parentage: Chrysler Imperial (Hybrid Tea, 1952) × Charles Mallerin (Hybrid Tea, before 1947)

Snapdragon

Antirrhinum majus 'Rocket Mix'

(an-TEE-ry-num) (MAY-jus)

This little gaggle of snapdragons was fun to see. This flower seems to be making a resurgence despite some urban legends about its cultivation. I have to admit I was surprised to see it blooming so nicely after all the heat we have had. This is one of the taller types.