Dayton "Dirt" October 16, 2009

I was very grateful for the soaking rains in late September and early October as it has been over three weeks since we have had a decent rain.

The rains certainly make it easier for new plantings to get established and that’s what we’ve been doing (planting) in our botanical garden, Wolf Creek Gardens.

Some of the plantings have included a collection of native and hybrid Witchhazels, Dogwoods, the native Spice Bush (Lindera benzoin), various Spruce and Pine as well as multiple shade perennials.

I can’t wait for the mass plantings of white and pink Old-Fashioned Bleeding Hearts to come up.

We had these left over from spring sales as going into summer they have no marketing appeal in that they turn yellow in July as they go dormant and wait for the cool days of April to come up again.

With all of the Rhododendron, Azalea, Mountain Laurel, Eastern Redbuds, Dogwoods, Daffodils and other spring blooming perennial, it should be a glorious show!

Another bed that we planted consists of 25 each of 6 varieties of the large bearded German Iris that will show off their blinding plumage in late May an early June.

Another appeal of interest in spring will be our new daffodil-narcissus planting of at least 20,000 bulbs strong flanked by almost 200 multi-colored creeping phlox that will cascade down the large boulder walls in April and May.

As I have said before, the garden is coming along but it will be awhile before it is at a more finished state due to the constrictions of time and money.

Anyway, I think we’re going to have a spectacular fall show of colors as the rain will actually help with the honing of the various pigments in the plants leaves resulting in this northeastern wondrous show!

Tom