Flowery Prose links up – round one.

I haven’t done one of these posts since (gasp!) December, and there are so many interesting plant stories I want to share with you! I hope you enjoy this batch!

Frost weed (Verbesina virginica) doesn’t grow here in Alberta, so finding this post about it was something “new and cool” for me. Are you familiar with this plant?
It’s time to sow your seeds (perhaps it’s even too late in many regions!). If you live in Canada and want to source out companies that sell organic heirloom or rare seeds, check out this comprehensive list.
Have you heard about the devastation of Impatiens walleriana by downy mildew? Find out what is going on and pursue the “grow or give up (and for what?)” debate here. Will you risk planting Impatiens this year?
Some of you will be pruning your roses already…others will be digging out from the ~~10 cm~~ (5 cm, actually – it just FEELS like more) of snow we received yesterday on top of the 20 cm we had four days ago. (I’m not bitter at all, really!). 😉 Here’s a quick guide to getting your roses in tip-top shape.
If this is the year you plan to espalier your apple trees, then take a look at this handy post.
I really loved this entry I came across about the Floating Gardens of Inle Lake, in Burma (Myanmar). Has anyone travelled there and seen these?
I don’t know if any of you have to deal with armadillos as a pest in your garden, but this article really freaked me out. I’m glad I only have to tangle with rabbits and squirrels. If armadillos are a problem where you live, do you take the measures this writer recommends?

It’s almost the weekend…yay! How are you planning to spend it?

Mysterious Flower-Killing Mildew Makes Gardeners Lose Impatiens – Bloomberg (bloomberg.com)
Lack of impatiens a blow to gardeners (triblive.com)
Winter interest. (floweryprose.com)

Posted by:

Sheryl @ Flowery Prose

Sheryl Normandeau is a writer and gardening enthusiast living in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, in the foothills of the spectacular Rocky Mountains.

13 responses to “Flowery Prose links up – round one.”

Holleygarden

March 7, 2013

I have just begun to find out about the impatien problem. And to think – this year I bought seeds for them – when they haven’t been in my garden for years! I’ll probably try anyway. And I have loads of armadillos around here. I just let them be, and mumble under my breath at all the holes they dig looking for my precious earthworms!

Reply
1. Sheryl @ Flowery Prose
  
  March 7, 2013
  
  I thought you might know something about the armadillos! They sound like they are extremely annoying. Does anyone there trap them like the article says?
  
  I do hope your impatiens do well this year! I wonder if you will have a better chance at success because your climate is dry.
  
  Reply
Steve Schwartzman

March 7, 2013

How did you happen to come across the post about frostweed now?

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1. Sheryl @ Flowery Prose
  
  March 7, 2013
  
  Hi! I actually read and enjoyed your frostweed posts when you first put them up. I have a folder in which I keep links of anything plant-related that catches my eye – some of it is useful when I’m researching for articles I’m working on, other tidbits are just plain fascinating and I hang onto them for reference. I don’t always get around to sharing everything I collect, however, and occasionally, it takes me awhile to get to those that I do put up. Your photos and write-ups are excellent and I always look forward to your entries.
  
  Reply
  1. Steve Schwartzman
    
    March 7, 2013
    
    Thanks for your explanation. I’m glad to hear you look forward to the latest entries from Austin, where lots is happening in nature now and I’m scrambling to keep up. I wish I could be everywhere at once.
    
    Reply
Cathy

March 7, 2013

Lovely round up. Those floating gardens are intriguing. I read about the impatiens problem too – I don’t usually plant them anyway, but will definitely avoid them now. The weekend will be spent in the garden – if possible! (Snow is forecast for next week after a taste of spring this week).

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1. Sheryl @ Flowery Prose
  
  March 8, 2013
  
  I hope you get a chance to get out into the garden this weekend – especially if you have more snow on the way! Have fun! 🙂
  
  Reply
Boomdeeadda

March 7, 2013

I tried to plant Impatiens so many times with mixed success. They’d rot right above the soil and break off even though they were flowering. It was frustrating because then there’d be an empty space in the garden and it’d be too late to plant anything else. As the spot only got very early day sun, I ended up placing a pot with a giant fuchsia there as not to many things liked so much shade.

The garden islands are very cool. Too bad about the political atmosphere in Burma.

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1. Sheryl @ Flowery Prose
  
  March 8, 2013
  
  I’m more of a begonia fan – and I LOVE fuchsias for shady areas. I used to hate dealing with the flats of impatiens at the garden centre where I worked – they would inevitably get watered way too often and too much from the top OR it would rain and be cold the entire month of June and the plants would turn into grey mush. Not pleasant in the least.
  
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  1. Boomdeeadda
    
    March 8, 2013
    
    Oh ya, begonia’s! gorgeous in yellow’s and orange. I almost forgot about them. LOVE them in the shade too.
    
    Reply
Little Sis

March 8, 2013

Armadillos?! I thought squirrels were bad…. wow.

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Libby

March 10, 2013

Hi – thanks for linking to my espalier post 🙂

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1. Sheryl @ Flowery Prose
  
  March 10, 2013
  
  You’re welcome! 🙂
  
  Reply