Fall harvest

Still picking gorgeous dahlias and beautiful colored caladium leaves for indoors.  Also picked 2 figs today -mmm delicious.  There are still a few peppers ripening.  I tried the new sweet pepper Merlot in my 'alcoholic' garden -all the plants have the name of alcohol!!: Caladium brandywine, Viburnum Brandywine, Atropurpurea Burgundy Glow, Deutzia, Chardonnay Pearl, Colocasia Mojita among many others.  I also have a white garden, an Asian garden, a South Carolina Garden, a rock garden and so on.  Having fun with the garden means spending more time there and it is amazing how other people help you look for plants or suggest them, or even pass along plants that they know will fit into a theme.  It is a great talking piece too for a party.

What ideas do you have for garden areas or themes?

Presentation

I will be at the Greenville  SC Women's Garden Club on Wednesday October 3rd.
Our next presentation will be at the Hayden Center for the Iris Garden Club.  This will be on 'Fall for Fall Bulbs' on Thusrday Oct 11th.  It is always fun to go on the road with a presentation and meet other keen gardeners and those just starting out.  We all have so many tips and ideas to share.  It is a great way to find out more about your local growing area as well as more general hints on varieties and tried and tested ideas and experience.  Everyone has some knowledge to share or some question to ask.
After this it will be Columbia on November 13 but more on that one later -though you can always ask for more information any time -that will be open to the public. Call 1-800-999-0567, email info@marlborobulb.com or ask in the comment section for more information, for a catalog or if you would like presentation at your function or garden club.

Lycoris

As the days shorten and the nights are turning cooler we are rewarded with an explosion of color from Lycoris Radiata.  The red version is headturning and en masse definitely breathtaking.  Be sure to plant right near the surface in a sunny site and then leave them alone! They are fine in grass too as you can see.  They don't like being mulched or planted too deeply nor do they seem to respond too well to fertilizer.  What an awesome perennial bulb.  Common names include Spider lily, naked lady due to the lack of leaves until after the blooms are done, though that is generally attached to the pink variety for some reason.  The yellow variety is a little more unusual and not quite so hardy.

presentation Sep 13th

Hostas?  Are they your favorite?  Come and see our presentation on Hostas and Companions in the Greenwood SC library at 7pm on Thursdy September 13th.  This is organized by the Master Gardeners but it will be open to the public also.  There will be fall bulbs and hosta plants for sale afterwards.

Hope you can make it.  If you have any questions you would like answering -just let us know, or if you would like us to bring any particular bulbs we will be happy to do that if we have them in stock.

You can call us on 1-800-999-0567 or email info@marlborobulb.com

Well- those caladiums keep getting better! They are an unbelieveable plant especially in the south where we get 5 months of awesome colour with no work.  Of course this summer has been a little wetter around here than usual and we don't have irrigation so that has helped- but even so.  They really are amgnificent and en masse they make really good ground cover helping to keep the soil cooler, moist and fairly weed free.
It is a joy though to have some days in the low 80s now with lower humidity.  Surprised to see the nights go down to 58/60F so early though.  I wonder if that means we are going to get an early winter this year?
The Bishop series dahlias are doing well again this year.  They don't sell as well as the  large dinnerplate varieties, but my goodness, they keep on blooming and with their bronze foliage make a very attractive perennial plant.  Something to look at.  Let me know if oyu want more information -either through the blog or email me at info@marlborobulb.com

Hostas????

Caladiums Freida hemple and Miss Muffett

Caladiums Red Flash and Florida Cardinal

 

Well I suppose I did go  a little crazy with the caladiums!  At least they shade the hostas in the hot summer sun and the hostas had a great time earlier in the season. And you can still see some of the hostas. Anyway, gardening is partly about the changing scenes. No two days are the same -there's always something new to discover, something that was missed or something new appearing.  Life is a little like that too isn't it?  If we take the time to 'stop and smell the roses' that is.

Hosta Paul's Glory is a really good hosta for the south -doesn't burn like some of them.

Hosta Paul's Glory

Caladiums caladiums and more caladiums!

OK so I have neglected my blog but now I am back -I promise !

CaladiumWhite Queen

CaladiumGarden White and Colocasia Jack's Giant

 

I just have to share my love of caladiums as ground cover at this time of year -they just give such wonderful trouble free color -and what color -they can be striking or retiring, brash and bold or show a delicate blush in the background.  Some work really well in the sun -you cannot beat the tried and tested Red Flash for that but try the new Garden White (the second picture)-it needs a fancier name than that though! Also White Queen (see picture above)and Aaron are both standing up well to this summer  in South Carolina. And goodness has it been hot.  This was a good year for me to visit Europe.  I went back to my native UK and to France, where I have also lived and enjoyed so much.   Anyway back to Caladiums, they give 5 months of color in the south and are great at helping keep down the weeds. They also grow well in pots and can be over wintered in pots kept in temps. above 50 degrees.  They also make good cut leaves for indoors and last well as a leaf arrangement or in contrast with a few blooms. Wow wha a marvellous plant.
Another fairly new variety is Caladium Tapestry -see below.  Here it is grown with the elephant ear Colocasia Diamond Head -a gorgeous shiny purple leaved variety that will also take some sun.
Let  me know if you would like more Caladium pictures