Angela England's Blog
Posted by Angela England
Christmas break has been a great opportunity for me to get some work done! Not only have I been able to keep up with getting out my Christmas cards on time, but I've also done some garden research.
First, I have become absolutely intrigued by the sheer number of plants available with pendulous growth habit, from very large to very small. So rather than writing just one article about "Weeping Silhouettes in the Garden", I am actually going to be listing the top six weeping plants from each plant category, deciduous and evergreen trees, deciduous and evergreen shrubs, perennial plants and annuals. I'm really enjoying the research process for this project but if you have a particular favorite be sure to share it with me in the discussions area.
I also had a chance to finish the plant profile on one of my favorite evergreen perennials, the Christmas rose (Hellebore). An absolutely must for any garden you want to feature winter blooms in.
That's my Christmas vacation so far! How has yours been?
Posted by Angela England
Dear Reader's, Thank you so much for your participation in the poll to help select future plant profiles!
The plant that won for future plant profiles was the Blueberry plant so be on the lookout for a future plant profile detailing the care, uses and varieties of blueberries.
We had a three-way tie for second between Hibiscus, Daffodil and Aloe Vera so I'll be covering those as well in the future.
If you want to see a different plant profiled it isn't too late to make a suggestion. Just step on over to the discussion board and let your voice be heard!
(Note: if you haven't registered you'll need to complete that brief process quickly before posting. It doesn't take a minute!)
Posted by Angela England
Did you get a winter snow in your area? We did here and it was beautiful. In one evening everything was transformed and it was great to see some of the winter interest article series in effect before my eyes. A large sycamore in the far corner of our backyard caught the snow in it's large branches and its white bark gleamed beautifully. I also discovered the shrubs in the side yard are evergreens and will probably work them into my garden plan so I can keep them.
Over the next few weeks I'm going to be spending a lot of time thumbing through my catalogs, and sketching on graph paper to get a garden plan that is doable and will maintain a year-round interest.
Don't forget to take the chance to vote in our poll for your favorite choice for future plant profiles. And head over to the discussion are and share how your garden has been transformed by the winter weather. I'd love to hear what plants are proving themselves to be specimens with winter interest for you!
Posted by Angela England
This past week I've recieved at least one gardening catalog in the mail each day, except Thanksgiving when the mail didn't run. I'm so excited too...my husband teases that I look like a kid turned loose in the candy store.
I enjoy spending these days learning about new plants, devouring the catalogs that brighten my coffee table and trying to decide how far I can stretch my budget to include the greatest number of plants possible.
There are so many new and exciting plants available and some varieties I don't have as much experience with. I'm looking forward to learning as much as possible and sharing with you in some upcoming Plant Profiles. I've written one about Lavender and one about Cardinal Flowers so far but would love some input on what else you'd like to see.
Please visit the new poll and give your opinion for future plant profiles! If you've been getting as many beautiful plant catalogs as I have you probably have a list started already. Also, be sure to visit the discussion thread to suggest a different plant than the ones listed, or discuss why you chose what you chose!
Posted by Angela England
I was privileged to be able to visit the Sooner Plant Farm on my way home from visiting my parents, earlier this week. Brian took me for a walk around the grounds, despite the gusts of cold wind, and sprinkling rain that made it seem that winter had truly arrived.
Begun in 1999 with 50 varieties of trees, the Sooner Plant Farm has now grown into a great mail order nursery with over 500 perennial varieties, usually types you will not be able to find at your local garden center.
I found them via the Dave’s Garden website Garden Watchdog List because of their 100% positive customer ratings. When I asked Brian Chojnacki, the owner, what he attributed the high ratings to he said he felt that the fact he and his assistant, Teressa, handpick all the plants for customer orders, and pack the orders themselves is what makes the key difference. "We know if a customer were to come back with a complaint we can’t blame anyone else. We take the full responsibility for taking care of the customer".
While November might seem an odd time to tour a nursery, I enjoyed talking with Brian about plants that would provide some winter interest throughout the garden. In fact, I got to see in person some species and varieties I wasn’t familiar with at all and that’s always a lot of fun. Making a new discovery in the garden is great!
Some of my new favorites include; Euphorbia characias ‘Tazmanian Tiger’, whose picture does not do it justice and will grow even in fun sun with minimal burning of the white edges; Heuchera hybrid ‘Midnight Rose’, a gorgeous evergreen coral bell with bright pink specks and splotches throughout the deep maroon leaves; and an impressive collection of ground cover sedums that were turning gold, dark red and even purple.
If you are ever in Northeast Oklahoma stop by and go for a walk to see the beautiful varieties available. No matter what time of the year you'll find interesting landscaping, beautiful plants, and helpful folks to answer your questions.
Posted by Angela England
We were looking in the direction the deer had run off in but the red was so bright it caught our attention from several yards away.
My husband and I were at his parents house for the weekend and went for a stroll through the 100 wooded acres they have across the street. We noticed the bright red and knowing that I was working on an article series about creating winter interest, we went to investigate.
A small tree was absolutely covered in bright red berries, providing an incredible contrast to the golden leaves of the nearby sugar maple, and deep green of the pines. I think, after doing some investigation, that it was a hawthorn tree like the one I mention in my new article about red and pink berries. It was beautiful to see, that gorgeous little tree with its red berries blazing away in the morning light.
I hope you each have moments of beauty in your garden this winter like that one. It's easier to create than you may realize!
Posted by Angela England
The other day I took a walk around the house while the kids were both napping and tried to take stock of what we have to work with. Not much it seems.
We have several large shade trees around the perimeter of the large yard, and a few overgrown shrubs on the side between our house and the one neighbors house. It will be interesting to see what, if anything appears with the warmer spring weather.
Once I identify all the shrubs I'll have decide whether to keep any of them. I really want to create a year-round landscape and make sure that whatever I create will have many seasons of interest.
Do you know how to use plants to create winter interest in the garden? I'm beginning to learn and you can learn along with me if you'd like.
I've ordered all my catalogs and look forward to being able to use the next couple months to sit down and start planning my flowers beds, saving up for a plant budget, and talking my husband into digging everything out for me!
Posted by Angela England
We've recently moved to a beautiful, cream yellow house that has so many landscaping possibilties. (Read that as there are NO borders or foundational plantings at all!) I can't wait to get started on it but I know I need a little more time to plan exactly what I want to do. Most of the house will need beds prepared but I wanted to get some plants in the ground now for color this spring.
So, yesterday afternoon I bundled up the kids and we headed out into the pre-rainstorm wind to plant some bulbs I had picked up at a local garden center. I am ashamed to admit that in the move my favorite spade has disappeared into a black hole of cardboard boxes and I have yet to uncover it so I went out to the garden armed only with a large mixing spoon. I dug big holes and my almost two year old son had a blast dropping the bulbs in and covering them up.
Together, we planted 48 'King Alfred' daffodils, 100 'Red Emperor' tulips and 84 Muscari armeniacum. I used a layering technique along the side of our driveway that I think will yield beautiful results come spring. I'm excited to see how they look coming up all together.
What is not quite as exciting however is the painful blister that has appeared on the side of my finger. The lesson learned? Wear garden gloves and use a spade or shovel!
Happy Planting!