Dig It - Baby Sister Siberian Iris

Tell me, who doesn't like babies? I've made enough references in the past that by now you know I have an affinity for the petite plant varieties. Baby Sister, a dwarf Siberian iris, is my pick for this week. She certainly holds her own against her taller sister and brothers in a garden, has a lovely blue color, and blooms profusely. This sturdy little plant looks good at the garden edge or as part of a rock garden.

Baby Sister with Hubbard in the background at sunset at Pittsgrove Farms

Presby Memorial Iris Gardens

Yesterday to commemorate Earth Day, "The Boss" and I were among the 125 or so in attendance at the dedication of the partnership between the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens and Essex County.

Presby had fallen upon rough financial times and was in danger of losing what had been created in 1927 in honor of Montclair resident, Frank Presby, who had been known as a steward of the American Iris Society. Since the gardens contain over 8,000 iris in 3,200 varieties, you can imagine what a devastating loss this would have been not only for Montclair, but for the thousands who visit this historic centerpiece. With the purchase by the county, the citizens committee which was desperately trying to preserve Presby, can concentrate on the keeping the gardens a worldclass historic site.

Frances Liscio addressing the gathering

County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, (at left) fondly called "Joey D" by Fran Liscio, president of the citizens committee, was instrumental in getting the ball rolling and getting everyone on board to obtain the necessary funding and did so in a very timely manner. The complete story can be found in today's edition of The Star Ledger.

After returning from Presby, it was time for "The Boss" and I to get back to our own contributions for Earth Day as we headed back to the fields to continue cleaning up our own iris beds, putting picture tags on our already potted peony, iris, and daylily plants, and potting more for the season. As we plunked our weary bones down at the end of the day, we did so with the knowledge that we continue to help Mother Nature keep our world a beautiful place.

Happy Gardening! Cheryl

Pleased to Meet You!

Something John and I missed most after "retiring" was the daily contact with customers, some of whom had been loyal to our business for over 20 years. Since we've been back growing perennials, that wonderful interaction with plant-loving folks has rebounded.

Display gardens at Schreiner's

The other day a gal who has joined the ranks of our new "loyal" customers brought in pictures of her visit to Schreiner's in Oregon. We had told her about this fabulous iris grower when she mentioned she would be vacationing in the Portland area. She was fortunate to attend around Memorial Day of last year when their display gardens were in full luxurious bloom. The three of us raved about what a fantastic experience a trip to Shreiner's can be as it was near Memorial Day that John and I had visited a few years ago.

Fields of Iris at Schreiner's

Last fall another of our customers popped over and asked if I had ever grown garlic and when I said I hadn't, handed me a clove from her garden with instructions on how to grow it. The plants seem to be thriving and I look forward to using them in my kitchen.

As a new season gets underway, we look forward to the opportunity to talk plants and share our gardening experiences. Plant people are some of the warmest and most generous people I have ever known. I think one has a different perspective on life and a greater appreciation for what Mother Nature has provided when you work a garden.

So feel free to bring your pictures to share, questions to ask, or just stop to wander our gardens. It's that glorious time of year again when the earth is coming to life, the birds are busily feathering their nests, and "the boss" and I are doing what we love best---"playing in the dirt"!

Happy gardening! Cheryl

Tweeting at the Farm

We wanted to let everyone know that we are pushing forward with Gardening 2.0 - having a laptop on the go and in the dirt doesn't work(trust us). But Twitter allows us to provide updates to our friends and gardening buddies when we are on the go, which is quite a bit during the busy season.

Knowing that many of you are like my parents and haven't a clue what Twitter is, let me explain:

Twitter is a free service that allows users to send and read other users' updates known as tweets. Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 characters in length which are displayed on the user's profile page and delivered to other users who have subscribed to them (known as followers).

We will still be posting to the blog but this provides just another avenue to find out what we got going on in the dirt.

If you don't have an account, check it out. If you are a veteran tweeter, please add us, we are excited to see what you have going on too!

Tweet with you later,
Jeremy

Dig It - Early Scout Peony

No guesswork here- Early Scout peony (Auten 1952) is so named because it is one of the earliest peony plants to pop out of the ground after a long winter's nap and also one of the first to come into bloom. This dwarf peony variety with its fern like foliage is compact by nature and the peony grows to a height of 18-24" making it ideal next to a walkway or as an addition to a rock garden.


Some of our New Jersey Peony lovers are surprised when told this hardy little plant with the small red flowers and brilliant yellow centers is even in the peony family. When these cheerful little blossoms have faded, snipping them off will leave a plant that resembles a Japanese maple. Folks often ask us what variety maples we are growing when they see these peonies out of bloom. Having perennials that look good even without their flowers is always a plus for any gardener.
Happy Gardening!
John

Dig It - Rose Queen Japanese Iris

Even though John and I had grown Bearded, Siberian, and Pseudocorus irises in our gardens throughout our married life, (and believe me, that's a looooooooooong time!!!) it wasn't until just a few years ago that we began growing Japanese irises. We soon discovered just what we were missing all that time.

Since they bloom after the Tall Bearded and since some Japanese irises bloom well into August, they are an iris lover's dream for extending the season.

Those of you who are fortunate enough to be growing Japanese iris already most likely have those with the beautiful, larger flowers. Rose Queen is quite unlike them with its stately, compact, pink blossom held regally above its grass like foliage. I have delighted in having Japanese irises as permanent additions to our landscape, but have developed a special fondness for this beauty.

Dig It-Shaker's Prayer

When someone mentions Siberian Iris, usually what comes to mind is Caesar's Brother, the most commonly found in garden centers and big box stores. Although quite hardy and attractive in its own right, there is much more to the Siberian world than this deep blue variety.

One that we are highlighting today is award winning Shaker's Prayer. This 36" iris is one of the first Siberians to make its appearance in spring. The heavily veined violet-blue blossoms have an almost wildflower look as they tower above their foliage, making one think of a meadow in bloom. The plant itself is quite hardy with the slender, attractive stems and foliage that Siberians are known for as opposed to the heavier stems and leaves of their bearded cousins. You won't have to get down on your knees and pray for flowers since Shaker's Prayer is one of the most prolifically blooming Siberian irises.