Silverkelts Woodland Rose Garden at GardenStew.com

Seedling revisited

silverkelt — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 07:58:09 -0400

Author: silverkelt
Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 11:58 am (GMT 0)

Not much new going on in my garden... Next year is going to be so much better! Well hopefully anyways.

Its a lovely labor day weekend forcast, Im not really planning on doing much. I extened my main garden bed around its curve another 30 feet X 10 feet deep wide bed. Ive purchased 5-6 crosses for next year so far and have my rose order into pickering already... Next up is value seeds, WHENEVER they get around to updating and maybe a pine tree seeds order. I would love some more daffs in the garden as well. If you wait until just before the snow flys you can get them even cheaper at the local places =).

Anyways wanted to revisit this one cross, NONE of the flowers were bad, they were all very will defined with great color and habit. As you can see from the last picture, it fades to a truly gentle lavender/purple/mauve mix. Its truly fantastic and will be saved for the next 2-3 years to see what it does. I cant wait untill next year however. I have soooo many crosses set to bloom next year, with parents out of blue hippo , priceless, sense of wonder, eight miles high, gary colby, blue lake, god save the queen , highway blues, dragonfly charmer I can go on and on, I had over 500 seedlings last year! I think this year it will be around 250, with my schedule, taken care of this many seedlings at one time is alot! But I see all the new culitivators and the old ones, I get sooo exited and ending up bidding on them on the lily auction anyways!

Well forget all the rambling! here are some of the pics!

Have a great Labor Day Weekend everyone! We are having classic american fare, fresh raised corn, hamburgers , hot dogs and watermelon, topped off with ice cream =).

Silverkelt

Tons of Pics!

silverkelt — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:07:02 -0400

Author: silverkelt
Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 11:07 pm (GMT 0)

Been awhile since Ive posted,

Calendula , forgive the kid toy in the background =)..

Morning Glories, these didnt grow very tall, but they were huge, a mixture of a couple different types...

Candy Lily,

Salvia,

Triple Yellow Datura, not the greatest pic...

Front Yard bed...

Snapdragons

Cosmos

Hibiscus Manihoot

Rudbeckia Irish Eyes

I would love to post some more roses, but the JBS eat them fast =)... Was able to get a serving out of the Green Beans even after the deer ate them down to nubs.

Silverkelt

Sunrise, Datura , Dianthus Siberian Blues, Liatris etc...

silverkelt — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 09:47:38 -0400

Author: silverkelt
Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 1:47 pm (GMT 0)

Sunrise, through the foggy, mist filled air. I took several pics from my back deck, but this one captures the mood...

Single White large datura, opens evening and closes before noon the next day... Fragrant and lovely...

Dianthus Siberian Blues

You have to try this one at some point! Really more purple/lavender than a blue.

Blazing Stars (Liatris) (took me three years to wintersow succesfully, dont ask me why as they should be easy germinators!)

I believe this is Coreopsis tinctoria or plains tickweed. I think I wintersowed some anyways =).

Silverkelt

Best Seedling this year!

silverkelt — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:43:07 -0400

Author: silverkelt
Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 8:43 pm (GMT 0)

This was my best seedling this year..

Piping Rock X Jewel in the Crown

It opens early in the morning, with no hang ups
Was extremely winter hardy for me, my best semievergreen cross.
Has light fragrance,
has a pretty face.

I like it!

Silverkelt

Sunset, Zinnias, Calendula, Double Gold Rudbeckia etc...

silverkelt — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 06:28:43 -0400

Author: silverkelt
Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 10:28 am (GMT 0)

First, there was actually a sunset =P.. I usually cant tell becuase its been either cloudy or rainy...

Pacific Beauty Calendula

Different Zinnias

Double Gold Rudbeckia

Malva Zebrina (man, these things seem to hate me, Ive never gotten more than a small smattering of blooms)

My one and only coneflower leftover from my deer attacks, I might get some more of the ruby star later...

Another shot of the Apple Blossom Yarrow, finally starting to blush...

Double shot of blanketflower glandiflora

Silverkelt

Homemade Love X Berry Patch

silverkelt — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 12:58:04 -0400

Author: silverkelt
Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 4:58 pm (GMT 0)

Lovely Color on this one... Form is nice, I think this will be kept for awhile. I like it! It got its color from berry patch, I was hoping for a little bit of a looser form from homemade love, but oh well...

Silverkelt

Sibling from Yesterday

silverkelt — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:29:20 -0400

Author: silverkelt
Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 10:29 pm (GMT 0)

Another Passion District X Born to Run baby...

Colour is 10X better than yesterday, not much fragrance and lacks edge definition... but FFOs can be deceitful, will have patience...

Have another cross hopefully bloom tommorow.

Silverkelt

Passion District X Born to Run

silverkelt — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 18:15:10 -0400

Author: silverkelt
Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 10:15 pm (GMT 0)

First Flowered Open (FFO) on this cross,

A little more washed out than I wouldve liked, this was later on in the afternoon and not as red as I was hoping for, but this may change with subsequent flowers.

The form is pretty nice, the biggest attribute to this flower is its very fragrant, I love daylily fragrance, though not many are fragrant.

Its sibling will open tommorow, so will be interested to see it.

Silverkelt

Nicotinia , Phlox, Zinnias, Yarrow...

silverkelt — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 06:21:24 -0400

Author: silverkelt
Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 10:21 am (GMT 0)

Nicotinia, I think sensation mix... Nice fragrance.

Annual Dwarf Beauty Phlox, looking patriotic...

Zinnias are starting to flower, this one had a interesting colour mixture, however the photo came out a little blurry. Sorry!

Appleblossom Yarrow, not sure about this, has a slight tinge of pink, but I much prefer the bolder colours of other yarrows, this might go still...

Had to show this shot of Laurens Grape Poppy again, WOWZERS, the show is finally over for these... but it was nice while it lasted.

Still waiting on Salvias, Calendula , Cosmos and Hibiscus Manihoot to flower.

Silverkelt

Rosa Prairie Joy, bush shot of Vicks Caprice...

silverkelt — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 07:56:11 -0400

Author: silverkelt
Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2009 11:56 am (GMT 0)

Rosa Prairie Joy, candian parkland rose, another enabled rose that I got. Its supposed to be low growing , clean as a whistle and hardy. However, pickering sent me the smallest graft Ive ever seen from them. Usually they are a top notch vendor, still one of the best. I was a little dissapointed that they sent me something so small, even with a 2 dollar drop in price, this one was too small to be sent. Its going to take a couple of years to get up to snuff...

Bush shot of Vicks Caprice, no complaint here, strong healthy plant on a perfect graft. This is the usual top grade pickering normally sends. You can see some of the deer damage at top. They havent been back since I fertilized with the plant tone, they never seem to like the blood meal smell of it, but its a temporary fix at best, the smell washes away and they come back, eventually.

Couldnt resist, another shot of nikko blue hydrangea, which of course is very pink next to the the concrete foundation, leaching of lime and all that, you know =).

Some annuals finally waking up, will have some pics eventually =)

Silverkelt

Rosa Vicks Caprice

silverkelt — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 06:33:47 -0400

Author: silverkelt
Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 10:33 am (GMT 0)

I was enabled to purchase this rose, not only is it a wonderful striped hybrid perpetual, it is supposed to be very winter hardy. A reported sport of 'Archiduchesse Elizabeth d'Autriche' which you can sorta see, since the base pink looks similiar.

Jbs are here, so getting good picks for the next several weeks will be harder. Not much new going on, still alot of annuals waiting to bloom. But our one month banishment to the english climate put us weeks behind up here.

Silverkelt

Nikko Blue Hydrangea, Trailing Lobelia and oh my guess what?

silverkelt — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 06:39:41 -0400

Author: silverkelt
Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 10:39 am (GMT 0)

I got this Nikko Blue,overwintered covered with plastic in its pot, it apparently was happy enough to save most of its buds for me, I have a couple dozen on a small plant, Probable will be a pink blue mix. Its just starting to form its mophead, I always admire this shot on other peoples plants, now I have one of my own.

Trailing Lobelia, highlighed by the sun, I want to grab seed from these, its just tooooo pretty! Easy enough to start inside, not fussy, grows fast and flowers last. Lobelia is a great great container plant. I have mine mixed with Petunias, but they take longer to grow from seed, so will be another few days.

As many of you know, if you live in the Northeast, weve had very little sun, plants just havent taken off as they should, but lo and behold, somehow some of my Tomatoes are starting to flower! I wont start a new category for veggies until I actually have some though!

Not much left in way of roses, might get a Vicks Caprise or a Prarie Joy soon. Deer ate all the buds off my Chloris Alba, RDV doesnt want to bloom for some reason, lots of buds yellowing, just too much water! Huh! Whoever wouldve thought I could say that about roses, but this year was strange!

Silverkelt

Mostly Repeats, but with some sun!

silverkelt — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 06:30:56 -0400

Author: silverkelt
Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 10:30 am (GMT 0)

Weve had 3 out of 5 days with mostly sun around here.. that in itself is something unheard of this year!

Goblin Blanketflower, this one looks similiar to the other one I posted, but much shorter about 8 inches high or so.

If you wanted to add orange , but afraid it might be too much of a "hot" color, I would recommend California Poppies, they are a nice mellow orange.

Backdroped with the sun, and closing for the night, they remind me of spring tulips somewhat. These poppies are probable as much non fuss flower as you can get. Maybe deadhead the seed pods too make sure they dont spread.

Some more of the triumpf carnations, lovely graceful arching habits on a 2-3 foot plant. Hopefully will be able to post a huge clump shot of these soon.

I wouldve had a bunch of different coneflowers soon, but those are gone with the deer, as is my delphiniums. I will have some liatris shots soon it appears as the deer do not like them. Yvonnes Salvia, Red Lady Salvia , Calendula, Snaps, Hibiscus Manihoot all to come. Hopefully in a week or two, oh and some ruds it appears.

Silverkelt

Even more wintersowing blooms...

silverkelt — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 06:36:19 -0400

Author: silverkelt
Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 10:36 am (GMT 0)

Triumpf Carnations , much smaller than its cousins the florist carnations, these dianthus have a particular pleasing bluish tint to its plant, making it a outstanding garden plant IMO =)... has tons of buds so hopefully will get a bush shot of it at some point.

First flower opened on rose campion(Lychnis coronaria) its a darker fuschia type color, Im not sure if I was being decieved, I actualy got a whiff of a scent off from it...

Chinese Forget me Nots (annual) very east to wintersow...

As promised some of my datura has finally started... more to come later hopefully. LOVELY vanilla type scent on this one...

Clump shot of Laurens Grape Poppy, I really packed these in so some of the smaller plants bloomed tiny blooms, I think it has a charming effect however...

More to come if the deer doesnt eat everything!

Silverkelt

Comte De Chambord , Deer, JBs and Hosta

silverkelt — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 06:27:27 -0400

Author: silverkelt
Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 10:27 am (GMT 0)

Comte De Chambord did ok in its overwinted pot for the move, Its down to four canes so see where it goes from there, it is prone to blackspot, so if you are going no spray.. Im not sure you would want this one. Its supposed to be fairly hardy in my zone, so will have to trial that out this year.

Lovely Damask fragrance and a solid pink color.

The Deer came back, ate some buds, ate all of my coneflowers.. and stripped all of the leaves of Mde Sancy De Parabere, ate the top off all my sunflowers , but worst of all ate my green beans! They did this Sunday morning while we were at church.

I went ahead and fertlized a couple days ago with Plant - Tone, from my experience this keeps them away until the next rain. In years past I would spray a mixture of hot pepper and eggs, they seem to hate that, but in our every day rain pattern it wouldve just washed off. I think that might be another reason, we have been stuck inside so long there was no human activity outside to keep them more distant, the last couple of days, Ive actually been able to mow and start a fire to roast marshmellows for the kids.

JBs have arrived as well, but thier #s dont seem to as high here so far, but it might be a delayed reaction to all the cold rainy weather as well. We will see,

Hosta, I dont remember the name, It is a named variety of some sort or another, lovely double white flowers. I saved a # of hostas for the move, but they were all small divisions..

Silverkelt

Various Stuff and a Visit from THE DEER!!!!

silverkelt — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:28:10 -0400

Author: silverkelt
Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 12:28 pm (GMT 0)

First off, Deer ate some of my rosebuds and coneflowers last night, dont ask me why they chose to come to the front yard, through fallen logs and a bog to get to them, left the totally exposed hostas out back alone! It wasnt that bad, I have seen way worse damage, will have to keep track of it all, I still threaten to my wife that one of these days a dog will be coming home with me to chase the buggers off!

Laurens Grape Poppy finally started, some of these have been this really dark purple, some a more velvet crimson,

Blanketflower (Gaillardia Grandiflora) in some form or another, always pretty if short lived plants in my zone.

More of those roccoco pansies

Amaranthus Split Personality, not that flashy, will have to dertermine if I will bother saving seeds on this one or not, The flower tassells appear to stay green, I much perfer the red/purple ones.

Speaking of red purple Amaranthus, I have a unknow one, someone sent to me as Amaranthus Giganticus, which I have no ideal what it is, If any of you know clue me in, ITS very pretty, doesnt appear its going to get that big for me =( reminds me of how my last years love lies bleeding started off..

Hopefully I will have some Datura pics soon, the buds just sit there mocking me!

Bargain Hunting

silverkelt — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:03:53 -0400

Author: silverkelt
Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 11:03 am (GMT 0)

Its starting to be that time of year, maybe even a little earlier than ever, since we have no sun this summer, I don't think a lot of people are doing anything outside.

I went to pick up some Plant Tone at wally world and strolled through the garden center, Im always amazed at the prices of potted perennials, 10-12 bucks for ruds, coneflowers and the like.. not even the new cultivators just simple plain but pretty flowers.

No one was picking any of them up, but if they were, I felt like sliding a discreet wintersowing phamphlet at them =P... All of these can be grown so easily at pennies to the dollar in the end.

Oh well, back to the actual point, I found two different armerias to bring home for a whopping .75 cents each, splendes and armada rose. I very rarely buy perennials any more, wintersowing gives me more than enough, but I already had these on my wish list, and for that price, who could pass it up!

I also found a Forever and ever Blue Heaven hydrangea at Lowes, for $7.45 , half off, it appears some of the leaves got a little hit hard by frost, Its always fun to find these plants, I don't think people realize that there isn't anything wrong with them!

Silverkelt

Great Maidens Blush

silverkelt — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:54:22 -0400

Author: silverkelt
Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 10:54 pm (GMT 0)

I love love the scent on this rose, its a combination of a nice sweet scent with hits of lemon to me, a wonderful pink with fading to white.

This is my favorite alba.

Close up, on a different bloom, I prefer when the first form better, but it can have both..

Another shot of crocus rose showing a more rosette form...

Its still raining!

Silverkelt

Queen of Denmark

silverkelt — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 17:45:23 -0400

Author: silverkelt
Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 9:45 pm (GMT 0)

Not the best of blooms but still rather pretty, my QOD is only a couple years old, and not that big yet.

I have a TON of Great Maidens Blush ready to bloom, but the few that were out with all this rain wasnt impressive so im waiting for another shot.

I think I finally found out how to solve my "glow" issues with the camera with photoshop, the version I have has a automatic color adjustment, quite frankly whatever the programmers did , looks sooooo much better than anything I have been able to do with the camera or otherwise, so im going with it.

QOD has a nice fragrance, though offhand I cant give you the best description today! IT is raining AGAIN and im not going back out to give you a better one, suffice it to say, most albas give you better than average scent, from my memory I like Great Maidens Blush the best, its a sweet mixture with hints of fruit (lemon) to my nose.

I have a few more things ready to bloom, but everything is still so young in my new home =).. I cant wait till next year!

Austins Crocus Rose

silverkelt — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:52:42 -0400

Author: silverkelt
Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 11:52 pm (GMT 0)

Its been very wet and cool here, spring like weather and temps. Which suffice it to say, has delayed everything except the weeds from blooming. I have a few buds on some stuff and a couple of scapes on some of my daylily seedlings I will be able to share later.. but for now, lets talk about Austins Crocus Rose.

First, its in a coulor range that is hard to find in our zone for a truly hardy rose, and this rose is perfectly happy in our cold zone 5. If you are to get one Austin Rose, make this it in terms of hardiness the only Austins that will beat it are his Rogusa hybrids and Chianti his gallica hybrid.

It doesnt have alot of scent, I find a light tea scent early in the morning, which to me is quite fine, I can get alot of roses to give me a heavy sweet scent in my zone, its the tea scents Im lacking completly in my zone 5 garden.

Its a pale yellow /cream mix with hints of peach and pink on its outer petals that reflex back in cool weather, it usually forms a nice rosette type shape.

In my medium Black Spot pressure area, I would give this rose medium resistance, not so bad for a austin rose, If you live in a high pressure area, you would have to see for yourself. Most of my blackspot comes later in the bloom cycle, Ive had a few problems this year becuase my roses were covered in pots for the winter , however some of them never lost all of thier leaves, which is a problem since some of these leaves were already quite infested...

Im hoping that I can get some ok shots of Queen of Denmark and Great Maidens Blush to share in the next couple of days.

Silverkelt