Flowers

CLOUD OVER SUNFLOWERS

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Here Comes The Sun!

Here Comes The Sun!

Ann posted this question about sunflowers and I’m posting because it’s a common problem with a popular annual.

Question:

I just planted outdoors two tall – about 12-14 “- sunflower seedlings I grew from seed. The next day i saw that one of them was knocked over near the ground, the stem almost severed. I watched for a couple days, and the leaves stayed green, so I thought it might be salvageable, but then, after a couple days, I saw that all the leaves were gone! The same thing has happened to me other years with sunflowers. Other plants, right next to it were not harmed, and the other sunflower I planted at the same time, also was not harmed.
Is there some critter – bird or squirrel, or ?, that’s especially fond of sunflowers?
And, how can I protect them?
I have several more that I want to plant outdoors.
thanks.

Ann,

Thanks for your question. I’ve grown quite a few sunflowers because of my involvement in a Children’s Garden in my town, so I can offer a few thoughts. First of all, sunflowers prefer to be directly sowed from seed rather than transplanted. You don’t have to give up on your transplants, just stick some seeds in at the same time. You can also germinate your seeds for a few days indoors to get a head start. Just wrap your seed in a damp (not soaked) paper towel and seal in a plastic zip lock bag. Maintain moisture and after a few days you should see a small root curling out of the seed. Pop in the ground and watch it grow.

Now, to your question about something eating your small seedlings. This could be cut worms, slugs or some other garden pest. Start by planting more seeds than you need. The critters won’t eat everything. You can also protect your shoots by cutting the bottom out of paper cups and putting them over the seedlings. When the plants are as tall as your hand remove cups and watch your sunflowers flourish. Don’t give up. There’s really nothing more delightful than watching a mammoth sunflower sway in a late summer breeze.

–Amy

It’s a Little Like Bird Watching

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The fun of Bird watching is trying to find and identify as many birds and bird calls as possible. Many of us do the same thing with plants, shrubs, and trees. The difference is that birds are always bouncing and flying, trees and plants just sit there. So we have more time to examine the tree or shrub. Even though, with these pretty flowers just sitting there, I still have trouble identifying them. That’s why we have friends.. it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. I am grateful to know plenty of gardening veterans who mentor me in my flora ways. Take this, April 12, 2010 Nashua NH photo, for example.. Very pretty, but what are they? Dolores Ahern of South Dennis Massachusetts, is one of my go to people for help identifying plants and trees. I am able to I.D, the pretty yellow and red on the left as a McCafe Tree, but Dolores had to help with the others.
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This from Dolores:
Hi Tim,
The yellow flower appears to be Doronicum orientale or Leopard’s Bane.
The white flowering tree is probably flowering pear and the purple shrub is PJM rhododendron.
How far ahead do you estimate we are for seasonal bloom? A week? 2 weeks?
Everything is early down here. We have to watch out for a frost or we’ll lose stuff.
Hope all is well.
Dolores

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Bolt Cutters Used on Roses

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Have you ever seen plants blossom so quickly? Record 2010 March rainfall, now record warmth in April is the recipe for the fastest spring blooming I have ever seen. That means most of us are likely behind on our garden chores.. OK almost all of us, how about show of hands by those who are up to date?
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I am running around between work outs and bill paying with pruners, a rake, and a large barrel. My goal is to take a load a day to the Green Connection town compost pile just a mile from my house. Just about every plant, bush, and tree in the yard can use at least a little prune. Some growth needs a heavy prune. Sometimes my hand clippers just don’t cut it. Like with this rose bush. That’s why I break out the Bolt Cutters. These thick Hybrid Tea thorny canes clearly are suffering black rot. This is typical, and does not mean the rose is dead. I believe these were impacted by the salty wind of many Nor’Easters this winter. The roses on the other side of the house were not as badly rotted, and now have five leaf sprouts growing three inches in three days!
The best way to cut these canes back, is to make the cut below the black rot, just above any new budding leave or branch. You may cut the rose right at the ground, if it is healthy the root will send new shoots up very quickly. I used bolt cutters because this cane is so tough. You also want heavy duty leather garden gloves, these thorns are crazy sharp and grabby. A few other chores are listed below.
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Please Help Us Identify..

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Do you have an idea what is blooming here on Beth’s Mystery Tree.
Please post comment if you have a clue for us.
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Flower Show Flower Show Flower Show

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Leslie got a chance to spend a little time wandering through the Boston Flower and Garden Show at its new home – the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston.

The show runs through Sunday – for more information, go to www.thebostonflowershow.com, and watch her story here on the blog.

Purple First- Yellow Next- Is What’s in Bloom

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Terry and Bonny O’Niell report a crocus bounty in North Attleboro Massachusetts, where temperatures are reaching for 70 degrees this week. Count down to Daffodils- 15 days, Forsythia about the same.
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We do honor special requests, here are the latest..
Dear Tim:
The Flower Show is back, and better than ever, with a new production team and new location! Featuring the top thirty designers in the region and an array of speakers all reflecting the theme “A Feast for the Senses.” The flowers will be blooming at the World Trade Center Boston (WTCB) from Wed., March 24-Sun., March 28. Please read the attached material to learn all the detail.
Once again, we’d like to offer your weather team live-remotes inside the beautiful gardens at the WTCB. We also will be sending you and your colleagues boutonnieres to wear on camera as Boston welcomes this traditional rite of Spring.
Look forward to hearing from you. I’ll be in touch.
Best,
Susan
and this one from Maine..
From: Melissa [mailto:melissa@campbeechcliff.org]
Would you consider posting our event on your site? Camp Beech Cliff is a
nonprofit summer day camp on Mount Desert Island, Maine and we have been
selected as the charitable beneficiary of the 2010 Spring Bulb Tour, an
annual fundraising event. Please visit the the website,
www.springbulbtour.org and our own, www.campbeechcliff.org. Thank you!

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