Pittsgrove Farms - Plant Dirt

This is NOT a Bonus!

2013-05-19T16:10:00.001-04:00

This is NOT a bonus!

Yes, I know you haven't seen me here for awhile. That's what having four grandchildren and being "retired" will do.

It has been an unusual spring so far with many of our plants just loving the cooler, damper weather while our bearded iris have been slow coming and looking for heat. Me, not so much. The tree peonies in our display beds have been blooming quite happily and our herbaceous and Itoh are budding nicely.

Each year someone will ask us about the "bonus" peony growing with his or her tree peony. This is NOT a "bonus"! The tree peonies we sell and the majority you find on the market for sale, are grafted. Tree peony stock is grafted onto a common garden variety root. We always tell people to plant the tree peony a couple of inches deeper than the level it is at in the pot. The tree peony will then set its own roots and the "mother" root will die off. Before this occurs or if the tree peony was not planted deep enough, the garden peony will send up stems and if allowed to grow, will eventually take over and kill off the tree peony which we certainly would not want to occur.

Tree Peony with "mother plant" coming up from the base.

To prevent this, you need to cut the stems completely to the ground. "But they look so healthy!" you may say and "Isn't it nice that I have a lovely pink peony to go along with my lovely yellow tree peony?" NO! You may feel mean snipping away, but your tree peony will be forever ( a good forty years or better) grateful that you have eliminated the intruder from its base. It is a good idea to mound up a couple of inches of soil at the bottom also if you think you did not plant deep enough originally.

Herbaceous Peony Leaves

Knowing what to cut is easy once you are aware of the difference in leaf structure. The herbaceous plant has leaves that are shaped differently and much smoother and shinier as seen in the accompaning photos.

Tree Peony Leaves

Herbaceous Peony Leaves

As always if you have any questions, send us an email and we will gladly try to help you with any peony or other gardening inquiries.

Have fun in the garden!
Cheryl

Spring is here???

2013-03-25T17:09:00.002-04:00

Well here we are on day 6 of spring (?) and as you can tell by the above picture of Pittsgrove, winter has decided to stick around longer than most of us would like and for the past few days has caused havoc across a good portion of the US. This time last year, we were relishing temperatures in the 60's and working daily in the garden beds. Yesterday was the first time in ages that John and I ventured outdoors here for any length of time beyond gathering kindling for our wood stove. It wasn't the cold, but the accompaning wind that cut through to the bone that kept us from our chores. We cleaned up more winter debris and started preparing the vegetable garden, but planting has still been postponed to some yet unknown date in the future more amenable to the sowing of seeds and tender seedlings.

This is still the time of year, if weather permits, to get out to your garden beds to finish any cleanup that wasn't finished during our equally uncooperative fall. It's much easier to get those pesky maple leaves and dead weeds removed rather than waiting for warmer weather which then finds all your perennials suddenly appearing and growing like Topsy making your job much more tedious.Whip out those clippers and cut back any perennials that you didn't get to earlier.Your iris won't look very attractive with a heap of brown leaves lying next to them and if you cut away the brown leaves from your helleborus you'll be greeted by some beautiful blossoms waiting to kiss the sky.

Helleborus last spring

So buck up, bundle up, and clean up those flower beds for spring is surely on the horizon. At least that's what the calender keeps telling us.

Think positive thoughts!
Cheryl

Hawaii Reunion

2013-03-04T10:36:00.002-05:00

Kuoloa Ranch where many movies and TV series Lost have been filmed.

No arm twisting was required when my aunt and uncle (Pagan Dancer-see post from Sept. 15, 2008)
stated New Jersey was too great a distance for them and Australia would be too far to ask us to travel, and suggested we meet them in Hawaii. Let's see--sub-freezing, snowy Jersey, or 85 degree and sunny Oahu. Not a difficult choice at all.

"Ramona" Cheryl & "Duke"

It was a great reunion as we hadn't been together since 2005 when John and I finally visited with them and the rest of our OZ family in Victoria. My aunt and uncle share our love of plants and gardening, so besides swimming, snorkeling and some great dining out, we explored a number of botanical gardens together.

Mindanao Gum Tree at the Dole Plantation

We wondered at the beautiful variety of flowers, trees and shrubs, some that we recognized from either Jersey or Australia and others none of us had ever seen before.

We were struck by the beauty of the rainbow of colors of the hibiscus and orchids and quite cautious of the fruit of the cannonball tree which would be frightfully dangerous on a windy day.

Cannonball tree at Foster Botanic Gardens

A visit to an orchid nursery enabled my aunt to show me those she grows at home that unfortunately were not in bloom during our visit.

Admiring orchids

Our walks together throughout resplendent gardens gave us the opportunity to relax and reconnect after being so many miles and so many years apart. Of course our ten days together flew by much too swiftly as is often the case when enjoying yourself with those you love, but we said our farewells at the airport with the promise to plan another reunion with more gardens to explore.

North Shore Sunset

Aloha for now!

Cheryl

Garden Shows Across the US

2013-02-01T10:45:00.000-05:00

I'm nice and cozy indoors while I write, but today here at Pittsgrove the temperature is hovering around 18 degrees so I don't plan to be doing any gardening, thank you very much. As temperatures dip and weather turns nasty, for many cabin fever sets in and winter doldrums ensue. To eliminate, or at least minimize the effects of being cooped up, garden shows that are scheduled throughout many bleak winter days, provide a terrific remedy.

From coast to coast and every where in between, these shows during January through March get us out of our houses and away from the grayness of winter that many of us experience in areas where plants are dormant and trees are leafless overseers. Rainbows of color in display gardens and the scent of fresh soil, such an aphrodisiac to folks dedicated to digging in the dirt, uplift the spirit.

Some of you may just like to wander the shows taking in the beauty set before you. Others look forward to the education provided by lecturers in specialized fields and many will go home with a purchased plant to brighten a window or catalogs to peruse for the newest plant introductions. Whatever suits your fancy, look up the schedule for the garden show nearest you and make plans to get out of the house and into the gardens.

Stay warm and think spring!
Cheryl

Pittsgrove Farms Is Alive and Well--So Is The Jersey Shore

2013-01-18T15:36:00.002-05:00

I'm not about to compare myself to a genuine author, but over the past few months have experienced what professionals do and developed "writer's block". The thought of blogging at all sent me running into the perennial beds to escape the glare of a blank computer screen. I have realized that my lack of presence online may lead some to believe that Pittsgrove has gone by the wayside. Fret not, dear gardeners, John, Pittsgrove Farms, and I are alive and well. Actually, Pittsgrove is alive, but dormant at the moment, and frankly sometimes John and I get that way on a gloomy winter's day.

Plants asleep for the winter.

It's that time of year when we've cut back our plants, put them in cold frames or under insulation blankets, and cleaned up the garden beds until spring arrives. There will be more clean up over the winter as weather permits as Hurricane Sandy set things back for us outdoors. Fortunately, other than losing a 40' spruce that did only very minor damage and having branches to cleanup, we fared quite well. Which brings me to my next topic-the Jersey Shore.

I'm a Jersey girl (old broad) born and raised and it was heart wrenching to see the devastation across our beautiful and much maligned state, especially the shore area. What concerns me now is how much we are hearing that Jersey is down for the count, which is far from the truth. I have gotten feedback from merchants in Cape May (unscathed by Sandy) and elsewhere that business is down tremendously because people from out of the area believe the Jersey Shore is no longer a vacation destination. Much rebuilding needs to be done in some but not ALL areas.

Cape May at Sunset

Please keep Pittsgrove Farms in mind when you're looking for iris or peonies in the spring and the Jersey Shore when considering a day trip, weekend get-away or family vacation. You won't be disappointed!

Keep warm and think Spring!
Cheryl

Earthly Delights Part 2

2012-06-10T16:37:00.001-04:00

Part of our display at Earthly Delights

Earthly Delights certainly lived up to its name! John and I went into this venture blind having never done a show before. The grounds where the event was held were stunning and Andrea Filippone and her group of volunteers could not have been more friendly or accommodating.

We also met a number of amazing vendors dealing in a fantastic array of plants. It takes a great deal to stump John with plant identification after his many years in the gardening world, but believe me, he saw many plants that he had never encountered.

John speaking with one of the other vendors

Overall the weather was glorious, but Mother Nature did hit us with a couple of heavy rains.The rain had little effect on the vendors or those in attendance-- as gardeners we are all used to her whims by now. There are a number of vendors that we plan to visit on one of our "bus man's holidays" and we hope to see some of them here at Pittsgrove.

This was a "delightful" experience and we were quite glad we decided to attend. Maybe we'll see you there next year.

Happy Gardening!
Cheryl

Earthly Delights

2012-05-23T16:20:00.003-04:00

John was recently contacted by Andrea Filippone of AJF Design to be a vendor at Earthly Delights . This was something he had not heard of before and told Andrea he would discuss it with me and get back to her. After checking on what this was all about and asking a few of our customers about it, we have decided to go ahead and appear at this event taking place June 1, 2, and 3. I'm sure it will be quite an experience for us and for any of you who also attend. The estate where Earthly Delights will be held looks breath-taking from the photos we have viewed online and we look forward to walking the grounds.

Have no fear, we will still be open that weekend here at Pittsgrove (we'll work that out one way or another) but look forward to seeing those of you who attend for what promises a quite interesting and informative weekend.

More and more plants are coming into bloom here and each morning, John and I have another surprise awaiting us in one of the garden beds. Peonies are in full color and tall bearded, Siberian and water iris have been popping one after another.

The bird houses are full and butterflies have started to spread their wings. All is right with the world, at least the world of nature here at Pittsgrove.

Hoping your world is also blossoming,

Cheryl

Butterflies-Welcome Them To Your Garden

2012-05-18T01:00:00.000-04:00

Butterflies on perennial hyssop

When people visit us here at the farm, they often marvel at the number of butterflies seen throughout the gardens. A Star Ledger article by Ryan Hutchins informed us of a recent visitor to Pittsgrove, the Red Admiral, and we have noticed a number of egg cases on plants throughout the property.

There are a number of plants that you can add to your property to attract these beautiful insects.

John and I have been planting here at Pittsgrove since we've been married (believe me, that's a long time!) so we have a terrific number of plants to bring these beauties of nature our way. No matter the size of your property or your budget, there are plants that may soon make Monarchs, Swallowtails, Skippers, etc. seek out your garden.

Petunia

Annuals such as zinneas, petunias, impatiens and verbena along with cosmos, nicotiana, and marigolds are all easily found in an abundance of colors at your local garden center or big box store.

Yellow Swallowtail on hyssop

For long term success in enticing our winged delights to the garden, plant perennials such as yarrow, hyssop, butterfly weed, and peony. Thyme, mint, rosemary, and sage not only attract butterflies, but do double duty in your kitchen.

The butterflies go crazy here for our cone flower (echinacea) and black-eyed Susan (rudebeckia).

Coneflower and Black-eyed Susan

Butterflies like the plants they seek in warm, sunny, wind protected locations.

It doesn't take a big budget to plant with these flying beauties in mind and they will reward you with a colorful dance of grace enthralling to behold.

Make a butterfly your friend!
Cheryl

Dig It-Aggressively Forward-Tall Bearded Iris

2012-05-15T11:05:00.000-04:00

Aggressively Forward (Innerst-1994) was aptly named as it was the first tall bearded to bloom in our beds this season. With its very large blossoms and tall stature, there was no overlooking this handsome (in my opinion) iris. Its muddied appearance may be off-putting to those of you who prefer solid colors in your flowers, but I have always been attracted to the unusual. Aggressively Forward also has a nice fragrance making it even more distinctive.

On a personal note, May is GBS/CIDP Awareness Month. Say what??? Exactly. A family member has CIDP and believe me, we went insane with worry before he was properly diagnosed as it mimics so many other conditions. My purpose today is to inform our readers as these are 2 of those "orphan diseases" barely known by the public, but can strike people who had been perfectly healthy dumbfounding them and their physicians alike.
And yes, our family member is now doing quite well, thank you!

Happy Gardening!
Cheryl

Please Stop The Itch!!!

2012-05-04T22:09:00.000-04:00

First off, let me be clear this is not a commercial endorsement, since unlike some of my blogger friends, I make $0 from writing. Most of us bloggers just enjoy writing about things close to our hearts and somewhere in the back of our minds lies the "Great American Novel".

John and I have noticed an overabundance of poison ivy this spring and have decided to completely redo an area next to our driveway rather than contend with the ridiculous amount of it that has infested our rudebeckia and echinacea.Poison ivy is a vine whose leaves grow in clusters of three and every part of it is poisonous, even in winter.

Several years ago, I infected myself miserably while weeding and not realizing that my bare arms were exposed to a ton of poison ivy. The itching was unbearable and I went to our local pharmacist for relief after everything else I tried was futile. He recommended a product, technu, which made me sigh "Ahh".

I have given it to others who were miserable after contact with this wretched weed and they have thanked me profusely for bring an end to their anguish.

technu can be found in your local drug store and believe me for all of you avid gardeners, it is well worth keeping on hand since if you have experienced this rash before, you know how easy it is to contract.

Happy gardening!
Cheryl

Dig It-Heuchera-"Coral Bells"

2012-04-30T01:05:00.000-04:00

If you are looking for an easy to grow perennial to add some punch to your garden, you might want to consider Heuchera. Also known as Coral Bells, these hardy, easy to grow plants do well in sun or part shade. Hybridizers have developed outstanding colors ranging from yellow-green to deep purple leaves. Spikey white, pink, or red blooms appear late spring to early summer. The plants range in height from 10-15" and at maturity attain a width of about 15".Heuchera-Miracle

Heucheras are also great plants to use in combination pots, as they fill out quickly and provide great texture and focal points.

Heuchera-Plum Pudding

Other than cutting back the dead foliage in the fall, (which should be done with all of your perennials) Heuchera is really a carefree perennial which will add a unique look to your garden for years to come.

Heuchera-Tiramisu

Happy Gardening!
Cheryl

Dig It-Age of Victoria Peony

2012-04-23T20:25:00.000-04:00

John and I are fortunate enough to own a second home in historic, Victorian Cape May, New Jersey, the original seaside resort. The streets are lined with stately Victorian and Queen Anne houses in colors that would seem out of place elsewhere, but provide a welcoming magic to this quaint town on the Atlantic.

Age of Victoria fits right in with its old-fashioned, yet regal appearance. Blossoms are quite large for a single and its peachy-buff color brings to mind the hats and dresses worn by ladies in the late 1800's as they strolled the shore enjoying the summer breeze.

The plants reach a height of approximately 34-36" and sport large, showy leaves. However, their stems will need support in the garden as they are not always strong enough for the weight of the blossoms.

If you haven't already done so, I would advise a visit to Cape May, one of New Jersey's gems for a step back in time and an experience unlike the rest of the Jersey shore.

Happy Gardening!
Cheryl

Garden Apps-For Those of You Who Are Not Me

2012-04-20T01:00:00.000-04:00

Both sons, Jeremy & Garrett have Smart Phones. I don't, because well..... Yeah that's what the sons would say-"Mom, you aren't very smart." They wouldn't be saying that in a derogatory way, but because I'm very slow to pick up on new technology. I was one of the last people in our circle of family and friends to get a dish washer or microwave. And whenever I complain to one of our sons about a problem with our PC or laptop, I get the same answer--"The problem is your computer is 10 years old! Get a new one!"

An article I read in the Star Ledger recently will be of use to both Jeremy & Garrett and for a great many of you, but alas of little use for me. You see my flip phone has no use for Apps, but all of you with Smartphones will find some pretty handy, dandy info at your finger tips to make gardening a little easier in what appears to be approaching an age when the Jetson's would feel at home.

Gardening Toolkit is an app from Applied Objects for $1.99 for iPhone and $3.99 for iPads. You punch in your zip code that will establish your plant hardiness zone and then you can continue on to general guidance for what chores you should be doing each month. Planting advice, plants for attracting bees,butterflies, and hummingbirds, along with recommendations for shade or sun are also provided.
Garden Tracker from Portable Database at 99 cents for iPhones helps you plan a garden for the best of plant health and vegetable yield. The iPad version runs $3.99 and is called Garden Tracker-Bumper Crop. Pest control, watering, and fertilization are also topics that are discussed.

So, one of these days when I approach the expertise of my grandchildren when it comes to technology, I may actually be able to put the above information to use. Until then, I hope there are more of you out there who find this helpful and perhaps if you stop in at Pittsgrove, you can pass along what you have learned:)

Until then, happy gardening!
Cheryl

Dig It-Ice Chalet-Standard Dwarf Bearded Iris

2012-04-16T00:00:00.000-04:00

Dwarf bearded iris are beginning to come into bloom here at Pittsgrove, although a customer 30 minutes south of us recently told me most of hers had come into bloom the end of March. In any case, the dwarf are the first of the bearded iris to show their blossoms, usually after the daffodils have finished and tulips are beginning.

Ice Chalet (Paul Black-1981) is 6-12" and like other dwarf iris makes a good rock garden or border plant. It is icy white with a bluish cast and a lavender-blue beard. It has an almost translucent quality to it with a sweet fragrance.

Those of you in the area of the Presby Gardens, will be able see many varieties of Dwarf Bearded coming into view long before their taller brothers.

Happy Gardening!
Cheryl

Dig It-Barbara Walther-Historic Iris

2012-04-10T16:21:00.011-04:00

Barbara Walther

When someone comes to Pittsgrove Farms looking for a white bearded iris, we immediately go to our Old Faithful, Immortality, which is both hardy and prolific. Our customer goes off happy as can be, especially when told that it is a fairly reliable rebloomer. However, every now and then we will get a comment that Immortality is more cream or ivory, not as "white" which is when we go to Barbara Walther.

Immortality

Barbara Walther is pure white with a white beard and named for the the woman who was instrumental in getting the property next to hers in Essex county turned into the parkland on which the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens now stand. Barbara Walther as volunteer curator at Presby was personally responsible for turning it into the world renowned iris gardens that it is today.

Barbara Walther

Barbara Walther, the iris, is tall (37") and sturdy and shines brightly amongst groupings of its colorful relatives.

Iris Unguicularis-AKA Winter Blooming Iris

2012-03-30T21:43:00.010-04:00

Having just experienced "The Winter That Wasn't" here in Jersey, it may seem strange to be writing about a winter blooming iris, but we try to introduce you to some plants that may be unfamiliar to all of you who just remember Grandma's iris (tall bearded) growing in her back yard.

Iris Unguicularis, additionally known as Algerian iris, is rarely available and rarely seen. Its foliage is evergreen and is about 18" in height, forming a nice clump. The approximately 3" light purple blooms are nestled in the center of the clump.

The plant will start to bloom when the weather starts to turn cold, around November and will continue to bloom until about April, stopping its blooms if the temperature drops to 15 degrees or so. The plant above had 6 or 7 flowers blooming for months since this winter was so mild.

Winter Blooming Iris does well in a warm, dry location in zones 7-9 and really seems to thrive on neglect. When you come upon it in the garden in January or February in full bloom, it really surprises you. The color and size of the flowers make you think of spring, not winter.

The iris should be planted in the early fall by division. It takes a couple of years to form a nice size blooming clump.

With the warm weather continuing, we expect it to be an early year for all our plants, so as we watch the flowers fade on the Winter Blooming Iris, we welcome the burst of color that spring brings and await the first blossoms on our bearded iris.

Look forward to seeing you at the farm!

Happy Spring!
Cheryl

Fall Cleanup--More Than Anticipated

2011-11-04T11:42:00.016-04:00

Fall is always cleanup time at Pittsgrove, but this year it involved more than just cutting back iris and peonies and raking leaves. The unprecedented snow storm that hit much of the Northeast caused branches to snap, crackle and pop right off the trees, but fortunately for us without affecting power or causing damage to our house or gardens. That was not the case for many other homeowners in our area, nor our family in Morris County who lost power for nearly a week.
While we just have to figure out what to do with all the limbs and branches that we have piled up for removal, our son and his wife face the task of throwing out spoiled food for the second time (power was also lost for an extended period after Hurricane Irene) and whether they should invest in a generator before the next outage occurs.
Many of the trees in Jersey are at the peak of their leaf color which proved so devastating when the heavy, moisture laden snow fell. Someone described it as having a book placed in your outstretched hand, then having someone else toss three more on top--only the strongest will bear the weight. Mother Nature painted a pretty picture of autumn splendor, then maliciously sought to destroy her work. Who ticked her off???
I'll be heading back outdoors to continue preparing the beds for winter, but staying well enough away from the trees as branches are still dangling precariously in upper portions and I don't plan on having my head targeted.
Hoping all is well in your neck of the woods,
Cheryl

Pittsgrove Daylilies-Inside Jersey!

2011-06-26T20:56:00.028-04:00

Inside Jersey Photo by Patti Sapone

A year ago, we received a call from Valerie Sudol at Inside Jersey magazine requesting permission to send a photographer to Pittsgrove to take pictures of our daylilies for an article that would be published in 2011. She was looking for a Jersey farm that had more than just Stella d' Oro in bloom. We welcome photographers and artists to the gardens, so readily agreed.

Sassy with Mini Stella

Photographer, Patti Sapone spent quite some time taking numerous shots throughout the property. She told us our plants would be featured in whatever article Valerie wrote and we should expect a credit in the photos.

Little Grapette

John and I were pleasantly surprised when our July 2011 issue arrived with our Star Ledger (which has been a staple in my home since I was a child!) and not only did we get photo credit, but John was quoted in the article along with a box insert (?) naming Pittsgrove Farms and Miller's Garden Designs in York, PA as sources for daylilies to purchase.

Red Ribbons

Our daylilies are popping into bloom everywhere and people are amazed that so many varieties exist. Hyperion at 44" towers over 10" Eenie Weenie. Flowers range in size from the multiple 2" blossoms of Little Grapette to those like Inwood and Mary's Gold that span 6-7" across. The color range and combinations amaze folks who never knew how exotic-looking these hardy plants can be. The spidery appearance of Red Ribbons and Kindly Light contrast greatly to the rounded shape of Lauren Leah. Solid yellow Bitsy is oh so different from dramatic Malaysian Monarch and Spiritual Corridor.

Lauren Leah

As Valerie states in her article, the nearly indestructible daylily has one enemy---deer think they're candy! If you have a deer problem, we recommend spraying or planting in a fenced area.
They are great for summer color around a pool.

Bitsy

Our thanks to Valerie and Patti for the great job on the article and informing people about what great additions daylilies will make to your garden.

Spiritual Corridor

Interested in seeing just how diverse daylilies are, get in touch with us to check on when we're here and we'll be happy to introduce you these reliable perennials.

Happy Summer!!!
Cheryl

Dig It-Tall Bearded Skywalker

2011-06-20T08:06:00.010-04:00

Skywalker-Schreiner '96

One of our regulars was visiting Pittsgrove recently when she looked out over our bloomed out bearded iris beds and asked "What is that still in bloom?" pointing to a patch of blue in the distance. Surprisingly, a new iris (for us) was still putting out numerous blossoms amongst bed upon bed of flowerless swords. Whether we will see the same abundance next year is yet to be determined (we have learned that Mother Nature has her own quirks about what occurs in the garden beds) but this year the quite handsome "Skywalker" really impressed.

Photo Credit-Schreiner

The love of Star Wars has been passed on to the next generation as our "Vehicle Boy" is following in his dad's footsteps with his embrace of all things "in a galaxy far, far away". As a child, Garrett was upset with me for days after I told him we had thought of Luke as a first name for him before he was born. He bemoaned the fact that he was not named for his idol, but say Luke Gulish and you realize it sounds like something is caught in your throat!

Standing alone in the afternoon mist

Vehicle Boy was thrilled to see his idol standing so tall and fearless in the field. Skywalker (Schreiner '96) is a cross between Honky Tonk Blues and Altruist and has shown just how vigorous a plant it is with its excellent blooming habit. The flowers are nicely ruffled with an interesting blending of color. I promised our grandson that when his family moves into their new house, I will plant a nice Skywalker in their garden to ward off the Storm Troopers. And I think now that Garrett is all grown up he is glad he doesn't have to introduce himself while sounding like he is gagging.

The Founding Gardeners---A Gift for John

2011-06-11T00:01:00.001-04:00

Jeremy and Garrett are always asking for ideas for gifts for their dad, who is often not easy to buy for since he is usually content to wear the same clothes over and over while pursuing what he loves best--working outdoors.

This time I have what should be the perfect Father's Day gift as it combines his love of gardening, history, and politics. Recently released in the US, The Founding Gardeners by Andrea Wulf, discusses George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and James Madison and their absolute passion for planting which matched their passion for founding a new country. Long before Michelle Obama, John Adams was the first White House gardener, who planted his garden there in 1800. All of these presidents shared a passion for planting which surely would have made them soul mates for John.

I know he will be delighted to receive this book and now it's just a question of which son gets to buy it first.

Happy Gardening!
Cheryl

Memorial Day 2011

2011-05-30T00:01:00.001-04:00

My thoughts today are for those who served with my dad, uncles and father in law in WWII, with John during Viet Nam, and with Garrett in the Middle East and did not return. May they rest in peace and never be forgotten. We should all be thankful for the ultimate sacrifice they made in service to their country. God bless each and every one.

Please remember them.
Cheryl

Carol Ann Moyer Iris Garden-Delaware Valley College

2011-05-20T11:05:00.020-04:00

What would you expect iris growers to do in their spare time, but visit other iris growers. What a delightful visit John and I made to the Carol Ann Moyer Iris Garden at Delaware Valley College in Doylestown, PA. For many of you, The Presby Memorial Iris Gardens are too far away to make an easy day trip, but Carol's beautiful display may be within your reach.

Mme. Chereau

Silent Wings

She has lovingly created a garden that would make Monet whip out his brushes. Historic iris, such as Mme. Chereau 1844, up to the newer introductions such as Silent Wings 2001 have found a home here.There are petite Amethyst Flare 1975 to wild Ziggy 1977-something for every iris lover's taste.

Amethyst Flare

The garden is part of an arboretum, is free (something we all appreciate in these economic times), and will be in various stages of bloom for the next few weeks. So if you want to get off your knees pulling weeds in your own garden, go visit Carol's. It's an easy find right on Rt. 202 in Doylestown which is also a lovely place to visit, and within a short ride to Peddler's Village,New Hope, and Lambertville, NJ.

Ziggy

See, I've given you a great idea for day out in some gorgeous countryside. The weeds can wait 'til another day.

A recent view of the garden

Happy Gardening!

Cheryl

Dig It-Happy New Year!

2011-05-16T10:12:00.006-04:00

Happy New Year (Byers 1989)

As I stated in my last post, John and I are like little kids on Christmas morning when a new variety (for us) comes into bloom. This morning's gift was a tall bearded iris named Happy New Year and was certainly cause for celebrating.

Happy New Year (Byers 1989) grows to 2 1/2-3' tall and is a re-bloomer. We know some of you prefer solid tone iris, which are certainly beautiful, but a variety such as this adds excitement to our garden beds. We are waiting for more surprises as more and more iris that we have never grown before come into bloom. I'll keep you posted!

Happy Gardening! Cheryl

Iris---Slowly But Surely

2011-05-14T10:44:00.019-04:00

Spring has definitely arrived, but is certainly taking it's time as I sit here writing wearing a long sleeved flannel shirt on May 14th! But the birds have returned, the bird houses are filled with new occupants, and the robins have started a new brood. Our dwarf bearded are in full bloom with our intermediates popping open each day, but the peonies are still in bud and should be opening with some additional sunshine, which may not be too forthcoming.Florentina-1500
Last fall we planted a number of iris that Presby Memo rial Iris Gardens gave us to propagate and to serve as a back up in case their beds are vandalized as they were a few years back when a number of their historic iris were ripped from the ground and strewn about the property. A few of those iris have begun opening such as King Christian and Florentia and while they are interesting, they do not have the same impact that the newer varieties exhibit. But, as always, John and I are always excited to see a flower for the first time and each week a new surprise awaits us here at the farm.King Christian-Intermediate 1901
We did find Blue Boy to be an attractive early bloomer and are anxious to see what other surprises are in store.
Blue Boy-Intermediate 1913

Happy Gardening!
Cheryl

Presby and Pittsgrove-Growing Together

2011-05-05T19:51:00.011-04:00

For those of you who have followed our blog, you will recall that a couple of years ago we partnered with Presby Memorial Iris Gardens in Montclair, NJ to help support these magnificent gardens. We have supplied the gardens with plants for their annual Mother's Day plant sale in what has proven to be a successful fund raiser for this worthy organization.

We are happy to announce that this year Pittsgrove is returning a good number of Presby's iris back to them to be sold at the sale. After bloom time in 2010, we took divisions from the gardens and propagated them here at the farm. Available for sale this weekend will be some historic iris such as King Christian, Blue Boy, and Fiorentina. Other varieties will become ready for sale in weeks to come, both at Presby and here at Pittsgrove.
All profits from the Presby sale go to the operations of the gardens. If you are in the area, please consider picking up something for your garden or for that special mom in your life to help preserve the beauty of this New Jersey gem.

The sale is this Friday and Saturday, May 6 and 7 from 10:00-5:00. And if you are interested in coming to Pittsgrove, we are open by appointment. So give us a call and come for a visit. Hunterdon County is a beautiful area especially in the spring.

Happy Gardening and Happy Mother's Day!
Cheryl