- Author: Lonnie Payne-Clark
I know that this might sound strange to you, but today, March 20th, the first full day of spring, I was admiring the various types of weeds and wildflowers that are popping up in my garden. It reminds me of the quote, “Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them.”-A.A.Milne. I was admiring the various colors and types of plants that are popping up in the sun-drenched part of my garden, such as the dead nettle (Lamium purpureum), field marigolds (Calendula arvensis), miner's lettuce (Claytonia perfoliate), musky stork's bill (Erodium moschatum), a species of filaree, and of course, what excursion into weeds and wildflowers wouldn't be appropriate without mentioning the California poppy (Eschscholzia californica), which, of course, is a beautiful plant, but could be considered a weed to many.
The wild calendula in my garden developed as a surprise. Several years ago, I bought a package of calendula seeds - most likely Calendula officinalis. They produce gorgeous, low-to-the-ground plants with attractive three-inch orange and yellow flowers. I did not buy them with the intention of using them as ground cover, but they became ground cover! Several years later, those plants still reappeared since they could be self-sown.
To my surprise, I noticed that one part of my garden had these much taller daisy-like plants that I discovered were a different type of calendula, often called field marigolds, Calendula arvensis. I'm not sure how Calendula arvensis came to my garden. I have purchased several packs of wildflower seeds over the years. Perhaps it was brought into my garden by one of those wildflower mixes.
Since we live in a Mediterranean-type climate, this should not come as a surprise. These plants are often found in fields in the Tuscan region, especially among olive groves. The blooms are much smaller than the calendula that I started from seed. I enjoy how they open every morning, follow the sun, and close in the evenings. Often, visitors to my garden confuse them with blooming mustard plants, commonly seen here in the Valley at this time of year as cover crops between the grape vines.
What is also spectacular about both of these calendulas is that they seem to be very drought-tolerant. I don't use much, if any, water for either and am constantly rewarded with a multitude of blooms. The more cultivated calendula continues to bloom well into the summer with infrequent watering. The wild calendula gets “leggy” after a while. I pull them up by late April, amend the soil, and plant my sunflower seeds. It's a great spot in my garden to keep a continuous pop of color.
Napa Master Gardeners are available to answer garden questions by email: mastergardeners@countyofnapa.org. or phone at 707-253-4143. Volunteers will get back to you after they research answers to your questions.
Visit our website: napamg.ucanr.edu to find answers to all of your horticultural questions.
Photo credits: Lonnie Clark
- Author: Bob Niklewicz MG
MARCH
Rose lovers who live in the Napa County area are used to fairly mild Winters. In December many of the roses in our yards, as well as those at the Fuller Park Rose Garden, still had leaves and even some buds that were managing to find the sun. Some people found themselves in a quandary, “the bushes still look pretty good and some even have flowers. What to do?!”
In January the decision was wisely made in the Fuller Park Rose Garden that we had to cut back (prune) branches to about 18-24” height and clean up all the leaves and debris on the ground around the bushes. Mulch was added. If there was a problem with black spots or fungus we could apply dormant spray to reduce an outbreak of the disease when the bushes start their new cycle of growth. The photo of the “Rose Garden Corral” above, captures the start of the new year for roses in the Fuller Park Rose Garden.
In February there were hints of new growth, so we did some “thumb pruning” which is accomplished by pinching off any new growth that is pointed into the center of the bushes or less than 12” from the ground using small shears or just our thumbs to remove the unwanted growth.
In March our winter care and diligence paid off with lush new foliage and hints of new buds starting to grow. We continued to remove any new growth below the 12” height and any new branches that crossed awkwardly and touching more vertical stems and branches. Checking to see the condition of the drip system was also done. We also identified any bushes that were struggling because of winter problems such as: drowning in low lying areas, damage from wind, rats, deer, or damaged irrigation lines.
The good news is that even in some very harsh environments, Roses are hard to kill so even if the bushes look battered, give them a chance to fight back.
Next month we will cover April along with pest and disease management. If you have questions about the Fuller Park Rose Garden and the Master Gardeners who maintain the garden, MGs are usually in the garden the first Sunday and third Thursday of each month between 10:00 am and noon, weather permitting.
Napa Master Gardeners are available to answer garden questions by email: mastergardeners@countyofnapa.org. or phone at 707-253-4143. Volunteers will get back to you after they research answers to your questions.
Visit our website: napamg.ucanr.edu to find answers to all of your horticultural questions.
Photo credits: Bob Niklewicz
- Author: Bob Niklewicz, MG at the Fuller Park Rose Garden
In the Master Gardener's Rose Cycle, May is when we fertilize with organic products, start deadheading and check our irritation systems. Last year we had a section of irrigation tubing that was chewed through by rodents in the garden. Perhaps they were seeking water or they simply liked the taste of the tubing. They ate about a foot long section of tubing that looked like half a loaf of french bread cut long ways with the center eaten out. That is an odd graphic but close enough for your imagination. Not checking the system can waste a lot of water.
We also do some thinning out of the centers of new growth in our bushes to make sure that the air circulation is adequate. Circulation is needed to reduce the incidence of black spot and rust on the plants. Thinning out refers to the removal or new sprouting stems that are pointed into the center of the bush or are crossing other branches. In addition, we watch for the extra, unwanted growth in the crux of two or more stems. This seems to be a nest for fungal growth and the harboring of pests in this dense new growth that will not be productive for bloom growth later.
Pruning now is simply to snap off or thumb prune those small, densely packed clusters of new leaves. That will improve circulation and send more energy to the growth you want to encourage, rather than wasting it on non-productive leaves.
Rose of the Month: Double Delight
The Double Delight rose (Rosa ‘Double Delight') bred by Swim & Ellis came to us in 1977. It is a hybrid tea rose cultivar from ‘Granada' and ‘Garden Party' parentage. It has a very sweet, fruity scent and it blooms constantly. It was awarded the title of “World Favorite Rose” in 1985.
It is one of the best selling and well known roses in the world. It is a perfect hybrid shape that can last a long time when cut and displayed. There is no definitive reason for the name other than perhaps it has both a wonderful color and scent, or just because it has a wonderful blend of two colors. It is easy to grow but they are not immune to the mildew and black spot. The flower is large and borne singly, though they can be in two or three buds on a long stem. The ‘Double Delight' is blooming now in the Fuller Park Rose Garden as both a tree rose and a standard bush. Come to the garden and see it in bloom for a real double delight before your eyes and nose. (Information is from The American Rose Society Encyclopedia of Roses, 2003)
Remember to toss that plant debris into your city compost bin and NOT your own compost pile. The Napa City compost center produces higher temperatures to destroy the spores while your backyard pile will not do so.
If you have questions about the Fuller Park Rose Garden and the Master Gardeners (M.G.s) who maintain that Rose Garden, the MGs are usually in the Garden the first Sunday and third Thursday of each month between 10:00 a.m. and noon, weather permitting.
Watch for information about a Summer Rose Pruning course coming May 4th at our Master Gardener classroom with a hands-on portion on May 9th at the Fuller Park Rose Garden. Visit our Master Gardner website: napamg.ucanr.edu for more details. Napa Master Gardeners are available to answer garden questions by email: mastergardeners@countyofnapa.org. or phone at 707-253-4143. Volunteers will get back to you after they research answers to your questions.
Photo credits: Bob Niklewicz
