This March has come in a little differently than the ones in more recent years -
more like a polar bear than a lion. Nights and even days have been too
cold for happy Peppers
and Tomatoes,
but the winter veggies like
Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Chard, Lettuce, Radishes
etc. are in their glory. Also, plants such as
Lantana, Bougainvillea
and Natal Plum
that got blitzed by the December freeze are making a slow comeback so it's still
best to wait to cut back dead branches. It's a good time to plant new
trees and shrubs even though they may not look too great yet in containers.
Until we get some warmer temperatures many plants will retain the winterized
look.
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SOMETHING FOR THAT
DIFFICULT SPOT |
It's
always a struggle to find a suitable plant to grace that north side of the
house. You know the one - no light in the winter and blasted by sun in the
summer-just the opposite of the ideal plant location. A couple of
less common plants that might work for you include Persian Lilac (Syringa
laciniata)
and Twisted Myrtle
(Myrtus
communis v. Boetica).
Persian Lilac
is not your glorious-flowered eastern kind, but it does produce small
fragrant, lavender colored flowers in the spring. It has small
deeply loved leaves and forms a rather loose, open shaped shrub to 6 ft.
or more tall. Leaves fall in winter. Once established this
plant needs surprisingly little water.
Twisted
Myrtle
is a plant for the person with that leaning toward the exotic. It's
a big squirrelly looking shrub which might be likened to a large bonsai.
In fact, it can be used as a bonsai plant in a container. The
aromatic leaves are dark green. In spring starry white flowers
appear followed by
dark blue fruits.
Myrtle
is native to the Mediterranean area where leaves and berries were used as
spices. This plant needs good drainage and will develop yellow
leaves if overwatered. And, since it's not a perfect world, it will
die in a heartbeat if you miss a summer watering!
We have a
real goody for the native plant buff (or even snob!). It is the much
sought after and rarely offered
Crossosoma
bigelovii.
"Plant me near that naked boulder clump. I don't get huge. I
produce pretty white flowers in very early spring. I don't freeze,
and I'll bet your neighbor doesn't have me! And of course I'm
drought tolerant."
 Attention
"herbies". We know you're out there and just itching to try some
different Thymes
and Oreganos
in your garden or on that sunny window sill. We have a few different
varieties in 3" pots for your perusal.
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