Focus on Flowers

• Annuals for Pots

  Torenia is a pretty annual that hails from tropical African and Asian woodlands. This branching annual is not frost hardy but grows rapidly to a height of about 12 inches with a spread of 8 inches. It flowers in summer and fall, producing racemes of trumpet-shaped, two-lipped flowers that look a bit like snapdragon blooms. There are two lobes on the upper lips and three lobes on the lower lips. Torenias make attractive plants for containers in sheltered positions. Pinch out the growing shoots of young plants to encourage them to get bushy. Now that we have had our first frosts in the Midwest, I am thinking about what to plant next year. ‘Summer Wave’ is a trailing, long-flowering strain of torenia that has large blue flowers, but purplish-blue, red, pink and white varieties are also available. The leaves of these plants are light to dark green and ovate to elliptical in shape, and they have toothed edges. Grow them in fertile, well-drained soil in part shade. Another pretty blue annual to consider next spring is Scaevola, or fan-flower as it is also called. I am partial to it as, like me, it hails from Australia. It has profuse blue, mauve, purple, or white flowers in sun or part shade, and it drapes well over the sides of pots. ‘Blue Wonder’ is very pretty as well as being drought tolerant.

  --------  

  2:00

  --------

  2:00
• Neglectable Houseplants

  In her book Making Things Grow---a Practical Guide for the Indoor Gardener, Thalassa Cruso calls succulents “neglectable plants.” That is because all fleshy-leaved succulents are slow to lose the water stored in their leaves. They also can go into dormancy to conserve water during drought. Cruso says that is why succulents make such good houseplants, thriving in the hot dry conditions in our homes and allowing us to, on occasion, neglect them. Of course, the degree of succulence in the tissues of plants varies, but the amount predicts just how long a plant can go without any water. Gloxinias and African violets are succulents, as well as hoyas, sempervivums, sedums and the various types of cacti. At this time of the year, the Thanksgiving and Christmas cactus plants are getting ready to delight us with their colorful flower displays for the holidays. Some experts advise us to withhold water from these plants for the month before their expected season of bloom to precipitate dense flowering.Also with all succulents, always repot using a dry soil mix and never bury any of the leaves. These plants require less water than other houseplants, and they will rot if they become waterlogged so water sparingly and only when the soil is quite dried out in the pot. Succulents are durable plants and can usually be left at home alone, while we vacation.

  --------  

  1:59

  --------

  1:59
• Hyacinth Bulbs for Fall Planting

  Hyacinths were first found growing in Asia, but because of the efforts of Dutch growers, there are now many varieties in the genus Hyacinthus. Most bloom in the spring from bulbs planted in the fall. The showiest are the bedding size ones with masses of florets completely surrounding 10” stems. They are dramatic planted in the sun in groups. Probably because of their strong fragrance, deer avoid them. Deer also avoid the smaller, very hardy and versatile grape hyacinth, Muscari armeniacum, which will grow in sun or shade. Its flowers are small and bell shaped, arranged in a cone, and held erect on six-inch stems. They are a wonderful cobalt blue, which is rare in flowers, but white and paler blues have also been developed. They multiply and are great mixers with other spring flowers and naturalize happily.  Another hyacinth, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, also naturalizes well and is actually the English woodland bluebell, which thrives in shade. These bulbs were first brought to England from Persia in the 16th century but are now considered to be thoroughly English. Look for them under the name of wood hyacinth.Whether you prefer the large hyacinths that are synonymous with the Dutch or the smaller ones beloved by the Brits, do plant some hyacinth bulbs this fall.

  --------  

  2:00

  --------

  2:00
• Sage

  Even after a heavy frost, the stalwart perennial sage plant stands erect in the garden. It shows its elegant silvery grey color even in winter reminding us that next spring it will give us fragrant lavender flowers. Common garden sage, Salvia officinalis, is a staple in the herb garden and a plant for all seasons. The genus Salvia contains both aromatic and non-aromatic varieties, and the name is from the Latin word meaning safe or healthy. There are over 700 species, both annuals and perennials.  All like well drained, dry locations in sun. Since the thick leaves retain moisture they should be dried in the open air, not in a covered container.  It is good to have some of the culinary types on hand in November, as sage is a traditional element in turkey stuffing. It was thought by the Chinese to be a symbol of immortality…but this obviously doesn’t apply to turkeys. Sage was also believed to aid digestion and so is traditionally used in recipes with fatty meats such as sausage and liver.In 1633 John Gerrard wrote: “Sage is singularly good for the head and brain, it quickeneth the senses of memory, strengtheneth the sinews, restoreth health to those that have palsy and taketh away shakey trembling.” All these virtues, and wonderful flowers in the spring as well!

  --------  

  2:00

  --------

  2:00
• Keats' Autumn

  In the autumn our gardens are mellow and yet the end of the growing season is bittersweet. As we work in our gardens and put them to bed we are reminded of some of our favorite poetry. This poem is an excerpt from the well-known "Ode to Autumn" by John Keats who lived from 1795-1821.  Ode to Autumn     Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness!     Close bosom- friend of the maturing sun;     Conspiring with him how to load and bless     With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eaves run;     To bend with apples the mossed cottage-trees,      And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;     To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells      With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,      And still more, later flowers for the bees,     Until they think warm days will never cease,     For summer has o’brimmed their clammy cells.     Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store???    Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find    Thee sitting careless on a granary floor,    Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind,    Or on a half reaped furrow sound asleep,    Drowsed with the fume of poppies, while thy hook    Spares the next swath and all its twined flowers;    And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep    Steady thy laden head across a brook;    Or by a cider- press, with patient look,    Thou watchest the last oozings hours by hours.

  --------  

  1:59

  --------

  1:59

More Leisure podcasts

Trending Leisure podcasts

About Focus on Flowers

Focus on Flowers: Podcasts in Family