Sunday, December 14, 2014
Enriching our Community with Daffodils
On December 07, 2014 the second installation for MODOT’s Growing Together project took place just outside the community of Gerald, MO where approximately 2,500 daffodil bulbs were planted along the highway’s right-of-way.
The daffodil bulbs were donated by Dr. John and Sandy Reed of Oakwood Daffodils of Niles, MI. Sponsors and support came from the Gasconade County Master Gardeners, the Greater St. Louis Daffodil Society, and Gerald’s Boy Scouts’ Master, John Colombo, and three Scouts from his troop.
In total, eighteen energetic volunteers planted the bulbs on a gloomy, cloudy day, only visited by the sun briefly, but the mood of the group was bright.
The Greater St. Louis Daffodil Society’s by-laws require community outreach, and this project provided a perfect opportunity. The Gasconade Master Gardeners, too, have a yearly requirement for community outreach; those attending were able to earn some quality service hours for their effort.
The long-range goal is to fully plant the right-of-way to greet travelers with drifts of spring-flowering daffodils as they enter the community of Gerald.
Initially, the daffodil flowering will appear sparse, but as the bulbs settle in they will greatly increase.
The growth habit of daffodils requires a delayed mowing of this area, to enable the daffodil’s leaves to fully mature; by doing so, the bulbs will produce enough energy to form the next season’s flowers. Mowing should be delayed until after June 25 of each year.
Be sure to visit the site next spring, to see all of the color, and each spring thereafter.
By Cindy Haeffner, President, Greater Saint Louis Daffodil Society
Member of Gasconade County Master Gardeners
Friday, November 14, 2014
Planting hope...
Community "Growning Together" site - Spring 2014 |
High School students eager to plant daffodil bulbs. |
Students receiving bulb planting instructions. |
Students are busy planting daffodils at Community beautification site. |
Another set of students at the planting site. |
During the winter, students may soon forget the day spent on that beautiful November day, but come spring, the daffodils blooming will bring them back to that day as a reminder of how easy it is to bring color into their world.
More students digging and planting daffodil bulbs |
By Cindy Haeffner, President, Greater Saint Louis Daffodil Society
Member of Gasconade County Master Gardeners
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Review of - Lilies…Try Em…You’ll Like Em
On November 9th, Lynn Slackman took us on a journey from discovering Lilium at a local Lily Show to appreciating, nurturing, and finally spreading the joy of these beautiful cultivars with other garden and bulb enthusiasts.
Lilium (members of which are true lilies) is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants growing from bulbs, with prominent flowers. They have been around for hundreds of years, growing as far north as the Arctic Circle and as far south as the sub-tropics. There are native species that thrive in the North Eastern and Western portions of the US. Many species are also native to China and the Balkans.
Lilium bulbs are composed of fleshy scales, without a protective outer surface. So they need to be kept fresh and moist. In addition to the basal roots at the base of the bulbs, they also have stem roots. Both root systems supply food and stability to the plant. Lilium flowers are varied in size, shape, and color, but always have 6 tepals (petals & sepals) and 6 anthers. Lilium are never truly dormant, so they need to be treated as a living perennial.
Are Lilium Edible?
Lilium bulbs are starchy and edible as root vegetables, although bulbs of some species may be very bitter. The non-bitter bulbs (L. lancifolium) are grown on a large scale in China as a luxury or health food. Lily flowers are also said to be effective treatment for pulmonary (lungs) affections, and may have some tonic properties.
Are Lilium Toxic?
Asiatic hybrid, Easter, rubrum, Stargazer – all are highly toxic to cats! Even small ingestions (such as 2-3 petals or leaves) – even the pollen or water from the vase – can result in severe, acute kidney failure.
Some Species from our gardens:
Lilium Regale is a trumpet flowered lily, whose flowers form a 'highly scented' umbel at the top of its 4 to 5 foot sturdy stems.
L. pardalinum’ is one of the native California lilies that grow outside of its native environment. It has bright orange-red petals that are splashed with golden leopard spots. Its leaves form a whorl around each stem…similar to the Martagon and American Hybrid lilies.
The Graceful Martagons:
The specific term Martagon is a Turkish word which also means turban or cap. It has a widespread native region that extends from eastern France east through northern Asia to Mongolia and Korea.
Martagons have been cultivated for centuries. L. martagon was used in hybridizing with L. hansonii at the end of the 19th century by Mrs. RO Backhouse of Hereford, England.
Martagons have stem-rooting and they are 4 to 5 feet tall and have a wide range of flower colors; pinks, mauves, scarlet and wine reds as well as white, yellow and orange. The flowers are usually lightly scented, and numerous flowers are borne on each plant...sometimes between 40 to 60 flowers can be found on vigorous plants. Martagon lilies are very cold hardy and flourish as far north as the Arctic Circle.
The Delightful Asiatics:
Asiatic Lilium is by far one of the most popular, easiest to grow, and readily available lilies. They're very hardy, need no staking, and are not particularly fussy about soil, as long as it drains well. Well-drained soil is an absolute must! Asiatics can have Up-facing, Outfacing or Pendant flowers.
The Dependable LA’s:
These hardy and easy to grow hybrids are derived from crossing L. longiflorum (Easter Lily) and the more familiar Asiatics and add a wide splash of color between your Asiatic and Trumpet bloom times. They multiply well, and bulbs left undisturbed for several years can reach a large circumference. LA’s are perfectly at home in the Southern Garden, and also perfectly at home in the cold winter climates with the severe climate zones that thaw slowly in the spring and go directly into summer.
The Lovely Trumpets:
The lovely, trumpet-shaped flowers of this group of Lilies are borne on long, graceful and strong stems. Their intoxicating scent can perfume an entire garden and are often especially night-fragrant. The flowers generally bloom after Asiatic Lilies and before Oriental Lilies.
The Magnificent Oriental Trumpets:
The last group of lilies to bloom in my garden is the magnificent Lilium of Oriental and Trumpet parentage. This hybrid inherited the best traits from both types of lilies. Orientals give them outstanding fragrance and a full range of beautiful color. Trumpets gave them the ability to withstand hot St. Louis summers and add height to the cultivar. The "OT” hybrids thrive in our St. Louis gardens.
Daffodils make great Companions for Lilium...
It turns out that Lilium make good companion bulbs for daffodils. They like the same sort of soil composition, the daffodils act as a camouflage when the Lilium are just emerging from the ground, and they provide gorgeous blooms throughout the summer. So I was pretty happy with these newly found bulb companions.
It starts with the soil…
Lilium like to grow in soil that is filled with organic material and has good drainage. They need oxygen and nutrients in the soil to grow and survive. Adding Turface to the soil will add oxygen, monitor the moisture content, and reduce compaction.
Water for the Lilium…
During the growing season at MBG we add about one inch of water per week to the Lilium in the Bulb Garden. In my own garden I tend to water less than MBG, and do more concentrated watering where l can provide individual amounts of water for each group of Lilium.
Staking Lilium…
Lilies with huge heads of blooms sometimes need staking. Tie the stems naturally and gracefully . . . don’t strangle them!
Digging Lilium...
Lilies will usually thrive for years in the same spot, especially if well cared for. The clumps need to be lifted when many spindly short stems indicate crowding. Carefully pull them apart, and plant them elsewhere. If you must replant in the same spot, replace or reinforce the soil first with additional fertilizer and organic material.
Mulching…
Mulching is one way of conserving moisture in between watering and it keeps the soil cool and loose. (Cool Feet Hot Head!) Mulching also delays soil freezing and allows roots to continue growing longer. It insulates the soil against fluctuating temperatures, delaying the emergence of frost-tender shoots in spring.
Disease Prevention…
Many of the troubles that beset lilies can be prevented by proper planting. Good drainage will forestall bulb rot; Good circulation of air will help eliminate fungus diseases and even infestations for aphids; Proper placement and mulching may prevent frost damage.
The right location for Lilium…
Lilium, like other living cultivars, need the right location. At MBG the Lilium bulbs have been shared with other areas at the garden. As a result, some bulbs have thrived outside of the bulb garden, but fizzled-out in the bulb garden environment. Read about the characteristics of the Lilium you are planting and do your best to meet those requirements.
Try growing Lilium in your garden...
Lilium (members of which are true lilies) is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants growing from bulbs, with prominent flowers. They have been around for hundreds of years, growing as far north as the Arctic Circle and as far south as the sub-tropics. There are native species that thrive in the North Eastern and Western portions of the US. Many species are also native to China and the Balkans.
Lilium bulbs are composed of fleshy scales, without a protective outer surface. So they need to be kept fresh and moist. In addition to the basal roots at the base of the bulbs, they also have stem roots. Both root systems supply food and stability to the plant. Lilium flowers are varied in size, shape, and color, but always have 6 tepals (petals & sepals) and 6 anthers. Lilium are never truly dormant, so they need to be treated as a living perennial.
Are Lilium Edible?
Lilium bulbs are starchy and edible as root vegetables, although bulbs of some species may be very bitter. The non-bitter bulbs (L. lancifolium) are grown on a large scale in China as a luxury or health food. Lily flowers are also said to be effective treatment for pulmonary (lungs) affections, and may have some tonic properties.
Are Lilium Toxic?
Asiatic hybrid, Easter, rubrum, Stargazer – all are highly toxic to cats! Even small ingestions (such as 2-3 petals or leaves) – even the pollen or water from the vase – can result in severe, acute kidney failure.
Some Species from our gardens:
Lilium Regale is a trumpet flowered lily, whose flowers form a 'highly scented' umbel at the top of its 4 to 5 foot sturdy stems.
L. pardalinum’ is one of the native California lilies that grow outside of its native environment. It has bright orange-red petals that are splashed with golden leopard spots. Its leaves form a whorl around each stem…similar to the Martagon and American Hybrid lilies.
The Graceful Martagons:
The specific term Martagon is a Turkish word which also means turban or cap. It has a widespread native region that extends from eastern France east through northern Asia to Mongolia and Korea.
Martagons have been cultivated for centuries. L. martagon was used in hybridizing with L. hansonii at the end of the 19th century by Mrs. RO Backhouse of Hereford, England.
Martagons have stem-rooting and they are 4 to 5 feet tall and have a wide range of flower colors; pinks, mauves, scarlet and wine reds as well as white, yellow and orange. The flowers are usually lightly scented, and numerous flowers are borne on each plant...sometimes between 40 to 60 flowers can be found on vigorous plants. Martagon lilies are very cold hardy and flourish as far north as the Arctic Circle.
The Delightful Asiatics:
Asiatic Lilium is by far one of the most popular, easiest to grow, and readily available lilies. They're very hardy, need no staking, and are not particularly fussy about soil, as long as it drains well. Well-drained soil is an absolute must! Asiatics can have Up-facing, Outfacing or Pendant flowers.
The Dependable LA’s:
These hardy and easy to grow hybrids are derived from crossing L. longiflorum (Easter Lily) and the more familiar Asiatics and add a wide splash of color between your Asiatic and Trumpet bloom times. They multiply well, and bulbs left undisturbed for several years can reach a large circumference. LA’s are perfectly at home in the Southern Garden, and also perfectly at home in the cold winter climates with the severe climate zones that thaw slowly in the spring and go directly into summer.
The Lovely Trumpets:
The lovely, trumpet-shaped flowers of this group of Lilies are borne on long, graceful and strong stems. Their intoxicating scent can perfume an entire garden and are often especially night-fragrant. The flowers generally bloom after Asiatic Lilies and before Oriental Lilies.
The Magnificent Oriental Trumpets:
The last group of lilies to bloom in my garden is the magnificent Lilium of Oriental and Trumpet parentage. This hybrid inherited the best traits from both types of lilies. Orientals give them outstanding fragrance and a full range of beautiful color. Trumpets gave them the ability to withstand hot St. Louis summers and add height to the cultivar. The "OT” hybrids thrive in our St. Louis gardens.
Daffodils make great Companions for Lilium...
It turns out that Lilium make good companion bulbs for daffodils. They like the same sort of soil composition, the daffodils act as a camouflage when the Lilium are just emerging from the ground, and they provide gorgeous blooms throughout the summer. So I was pretty happy with these newly found bulb companions.
It starts with the soil…
Lilium like to grow in soil that is filled with organic material and has good drainage. They need oxygen and nutrients in the soil to grow and survive. Adding Turface to the soil will add oxygen, monitor the moisture content, and reduce compaction.
Water for the Lilium…
During the growing season at MBG we add about one inch of water per week to the Lilium in the Bulb Garden. In my own garden I tend to water less than MBG, and do more concentrated watering where l can provide individual amounts of water for each group of Lilium.
Staking Lilium…
Lilies with huge heads of blooms sometimes need staking. Tie the stems naturally and gracefully . . . don’t strangle them!
Digging Lilium...
Lilies will usually thrive for years in the same spot, especially if well cared for. The clumps need to be lifted when many spindly short stems indicate crowding. Carefully pull them apart, and plant them elsewhere. If you must replant in the same spot, replace or reinforce the soil first with additional fertilizer and organic material.
Mulching…
Mulching is one way of conserving moisture in between watering and it keeps the soil cool and loose. (Cool Feet Hot Head!) Mulching also delays soil freezing and allows roots to continue growing longer. It insulates the soil against fluctuating temperatures, delaying the emergence of frost-tender shoots in spring.
Disease Prevention…
Many of the troubles that beset lilies can be prevented by proper planting. Good drainage will forestall bulb rot; Good circulation of air will help eliminate fungus diseases and even infestations for aphids; Proper placement and mulching may prevent frost damage.
The right location for Lilium…
Lilium, like other living cultivars, need the right location. At MBG the Lilium bulbs have been shared with other areas at the garden. As a result, some bulbs have thrived outside of the bulb garden, but fizzled-out in the bulb garden environment. Read about the characteristics of the Lilium you are planting and do your best to meet those requirements.
Try growing Lilium in your garden...
Monday, July 28, 2014
Review of - Roses in the River City
On July 20th, Dave Gunn, Missouri Botanical Garden’s Rosarian, presented Roses in the River City. Dave enlighten us with information about recent renovations and future plans of MBG’s rose gardens, complications with growing roses in the Midwest, and varieties old and new that will dispel the myth that roses are fussy. This article is a review of this presentation.
Roses have been around for close to 5000 years. They are reliable, bloom from spring to frost, and they are fragrant.
Over the years, people have experienced problems with growing and cultivating roses. Many problems occur because of the following issues;
- Wrong Rose in Wrong Place
- Obsession with showing only “Latest Roses”
- Using too many chemicals
- In the Midwest, we also have hot summers, cold winters, and high humidity to deal with.
What can we do?
- Get the Right Rose for the Right Place
- Use good horticultural practices
- Don’t believe the Hype
Some of the fundamentals for cultivating roses;
- Choose the right location for your rose
- Buy a Healthy plant from a reputable seller
- Use Healthy soil for your plant
- Give your roses adequate water
- Give your roses appropriate nutrients
- Put a bit of work into your rose cultivation
Rose Rosette Disease
This disease is spread by eriophyid mites. Most eriophyid mites make their home on the surface of leaves where their feeding can cause bronzing or reddening but some are also responsible for creating galls on leaves or witches-broom on stems and flower buds.
Adult females overwinter in cracks and crevices of twigs and in bud scales. Females lay eggs in the spring. The young insects that hatch from the eggs resemble the adult. Numerous generations are produced each year. They are primarily spread by wind.
There is no scientific evidence that cutting out the affected area will cure this issue. The best practice is to dig-up and dispose of the affected plant.
Roses Gardens at the Missouri Botanical Garden
The Gladney Rose Garden was overhauled and rebuilt with new healthy rose plants during 2012 and the Lehmann Rose garden was rebuilt during the spring of 2013 using bare root roses. The Lehmann garden now has Species roses in the lower area, Old Garden Roses (pre 1867) in the middle area, and Modern Roses in the Upper area of the garden.
Roses that do well in our area of the country;
William Radler, based in Wisconsin and concentrating on developing “cold hardy” roses
- Knockout Roses, Double Knockout, ‘Carefree Sunshine’, ‘Carefree Celebration’
W. Kordes & Sons (German Hybridizer), their roses are bomb proof, disease resistant, and vigorous
- ‘Rosanna’ climber, ‘Larissa’ floribunda rose, ‘Winter Sun’
Dr. Griffith Buck, based at Iowa State University developed disease resistant and cold hardy roses
- ‘Quietness’, ‘Perlie Mae’, Prairie Harvest’
Meilland International from France created ‘Peace’ in 1945 to commemorate WWII. Their products are sold thru Conard Pyle/ Star Roses in the USA
- Drift series roses ‘Sunshine Daydream’, ‘Peach Drift’ is a groundcover
David Austin, based in England, specializes in old garden roses that are perpetually blooming and hardy like modern roses
- ‘Lady of Shalott’ , ‘Princess Alexandra of Kent’, ‘ Sharifa Asma’, ‘ Strawberry Hill’
Ping Lim, from Bailey’s Nursery with roses known for their superior disease resistance
- ‘Music Box’, ‘Kiss Me’, ‘My Girl’
Other miscellaneous favorite roses are;
- ‘Touch of Class’, ‘Granada’, ‘Queen Elizabeth’, ‘ Louise Odier’, ‘Alba Maxima’, ‘Julie Child’, ‘Petal Pushers’, ‘Chrysler Imperial’, ‘Mister Lincoln’
We also reviewed one of the beautiful Species roses - Rosa setigea, a Climbing Prairie Rose.
Questions addressed;
Rose Amendments;
- Compost, horse manure, and chicken soup for roses (organic minerals)
- Irrigation overhead in the morning so plants dry during the day
- Keep center open to help alleviate black spot. You can also peel leaves with black spot
Pruning Shrub Roses;
- Keep the shrub open and prune from the bottom-up
Use of sustainable methods;
- The garden has stopped using wood mulch and now uses leaf mulch on the rose beds. This method results in less weeds and ability to hold more moisture.
We really appreciate Dave Gunn’s excellent presentation on Roses at our July meeting. His knowledge and expertise will definitely enrich the roses at MOBOT and help them evolve and grow to their former glory.
-by Lynn Slackman
Roses have been around for close to 5000 years. They are reliable, bloom from spring to frost, and they are fragrant.
Over the years, people have experienced problems with growing and cultivating roses. Many problems occur because of the following issues;
- Wrong Rose in Wrong Place
- Obsession with showing only “Latest Roses”
- Using too many chemicals
- In the Midwest, we also have hot summers, cold winters, and high humidity to deal with.
What can we do?
- Get the Right Rose for the Right Place
- Use good horticultural practices
- Don’t believe the Hype
Some of the fundamentals for cultivating roses;
- Choose the right location for your rose
- Buy a Healthy plant from a reputable seller
- Use Healthy soil for your plant
- Give your roses adequate water
- Give your roses appropriate nutrients
- Put a bit of work into your rose cultivation
Rose Rosette Disease
This disease is spread by eriophyid mites. Most eriophyid mites make their home on the surface of leaves where their feeding can cause bronzing or reddening but some are also responsible for creating galls on leaves or witches-broom on stems and flower buds.
Adult females overwinter in cracks and crevices of twigs and in bud scales. Females lay eggs in the spring. The young insects that hatch from the eggs resemble the adult. Numerous generations are produced each year. They are primarily spread by wind.
There is no scientific evidence that cutting out the affected area will cure this issue. The best practice is to dig-up and dispose of the affected plant.
Roses Gardens at the Missouri Botanical Garden
The Gladney Rose Garden was overhauled and rebuilt with new healthy rose plants during 2012 and the Lehmann Rose garden was rebuilt during the spring of 2013 using bare root roses. The Lehmann garden now has Species roses in the lower area, Old Garden Roses (pre 1867) in the middle area, and Modern Roses in the Upper area of the garden.
Roses that do well in our area of the country;
William Radler, based in Wisconsin and concentrating on developing “cold hardy” roses
- Knockout Roses, Double Knockout, ‘Carefree Sunshine’, ‘Carefree Celebration’
W. Kordes & Sons (German Hybridizer), their roses are bomb proof, disease resistant, and vigorous
- ‘Rosanna’ climber, ‘Larissa’ floribunda rose, ‘Winter Sun’
Dr. Griffith Buck, based at Iowa State University developed disease resistant and cold hardy roses
- ‘Quietness’, ‘Perlie Mae’, Prairie Harvest’
Meilland International from France created ‘Peace’ in 1945 to commemorate WWII. Their products are sold thru Conard Pyle/ Star Roses in the USA
- Drift series roses ‘Sunshine Daydream’, ‘Peach Drift’ is a groundcover
David Austin, based in England, specializes in old garden roses that are perpetually blooming and hardy like modern roses
- ‘Lady of Shalott’ , ‘Princess Alexandra of Kent’, ‘ Sharifa Asma’, ‘ Strawberry Hill’
Ping Lim, from Bailey’s Nursery with roses known for their superior disease resistance
- ‘Music Box’, ‘Kiss Me’, ‘My Girl’
Other miscellaneous favorite roses are;
- ‘Touch of Class’, ‘Granada’, ‘Queen Elizabeth’, ‘ Louise Odier’, ‘Alba Maxima’, ‘Julie Child’, ‘Petal Pushers’, ‘Chrysler Imperial’, ‘Mister Lincoln’
We also reviewed one of the beautiful Species roses - Rosa setigea, a Climbing Prairie Rose.
Questions addressed;
Rose Amendments;
- Compost, horse manure, and chicken soup for roses (organic minerals)
- Irrigation overhead in the morning so plants dry during the day
- Keep center open to help alleviate black spot. You can also peel leaves with black spot
Pruning Shrub Roses;
- Keep the shrub open and prune from the bottom-up
Use of sustainable methods;
- The garden has stopped using wood mulch and now uses leaf mulch on the rose beds. This method results in less weeds and ability to hold more moisture.
We really appreciate Dave Gunn’s excellent presentation on Roses at our July meeting. His knowledge and expertise will definitely enrich the roses at MOBOT and help them evolve and grow to their former glory.
-by Lynn Slackman
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Presidents Message - Summer 2014
July 8, 2014
Our beloved daffodil is but a faded memory along with the foliage. One would think that we would be completely done with any thought of daffodils, but contrare. GSLDS’s schedule is just heatin’ up along with the summer. Our upcoming events include our summer meeting with David Gunn, Rosarian of the Missouri Botanical Garden. Although daffodils maybe most of our members favorite, we all covet many other plants including roses. Attend the July 20, 2014 meeting to learn more about roses.
In August, the Haeffner’s will be hosting the 7th GSLDS daffodil bulb cleaning. Yes, we are a group that not only loves to play in dirt, but clean and play with daffodil bulbs. Who doesn’t love to slip the skins of bulbs down to the smooth, caramel color? The cleaning event serves several purposes, the obvious is cleaning and preparing for the upcoming bulb sales of the fall, but also the social aspect, we all enjoy visiting while we work. The carry in lunch is always a culinary delight, members bringing special dishes enjoyed by all! Looking forward to the upcoming months to meet and see each other again.
Cindy Haeffner
President, Greater St Louis Daffodil Society
Our beloved daffodil is but a faded memory along with the foliage. One would think that we would be completely done with any thought of daffodils, but contrare. GSLDS’s schedule is just heatin’ up along with the summer. Our upcoming events include our summer meeting with David Gunn, Rosarian of the Missouri Botanical Garden. Although daffodils maybe most of our members favorite, we all covet many other plants including roses. Attend the July 20, 2014 meeting to learn more about roses.
In August, the Haeffner’s will be hosting the 7th GSLDS daffodil bulb cleaning. Yes, we are a group that not only loves to play in dirt, but clean and play with daffodil bulbs. Who doesn’t love to slip the skins of bulbs down to the smooth, caramel color? The cleaning event serves several purposes, the obvious is cleaning and preparing for the upcoming bulb sales of the fall, but also the social aspect, we all enjoy visiting while we work. The carry in lunch is always a culinary delight, members bringing special dishes enjoyed by all! Looking forward to the upcoming months to meet and see each other again.
Cindy Haeffner
President, Greater St Louis Daffodil Society
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
She turned to the sunlight
She turned to the sunlight
And shook her yellow head,
And whispered to her neighbor:
“Winter is dead.” ---A.A. Milne
And shook her yellow head,
And whispered to her neighbor:
“Winter is dead.” ---A.A. Milne
By William Cole
Goodbye snow and icy sheen, welcome sunshine and the garden queen.
'Confidential' Daffodil |
Few but the exhibiters were familiar with the hybridization and nurturing of these gorgeous blooms. All we knew is that we wanted to accept William Wordsworth’s invitation to: “Come visit me sometime. My flowers would like to meet you.”
Later, as an apprentice reporter on a weekly newspaper in Hertfordshire – one of what they call the home counties near London -- it was my job to attend these daffodil shows, pick up a list of winners and write a report for the paper. And while routine might best describe my results-heavy accounts, there was nothing unmoving about the blooms that inspired them.
'American Idol' Daffodil |
Former Beatle George Harrison may have startled his American fans when he said, “I’m not really a career person. I’m a gardener basically.” And he proved it by turning the grounds at his country mansion into a masterful showplace.
There are thousands of gardening amateurs like him, me included in a less ambitious way. Though not a particularly knowledgeable gardener, I’ve always had what might be considered run-of-the-mill daffodils on my property. But I became familiar with more elaborate species by spending hours strolling through the parks and gardens that dot the English countryside. I visited the famous Kew Gardens and much later the incredible Missouri Botanical Garden.
'Cedar Hills' Daffodil |
I was so impressed that not long afterwards I joined the society and began my first venture into what for me was the complex world of hybridized daffodils. The society’s Bulb Exchange in the fall propelled me into paying attention to the various divisions and varieties of bulbs and recording and planting the ones I had selected.
How did I arrive at my novice picks? Well, I’ll admit to shamelessly leaning on the phenomenal knowledge and experience of Jason Delaney and David Niswonger. I paid careful attention to Jason’s descriptions of the available bulbs and I parked myself next to Dave during the exchange to observe and to seek advice on the kind of bulbs he would recommend.
'Bald Eagle' Daffodil |
How did I do when spring arrived? Moderately well for a first-timer, I’d say. I got to see blooms from just about all the bulbs I had planted. Though I didn’t have the expertise to judge the blooms’ formations, I knew which ones appealed to me simply by color and beauty.
Several of them produced only one bloom, most notably my Phantoms even though I had plenty of them planted in various areas of my yard. Only three bulbs produced no blooms. They were: Waynes World and Mike Pollack, which would have had yellow petals and orange cups; and the above-mentioned Crackington, which produced buds that never came to fruition, probably frozen by our severe winter.
'Judea' Daffodil |
I bought metal markers from Jason to identify my plants, and Cynthia graciously printed out some waterproof labels to attach to them. I even had a couple of passers-by stop to look at my daffodils and compliment me on my efforts.
'Kareka' Daffodil |
Moreover, I wanted to catalogue my blooms by shooting high-resolution photos of each of them. I often wondered why some members of the society had invested in larger cameras with traditional lenses and viewfinders. Now I know. It’s virtually impossible to properly focus a small digital camera, especially with a bright sun shining on the large panel viewfinder. Such photography, I discovered, is largely guesswork.
Additionally, I failed to check the resolution of the images once they were in my camera. Shots that appeared to be acceptable in the viewfinder appeared horribly out of focus or overexposed once they were enlarged.
However, that kind of painful experience serves to prevent such oversights in the future.
'Menehay' Daffodil |
It’s not hard to understand why daffodils can make poets of all of us.
“O Lovestar of the unbeloved March,” wrote Sir Aubrey de Vere many years ago, marveling at daffodils pushing through the snow.
Lovestar indeed! If only we could gaze upon you all year long.
'Lost in Flora' Daffodil | 'Traveling On' Daffodil |
Daffodils that William selected at the 2014 Bulb Exchange are listed below;
Ida Mae 2W-OOY 1968 |
Merlin 3W-YYR 1956 |
Gunsynd 2Y-OOR 1966 Wm Jackson/Aust. |
MIKE POLLACK 8Y-R |
WILD TURKEY 1Y-R |
CRACKINGTON 4Y-Y |
MARA 9W-YYO 1961 |
JUDEA 2W-P 1968 O’More |
LOST IN FLORA 2W-WPP |
TWILIGHT ZONE 2YYW-WWY |
THREE OAKS 1W-Y |
OREGON PIONEER 2Y-P |
TOM TERRIFIC (INT.) 11aY-O |
SUZY 7Y-O |
SANDY COVE 2Y-GWP |
BALD EAGLE 2W-W |
DYNASTY 2Y-R |
WAYNE’S WORLD 6Y-O |
IVORY GOLD 1W-O |
KAREKA 2W-Y |
QUEEN’S GUARD 1W-Y |
CAROLINA GOLD 2Y-O |
CEDAR HILLS 3W-GYY |
SMOOTH TRUMPET 1W-Y |
KOKOPELLI 7Y-Y |
TRAVELING ON 2YYW-WYO |
AMERICAN IDOL 2W-R |
MENAHAY 11aY-O |
CONFIDENTIAL 2Y-Y |
PHANTOM 11aW-P |
UNCLE REMUS 1Y-O |
Monday, May 12, 2014
2014 Volunteer Dedication Award
Every year the Missouri Botanical Garden honors it's volunteers with a nice reception and awards event. This year the Dedication Award was given to Lynn Slackman, past President of the Greater St Louis Daffodil Society and current Marketing/PR Chairperson for the American Daffodil Society.
The Dedication Award is bestowed to a volunteer who comes in on a regular basis each week and is conscientious about the tasks performed, accepting assignments that are not major undertakings but are essential to the program.
The following write-up was read by Lynn's horticulture supervisors, Sophia Warsh and Sara Murphy, at the awards ceremony;
Lynn volunteers in the North Gardens and is also a Garden Docent. She has been a Garden volunteer for 18 years. In the Bulb Gardens, Lynn has worked specifically on the annual labeling of the Lilium collection. Because of her in-depth knowledge of lilies, she is one of the only volunteers who can assist in this capacity. She has also helped with transplanting lilies and has introduced new techniques for staking lilies and other bulbs. Lynn is thoughtful and inquisitive and has been especially supportive of some of the new collections development projects that demand a lot of prep work before the results are apparent. She is the official Chair for the 2016 World Daffodil Convention that will take place in St. Louis. Lynn's wide-ranging activities make her a great Garden ambassador.
Lynn was surprised and honored to receive this prestigious award, and looks forward to continuing her volunteer efforts at the Missouri Botanical Garden.
The Dedication Award is bestowed to a volunteer who comes in on a regular basis each week and is conscientious about the tasks performed, accepting assignments that are not major undertakings but are essential to the program.
Lynn Slackman with awards vase |
Lynn volunteers in the North Gardens and is also a Garden Docent. She has been a Garden volunteer for 18 years. In the Bulb Gardens, Lynn has worked specifically on the annual labeling of the Lilium collection. Because of her in-depth knowledge of lilies, she is one of the only volunteers who can assist in this capacity. She has also helped with transplanting lilies and has introduced new techniques for staking lilies and other bulbs. Lynn is thoughtful and inquisitive and has been especially supportive of some of the new collections development projects that demand a lot of prep work before the results are apparent. She is the official Chair for the 2016 World Daffodil Convention that will take place in St. Louis. Lynn's wide-ranging activities make her a great Garden ambassador.
Lynn was surprised and honored to receive this prestigious award, and looks forward to continuing her volunteer efforts at the Missouri Botanical Garden.
Friday, May 2, 2014
Collaboration Produces Colorful Palette
Do you sometimes catch yourself wondering, “Would a massed daffodil planting work there?”
I was caught up in this thought several times when departing the parking lot at the Gasconade County RII School, where my Master Gardener classes are held. Directly across from the Owensville High School, on MO Hwy 19 stretches a very nice, slightly sloping right-of-way, which ironically happens to be comprised of very good soil not typically found in Gasconade County. What a perfect location for a mass of daffodils.
Upon contacting the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) to discuss planting this area, I was informed that such a planting met the criteria for a MoDOT Growing Together beautification program. So, I met with our local MoDOT road supervisor to discuss the current mowing practices and schedule, the feasibility of such a planting and where a sign could be placed to recognize the planting, should it occur (currently, MoDOT has a mandatory seasonal mowing of 15ft from the road’s edge by May 31, with the remainder of the right-of-way getting mowed after July 1, to provide the necessary habitat for ground-nesting birds). The delayed mowing area was an ideal location for the planting site, as it would provide the daffodil foliage ample time to mature for next year’s bloom. An application was submitted and eventually approved, the site was planted, and a sign was erected honoring the Greater St. Louis Daffodil Society, the Gasconade County Masters Gardeners Association, and the Owensville High School horticulture classes, each of whom played an integral role in the endeavor.
Fulfilling a community outreach clause in our organization’s by-laws, the Greater St. Louis Daffodil Society provided the bulbs used for the display, procuring them from local Midwest daffodil growers Oakwood Daffodils, in Michigan, and PHS Daffodils, in Missouri. The Gasconade County Master Gardeners Association also has a goal to support the local community through volunteering. The hours earned by planting were eagerly put toward maintaining the Master Gardeners’ required yearly hours. And Ms. Sherry Byrnam’s horticulture classes at the Owensville High School provided much enthusiastic support with students planting and working very efficiently to complete the project (as it turned out, a day out of the classroom to plant daffodils was really a lot of fun!).
Everyone involved enjoyed the project, and the community now reaps the benefits with a colorful palette of springtime daffodils for many years to come.
Bloom results from planting |
For more information on how you can support the roadside planting, please contact the Greater Saint Louis Daffodil Society (www.stldaffodilclub.org) or the Gasconade County Master Gardener’s Association.
This article also appeared in the 2013 Summer Edition of The Daffodil Rave newsletter.
By Cindy Haeffner, President, Greater Saint Louis Daffodil Society
Member of Gasconade County Master Gardeners
Monday, April 21, 2014
Kentucky Daffodil Road Trip
This year we had the opportunity to visit with Tim and Heather Brown, in Wickliffe, KY at their 343 acres of property in 3 tracts on land. Daffodils and other horticultural plants have been planted on all 3 tracts. Most of the daffodils are located on the farm, where Tim and Heather reside, but a decent amount of daffodils are also planted on a second tract close by. Their 3rd tract of land was acquired 2 years ago.
Daffodil plantings are small by comparison, as his property has been mostly landscaped for the use of deer and turkey. In general Tim has planted loads of trees and shrubs for wildlife, including ornamental, as wells as fruit and nut production.
There are 7 fishing ponds on the property along with 4 more ponds, mostly for minnow production. The Brown’s started planting daffodils in the fall of 1999, and stopped counting them once they hit 30,000. They estimate approximately 650 different varieties are planted on the property.
We really appreciate that the Brown's took the time to show us around their carefully planted property that is full of amazing horticultural wonder.
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