The Coastal Gardener - June, 2005
The blooms and chores of summer
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May is called the month of roses, but June should be the month of Lilies. The classic Lily has been exalted through the ages as the paragon of beauty and simplicity and still carries the aura of unattainable perfection. But modern hybrid lilies are surprisingly easy to grow. My patio hosts a fine selection of trumpet lilies, known for their large fluted blooms that recall the classic white Easter lily. Trumpet hybrids can be any number of rich colors and I have chosen 'Copper King' with rich apricot blooms with dark copper red reverse and 'Indian Summer' with solid gold fluted blooms. Lily bulbs arrive in the mail from reputable suppliers like B and D Lilies in Oregon ( www.bandlilies.com ) and should be planted in rich soil sheltered from drying winds.
I grow hybrid lilies in pots and keep them safe in the potting area until they reach their prime, then they move out into the spotlight either on the patio or tucked among shrubs in the garden. I make sure the pots never dry out and that they receive a weekly dose of kelp fertilizer until flower buds form. Hybrid lilies have few pests or problems and are the perfect cut flower. I also grow old fashioned Orange tiger lilies; which recall summers spent on the Long Island seashore where they grow wild in roadside ditches and seedy gardens; in large pots for display in slightly shaded spots.
Patio pots will need plenty of attention during the summer months. First make sure that you are watering your pots as needed. You will be surprised how quickly they dry out. I hand water my patio each morning, but a well-designed drip system with a timer will do the trick for those without a lot of time on their hands. Second, potted plants need more feeding than their counterparts in the ground; ideally, roses and flowers should be fed every week or two with a liquid fertilizer like Kelp Sea Life or Fish emulsion. Third, watch for deteriorating potting mixes. Most potting medias are made of composted fir bark, peat moss and sand: a light mix that retains water well but slowly disintegrates, lowering the level of the soil in each pot. Slowly the plant runs out of room for it's roots to grow and the compacted root ball dries out more quickly, resulting in a general lack of vigor. This is easily remedied either by moving the plant to a larger container so that it's roots have room to expand or more simply by renewing the media in the current pot. To do this, pull the plant out of the pot and gently tease away some of the soil around the base of the root ball. Then set a new thick layer of fresh potting mix in the bottom of the pot and replace the root ball so that it rests no lower than about 1-2 inches below the pot rim.
I am always looking for great plants so when I got a chance to visit an incredible new nursery in Carmel Valley Village I raced over to have a look. FezQ on West Carmel Valley Road is run by two plant-loving ladies, Donna Brusaschetti and Martha Dundon, who have taken over the courtyard of the Toland Sand Glass Studio next to Will's Fargo Restaurant. They specialize in Mediterranean and drought tolerant plants with a focus on grasses. FexQ is open Thursday through Sunday with a hand picked selection that left an experienced plant-o-file like me drooling. I found a wonderful bronzy leaved creeper from Australia, Brachysema 'Bronze Rambler', and a white, fragrant flowered Chilean native; Drimys winteri. This evergreen is prized for it's mahogany bark and this small tree can be kept as a large shrub in part shaded spots with careful pruning.
Please go check them out and plant something new in your garden! (831) 659-1268.
Must Have Plant of the Month: Salvia clevelandii. Long spikes of violet blue flowers make this native coastal sage a winner in the garden. There are several outstanding cultivars available including 'Betsy Clebsch', 'Santa Cruz Dark' and 'Winnifred Gilman' mostly distinguished by the intensity of their blue coloring. Grows to 4 feet tall and wide, deer resistant.
Underappreciated plant of the month: Eriophyllum stacheadifolium, Lizard Tail. Making a show this month in coastal scrub all along Garrapata State Park and above Pfeiffer Beach is the beautiful yellow flowered Lizard Tail. Deer and salt resistant, this scrambling woody perennial to 2 feet tall can be a perfect transition into summer color along with Cleveland Sage, scarlet Penstemon and orange Mimulus after the flush of spring natives like ceanothus have faded. Available through Annie's Annuals or by special order from local nurseries like Rana Creek Nursery.
Enjoy, Dave Egbert
