Notes from the Soest Gardener

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:

Protect tender young shoots from late frosts and pesky slugs. A simple inverted pot may be helpful if you're worried about the young tender shoots being zapped by the cold. Slugs are in full force in early spring so watch for slimy trails and munched-on leaves. While the gravel paths in the Soest Garden have helped to deter slugs, they're still active. We recommend products such as “Sluggo” that are easy to use and safe for animals (besides slugs, of course)

Start buying your plants for the absolute BEST SELECTION. Nurseries are stocking up on perennials now and local plant sales are fast approaching. A comprehensive list of plant sales is available from the Miller Library.

When purchasing plants, make sure you get your money’s worth! Some nurseries are in such a hurry to get material out that they often don’t “finish” their plants, meaning the small transplant has yet to properly grow and root to fill in the container. Often times, you’ll get a gallon plant and when you knock it out of its pot, you get a pot of dirt and a little plug that’s barely developed. It never hurts to carefully knock a plant out of its container to make sure it has viable roots that are actively growing.

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:

As plants wake up from their winter rest, revive old and overgrown clumps by getting a spade and dividing off chunks to either move to another part of the garden or share with a gardening buddy. Got plenty more to spare? Donate them to a local garden club for their spring plant sales!

Continue to cut back plants that have browned up over the winter. This helps clean up the garden so new growth can easily push up to grow, keeps critters at bay, and keeps the garden looking tidy.

Top dress with compost or other mulch. Weed seeds are starting to sprout and the spring bulbs are putting on a show. Multitask by killing these young seedlings and make the flowering bulbs stand out by adding a 1-2” layer of rich dark compost. This is basically all the fertilizer the Soest plants get for the year and they just go gangbusters!

Finish up any transplanting you intend to do while it’s still cool and the soil is still fairly moist. Avoid working the soil when it’s wet and saturated with water; wait for a clear day to shift your plants around. Applying a good mulch after planting is beneficial.

Visit your local nursery for their first large shipment of perennial plants. Most will stock varieties that look great at this time of year so it’s a good time to score on favorites such as ornamental grasses, Hellebores, Heucheras, Cyclamens, and spring ephemerals such as Omphalodes, Pulmonarias, Violas, and a wide assortment of spring bulbs if you didn’t get to plant some last fall.

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:

While ornamental grasses look spectacular at this time of year, many will begin to shed and look ratty. As they start to topple over, they should be cut down to the ground. Those with attractive, mounding foliage such as Stipa, Festuca, and Helictotrichon should just be “combed” out by gloved hands or a rake.

Winter stems and seedheads should stay up for visual interest, but also for local wildlife who benefit from carbohydrates the seeds provide. Keep these up as long as you can before cutting plants back.

Helleborus x hybridus are beginning to set buds. Be sure to cut off the old foliage before those buds begin to open. It keeps the plants looking tidy and the flowers can be fully appreciated.

It’s still perfectly fine to plant perennials at this time of year. Avoid planting when the ground is frozen or sopping wet.

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:

As long as the ground isn’t frozen, you can continue dig, divide and transplant perennial plants. While most perennials can be divided in the fall, do your homework as some plants respond better to being divided in the spring (such as those plants blooming right now!)

Probably the cheapest way of getting new plants is to start them from seed! Now is a good time to check and see if there’s any seed to collect in your garden. If you have a cold frame or greenhouse, you can sow seeds this fall so you have plants ready to plant-out next spring. If not, just store seeds in packets to sow next spring. Just make sure they are dried well and kept cool.

Keep weeding under control and mulch everywhere! You’ve probably noticed that several weeds have begun to sprout. Now’s a prime time to get them while they’re young and apply a good organic mulch to suppress them over the winter!

Continue to clean up in the garden. A hard frost will kill the tops of many plants and many will benefit from being cut back so they can rest for the winter.

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:

Garden centers should be well-stocked with spring flowering bulbs. Check out these perennial favorites we currently have in the Soest Garden:

Tulipa batalinii ‘Bright Gem’ (Bright Gem Tulip)
Tulipa ‘Ancilla’ (Kaufmanniana Selection)
Galanthus nivalis ‘Flore-pleno’ (Snowdrops)
Allium schubertii (Fireworks Flowering Onion)
Allium christophii (Star of Persia Flowering Onion)
Fritillaria imperialis (Crown Imperial)
Narcissus ‘Ice Follies’ (Ice Follies Daffodil)

Dig, divide and share your perennials! With the cooler temperatures and regular rains, it’s an ideal time to be out in the garden and “decongesting” the mature and established clumps of plants. Take a garden fork and go in about 8 inches from the base or “crown” of the plant and work your way around to loosen the clump. Once you have the plant out of the ground, shake off the excess soil and take your hose and wash the clump so you can find natural breaks where you can begin dividing.

Replant your divisions in a prepared bed as soon as possible or else keep them in a cool, dark location that won’t freeze or dry out. Any extras you may have left should be potted up and offered to other gardeners.

It’s easy to let the garden just brown-out before the winter arrives, but regular sanitation and clean-up will greatly help not only the appearance of your perennial garden, but also reduce the risk of pests hiding within the dying foliage. You’re also improving air-circulation around the plants so that they don't succumb to rot and potential other diseases.

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:

Continue to deadhead your perennials to keep the garden looking tidy. Try to coax a few more blooms until frost!

If seedheads are attractive, leave them standing for winter interest.

BULBS BULBS BULBS! You’re probably starting to see them in your local garden centers. Now’s a good time to check out the selection or shop for bulbs online. There are many perennial bulbs you should look out for that need to be planted in the fall such as species tulips (Tulipa), daffodils (Narcissus), grape hyacinths (Muscari), snowdrops (Galanthus), Crocus and Flowering Onions (Allium). These charming spring and early summer bloomers add much needed interest as perennials begin emerging in the spring so do plant a few!

Several nurseries are already having fall sales so this is the time to score some great deals on plants. Clearance plants might look a little shabby, but a lot of perennials are perfectly fine and still very much alive.

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:

Late summer is a good time of year to take notes and evaluate the performance of many perennials. After seeing what has fully grown and bloomed, decisions can be made as to what plant combinations worked and didn’t, what has overgrown and requires division this fall or early next spring, or what plants you could use more of that can be easily propagated via cuttings.

Cuttings of plants such as Phlox, Penstemons, Rosemary, Lavender and a wide assortment of others can be rooted in summer so they’re ready for fall planting.

For more information on growing perennials from cuttings in summer, visit the Miller Library!

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:

Staking plants has got to be one of the most tedious garden tasks in the warm summer months. While there are plants you can choose that don’t ever require it, some plants simply cannot be appreciated without it. The overly aggressive Anemone hupehensis in Bed 1 and Yucca ‘Ivory Tower’ in Bed 6 are starting to flower and their tall heavy stems can easily flop over.

Here’s some more information from the University of Iowa.

Many of the daisy-like flowers such as Rudbeckia, Helenium, Aster, Symphyotrichum, and Chrysanthemum will form a mass of flowers that will eventually topple over the edge of the beds. While a cascade of color can be attractive spilling over the edge, it looks very unsightly when you expose the brown bare centers of the plants. So, it is best to stake these plants as a group.

Tall perennials with large flowers like Lilium, Delphinium, Crocosmias, and Dahlia will benefit from individual stakes.

Bamboo has long been the stake of choice along with those bendable metal stakes you’ll easily find in your local garden center. Or simply use slim branches pruned from woody shrubs or trees. These make effective supports and give a natural, somewhat rustic, look.

Another method used in the densely planted beds of the Soest Garden is to allow plants to stake themselves by arranging flowering stems in a way so that the strongest, most upright stems supports the flopping ones.

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.

Mixed container in Soest Garden 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 Riz Reyes and Ciscoe Morris 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 Soest dry shade garden 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:

Irrigation is just about set up for the Soest Garden this year so it’s time to start thinking about your watering regimen for your own landscape this summer. While a programmed system like the one we have here is out of most home gardener’s budget, it may be beneficial to look into installing a simple drip irrigation line for your garden. The experts at your local nursery can assist you with this.

Weeds, weeds, weeds! They can appear overnight and if left too long and allowed to seed, you’re in big trouble! Get them out as best as you can and then apply a good mulch to keep those pesky weeds at bay. On parts of the South Slope, we’ve applied a technique using cardboard over a weeded area and then mulching over that. It has been very effective here and even in my own home garden.

Perennials grow robustly at this time of year and with some plants, if you hold them back for a bit, they end up looking even more fabulous come bloom time. I’m talking about the simple process of pinching! In the Soest Garden, the Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ benefits from an early season snip of the tops to encourage branching, thus more flowers come late summer and into fall! The same goes for Chrysanthemums, Asters, Phlox, Monarda, and a few others.

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