My Gardening Seminar

[Tulirose]

The other weekend I attended an all-day gardening seminar. I mentioned having gone to it on The Weekend thread and Olena asked for more info about it. I've been so busy lately that I am just getting around to it now.

There was so much information offered and I could hardly digest it all. I attended two different classes regarding perennials and a class about daylillies and a class on lawn care. I learned that I really only need to fertilize my lawn three times a year at the most and, unless I have Kentucky Bluegrass, I should probably only do it twice a year - Around Memorial Day Weekend and Thanksgiving!!

They had tons of door prizes to give away and you got the ticket for a door prize when you handed in your evaluation form at the end of the day. Most were plants but there were also gift certificates and tools and ornamental garden objects too! Everyone was hoping their number wouldn't be called when they were doing the pachysandras!! LOL I won an Iberis - Candytuft!

I bought myself two plants, returned one, and got something else in its place. I originally bought a lupine because I thought they mentioned that in the first class and the leaves were SO pretty on it. When I saw the Master Gardener for that class, I asked her about it and she said no she didn't mention anything about lupine but I should be prepared to have a large area for it and it sends down a large tap root. At the second perennial class, I saw a picture of a lupine and HATED IT! I thought the flower was so ugly. So, I quickly returned to plant sale at first opportunity and was able to exchange it (by adding six more dollars) for Thymus. Don't ask me what possessed me to buy Thymus but I did!

But my prized possession I brought home that day was the Mountain Laurel I bought. My parents are originally from Connecticut and prior to settling on LI the year before I was born, they had lived in at least six different homes - in Virgina, Pennsylvania, Kansas and who knows where else. At each home, she told me she always planted a Mountain Laurel because that was the state flower of Connecticut, her home state. The one at my childhood home is still there, as is mom. I remember adoring that plant as a child (that and the peonies!) So, now I have my own.

Can't wait to get these and my dahlias from the flower exchange and some gladiolas I picked up at another time into the ground! Soon....soon....

Oh ! Don't get me started about the daylilly class! I want them all!!!!

 

[marlasmom]

I LOVE daylilies. Not sure how they will work in Florida. I have heard - get evergreen ones only, semi-evergreen is okay and all three kinds (including dormant) are fine.

My criteria for daylilies are: must be a rebloomer, must be open evenings, must be fragrant.

The rebloomers give you a longer season of bloom and the open evenings is important to me as I spent long days commuting and wanted to see my garden when I got home.

I buy them from Gilbert H. Wild. They have a website. I buy when they are on sale - as low as $2.00 per plant. I always get nice big roots - always two fans and frequently three. Usually at least a little bloom the first year and after that - stand back.

 

[olena]

Sounds great! I need to go to something like that.

 

[gina2000]

I love mountain laurel. I had one....it just recently bit the dust....it's been on the property forever. I'm thinking about replacing it because I truly think it's one of the most beautiful evergreens around....so much nicer than rhododendrons (same family, I think....)

 

[amid chaos]

That sounds like a wonderful and interesting day...and you got to leave with plants!!!!

 

[Snowwark]

It sounds like it was a fun and informative day, Tulirose.

I think Gina mentioned Lupines in a recent thread, and that she had trouble getting them to grow.

For you, Gina, and any of the Buds that may be interested.

Connecticut

The mountain laurel was adopted as Connecticut’s state flower on April 17, 1907. Little was recorded about its adoption, except that three thousand women signed a petition endorsing it.

The mountain laurel’s pink and white blossoms are a striking contrast to the dark forests and fields in which it grows. Eating utensils could be made from the shrub’s fine, even-grained wood. This may be why Native Americans called it spoon wood.

The first known written record of mountain laurel is in John Smith’s General History of Virginia, published in 1624. Henry Hudson may have also been referring to mountain laurel when he wrote of rose trees on Cape Cod. When in bloom, mountain laurel is covered with clusters of pink flowers.
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[DixieDreamer]

tuli that sounds like it was a GREAT seminar! I would have loved to have gone with you. Except we probably would have gotten in trouble for talking during the presentations!

 

[Mamu]

Master Gardener Tuli sounds like a great day, can't wait to hear about all your new garden ventures and how you put this new degree to work in the yard.

I also have been busy with classes. It's been many years since I done any painting. I finally picked up the paint brush and signed up for some classes "Garden Art on a Canvas" I am loving every minute of it.

 

[DebºoºS]

A whole day of plant talk and plant shopping, kewl.
I agree, Lupines are ugly. Love Mountain Laurel reminds me of my hometown Northport, LI. I almost bought one last week. I had my hand on it and was thinking about how of all the bushes I have here in NJ I don't have a mountain laurel but my weekly bush budget was maxed. Instead I bought 6 lilacs and 3 vibruniums (sp?) I hope that mountain laurel is still there when I go back this week. I can't stop thinking about it.