Well, last time I wrote I talked about the new Spring "fauna" in our yard (raccoons and squirrels), so today I'm going to talk about the new Spring "flora
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Actually, Deb did point out to me they were chives :). I knew she had said either onions or chives, couldn't remember which one and picked the wrong one :).
Gah! I wonder if that could possibly be Wisteria? The way she has it supported, it might be! If so, there is an excellent reference here -- http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/1000/1246.html. If not, I am interested in what it might be. No reason to save the seeds, unless you are willing to wait 10 years or so to see flowers. Hmmmmmm. A plant mystery!! (If I had a lovely specimen of Wisteria that large, I would have left the new owners a picture in bloom and instructions!!!)
And, yeah, I should have asked the previous owner more about the gardens... oh, well. Now I'll have to figure it out on my own! I just have to be patient and wait for leaves and flowers to blossom.
The first vine is a clematis -- see the purple flower on the bottom right? That's what will crop up all over the vine. It's one of my favorites.
The other vines also look like clematis -- although I suspect you have more than one cultivar. That shriveled thing could be either a seed pod or the leftover bloom -- say of a "curly head" or a "leavless clematis" (clematis ochroleuca.)
Some clematises bloom in spring, others in fall. Some bloom their first year, others bloom their second year. Some have that broad star-flower you see in the first picture, but some actually have bell shapes.
Or, I could be totally wrong (except the first one really is a clematis -- the flower is impossible to miss.)
It's hard to identify a vine from the raw vine without leaves or bloom. Watch 'em and see what happens.
Yes, the picture on the card attached to the trellis is really pretty. Looking forward to seeing it blossom! I'm worried that the three vine stubs beside it (you can see them in the second photo) aren't doing anything. I'm wondering if I'll have to dig them out and replace them with more vines.
I'm wondering, though, why the pods are twist-tied to the vine. Are they too heavy to stay on their own?
The seed pods on our wisteria don't look much like those you have; wisteria pods get long and heavy and fuzzy and resemble bean pods. Not white, either, though lord knows what a hard winter would do to old seed pods. I didn't know wisteria even grew out there. And why anyone would twist tie them up is a mystery...
Be glad if those other stubs turn out to be dead; then you get the fun of picking and planting your own choices. Much more satisfying in the long run, I think!
I think I can't even offer any advice on possible plants to try since your climate is so different from ours. The thought of my plants having to winter through a serious frost (much less a winter of snow!!) makes me nervous...
But how cool that you get to garden in your own yard! *hugs*
Yup, if those stubs don't grow in the next few weeks I'll dig them out and try to cultivate my own chosen vines there :).
Yay for having my own garden! It's kind of small right now, but we may change that in years to come. The biggest backyard goal for this summer is to have a fence put up in the back of the yard for privacy's sake. Beyond that just a few flowers and herbs and hanging baskets to make things nice.
Oooo, yay, thanks for all the shade plant ideas! I must admit I'm as nervous about -designing- that front garden as I am of deciding what to put in it! After all, everyone is gong to be able to see it! :)
Gardeners have a motto: "Nothing is carved in stone."
Landscapers may "plan" gardens. Gardeners start with an idea, and then fine tune for the rest of the life of the garden. You can move *anything* from location to location. Trees are more difficult, require certain equipment and are expensive to move, but still ...
You put things where you think you'll like them. Annuals won't last more than one life cycle, so you can start fresh the next year. Perennials usually seed or spread, and you often end up needing to thin them out over time, so you plant them elsewhere.
So, anyone who is looking at your garden who is a gardener will recognize what stage you're in. Don't sweat it.
You are welcome to pay us a visit and dig up sage, oregano and catnip, and maybe part of a hosta. And the raspberry canes in the paths have a short life span at the moment if they do not find a new home. I think there is a small lilac and maybe if I check a small weigalia or service berry too.
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And, yeah, I should have asked the previous owner more about the gardens... oh, well. Now I'll have to figure it out on my own! I just have to be patient and wait for leaves and flowers to blossom.
Reply
The other vines also look like clematis -- although I suspect you have more than one cultivar. That shriveled thing could be either a seed pod or the leftover bloom -- say of a "curly head" or a "leavless clematis" (clematis ochroleuca.)
Some clematises bloom in spring, others in fall. Some bloom their first year, others bloom their second year. Some have that broad star-flower you see in the first picture, but some actually have bell shapes.
Or, I could be totally wrong (except the first one really is a clematis -- the flower is impossible to miss.)
It's hard to identify a vine from the raw vine without leaves or bloom. Watch 'em and see what happens.
A great identification source: http://www.davesgarden.com/guides
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I'm wondering, though, why the pods are twist-tied to the vine. Are they too heavy to stay on their own?
I guess I'll have to wait and see.
Reply
Be glad if those other stubs turn out to be dead; then you get the fun of picking and planting your own choices. Much more satisfying in the long run, I think!
I think I can't even offer any advice on possible plants to try since your climate is so different from ours. The thought of my plants having to winter through a serious frost (much less a winter of snow!!) makes me nervous...
But how cool that you get to garden in your own yard!
*hugs*
Reply
Yay for having my own garden! It's kind of small right now, but we may change that in years to come. The biggest backyard goal for this summer is to have a fence put up in the back of the yard for privacy's sake. Beyond that just a few flowers and herbs and hanging baskets to make things nice.
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Reply
Landscapers may "plan" gardens. Gardeners start with an idea, and then fine tune for the rest of the life of the garden. You can move *anything* from location to location. Trees are more difficult, require certain equipment and are expensive to move, but still ...
You put things where you think you'll like them. Annuals won't last more than one life cycle, so you can start fresh the next year. Perennials usually seed or spread, and you often end up needing to thin them out over time, so you plant them elsewhere.
So, anyone who is looking at your garden who is a gardener will recognize what stage you're in. Don't sweat it.
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