natvrabit
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« Reply #15 on: February 02, 2009, 06:59:01 PM » |
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The snow actually offers a thermal layer believe it or not. (Think how the strawberry farms etc. spray their crops with an ice layer to protect). Daff's, crocus and some others are built to withstand the cold.
This gets to be a tenuous time of the year however with some things, with temp. variations. 60 degrees for a few days and buds swell, then it turns 16 degrees one or two nights and can cause some damage.
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chathamgardener
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« Reply #16 on: February 02, 2009, 07:19:45 PM » |
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Seavey, to answer your question about the flowering apricots (Prunus mume), they are ornamental and aren't supposed to set fruit. However, some years the honey bees work the flowers so hard that I have gotten quite a bit of fruit set -- not edible for humans, about the size of cranberries. The birds devour them with enthusiasm.
My fire ants are awake too. I HATE those critters!
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natvrabit
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« Reply #17 on: February 02, 2009, 07:27:42 PM » |
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Free birdfood isn't Chathamgardener? I have so many things planted around my property that draw, feed the birds. LOVE IT!
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chatres
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« Reply #18 on: February 03, 2009, 06:51:13 AM » |
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Chatres, they (DAPHNE) HAVE to have good drainage in this clay. Even then, they likely will expire in 7 or 8 years max. HOWEVER, in THEIR defense, think in terms of how many people will spend TWICE the amount of money on CUT ROSES this Valentines, or a bundle of misc. flowers at the grocery each week and they are wasted in a few days VS. the MULTIPLE years a Daphne smells and looks so WONDERFUL! I have played with cuttings off Daphne and successfully propagated to keep the joy alive here! I look at it as a long term perennial...and well worth it  Thanks natvrabit, may bite the bullet try a few more and be sure and take some cuttings next time around ! |
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chatres
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« Reply #19 on: February 03, 2009, 06:55:06 AM » |
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I found a native honey suckle vine on my land last Spring, not like the Japanese version. I transplanted it next to the house and it grew beautifully on my gate. They don't take over like the others. Plus i got tons of sunflowers growing underneath my bird feeder, but they sure are pretty. Cardinals are messy eaters
I dunno about that honeysuckle not taking over everything. The native variety I have here does just that and is a bear to get off my fences ! |
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chathamgardener
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« Reply #20 on: February 03, 2009, 08:25:52 AM » |
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Chatres:
Are you sure yours is the native honeysuckle? Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) is a wide-spread invasive vine from Asia that is well-established in our Piedmont woodlands. It routinely strangles everything it climbs. Its flowers open white and fade to a parchment yellow over time.
The native honeysuckle most likely to still be in our woods is Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens). The leaves of this true native are usually a deeper blue-green than the nasty invasive interloper. Its flowers are red and beloved by hummingbirds. You can buy cultivars of this native species from our local nurseries. The one growing on my front trellis blooms robustly in spring and then intermittently through the rest of the growing season. I only have to lightly prune it to keep it confined to my trellis.
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« Last Edit: February 03, 2009, 09:30:36 AM by chathamgardener »
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belle
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« Reply #21 on: February 03, 2009, 09:36:48 PM » |
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there are some along my creeks, and if I am very careful I can transplant them. the problem is protecting them from helpful yard men who whack them to the ground, and they grow so slowly, it kills me every time it happens.
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chatres
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« Reply #22 on: February 04, 2009, 09:32:33 AM » |
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Chatres:
Are you sure yours is the native honeysuckle? Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) is a wide-spread invasive vine from Asia that is well-established in our Piedmont woodlands. It routinely strangles everything it climbs. Its flowers open white and fade to a parchment yellow over time.
The native honeysuckle most likely to still be in our woods is Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens). The leaves of this true native are usually a deeper blue-green than the nasty invasive interloper. Its flowers are red and beloved by hummingbirds. You can buy cultivars of this native species from our local nurseries. The one growing on my front trellis blooms robustly in spring and then intermittently through the rest of the growing season. I only have to lightly prune it to keep it confined to my trellis.
Well, see how much I know? LOL Thank you for the info. you left here. It seems I have both the kinds you mention and thought the Jap. kind was native since it grows rampantly all over my property it seems, that and grapevine. ( I get a bit ticked with all the vines for they all do LOVE my fences ) |
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Beckysews
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« Reply #23 on: February 05, 2009, 11:05:43 AM » |
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Seeing a few iris blades peeping up. Yay!!
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VAHeel
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« Reply #24 on: February 06, 2009, 08:38:22 PM » |
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aw man, my daffodils are up, but no buds! I can't wait.
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belle
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« Reply #25 on: February 06, 2009, 08:50:51 PM » |
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I have a plant I always called quince, but I don't think that's right. it has thorny spikes, and vivid, early, violently pink blossoms with simple rounded petals, 5 or 6.
at age 2 my daughter 'saw' it for the first time in the spring, the first color in the yard, and she laughed and laughed! snow does not bother it.
anyhow, the buds are swollen, almost there.
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natvrabit
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« Reply #26 on: February 06, 2009, 08:59:01 PM » |
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You are likely correct in quince Belle, one of the earlier winter bloomers (and with wicked thorns)! There are pinks, reds, whites and all with thorns!
Tomorrow is my day to get out in the yard to see what is going on! Had out of town relatives visiting today and didn't get to take the peek in the yard.
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chathamgardener
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« Reply #27 on: February 07, 2009, 12:26:55 PM » |
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belle
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« Reply #28 on: February 07, 2009, 05:31:18 PM » |
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that's it, but a vivid pink. a wonderful addition to the yellows of early spring.
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seavey
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« Reply #29 on: February 09, 2009, 11:56:44 AM » |
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We planted roses and rasberries over the weekend. Wish us luck, having killed a new rose last year.
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"ohmygoshthisisgoingtobeatrainwreckbuticantlookaway"
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