Some Summer Winners

Once again Madison missed an opportunity to get that blessed rain we so badly need.  The perfect hurricane -- if there is such a thing -- entered the Gulf, did not do horrific damage, moved its way up into Georgia with lots of rain to share.  But not with us!  Oh well, there are still several months of hurricane opportunities to come.

On this otherwise rainy day I thought I'd share some sunshine with you through some pictures of containers from the past years.  All with the "tough as nails" plants that I like to use.

The plants in this photo are two of my favorites.  Coleus 'Redhead' and Supertunia Vista 'Bubblegum'.  In a normal year, not one like this overheated disaster, Redhead will keep its color, not go to seed quickly and not bolt.  This year it did hold its color well but struggled with too much heat and not enough water, wilting frequently.  A daily watering would have kept it handsome.

The perfect combo for a shady area.  Caldiums, Dragon Wing Begonias and Torenia.  It must be said though that the begonia will outsize everyone else by the end of the season if it isn't kept in check.  But that is so easy to do and it doesn't show stubby stems when nipped back.  If I were to do this arrangement again, I might consider putting the begonia in the middle with the caldiums around it with torenia as fill-ins between them.  There is a container now near the Courthouse with these plants and it has done very well all summer -- no wilt and continuous blooms.

Perky is probably the best word for this arrangement.  Purple Angelonia with Vinca Cora Punch. The middle plant is a rosemary that doesn't add any color but gives a stable centerpiece.  This year's plants have done well against the heat -- a continuous bloom and finally given their Monday drink, reviving themselves after a long weekend without water.  The vinca does need to be clipped back regularly or it will sprawl and not maintain its upright behavior.  Again, easy to do and with no sign of the haircut. While the angelonia doesn't need clipping, randomly nipping out the spent flower heads will encourage more blooms.

Hopefully, these cooler day and the light rain we did get will revive the containers -- giving them enough hope to keep on going until the fall/winter plants can be installed.  I know I'm looking forward to the change.  Hopefully you enjoy this pleasant change in the weather.  A cup of tea and a gardening magazine await me as I plan for the fall colors to come.

Sunpatiens Disappointment

The summer season for the containers is almost over and for some of them it is none too soon.  I won't be doing the change outs until the second week of October so there is still time for the cool weather to help the plants restore their energy and maybe put out another burst of blooms, but I wanted to start telling you how the plants fared.  

In the next few postings I'll share the successes and failures but I can safely say that no amount of cooler weather is going to help the Sunpatiens.  What a disappointment they have been....and a constant worry all summer.

A lot of you are probably saying I was crazy to even use them but the grower raved about them and I was excited to try something different.  But an impatiens is an impatiens no matter what other name you want to call it....they hate the heat and love water, lots of it.  I tried three different colors:  white, coral and fuschia.   The white one had the most shade during the day and did the worst -- constantly drooping.  The coral and fuschia were in all day sun and while the fuschia did droop when regular watering was missed, the coral never showed stress like the others.

That said, none of them ever got to the full size quoted -- 2 feet by 2 feet.  And they were given regular doses of fertilizer.  Admittedly, the white was sharing a container with an aggressive coleus but it did have its chance to win the race early. 

 So where is the Sunpatiens?  Between the coleus and the sweet potato vine -- hiding -- as well it should, pitiful thing.

But thank goodness for the assertive coleus and the aggressive vine -- they made this container in front of Perk coffee shop look down right impressive.

The vinca is hanging in there, trying to make a showing but it was no match for the other two. 















The container with the fuschia Sunpatiens lost one of the three original plants to a fungus a couple weeks ago so it really looks sad -- so sad that I didn't have the heart to take a picture.  Guess I should just to remind me of what NOT to plant next year.

This coral Sunpatiens planted with purple Homestead verbena did pretty well all summer but they have both stopped blooming so it is nothing to write home about either.

 

 

Lesson learned -- don't even think about planting something in these containers that is a water hog. 

 

On a positive note, the containers with caladiums and dragon wing begonias are strutting their stuff and would keep on going right up to the first hard frost if I could let them stay.  I'll write about them in the next posting, but check the real thing on the streets.  The map in the tab at the top of the blog will help you find out where they are -- love that map. 





Great Ferns With Fun Names

My all time favorite perennial fern to use in a container or in the ground is Autumn Fern -- it's evergreen, tough, and adds so much to a finished arrangement.  But I do like to mix it up a little and use something different when I need a "lacy" look and that's when I go to my favorite annual fern Blue Crisp. 

Blue Crisp Fern - Polypodium aureum

Dusty blue fronds reaching 15-20 inches

Zones 10-11
Use as an annual in the garden and containers
Move indoors and provide bright light and even moisture










It is combined with Heucherella Golden Zebra and Lysimachia Persian Chocolate (and out of sight is also a Caladium "Moonlight") in this container on the corner of Main and Washington.   Because of its height it is also providing the linear aspect I needed in this arrangement. 

Blue Crisp is a tough plant and has been handling our minimal watering routine -- it is in a shady location so that helps -- but it does prefer to be kept moist.  I'd like to think that the moisture beads I put in the containers is helping here.  

A new fern for me this year is Kangaroo Fern (Microsorum pustulatum).  Looks very similar to Blue Crisp in leaf shape but it is much darker and shiney where Blue Crisp has a dusty appearance.  I combined it with Dragon Wing Begonia and Caladium "White Queen" in the container on Main and Washington near Ye Olde Colonnial.  It is still living but you would have to dig into the center of the pot to find it since it could not keep up with the aggressive begonia.  Another one is planted in the Welcome Center garden and doing very well by itself.  I'll use this fern again but be mindful to pair it with either smaller plants or slower growers. 

Kangaroo Fern can grow to be at least 2 feet by 3 feet but I'm not seeing that much growth in either the pot or in the ground and they are getting regular fertilizer.  This one would definitely make a great indoor plant and I'll give them a try this year to see if I can overwinter them.  Maybe with some size on them I'll be able to use them in containers where they are the star. 

I have not seen Kanagroo Fern readily available at nurseries but Blue Crisp does show up early in the season.  But because it is so unique it is quickly bought up by eager customers so if you are interested in using it next year, get there early.  It would also be a good idea to take the botanical name with you because I'm not sure that the nursery staff will recognize it by its common name.   Since most nurseries plan their buying way in advance of the season it might not be a bad idea to tell them now that you are interested.  

   

Kong Coleus - A True King Among Coleus

Kong Coleus stands out alone in the large field of coleus.  Everything about it is big -- the stems, the leaves, the colors.  Kong Rose is part of the Madison Container collection and you can find it on the corner of Main and Washington (near Merritt Law Offices), and in the Welcome Center Garden.  The container is getting morning sun but then goes into full shade, which Kong really likes best to maintain its bright colors.  Too much sun and the color fades then the leaf scorches.  Not a pretty sight, so keep it where it is happy and be sure to give it plenty to drink.  This is a big boy so it needs the moisture.  That said, be sure the soil has good drainage because it doesn't like to sit in soggy stuff either.  


Kong Rose Coleus

18-22" tall x 12-18" wide
8-10" wide leaves
Full to light shade - some morning sun

Pinch flower heads as they appear
Fertilize monthly with a liquid solution



This Kong is paired with Dragon Wing Begonia and Autumn Fern.  The flowers of the begonia echoing the rose color of the coleus; and the lacey foliage of the fern being repeated in the markings on the coleus leaves.



Kong Coleus come in a range of colors - most often with the bright green outer edges and rose, red, scarlet or pink in the center, but you'll find some that are light green on green and also a mosaic coloration.  I've seen them sold at the box stores but like so many of the good plants, you can find this one at Thomas Orchards & Greenhouse in Bishop, Ga.