A Spring Walk Around Pandapas Pond

 Pandapas Pond is a lovely "day-use" area near Blacksburg, VA located in the mountains within Jefferson National Forest. The pond itself covers about 8 acres. An easy-access trail goes around it. Other trails nearby provide opportunities for hiking, mountain biking and horse-back riding. I like to visit a few times each year to enjoy whatever plants catch my eye. My most recent stroll around the pond revealed these little delights.

Alliaria petiolata

Alliaria petiolata is also known as Garlic mustard, Poor man's mustard, and Sauce-alone. It's native to much of Europe and Asia, and has become well-established throughout most of the Eastern United States, parts of the Mid-West and Northwest. As you might expect, it's in the mustard family and it smells like garlic, so it has been used for culinary purposes for centuries. I've never eaten it myself, but think I'll try some next time I get a chance. It's so widespread, I'm sure no one will much care if you harvest some along the highways and byways. Be sure to give it a good wash before cooking.

Anemone quinquefolia

Wood Anemone (Anemone quinquefolia) is a delightful little thing, as all spring flowers are. It's not particularly showy, but I love seeing it peek through the leaf litter. It has been used as an application to stimulate the skin in cases of rheumatism and gout, and its juice has been used to remove warts and corns. It's acrid and will give you a mighty tummy ache if ingested.

Antennaria plantagifinifolia

Its name is bigger than the plant itself. Antennaria is derived from the appearance of the male flowers to insect antennae. Common names include Pussytoes and Woman's Tobacco. The rounded, club-like flowers together do remind one of a cat's foot. I've wondered about the other name, Woman's Tobacco. The little leaves seem to be too small to bother smoking, but another species - Antennaria dioica - has been used to relieve lung disorders, so that might be the association. You'll find it growing in dry, rocky soil in full sun.

Arctium minus

Arctium minus - Common Burdock or Lesser Burdock - is related to a Chinese species that is well-known for its medicinal properties. Most notably, it is detoxifying. This one has similar uses. It's said to be good for just about everything imaginable - antibacterial, antifungal, relieves gas, cures skin diseases, relieves burns and bruises, ringworms and insect bites. As with any herbal remedies, caution is advised. I've known of the leaves being eaten as cooked greens and the roots being brewed as a coffee substitute. But in my opinion, there is no substitute for real coffee.

Chimaphila maculata

Call it Spotted Pipsissewa, Spotted Wintergreen or Striped Wintergreen. I did not take this photo during my recent visit, but included it so you can see the flowers. It blooms later in summer. The plant also has multiple uses in the herbalist's medicine cabinet. It's said to reduce pain, combat bacteria, be styptic, increase perspiration, cleanse the kidneys, reduce fever, stimulate the skin, stimulate the metabolism and generally improve health. When I was a child, my dad always pointed it out to me, "That's for the kidneys." Some folks like to chew the fresh leaves for their fresh, wintergreen flavor.

Gaultheria procumbens

This is honest-to-goodness Wintergreen. Crush the leaves and sniff them. Hmmm. Good! My children and grandchildren are treated to a whiff every time I get the chance. (Someone should invent a "scratch and sniff" app.) The chemical methyl salicylate has the property of aspirin, so provides pain relief. Of course, there have been many other medicinal uses. I'll never forget the time my college roommate and I collected leaves, brewed them into a tea and enjoyed several cups. Then I read that copious amounts could cause vomiting, liver or kidney damage. Oops!

Goodyera pubescens

Also known as Rattlesnake Plantain, Goodyera is a delightful little orchid. Tea made from the roots is supposed to be a treatment for snakebites. In case of emergency, I'd call 9-1-1, instead. But I suppose if you were a pioneer of yesteryear, you'd rush home and brew up a few cups...if you made it back in time. The tea is also supposed to be analgesic, treat colds and kidney ailments.

Polygaloides paucifolia

It looks like an orchid, but it's not. Also known as Gaywings and Flowering Wintergreen. This is a nice little surprise to come upon among leaf litter in hardwood forests. 

Stellaria pubera

Star Chickweed is its common name. You can't miss it. This little perennial in the carnation family is in bloom almost year-around.  It's found throughout the eastern U.S. from Vermont to Florida, and even into Wisconsin. I don't know that it's useful for anything other than a subject for photography. I like it.

Tussilago farfara

Also known as Coltsfoot. See the leaf? It has been widely used in herbal medicine, especially for pulmonary problems, but can have toxic effects on the liver if ingested. My dad pointed it out whenever we chanced upon it. You'll find it in ditches and damp soil in the eastern half of the continent from Canada to Virginia and Tennessee.

Viola pedata

Viola sororia

Finally, there are the violets. V. sororia is the most common. You'll find it in moist soil, in partial shade to full sun. You might find it even in your lawn. Leaves and flowers can be eaten raw or cooked.

V. pedata - Bird's foot violet - is my favorite, by far. You'll find it in dry, rocky soil. I found it this time in the company of the Antennaria mentioned above. It has been used as a poultice applied to the brow for headaches. You can cook the young leaves, and candy the flowers.

In "the language of flowers", violets are symbols of modest admiration. If you receive a bouquet of violets, you're invited to take a chance on love.

I must note that all mention above of medicinal use is given as information in a historical context. It is not an invitation for you to treat yourself. All medicinal uses should be taken by direction of a physician. 

Well, those are the highlights of my little April stroll around Pandapas Pond. If you're in the area, be sure to visit. 

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Anemones - Tears of Aphrodite

"Anemone" translated from Greek, means "wind", for it was believed that spring winds caused them to bloom. Just as the winds caused them to bloom, so the zephyrs blew fragile petals away.

Anemones are native to the Mediterranean region where winters are warm and summers are dry. There they have a rich heritage in legend and history. Two species are widely available: A. blanda, and A. coronaria.

Aphrodite's Tears

Grecian Wind Flower

Anemone blanda is known as Grecian Wind Flower. According to legend, the flowers sprang from the tears of Aphrodite as she mourned the death of Adonis. The name evokes romantic scenes of ancient temples, and rocky hills swept by Mediterranean breezes. Certainly, the scene gives a clue to its preferred habitat.

The name, blanda, does not mean "boring", as our contemporary parlance suggests. Blanda means "pleasant" or "mild." It is pleasant, indeed!

A. blanda is reliably hardy in USDA climate zones 6 through 8. Full sun to partial shade is best; morning sun to light shade throughout the day in southern regions. Well-drained soil is essential. The plant naturalizes readily to spread a spring-time carpet of light blue, pink or white daisy-like flowers on 6" to 8" stems. The fern-like foliage is also quite attractive. In addition to naturalizing, Anemone blanda is desirable for bulb and rock gardens, perennial borders, container and patio gardens.

 

Spanish Marigold

Poppy Anemone

Anemone coronaria is known as Poppy Anemone, Spanish Marigold, and Florist's Anemone. The flower shape and size is very much like that of a poppy. The name, coronaria, refers to the wreath-like appearance of the stamens.

There are two groups of Poppy Anemone widely available: De Caen and St. Brigid.

De Caen anemones produce flowers in bright shades of red, white, blue and pink. They are so-named because they were typically cultivated in the De Caen region of France.

St. Brigid anemones produce double-petal flowers in the same shades. That name was given because they were cultivated in Ireland, and St. Brigid is one of Ireland's patron saints.

A. coronaria is not as cold-tolerant as A. blanda, being reliably hardy in USDA climate zones 8 through 10. However, it tolerates heat much better. Sun exposure and soil moisture requirements for A. coronaria are the same as for A. blanda. These are excellent for bulb gardens, perennial borders, container and patio gardens. They're excellent for cut flower arrangements, too.

Planting and Growing Tips

Though anemones prefer warm climates, they can be enjoyed by gardeners in cooler regions. Planting season for southern gardeners is in the fall. Planting season for northern gardeners is in the spring. Logically, they are commercially available both times of year. The best selection is usually in the fall.

When you receive them, the tubers will be shriveled and dry. That's normal. Simply soak them over-night in water at room temperature before planting. Don't skip this step!

The planting site should be well-drained and in full sun to partial shade.

Plant the tubers 6" to 10" apart in the garden and 1" to 3" deep, depending upon the size. Sometimes it's difficult to tell which side is up. Don't worry about it, they will re-orient themselves.

Water thoroughly but gently, taking care not to wash the bulbs to the surface. If planted in the fall, the roots will develop throughout the cool months and flowers will appear in spring. If planted in the spring, the flowers will appear.

Water as needed to maintain slightly moist soil during spring and fall. Anemones are drought-tolerant during summer.

Flowering lasts about four weeks. When blooming is completed, let the foliage remain to build food reserves for next year. Foliage may be removed when it yellows and dies back. Take care to leave the bulbs undisturbed. After a few months of dormancy, they will begin another growth cycle.

If you are one of those who tries to stretch the limits of where a plant might be grown successfully, know that Anemone coronaria (De Caen and St. Brigid) benefit from a covering of mulch in USDA climate zones 7 & 8. Anemone blanda benefit from a covering of mulch in USDA climate zones 3 & 4. If you don't want to risk losing them during your cold winters, lift them after the foliage has fallen, then dry and store them over winter.

Container Gardening Tips

As mentioned before, anemones do well in pots and patio gardens. Choose containers with adequate drainage. To improve drainage, place 1" or 2" of polystyrene packing "peanuts" in the bottom of the container. Fill the container with good quality potting soil. Position containers where they will receive full sun to partial shade.

Plant the tubers 2" to 3" apart in the pots. This is much closer than if planting in the garden. Again, it is not necessary to consider which side is supposed to be up. After planting, water well, thoroughly and gently soaking the soil.

When blooming is completed, let the foliage remain to build food reserves. Leaves may be removed when they turn brown and dry. Take care to leave the tubers undisturbed in the pots. After a few months of dormancy, they will begin another growth cycle.

If the containers are kept in an area where cold weather is excessive (USDA climate zones 7 & 8 for A. coronaria, or zones 3 & 4 for A. blanda), they should be moved to where they can be protected.

If you've never grown anemones before, you should do so. Their beauty and historic legacy will lend color and interest to your gardening experience.

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What plants do you recommend for cut flowers?

Dahlias and gladiolus in a cutting garden

Q. What plants do you recommend growing for cut flowers? I need something easy to grow, and I want to plant in spring.

A. Depending on your climate zone, try the following bulbs and perennials are recommended for cut flowers:

Anenomes - A. coronaria De Caen and St. Brigid are best.

Caladiums - While they're not grown for flowers, the long-lasting foliage works well in some arrangements.

Callas - These belong to the genus Zantedeschia. The waxy-looking, long-lasting flowers are very elegant.

Dahlias - Dahlias dominate. For inspiration, visit a nearby dahlia society show. They are usually held in September.

Gladiolus - Plant them after danger of frost is past. For a longer season, plant a few corms each week for several weeks.

Ixia - Sometimes called corn lilies, they are excellent for exhuberant country-style arrangements.

Liatris - They are available in blue shades to white, and have a feathery appearance.

Lilies - I'm referring to true lilies in the genus Lilium. There are lots of plants called "lilies", but not all are. For my money, the longer stemmed varieties are the best. The short-stemmed lilies are great for container growing.

Polianthes - The familiar tuberose lends a sumptuous fragrance to elegant arrangements.

Ranunculus - Ranunculus are exceptional in cut flower arrangements.

Many perennials are noteworthy for cutting, including the following:

Achillea - Commonly called Yarrow, the long-stemmed varieties are excellent for fresh and dried arrangements.

Convallaria or Lily-of-the-Valley - Just a few in a small vase are perfect for an intimate table setting.

Coreopsis - The long-stemmed varieties are best.

Daisies - Look for Leucanthemum.

Echinacea - Cone flowers are fine for fresh arrangements, but it doesn't end there. The dried seed heads sans petals are perfect for drying.

Ferns - While there are several species of ferns that will do, evergreen Polystichum acrosticoides - Christmas fern - provides the greenery you need all year long.

Iris - The best include Dutch hybrids (available in the fall as corms) and perennial Siberian iris. I wish the flowers lasted longer.

Kniphofia - These are stunning. You can use the flowers and foliage.

Rudbeckia - Black-eye Susans are excellent.

Scabiosa - Better known as Pincushion flower, plant them in your butterfly garden, too.


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Anemones: Born Of The Wind

"Anemone" translated from Greek, means "wind", for it was believed that spring winds caused them to bloom. They are native to the Mediterranean region where winters are warm and summers are dry. There they have a rich heritage in legend and history. Three species are widely available: A. blanda, A. coronaria and A. sylvestris.

Anemone blanda is known as Grecian Wind Flower. The name evokes scenes of ancient temples, and rocky hills swept by Mediterranean breezes. Certainly, the scene gives a clue to its preferred habitat. A. blanda is reliably hardy in USDA climate zones 6 through 8. Full sun to partial shade is best; morning sun to light shade throughout the day in southern regions. Well-drained soil is essential. The plant naturalizes readily to spread a spring-time carpet of light blue, pink or white daisy-like flowers on 6" to 8" stems. The fern-like foliage is also quite attractive. In addition to naturalizing, Anemone blanda is desirable for bulb and rock gardens, perennial borders, container and patio gardens.

Anemone coronaria is known as Poppy Anemone or Florist's Anemone. The flower shape and size is very much like that of a poppy. There are two groups of Poppy Anemone widely available: De Caen and St. Brigid. De Caen anemones produce flowers in bright shades of red, white, blue and pink. St. Brigid anemones produce double-petal flowers in the same shades. A. coronaria is not as cold-tolerant as A. blanda, being reliably hardy in USDA climate zones 8 through 10. However, it tolerates heat much better. Sun exposure and soil moisture requirements for A. coronaria are the same as for A. blanda. These are excellent for bulb and cutting gardens, perennial borders, container and patio gardens

Though anemones prefer warm climates, they can be enjoyed by gardeners in cooler regions. Planting season for southern gardeners is in the fall. Planting season for northern gardeners is in the spring. Logically, they are commercially available both times of year.

When you receive them, the tubers will be shriveled and dry. That is normal. Simply soak them over-night in water at room temperature before planting.

As noted, the planting site should be well-drained and in full sun to partial shade.

Plant the tubers 6" to 10" apart and 1" to 3" deep, depending upon the size. Sometimes it's difficult to tell which side is up. Don't worry about it, they will re-orient themselves.

Water thoroughly but gently, taking care not to wash the bulbs to the surface. If planted in the fall, the roots will develop throughout the cool months and flowers will appear in spring. If planted in the spring, the flowers will appear.

Water as needed to maintain slightly moist soil during spring and fall. Anemones are drought-tolerant during summer.

Flowering lasts about four weeks. When blooming is completed, let the foliage remain to build food reserves for next year. Foliage may be removed when it yellows and dies back at the end of summer. Take care to leave the bulbs undisturbed. After a few months of dormancy, they will begin another growth cycle.

If you are one of those who tries to stretch the limits of where a plant might be grown successfully, know that Anemone coronaria (De Caen and St. Brigid) benefit from a covering of mulch in USDA climate zones 7 & 8. Anemone blanda benefit from a covering of mulch in USDA climate zones 3 & 4. If you don't want to risk losing them during your cold winters, lift them after the foliage has fallen, then dry and store them over winter.

As mentioned before, anemones do well in pots and patio gardens. Choose containers with adequate drainage. To improve drainage, place 1" or 2" of styrofoam packing "popcorn" in the bottom of the container. Fill the container with good quality potting soil. Position containers where they will receive full sun to partial shade.

Plant the tubers 2" to 3" apart. Again, it is not necessary to consider which side is supposed to be up. After planting, water well, thoroughly and gently soaking the soil.

When blooming is completed, let the foliage remain to build food reserves. Leaves may be removed when dried at the end of summer. Take care to leave the bulbs undisturbed in the pots. After a few months of dormancy, they will begin another growth cycle.

If the containers are kept in an area where cold weather is excessive (USDA climate zones 7 & 8 for A. coronaria, or zones 3 & 4 for A. blanda), they should be moved to where they can be protected.

Anemone sylvestris, also known as Snowdrop Anemone, is a low-growing, low maintenance perennial that you'll love. It produces fragrant, bright white blooms with yellow centers from spring to early summer. Flowers may appear again in fall. Mature height is 12 inches to 18 inches. Dense, herbaceous, fern-like foliage makes a fine ground cover perfect for covering yellowing foliage of spring bulbs. Anemone sylvestris is considered to be an heirloom plant, known to have been grown in the U.S. since the 1700s.

Anemone sylvestris prefers average, well-drained soil with pH from 4.6 to 6.0 in full sun to partial shade. Dead-heading helps to prolong bloom season. Good for USDA climate zones 2 to 9. Space 12 inches to 18 inches apart.

If you've never grown anemones before, you should do so. Their beauty and historic legacy will lend color and interest to your gardening experience.

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Fall Bulbs For Warm Climates

Well, of course fall is on the way. And though some parts of the U.S. are already enjoying moderating temperatures, we in the Deep South are not. So it's difficult for us to get into the mood to think about planting fall bulbs. In fact, one customer recently wondered whether there are any fall bulbs that perform reliably in our heat. For some of us, average minimum winter temperature is only 40 degrees Fahrenheit. So I decided to put together a quick list of fall bulbs that do well in warm climates.

As you scan the list below, you'll notice that a number and, usually, a letter follows each plant name. That is the warmest USDA climate zone where that plant is reported to succeed. If the plant does well in much colder zones, I feel it's unnecessary to state the climate range. However, there are some bulbs that are only successful in the warmest zones, so I noted their range, e.g. "9-11."

• Allium aflatunense 9b
• Allium giganteum 9b
  
• Allium sphaerocephalum 'Hair' 9b
  
• Allium moly 9b
  
• Allium 'Mount Everest' 9b
  
• Allium neapolitanum 9b
  
• Allium oreophilum syn. ostrowskianum 10b
  
• Allium schubertii 9b
  
• Allium siculum syn. bulgaricum) 9b
  
• Allium sphaerocephalum 10b
  
• Anemone blanda 10b
  
• Anemone coronaria (De Caen) 10b
  
• Camassia cusickii 9b
  
• Camassia leichtlinii 9b
  
• Chionodoxa forbesii 9b
  
• Chionodoxa luciliae 9b
  
• Colchicum spp. 11
  
• Crocus sativus 9b
  
• Crocus speciosus 9a
  
• Crocus vernus 11
  
• Crocus zonatus 10b
  
• Erythronium revolutum 9b
  
• Freesia 8-11
  
• Fritillaria persica 10a
  
• Fritillaria uva-vulpis 9b
  
• Hippeastrum papilio (Butterfly Amaryllis)8 - 10
  
• Hippeastrum hybrids (Dutch and South African Amaryllis) 8 - 11
  
• Ipheion uniflorum 9b
  
• Iris danfordiae 9b
  
• Iris x hollandica 9b
  
• Iris reticulata 9b
  
• Lycoris aurea 10b
  
• Lycoris radiata 9b
  
• Lycoris squamigera 11
  
• Muscari latifolium 9b
  
• Muscari macrocarpum 9-11
  
• Puschkinia scilloides var. libanotica 9b
  
• Ranunculus asiaticus 8a - 11
  
• Scilla hyacinthoides (syn. campanulata) 10b

The following narcissus are known to do well into zone 10b:

• Narcissus Accent
  
• Narcissus Actaea
  
• Narcissus Barrett Browning
  
• Narcissus Bell Song
  
• Narcissus Carlton
  
• Narcissus Chinese Sacred Lily
  
• Narcissus Dutch Master
  
• Narcissus Fortissimo
  
• Narcissus Golden Bells
  
• Narcissus Grand Soleil d'Or
  
• Narcissus Hawera
  
• Narcissus Ice Follies
  
• Narcissus Jetfire
  
• Narcissus Mount Hood
  
• Narcissus Pheasant Eye
  
• Narcissus Pipit
  
• Narcissus Replete
  
• Narcissus Rijnveld's Early Sensation
  
• Narcissus Rip Van Winkle
  
• Narcissus Tahiti
  
• Narcissus Sir Winston Churchill
  
• Narcissus Tete-a-Tete
  
• Narcissus Thalia

Beginning July through December, you'll find a great selection of fall bulbs for warm climates at GoGardenNow.com.