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Today as I am writing this column, it is 70 here in my yard and the weather,
though a bit chilly at night, has really been gorgeous. Sometimes I think it is
quite unfair to live in such a yummy gardening climate when other states have
horrible weather problems. Aahhh, no I don't!
It might get cold again so watch the weather report.
 Hope
some of you made it to the SF Flower and Garden Show at the Cow Palace.
What spectacular gardens, garden jewelry, along with
great free lectures and some wonderful floral designs from California Garden
Clubs right there in the entrance, including two of yours truly. One of my
favorite booths was California Horticultural Society's Hot Plant Picks for
2008. See photos and info about them at http://www.calhortsociety.org.
Some of you may want to know where I get my information for the garden
column. Along with my own 40+ years experience of many different gardens in
Sacramento (three years), Brazil (two years), San Francisco (12 years), South San Francisco (14 years), and
currently San Mateo (13 years), and growing up with my father's gardening
experience, I get ideas everywhere. I receive the local nursery and garden
center's monthly handouts, have saved all of the past gardening columns from the
San Mateo Times, go to lectures whenever possible, read Sunset, Garden Gate, Fine
Gardening and love searching the web.
I have my father's gardening log where he kept track month-to-month what to do. Believe me, I am not that organized. I no
longer run a plant hospital and nurse those sick ones back to health, or try to
save my friends' castaways; what lives with us better not like a lot of water or
babying. Also, since I am a flower show judge, judging horticulture, cut flowers
and floral designs, I do get to see well-grown plants for our Bay
Area. Belonging to local and state garden clubs also gets you in touch
with fellow gardeners and they generously give away cuts and starts of unusual
plant material.
April is a great planting time, especially geraniums and pelargoniums (try
some of the scented ones), campanulas, iberis (candytuft), penstemon, phlox,
delphinium, hellebores (I saw some gorgeous ones at the garden show), asters,
including Michaelmas Daisy, coreopsis, armeria, aquilegia, (columbine), achillea
(yarrow), geum, althaea (hollyhocks), chrysanthemum (marguerites), artemisia
(Dusty Miller), bergenias, and salvias (Mexican sage and other sages), my
personal favorites.
Now is the time to plant those summer bulbs such as
gladioli, watsonias (if you have the room), agapanthus (Queen of the Nile),
anemones, cannas, callas (try the green goddess variety), dahlias (tubers), and
ranunculus (rhizomes).
Divide the older perennials already in your garden. It is surprising
how quickly your garden can be transformed simply by deadheading and
getting rid of the dead branches, plants, leaves and twigs. I have managed to
work a few days for a few hours each time and it is amazing the
difference it can make in the garden and also in my disposition. This
is
also a great time to pinch out tips of shrubs and plants to make them more
shapely and bushy. Many things do bloom on their end tips, so know your plants
before pruning. Plant frost tender tropicals including strelizias (bird of
paradise), citrus, hibiscus, lantana, hydrangea, and protea; try leucodendrons
for beautiful rewarding plants as they are drought tolerant.
Some of my favorite plants in my garden right now are succulents (in bloom),
green goddess callas, bird of paradise, leucodendrons, alstromerias (just
getting ready to flower), pelargoniums, both scented and zonals, citrus (I
recently bought a Rangapour lime), New Zealand flax, salvias, hebe, gardenias,
iris, daffodils, kangaroo paws, black bamboo, cymbidiums, loropetalum and
lavender.
If you are short on space in your garden as I am and love roses, try some
of the miniature rose introductions mentioned in the San Mateo County Rose
Society's newsletter, The Rose Digest. Some names to look for are Amber Sunset,
Carolina Lady, Best Friends, Gala, Halo Sweetie, Hilde, Michael Cholet, Mini
Tango, Montana, Orange Parfait, Petite Perfection, Ruby Ruby Baby, Sweet
Caroline, Sweet Diana, Y2K, Merlot, Jilly Jewel and Ralph Moore.
You may ask me questions at
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Mary, Mary, just so you don't get deleted!.
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