Botanists tell us that the fall leaf colors, those yellows, oranges, and reds, are in the leaves from the beginning but are masked by the green of chlorophyll for the duration of the growing season.But as the days get shorter and colder, the plant makes less chlorophyll allowing the other colors to shine through.It seems in my own garden that it has only been in the past few days that we’ve started to see those other colors.There are the yellows of Amsonia tabernaemonta, Blue DogbaneThis is a … [Read more...] about Other Colors Revealed
trees
Bloomin’ Crabapples!
Crabapples blooming in the fall?I would not have believed it, had I not noticed two crabapple trees, in two different locations, blooming this past week.Some spring flowering trees and shrubs will occasionally have one or two blooms on one or two branches in the fall. But you have to look closely, or you would miss them.Both of these trees are in full bloom.Why?Or is the tree thinking why not?Mostly likely these particular trees are under some kind of stress, and the tree is reacting … [Read more...] about Bloomin’ Crabapples!
It’s An Infestation!
Following a certain self-imposed etiquette of garden blogging, I am putting the picture of the horrifying MAGNOLIA SCALE INFESTATION here at May Dreams Gardens at the end of this post. The picture of these dwarf Monarda is just a decoy picture.I took the advice of the many who commented on my post about bees and wasps and resisted the impulse to use insect nets and jars to capture the wasps for a closer look.Instead, I took the ‘safe’ route to figure out what was flying around my Star Magnolia. … [Read more...] about It’s An Infestation!
June Blooming Tree: Japanese Tree Lilac
Look around your neighborhood, especially if you live in zone 5.Do you see any trees blooming in June?You do if someone has a Japanese Tree Lilac (Syringa reticulata 'Ivory Silk') in their garden.I don't know why more people don't plant this small tree, as it provides a flush of bloom in early June (in my garden) at just about the same time as the many shrub type lilacs are a pleasant memory.It has a sweet scent but I have to get right up next to the flowers to smell it, whereas lilacs like … [Read more...] about June Blooming Tree: Japanese Tree Lilac
How To Water Trees
On a rainy day like today, I'm thinking about watering.I won't have to water anything in my garden for quite awhile after this rain. It is one of those slow, steady, soaking-in kind of rains that brings out the greenest green colors in every plant in the garden.Of course, I would prefer that this kind of rain not occur during a day when I am on vacation to garden, but I don't always get my preference. I'm a middle child, I'm used to that.My preference would be to get one of these rains in July … [Read more...] about How To Water Trees
Weekend Wrap Up
What a difference a year can make in a garden and in a life.Last year, this crabapple, Malus'Guinevere' got frozen out and bloomed rather pathetically, almost painfully.This year, she is back to her full glory and then some.According to my records, she (it is okay to refer to a tree called Guinevere as a 'she') is blooming about a week later than normal, but that seems to be the case with other flowering trees and shrubs around here.I took a lot of pictures of this crabapple today, but I'll … [Read more...] about Weekend Wrap Up
