Gardening in Vermont - Perennials and Annuals

2021 DAYLILIES

noreply@blogger.com (Amandainvermont) — Fri, 02 Jul 2021 15:44:00 +0000

DAYLILIES - Available in pots as of May 25, 2021

✚ = Tetraploid, which means they have twice as many chromosomes. E = Early, M = Midseason, and L = Late

RED ➞ PURPLE SHADES

Blackthorne: Violet Eyezone on a creamy background. 26” ✚ EM.

Border Heritage: Cream 5.5” bloom with distinct purple eye zone and edge. 28” ✚ M.

Born to Run: Showy rosy red bloom w/ creamy yellow edge. 24” ✚ ML.

Bella Lugosi: Rich deep purple 6” bloom. Fragrant. 33” ✚ M.

Chicago Apache: Intense scarlet red with ruffled edges. 30” ML.

Crimson Shadow: Deep Crimson Red, 5” bloom, 25” tall. ML.

Desert Flame: Bright orange-red 5 1/2” bloom. 36” M.

Grand Rouge: Intense deep red. 6.75” blooms, ✚ 35” EM.

Holly Dancer: Deep red, Spider 7” bloom, 34” M.

Illini Show Girl: Bright red 5” bloom. ✚ 32” M.

Lusty Leland: Deep red 6.5” bloom. 28” M.

Moonlight Masquerade: Ivory cream bloom dark purple eye. ✚ 26” EM.

Persian Ruby: Ruby Red. 7 3/4” bloom. 30” M.

Red Ribbons: 8” Red spider. 42” M.

Ruby Spider: Eye-catching 9” ruby red bloom with golden yellow throat. ✚ 34” EM.

Siloam David Kirchoff: Pretty 3.5” orchid-peach flower with a pencil thing, purple eye-zone.

Siloam Red Ruby: Rich ruby red 4” bloom, 18” scape. M.

Stellas Ruffled Fingers: Pale pink reblooming cousin to Stella de Oro. 3.5” bloom on 19” scape.

Strutters Ball: Large 6” purple blooms with small yellow eye. ✚ 22” ML.

Trahlyta: 6” bloom award winner. Gray violet with a dark purple eye-zone. Very fragrant. 30” M.

Woodside Ruby: 4.5” Ruby red flower on 28” scapes.

YELLOW ➞ ORANGE SHADES

Bitsy: Dainty 2” lemon yellow flowers. Long blooming. 30” E.

Bold Tiger: Bold red 4.5” eye zone on orange. ✚ 28”

Ferenghi Gold: Bright yellow 5.5” blooms. ✚ 19” EM

Golden Chimes: Gold Trumpet-like bloom, 46” E.

Holiday Delight: 6” Orange red with dark red eye zone. ✚ 28”

Hyperion: Canary yellow, extremely fragrant 5” bloom. This daylily has been in cultivation for more than 80 years. 40” M.

Little Miss Manners: Adorable (2”) double yellow blooms with shots of red. 13” E.

Marked by Lydia: 8” pale yellow bloom with purple striping, spider. 29” E.

Mary’s Gold: Eye-catching 6.5” gold blooms. 34”. M.

Monterrey Jack: 5.5” list yellow flower with raspberry red eye zone. ✚ 24” EM

Nina Winegar: Tall (33”) showy yellow spider.

Primal Scream: Glimmering Orange, 8 “ bloom, Stout Medal Award winner, ✚ 34” M.

Rocket City: Bittersweet orange 6” bloom w/ a darker eye. M. 35” tall.

Siloam Amazing Grace: Fragrant ruffled 6” yellow blooms, 18 - 24” M.

Siloam Betty Woods: Light gold 5” bloom, 26” M.

Siloam Button Box: Cream 4 1/2” bloom with maroon eyezone. M.

Siloam Doodlebug: Pale yellow 3 1/2” bloom with dark purple eye. 18”. M.

Stella de Oro: Award winning 12” golden yellow blooms throughout summer.

Steve Trimmer: 5.5” Yellow w/ plum eye zone and edge. ✚ M.

(Near) WHITES

Coconut Grove: Ruffled fragrant cream/ivory, 30” ✚ M.

Dust Bunny: Double 4.5” Cream bloom. 24” E.

Early Snow: Creamy white 7” bloom. Fragrant. 30” M.

Marque Moon: Ruffled cream white 5.5” flower. Fragrant LM

Siloam Ralph Henry: Ruffled pale cream 5” bloom on 20” scapes. 24” ✚ M.

Snow Blizzard: Cream pale yellow double. Fragrant 7” bloom . 36”. ML.

Sunday Gloves: Fragrant near white 5 1/4” bloom. 27” EM.

Wedding Band: Cream white 5” bloom edged with yellow. ✚ Award Winner. 26” M.

PINK/ROSE SHADES

Baby Blue: Pale lavender blush, pretty etched eye. 3” bloom. 20” M.

Barbarian Princess: Lavender with plum eye. 6.5” bloom. 28” M.

Beautiful Edging: Ruffled pale pink edging on creamy light yellow pedals. 22” M.

Dublin Elaine: Light double pink, 5.5” blooms. 36” E.

Holiday Song: Cheerful pink/coral with red eye, ✚ 22” M.

Lilting Lavender: Unusual curling pink 8” bloom, 30” ML.

North Wind Dancer: 7.5” pink lavender above yellow green throat. Unusual form, L. 42”.

Orchid Corsage: Huge (7.5”) pink lavender blooms with a yellow star center. 40” ML.

Patrician Splendor: Cream pink 6” blooms. Fragrant. ✚ 26” M

Siloam Jerome Pillow: Orchid Bi-tone 2.5” bloom. 18” ML.

Siloam Little Fairy: Tiny (3.25”) creamy pink bloom with rose eyezone. 23” M.

Siloam Merle Kent: Bright orchid pink with dark wine eye, 4” bloom. 24” M.

Stella Ruffled Fingers: Pale pink reblooming flower - 3.5” 19” tall. E - L.

Victorian Lace: Ruffled light pink, fragrant. 7” bloom ✚ , 30” M.

You Win: Light pink 6” bloom. 26” M.

DAYLILIES for 2020

noreply@blogger.com (Amandainvermont) — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 19:45:00 +0000

Time to wake up the blog. May swept in on the Covid horse and gardeners cleaned us out of annuals. That and a computer crash stopped me from posting anywhere, but the rush has slowed and we have a nice selection of perennials, so I will start with the daylilies.

DAYLILIES - Available in pots as of June 15, 2020

✚ = Tetraploid, which means they have twice as many chromosomes. E = Early, M = Midseason, and L = Late

RED ➞ PURPLE SHADES

Bella Lugosi: Rich deep purple 6” bloom. Fragrant. 33” ✚ M.

Challenger: VERY tall rusty red. 48” L.

Chicago Apache: Intense scarlet red with ruffled edges. 30” ML.

Cherry Cheeks: Cherry Red/Rose 6” flower. 28” ML.

Crimson Shadow: Deep Crimson Red, 5” bloom, 25” tall. ML.

Desert Flame: Bright orange-red 5 1/2” bloom. 36” M.

Grand Rouge: Intense deep red. 6.75” blooms, ✚ 35” EM.

Holly Dancer: Deep red, Spider 7” boom, 34” M.

Lavender Blue Baby: Lavender with darker eye, recurved 5.5” bloom. 28” M.

Lusty Leland: Deep red 6.5” bloom. 28” M.

Midnight Raider: Fragrant 6.5” purple bloom, yellow eye. ✚ 30” M.

Persian Ruby: Ruby Red. 7 3/4” bloom. 30” M.

Red Razzmatazz: Clear 5” fire-engine red bloom. ✚ 32” ML.

Red Ribbons: 8” Red spider. 42” M.

Ruby Spider: Eye-catching 9” ruby red bloom with golden yellow throat. ✚ 34” EM.

Siloam Red Ruby : Rich ruby red 4” bloom, 18” scape. M.

Siloam Sambo: Dark red 4” bloom, 24” EM.

Strutters Ball: Large 6” purple blooms with small yellow eye. ✚ 22” ML.

YELLOW ➞ ORANGE SHADES

Autumn Daffodil: Light Yellow - Tall and Late - 30” L.

Bitsy: Dainty 2” lemon yellow flowers. Long blooming. 30” E.

Bold Tiger: Bold red 4.5” eye zone on orange. ✚ 28”

Brocaded Gown: 6” ruffled yellow bloom. 26” EM.

Blackthorne: Creamy yellow, wine purple eye. ✚ 26”. M.

Golden Chimes: Gold Trumpet-like bloom, 46” E.

Holiday Song: Cheerful pink/coral with red eye, ✚ 22” M.

Hyperion: Canary yellow, extremely fragrant 5” bloom. This daylily has been in cultivation for more than 80 years. 40” M.

Little Miss Manners: Adorable (2”) double yellow blooms with shots of red. 13” E.

Marked by Lydia: 8” pale yellow bloom with purple striping, spider. 29” E.

Primal Scream: Glimmering Orange, 8 “ bloom, Stout Medal Award winner, ✚ 34” M.

Nina Winegar: Golden yellow spider. Heavy bloomer narrow twisting pedal. 3’ M.

Siloam Betty Woods: Gold 7” bloom, 26” M.

Stella de Oro: Award winning 12” golden yellow blooms throughout summer.

Steve Trimmer: 5.5” Yellow w/ plum eyezone and edge. ✚ M

(Near) WHITES

Dust Bunny: Double 4.5” Cream bloom. 24” E.

Gentle Shepherd: 5” Probably the whitest daylily, but delicate substance. 29”. EM.

Marque Moon: 5.25” Creamy white bloom, fragrant and ruffled. 24” ML

Siloam Button Box: Cream 4 1/2” bloom with maroon eyezone. M.

Snow Blizzard: Cream pale yellow double. Fragrant 7” bloom . 36”. ML.

PINK/ROSE SHADES

Baby Blues: Pale lavender, pretty etched eye. 3” bloom. 20” M.

Barbara Mitchell: Perfectly formed pink 6” bloom. 20” M.

Beautiful Edging: Ruffled pale pink edging on creamy light yellow pedals. 22” M.

Dragons Eye: 4 “ pastel pink red eye zone. 24”. ML

Dublin Elaine: Light double pink, 5.5” blooms. 36” E.

Lilting Lavender: Unusual curling pink 8” bloom, 30” ML.

Orchid Corsage: Huge (7.5”) pink lavender blooms with a yellow star center. 40” ML.

Patrician Splendor: Cream pink 6” blooms. Fragrant. ✚ 26” M

Raspberry Splash: Light peach 5.5” bloom w/ large dark raspberry eye. 20” M.

Siloam Jerome Pillow: Orchid Bi-tone 2.5” bloom. 18” ML.

Siloam Little Fairy: Tiny (3.25”) creamy pink bloom with rose eyezone. 23” M.

Siloam Merle Kent: Bright orchid pink with dark wine eye, 4” bloom. 24” M.

Strawberry Candy: Pink 4 1/2” blooms with deep rose red eyezone. Award winner. 26” EM.

Stella Ruffled Fingers: Pale pink reblooming flower - 3.5” 19” tall. E - L.

Susan Weber: Light Pink w/ darker rose edge. 5.75” bloom, 26” tall. L.

Victorian Lace: Ruffled light pink, fragrant. 7” bloom ✚ , 30” M.

You Win: Light pink 6” bloom. 26” M.

End of Summer Blooms

noreply@blogger.com (Amandainvermont) — Sat, 07 Sep 2019 23:16:00 +0000

We are not growing mums this year and this has been a cool September so far. I wanted to share some of the plants that are blooming now, although we don't have any of them left for sale. We will next spring! I grow 'Britt Marie Crawford' ligularia in full sun. Most ligularias require shade, but the sun brings out the maroon color on the foliage and it rarely droops from the heat.

'Britt Marie Crawford' Ligularia

Another plant I grow first and foremost for its foliage is 'Black Negligee' cimifugia. It's not the fastest grower, but it's easy to grow (again in full sun) and doesn't seem to have any pests.

'Black Negligee' Cimicifugia

'Asahi' heliopsis (false sunflower) looks more like a dahlia. It is long lasting on the plant and in bouquets. It does not self-seed like heliopsis 'summer sun'.

'Asahi' Heliopsis

Most of the daylilies have gone by, but 'Lilting Lavender' still has lots of buds.

'Lilting Lavender' Daylily

All the sedums are blooming or are right on the edge. This nice variegated variety is 'summer charm.'

'Summer Charm' Sedum

I grow sanguisorba Canidiensis (Canadian burnet) just as much for its pretty foliage as for its late white blooms, although I am always grateful to have it around for bouquets this time of year. The Japanese beetles like this plant as well and it can be a spreader, but I have found a little digging in the spring tames it.

Sanguisorba Canidiensis

Helenium is known as "Helen's Flower" or unfortunately is sometimes called "sneezeweed." This is because they used to dry the pedals and turn them into snuff... sniff them in ... and sneeze! I have a few compact varieties left for sale.

Helenium

This group of Eupatorium, or Joe Pye Weed, had loads of butterflies flying around it, but I couldn't get one to pose for me. I use this flower a lot in late summer bouquets, picking it just as it is opening. 'Gateway' is the variety I carry, as the species is really tall and a little overwhelming.

Eupatorium

Helianthus 'Lemon Queen' is a tall (5-6 feet) clumping plant covered with soft, lemon-yellow flowers. It's nice for the back of the border.

Helianthus 'Lemon Queen'

There are two annual flowers blooming right now that are of particular interest to visitors. I sell them both green in the spring. Lavatera trimestris (rose mallow) is 2 - 3 feet tall and very prolific. The blooms are excellent in bouquets. It comes in white as well, but I have had the best luck with the pink variety (often also called 'silver cup.')

Lavatera Trimestris

The other annual that folks really like is 'Prairie Sun' rudbeckia. It is listed in many places as a perennial, but that has not been the case for me. The blooms are large, 4 - 6 inches, and like almost all of the nice rudbeckias, I treat this one (and sell this one) as an annual.

'Prairie Sun' Rudbeckia

The summer phlox are still providing color in gardens and 'Clara Curtis' is a pink mum that is a true perennial and is blooming away. It has been a good season here and I have none of these plants for sale at the moment, but the perennials are in the ground growing and will be available next spring.

Photos of My Place

noreply@blogger.com (Amandainvermont) — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 21:01:00 +0000

I thought I'd share photos of my place for online friends who don't have a chance to come by.

We have four substantial gardens near the house for growing on perennials, and one up the road, also on my property.

Below is the "manure garden" - so called because 50 years ago it was where the dairy farmer piled his manure. The first shot is taken from the driveway with the road in the background, and the second shot is from the road looking up.

And below is my humble home....

The following is one view of "The road garden."

and another

Then we have the "house garden"

And here is the walkway up to the greenhouses. I have many display gardens, including a lovely shade garden behind the largest greenhouse, which I forgot to photograph!

My own little garden for bouquets and meals.

The area set aside to sell daylilies...

This is a view from one of the greenhouses looking down to the road and other gardens.

And HERE is one of many plantings to be dug and potted next year.

Thank you for letting me share.

Vermont Daylilies - All $7.99

noreply@blogger.com (Amandainvermont) — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 10:24:00 +0000

I will put here my most recent inventory of daylilies that are potted up and ready for sale. I keep them by the barn, while my other perennials are by the greenhouse.

They come in all shapes and colors - red, white and trying to be blue, but not quite making it. Short, tall, doubles, spiders - we try to offer them all and stick with the same price, $7.99 each.

This is Joanna Lloyd, a gal who comes in twice a week on mornings to help us weed for a few hours.

We have four garden areas where we grow daylilies. Below is "the road garden".

And here is a list of varieties -

DAYLILIES - 2019 - Available as of July 30.

✚ = Tetraploid, which means they have twice as many chromosomes. E = Early, M = Midseason, and L = Late

RED ➞ PURPLE SHADES

Bill Fall: Vibrant red 6” bloom. 25” ✚ M.

Bella Lugosi: Rich deep purple 6” bloom. Fragrant. 33” ✚ M.

Challenger: VERY tall rusty red. 48” L.

Charles Johnson: Bright cherry red blooms. 24” ✚ EM.

Chicago Apache: Intense scarlet red with ruffled edges. 30” ML.

Cape Cod: Ruffled burgundy 4.5” blooms, 34” EM.

Cherry Cheeks: Cherry Red/Rose 6” flower. 28” ML.

Cranberry Cove: Rich cranberry red with a tiny green throat, 4.5” blooms, 28” tall. EM.

Crimson Shadow: Deep Crimson Red, 5” bloom, 25” tall. ML.

Grand Guru: Deep 5.5” Burgundy red blooms, 29” tall. ✚ EM.

Lavender Blue Baby: Lavender with darker eye, recurved 5.5” bloom. 28” M.

Malaysian Monarch: Purple 6” bloom w/ cream eyezone and yellow throat.

Midnight Raider: Fragrant 6.5” purple bloom, yellow eye. ✚ 30” M.

Moonlit Masquerade: Ivory Cream 8” bloom, dark purple eye. ✚ 26” E.

Persian Ruby: Ruby Red. 7 3/4” bloom. 30” M.

PINK/ROSE SHADES

Baby Blues: Pale lavender, pretty etched eye. 3” bloom. 20” M.

Barbara Mitchell: Perfectly formed pink 6” bloom. 20” M.

Beautiful Edging: Ruffled pale pink edging on creamy light yellow pedals. 22” M.

Dragons Eye: 4 “ pastel pink red eye zone. 24”. ML

Dublin Elaine: Light double pink, 5.5” blooms. 36” E.

Jolene Nicole: 6” deep rose pink bloom. 18”.

Orchid Corsage: Huge (7.5”) pink lavender blooms with a yellow star center. 40” ML.

Rose Corsage: Double pink 5” bloom w/ rose throat. M.

Siloam David Kirchoff: Pretty 3.5” orchid-peach flowers with a pencil thin, purple eye zone and purple watermark around a green throat. 16” M.

Siloam Jerome Pillow: Orchid Bi-tone 2.5” bloom. 18” ML.

Scatterbrain: Light peach pink 6” double blooms. 32” M.

Strawberry Candy: Pink 4 1/2” blooms with deep rose red eyezone. Award winner. 26” EM.

Stella Ruffled Pink: Pale pink remblooming flower - 3.5” 19” tall. E - L.

Wineberry Candy: Orchid pink 4.5” blooms, ✚ 22” EM.

YELLOW ➞ ORANGE SHADES

Autumn Daffodil: Light Yellow - Tall and Late - 30” L.

All Fired Up: Orange red eye zone - award winner. 6”bloom ✚ 30” EM.

Bitsy: Dainty 2” lemon yellow flowers. Long blooming. 30” E.

Bold Tiger: Bold red 4.5” eye zone on orange. ✚ 28”

Brocaded Gown: 6” ruffled yellow bloom. 26” EM.

Buttered Popcorn: Loads of 6” butter yellow fragrant flowers. 32” ✚ M.

Blackthorne: Creamy yellow, wine purple eye. ✚ 26”. M.

Ferengi Gold: Ruffled 5.5” blooms - multiple award winner. ✚ 19” EM.

Going Bananas: Blooms heavily during summer. Lemon Yellow 4” blooms. 19” M - L.

Hyperion: Canary yellow, extremely fragrant 5” bloom. This daylily has been in cultivation for more than 80 years. 40” M.

Happy Returns: Repeat blooming light yellow 3 1/4” blooms all summer, 22” M.

Holiday Delight: 6 1/4” blooms, maroon eye over brilliant orange petals. 28” ✚ M.

Mary’s Gold: 6 1/2” standout bright gold blooms. Award Winner. 34”, M.

Marked by Lydia: 8” pale yellow bloom with purple striping, spider. 29” E.

Monterey Jack: Cream 5.5” yellow with red eye zone. ✚ 24” E.

Nina Winegar: Golden yellow spider. Heavy bloomer narrow twisting pedal. 3’ M.

Siloam Doodlebug: 2.25” blooms. Ligt lemon, purple eyezone. 18”. EM.

South Seas: 6” coral tangerine bloom. ✚ 30” M.

Stella de Oro: Award winning 12” golden yellow blooms throughout summer.

Steve Trimmer: 5.5” Yellow w/ plum eyezone and edge. ✚ M

Tetrina’s Daughter: Light yellow 5” blooms. ✚ 45”. ML.

Yuma: 6” “thorny” edge yellow blend bloom. 25” ✚ MK.

(Near) WHITES

Dust Bunny: Double 4.5” Cream bloom. 24” E.

Gentle Shepherd: 5” Probably the whitest daylily, but delicate substance. 29”. EM.

Joan Senior: 6” near white curved bloom, 25” EM.

Siloam Button Box: Cream 4 1/2” bloom with maroon eyezone. M.

Snow Blizzard: Cream pale yellow double. Fragrant 7” bloom . 36”. ML.

Siloam Ralph Henry: A pale blush 5 1/2” bloom. 18” M.

Wedding Band: Award winning fragrant white w/ yellow edge. ✚ 5.5” 26” M.

White Daylilies

noreply@blogger.com (Amandainvermont) — Sun, 28 Jul 2019 19:06:00 +0000

This morning as I was going over the garden inventories, I noticed I am growing eight different "white" daylilies.

This first photograph shows 'Ice Carnival in the foreground with a row of 'Joan Senior' behind it. 'Ice Carnival' has been around since 1967 and I decided to put it in the "sale area" (daylilies $5 each - buy five or more - $4 each). It is fragrant, but 'Joan Senior' is a better, whiter white.

JOAN SENIOR

Probably the whitest of all the whites is 'Gentle Shepherd,' But it doesn't have much substance - meaning thinner pedals and generally a weaker bloom.

GENTLE SHEPHERD

'Glacier Bay' is described as being a "cream white." For me, it doesn't qualify as a 'white,' but it is pretty :-)

GLACIER BAY

'Sunday Gloves' is often called a "near white." It has a nice fragrance.

SUNDAY GLOVES

I remember when 'Nanuq' was introduced by White Flower Farm with much enthusiasm. It's a nice enough, small white daylily, but it has been superseded by more recent introductions.

NANUQ

My personal favorite is not strictly all white, but it does stand out as a white in a bed of colors - 'Marque Moon.' (Sorry sold out already, but more are growing for next year.)

MARQUE MOON

Another daylily with a name that would make you anticipate a white bloom is "Snow Blizzard." It's a lovely double, but more of a cream color.

ALL daylilies - $7.99 each. We are closed Monday. Open every other day 9 am - 5 pm. No mail order :-( 802-426-3783 www.amandasgreenhouse.com

VERMONT DAYLILIES

noreply@blogger.com (Amandainvermont) — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 21:43:00 +0000

We had a long, wet spring, and while we were complaining, the perennials loved it. Now the daylilies have started to bloom and they are like fire crackers this year. I had to go out in the rain this afternoon and show a few of the new blooms to open. All daylilies in gallon containers - $7.99.

MONTEREY JACK

MARKED BY LYDIA

PAT GARRITY

PATRICIAN SPLENDOR

MIDNIGHT RAIDER

MOSES FIRE

BARBARA MITCHELL

NINA WINEGAR

We are closed Monday - Otherwise open every day from 9 am - 5 pm. 426-3783 Amanda@amandasgreenhouse.com

New Vermont Perennials - SALE

noreply@blogger.com (Amandainvermont) — Thu, 18 Jul 2019 21:59:00 +0000

(Sorry, no mail order...) Closed Mondays. Open every other day - 9 am - 5 pm. www.amandasgreenhouse.com

I am rebooting my blog to plug my sale of perennials in 4.5 inch pots - three for $10. These are all new perennials for me and I am planting them now with plans to dig and sell next year for $8.99 each. I have more than I need for next year, so I can offer surplus plants now at the sale price, mix and match as you wish.

SILVER STAR DIANTHUS

First there is “Silver Star” dianthus. My other dianthuses (dianthi ?) overwinter fine here. I can’t guarantee this one until next spring when we see how the field-grown plants survived. It has a fragrant double white bloom with a cherry red eye and is deer and drought resistant.

BLUE MARVEL SALVIA

Another new perennial I am trialing is “Blue Marvel” salvia. It is a dwarf salvia with large, plump 12-inch high violet blue flowers. It attracts pollinators and is deer resistant.

RUNNING WITH SCISSORS PHLOX

MCDANIEL's CUSHION PHLOX

I have two new creeping phlox - Running with Scissors” and “McDaniel’s Cushion.” “Running with Scissors” is a violet pink and it has that name because the split pedals resemble childrens’ training scissors. It is fragrant and deer resistant. "McDaniel’s Cushion" has a bright rose pink bloom and the foliage is more pointy than Scissors.

GRAND PARADE MONARDA

"Grand Parade" Bee Balm is a compact cultivar (12 - 18”) and White Flower Farm describes it as “exceptionally hardy and mildew resistant.” It has lavender/purple blooms.

MONCH ASTER

“Monch” Aster blooms earlier than fall asters with lavender blue flowers. It grows 2 - 3 feet.

Among the other perennials in the sale are:
Lacy Blue Russian Sage
Echinacea (cone flower) Magnus
Sedum kamtschaticum
Phlox paniculata - Laura
Phlox paniculata - David
Sedum - Autumn Joy
Anemone Pulsatilla
Baptesia
and Sidalcea - Party Girl

DAYLILY SALE - Buy Three - fourth one FREE -

noreply@blogger.com (Amandainvermont) — Mon, 23 Jul 2018 10:50:00 +0000

Daylilies are ON SALE - one free for every three that you buy at $7.99 each. (Your choice, of course.) A few are sold out for the season, but below are photographs of some of the many still in stock. These are large field-dug plants in gallon pots.

Dublin Elaine

Condilla

Lilting Lavender

Buttered Popcorn

Golden Chimes

Holiday Song

Crimson Shadows

Trahlyta

Siloam Betty Woods

Siloam David Kirchoff

Respighi

We are closed Monday and open every other day - 9 am - 5 pm.

Perennial Sale

noreply@blogger.com (Amandainvermont) — Sun, 15 Jul 2018 11:03:00 +0000

It has been a VERY busy season and my poor blog goes on the back shelf while I post occasionally on Facebook. The daylilies are just starting to seriously do their thing. I will have a sale in a week or so, but at $7.99 for BIG plants in large pots, it's still a good deal. This is 'Moses Fire' photographed last night.

Meanwhile, (see below) I am having a sale on perennials in 4.5 inch pots. They are robust and ready for new homes... three for $10.

Above (back left and then clockwise) - Jacob's Ladder, Coral Reef bee balm, rudbeckia goldsturm (black-eyed daisy) two Fire Witch dianthus and Rozanne geranium.

It's a mix and match sale - the cultivars include:

Delphinium
Campanula carpatica clips blue
Echinacea - Pow Wow Cherry
Bee Balm - 'Blue Stocking'
Heuchera - 'Palace Purple'
Sedum - John Creech
Hens and Chicks

Happy Summer to all.

BLUE Blooms?

noreply@blogger.com (Amandainvermont) — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 18:11:00 +0000

I have written about “blue” perennials and annuals before. Typically, they are not blue - rather they are shades of purple or lavender.

I am trying Scabiosa ‘Butterfly Blue’ again this year because I LOVE the flower and the annual scabiosas are long lasting in bouquets. This cultivar is a perennial, but years ago when I grew the plant, it did not overwinter. I am going to grow and sell it as a “hardy” annual this year, and perhaps with global warming, it will make it to 2019.

‘Butterfly Blue’ (above) won the Perennial Plant of the Year for 2000. It does not like wet soils and needs full sun here in northern Vermont.

By the way, below is a photo of supposedly the same plant offered in a catalog, with a lot of help from photo shop.

A plant with similar blooms that does overwinter, and one that I will offer, is Stokesia ‘Honeysong Purple’ (below). This is a late bloomer and the flower is more aster-like.

Campanula ‘Rapido’ Blue (below) is a new bellflower I will try this year. It is similar to the ‘Clips’ series, but is supposed to bloom earlier and for a longer period.

I always grow ‘Blue Jay’ Pacific Giant delphinium (below) - love the color.

For annuals, the best blues can be found in lobelias, particularly ‘Cobalt blue,’ which is grown from seed or laguna sky blue, which is grown from cuttings.

Looking Ahead - 2018 Growing Season

noreply@blogger.com (Amandainvermont) — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 17:27:00 +0000

The steady sleet this morning (March 2) has turned into snow. I have a few things under the grow-lite and more growing elsewhere for me. Typically I buy in tiny plugs of begonias, pansies and impatiens, because I have difficulty growing them from seed consistently. (Begonia seeds are the size of dust!)

Two years ago in spring I had open heart surgery (get out your violin!) and last spring I had some kind of mini heart attack that landed me in the hospital for four days. I wasn't sure if I would continue the business, but I have some determined helpers who really want to pitch in and keep the old gal going .... so here we go again.

My hesitancy is starting to change into excitement as I clean up the greenhouse and get ready to start the heat going.

Bacopa Gulliver Blue

I'm giving bacopa (spellcheck always turns that word into "bacon") "Gulliver Blue" a try this year. I will probably use it mostly in combination plantings.

I really like the "Delta" series of pansies and this year they are offering "Wine and Cheese."

Delta Wine and Cheese Pansy

"Blueberry Thrill" will be another new pansy on the shelves.

Blueberry Thrill Pansy

Growers are coming up with all kinds of calibrachoas (million bells) and one of several I will be trialing this year is "Candy Bouquet."

Candy Bouquet Calibrachoa

During the winter months I sell vintage clothing and accessories on eBay and Etsy. The greenhouse turns into my photography studio. It's time to bring the clothes and jewelry back inside and get ready for another gardening season.

Freezing at Last

noreply@blogger.com (Amandainvermont) — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 16:35:00 +0000

It has been three months since I last posted on this blog. It's not that we haven't been busy, but most of what we do this time of year is consolidate, getting ready for next year. And because of health issues I am never sure just what the future holds.

However ... I have been ordering seeds and rooted cuttings for next spring, so the beat goes on for now. We had such a strange, hot fall, but finally, we have a bit of snow and this..

So everyone is busy covering pots we planted up in September and even in October ...

And hopefully all of the plants will be nice and healthy and large to offer to customers in the spring. PLEASE let me know if there's anything special you want to see in the greenhouses.

Dig Your Own Daylilies

noreply@blogger.com (Amandainvermont) — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 10:34:00 +0000

We are dug out. In two days serious gardeners came by with their shovels, some with trucks to fill. Some came back the second day. I hope people call before they come the third day.

Dig-Your-Own Vermont DAYLILY Sale

noreply@blogger.com (Amandainvermont) — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 13:19:00 +0000

SOLD (DUG) OUT -two days later... Field is closed.

We grow our own perennials to sell, digging and potting them in the fall and the spring. To this end we have six large gardens. And we can't maintain them all anymore, so from one of the gardens we are having a DAYLILY DIGATHON sale - Fill a five gallon bucket for $4.00.

I picked blooms from that digging field on Monday and show them below.

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday (Aug 2 - Aug. 5 ) from 9 am - 11:30 am come to Amanda's Greenhouse and we will supply you with a five gallon bucket. Please BRING YOUR OWN shovel. Fill the bucket with as many plants as you wish. We will transfer the plants into a plastic bag. $4 a heaping bucketful.

This will not be easy digging, so bring a good shovel and strong shoes.

Hardy Daylily Sale in Vermont

noreply@blogger.com (Amandainvermont) — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 19:00:00 +0000

All daylilies (buy four or more) are now $6 each in gallon pots. June had seven inches more rain than average and the daylilies loved it. We have now had three hot, sunny days in a row and suddeny they are exploding into bloom in the gardens. I have never seen so many buds.

I believe these are edible, but I am not THAT hungry (unless maybe they are identical to chocolate.)

RUBY SPIDER is huge this year, easily measuring nine inches across.

I can always count on MADE TO ORDER to produce tons of blooms.

MARKED BY LYDIA is an outstanding "spider" daylily.

"CHARLES JOHNSON" announces that summer has officially arrived. At last.

Vermont Daylilies - July at Amanda's Greenhouse

noreply@blogger.com (Amandainvermont) — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 10:40:00 +0000

Daylilies have just started to open here and I have scheduled a sale ( buy 4 or more, $6 each) to begin July 13. Not sure what came over me, as that is early for a sale like this.

Meanwhile - here are a few that have opened in the growing gardens...

Joleyne Nicole

Midnight Masquerade

Pat Garrity

Wineberry Candy

Zona Rosa

This last one is supposed to be a double, so I will keep my eye on it. Pretty, anyway. The daylilies have loved all the rain. We had seven inches more rain than the average rainfall for June.

June at Amanda's Greenhouse

noreply@blogger.com (Amandainvermont) — Wed, 21 Jun 2017 11:01:00 +0000

The four greenhouses are emptying out and my goal is to get all remaining annuals into the one big greenhouse. All pansies, violas, and wave petunias are on sale for $1.

The early spring perennials have finished their blooms and now it's time for the Siberian iris and peonies to put on their show.

The iris are lovely, but they go by way too quickly. The foliage looks nice all season long, adding a good accent to the garden. When it's time to divide Siberian iris the challenge is on. The roots and rhizomes form a compact mass that feels like a block of cement. I suggest a strong man (sorry sister feminists) and a sharpened straight shovel. Or perhaps a strong edger would work?

It feels as if we have had more rainy days than sunny days and the hostas in "Danny's garden" just love all the rain.

All foliage is healthy.

I thought it would be fun to fill a window box with primarily coleus, since I have lots left for sale!

I hope other Vermont gardeners have had better luck than I when it comes to planting. It has been so wet, the soil is usually unsuitable to till. My tomatoes are in at least, but here it is - summer solstice day (midsummer?) and I have not finished planting my vegetables. Move away from the computer Amanda.

May at Amanda's Greenhouse

noreply@blogger.com (Amandainvermont) — Fri, 19 May 2017 10:11:00 +0000

I manage to write gardening columns for two newspapers, but darned if I can keep up with my blog. Mother's Day has come and gone and despite crummy weather, business was great. I have THE nicest customers. Here's a photo of some small pots I made for $5 each as a possible gift for Mom.

And this is a photo of yours truly that will be going in the daily newspaper this Saturday. Right now the weather sounds promising, which will bring out the gardeners.

My most recent gardening column was about calibrachoas... interesting to me, hopefully for some others as well. The photo shows normal sized geraniums with calibrachoas underneath and then the article.

And I will now cut and paste the newspaper column and call it a blog!

The Story Behind Calibrachoa (Million Bells)

Not long ago gardeners had not heard of calibrachoa or “million bells.” Described as “a tiny petunia on steroids, it is now one of floriculture’s most popular annuals, second only to geraniums.

The Japanese company Suntory was the first to experiment with hybridizing calibrachoa , which they found growing wild in South America. In the late 1990s Suntory licensed Proven Winners to market their new flower and calibrachoas were introduced to gardeners as “Millions Bells.”

There is no standard, widely accepted common name for the calibrachoa hybrids yet, but ”Million Bells” was its first commercial name and still seems to be used the most by folks looking for calibrachoa, even though it is a registered trademark name. (Think Kleenex and Bandaid, which are both registered trademarks.)

Calibrachoas can be grown in a garden, but are really best in containers where they spill over the sides. They work well in combination pots and window boxes as well as in hanging baskets. The flowers do not set seeds, so they need no deadheading.

There are now thousands of different calibrachoas in all kinds of colors and shapes with names like “Mini-famous,” “Cabaret” and “Superbells”. My favorites are from the Callie, Noa and double Mini-famous series.

The race to come up with new colors is highly competitive. The German grower Westhoff introduced a new variety with magenta and yellow blooms that they named “Candy Bouquet.” A year later the US growers, Proven Winners, introduced an identical calibrachoa, and named it “Holy Moly.” Westhoff launched a $45 million lawsuit which has not yet been settled, but gardeners can still buy either variety. (I grow “Candy Bouquet”).

Typically calibrachoa are grown from cuttings and it's illegal for growers like me to propagate them. Every tag has a “propagation prohibited” warning on it.

Recently a calibrachoa has been introduced that can be grown from seed. This new flower is called “Kabloom” and is offered in a few solid colors. In no time I’m sure the selection will be much wider. The advantage of seed-grown calibrachoa is that home gardeners can now grow their own calibrachoa, and not depend on those of us who buy in cuttings.

Calibrachoas need excellent drainage and full sun. They are actually a tender perennial, so can survive low temperatures. They are heavy feeders and if properly fertilized they will bloom nicely the entire gardening season.

April - Three Greenhouses are Filled with Plants

noreply@blogger.com (Amandainvermont) — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 22:33:00 +0000

I've been super busy - so hopefully a picture is worth 1,000 words.

March Madness

noreply@blogger.com (Amandainvermont) — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 22:22:00 +0000

Every day has been packed with planting, transplanting, wiring baskets, moving pants around, taking cuttings, etc. I am blessed with wonderful help because I get so darned tired in the afternoon. Here are some photographs to show what we have been doing.

More to come!

NEW PETUNIAS FOR 2017

noreply@blogger.com (Amandainvermont) — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 12:20:00 +0000

Years ago petunias were offered only in solid colors - typically red, pink, white and purple. Now they come in yellow and even black. There are loads of new petunias being offered for the 2017 growing season and here are a few of them.

The big "break through" in 2016 for new petunias was "Blue Skies" produced by Selecta, a company that serves the North American market with vegetative propagated bedding plants and poinsettias.

"Blue Skies"

It looks like a purple/blue flower that has been splattered with white and every bloom is different. It was an instant success and "flew off the shelves." This year that plant has a big sister, "Pink Sky." I've only seen photos of this plant, but I am definitely going to grow it.

"Pink Skies"

Another trend that is being tried in many color combinations is to have the eye of the petunia be one color and have the rest of the pedals blend out to another color.

Potunia Purple Halo

Sweetunia Johnnie

"Crazytunia Moonstruck"

There are oodles of new patterns turning up on petunias blooms as well. One that I will definitely try this summer is "Amore Queen of Hearts."

"Amore Queen of Hearts."

It will be interesting to see if the heart pattern is prominent in "real life."

Years ago all petunias were started as seeds. Petunias that you purchase in six-packs are still started from seed, but now most of the petunias you see in hanging baskets and sold individually in pots are grown from cuttings. They are more vigorous growers and generally benefit from more fertilizer. Because they don't put their energy into producing seeds they produce more blooms. Most of these petunias from cuttings don't need dead heading.

The downside is that they are more expensive. The greenhouse owner not only pays quite a bit for each cutting, they pay royalties and a propagation fee. The only way to grow more of the same plant is to take cuttings, which is legally prohibited. The plants are registered and trademarked. There are actually plant police who come around to large greenhouse operations to make sure their copyrighted plant is not being used for making more cuttings.

Petunias will remain one of gardeners favorite flowers and they just get easier to grow and of course the choice is now huge.

More Award Winning Plants for 2017

noreply@blogger.com (Amandainvermont) — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 15:50:00 +0000

Europe’s top award for new plants is the Fleuroselect Award. These are flowers grown on trial grounds across Europe “…proven to clearly supersede existing varieties in terms of breeding innovation and beauty.”

If a new plant wins both the AAS designation (see previous blog) and the Fleuroselect “quality mark” I will definitely give it a go. This year one flower falls in that category - Profusion Red zinnia.

Profusion Red Zinnia - AAS Photo

(Profusion Cherry zinnia also won both awards in 1999). The Profusion series (and Zahara series) are shorter zinnias with tons of flowers and they are resistant to powdery mildew.

Others that have won both awards in the recent past include Fresh Look Red celosia and Tidal Wave Red Velour petunia, both good plants that I grow.

Fresh Look Celosia

Senator Rose Bicolor is one of three flowers that won the Fleurosecect award for this year. Its pink flowers stand out against the bronze foliage and I have always found that the darker foliage stands up the best in full sun.

Senator Rose Bi-color Begonia- Fleuroselect photo

The AAS program has recently added “ornamentals from vegetative cuttings.” These are plants that can not be grown from seed, only from cuttings of the same plant. Starting in 2019 there will also be an AAS award for herbaceous perennials.

While I study new award winning plants carefully, I also browse the reviews of plant performance in the many trial garden sites on the internet. Most of these plantings are sponsored by a university or a large wholesaler of plants. If one plant gets top scores from several northern trial gardens I am probably going to try it.

The trial gardens at Ball Seed in Illinois

Seeds for two of my favorite AAS winners seem to have disappeared - Green Comet broccoli and Bonanza Bolero marigold. I assume this is because there are only a few vegetable seed companies left in the world and they are eliminating the older varieties in favor of new, “improved” hybrids.

Like most gardeners, I have my favorite varieties that I grow every year and at the same time I am also easily tempted to try something new.

http://all-americaselections.org

https://fleuroselect.com

Award Winning New Plants - The Best of the Best?

noreply@blogger.com (Amandainvermont) — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 15:12:00 +0000

The best known award for annual plants in the US is the All American Selections (AAS) program. New flowers and vegetables are grown side-by-side with comparable available varieties and are evaluated by garden performance, size, taste, disease-resistance and any other characteristic important to the home gardener.

2017 Winner Okra Candle Fire

Judges deem the performers that show clear superiority to their comparison as AAS winners. There were 16 AAS winners this year, including a red zinnia, a miniature watermelon, and a purple okra.

There was a time when I grew every new AAS winner each year. This stopped in 1992 when “Thumbelina Carrot” (above) was designated an AAS vegetable. No way was I going to go to the trouble of germinating and weeding carrots to harvest a root “roughly the size of a golf ball” at the end of the season. New is not always better.

AAS was founded in 1932 and hundreds of plants have been designated winners. Very few of the early winners have had staying power. Most of those “new” prize-winning seeds are no longer available, demonstrating that they either did not live up to the judges’ expectations or they have been superseded by an improved variety.

2017 Winner Celosia Asian Garden

Some remain stalwarts in many gardens today. Sensation cosmos was an AAS winner in 1936 and Early Prolific Yellow squash won in 1938. Red Sails lettuce won in 1985 Other previous AAS winners that I grow are Rocket snapdragons, Snowcrown cauliflower, Carmen peppers, the Profusion series of zinnias, certain petunias from the Wave series and Bright Lights chard. Two widely grown tomatoes that have received the AAS award are Celebrity (1984) and Big Beef (1994).

2017 Winner Yellow Patio Choice tomato

More about new plants winning awards in the next blog....

A New Year and New Plants

noreply@blogger.com (Amandainvermont) — Sun, 08 Jan 2017 17:43:00 +0000

My brother lives in San Francisco and he doesn't understand Vermonters' penchants towards bright and flashy flowers. I explain that our growing season is short and we want to pack in as much showy bloom as we can. Along with craving hot weather and bright days we crave color. What follows are a few of the new bright blooming flowers I will be offering this year, started from seed.

One catalogue calls Dianthus Jolt Cherry "...a shocking blaze of super charged color all summer long." I like this new series of dianthus because it is easy to grow, branches out nicely and makes a good "cut." It is a cross between Sweet William and annual dianthus. It is 16 - 20 inches tall and continues to set flowers all summer without setting seeds. And it is very flashy.

Dianthus Jolt Cherry from PanAmerican Seed

The Select Seeds catalogue says of nasturtium Cherrelle "...our new favorite double nasturtium with great flower power, outstanding in early summer and early fall when the summer heat wanes. "This is a large-flowered new introduction with full-bodied double flowers held well above the unspotted green foliage. It is semi-trailing.

Nasturtium Cherrelle

Profusion Red zinnia won both the All American Section (AAS) and Fleuroselect Award for 2017. The Profusion series of zinnias are prolific bloomers of 2" flowers. They are disease resistant, easy to grow, and continuously bloom all season. Judges appreciated the true red color of this zinnia which doesn’t fade in summer.

Red Profusion Zinnia from Sakata

I like using begonias for hanging baskets, in particular the newer sun tolerant versions. Because they do not have a robust root system they don't need as much water as other plants in baskets. Santa Cruz looks terrific in a hanging pot, but the falling flowers can be messy and are best used as outdoor baskets.

Santa Cruz Begonia