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Dear Friends,
Is it spring yet? No, we don't think so, but after what we have had so far this winter we are pining for April. Unfortunately we still have to get through what any gardener knows is the longest month of the year. However, there are a few things to look forward to in February. One would be Valentine's Day when hearts young and old turn towards love. If you would like some flowers-that-last to offer as a token of your affection, we will have a good selection arriving the week before the 14th. Another reason we look forward to February is the resumption of our free classes, so please check out our schedule below. February also marks the return of new stock to the garden center. Margie has gotten in a great selection of seeds, seed starting supplies, new pottery, statuary and other garden goodies. Plus towards the end of the month the first plant trucks should arrive.
Another thing that we are looking forward to is our
Winter Garden and Hellebore Festival on Saturday, on
Feb. 26th from 9:00 a.m to 5:00. That day we will be celebrating one of our favorite perennials, the Hellebore. If you don't have any of these evergreen, deer-resistant, shade tolerant, pest and disease free, self-sowing, winter blooming gems - you don't know what you're missing. We will also be showcasing many of the other plants that shine in a Hampton Roads winter. The choices are surprisingly numerous, and if you want to learn more, we will be having a class from 10:00-11:00 a.m. on the 26th. We will also be having lots of sales, plus if you stop in before then, you can get a great coupon too.
Finally, we would like to thank all of you for your kind thoughts, prayers and wishes after the death of our friend JoEllen Gienger. If any of you were generous enough to make a donation to the American Cancer Society, only to have it returned, we hope you will contact us for a correction on the address listed in the newspaper. This coming year will be a hard one without JoEllen, but she would be the last person to want us moping around. She would tell us to get back to work, there are customers to be taken care of - and that is just what we're doing.
We hope to see you soon!
Your friends at Smithfield Gardens
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Upcoming Events and Classes at Smithfield Gardens
February 19th (Sat.) 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Basic Home Landscape Design
This popular class will help you know where to start when you are looking to establish a new garden or are trying to breath new life into an existing landscape. Jeff Williamson will be teaching.
February 20th (Sun.) 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. Proper Pruning Techniques We receive more inquiries about how plants should be pruned than any other topic. Les Parks will answer many of those questions, and just in time for one of the best seasons to prune.
February 26th (Sat.) 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Winter Garden and Hellebore Festival Join us as we celebrate one of our favorite perennials, the easy to grow Hellebore. We will also highlight some other winter favorites, and we will be providing refreshments, as well as having a great wintry sale.
February 26th (Sat.) 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Hellebores and Other Winter Gems
Many gardeners do not realize just how many plants look their best in winter, and we are fortunate to be able to grow many of them here in Hampton Roads. The Hellebore is one of those, and this class will introduce you to them and other winter gems. Ann Weber and Jeff Williamson will be teaching.
February 26th (Sat.) 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
From the Ground Up
Good gardens begin with good soil, and in this class Margie Cooper will tell you all about soil structure and how to improve it so your garden will be ready for spring.
Other Events February 5th, 12th & 19th (Sat.) 8:30 a.m. Beginners Beekeeping Class This is a three-day short course for beginners with an empahsis on sustainable, chemical-free practices. It will be held at Viginia Weslyan College in Va. Beach. More information is available at www.beekeepersguild.org. February 19th (Sat.) 9:00 a.m. Nature Walk Explore a small oasis for wildlife in the middle of Norfolk at the Weyanoke Sanctuary, 1501 Armistead Bridge Rd. Visit here for more details. February 12th (Sat.) 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Volunteer Work Day at Hoffler Creek Come help others maintain the trails and facilities at the Portsmouth preserve. Visit www.hofflercreek.org for more details. The Norfolk Botanical Gardens has classes and events throughout the month. Please click here for more details. |
Looking for Plants at Mants
In early January three of us attended MANTS (Mid Atlantic Nursery Trade Show) in Baltimore. Mind you, this is one of the largest trade shows for the green industry in the country. Imagine over 1 million sq. ft. of convention hall floor space with over 900 vendors. This marked the third time I've gone, and I'm always amazed at the stunning booth displays utilizing mainly foliage color and textures. We pointed and shared several oohs and ahs, and of course took the photos that accompany this piece.
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Calibrachoa 'Coralberry Punch' |
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Kalanchoe thyrsiflora 'Fantastic' |
My assignment was to investigate new annuals, tropicals and perennials. The two most eye-catching candidates, for my money, were Kalanchoe thyrsiflora'Fantastic' and Calibrachoa 'Coralberry Punch'. 'Fantastic' is a stunning dark pink-edged succulent that's shaped like twisted pancakes. We could picture it as a wonderful addition to a container combination or as a stand-alone performer. Other wonderful foliage plants that made us drool were the eye-catching Vriesea Hybrid bromeliads, which could be used as houseplants during the winter months and put outside on the patio for the summer. Several vendors had made gorgeous display bowls using unusual succulents, which is a great idea for gardeners who love low-maintenance containers.
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Heuchera 'Lemon Chiffon' |
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Succulent Bowls |
A continuing trend is the use of foliage color perennials like shade-loving Heucheras or coral bells. We checked plant tags for several cultivars to see if they were H. villosa hybrids since these do better in our heat and humidity. However, we couldn't resist taking a picture of this delicious Heuchera 'Lemon Chiffon' even if we're not sure who the parents are! Some vendors are able to force flowers on perennials for this show but many choose an easier route by displaying colorful pictures on posters. Always watching for new coneflower introductions Echinacea 'Irresistable' and E. 'Tangerine Dream' caught our eye. If you like to research new introductions check out these other coneflowers: 'Mama Mia','Raspberry Truffle' and 'Pow Wow Wild Berries'. We photographed two interesting container combinations for future reference: the lime- green contorted branch used with variegated Euphorbia 'Ascot Rainbow' used as the container's "filler", and Colocasia 'Mojito' used with a cascading carex. 'Ascot Rainbow', a recently introduced spurge, was selected because both its spring flowers and foliage are variegated. It is also reported to be quite heat tolerant. We could picture it as a wonderful addition to a container combination or as a stand-alone performer. I also loved the soft texture of the low-growing Deschampsia 'Northern Lights' ornamental grass that appeared in several booths. Wouldn't a fine-textured grass look great in one of these head planters?
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Thuja plicata 'Zebrina Extra Gold' |
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Bromeliad Vriesea Hybrid |
Les, our Nursery manager, took some of the pictures used here, and he is always drawn to colorful evergreens. He cautions that these lovely golden gems may struggle a little in our climate, but it won't be from the winters. Tidewater's combination of heat and humidity can prove challenging for many of the unusual evergreen shrubs displayed at this northern show, however that never stops us from thinking we might like to try a plant or two if we could get a hold of one. Gardeners are such an optimistic bunch, aren't they? Though the next show is about a year away, I'm already looking forward to scoping out new plants and container ideas to use here at Smithfield Gardens and in my own yard.
Ann Weber
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Are You Guilty of Crape Murder?
(Caution: this article contains lurid crime scene photos which may not be suitable for sensitive gardeners)
 Every February, Hampton Roads is gripped by a crime spree, and most of the perpetrators do not even realize they are doing anything wrong. I am talking about the annual butchery that takes place on one of our beloved signature trees - the crape myrtle. Many people are grossly mistaken in thinking that crape myrtles need to have their tops cut off every year, yet we don't require this of dogwoods, oaks, pines or any other tree for that matter. Some gardeners are just mindlessly aping what they see other people doing, including many supposedly professional landscapers and arborists.
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People's Exhibit A |
So why do these medieval horticultural practices, worthy of a Spanish Inquisitor, persist? Many people erroneously believe that severe pruning is needed to promote flowering. Others think it is the best way to control the size of crape myrtles. After enduring another winter, perhaps others are taking their frustrations out on an agent of Mother Nature. Who knows, but let's address the more tangible reasons. First of all, crape myrtles will bloom without any assistance from pruning. All they need is sunny warm weather to begin flowering. As for the size issues, there are now crape myrtles that only grow 2' tall, and there are varieties that grow up to 40', with many sizes in between. So if you are looking to plant a crape myrtle, make sure you select one whose mature height and width match the spot you have in mind.
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People's Exhibit B |
Some skeptics out there may be asking why this crime is so bad. Well hopefully the most obvious reason is how the trees looks after they have been dismembered. One of the great features of crape myrtles is its artistic structure with sinewy, muscular trunks and branches. These pieces of living sculpture can be reduced to a hat rack by a chainsaw in 10 minutes, and this damage will leave a scar that will not go away, even if the tree is never pruned again. When these cuts are made, open stumps are often left, and over the years this exposure could invite insects and rot. In the late spring after these cuts are made, a great deal of thick congested new growth will arise. This lush thickness inhibits proper air circulation, thus promoting fungal diseases. Also this lush growth is usually poorly attached to the branch or trunk and can easily be damaged during summer storms.
So is it ever alright to prune a crape myrtle? Yes it is, especially when they are young. When a new crape myrtle is planted it is best to select between 3 and 5 trunks and remove the rest. These young trunks should ideally face away from the center of the plant to keep it open. Throughout the life of a crape myrtle rampant growth will emerge from the base of the tree, and these suckers should be removed whenever they arise. Some people ask if the dried seed pods can be removed, and the answer is yes. However, this is not feasible once the tree gets above a certain size, and it is merely a cosmetic cut. Usually by the time the tree is ready to bloom, last years pods are long gone anyway. Of course as with any tree, if there are damaged or diseased branches, these can be removed as needed.
Hopefully, now that you are armed with righteous information, you can confidently begin making citizen's arrests on your errant neighbors. However, I think we should not push for incarceration, just a light probation and rehabilitation for the first offense, after that we will have the book thrown at them and their license to prune revoked.
(For more scholarly information on crape myrtle pruning, here is a link to the Virginia Cooperative Extension pamphlet on the subject.)
Les Parks |
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Fight Cabin Fever:
Get Your Garden Ready for Spring
I'll bet you are as over winter as we are at Smithfield Gardens. Don't you wish the weather was pleasant enough for getting outside? Well, you are so in luck! Despite the cold and dreary atmosphere, the soil is ready for action, so don't let cabin fever keep a hold on you. I have been thinking of ways to get a jump on the planting season and the list is growing. Before long you will be so focused on making your dream yard become a reality that you won't even care what the skies are threatening. So, here are my random thoughts on prepping for spring:
1. Get your lawn ready with Crabgrass Control. The first application is due now, so DO NOT put this off. Getting it down now will prevent a lot of weeds later and a lot of work.
2. If you are planning a garden this year (cold crop or summer, vegetable or flower) now is a good time to get the area prepared and ground additives in place. Allowing the area time to start breaking those additives down benefits the plants you plan on adding later. Hey! I'm having a class all about this on February 26th. Come join me!
3. Start your seeds for any veggies or flowers now. New varieties are in and ready for you to look at and drool over. We have everything you need to give them a healthy beginning.
4. It is a great time to check trees and shrubs for winter or snow damage. There is a right and a wrong way to do this, so you might want to attend Les Parks' pruning class on February 20th, where he will demonstrate proper techniques.
5. Oh, and don't forget the hardware. It is no fun to be in the middle of a project and have to postpone because a key piece needs replacing. Be sure to check water hoses and fittings. These can dry-rot or wear over time. Check nozzles and sprinkler heads, as well. Replace washers and make sure no kinks are in the hoses. Also, just to be cautious, check soaker hoses in the flower beds for tears etc. If you don't have these, think about adding them. They are worth their weight in gold!
That's about where my musings end, so, unless you are totally snowbound, I hope this list helps jolt you out of the winter blues and into action. Well, the Garden Center nymphs need my creative direction as we are preparing for spring inside. Yep, paintbrushes are flying. The yummy new colors are already bringing thoughts of warmer weather and our knowledgeable staff eagerly awaits your lawn and garden questions. So, see ya' soon! Don't be a stranger!
Margie Cooper
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