February 2019 Horticulture Moment

Designing with Nature's Bounty

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Frances Tidd discussed using elements found during walks in nature, as well as inexpensive household items, to create interesting floral arrangements.

A topiary design using a bathroom plunger was demonstrated, with the handle seated in a plastic pot topped by dried Magnolia leaves, and the

bowl holding a sphere of dried plant material. This design can utilize a range of materials, including scarves to wrap your pot, and fresh plant material in the bowl.

  

Frances passed around a bag of woodland elements such as lichen and moss that dry naturally to show what can be used in Library and other designs.

She displayed a wreath design going into the Library this month of February 2019. She mentioned that objects can be applied with hot glue or hair pins.

(See her wreath on the Projects page - library designs)

  

 

January 2019 Horticulture Moment

Spotted Wintergreen

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At the January 8, 2019 meeting of Cumming Garden Club, Sherry Brownlee gave a presentation on Spotted Wintergreen,

a native evergreen perennial that is abundant in her woodland garden. It requires shade and dry, acidic soil and blooms from late spring to early summer.

The nodding, fragrant white to pinkish flowers are cross-pollinated by bumblebees and produce many fine seeds.

Potted samples of this small groundcover, which is also known as Pipsissewa or Prince’s Pine, were given away to club members present.

   

   

Sherry's Wildflower of the Month

October bloom - Spiranthes odorata 'Chadds Ford'

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Grown below the dam of Sherry's fish pond, along with other moisture loving plants, Fragrant Ladies Tresses is an easy to grow native orchid with flowers that open in the fall to release a delightful vanilla scent. Bright white flowers are arranged on the stalk as intertwined double spirals.

Lance-like foliage rises from a basal rosette. 

  • Thrives in shade or sun
  • Needs wet soil
  • Compact and tidy growth habit
  • 12 to 18 inches tall
  • Spreads from runners or seeds 
  • Hardy in zones 6 through 9

November bloom - Aconitum 'Cammichaelii Fisheri'

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Grown in filtered shade in a fragrance garden, Monkshood   

is an herbaceous wildflower that can be found growing in mountain meadows throughout the northern hemisphere. The plant gets its name from the shape of the posterior sepal of the flowers, which resembles the cowls worn by monks. Violet blue flower spikes over dark green foliage similar to geranium leaves.

  • Needs partial shade in our zone
  • Not too rich, moist soil
  • Slow to establish (this is 11th year)
  • 24 inches tall
  • Doesn't like to be moved 
  • Hardy in zones 3 through 7