September 2009

August went by so quickly this year. It was one task after another and working in different areas of the CUH grounds. I'm delighted to see that the plants in the Soest Garden are thriving even without the thorough attention I normally would like to give them. August was spent mostly on renovating the paths: shoveling out gravel to reduce the grade, which has risen after years of organic material washing down into the gravel, creating an ideal substrate for weeds, shoveling the level of the gravel down, and utilizing smaller-sized gravel to replace it so it becomes more compacted to allow easier access for wheelchairs and strollers, but still allow water to naturally flow through.

Preparations are underway for an upcoming event to introduce the new College of the Environment, of which we are now a part. We are looking at all of CUH Grounds and determining the most visible areas in which to focus our efforts. Having just three half-time gardeners makes this a monumental task, but I think we'll get close to where we'd like to be. Perhaps everyone can see just how much we're in need of funds to just simply maintain the few gardens we have here. At the same time, we're also excited about what this new college can bring in terms of increased awareness towards sustainability, natural resource conservation, and new academic programs that can boost the usage of our "living classrooms" outdoors.

I've always loved watching visitors in the garden. Their presence always seems to remind me about all the positive aspects of my work here. I highly encourage you all to visit and see some of the subtle changes that are occurring as autumn is just around the corner!

Riz

August 2009

These extended periods of dry weather and heat can really wear out a gardener. Reaching 103 degrees late in July made it almost unbearable to work outdoors, but even with the heat, we managed to get a few things accomplished to keep the plants looking their best.

The Soest garden is in full bloom with so much to see. Never has the garden looked so full with such a wide assortment of hardy perennials for people to see and take note of for their gardens. There’s crazy color and fantabulous foliage all around and with flowers coming and going, the garden looks different each day as I keep up with dead-heading and cutting back to aim for a second flush of flowers, if not a fresh set of attractive foliage.

The trees in the Soest have been ever so valuable in adding structure, and most importantly at this time of year, shade. The shade in several beds have become too dense, however, so working with our arborists Chris Watson, Darren Hedberg and one of our interns from Arizona State University, Peter Price, we removed the dead wood from the oaks and carefully limbed up and thinned branches from the trees to provide more filtered shade. Summer is an ideal time to do a lot of pruning especially when you’re thinning or training a small young tree to ensure a proper shape when mature.

Watering has been the top priority this summer for the garden and all the containers that can dry out in an instant. We’ve been trying to solve ongoing issues with our irrigation system to ensure that all the plants are receiving the water they require. With the plantings so lush, the water sometimes doesn’t hit certain areas because of vegetation in the way, so careful thinning and pruning off of obstructing foliage has been an ongoing thing.

We are so ready for some cooler temperatures and occasional downpours of rain. We’ll see what the rest of the summer brings us.

Riz

 

July 2009

Through tough and turbulent times, we are still able to garden. I always have to remind myself of how fortunate I am to be able to work at such a beautiful environment such as the Soest Perennial Garden at the Center for Urban Horticulture. As frustrating as its been to try and keep up with all the work that needs to be done, it’s always gratifying to step back or plop down on a bench and marvel at what Mother nature has unveiled through the many changes underway at UW Botanic Gardens. Many of these changes are very positive, while others, such as losing several of our valuable staff members, have been upsetting.  At this time of year, it’s very easy to just get immersed in work, but one can’t help but think of those who would love to be in my position. It’s certainly been a humbling past few weeks with various distractions, but things are beginning to settle down so I can buckle down and get a lot accomplished in the garden.
Through the month of June, I’ve been getting accustomed to my new schedule: Monday  is a full  8 hour day, Tuesday mornings, Wednesdays off, and Thursday and Friday afternoons. Working in the afternoons Thursday and Friday have been working out well , not only because of my hectic schedule outside of CUH, but the afternoons tend to yield more visitors which fuels me to make sure things are kept up and I’m available to answer their questions and other inquiries.
The gardens themselves are looking absolutely spectacular! So many of the new additions are just “going to town”, as they say. Everything is lush and healthy and absolutely taking advantage of the abundant sunshine, water from the irrigation system and the top dressing of compost earlier this year.
We’re continuing our collaborations with local nurseries by featuring the newest , most interesting plants they’ve donated to us. Skagit Gardens came through with a shipment of wonderful plants which includes this sweet little gem called Dicentra ‘Burning Hearts’. It has chalky blue grey foliage that stays tidy and compact and the contrast with the flowers is simply. They also sent a wonderful assortment of new Hellebores that are still quite young, but could potentially bloom next winter. Another young, but very promising plant I’ve put in is a Hosta cultivar that was the very first to be patented. Hosta ‘Solar Flare’ can be found in Bed 8 soaking in the heat and rays with its chartreuse gold color, wavy edges and remarkable substance.

 

 

Summer flowering bulbs are in full swing with the lilies from Judith Freeman of The Lily Garden beginning to bloom.  The infamous Regal Lily (Lilium regale) has begun to bloom and stands tall above the hardy geraniums and asters in Bed 4. The sweet and dainty blooms of ‘Ariadne’ in the same bed are gently fragrant and have been attracting butterflies and the ever vigorous ‘Tiger Babies’ is just about finishing up in Bed 6 and looks wonderful with the seedheads of Briza media and the drumstick alliums just about to flower. Just behind this planting is, by far, the ultimate star of the Soest Garden in late June to early July. The Matajila Poppy (Romneya coulteri) has impressed every single visit and is, by far, the most asked about plant at this time of year. It has been incredibly prolific in bloom and so remarkably carefree, yet it is often challenging to find and difficult to get properly established in the garden. If you are eager to try it in your garden and you are lucky to find it in a nursery, it requires full sun, excellent drainage (planting on a slope is highly recommended), and regular water. It receives no supplemental fertilizer aside from the annual compost dressing it gets each spring as it comes out of the ground.

There are plenty of things to see. If you ever need to get away from the pressure and stress of work, the Soest Garden is an ideal place to set your mind at ease by offering a calm and mesmerizing distraction to your daily routine.

 

June 2009

It's June and THE HEAT IS ON!  Yikes!!  Irrigation is becoming top priority right now as plants are just exploding into growth and bloom after a dismal winter and a slow spring season.

Plants in the Soest Garden are filling in nicely, but there are a few “holes” left to fill where I took out or thinned something to keep it in check. This is simply an opportunity for a new and exciting plant.

Bed 7 is looking exceptionally well this season with the majority of the plant material I put in are establishing well with one year behind them. The hostas are full and lush, the Epimediums clumping up nicely, the stately stems of Disporum ‘Night Heron' still wowing visitors, and the bold leaves of Cardiocrinum giganteum v. yunnanese indicate that it might flower next summer!

The other beds are simply going to town as the warm weather hits and the automatic irrigation system is turned on. Geranium psilostemon inundates most of Bed 6 during the summer and the exceptionally large, bright purple blooms with dark centers are certainly eye-catching.  The tall and delicate stems and grayish foliage of Romneya coulteri are remarkably healthy with buds starting to form and these will require staking before the stems begin to flop and create a mess in the beds.

 

***VOLUNTEER GARDENING OPPORTUNITIES AT CUH!!***

 

1) BLOOMS of BRESSINGHAM PERENNIAL PLANT EVALUATIONS

Referred to here as “Blooms”, the Center for Urban Horticulture has been growing plants from this UK based nursery for several years and we are in the process of rejuvenating an evaluation program that began a few years  ago to observe and record how well their brand new plant introductions perform in our region.  We are looking for experienced gardeners who can take careful notes over the growing season based on criteria such as length and quality of blooms, overall plant vigor and maintenance requirements.

2) GROUNDS MAINTENANCE

With only three half time gardeners maintaining all of the prominent gardens at CUH, it is very difficult to keep up the high standard we strive for to keep the gardens looking their best.  Here is an opportunity to work with a very knowledgeable staff at a prominent display garden and learn about plants and techniques you can apply to your own landscape. Both beginning and experienced gardeners will be considered.

If you have any questions or would like an application for either position, feel free to stop by the receptionist desk in Merrill Hall or contact the Landscape Supervisor, Barbara Selemon at dzman@u.washington.edu for more information.

 

There's so much work to do right now. I hope you have an opportunity to see the gardens in their full splendor at this time of year and, as always, if you see us working, don't hesitate to say a friendly “Hello”.

April 2009

“When is spring going to get here?!!” has been the main complaint of gardeners recently. Temperatures still linger in the upper 30's and lower 40's with constant precipitation and SNOW still in the forecast in several regions of Western Washington. It's been so frustrating trying to move forward with certain projects and gardeners are reluctant to go to their local nurseries to start planning and buying for their landscape.

Not all hope is lost, however, as signs of spring are clearly evident in the Soest Garden. The daffodils are in full boisterous bloom and the species tulips in Bed 6 are drawing ooh's and ahh's from visitors who delight in their cheery warm colors when they fully open.

Most plants, however, are just barely breaking ground when they should already be leafing out. Looking back at records from previous years, several things are clearly 3-4 weeks behind. On a positive note, the cold weather has allowed me more time in digging, dividing and transplanting projects. Moving plants before they're actively growing is ideal and will allow plants to put down new roots and establish before producing leaves and flowers. And, as history has shown us, when warm temperatures and more frequent sunshine arrives, perennials take off instantly.

Weeding and planting will be near the top of the priority list this month as shotweed (Cardamine oligosperma) is about ready to burst and disperse seed and deliveries of new plants have started to come in for the Soest Garden and our container plantings. T & L Nursery and my colleague, Andrej Suske, have kindly donated plants for UWBG and later in the season, we will get plants from our friends in Skagit Gardens and a series of new perennials from Blooms of Bressingham are slated to arrive late next month to rejuvenate our beds and restore our trials and evaluation program for their plants.

Andrej was thrilled to offer us plants material. He hopes that by having a diverse and showy collection of plants in a public garden, it will encourage visitors to visit their local nurseries and make a few purchases. His generous gift comes at a very difficult time with the struggling economy, but he certainly is very optimistic in that when the weather improves, many people will want to save money and spend more time at home; therefore, they will be compelled to work on their yards and gardens.

Hoping for warmer and sunnier weather soon!

Cheers,

Riz

March 2009

There are certainly signs of spring arriving as bulbs poke out of the ground and prepare to burst into bloom. We're all just hoping that the worst of the winter is behind us and that consistent warmer weather reinvigorates our energy to complete all the necessary outdoor jobs on our task list.

As I get things cut back in the Soest Garden, the work to be done becomes ever more apparent as weeds suddenly become more obvious and crowded crowns of perennials are just crying out to be cut and divided. Our extra divisions typically go to the Arboretum for their plant sale donations where they can then be purchased by gardeners for their own landscapes.

There are plants in there that were part of the original install over 10 years ago and it's time to rejuvenate or replace a lot of them. The lavenders in Bed 6, for example, have gotten incredibly woody at the base creating a lanky and unattractive shrub and the branches of the oak consistently shade out their current location. Removing these old shrubs opens up a tremendous amount of space for a new array of exciting plants.

It's always helpful to see plants growing in a garden before going out and buying them. T & L Nursery, a well known wholesale grower in Woodinville who donated many of the original plants for the Soest Garden, have agreed to donate a few plants this spring; Skagit Gardens of Mt. Vernon have also offered to send us material. Both nurseries were eager to distribute plants to public gardens in the hopes that people will get more excited about gardening again and visit their local nurseries where the plants are available.

More signs of spring are apparent with the Dry Shade Bed continuing to thrive with the emergence of Galanthus and Erythronium and the Narcissus I snuck in there last fall. The Omphalodes verna f. alba is showing off its white “forget-me-not” flowers and the stunning foliage of Epimedium x perralchicum `Frohnleiten' makes this tough-as-nails plant stand out even in these difficult conditions.

A complete list of blooming bulbs and an update on the Soest map and brochure will be in the works so as visitors trickle in to see the many changes they'll know what's what!

There's plenty of winter clean up to do as spring struggles to get underway for what promises to be another challenging, but beautifully rewarding growing season.

Riz

February 2009

2009 so far has been very weary on a lot of people. The weather hasn't been fully cooperative as we struggle to get certain tasks and projects under way and there's this overlying concern amongst many in the horticultural industry that our current economic recession will greatly impact how we maintain our urban landscapes. Plants are active living organisms essential to our health, livelihood and well-being. They have also become a staple in our culture and a symbol for the environmental sustainability movement we're all becoming a part of.

It's still winter here at CUH, but there are already signs of spring as bulbs begin to poke their nose up the frosted soil surface and the earliest of the Snowdrops (Galanthus sp.) are aching for at least a couple more days above freezing so they can develop and bloom. The same goes for the charmingly elegant Cyclamen coum.

The Soest Garden appears somewhat desolate during January and February, but there's still quite a bit to see and observe. I've been cleaning up the beds raking the shattering ornamental grasses as I prepare to cut them down in a few weeks, cutting back various perennials and thinning out overgrown clumps when the soil is workable and assessing what plants need to be transplanted or removed.

The winter landscape is very special in the Pacific Northwest because it has so much to offer. While twig dogwoods, willows, witch hazels, sweet box and daphnes create a stunning backdrop in the garden, the winter interest and blooms of perennials at this time of year completes such a stunning picture. Along with the dainty early flowering bulbs mentioned above, February is the month for perennial favorites such as Helleborus, Heuchera, Euphorbia, Yucca, Sedum, ornamental grasses such as Carex, Ophiopogon and the stately stems of Calamagrostis , plus a whole wide assortment of other genera.

Having the new Fragrance Garden this year really compliments the winter interests in the Soest Garden as it triggers yet another sense for visitors to experience. Viburnum ‘Pink Dawn' is already in full bloom and the buds of Daphne odora ‘Aureo-Marginata' and Edgeworthia chrysantha are changing on to flowers in just a few weeks.

I have to remind myself how incredibly fortunate we are that we're able to grow so much in our climate. I think we shouldn't think about the 10% or so, we could have lost this year, but the whopping 90% that consistently make it each season providing us with a most diverse plant palette.

I encourage you to make the most of a clear day and enjoy the remarkable landscapes people create and maintain and know that most of the people behind them work tirelessly year round and for so very little. Yet, they are still determined to work hard and bring beauty and enjoyment to so many people. It's something that won't really get someone out of this deep economic slump, but anything to enable them to continue their work is all that they can hope during this difficult time.

We have the Northwest Flower and Garden Show coming up; and while we're expecting a fairly low attendance, UWBG will still have a presence as we promote our programs and remind everyone that we're still active and doing our best to continue to be the best resource for gardeners (beginning to professional) in the Pacific Northwest!

Hope to see you at the show or in the gardens at UWBG!

Cheers,

Riz

January 2009

It's been such a dismal winter so far, I don't even know where to begin. Just as we were beginning to thaw from one of the worst winters the Pacific Northwest has endured, we were hit with another significant snow storm in early 2009. So many prized plants took a hit when we returned from the holidays and assessed the winter storm damage. Several trees lost significant branches and various marginally hardy shrubs will require some careful pruning once severe winter weather passes. Overall, it wasn't too bad; just a lot of clean up needs to be done. Luckily, perennials, most of which are laying dormant and not actively growing, suffered the least damage as they are programmed each winter to withstand the fluctuating temperatures.

Browsing the Soest Garden at this time of year, several perennial plants still remain adding structure and visual integrity. While wildly flopping and somewhat of a mess after heavy snows and strong winds, the ornamental grasses still stand out in the landscape. Massive clumps of Miscanthus provide the most prominent structure while Calamagrostis acutifolia ‘Karl Foerster' (Bed 6) and ‘Avalanche' (Beds 3 and South Slope), and Panicum ‘Northwind' (South Slope) add a striking vertical accent. While compelling to look at when the weather cooperates, grasses alone cannot hold a perennial garden together.

Small trees and shrubs play such an important role in the perennial garden and in designing perennial beds and borders, I always make sure to include a few for their structural integrity throughout the season. Though some remain bare and naked in the dullness of winter, they are effective in defining spaces and giving a sense of enclosure and protection. The small allée of Fragrant Snowbells (Styrax obassia) casts a bit of shade and offers a slight temporary relief from the weather. The dense, evergreen hedge of Osmanthus delavayi defines the west side of the garden offering a transition into the Fragrance Garden, while the top of the south slope is planted with the spectacularly resilient Nandina domestica that lights up the winter landscape like no other with brilliant multicolored foliage that is perfectly backlit by occasional winter sunbreak.

Also on the south slope, the ever impressive stand of Yellow Twig Dogwoods (Cornus sericea ‘Flaviramea') creates a striking presence at this time of year, surrounded by mounds of Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Hameln'.

Within Bed 6, a useful little shrub has made its home in the northwest corner of the bed: a relative of the grotesquely overused and weedy Cherry Laurel, Prunus lauraserasus ‘Mt. Vernon' is a dwarf, prostate cultivar that forms a very dense mound of elegantly cascading evergreen foliage. It maintains this habit year around and does not seed around like the standard form.

So if cabin-fever has set in again, a visit to the Soest Garden in January is certainly worthwhile. Bundle up, stay warm, and hope that the worse of winter is behind us!

Cheers,

Riz

December 2008

The year 2008 is drawing to a close and I always like to use this time to reflect on the year and evaluate the season's successes, identify the failures, and anticipate another fruitful year in the Soest Garden .

With so many new plants and installed, I'm sure many of you are wondering how they've performed. I've noted some plants of interest you might consider, or NOT consider, for your own gardens next spring!

New Plants from 2007-2008

Bed 1

Carex ‘Rekohu Sunrise' - One specimen has gotten considerably large, waiting to see how it'll overwinter.

Helleborus ‘Silver Lace' - Slow to establish

Tricyrtis ‘ Taipei Silk' -impressive flower power in early fall

Bed 2

Epimedium 'Lilafee' (Fairy Wings) - Establishing well

Heuchera 'Silver Scrolls' (Coral Bells) - Establishing well

Bed 3

Blechnum australe - An exciting relative of deer fern from Africa . Testing hardiness

Corydalis temulifolia ‘Chocolate Stars' -has established beautifully with nice spring foliage and lilac flowers

Disporopsis pernyi GPP- An evergreen Solomon's Seal in Bed 3. Slow to establish and looks to be slug damaged.

Disporum cantoniense ‘Green Giant ' (Cantonese Fairbells)-Establishing well

Geranium phaeum ‘Samobor' - has wonderful foliage so I don't let it flower

Woodwardia radicans (European Chain Fern) -Died

Bed 4

Datisca cannabina - A large perennial plant with maple-like leaves and clusters of hanging white flowers. Establishing well.

Eryngium ‘Blue Jackpot' - A brand new, intensely blue Sea Holly. Died

Euphorbia ‘Firebird' - These deep purple-leafed cultivars seem to thrive in a more protected and shaded location.

Euphorbia ‘Shorty' - has remained very compact and tidy for full sun/part shade.

Geranium ‘Sandrine' - A plant said to rival the popular G. ‘Ann Folkard'. Has slightly bigger flowers

Geum coccineum ‘Eos' - A gold-leaf selection. Did not flower, but clumped up nicely. Might move into more sun.

Monarda ‘Grand Marshall' - An improvement of M. ‘ Marshall 's Delight', I'm assuming. Very nice compact habit and vigor (even in part day sun).

Verbascum ‘Honey Dijon ' - Short stature and prolific blooming, but died after flowering.

Bed 5

Asarum europaeum GPP - establishing slowly

Eryngium ‘Sunny Jackpot' - An exciting variegated selection of Sea Holly. Did fairly well for first year.

Rheum ‘Ace of Hearts' - Just starting to get established

Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue' -Late to flower. Perfers richer soil with less competition.

Dry Shade Bed

Cyclamen hederifolium   -has done very well

Dryopteris affinis morph. affinis - has done well. Still small and slow to establish with limited resources.

Dryopteris marginalis - Slow to establish. brittle fronds tend to get damaged.

Dryopteris x separabilis - Slow to establish. brittle fronds tend to get damaged. Somwhat struggling

Epimedium assortment - establishing well

Polystichum munitum - had done well. Still small and slow to establish with limited resources.

Polystichum setiferum ‘Congestum' - has done well. Still small and slow to establish with limited resources.

Bed 6

Brunnera m. ‘Looking Glass' (Siberian Bugloss) -Not as vigorous as ‘Jack Frost', smaller leaves

Dianella revoluta 'Baby Bliss' - has survived its first winter very well. Flowered this summer.

Eryngium bourgatii -has been impressive in a warm, sunny spot.

Euphorbia ‘Jade Dragon' - slow to get started because it was overtaken by Romneya coulteri .
Euphorbia 'Glacier Blue' - has been doing very well. Probably one of the best variegated Euphorbias out on the market!

Bed 7

Adiantum venustum GPP - The Himalayan Maidenhair Fern. Slow to establish, might need more shade and moisture

Asarum maximum (Panda Woodland Ginger) -very slow to establish
Bletilla striata (Hardy Ground Orchid) -not doing well, might need more sun
Convallaria majalis ‘Striatum' (Variegated Lily-of-the-Valley) - nice yellow striped leaves

Corydalis elata (Blue False Bleeding Heart) - Doing well
Corydalis omeiana (Omei Blue False Bleeding Heart) - My collection from China . has done very well directly under the Styrax obassia.
Corydalis rosthornii ‘Blue Heron' (Blue False Bleeding Heart) -Slowly dying.
Disporum cantoniense ‘Night Heron' (Cantonese Fairybells) -Establishing well.

Epimedium 'Lilafee' (Fairy Wings) - Establishing well
Eucomis ‘Sparkling Burgundy ' - doing very well with Sedum rupestre ‘Angelina' growing below.

Euphorbia 'Royal Velvet' -Died. Even the one I have at home has been very subpar.

Gentiana asclepiadea (Willow-leafed Gentian) -Died. Might have to replace
Hakonechloa macra ‘ Beni Kazi' -has a smaller stature compared to ‘Aureola'. Slowly getting larger

Helleborus ‘Ivory Prince' - Slow to establish

Heucherella ‘Stoplight' - Has wonderful winter color. Leaves aren't very large possibly due to competition from tree roots
Hosta ‘June' - establishing well
Hosta ‘Halcyon' - establishing well
Iris ‘Gerald Darby' - establishing well

Omphalodes verna (Creeping Forget-me-Not) -establishing well. Kind of ratty looking during the summer and fall
Ophiopogon clarkii (Clark's Mondo Grass) -establishing well
Paris polyphylla  (Trillium relative from China ) - Disappeared quickly, but might just be dormant

Sanguinaria canadensis 'Flore Pleno' (Double-flowered Bloodroot)- Wonderful spring ephemeral
Podophyllum delavayi (Chinese Mayapple) Disappeared quickly, but might just be dormant
Thalictrum ichangense (Silver variegated Meadow Rue) -Just getting started. very delicate plant
Tiarella ‘Pink Brushes' (Foamflower) -establishing well
Tiarella ‘Black Snowflake' (Foamflower) -establishing well

Tricyrtis latifolia ‘Yellow Sunrise ' - A bright, gold-leaf selection of Toad Lily I planted in Bed 7. Mediocre.

Trillium chloropetalum (Giant Wake Robin) -Establishing well

Trillium grandiflorum (Large Flowered Trillium) -Slow to establish, small flowers the first year.

Bed 8

Dahlia ‘Bishop of Llandaff' - incredibly prolific bloomer

Gallardia ‘Frenzy' - absolutely prolific bloom. We'll see how it overwinters

Gallardia ‘Tizzy' - absolutely prolific bloom. We'll see how it overwinters

Phormium ‘Dusky Chief' - A striking purple selection with grey undersides. Waiting to see how it overwinters.

Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue' -Late to flower. Perfers richer soil with less competition.

Salvia elegans ‘Golden Delicious'

South Slope

Geranium ‘Sweet Heidi' - A large flowered selection said to rival the great G. ‘Rozanne'. Performed very poorly due to soil conditions. Will move

Geranium ‘Rosetta' - Supposedly a pink form of the outstanding G. ‘Rozanne'. Performed very poorly due to soil conditions. Will move

Container Perennial Plantings

Amicia zygomeris - A sub-shrub with yellow pea-like flowers. Very late to flower and look to have stretched for light.

Scabiosa ‘Vivid Violet' - Has performed well with repeating flowers.

Verbascum ‘Sugar Plum ' - Bloomed heavily and sort of dwindled down.

There you have it! If you have any questions about any of these plants, let me know and I can draw out more information.

We've also been involved in renovating part of the South Slope. The mass of black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm') was thinned out to removed an invasive buttercup crawling around and the patch of Bergenia ‘Bressingham Ruby' was also reworked so it can fill in again. The other side of the lawn will present some new changes as well with a potential new design and another assortment of wonderful garden plants

There was so much implemented this year and with another gardening season behind us, we can only expect bigger and greater things for 2009.

Happy Holidays and all by best for the upcoming year!

Riz

November 2008

In the last few days of October, I've developed quite an intimate relationship with something I just couldn't do without as the days get lonelier, shorter and ever so cold. The leaf rake. With its slim stature and voracious capability to draw fallen foliage in off beds, pathways, gravel, and in the soft blades of grass in the lawns, it behaves as gentle or as rough as you'd like to handle it. There's something mesmerizing about the whole process of leaf raking once you get the initial frustration of the task out of the way.

Everyday it's almost the same routine each morning as I grab the cart and pack it full of browned Fragrant Snowbell (Styrax obassia, Persian Ironwood (Parrotia persica) and Red Oak (Quercus rubra) leaves. It's incredibly time consuming, but a necessary task for a garden as manicured and highly utilized as the Soest Garden . Fallen leaves on pathways after autumn rains can spell slippery hazard, plus mounds and mounds of unsightly brown piles. While foliage needs to be removed and disposed of, I encourage gardeners to make use of this wonderful fallen material and use it directly in the garden as mulch.

In managed landscapes, we try to mimic many of the natural processes that take place in nature and using leaf litter is a classic example of that by providing the top “O” layer in a natural soil profile. This “O”rganic material in nature provides nutrients to the plant as it decomposes and it also works by helping to retain moisture, suppress weeds and during the cold, freezing months of winter, keeps the soil at a fairly even temperature. So as you passionately rake the leaves in your garden this month, think about how you can make use of it to encourage this natural process.

Some gardeners like to mow the leaves while they're still on the lawn using an attached lawn bag to collect the shredded material that can be used immediately as a mulch or simply collect the foliage and compost them, add to worm bins as bedding or just let nature do its thing and leave the leaves be. Add a dusting of soil or small rocks to keep them from blowing in the wind and your garden will be set for the winter. Just try and keep the cats and other critters out!

There's wonderful fall interest in the gardens now with our famous Chrysanthemum ‘Apricot' in full glorious bloom and the ornamental grasses are looking spectacular as ever as they change color and plumes begin to develop. There are some new plants to look out for such as Aster ‘Lady in Black' in Bed 5, Tricyrtis ‘Taipei Silk' in Bed 1 and the tough and hardy Cyclamen hederifolium in the dry shade bed under the oak.

Our work in the south slope carries on, having weeded a large portion of it in hopes of replanting this fall and next spring. It's almost like a clean canvas to work in again and the results next season should be spectacular.

Stay tuned!

Riz

October 2008

I'm continually amazed and appreciative each year as another fall season approaches. It's that surreal transition between summer and autumn where plants are at their peak and still going strong as a new surge of fine textured foliage and warm tones give the landscape a new light. It's that time of year where all the hard work and meticulous attention to details early in the season truly pay off.

Autumn in the Soest Garden is something truly special. With just the right balance of floral and foliar interest combined with architectural forms and figures, it's all brought together in a harmonious blend of pale yellows merging to bright oranges followed by ravishing reds. This is certainly a great time to come see the garden.

Fall is also a time for transitions and edits to the landscape to fulfill our vision of what the garden aims to accomplish. As a teaching tool, we have hundreds of species and cultivated varieties represented in the garden and we must ensure that they are sited properly and effectively. Visitors come to gain ideas for their own gardens and observe the growth habit of a brand new variety before contemplating its purchase. As new plants get established, older plantings begin to take over or dwindle with old age. Fall is an optimal time to dig, divide, transplant many perennial plants.

Most of the work this month will focus on the usual clean-up and renovating the South Slope. Over the years, plants like Calluna vulgaris, Miscanthus sinensis, Begenia ‘Bressingham Ruby' and Rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm' have, actually, thrived in the poor soil of this slope. In the densely loose clumps of plants, invasive weeds have managed to take hold and as plants die off due to overcrowding or age, these weeds begin to dominate. It's our mission this fall to get the slope thoroughly weeded, the perennials cleaned up, divided, and replanted.

It's certainly going to be a very busy fall season, but it will set us up for a less demanding winter season and, hopefully, a spectacular show for the next season.

Riz

September 2008

This month brings with it a very special occasion for the Orin and Althea Soest Perennial Display Garden here at the Center for Urban Horticulture. On September 10, we celebrated the 10 year anniversary of the garden!

Our humble celebration was held here surrounding the fountain with over 30 guests attending. The weather was absolutely perfect as the beds seemed to perk up with the diverse array of flowers in full bloom. The Brugmansia in the containers were open, but it was too early in the day to fully appreciate them with their nocturnal perfume. Rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm' is looking absolutely fabulous right now with the most intense deep yellow you'll ever see in the landscape.

Surrounded by the Dean of Forest Resources, Bruce Bare, Interim Director Sandra Leir, faculty, staff and friends of the garden, Orin and Ally were in great spirits to see the tremendous admiration of the garden that bears their name. Almost everyone was in disbelief that it's already been ten years since the garden was first installed.

Also in attendance were the three former Soest gardeners. Here we are in between Beds 2 and 3.

Photo of Soest Gardeners (Photo credit Barbara Selemon)

(L-R) Me, Lynne Thompson, who now works as the Coordinator for the Great Plant Picks Program at the Miller Botanical Gardens in North Seattle, Gabriel LaValle, who has her own landscape and garden maintenance company and is an advocate for organic gardening, and Lisa King, who took on a full time position with the grounds crew of Children's Hospital.

It was so much fun catching up with them and sharing our experiences working in the garden.

Getting to know the Soests has been an honor and a real pleasure. They are such wonderful people to know; to chat with them is like chatting with a long time friend or a family member.

Photo of Soests and Riz. (Photo credit Elizabeth Loudon)

I feel so privileged working in these gardens. After meeting them for the very first time last year, I felt so committed to improve and promote this garden and to take it to another level. With a diverse selection of new plants that have been included and with a brand new Audio Tour coming soon for visitors to use, it will just continue to evolve and impress those who visit UWBG. Congratulations to the Soest and an electronic toast to another ten years!

September is all about enjoying the garden and anticipating the busy fall season. Do come by and witness the early fall landscapes here at CUH!

Cheers,

Riz

August 2008

July and August seem to be “the peak” of tremendous growth and bloom, and the time of year where we find the most visitors. From our regular neighborhood supporters, events and conference attendees, weekend weddings, and even our own staff here at UWBG–Center for Urban Horticulture, the Soest Garden is just THE PLACE to be to sit, relax, learn, play and even work! Professional artists and photographers take advantage of the varying light conditions throughout the day and the children enjoy getting their hands wet as they throw coins and gravel into the fountain. (Yes, a nightmare to clean and maintain, but so worth it to see them enjoy the garden.)

Irrigation is being closely monitored as we've been working endlessly trying to tweak the system so everything is watered properly, but with anything, there's always fine tuning to do. The biggest challenge has been the South Slope (which I'm planning on renovating this fall). The soil is very poor and in some areas compacted and dried out. Invasives have established themselves in the beds and the planting layout is very poor on one side. Now it's a matter of coming up with a game plan and convincing my supervisors that there's major work to be done to improve the current site.

It's been mainly weeding, dead-heading, staking, raking and sweeping, and other tasks that have consumed most of my time, but I'm always happy to answer questions and share some of the wonderful things happening in the garden at this time of year.

Please visit us soon!

Cheers,

Riz

July 2008

It's starting to feel like summer, finally! Having to wear shorts, a hat and sunscreen before heading out to work in the garden is a routine that's just starting to come back. The Soest Garden continues to thrive and evolve each year and we've been blessed with another donation of new perennials that are starting to become established.

Skagit Gardens, up in Mt. Vernon , is a well known wholesale supplier of annuals and perennials that has supplied the UW Botanic Garden for years. This spring, they surprised us with an offer of samples for us to grow in our grounds.

Here are some new plants to look out for next time you visit:

Carex ‘Rekohu Sunrise' (Bed 1)

Euphorbia Shorty(Bed 4)

Gaillardia Frenzy (South Slope)

Gaillardia Tizzy (South Slope)

Helleborus Ivory Prince (Bed 7)

Helleborus Silver Lace (South Slope)

Phygelius Croftway Purple Prince (Bed 4)

Phygelius Croftway Snow Queen (South Slope)

Polemonium San Juan Skies (Bed 5)

If there wasn't enough to do, I've also been ask to help out in overseeing our Blooms of Bressingham trials. Referred to as “Blooms”, these beds are located west of the Miller Library and boast an array of perennials that have been evaluated for garden performance.

We received a new shipment of plants this spring we're hoping to plant out in fall, but there is a lot of site preparation that needs to be done.

One upcoming event I'm excited about this month is an upcoming exhibition of the work our friend/volunteer Larry Howard. He has created captivating images of the Soest Garden since it first opened in 1998 and he's also been documenting the fascinating facets of Shoveler's Pond in the Union Bay Natural Area. The Miller Library will be home to a display of his finest work from July to early September. The public is invited to a reception on Friday July 11, 5-7 p.m.

I hope to see you at his exhibition, if not, I'm in the garden. Come by, say hello, pull a weed, deadhead a flower, mow the lawn, drain and clean the fountain….nah, that first one is plenty.

Cheers,

R

June 2008

This year has been just flying by. With a cold and wet spring setting plants back a few weeks, sudden record breaking temperatures in May caused a burst of new growth that's both exciting and strenuous. Watering suddenly becomes a priority as we scramble to fix the irrigation system and catch up with the surge of weeds appearing almost overnight on top of the rich compost.

It's incredibly exciting to see the newly installed plants finally hitting their stride. Bed 7 looks almost completely different with the wide assortment of shade loving plants filling in. The divisions of our Giant Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus) I took early this spring are establishing beautifully in the center of Bed 6. These will be allowed to grow to their fullest size and flower, while the original one on the edge will have its flowering stalk removed because it gets too dangerously close to the path!

New plants are always exciting for us here at UWBG. With so many plants to choose from, many gardeners are overwhelmed with the diverse selection we have here in the Pacific Northwest . With that in mind, the Great Plant Picks Program was established to select the best of the best. With our connection to the Elisabeth C. Miller Botanical Garden in Shoreline, I'm trying to highlight and integrate as many “GPPs” in the Soest Garden as I can.

Alex LaVilla of Swanson's Nursery has kindly donated a new surge of exceptional perennials we will be growing and evaluating here at UWBG. They're all fairly new introductions out on the market and my goal is to showcase these new plants for gardeners to see them growing before they decided to purchase it. Judith Freeman of The Lily Garden kindly donated a selection of lily bulbs for the Soest Garden this year. She is a world-renowned breeder and authority in Lilium and offers lily varieties best suited for the garden.

So, here's what's new:

Adiantum venustum GPP - The Himalayan Maidenhair Fern to add to the existing one in Bed 7.

Amicia zygomeris - A sub-shrub with yellow pea-like flowers I potted up in a container by the hedge.

Asarum europaeum GPP - An evergreen woodland ginger I snuck in by the large rhubarb in Bed 5.

Blechnum australe - An exciting relative of deer fern from Africa . Marginally hardy, but will attempt to grow in Bed 3

Datisca cannabina - A large perennial plant with maple-like leaves and clusters of white flowers planted in Bed 4

Disporopsis pernyi GPP- An evergreen Solomon's Seal in Bed 3.

Eryngium ‘Blue Jackpot' - A brand new, intensely blue Sea Holly.

Eryngium ‘Sunny Jackpot' - An exciting variegated selection of Sea Holly.

Geranium ‘Sandrine' - A plant said to rival the popular G. ‘Ann Folkard' in Bed 4

Geranium ‘Sweet Heidi' - A large flowered selection said to rival the great G. ‘Rozanne' planted on the South slope under the Japanese Snowbells.

Geranium ‘Rosetta' - Supposedly a pink form of the outstanding G. ‘Rozanne' planted on the South Slope under the Japanese Snowbells.

Geum coccineum ‘Eos' - A very bright gold-leaf selection planted in Bed 4

Monarda ‘Grand Marshall' - An improvement of M. ‘ Marshall 's Delight', I'm assuming. It's in Bed 4.

Scabiosa ‘Vivid Violet' - This is supposed to be far more mildew resistant and long-lived. We'll see. I have it in a container by the hedge.

Tricyrtis latifolia ‘Yellow Sunrise ' - A bright, gold-leaf selection of Toad Lily I planted in Bed 7.

Verbascum ‘Honey Dijon ' - Short stature and prolific blooming they say, Find out in Bed 4.

Verbascum ‘Sugar Plum ' - Same attributes as ‘Honey Dijon', but this one is in a pot by the hedge.

Lilies:

L. ‘Ariadne' - a charming “Turk's cap” lily with a gentle fragrance near the front of Bed 4

Lilium regale - the famous Regal Lily from China discovered by E.H. Wilson also growing in Bed 4

L. ‘Pizazz' - a most vigorous hybrid between an Oriental and Trumpet lily. A massive stem in Bed 5.

L. ‘ Silk Road ' - quite possibly the most fragrant of the garden lilies just planted in Bed 6

L. ‘Black Beauty' - the classic, tough-as-nails hybrid with as many as 50 flowers per stem when mature and happy!

L. ‘Tiger Babies' - a shorter, softer colored, and virus free hybrid of the popular Tiger Lily planted in Bed 6.

L. ‘White Butterflies' - masses of down-facing white flowers I've planted amongst grasses in Bed 6.

Speaking of bulbs, check out the list of summer flowering bulbs in the sidebar.

My sincerest thanks to Swanson's Nursery and The Lily Garden and the staff at the Miller Garden for their generous contributions to UWBG!

Time to mow the lawn before the weekend and check on the guy who is power washing the fence surrounding the garden.

Bye for now,

Riz

May 2008

Working outside this spring has been quite unreal; it’s May, yet cool temperatures still linger and feel like it could still freeze. We actually had SNOW in April! So many plants are late to come up, leaf out and/or bloom and vegetable gardeners are also feeling the frustration as warm weather crops such as Tomatoes and Peppers still have to be coddled before being set out to plant.

Plants, both edible and ornamental, are pretty resilient. We as gardeners have to constantly be patient with nature and know that things will come around. Once warm weather consistently stays around, our landscapes will be bustling in bloom and abundant with new growth that we might not even be prepared for. No matter how dampening this weather can be, we have to move forward with all our tasks for the season: getting the irrigation system up and running, planting our containers, shearing the Osmanthus hedge, and starting all those other projects we have scheduled for spring.

On the upside of things, the Soest Garden is filling in quite nicely with just about everything up and growing. One of the highlights early this month is the ever-so-charming species Tulipa batalinii ‘Bright Gem’. Its soft apricot flowers and silvery blue-green foliage just delight visitors who come by and see the drifts of this little treasure growing in Beds 6 & 7.

The major renovation and replanting of Bed 7 is yielding some extraordinary new plants that will surely delight visitors. With the Styrax obassia starting to finally leaf out, it is casting the shade necessary for many of the woodland plants we’ve integrated into the garden. While they’re still young and establishing, they are catching the eyes of many people. Here are some plants to look out for:

Arisaema speciosum - Asian Jack-in-the-Pulpits are hugely popular among avid gardeners here for their bizarre “Cobra Lily” flowers and large foliage. This was a donation from Kelly Dodson of Far Reaches Nursery and should be in flower this month!

Beesia deltophylla - a lovely and much sought after evergreen perennial with bronzy red, heart-shaped leaves that turn a deep green as the leaves mature.

Convallaria majalis ‘Aureo-striata’ - Golden variegated Lily-of-the-Valley. As sweetly scented and charming as the original, but with glowing golden-striped leaves.

Paris polyphylla - Relative of the Trillium, this rare and unusual plant sports a whorl of foliage that set off a second tier of alien like flowers with antennae that’s just as bizarre as can be.

Podophyllum delavayi - A Chinese mayapple. Another rare and much sought after plant by collectors for it palmate leaves heavily mottled in purple and maroon early in the spring.

If that weren’t enough, we’re also getting in new plants from our friends at Swanson’s Nursery who, once again, offered to supply us some new varieties to evaluate in the garden and Steamboat Island Nursery is bringing in a few things to spruce up our beds and containers.

The weather outside is slowly improving, I can sort of feel it. Do come out and look for these new treasures and watch them grow and develop as they get established.

Cheers,
Riz

April 2008

What an unbelievable fluctuation in weather we’ve been having! It’s April and we’re still experiencing deep frosts after a series of hail and SNOW in the last week of March. While nurserymen scramble to protect the young potted plants that have begun to arrive for their spring sales, the plants in the garden are proving once again how resilient they are. The tender young growth of several perennials can often succumb to frost damage early in the season, but so far, everything in the Soest Garden seems unfazed by it.

The tulips are continuing to add that splash of unrivaled color, the daffodils are holding up with just a few more days in them until they’re deadheaded and I’m most excited about the emergence of some of the new plants I’ve added last year. The Erythronium (Dog Tooth Violet) has been a hit with many visitors with its graceful nodding flowers and early bloom. You can catch these blooming in Bed 7 and the new Shade Bed just under the large oak. Epimediums from world renowned plantsman, Dan Hinkley, will be in full bloom this month. These exquisite selections include hybrids bred from Chinese species that typically prefer moisture soil conditions, but since these have been installed, they’ve settled in quite well. Magnolias continue the spring show with ‘Leonard Messel’ in full bloom.

The container plantings are under construction as we await the arrival of plants being donated by some of our favorite plants-people and local nurseries! We’re also waiting for temperatures to warm up as a tropical pot design is brewing in my mind.

UWBG Grad Students Jeff Richardson and Patrick Schwartzkopf have graciously agreed to help the Education & Outreach team to update the brochures again this year. With so many new changes, there will be so much to see and look forward to on your next visit!

Spring is here; really it is!
Riz

 

Riz's Spring Tips for the Perennial Garden:

 

March 2008

You certainly know spring is coming when the bulbs poke their little noses up and suddenly burst into bloom. It’s almost become an annual tradition to witness this spectacular show. Larry Howard, our friendly Soest Garden volunteer/historian/photographer has taken careful note and mentioned that nature seems to always be on queue as the first daffodil always seems to open on the same date each year! The daffodils in Bed 1 and Bed 8 are bursting into bloom along with the tulip species planted en mass on Bed 6. Crocuses are just about finished, but you probably won't even notice with just about everything else starting to come up. A full list of these bulbs are to the right.

The month of March gets very interesting in the garden with endless tasks I try to stay on top of.  I’ve been doing so much thinning out of plants, dividing, transplanting, and composting. Later in the month the fountain will need a good cleaning, plus the containers need to be planted up again for our annuals displays. I already have a few ideas in mind and a few plants waiting in the wings to be planted in these pots, but I want to keep it a surprise! Jeff and Patrick have also agreed to work on the brochure again so we'll be busy with that so we get it out as soon as possible. Another exciting project coming up is a new interpretive audio guide for UWBG and I’ve been asked to participate in its development. As noted in the CFR Straight Grain:

The Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust awarded funding to UW Botanic Gardens to develop audio guides for the planned Pacific Connections Garden in the Arboretum and the Soest Garden at the Center for Urban Horticulture. These will be the first audio guides developed for gardens in the Pacific Northwest. The guides will be available for use by visitors and via the web in late 2008.

March marks my one year anniversary of becoming a permanent staff member here at UWBG. Why don’t you come pay me a visit and celebrate by strolling the grounds of Union Bay Gardens, have a seat in the Soest Garden and watch the transformation of the season!
See you in the garden,
Riz

 

Riz's March Tips for the Perennial Garden:

February 2008

February has traditionally been the “signal” month as plants begin to awaken from winter’s dreary slumber. Spring bulbs are beginning their aggressive push as I continue to cut back and clean up the garden. I get a bit tentative when I walk into the beds to take down grasses or spread compost fearing that I’ll destroy the show to come. Aside from the cold, wet, often miserable weather, it’s still exciting to witness, and the work is picking up at an accelerating rate.

The garden is looking pretty bare and somewhat lacking in pizzazz, but more and more visitors are commenting on how constructive it is to see a perennial garden at this time of year to garner ideas on how to make a garden look attractive in the winter. I feel that it also gives someone a chance to see it in all the seasons so when spring and summer arrive; they can be amazed and astonished at the sharp contrast from almost bare dirt to full reckless abandon come midsummer.

It takes a little work and poking around, but there are lovely treasures to witness at this time of year. The precious double flowered snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis ‘Flore Pleno’) are just beginning to bloom on top of the South Slope; the endearing silk tassels of Garrya x ‘Pat Ballard’ looks absolutely stunning. The most noticeable highlights of the garden at this time of year are the heaths and heathers (featured in this month’s perennial plant profile). The heaths (Erica cultivars) bloom their little spiky heads off while the heathers (Calluna cultivars) fire up the garden with its vibrant foliage and texture. Combined with the dried seedheads of Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’, the richly-red foliage of Bergenia ‘Bressingham Ruby’ and the tall slim stems of yellow-twig dogwood (Cornus sericea ‘Flaviramea’, it’s quite a dramatic effect.

This month brings forth a lot more drama and excitement as one of the largest horticultural events takes place later this month at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center, The Northwest Flower and Garden Show. UW Botanic Gardens will have a booth to promote our organization and programs and we’re eager to meet you and invite you to come visit us! We’ll have the Miller Library holding the Plant Answer Line for all your gardening queries and loads of helpful resources to help you as you plan your landscape this year. I’ll be there on Thursday February 21 at 9AM-1PM with my colleague Tracy Mehlin, who not only is one of our helpful librarians, she’s also responsible for posting these monthly updates for the Soest Garden.. Do come and say “Hello”.

Spring’s just around the corner. It may not feel it yet working outside, but the garden is certainly saying so!

 

January 2008

It’s a brand new year! I can’t believe almost a year has passed since I first started working in the Soest Garden. It looks exactly like it was when Lisa King trained me for this position. With so many of the perennials cut back and simply sleeping, she shared with me her tips on keeping things looking tidy and interesting this time of the year.
The grasses have withstood all sorts of weather these past few months, yet they still remain upright adding much interest in the landscape. The Miscanthus cultivars form massive clumps and festive inflorescences as the foliage dries to a pale orange brown. The Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum cultivars) also hold up with their delicate panicles and slim blades that are beautiful in a gentle breeze as are the Feather Reed Grasses (Calamagrostis acutiflora cultivars). I also have to mention the tidy clumps of Molinia caerulea ‘Variegata’ that have an outstanding fireworks display of airy stems in the winter landscape. In a few weeks, all these grasses will have to be cut back as they will begin to look to tattered and messy, so do come by and see them soon!
Speaking of winter interest, our Yellow Twig Dogwood (Cornus sericea ‘Flaviramea’ ) are looking exceptional this year because we coppiced them last March. Ideally, you would want to cut them down earlier than that, but the slim stems came through and look absolutely spectacular contrasting so beautifully with the foliage of the heathers and deep red Bergenia ‘Bresssingham Ruby’ growing underneath.
While most plants lay asleep at this time of year, new growth is certainly commencing as the daffodils have begun poking up their noses! There’s still lots to do as we begin to prepare for spring!

Happy New Year!

Cheers,

Riz

January Tips for the Perennial Garden:

 

December 2007

We’ve had our first snow of the season and now it’s torrential downpour of this never-ending rain that’s confined most of us inside today to work on tools, records, preparations for our upcoming staff holiday party, and for me, to update you all on all the work I did last month.

We had such a generous donation of plants! I’m so pleased to have gotten them in the ground before all this weather and I’m crossing my fingers that they will establish and thrive in their new homes here in the Soest Herbaceous Perennial Garden. (see the list the right)

There’s certainly more to come and I’m exceedingly thankful for the tremendous support our local specialty nurseries have provided.

With snow and heavy rains, how can anyone think of even gardening in this weather? Well, like in showbiz, the show must go on and we still have to report for work. It’s this time of year where tools need attention, record-keeping is updated and plans for next year’s growing season begin as we close down the year by evaluating the major successes and failures. It’s also the time of year where we look beyond the gloomy weather and look forward to the holiday season. It’s time to just let the garden rest and focus on the other things in life that bring us great joy and happiness!

Happy Holidays and see you in 2008!

Cheers,

Riz

November 2007

While I work in the Soest Garden at this time of year, I’ve begun to have a far greater appreciation for autumn and all it has to offer for the landscape. With the cold weather setting in and our first nip of winter’s frost just around the corner, it’s been so relieving to witness the warm and fiery tones and the kindling of color that ignites with the final push for flowers before winter. While it’s easy to just take it easy and sip a cup of hot cocoa during my breaks, there’s so much to be done.

My biggest project this fall is the removal of a few plants to make room for some exciting new additions for the garden. I recently submitted a proposal to our Curation Committee and got the go-ahead to remove plants that were becoming weedy and potentially invasive, performing poorly and plants that have outgrown their intended purpose. We have to remind ourselves that gardens are constantly evolving and changing; with a wide array of perennials we can grow here in the Pacific Northwest, my aim is to showcase this diversity in a small garden setting.

To aid in my mission, several local garden centers, specialty nurseries, and other botanical institutions have graciously donated plants for the Soest Garden for planting this fall and next spring. I’m hoping to add to this illustrious list, but these are growers I’ve known for years who offer quality plant material and a superb selection. I encourage you to support your local nurseries!

In alphabetical order:

Coldsprings Nursery
Ann Kenady has been a frequent participant in many local plant sales offering the tried and true to the newest and rare.

Fancy Fronds
Judith Jones comes through again with a selection of ferns she recommends for the avid shade perennial gardener!

Far Reaches Nursery
Plantsman, Kelly Dodson, offers up some rare treasures from all over the world.

Steamboat Island Nursery
Laine McLaughlin’s expertise and choice selection of cutting edge plants is simply outstanding!
 
Swanson’s Nursery
Perennial Buyer and long time horticultural colleague, Alex LaVilla, set aside some perennial favorites and some flashy new introductions for the garden.

A list of plants that were removed (and why) will be posted shortly along with a listing of the exciting new plants we’ve acquired!

For now, it’s back to digging, dividing, transplanting, installing, raking and an occasional cup of hot cocoa on cold November mornings.

Cheers,

Riz

November Tips for the Perennial Garden:

 

October 2007

Now I can say that it is officially fall! The dwindling leaves of Persian Ironwoods (Parrotia persica) and Fragrant Snowbells (Styrax obassia) dripping relentlessly with fruit over the gravel has created more tedious work on top of everything else that needs to be done, but then, it is that time of year; it’s just part of the routine and I do my best to keep up.

One of my primary tasks last month was to stake up several of the ornamental grasses we have in the garden. As huge and spectacular as they are, with the heavy rains we’ve been getting, they flop and take on a life of their own. They actually look kind of cool with the long blades creating cascading waves of green or splitting down in the center creating a “giant bird’s nest” effect. However, I was instructed to shake them off each time after rainfall and stake them up.

One of my favorite fall tasks is receiving a shipment of bulbs, sorting them out and planning where I want spring color. With the Soest beds already gingerly sprinkled with bulbs throughout, we could always use more. There is so much variety out there of dependable perennial bulbs. Gardeners should look out for what will bloom as the snow melts well into when the roses come into bloom.

Another fall task I absolutely love is digging and dividing plants to share with fellow gardeners! As we begin plans for next season, I plan on donating some of my rare plants for the Soest Garden. As fabulous as the beds look, we’re always striving to make them look better and better!

Before it gets too cold and rainy, swing by the garden and say “hello” to free me from the monotonous task of raking up those leaves and hand-picking every single fruit that falls into the gravel!

Happy Fall Planting!

Riz

October Tips for the Perennial Garden:

September 2007

I’ve realized that fall is fast approaching as the weather begins to cool and I’ve already started raking up the leaves from the Persian Ironwood (Parrotia persica) trees. This is a time of year when things begin to settle down a bit as the garden is in full growth and the main task is to keep the garden looking its very best until frost.

One of the main attractions in the Soest Garden right now is the mass of yellow color provided by the black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldstrum’) that has inundated Bed 8 and a large section of the South Slope. Their warm sunny colors brighten visitors who marvel at the multitude of never-ending daisy like blossoms that extend the summer season right into fall.

September also gives us a little preview of what’s to come in the fall months with early fall bloomers teasing us with colorful buds just waiting to bloom. Symphyotrichum are raring to go and its close relative Aster x frikartii ‘Moench’ is already in full bloom gleaming gracefully with ornamental grasses like Panicum ‘Heavy Metal’ that set off the baby blue color of the flowers and strikingly contrasts with the bright yellow centers.

Speaking of ornamental grasses, they are looking absolutely fabulous right now as many have started blooming. They sway so beautifully in the gentle breeze and add such interest and definition all throughout the fall and winter months. The Soest Garden is a prime example of how grasses are effectively used in the landscape.

With just ongoing maintenance to keep the garden tidy, I’ve started to plan my course of action for the fall season. This is an ideal time to take careful note on the gardens successes and failures and plan ahead for the following season. One of my main tasks this fall is to dig and divide up several perennials that have become overgrown and have performed poorly this season. Traditionally, this would be done later in the season, but with so many plants on the list in need of dividing and transplanting, I have to plan early.

Fall is also the best time to do some planting! We are anticipating a donation of new and exciting perennial plants in the next few weeks so be sure to tune in next time to hear all about them!

The season is slowly changing and the Soest Garden still has so much to offer. The new school year is about to begin so squeeze in a visit before the fall rush begins!

Cheers,

Rizaniño “Riz” Reyes

September Tips for the Perennial Garden:

 

August 2007

“The best it has ever looked!” many have said; though I can’t take much of nature’s credit. It really is remarkable how perennials perform after years of regular care. Now fully establish, plants in the Soest Garden look spectacular.

After weeks of rigorous deadheading, pinching, and staking, several plants are hitting their peak in early August. The Phlox paniculata cultivars I strategically pinched early in the summer are producing the first flush of blooms from the stems I didn’t pinch back followed by the smaller heads of flowers from the ones I did pinch back; therefore, we’ve extended the bloom time of these plants by several weeks!

Late summer bulbs have also been a highlight since late last month. Lilies reign supreme as the queen of summer flowering bulbs. The oriental hybrids are just opening with their absolutely delicious fragrance that’s simply mesmerizing. Our lone Dahlia, ‘Bishop’s Children’ is churning out bloom after bloom growing beautifully with Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ and the bold, lush tropical foliage of the purple-leafed Canna ‘Red King Humbert’.

Late summer in the Soest brings many visitors to the garden. Various conferences and workshops take place here at UWBG and the garden seems to be a prime spot for lunch breaks when the skies are clear and the sun is present. Weekends you’ll often find wedding guests lingering in the garden or photo shoots taking place. And, of course, we have our regular visitors each day taking in the subtle changes. I love seeing the garden being used in so many ways.

The Soest Brochure is FINALLY done and almost ready for distribution. They are being printed, folded and put together as I write this update. Please swing by the garden; grab a brochure and start learning about all the spectacular plants we have growing for your enjoyment!

August Tips for the Perennial Garden:

 

July 2007

We’re approaching mid-summer and everything is up and growing, blooming, drooping and flopping! As July rolls in, so does the heat. Close monitoring of the irrigation system at this time of year is crucial to insure that every plant in the Soest Garden is getting adequate water. With plenty of water, sun, and a rich organic soil, the garden is a riot of form, foliage, and flower. As easy as it is to just sit on a bench, relax, and enjoy the landscape, a keen gardener will notice flower heads smashed into the ground, weak spindly stems falling over and smothering neighboring plants, and if let go for even one day or two, the perennial garden suddenly becomes a mess. I’ve been trying to keep up with the usual clean up, weeding and the painstaking task of staking! Some of these fabulous flowers sometimes need to be propped up so visitors can enjoy them.

I must say that the containers are looking absolutely fantastic right now. Each one is so different and unique, I highly encourage you to see them in person right up close and to swing by the reception desk in Merrill Hall to pick up a sheet that lists all the plants I put into these pots. And if you’re ever here at UWBG at night for an event or lecture or an evening walk, you must stop by the Soest Garden and follow your nose towards a large pot of Angel’s Trumpet or Brugmansia. While the hanging white bells are attractive during the day, it’s at night when you can really admire its sultry scent.

After months of revising, reformatting and endlessly waiting, the Soest Brochure is finally in the printer and will be available very shortly! Thank you all for your patience.

Oh, before I forget, we are offering a tour later this month called, “Summer in the Soest”. I’ll be leading a brief tour of the Soest Garden and then open it up to questions on plants and perennial gardening! It will be on July 28th from 1PM-3PM here in the garden. Join us!

Please come by the garden and enjoy the wonderful things going on here!

July Tips for the Perennial Garden:

June 2007

So here we are in June and the Soest Garden is just finishing up its first big summer flush. I’m trying to stay on top of the weeding and fellow gardener, Annie Bilotta, has been a huge help in familiarizing me with the irrigation system set up for Union Bay Gardens. We currently have the Soest Garden set up so that the garden is watered, twice a week, for fifteen minutes each time. We may have to adjust this as the season progresses or do a bit of hand-watering if absolutely necessary.The containers, which are really starting to fill in and look great, require hand-watering several times a week and fertilizer every two weeks.

Speaking of fertilizer, that has recently been the most commonly asked question about the garden; what kind of fertilizer do you use and how often do you apply to make it look so lush? Aside from the annual top-dressing of compost that’s put down in early spring, the Soest Garden does not get supplemental fertilizer. The addition of compost each year incorporates organic matter into the soil that improves the structure of the soil and replenishes nutrients for the plants to utilize.

My little Dry Shade Garden underneath the large Oak tree is finally complete. The collection of ferns and Epimediums are beautiful together nestled in between rocks and landscape stones installed.Some of the Epimediums are blooming despite being transplanted during active growth. Just goes to show how tough these plants are! Keep in mind, however, a young garden like this has to be watered regularly until plants are fully established.

There’s so much in bloom right now, I’ll just have to encourage everyone to come and visit the garden. I’m doing my best to stay on top of everything going on, but it’s always such a treat each day to walk out into the garden and take it all in!

May 2007

I’ve been scrambling to get this out so I can keep you all posted on what’s going on in the Soest Garden; it’s been incredibly busy with so much to share with you. I sure hope you can find time in your own busy schedules to come to the garden and marvel at the many plants that have just sprung to life after just one month.

All the containers in the garden are all potted up. Each one is unique and jammed-packed with seasonal color and year round interest. One container holds a plant donated by Doug Ewing from the UW Botany Greenhouse. He generously gave us a nice specimen of a Brugmansia or Angel’s Trumpet. When fed and watered generously throughout the growing season, it forms a large shrub or a small tree that’s covered in large, dangling white bells that are intoxicatingly fragrant at night. Unfortunately, it is not winter hardy so we’re treating it as an annual in our containers.

On April 25, we hosted a UW Botanic Garden Open House this year and one of the highlights of the event was a tour in the Soest Garden lead by none other than local garden personality, Ciscoe Morris! What a treat it was to have him share with us some of this favorite perennials and what an honor to have helped him out during the tour. I had a chance to chat with him one on one after the tour and I invited him to come back and see some of the new features and the hot new plants I’ve planted. OOhhh la la!

Speaking of new features, I finally got the go-ahead to plant underneath the large Oak tree to develop a Dry Shade Garden. Ferns from Fancy Fronds Nursery, donated by Judith Jones, were installed and yet to be planted is a selection of Epimediums from Dan Hinkley’s garden.  Once these plants are established, I hope this garden can demonstrate that it is possible to garden in a very difficult site where there is competition from the tree and very little soil in which to dig a proper hole for planting. So, to overcome this, it was recommended that I add 2-3 inches of compost on top before planting. It’s also helpful to start with young plants so they can establish quicker and even though this is a dry shade garden, it will still require ample moisture as the plants establish, but in the long run, this space will be easy to maintain and also be a pleasant place to sit under the cool shade during the warm summer months. Please come by to see its progress! I’ll have a final list of plants next month!

Finally, the brochure is undergoing final reviews and should be ready very soon!

Okay, back to work!

 

May Tips for the Perennial Garden:

April 2007

Greetings from the Soest Garden!

This spring marks the 9th growing season of the Althea and Orin Soest Herbaceous Perennial Garden here at Union Bay Gardens and I’m ecstatic to have been selected as the new Soest Gardener!

Since I started in February, so much has already taken place both inside and outside the garden. With the spring season well underway, I’ve been busy cutting back plants, extensively weeding, digging and dividing overgrown specimens, adding new plants and top dressing the beds with compost; the plants are coming up with a BANG! Outside the garden, we’ve been busy designing a new version of our Soest Garden brochure. With the help of our Education and Outreach Coordinator Elizabeth Loudon and two graduate students, Patrick Schwartzkopf and Jeff Richardson, the new brochure will be designed to make the maps a little easier to read and provide more accurate information about the plants and the garden as a whole. We are shooting for a late spring release of the new brochure so stay tuned!

I am currently working on selecting new plants for the containers and I’ve been asked to plant in a dry shade area underneath the large oak where a new bench has been installed. Judith Jones of Fancy Fronds Nursery is donating a few ferns for the site and I’m planning on integrating some Epimediums and other dry shade tolerant plants for this very difficult site. Please feel free to come by, see what’s new and say, “Hello!”

See you in the garden,

Rizaniño “Riz” Reyes