Blooming Now – April 25, 2013!

Well, bit of frost over weekend did a number on some of last week’s flower show.

Most magnolias with flowers out are browned at worst, spotted at best. Color nice from the car, but get close to take a picture? Forget it. Good news is those that weren’t open yet will still bloom.

Serviceberry around grounds in full flower – Flowering Shrub Collection on Hawthorn Hill looks wonderful. You can’t miss seeing a beautiful specimen just after passing through the Stone Gates.

Forsythia are mostly still nice. Foliage has emerged on some but Orchard down hill from Visitors Center is still a sea of yellow.

Daweswood House magnolia flowers are mush but nearby PJM rhododendron still making a show and an early spirea, (Grefsheim) is in full bloom. Weeping cherries across pond from Daweswood House still look nice. Shows what a bit of water will do for frost protection. Others around the grounds are toast except those at Dawsewood House and along Dawes Lake.

Not many get excited by sugar maples blooming. Guess I’m odd that way. They are HEAVY in flower and look like light green clouds from a distance. Shantung maple from China also very noticeable in Azalea Glen with yellow-green flowers covering the tree. I even took some pictures.

Flowering dogwood bracts (yes, showy things are bracts and actual flowers small cluster in centers) are beginning to show color. While not full size or color yet, you can tell white ones from red already.

Other cherries & plums now flowering are Hally Jolivette flowering cherry, a plant some could make an argument either way for its being a shrub or a small tree. Light pink flowers with a darker center are quite pretty. Look for these on hillside north of Visitors Center. On Hawthorn Hill is native Mexican plum covered in its white flowers while also cloaked in spring splendor is another native, hortulan plum. This can be seen along the Auto Tour next the Hedge Letters. It is a progeny from a former State Champion that was here at Dawes.

The Callery pear are in flower – unfortunate since seeds of these trees are being spread by birds everywhere. Look along interstates now – white flowering trees you see are Callery pear. Most have not been planted by man.

This is mostly about blooming things but new foliage on Japanese maples in North End, Rare Trees, Azalea Glen, Japanese Garden and near Visitors Center make these trees look as if in bloom. Red, orange, dark reddish purple really stand out now.

Crab apples area posed for a great year. Louisa, a semi-weeping selection southeast corner of Dawes Lake is simply loaded with buds. A few of the early forms, Chilko, Strawberry Parfait, Baskatong and the hybrid micromalus are already in bloom. Next week should be peak for them.

Pieris in aptly named Pieris Collection Area are still looking none-the-worse for wear even with frost. In Flowering Shrub Collection is early lilac Betsy Rose a white flower selection with typical fragrance. And if you are a “fragrance connoisseur” be sure not to miss passing the nose over the flowers of Viburnum x burwoodii selections!

A rarely seen native shrub with bright yellow flowers along stems is swamp-privet (Forestiera acuminata) – NOT a privet however. I think with shearing it could be used for hedges like privet. Another great plant saddled with a lousy common name.

Soon to be making a hit will be the buckeyes and horse-chestnuts. Their small, unopened panicles, while not yet colorful, can be seen sticking upright above the new foliage.

Till next week.

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Spring is here—hooray!  No really, March 20th is the first day of spring!  You know, the time of year where temperatures won’t drop below 40 degrees at night and will reach at least 60 degrees daily, right?  Ha, I can dream.  Any Ohioan knows that we should still expect a roller coaster of weather conditions for most of spring.  However, the plants in the gardens are full of activity and need care regardless of whether or not the outdoor conditions are to my liking.

The gardens demand a lot of attention, especially this time of year.  At Dawes, the foliage from perennials that served as winter interest in the garden now looks shaggy and beat.  There are small hints of life emerging at the base of some perennials (fooled by the 70 degrees we experienced in early March, I suspect) which alert me that it’s time to remove the old foliage to make way for the new.

Despite the unpredictability of the weather, this is my favorite season.  My mind is fresh with new ideas and the gardens are getting a fresh start as well.  Some perennials will be divided and moved to different locations, new gardens will be gleaming with the newest perennials on the market and other gardens completely removed. I am especially looking forward to watching the Sensory Garden (behind the Visitor’s Center deck) evolve during its first full growing season.  This garden will have visitors exploring plants with their sense of touch, smell and taste as they stroll through—a treat for children and adults alike!

Finally, in order to stay ahead of the craziness springtime typically brings, I set a number of gardening goals each month that I know need to be done in order to achieve prolific flower beds.  Generally maintenance-oriented, these goals help keep weeds in check and plants healthy and thriving.

My “Garden Goals” for this month: cut down ornamental grasses and spread weed pre-emergent throughout the gardens—must get ahead of that pesky bittercress (see photo), I’ve seen it flowering in some of my gardens already!  Oy vey!

Keep tabs on this blog to find out what gardening goals will be set for April.  I’ll be back soon with more secrets from the garden!

Bittercress picture source: Purdue University Extension

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Lucky for all of us, there’s a way to take the hard work out of autumn while going “green” at the same time.  Instead of burning your leaves or bagging them and paying someone to throw them away, try mulching them.  Leaves contain phosphorus which encourages strong root development and resilience during winter.  Along with providing nutrients for your grass, mulched leaves help the soil retain moisture, protecting your yard from dry stretches next summer.  Not only does this make sure your grass is always greener, it means less wasteful watering later.

Mulching leaves is simple.  All you have to do is mow over them with whatever mower you have handy.  Don’t let the leaves pile up for too long before you mow, however, as a thick layer can smother the grass.  Once you start, it may take several passes to chop the leaves to a small enough size.  After the leaves are nicely sliced and diced, the worms and other insects take over the process.  As they break down the leaves, the energy and nutrients are released back into the lawn making it healthier than ever.

Don’t throw around money for fertilizer, instead throw around leaves and try this organic way to strengthen your yard this autumn.

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Between dry spells, 100-degree temperatures, and summer storms that tear up trees and flatten flowers, your garden is probably looking a little worse for wear.  If you’ve noticed any of these warning signs, please contact us immediately for garden resuscitation*:

1. Tumble weeds are rolling through your yard (unless you live in the desert, then it’s perfectly normal).
2. You hear a snap, crackle and pop when you walk through your grass and it’s not because you’re eating a bowl of Rice Krispies.
3. You get the strange feeling that nearby wildlife might be planning an uprising that involves overtaking your bathtub for a pool party (the squirrels try to “act natural” but you can tell they are casing the joint.)

Luckily, The Dawes Arboretum can send you a life line.  We just happen to have expert staff that the community affectionately refers to as the Titans of Trees, the Plant People, the Heroes of Horticulture (alright, no one actually calls them that, but it’s catchy, right?).  Use these tips to make your garden flourish during this temperamental summer, while remaining environmentally friendly.

Though the devastating storm on June 29th caused some serious damage, you can look at it in a new light by considering how the debris can be put to use.  The fallen branches, limbs and dead wood can be chipped and used as mulch for plant beds and around trees and shrubs.  Mulch helps retain moisture and suppresses weed growth—meaning less time plucking stubborn weeds, and more time enjoying your landscape with a cool drink in hand.  From a design aspect, wood chips also make nice natural-looking garden pathways.  We’ve also noticed happier wildlife when there is a nicely redecorated yard for them to hang out in.**

When summer does grace us with a gentle burst of rain, take full advantage of it.  Rain barrels are a Green solution to the dry weeks, and according to the Environmental Protection Agency (www.epa.gov), a rain barrel can save a homeowner about 1,300 gallons of water during the summer months.  A rain barrel collects rainwater from your roof using a downspout and stores it for a not-so-rainy day.  The collected rainwater is ideal for watering gardens or even washing your car.  Plus, the birds will be much less likely to fly in an open window and hide until morning when they surprise you in the shower.***

Follow these tips and your garden will be green in more ways than one.  There are plenty of other tricks to help your garden beat the summer heat, just stop in at The Dawes Arboretum and discuss your questions with the Heroes of Horticulture (catching on yet?).

*The Dawes Arboretum cannot technically perform CPR on your yard.  That would just be awkward for everyone.

**Not guaranteed that landscaping improves the mood of wildlife.  This statement is purely speculation.

***We’re required to note that the chances of this happening are relatively slim.  Still… it’s better to be safe by keeping those bird baths full using your new rain barrel.

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