So Long Spring!
The recent weather shifts certainly have brought changes to the garden. No rain for weeks including three days of 100 degree heat, followed by 5 days of rain. And it is only June!
The spring flowers die out as the heat comes on, so ours were quick to fade under these weather conditions. Each year we try something new and this year we tried one called Basket Flower.
Basket flower (Centaurea americana), native to the United States, is an annual in the same family as Bachelor Buttons. Seeds were sown in the fall and overwintered in the garden. The first bloom did not show until late May, much later than Bachelor Buttons. The stems are 4 ft tall, and some growers had them even taller. They grow in full sun/partial shade. The flowers are 2-3” across. They make a lovely cut flower, with a 4 – 5 day vase life. In the garden, they would do well at the back of the border. Bees love them, so planting them will also help the ecosystem. Give it a try!
We hope your summer is getting off to a good start,
Linda
Happy Mother's Day!
This is my mom and her mom. I took this picture with a Kodak Instamatic camera when color photos were something of a novelty. I still have the picture but the camera is long gone.
Mom had picked me up from college for summer break. We then met my grandmother and went to visit her sister, my great aunt. I felt so privileged to be on this adventure, without my siblings or our father. Just me with these wise and caring women who influenced me greatly in positive ways.
My grandmother set a formal table and manners were de rigueur with her. She also loved to bake cookies and had me in the kitchen at an early age. Madeleines and pizzelles were two of her favorites. Baking suited her personality more than it does mine, patience and precision being two of her strengths. She also had a master’s degree in French, unusual for her generation.
Mom was a teacher, through and through. She instilled a love of learning in me by example. She was always game to explore, to try something new. She studied things she was interested in and was always exposing me to things she thought I would like to learn about. Mom loved fashion and read Women’s Wear Daily. She could sew and knit beautifully. I love fashion too, which is somewhat amusing since I spend most of my time now in camping shirts and garden boots.
Mom would be happy to know that I am still learning. The passion for growing beautiful flowers is only part of the equation. You also have to study diligently to learn what is required to get the conditions right for each type of flower. I remember my grandmother’s patience as I wait to harvest them at the optimal time.
I am so happy that they shared their gifts and talents with me, enabling me to apply their shared wisdom to my own life. The joy my grandmother shared when the cookies were done, or that my mother shared when she finished a sweater that she had knit for me were such great examples of life well lived. I experience that same joy when I harvest flowers that have come to their most beautiful point and share them with the community.
Hoping that you have warm memories of your mother or are planning to do something special with your mother to celebrate that special bond.
1 Corinthians 13:13
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Wishing you all a Happy Mother’s Day!
Richland County, it’s Time to Plant Your Spring Garden!
If you are a gardener in the Columbia SC area, this update is for you! The Master Gardeners of Richland County are holding their annual plant sale on Friday April 26th and Saturday April 27th. This is the only fundraiser each year, so save the date to take advantage of some great deals that will be available. Here’s the scoop:
In addition to the great plant selection at excellent prices, this year there is a raffle for this gorgeous cotton quilt, made by one of our members. Cotton has been a key agricultural crop in South Carolina and this art reflects its heritage in our state. While you are at the plant sale, buy a raffle ticket for $1 to have a chance to take this beauty home! Or contact a master gardener to purchase tickets before the plant sale. The raffle will be held at the end of the sale and the winner will be contacted by phone. Best of luck! Even if you don’t win, you are helping a great cause in our county.
The Richland County Master Gardener Association (RCMGA) is a not-for-profit organization composed of volunteers whose goal is to promote and teach environmentally sound, research-based gardening practices to the citizens of Richland County, and to provide education to our members needed to accomplish our purpose.
We serve our Clemson and Richland County through such activities as assisting in the county extension office, giving educational programs to the public, and participating in community projects related to gardening.
If you want to learn more about gardening and participate in volunteer projects that enhance our county, consider becoming a Master Gardener. I am proud to be part of this organization.
For information about applying for the Master Gardener classes, contact 803.722.1196 ext. 127. To learn more about the program visit: Clemson Extension Master Gardeners
Hello Spring!
Spring arrived a couple of days ago but today really felt like spring. The cherry trees are blooming and the sky is thankfully clear. The temperatures are warming up and the day length is now longer than the night. These are excellent conditions for getting the fall-planted flowers out of dormancy. The covers are off the beds and we can begin feeding to further encourage growth. In another month to six weeks, we will be able to have blooms like these available on a consistent basis.
Wishing you a wonderful season!
Getting Ready for Spring
Larkspur
In warm climates like South Carolina’s, spring flower preparation starts in the fall. We plant ‘hardy annuals’ in the fall to provide them with enough cool weather to thrive. This group of flowers blooms profusely in the cooler spring and then they fade in our summer heat. This includes things like Bells of Ireland, Bachelor Buttons, Corn Cockle and Larkspur. Most are started from seed sown directly in the garden.
Here at the farm, we have been nurturing many of these varieties since last September. They have needed the heat of late summer to germinate and get established. Then, as the days got shorter and the temperatures dropped, they slowed down above ground but continue to develop strong roots. As the weather has warmed up, the plant growth has resumed. When we get the magic combination of longer days and consistently warmer temperatures they will burst forth, revealing the miracle that they are.
Between now and then, the fluctuating temperatures call for some special attention. The plants are getting larger and the vegetation is more vulnerable to cold. Frost cloth is used to protect them when we get temperatures below freezing. A freeze is in the forecast for next week, so everything is being covered so that it is protected.
Looking forward to the end of winter and the day when we can share the spring blooms with you! If you are considering a bouquet subscription, there is still time. You can sign up at www.purpletuteur.com
Dianthus under cover