Wendy’s garden in April
After the winter of our discontent, it is time for some fine spring weather, sunshine and lots of flowers. Four hard freezes were more than usual and although things are popping back, they looked sad for a while. With warmer night temperatures, our soil is becoming more conducive to plant growth and renewal. Let’s talk about spring gardening.
My roses are looking good and about to burst into full bloom. I order my roses from David Austin, USA. David Austin was an English rosarian who passed away a few years ago after having introduced the world to some amazing roses. Best of all, they have scent unlike the new hybrids. He named his roses after famous figures in British history and this might confuse most Americans and many Brits. My favorite rose is Abraham Darby.Geek that I am, I know that Darby was an early 18th century Quaker industrialist who first smelted iron from a type of coal known as coke, but I doubt that his is a name on everyone’s lips. Fortunately, the extensive catalog from Austin roses describes the naming of each rose so mysteries are solved. I also have a rose named Emily Brontë and with the new movie based on her novel “Wuthering Heights” it is certainly in vogue. That David Austin catalog not only has the background on each rose offered, but also instructs on rose planting and care. I think that many people are afraid to grow roses, but this catalog really is extremely helpful. Be brave and plant a rose in your garden.
This abnormally cold winter separated the hardy from the not so hardy plants. My usually hardy Salvias took a hit. The Black and Blue, Black and Bloom, and Amistad Salvias fared well. So did the “Rockin” series. The “Wish” series (Wendy’s Wish, Ember’s Wish) have disappeared completely. They are now off of my list. I have gotten quite brutal with my plants. If they do not come back successfully, then they are done. I will not replace them. They may work well in another garden, but not mine. I also have found the same successes and failures in the Pollinator Garden that I maintain.
My new favorite plant is Mountain Mint (Pycanthemum muticum), the Perennial Plant Association’s plant of the year for 2025. It is native to North America and pollinators love it. Clustered flowers bunch amidst the silver-green bracts. It does spread, but for me that is a good thing. I believe that you will see more of the Pycanthemum family coming into garden centers for their resilience and there benefit for pollinators.
There is no better plant for a spring garden than Baptisia (Baptisia australis) or wild indigo. I have the traditional one with blueish purple flowers and then I have a cultivar called “Carolina Moonlight” that is a pale yellow. The foliage is very interesting as well as seed pods when the flowers are done.
One garden perennial that everyone should have is Black-eyed Susan or Rudbeckia.There are annual as well as perennials varieties. They are native and provide a great pop of yellow color to any garden. For some reason, yellow is a color that many garden designers avoid. With our bright sun here, hot colors stand up in a garden and are not washed out by the strong light so I enjoy yellow, orange, and red in my own garden.
The soil is now warm enough for you to plant seeds. I have planted Mexican Sunflowers (Tithonia rotundifolia) for my butterflies. I have Zinnias in now and will plant some more seeds in 30 days so that I get a continuous supply. I have also planted Ageratum seeds. Ageratum is pretty tough although it did die back this year, but self seeds well.
This has been a pretty crazy late winter and spring where we have had temps in the 60’s or 70’s for a bit and then two days later a frost. The strong winds have also been a problem particularly for my own garden right on the marsh. I have never had so many heavy containers blow over! Winds can desiccate plants and weaken them. The winds have been so strong that some days I have had to fill my fountain twice as the water blows right out of it.
With all my whining though, it is so wonderful to see things appearing above the soil as the soil temperature rises and the days grow longer. Spring is definitely here. Get out there and play in the dirt.
