Dear Friends,
We hear this every year, but hasn't this been an odd winter? You will find no one here is complaining about the lack of snow, ice and bitter cold. In fact, we are busy getting ready for spring, and you can too. One way would be to look at our February Monthly Garden Checklist, which you can pick up at the store, or find in the Quick Links box of this newsletter. You can also attend any of the free classes we are having this month, there is more information below, and you can register there as well.
On the Saturday the 25th we will be holding our Winter Garden and Hellebore Festival, which is a small party we throw to welcome spring. The guest of honor will be the oh-so-easy-to-grow hellebore, but we will be celebrating other plants, too, and we will have free classes as well. There will be some light refreshments and some pretty good sales going on. Also on that day our neighbors at Bon Vivant will be holding an "Aloha" wine tasting and Luau in our warm and balmy greenhouse among all the tropical foliage. The tasting will run from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. and is open to the public, but you will have to register with Bon Vivant by calling 238-7038. Island attire is strongly encouraged!
Even though this is a leap year and we have one extra day in the month, don't lose track of time. This is the ideal month to get a lot of pruning done before spring, but there are a few rules to remember. You may want to stop by and pick up one of our Pruning Cheat Sheets.
We hope to see you soon!
Your Friends at Smithfield Gardens |
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Upcoming Events and Classes at Smithfield Gardens
Basic Home Landscape Design
February 18th (Sat.) 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Whether you are looking to establish a new garden, or are trying to breathe life into an existing landscape, this popular class will help you get started. Jeff Williamson will be teaching.
Proper Pruning Techniques
February 19th (Sun.) 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
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.
Winter Garden and Hellebore Festival
February 25th (Sat.) 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Join us throughout the day 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.
Hellebores and Other Winter Gems
February 25th (Sat.) 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
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.
From the Ground Up - Wake Up Your Garden for Spring
February 25th (Sat.) 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Good gardens begin with good soil, and in this class you will learn about soil structure and how to improve it so your garden will be ready for spring.
Would you like to save 10% on your purchases at Smithfield Gardens? Monday is Military Discount Day and active duty military, Coast Guard, police, fire and rescue personnel all are entitled to this discount. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are Senior Days. Also, anyone who attends one of our free classes is entitled to a discount on the day of the class. All of our discounts apply to any item not already on sale and can not be used towards landscaping services or bulk materials.
Other Events
What's Buggin' You?
February 2nd (Thu.) 8:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
This day long seminar will take place at the Newport News Marriott at Oyster Point, and a hot lunch is included. To see the complete agenda please visit here.
Nude Tree Workshop and Nude Tree Walk
February 10th (Fri.) 4:00 to 6:00 p.m and
11th (Sat.) 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.
Keep your clothes on! The workshop on Friday and the walk on Saturday will help you learn how to identify trees in their naked, winter state. The workshop will be at the Williamsburg Public Library on Scotland St., and the walk will be held at William and Mary's College Woods. Both events are sponsored by the John Clayton Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society. Click here for more details.
Early Morning Bird Walk
February 25th (Sat.) 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.
This event will be held in Portsmouth at the Hoffler Creek Wildlife Foundation and Preserve. Visit their web site for more detail.
The Norfolk Botanical Garden has classes and events throughout the month. Please click here for more details. |
Coffee or Tiarella?
Those of you who garden in full sun situations will not be as curious about this small genus of perennials as gardeners who struggle to find interesting new candidates for their darker garden areas. I teach the shade gardening class here, and when I select the plants to bring into the classroom (because nothing beats seeing the options up close and personal) I usually end up showing several heucheras and telling customers that tiarellas are quite similar. I have to do this because we don't normally stock much of this deer-resistant perennial.
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Tiarella 'Crow Feather' |
Foam flower is the common name for this elegant, evergreen groundcover that blooms in the spring before heucheras (also known as coral bells). Both of these plants are botanical cousins so there are similarities in their light preferences, leaf shape and period of bloom. Tiarellas may have a shorter flower stalk but the actual inflorescence is showier because the small flowers are more tightly packed on the stem, giving the appearance of a bottlebrush. Tiarellas are totally hardy in our area, being zone 4-9 plants. I like this fact because they are reliable in containers, which I like to do.
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Tiarella 'Pink Skyrocket' |
Even when not in bloom foam flowers are interesting because of their lobed foliage and the fact that many have a dark pattern in the leaves. On some cultivars the foliage turns a bronze-red in cooler weather. Terra Nova Nursery's eye-popping Tiarella 'Crow Feather' has perhaps the best winter leaf color of any foam flower, with its stunning mix of pinks, reds, purples and blacks. Tiarella 'Pink Skyrocket' is another Terra Nova introduction that is touted as their "BEST pink flowering tiarella" in their trade catalogue. The deeply lobed shiny green foliage has dark mid-veins, and the very showy flowers are described as shrimp pink. Tiarella 'Brandywine' has large, wrinkled heart-shaped leaves with light pink to white flowers. I also know that trailing foamflowers exist (the "American Trail" series) and magazine pictures show these spilling gracefully from elevated containers. I do believe that it will be a while before we see these locally, though.
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Tiarella 'Brandywine' |
Companion plants include ferns, hostas, epimediums (I like Epimedium versicolor 'Sulphureum'), toad lilies, Bletilla striata, sweet flag (limey-gold Acorus minimus is cute as a button), ligularias, elegant Solomon's seal and Rohdea japonica---to name but a few. Tiarellas like the soil to be little wetter than coral bells, but they still need what is termed "moist, well-drained" soil. Perhaps you have a spot for one of these perennials at the edge of a shaded border or wooded area. The fact that butterflies and hummingbirds are drawn to them should provide added incentive to research this attractive native.
Ann Weber |
That's No Tulip Tree
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Magnolia soulangiana x 'Rustica Rubra' |
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Magnolia x soulangiana |
The magnolia family is one of the oldest group of plants on earth, and were some of the first plants to produce what is easily recognized as a flower. People in this part of the country are very familiar with the evergreen southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) but there are many other species worthy of a spot in your garden. Around the world there are many deciduous magnolias widely planted and cherished by gardeners because of their gorgeous late winter/early spring blooming flowers.
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Magnolia stellata |
The most common of these deciduous species are saucer magnolias (M. x soulangeana) and Star Magnolias (M. stellata), but there are several other species and hybrids that are also available. Saucer magnolias have very large flowers that resemble a saucer when fully open. They can also resemble a tulip blossom, and many people come in here mistakenly asking for "tulip trees", which is actually the common name for another tree (yellow poplar, Liriodendron tulipifera). Star magnolias have smaller, more numerous petals that resemble the rays of a star. There is a great deal of variety among these deciduous magnolias in flower size, shape and form. Their colors can range from pure white, blush pink, near red, purple, yellow and bi-colors.
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Magnolia x loebneri 'Leonard Messel' |
Some varieties of magnolia will behave like a large shrub and have multiple branches, while others will be more tree-like. There are selections ranching from 8-10' tall up to 30'. No matter which species of deciduous magnolias we are talking about, all of them take the same general growing conditions, preferring a site in full to partial sun. They soil should be moist and fairly high in organic matter. Since they do bloom so early, it is best not to plant them adjacent to a south facing wall. The reflected heat may cause them to open too early only to be nipped by the frost ruining the current year's blossoms, but not the overall health of the tree. There are a couple of issues with deciduous magnolias you need to be aware of. One is that some varieties can be prone to leaf spot and mildew during the muggy humid months of summer, so make sure you have good air circulation and pick resistant varieties. Also, even if they have a good home and are well taken care of, fickle Mother Nature often induces them to open too early and then hits the delicate flowers with a freeze. So some years these trees are spectacular, and some years not so much, but when conditions are right they are unrivaled in beauty. One of the best places to see these trees in all their glory is the Norfolk Botanical Garden. In the arboretum near the children's garden are some magnificent specimens.
Les Parks |
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Soil Basics
The foundation of any good garden lies in the soil, and many times gardeners are guilty for not paying enough attention to soil and its structure. There are so many terms when discussing soil that sometimes the conversation can get a little muddy, so to speak. So for this month's newsletter we thought we would define some basic soil terms.
Top Soil - Simply, top soil is the top, outermost layer of the soil. It can be anywhere from 1-2 inches up to 2 feet in depth. It is the layer of soil where most of the microorganisms and organic matter are found and where most root growth takes place. Depending on where it is from and how it has been used, different top soils can have widely varying degrees of quality.
Organic Matter - This important element to good soil is any plant or animal material (like leaves, grass clippings, animal wastes, etc...) that has decomposed to the point it is no longer recognizable. Organic matter in soil helps retain moisture, binds soil grains together and makes it possible for microorganisms to live.
Microorganisms - When discussing soil, this term collectively refers to microscopic plants, fungi and animals that live in the soil. Microorganisms help break down organic matter and often convert it into elements that plants can use. Healthy soil contains many microorganisms.
Humus - When organic matter has decayed to the point it will not break down any further this is humus. Soils rich in humus stay aerated, feed microorganisms, stay loose and not compacted, are less affected by extremes of acid or alkalinity and hold moisture.
Sand - Everyone knows what sand is, but when speaking of soils, sand refers to large-grained, loosely packed particles. Sandy soils tend to drain really well, which is a good thing in that it helps prevent root rot. However, too much sand in the soil will prevent moisture from being retained.
Clay - Clay soils are almost the opposite of sand in that the particles are finely grained and closely packed. When clay soils become wet they tend to hold onto moisture, allowing very little air between particles, which can lead to root rot in some plants. Conversely, when clay gets dry it becomes tight and compacted, causing water to run off.
Loam - This is the ideal soil being roughly equal parts sand, clay and organic matter. Loam is what gardeners and farmers dream about.
Compost - When you deliberately pile different types of organic matter with the intent for them to decay, this is composting. Most often it is a homemade combination of materials like leaves, grass clippings, kitchen scraps, pruning discards, etc... You can also purchase commercially made compost. Added to soil it improves fertility, helps sandy soil hold water and helps clay soil stay loose and improve its drainage.
Peat Moss - This is a naturally occurring material that is the decayed remains of sphagnum moss, and it typically occurs in low swampy areas around the world. Sphagnum has the unique property of holding up to 20 times its volume in water, so peat moss is very good at helping soil retain water. Unfortunately this product is often harvested from environmentally sensitive areas, and thus should be used judiciously.
Mulch - Hopefully all gardeners know what this is, but just to review: mulch is any material, usually organic, that is layed on top of soil thick enough to inhibit weed growth, retain moisture and moderate soil temperatures. In area gardens the most common types of mulch are shredded hardwood bark, pine needles, pine bark, red mulch and others.
Potting Soil - Anything with this label is soil specifically designed for use in containers.
Perlite - Perlite is a volcanic material that when heated expands like popcorn. It is used in soil to help with aeration, moisture retention and to make it easier for plant roots to expand.
Vermiculite - This naturally occurring mineral is mined in several places around the world. When heated to high temperatures it becomes useful for several applications, including gardening. Processed vermiculite is sterile, weed and disease free, plus it holds moisture well. It is most often used in soilless seed starting mixes, and its light weight makes it an ideal additive to potting soils.
We hope we have not overwhelmed you with information, but if you are still hungry for more, you may want to consider our free class, From the Ground Up, at the end of the month. Just check our class schedule above for more details. |
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