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New Discoveries and Garden Update

6/21/2018

10 Comments

 
Not a day passes anymore that I don't learn something new about plants, and I don't think a whole lifetime would be long enough to learn all there is to know...even supposing I could travel the world and see them all! I was just coming out of the woods the other day when I noticed a small tree growing in the middle of a thicket of Red Osier dogwood. Even from a distance I thought the flowers looked unusual, and so, with some difficulty, I made my way up to it! This is the Guelder Rose, also known as High Bush Cranberry. But whether it is the European Vibunum opulus, or the American Viburnum opulus var. americanum, I don't know! 
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Each flower cluster is surrounded by a ring of showier blossoms, which are sterile. 
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Apparently, the only way to tell the difference between the European and American forms (at least before the berries ripen) is by the shape of the tiny glands where the leaf joins the stem (there are more correct botanical terms for these, but I can't remember them!). In the European form, the glands are supposed to be more flat and slightly cup shaped and the American form is more columnar. 
The glands on this plant are extremely tiny and I can't decide for sure, but I'm leaning towards American.
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Yesterday, I found another one growing in the field...
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The flowers look a bit different...or is it just that they aren't as mature? The inner flowers aren't open yet.
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And the glands on this plants are much more pronounced and obviously flat and cup shaped, so I assume that this is European. One article I read said that the two forms also hybridize, which makes it even more confusing! Either way, it is a beautiful plant and the flowers look beautiful in a vase...but I'm waiting til Monday to show you that. ;)
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I've also been paying more attention to the different ferns in the woods and was struck by the size of these. I believe they are Ostrich ferns, but correct me if I'm wrong! It was funny...when I was trying to identify them, I googled "giant fern", and the first thing that came up was the Mules Foot fern, which is native to Madagascar. If you haven't seen it, I would recommend looking it up...I don't think ours are so "giant" any more!
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Size comparison...
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I know this is getting long, but it's been a while since I posted a garden update, and I probably won't have another chance to do so until next week if I don't do it now! The first half of June was decidedly chilly (we had a light frost on the 15th!) but everything has been thriving. This is probably the spiciest flower garden in the world. The groundhog is still around, despite all my efforts, so I have been dusting all the vulnerable plants with cayenne pepper every few days!
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I love lupines!
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The Valerian has gotten so tall this year!
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The Sweet Rocket was so fragrant early this morning!
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Columbines...
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The groundhog was also raiding the vegetable garden and the only things he was leaving behind were the onions and garlic, and weeds of course! So I put up a fence to keep him out. 
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Well, there are so many other things I could show you, but they will have to wait till next time...
10 Comments
Edward S Turner
6/21/2018 05:19:21 pm

Thank you! I am going to hook up our $15 per month. Got busy and forgot about it :(

Ted T

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Joanna link
6/21/2018 08:44:48 pm

Oh, no problem! I hope the seeds do well for you! :)

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Nancy
6/21/2018 06:38:23 pm

Have you tried pepper spray?

https://oldworldgardenfarms.com/2018/06/21/homemade-hot-pepper-spray/

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Joanna link
6/21/2018 08:48:33 pm

Thank you for the link! It looks like a good and simple recipe and I'll have to give it a try! I used to put cayenne pepper in water and sprinkle the plants with that, but it eventually plugged up the sprayer, so I've been just putting it on straight out of the jar. I recently tried a Cajun blend but something in it seems to be burning the leaves, so I'll have to be more careful with that!

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Eliza link
6/22/2018 09:11:33 am

Happy Summer! Your garden is looking lovely - isn't it amazing that just a couple of months ago there was snow on the ground??
Good sleuthing on the viburnum and yes, those are ostrich ferns. They are the fiddleheads that are edible in early spring.

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Joanna link
6/23/2018 02:38:50 pm

Thank you and a very happy summer to you, too! :) It does seem like a completely different world from what it was 2 months ago!!

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Veleria
6/22/2018 11:59:35 pm

I am a 70 yr. old lady, living in the country, in Florida. I'm from WV.

You have such a lovely sweet face and I enjoy your blog so much. Its endearing to see someone as young as you to have such an interest in flowers and gardening. Reminds me of myself when I was young. I still have a lot of flowers and live on 2.5 acres. Lots to take care of. But it keeps me young, at heart, anyway. Just wanted to say hello. Veleria

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Joanna link
6/23/2018 02:45:00 pm

That is so kind of you. :) I started gardening when I was 15 and never looked back...I'm now 24 and can't imagine life without gardening!
Your garden must be so beautiful...I can only imagine what gardening in FL must be like!

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Jason link
6/25/2018 06:58:59 pm

That looks like Ostrich Fern to me. They are huge, especially in a rainy year like this one. We are in the UP right now and enjoying all the wild Lupine blooms. The blue Columbine looks really nice - what is that tiny white flower with it - baby's breath?

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Joanna link
6/26/2018 05:58:51 pm

This has been a comparatively dry year for us so I wonder how much bigger they could get! Those are forget-me-nots with the columbines...I guess the picture does make them look white!

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    ​I am a passionate gardener and seed-saver, who also enjoys playing the violin and accordion, running, spending time with my 4 golden retrievers, keeping chickens, photography, and reading. ​
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