Category Archives: Plant Profiles

Having A Ball With Alliums (Ornamental Onions)

Posted on by carole funger

They look like they hopped out of a Dr. Zeus book — bright purple balls stuck like lollipops on tall, sturdy stems. Ornamental onions (alliums) can be startling the first time you see them. That said, there’s so much to love about these magnificent plants, including long bloom period and resistance to most pests and diseases. And their curious appeal can really liven up a garden.

BALLS OF FUN

Why be so serious? Often it’s the unexpected that makes life so interesting. And without a doubt, ornamental onions were born to surprise. In formal landscapes, they inject a note of humor, while in informal ones they’re electrifying. And each year as their numbers grow, they form new, unexpected color combinations with other flowers in the garden.

Alliums in one of my spring gardens

Be that as it may, alliums are a relatively recent addition to the garden. In fact, they were virtually unheard of until the English garden designer Rosemary Verey, introduced them into one of her designs. Created in 1964, her jaw-dropping Laburnum Arch brought ornamental onions into the international limelight. Ever since, their popularity has only continued to grow.

Rosemary Verey’s famous Laburnum Walk

ABOUT ALLIUMS

Ornamental onions are part of the allium family, a large genus of plants that includes onions, leeks, scallions, garlic and chives. Unlike their edible cousins, however, they are cultivated solely for their flowers. Among the hundreds of species available, there are some that grow to 6 inches, while others reach as high as 4 feet. Their purple, pink or white blooms can be ball-shaped, star-shaped or pendulous. And some resemble exploding fireworks. 

Botanical Gardens in Gothenburg,Sweden/Photo: shutterstock 

Ornamental onion bulbs must be planted in the fall (at the same time as daffodils and tulips.) Most species make an appearance in late spring, when giant, paddle-shaped leaves start popping up on the soil surface. Eventually, the bulb sends up a thick, leafless stem topped by a single, swollen bud.

Over time, the bud slowly expands to reveal hundreds of tiny, star-like flowers that gradually combine to form a dense purple ball. By mid-June, many plants produce one or two additional blooms.

A fully developed flower head

DESIGNING WITH ALLIUMS

Ready to give ornamental onions a try? I say do like Rosemary Verey and go big. For the most impact, I sow my alliums in groups of threes or fives haphazardly throughout the garden. Alliums make great companions plants to other spring flowers like peonies and irises. And the later blooming varieties look great with salvia, yarrow, monarda, catmint and daylilies.

One of my designs combining alliums with pink azaleas and green hostas 

All allium varieties flower best in full sun, although they’ll also grow in semi-shade (see above.) Once the flower has died, cut the stalk down to refocus energy back into the bulb. Dried flower heads make great additions to indoor flower arrangements, by the way.

POPULAR ALLIUM VARIETIES

As I mentioned before, there are literally hundreds of allium varieties available. But, here are some of the most popular:

Purple Sensation, the earliest bloomer of all the large-flowered alliums, flowers in late spring. The variety makes a stunning companion to peonies, bearded irises and delphiniums. The 4″ to 6″ diameter violet globes float on sturdy stems that grow to 24″ high.

 ‘Purple Sensation’

If you’re looking for a big ‘wow’, try Globemaster and/or Gladiator. The tallest of the ornamental onions, these varieties boast huge purple flower heads (some measuring as big as 8″ to 10″ across) on 3 to 4-foot stems. A white version called Mount Everest is slightly shorter.

‘Globemaster’

‘Mount Everest’

Adorable Drumstick produces reddish purple cone-shaped flowers (like drumsticks) in July and is a great companion to other summer-blooming plants like daylilies, daisies, and coneflowers.

‘Drumstick’ 

Star of Persia (Allium christophii) is a wild-looking allium variety. It produces star-shaped fuchsia flowers on gray-green stems and blooms late spring to early summer.

Star of Persia/Allium Christophii

If you’re looking for real fireworks in the garden, try Schubert allium whose pink umbels look like an explosion. Seed heads look great in the garden, too, long after the blooms have faded. Blooms late spring to early summer.

Allium Schubertii

In addition to these great cultivars, there are lesser-known allium varieties that can keep the blooms going all through the summer. For more information on these as well as a great video on how to plant them, click here for Fine Gardening’s excellent article on these summer beauties.

To see photos of my garden designs, including plant lists, check out my Instagram at carole.herebydesign. I post seasonally from spring through fall. 

Why Carnations Are The Official Mother’s Day Flower

Posted on by carole funger

For those of you who think Mother’s Day was created by Hallmark, think again. The real story is much more touching. It all sprang from a daughter’s love for her mother, the trials of war and a gift of 500 white carnations.

IT STARTED IN WEST VIRGINIA

The story began in 1905 when Anna Jarvis lost her mother. She and her mother had been very close. Consumed by grief, Anna made a solemn vow. She pledged to establish a national day to honor her mother and all mothers for the positive contributions they made to society.

Anna’s mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, had raised her family in the mid 1800s and had suffered great hardship. Of the twelve children she gave birth to, only four survived. The others died from diseases common at the time, including measles, typhoid and diphtheria. 

MOTHERS HELPING MOTHERS 

Yet despite having endured such loss, Jarvis remained stout-hearted. In the 1850s, she began organizing coalitions of mothers from across West Virginia to combat childhood illness. The women raised money for medicines, inspected food and milk and nursed those who were sick. 

The coalitions became known as the Mothers Day Work Clubs.

Ann Reeves Jarvis

Then, in 1861, when the Civil War broke out, the mothers also became volunteer nurses, caring for Confederate and Union soldiers alike.

Mother’s Day Work Club members took care of all soldiers

Even after the war, the clubs continued to be a unifying force. In 1868, Jarvis organized a Mothers’ Friendship Day, which brought together mothers of former foes and encouraged reconciliation among area families.

ANN JARVIS LOVED CARNATIONS

Shortly after Jarvis’ passing, Anna hosted a memorial at her mother’s church in Grafton, West Virginia. During the service, she passed out 500 white carnations (her mother’s favorite) to all mothers in attendance. With this unofficial “inauguration”, Anna began rallying support among national, state and local politicians for a recognized Mother’s Day movement. 

And unbelievably, a decade later, 46 states and many foreign countries, including Canada and Mexico, were holding Mother’s Day celebrations!

Finally in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson made things official. He signed Proclamation 1268, which created a national Mother’s Day as A public expression of love and reverence for the mothers of our country.

Letter signed by President Woodrow Wilson establishing Mother’s Day

The second Sunday in May became the official day of celebration. And the wearing of a white carnation became a tradition.

THE CONTROVERSY OVER MOTHER’S DAY CARDS

Anna Jarvis originally intended for Mother’s Day to be a personal celebration between mothers and their families (this is why Mother’s takes the singular possessive and not the plural). She imagined it as a time when millions would visit their mothers and write hand written notes expressing their love and affection.

Vintage Mother’s Day card

With the official recognition of the holiday, however, florists, card companies and other merchants began jumping on the bandwagon. Jarvis grew enraged as she watched Mother’s Day drift further and further away from her original idea. Nothing upset her more than the printed Mother’s Day card. She wrote,

A printed card means nothing except that you are too lazy to write to the woman who has done more for you than anyone in the world. 

By 1920, Jarvis had become so angered over the commercialization of Mother’s Day that she launched a campaign to abolish the holiday. Declaring Mother’s Day a failure, she organized boycotts and threatened lawsuits to stop others from profiting off of the day.

In 1923, she even filed suit against the Governor of New York over a Mother’s Day celebration. When the court rejected her plea, she formed a protest and was arrested for disturbing the peace. She devoted the remainder of her life to fighting against the very day she had established.

Jarvis died, childless, in 1948 at the age of 84. She is buried next to her mother in Philadelphia.

THE ROLE OF CARNATIONS

A century later, Jarvis’ legacy lives on in our annual Mother’s Day celebration. And there’s no doubt that carnations have become the official Mother’s Day flower. In her day the carnations were white, but since then pink and red colors have also become popular.

In fact, today it is generally believed that pink carnations represent gratitude while red ones signify admiration. And white carnations are now reserved for honoring a mother who is no longer living.

Red carnations signify admiration

Despite Jarvis’ later efforts, every U.S. president since 1914 has issued an official Presidential Mother’s Day Proclamation recognizing and honoring America’s mothers. And today, the custom is celebrated all over the world (albeit on different days.)

On a personal note, I like receiving printed cards and flowers on Mother’s Day, but have to agree with Jarvis that nothing beats a hand-written note from your child. I’m lucky enough to receive such letters each and every year.

Wishing all of you a very happy Mother’s Day!

 

When and How To Prune Azaleas

Posted on by carole funger

I like to think of azaleas as mixed on an artist’s palette. By mid-spring, they’re painting the landscape with broad strokes of color. Most seldom require pruning. That said, older shrubs can outgrow their space and become unruly. Before giving them a haircut, though, it’s key to know when and how to prune.

The Main Types of Azaleas

Azaleas are part of the Rhododendron family, a large genus of evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs. In April and May, they produce masses of long-lasting flowers ranging from bright white to crimson. And some deciduous varieties produce unusual tones of orange and yellow. 

Evergreen azaleas are mostly native to Japan. They tend to be smallish in size, ranging in height from 4 to 6 feet.  

Deciduous azaleas, on the other hand, tend to be larger. Some can grow as tall as 15 feet. All native North American azaleas are deciduous.

Native azalea ‘Stonewall Jackson’

Although some varieties do well in full sun, most azaleas prefer high shade. Like hydrangeas, they favor slightly acid soil (a pH of 5.5 – 6). Before planting, it’s best to do a soil test to determine if the soil is acidic enough. If not, you’ll need to add an amendment like HollyTone, making sure to follow the directions carefully.

Azaleas can be planted in early spring or fall. But in my experience, most are happiest with fall planting as they can develop their root structure over the winter. 

How To Prune Azaleas

Most azaleas seldom require pruning. But if you must – always prune them right after their flowers have faded and before next year’s buds start forming. This is typically around the beginning of July. Cutting azaleas back in late summer, fall or winter will remove next spring’s flowers. 

In my view, azaleas look best when pruned in a natural shape. Unlike rhododendrons that flower at the end of a stem, azaleas flower along the sides as well as the end. That means you don’t have to worry about pruning them back to another branch. They’ll grow a new stem right above where you cut. 

If, however, you observe damaged or dead branches, the strategy is slightly different. Cut damaged branches to just beyond the break where it joins a leaf. And cut dead branches back to their point of origin.

How To Prune Encore Azaleas

Encore Azaleas appeared in the 1990’s, the result of a cross between two Asian varieties by a Louisiana plantsman name Buddy Lee.  Unlike the usual varieties that set buds once a year, Encore Azaleas produce buds each time they produce new growth, which can be several times during the season. As a result, you can prune these azaleas two and even three times from spring to mid summer.

Do not, however, prune your Encore Azaleas after they have finished flowering in the fall. This will stimulate new growth which can be damaged by falling temperatures. As a general rule, stop your pruning two months before the frost date in your area.

How To Prune Overgrown Azaleas

Many times old shrubs outgrow their locations, or turn spindly or sparse. You can ‘heavy’ prune them in winter or very early spring before the leaves start to appear. This is called rejuvenation pruning. 

To do this all at once, cut the branches back by a third or one-half, trimming all of the branches to maintain a uniform shape.

Most experts, however, spread heavy pruning out over several years. This prevents the shrubs from becoming eyesores during their rejuvenation. To employ this method, prune a third of the longest, oldest branches down to within 12 inches of the ground each year for three years. This will encourage the shrub to branch out and fill in over the seasons as you continue your pruning.

By the end of three years, all of the old wood will be removed and you’ll be left with a strong, healthy shrub.

 

 

D.C. In Bloom: The Story of Our Nation’s Cherry Trees

Posted on by carole funger

Having lived in Washington, D.C. for decades, I’ve come to associate spring with the blossoming of the cherry trees around the Tidal Basin. And due to this long-standing tradition, I am a keen observer of the weather. Some years, I’ve worn a heavy jacket to see the flowers. Other times, I’ve put on shorts. Still other years, fickle winds have spelled the early demise of the delicate blooms.

To avoid the crowds, we always arrive early on the National Mall. And by early, I mean right after dawn. By 8:00 am, there are usually thousands of people already snapping pictures under the fluffy pink canopy. It is estimated that more than 1,500,000 visitors come to the National Mall each year to view the magnificent blossoms. Below is their story.

A Cherry Tree Obsession

Washington D.C.’s cherry trees originated as a gift of friendship from Japan to the American people in the early 1900’s. But long before that, they had caught the eye of American journalist Eliza Scidmore. In 1885, during a visit to Japan, she was awestruck by the flowering tree. She wrote:

Its short-lived glory makes it all the more keen and enjoying.

Eliza Scidmore/Photo: nps.gov

Meanwhile, back in D.C., the Army Corp of Engineers was engaged in reclaiming lands along the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers. How the new landscape would be planted remained an open question. Thinking cherry trees would be a good fit, Scidmore petitioned the government. But federal officials denied her request due to fears the trees would need 24-hour policing to prevent people from stealing fruit. 

(Upon learning that the trees were strictly ornamental, officials saw no reason at all to plant them.)

That said, Scidmore wasn’t one to give up easily. Taking a different tack, she wrote to First Lady Helen Taft, who promptly offered to donate 200 trees to the Tidal Basin and asked Tokyo’s mayor to do the same. Japan did her one better. In January 1910, a gift of 2000 trees arrived in D.C. to be planted along the banks of the Potomac.

Unfortunately the trees were infested with insects and had to be subsequently destroyed.

A Blossoming Friendship

Two years later, the Japanese sent a second gift. This time it contained 3,020 cherry trees raised under the care of ‘Scientific Experts’. Composed of 12 ‘superior’ varieties, the shipment was loaded onto freight cars and sped to Washington, D.C.

Below is the U.S. National Park Service’s breakdown of the trees by species:

In March 1912, First Lady Helen Taft and the wife of the Japanese ambassador planted a pair of these cherry trees on the northern bank of the Tidal Basin. Following the ceremony, the First Lady presented a gift of one dozen roses to Viscountess Chinda, thereby inaugurating the first unofficial Cherry Blossom Festival.

Incredibly, a couple of these 1912 trees still survive near the John Paul Jones Memorial (located at the intersection of 17th Street and Independence Avenue). A bronze plaque at the base of the trees commemorates the occasion. 

According to the National Park Service, some news articles indicate that a few of the original 1910 trees may also be hidden somewhere in the city. The United States Botanic Garden (USBG) believes they might be at Haines Point, where they have discovered a group of old Yoshino trees whose genetic makeup does not match the second gift of trees. Planted in clear rows about 50 feet apart, the cherry trees still bloom faithfully every spring. 

The Cherry Tree Rebellion

By 1938, people had fallen in love with D.C.’s cherry trees. At the same time, plans were underway for the construction of the Jefferson Memorial on the south side of the Basin. Many people, however, felt strongly that the memorial would interfere with the enjoyment of the trees. . 

When, in the spring, the National Park Service announced the impending removal of 600 trees to make way for the construction (including 328 cherries) it caused a riot. Chaining themselves to trees, a group of women staged a ‘Cherry Tree Rebellion’. President Franklin Roosevelt wasn’t impressed. He was quoted as saying

We will move the lady and the tree and transplant them to another place. 

But in the end, the Memorial was slightly downsized. And, according to the National Park Service, only 88 of D.C.’s cherry trees were destroyed while 83 were transplanted .

The National Cherry Blossom Festival

Decades later, the Washington, D.C. cherry blossoms are now classified as ‘Cultural Icons’; the same category as the national monuments. A crew of tree experts takes care of them, while adhering to a strict schedule of pruning in early spring. Currently, they are addressing soil compaction caused by the huge number of visitors.

Referred to as ‘wood chip therapy,’ their work involves creating a barrier between feet and soil to allow water and nutrients to reach the trees’ roots. In some areas, they are also installing fencing.

According to the National Park Service, peak bloom date is when 70 percent of the blossoms are in full bloom. On average, this usually occurs sometime in late March to mid April, depending on climate. Beginning in October, the National Park Service monitors the five stages of bloom starting with the appearance of the first green bud. The fifth and most vulnerable stage, known as ‘Puppy Blossoms’, is when the blooms are most susceptible to weather.

To determine the exact date of the Festival, however, the Park Service looks to an old Yoshino cherry tree, believed to be part of the original 1912 gift. Known as the Indicator Tree,  it typically blooms 7 to 10 days before the others. The tree is located just east of the Jefferson Memorial.

 

For the Love of Forsythia: Ten Top Varieties

Posted on by carole funger

My sister Cindy was born in March. And every spring when the forsythia bloomed, we celebrated with a family-coined phrase. Our mother would say: These are for-Cynthia. My sister would puff up with pride and it wasn’t long before she started gravitating towards the color yellow. I’ll never forget the canary carpet she insisted on having in the 1970s.

Although I was secretly jealous that a flower blossomed especially for my sister, I grew to welcome the arrival of the sunny blooms. In my mind, forsythia is forever linked to my sister, to March and the happy return of warm weather. Continue reading →

12 Best Dogwoods for First Time Owners

Posted on by carole funger

As a landscape designer, I find people are often surprised when I bring up dogwood shrubs. This isn’t because they aren’t beautiful – on the contrary. But rather that many people are unaware that the dogwood family includes not just woody trees, but also a group of flowering shrubs with stunning attributes. Expanding your dogwood repertoire, in fact, can add not just spring, but all year interest to a home garden.

Below are a few popular species guaranteed to light up your landscape. Continue reading →

Mistletoe: The Poisonous Plant We Hang At Christmas

Posted on by carole funger

For centuries, people have hung mistletoe as a symbol of love and romance. But sadly, the plant doesn’t harbor the same feelings. Why?  Because mistletoe contains a Christmas cocktail of toxins that when ingested can harm humans and pets. I advise keeping it out of reach if you’re planning on hanging it this season. Continue reading →

New Hybrids Promise To Rock Your Poinsettia World

Posted on by carole funger

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In the United States, December 12 is National Poinsettia Day, a time to honor a plant that has become symbolic of the holiday season. And while not everyone’s a fan, it’s hard not to marvel at the species’ growing popularity. Poinsettias have come a long way since they were first brought to the U.S. by Joel Roberts Poinsett. Back then, they were celebrated for their brilliant red color. These days, poinsettia hybrids come in every shade of white, pink, orange and even blue. Continue reading →

Feed The Birds: 10 Plants With Great Winter Seedheads

Posted on by carole funger

Once their petals fade, cut flowers tend to end up in the garbage. But outside, it’s a different story. Not only do dried blooms enhance a garden, but their seedheads provide food to birds and wildlife. And those two reasons alone should make us think twice before cutting our plants back for winter. Continue reading →