Category Archives: Ye Olde Garden

Ye Olde Garden

A collection of caladiums and callas

I’ve been thinking about companion plants for callas, and I’m either going with coleus (annuals) or caladiums (perennials). While caladiums don’t boast the same color spectrum as coleus, they may be arguably the more budget-conscious choice, since they can return year after year with the proper care.

Here are the cultivars I’ve been considering:

Red Frill, strap, medium sun-tolerance
Red Ruffles, strap, excellent sun-tolerance
Pink Gem, strap, excellent sun-tolerance
White Wing, strap, excellent sun-tolerance

The Thai variety of caladiums have also recently popped up on the radar, offering bolder colors and variegations than the typical caladiums. I’m unsure of their sun-tolerances, habits, or heights, so I will have to do more research on them. But for now, a good source can be found at AsiaticNursery.com.

Meanwhile, outside of Pacific Callas and ZCallas, I have found a nice selection of Calla lily bulbs to be had at Lakeside Callas and Brent and Becky’s.

Ye Olde Garden

The gardening bug hits again

Well, living in an apartment certainly has not quelled my fancy for gardening. I bought an Asahi Zuru acer palmatum 5-gallon specimen late October 2008 from Forestfarm. In the transport, it went into shock and dropped all its leaves. I potted it and left it in my shady patio, and all winter long I made sure to water it weekly. Of course now that it’s February, and the weather has become pleasant again, I’m filled with dread and anxiety that I am stuck with another skeleton of a Japanese Maple. This weekend I’ll be inspecting the tree for deadwood and will do some careful pruning to hopefully ease the burden on it. I found some very good cultivation and pruning guides at Davidsans and Oregonlive.

I’ve also been shopping around for Calla lilies to try on the patio. Both PacificCallas.com and ZCallas.com appear to possess a good selection of bulbs to try. I’m thinking I’d like to find some red and orange flowering varieties to go with my red salvias. But the blush, pink and white of the japanese maple begs for some calla coordination as well.

Also, another upside to my shady patio: I can now give caladiums a try!

Who would’ve thought I would be resurrecting the gardening section of this site?

Ye Olde Garden

Photo-less

I discovered that I had left the digital camera outdoors during some rain, so it is now completely inoperable. I will be shopping around for a replacement. Meanwhile, the daylilies are still blooming, especially the Crimson Pirates…and the white crepe myrtles are still in full flower.

Ye Olde Garden

Spring to summer lilies

Like clockwork, the spring lilies wound down their show to make way for the daylilies of summer.

The late May/early June daylilies debuting in the garden are:

Rhode Island Red: height 26″, season E, bloom 5.75″, Rebloom, foliage ev., Tetraploid, deep cardinal red with orange red gold edge above green throat

Dragon King: height 22″, season E, bloom 5.5″, Rebloom, foliage ev., Tetraploid, mandarin red self with vivid green throat (large yellow/green throat area)

Midnight Raider: height 30″, season M, bloom 6.5″, Rebloom, foliage ev., Tetraploid, dark purple self with green throat

Spacecoast White Out: height 24″, season E, bloom 6.5″, Rebloom, foliage sev., Tetraploid, near white self above yellow green throat

Indochine: height 34″, season E, bloom 5.5″, Rebloom, foliage dor., Tetraploid, yellow blend with green throat

Crimson Pirate: height 30″, season M, foliage dor., Diploid , Spider Ratio 5.20:1

What’s interesting to note is that the Crimson Pirates, listed as mid-season bloomers, are blooming in full force in early June. The front yard beds have very robust bloomers at this time, and they love to arch toward the sun. Of all the daylilies so far, the Pirates have the smallest bloom sizes, but the most flowers per scape.

I suspect Out Back Red has already made a showing, but none of the blooms I’ve seen have measured 7″ across yet.

I am not particularly impressed with Midnight Raider’s colors, not as intense as I would like, but it does pair well with the neighboring Vermeer calla lily.