Beautybush (Kolkwitzia amabilis)
This shade tolerant deciduous shrub grows to a mature height of 6-8 feet by 6-8 feet wide. Its upright arching habit and dark green leaf color make this a good choice for border plantings. Gray-brown bark on older stems exfoliates to give winter interst. Pale pink bell shaped flowers in early June are followed by brown hairy seeds that are persistent on the shrub well into winter. Its reddish fall color is rather insignificant. Performs well in rather sandy poor soils and once established is rather drought tolerant.
image source: Gertrud K.
French Marigold (Tagetes patula)
The French marigold is native to Mexico and Nicaragua. In addition, it has been cultivated in Europe and the United States for its flowers and medicinal properties. The plant can grow in soil types from sand to clay, but requires well-drained soil. It is hardy to zone 9, is frost tender, and performs best in full sun.
The flower is an annual, growing to 10″ by 15″. Flowering from July to October, the seeds ripen in September. The flowers are perfect (having both male and female organs) and are pollinated by insects. They are noted for attracting wildlife.
From ghorganics.com:
French Marigold (T. patula) has roots that exude a substance which spreads in their immediate vicinity killing nematodes. For nematode control you want to plant dense areas of them. There have been some studies done that proved this nematode killing effect lasted for several years after the plants were These marigolds also help to deter whiteflies when planted around tomatoes and can be used in greenhouses for the same purpose. Whiteflies hate the smell of marigolds. Do not plant French marigolds next to bean plants.
Capitate
image source:Esdras Calderan
Capitate - kăp’ĭ-tāt’
Forming a headlike mass or dense cluster, as the flowers of plants in the composite family.
Brown Turkey Fig (Ficus carica ‘Brown Turkey’)
In the past couple of weeks I have planted, along with some assistance from the kids, several fruit trees and shrubs. Working for a nursery sure has its benefits. I bought an apple, plum, cherry and a fig along with some blueberries. Of all the fruit we have acquired I am most excited about the fig. I chose the Brown Turkey variety.
Hardy in USDA Zones 8-10, however with winter protection the Brown Turkey fig can be grown successfully in Zone 5. Even if frozen in the winter it will die back to the ground and can re-sprout from the ground and still produce a crop the following summer. For best production plant in part sun to full sun areas with well drained soils. Mulch liberally with organic material. Figs tolerate pruning and are often pruned heavily in the dormant season, controlling size and increasing fruit production.
Most cultivars of fig trees produce two crops, a spring crop on last season’s growth, and a summer or fall crop on new wood. Allow the figs to ripen on the tree before you pick them. Fresh figs have a very short shelf life, extend the benefits of figs by drying or even making some jam.
Check out this video on caring for figs:
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Chojuro Pear (Pyrus ‘Chojuro’)
Excellent variety for home gardeners with limited space. Great fall foliage color. Chojuro Asian Pear trees have beautiful, golden fruit with a rich, butterscotch like flavor when tree ripened. Medium to large fruit ripens early in the fall Very productive; thin to increase fruit size. Ripe fruit keeps well for months. Fruit Salads, Fresh, Canning. Self Fertile.
Zones: 5-8.
Weeping Cherry
Silver Dragon Lily Turf (Liriope spicata ‘Silver Dragon’)
This evergreen perennial features dark green, narrow foliage highlighted with silvery-white vertical variegation. Flowering in summer the pale purple flowers are followed by whitish-green berries. Well suited for use as a ground-cover or edging. Hardy in zone 6 this perennial grows to 10-12″ high and equal in spread. Keep evenly moist and plant in shade to part sun locations.
Axil
ax·il (ăk’sĭl) The junction between a stem and a leaf.
Capsule
cap·sule (kăp’səl, -sūl) A dry dehiscent fruit that develops from two or more united carpels.
Some examples of plants that produce capsules are poppy, lily, orchid, willow, cotton, catalpa, dianthus, and horsechestnut.
Buds
A bud is a small, developing part of a plant that will grow into a flower, a new leaf or a stem. They can be useful in the identification of plants and are often used for winter identification of woody plants.
Here are a few commonly used terms applied to buds:
- Accessory - An extra bud produced on ether side of an axillary bud.
- Adventitious - Used to describe a bud that develops some place other than a stem node. From roots or crown tissue or rhizomes.
- Axillary - When the buds are located in the axil of a leaf.
- Dormant - Non growing buds, where growth is delayed due to winter or dry conditions.
- Flower bud - A stem tip with embryonic flowers. Magnolia, Cherry.
- Lateral - Produced on the sides of the stems instead of at the ends.
- Leaf bud - A stem tip containing embryonic leaves.
- Mixed bud - Having both embryonic flowers and leaves.
- Naked - Not covered by a scaly covering.
- Pseudoterminal - Used for lateral buds that take over the function of the terminal buds, Common in persimmon.
- Reproductive - Having embryonic flowers.
- Scaly - Also called ‘covered buds’ which have bud scales that cover the embryonic flowers and/or leaves.
- Terminal - Buds at the ends of stems.
- Vegetative - Buds of embryonic leaves.
