Some flowers get no respect
Like Rodney Dangerfeld, there are certain flowers that get no
respect. Since
”
ordinary
”
is not treasured in the garden, we see that particular flower
grower as lacking in imagination. And then walk along to admire the
prize-winning roses or elegent lilies in the next yard.
Some flowers get no respect
Like Rodney Dangerfeld, there are certain flowers that get no respect. Since “ordinary” is not treasured in the garden, we see that particular flower grower as lacking in imagination. And then walk along to admire the prize-winning roses or elegent lilies in the next yard.
Whoa! Back up a little bit. Take another look. There is no such thing as boring in the flower garden. And ordinary, just like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. Consider these ordinary flowers that have their surprising side:
– Oleander: This is a Mediterrean native that brings color to the summer garden, and it is found everywhere. Over the years CalTrans has used it extensively as a freeway planting because it requires little care once established. Actually oleander was once a basic landscape shrub throughout the region that has now fallen out of favor.
Oleander looks very good as a living fence or privacy screen because the bush grows tall and wide – around 12 feet high and 4-6 feet wide. It looks pretty, too, with flowers in shades of white, pink or red.
So, what went wrong with oleander? Why is it out of favor? Blame the glassy-winged sharpshooter, which has caused the spread of a bacterial disease called leaf scorch. Many oleanders have died. Yet, we still see oleander planted and/or maintained in landscapes throughout the area. If you are going to plant oleander, be aware that it is risky. And, yet, it sure is pretty.
– Freeway daisies: A couple of flowering groundcovers are lumped together under the casual term “freeway daisies.” Actually, there is no such plant officially named freeway daisy. The term comes from CalTrans’ use of these hardy flowering groundcovers to landscape highways.
Gazania is the most recognized of these groundcovers. Gazania is a perennial with daisy-like flowers in gold, white, pink or orange. Trailing gazania works on slopes and open spaces, where it can spread out, while clumping gazania is used to fill in between shrubs and trees.
Another is osteospermum, also known as trailing African daisy. a perennial that is also drought tolerant. The flowers are lilac, fading to white, and is a good candidate for slopes and open spaces.
The trailing varieties of these groundcovers can become invasive and need to be trimmed back once in a while. Their selling points are that they need little or no watering, bloom over a long time, and fill in open spaces and anchor slopes.
– Geraniums: The thing that makes a common geranium seem ordinary is that it will last for years, and will endure every season with new growth and more flowers. But there are many surprises among the geranium family, also known as Pelargoniums.
Lady Washington and Martha Washington are two types of geraniums that produce showy, blotchy flowers in shades of red, pink, purple and white. My mother had one that grew in the same pot for 40 years before my brother hauled it off to Castro Valley and killed it in one season.
Common geranium, also sold as Zonal geranium, develops single or double flowers in a wide range of colors from white to red, lavender, pink and orange. This type of geranium is easily propagated from soft stem cuttings in early spring. They are available in 4-inch pots and larger sizes in garden centers through summer.
Scented geraniums are a little harder to find. Their importance rests not with their flowers but with the scented leaves such as apple, cinnamon, lime, peppermint or rose. If you come across an offering of scented geraniums, buy ones of each. Put them in pots near an entrance. Each time you walk by, gently rub the leaves and enjoy the scents.
There are some other flowers that are ordinary to the point of being invasive because they reseed themselves. . These include four o’clock, morning glory, cosmos and nasturtium. Sow the seeds, enjoy the flowers, but watch carefully that they do not take over the flower beds.
A Reader Wants to Know: It’s easy to tell when red tomatoes are ripe. But what about the heirloom tomato Green Zebra. How can I tell when a green tomato is ripe?
Joan Says: The tasty Green Zebra tomato is ripe just as the green fruit develops a yellow blush, accentuating the darker green stripes.
Plant a Row for the Hungry: Now that vegetable gardens are finally producing. the Community Pantry has seen the arrival of its first batch of zucchini. Plant a Row for the Hungry gardeners have shared so far this year 752 pounds of garden produce to help those in the community who need it most.
“This fresh produce goes into the brown bags we distribute each week in the community, and it is greatly appreciated to round out table fare,” says Mary Anne Hughes, Pantry director.
If you have fruit and vegetables to share, the Pantry is located at 30 Airport Ave., Hollister.
