Marietta Educational Garden Center

I went to the Marietta Educational Garden Center to attend one of the gardening workshops there. The title of the talk was Gardening 101 given by Mickey Gazaway.  She’s a plant expert from Pike Nurseries and is really knowledgeable as well as entertaining. 

Photo Credit: CK Worley

Here are some of the things I learned tonight.

When looking for a fertilizer remember that the first number = nitrogen. The second = phosphorus. The last = potassium.  Which fertilizer do you use and how much?  Mickey said that the easiest way  was to remember- up, down and all around.  Generally a higher Nitrogen level is for plants that grow up. Higher phosphorus levels are for roots (fruits and flowers) and Potassium is for all around growth.

She doesn’t like tree spikes much because most of the roots that absorb the nutrition are near the surface of the tree.  It’s best to spread fertilizer around the tree instead.

Mickey told us that Encore Azaleas grow best in full sun. That explains why some haven’t done as well as the other Azaleas I have around the yard.  I may have to move a few from the front of the house to the sunnier back yard. 

She introduced us to a very fragrant plant called Maid in the Shade - (Aureo Marginata)
that is perfect for a shade garden. It has a nice white and purple flower.  She says that Walter Reeves told her that the plant smells like the prettiest girl in 6th grade.  After giving it a whiff I could see where he would come up with that image.  Very pretty plant.

Photo Credit: CK Worley

I loved her talk, and now look forward to explaining the use of essential oils as the next speaker at the next Gardening Workshop on March 10th, 2015 from 7-9 PM at the Marietta Educational  Gardening Center.  This lecture is FREE and open to the public.  Bring a friend!

Pre-registration is required as seating is limited to 70. To reserve your seat(s) please e-mail the Marietta Educational Garden Center at mgardenc@bellsouth.net or call Kimberly Drye at 770-427-3494. 

I hope to see you there!

Fall Plants- Compact Strawberry Bush, Snow N Jasmine, Encore Azaleas and more.

I thought I’d show you my fall plantings. We planted all around the property fence line.

First up is the Snow N Summer Jasmine. It’s a ground-cover, is an evergreen and flowers white. It grows about 5 inches tall and spreads about 3 feet out. I’m told it has a nice fragrance so I'm excited about that.

Further down in it's own little corner we planted an Emerald Blueberry. This is supposed to get 18 to 24 inches high and should bear fruit next July. Again, I’ll let you know.

Next is an Orange Rocket Barberry. I quickly found out that this plant has thorns when I grabbed the first one and pulled it out of the pot! It’s deciduous (the leaves fall off the plant in the winter) and will grow about 4 feet tall. This is perfect because I don’t want the holly plants which are behind the Barberry to be hidden from view. It will give a nice step effect. The leaves start out coral orange in the spring, turn green in the summer and ruby red in autumn. These are deer resistant plants so if you have problems with deer you may want to try planting it.

Encore azaleas in red and white are planted in front of the others along the driveway. I think we planted 8 of these.

Purple Diamond Compact Loropetalum. These are evergreen and are deer resistant as well. This shrub gets pretty pink flowers in the spring and the deep purple foliage lasts all season long.

Lastly and the most exciting plant for me is this Compact Strawberry Bush. Starts out with white flowers followed by red and yellow strawberry like fruit. (If you look closely you can see the berries starting to form). This is a drought tolerant plant and can be used as a single plant like this one or as a hedge. It’s an evergreen. It will attract hummingbirds and butterflies. This blooms fall through late winter. And, if your dogs like berries as much as mine do, they aren't poisonous. That was my number one concern.


That’s it for the fall. I can’t wait to see all this grow up and fill out. What have you planted lately?

Spring at Setters Run

Just walking around the property and decided to share some of the colors of spring here at Setters Run. Hope you enjoy the pictures.

Bank of Azaleas~

Apple tree branch~

Orange Trumpet Creeper~

White Tulips and Blue Muscari~

Last of the Camellia~

The chives are in bloom~

Rhododendron

Lollipop Daisy

My front yard

People often tell me that they don’t know what to plant, so I will share with you what I just planted in my front yard. This may inspire or encourage you to plant some of these on your own. Will Goodman helped me out with most of these selections. It’s always good to work with a friend.

photo credit: CK Worley

First is Encore Azaleas in Autumn Monarch (orange/pink blooms with red freckles). Encore Azaleas bloom in spring, summer and fall. The average height is five feet and the average width is four feet--plants this size will fill up a space pretty quickly. We use Holly Tone fertilizer on all of our azaleas.

photo credit: CK Worley

Next is Rose Creek Abelia which is another flowering shrub. It will grow about three feet tall by three feet wide and have little white flowers with small pink leaves at the bases. This makes for a really funky and cool look. The pink leaves stay long after the flowers have gone. It's a nectar source for butterflies as well!

photo credit: CK Worley

David Viburnum has glossy dark green leaves and white spring flowers followed by crazy turquoise blue berries. Another three foot by three foot shrub, it grows great alongside the Azaleas. Remember that plants of both sexes are required for berry production just like the Aucuba. And just like our Aucuba, we use Holly Tone.

photo credit: CK Worley

Bugleweed Chocolate Chip has little blue flowers that attract hummingbirds. This plant will spread wide and will only grow three to six inches high. Bugleweed is really pretty when planted with Hosta.

photo credit: CK Worley

Around all of this, I planted Yellow Day Lilies, White Irises and Pink Beauty Caladiums. Caladiums are related to elephant ears, something I didn’t realize until my friend Jenny pointed it out. They will have to be dug up before the first frost or they will die (all the other plants are perennials).

Okay, so I hope this helps you. I think it’s cool to find new plants and mix it up. Make sure you are buying for your zone and sun requirements. Relax and have fun!

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