Impressive. Not warm enough here for any exotic stuff like that.View attachment 632159
Bird of Paradise
I put a new Acer in last weekend.
Impressive. Not warm enough here for any exotic stuff like that.View attachment 632159
Bird of Paradise
Impressive. Not warm enough here for any exotic stuff like that.
I put a new Acer in last weekend.
Impressive. Not warm enough here for any exotic stuff like that.
I put a new Acer in last weekend.
Some do. We already have a couple of dark red ones. So now we have three.If memory serves, the leaves of the Acer turn a lovely deep, rich, burnt orange, and a sort of scarlet, or rubicund red, in autumn; the plant looks stunning.
Mother (and I) used to love them; in the days when she used to haunt garden centres, - she was an extraordinarily accomplished and gifted gardener - Acers were always inspected.
Some do. We already have a couple of dark red ones. So now we have three.
Still have a number of empty pots though in need of some plants. Going to get some lavender for one or two of them as they attract the bees. Not sure about the others yet. Maybe just some bulbs.
We have more heathers than nearly everything else! Pink and white ones. We planted a few in a small walled garden with our pires. They took very well.Yes, I always loved those dark red Acers, and Mother and I would compare and contrast plants and specifications when visiting garden centres (which was her idea of fun; mine was museums and book shops; but, she enjoyed it so much, I'd accompany her when I was around and she could spend hours at a gardening centre).
My father loved lavender. He used to keep a bottle of the essential oil handy, and loved the plant. (They used to have a 'his' and 'hers' section of the garden, - well, two gardens - at one time. He was fiercely competitive, but she was genuinely creatively gifted and green-fingered.)
What about some heathers? They look good, are compatible with the indigenous climate, and are agreeably sturdy.
What is an Acer?
Acer is the genus name for Maples and Boxelders.
I'm getting really excited to see what my Sweet Millon Tomatoes do this year. Not real happy with my trellis setup, but it will have to do. This is an indeterminate variety, so it will take some work to keep them up. I should have my first harvest in a week or so.
TFTI. I'm surprised the genus name was used in this way because I regard Maples and Boxelders as significantly different trees especially sugar Maples, Japenese Maples, and Red Maples. As far as I know, which may not be much,few would choose to plant a Boxelder in their yard. So I would not use the genus term to describe this particular tree.
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How do you know which variety? And while it's unlikely I'd make the effort, I'm curious what's involved and how unique is the flavor?If you keep the edible variety of hibiscus, you can candy their flowers.
When I woke up this morning it was 24ºF outside, so.... stay tuned. Our mean last frost date is in mid-June so unless I want to make a lot of work for myself I don't plant out before around that time.
I can't tell you how much I love the mountains, and acknowledge the weather is harsher there. Or would you say the temps are more dictated by latitude where you live?
I lived in Minnesota for 30 years, with some of the coldest weather in the country, and noticed some similiar temperature trends with where my Aunt and Uncle lived in Hambleton, West Virginia, (elevation 1700') in the Allegheney Mountains near Monongahela National Forest, although that is substantially south of you.
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There are some beautiful mountains in West Virgina, that's for sure.
There's always more risk of a late frost in the mountains I guess, and less if you're near a big river system, a lake or even a big pond. The weather systems in the Allegheny Mountains and the Catskills are actually pretty similar, same as all the rest of the mountains in the Appalachian chain. This area is generally around 1800-2000 feet above sea level but there are places as low as 800 feet and as high as 3k. It's just one hill and valley after another in all directions; the horizon is often only a quarter to half mile away in at least three directions.
When I first got my place up here I used to plant out sometime in May but my sister's father in law used to laugh at me, telling me I was making work, and he was right. I had to cover stuff, pot it up in a walk-in coldframe, or plant out into a shallow box-style coldframe that I could shut up and keep frost off it but would have to open early to keep it from frying. I gave up one year when I went to close a box coldframe against a frost warning and there were two little rabbits in there enjoying the lettuce. The lettuce belonged in the garden which is surrounded by rabbit fence but three weeks of on-again off-again hard frosts had caused me to decide to put some in a coldframe instead. After that i just moved my planting out date to June 1 and at that all I put out at first is broccoli and cabbage that can take a joke.
I finally watched the last of the snow melt, so I can finally plant my garden this weekend. 3-4 tomatoes, snow peas, chives and lettuce. I'm too busy for an elaborate garden, but if I can get a decent crop of tomatoes this year I will be happy.