A Garden for All Seasons

Master Gardeners Class 2013

Sherry Marshall

Amy Prywes

D. O’Shea Watson

Sandra Christian

Peonies

Paenia is a genus of flowering plants. The only genus in the family Paeniaccae. They are native to Asia, Southern Europe and Western North America

Types of Peonies Herbaceous –most well

known Tree Peonies- Woody

Perennial Intersectional-Also known as Itoh Hybrids. They are

produced by crossing a tree peony with a herbaceous peony

Herbaceous Peonies Easy to grow

Require at least 5 hours of full sun with well-draining

soil. Are deer resistant and

disease resistant. Bloom in our area in the late

spring/early summer. Herbaceous peonies come in

a large variety of flower shapes and colors.

Known to live for many decades.

Support for the blooms is required.

Place a grid over the plant before it emerges- I prefer to

do this in late February to early March.

Myth Ants are not needed for

peonies to flower. Ants are attracted to the nectar on

the buds of the herbaceous peonies. Ants will not harm

peonies.

Tree Peonies

Need dappled or partial sun

Tree peonies bloom before Herbaceous

Peonies.

Flowers are huge –sometimes described as dinner plate size.

Tree will grow 4-7 feet tall and 4-5 feet wide.

Make sure that you plant your peony tree

in a site that has plenty of space for it

to grow.

Peony tree branches need support –need to be staked before the flowers open to prevent breakage.

Deer resistant and disease resistant..

Tree peonies are expensive and not as

easy to purchase. They also come in

much smaller variety of colors and flower

shape than Herbaceous peonies.

Succulents

In botany, succulent plants, also known as succulents or sometimes fat plants, are plants having some parts that are more than normally thickened and fleshy, usually to retain water in arid climates or soil conditions.

Succulent plants may store water in leaves and stems and roots. Some geophytes will survive unfavorable periods by dying back to underground storage organs are regarded as succulents

In horticultural use, the term "succulent" is

often used in a way which

excludes plants that botanists

would regard as succulents, such

as cacti.

Succulents prefer bright light and are much more cold-tolerant than many people assume.

Succulents thrive in colder nights, down to even 40ºF.

Succulents should be watered generously in the summer. The potting mix should be allowed to dry between watering.

Begonias are mostly succulent herbs from the tropics. Although tropical

in origin, begonias are usually found in partially shaded, moist and humid locations, often at higher elevation. Most can not

tolerate high temperature, but grow

best at moderate temperatures

Succulents are grown as ornamental plants because of their striking and unusual appearance.

Portulaca

Sedum

Hen and Chicks

Aloe

Kalanchoe

Family: Liliaceac Latin Name: Tricyrtis

Common Name:

Toad Lily

Origin: Asia and grow from Nepal to the Philippine Islands

(not native)

Perennial: Rhizomes

(lily of the valley)pip side up

Size: Height few inches to a 4-5 feet Width a foot to 5' feet

Light: Partial to deep shade Leaves: Range from waxy, broad shiny leaves, hairy, dark green to golden and

variegated. Attractive fall foliage.

•

Stunning Orchid like flowers in a huge varieties of colors pink , maroon, purple, yellow, white,

speckled and

Flowers: They are magnificent, sexy and exotic.

Blooms: Through the

late summer to late fall.

Propagation: Easy to

grow from seed but

some types are sterile

Toad Lilies

have recently gained

popularity

There are 10 and

possibly 18 species

in the USA. The UK

lists 55 species.

Reliably hardly in zone 7 and most to zone 4

Winter Season – Hellebor Helleborus x. hybridus

Also knows as “Lenten Rose,”

“Christmas Rose” or

“Orchid of the Woods”

Evergreen, easy-to-grow,

can be used as ground cover

Blooms late Winter –

early Spring Wide variety of

colors Long-lasting bloom –

January-April Caulescent (above-ground stem) and acaulescent (no visible stem)

Culture

Low maintenance Shade to part-shade

(great for shaded borders & woodland

gardens)

Well-drained, moisture-retentive soil

(don’t over-water)

Propagate from seed (acaulescent – division)

No pruning needed

Disease & pest-resistant

2005 Perennial Plant

of the Year 15” – 18” same

(not invasive) Attracts true

bees and occasionally

wasps- Deer resistant!

(also voles) Non-native,

although one native variety

Nobody’s Perfect

Not inexpensive

Don’t eat it!

Just enjoy it! www.hellebores.org

The Gardener’s Guide to Growing

Hellebores,

Rice & Strangman (Timber Press)

Hellebores the plant with a sinister past. The

“sinister past” in the subtitle refers to history

about its use as a purgative and diuretic agent in centuries past It may have been used

as a poison for Alexander the Great.