We have these unusually warm temperatures to thank for the wonderful scents coming from the flowerbeds. The warmth is bringing out the aroma of lilacs, peonies, dianthus barbatus (Sweet Williams), roses and primula veris, a very fragrant yellow primula that is readily available and blooming right now in the garden on the corner of Pioneer Avenue and Svedlund Street aka "The Car Wash Garden."
I have tried many lavenders over the years and the most successful, for me, is the 'Jean Davis.' Although this is designated a zone 5-8 plant, it is in its fourth year and gaining. The pink bloom may disappoint those who are looking for the traditional deep purple, but it does winter over and smell wonderful.
Keep in mind that peonies dry most successfully. Hang them upside down in a dark, airy place. They take about a week to 10 days to dry completely. The more deeply colored ones will look the best dried. The pale pinks tend to wash out.
Sweet Williams make a cut bouquet that will last for 10 days to two weeks. These are a biennial that come out of a Homer winter looking just as tatty as a plant can look (expect for maybe arabis), greens up and ultimately produces the most lovely cluster of long lasting, fragrant blooms. I mulched mine last year and was rewarded with deep green foliage from the get go. I just may try that again this year. I think those who are interested in market gardening should consider planting a bed of these beauties to cut and sell at the Farmer's Market on Saturday's from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. throughout the summer.
On the Fourth of July, a friend brought me a bouquet of Donald Wyman lilacs and rosa rugosa Hansa. Lovely. The scent filled the house it is a small house for days, and the color combination was spectacular. The Theresa Bugnet roses are in full bloom and the scent is almost memorable enough to see me through a winter.
I must admit that planting for fragrance has never been something that I have consciously done. I have always concentrated on color and lots of it to fend off the gloom. Gloom is out and sunshine is in and I intend on making the most of it by planting more plants that offer fragrance. Give that some thought as you go about your gardening business.
We saw our first hummingbird (rufous) of the season. It was dancing among the bleeding hearts (dicentra spectabilis) that are absolutely thriving on the north side of the house along with tuberous begonias and pansies. Bleeding hearts really do achieve four feet in height, and bloom all season long, just excellent. They die to the ground every fall, so if you have a spot on the north that gets a snow load from the roof, these would be a good choice.
I made a difficult decision: the Dropmore honeysuckle vine is thriving on a trellis on the west wall of the house. This is its fourth year and I think it is here to stay. But I also planted what I think is campanual latifolia, sometimes called chimney bells, or lady bells. They are a nice purple and get to four feet tall. They also "run" like the wind, which I knew, so I put them where it really didn't matter if they took over. Or so I thought. They really detract from the honeysuckle. So I ripped them out, just like that. It took a certain amount of gumption and fearlessness but I am, now, happy with the result. I can actually see the shape of the vine. There are so few vines here that are successful that the fact that I have one of them and can't really see it seemed foolish.
Problem solved. If you are faced with a similar situation, give the offending tenant the boot.
I am having a similar problem in the peony bed. What I thought would be a good combination peonies and columbine (aquilegia) has gotten out of hand. The primary problem is that I have favored McKana Giants and they are, indeed, giant. So giant, in fact, that they are obscuring the peonies that I have been waiting all of my life to see. Good grief. If I had chosen any of the lovely dwarf varieties of columbine all would be well, but oh no, only giant would do. Mistake. But not a huge one. That's what shovels are for. Moving on.
This brings me to a few plants that are becoming a nuisance: butter and eggs (linaria vulgaris), rose campion that I think is a lychnis, and orange hawkweed. These are plants that folks think are just lovely but actually can make quite a mess of things.
Butter and eggs looks like a little yellow snapdragon. It spreads by roots in your perennial bed and will, eventually, choke out everything else. If you have this, use a heavy fork to dig out the clump and follow all the hair-like roots to remove them. This may take you a few years but if you start now... . Dispose of the plants at the dump or burn them if we ever have the burn suspension lifted. Rose campion is that tall pink flower that you can see at the car wash garden. Get rid of it. It will seed freely. I see it in the ditches along Mountain View Drive and Kachemak Way. But the very worst is orange hawkweed. This will spread by seeds and roots. Do not even think this plant is pretty. It chokes out everything in sight. I fear that it will take over the planet. If you have this, start digging.
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