Lizzy

Prairie Gentian, Lisianthus, Texas Bluebell
Lisianthus Hybrid x Mermaid
(Eustoma grandiflorum 'Mermaid Blue')
(Eustoma grandiflorum 'Mermaid Pink')

In the business of Horticulture, when any plant takes forever to germinate, and is harder to grow, the more we want it.

Yep, we in the trade are masochists for sure.

Lisianthus is one of the prettiest spring flowers that you'll find at any garden centre. Its not the easiest of plants to raise, but if you're able to grow it, you'll be rewarded with clusters of large beautiful flowers. I'm told the Mermaid series is one of the better garden varieties of Lisianthus. This will be the first time we have tried it, I guess we are about to find out.

The literature says the Mermaid Series is a genetically compact flower strain for pot plant production, ya sure, but do they ever look great in the front of a raised flower bed. They hold their 5cm (2") blooms up over their foliage for everyone to see.
 
Zone: 7-11, Treat as Annual
Height: 25-30cm (9-12")
Spread: 20-25cm (8-10")
Habit: Upright & Clumping
Exposure: Part Sun, Part Shade
Moisture: Just Moist, Never Wet

Lizzy is one of those hard to grow plants, germination can be sporadic. Yet, once established, they have a very strong rooting systems. The Mermaid series needs at least 90 days growing before they are ready to sell. We open shop on May first,
   --- so you can now guess what I'm doing today!

Lot's a Crocus

Pasque Flower, Prairie Crocus
(Anemone patens, Pulsatilla patens, Pulsatilla nuttalliana, Anemone pulsatilla)

A plant of many names:

In South Dakota, where it is the state flower, this native plant is referred to as, the Pasque Flower, the May Day Flower, the Meadow Anemone, the Easter Flower, or the Wind Flower.

The Pasque Flower is one of the first perennials to bloom in the spring. The silky lavender flowers normally appear before the plants leaves. The flowers change to feathery seed heads which are quite showy.

Today, there are more colours available than the original violet, you can also find, white and red (sometimes called pink).

Zones: 2-8
Height: 22-30cm (8-12")
Spread: 22-30cm (8-12")
Habit: Upright and Mounding
Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
Moisture: Just Moist

Pasque Flowers will grow in, well drained soils, dry soils, and our gumbo (heavy clay). The furry leaves survive well into our hot summer. They also maintain their silvery plume-like seed head as well.

These plants have one unusual characteristic, they survive extremely well in calcareous soils (alkaline with a pH of 7 to 8).

   --- Which makes them perfect for Regina's Gumbo!

Weird & Interesting

Found this over at Soda Head:

fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too
Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can
i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

Scarey,we both could read this without a problem, for me it was easy as,
   --- it matches my occasional blog spelling!

Block Island News

In the Block Island Times, Block Island, Rhode Island.
Fraser A. Lang writes the following:

From 'The Wit and Wisdom of Winston Churchill' by James C. Humes:

"Late in his life, Sir Winston took a cruise on an Italian ship. A journalist from a New York newspaper approached the former Prime Minister to ask him why he chose to travel on an Italian Line when the Queen Elizabeth under the British flag was available?"

Churchill gave the question his consideration and then gravely replied.

There are three things I like about Italian ships. First, their cuisine, which is unsurpassed. Second, their service, which is quite superb. And then - in time of emergency - there is none of this nonsense about women and children first."

When you read about the Captain and Crew leaving the sinking Italian Cruse-ship before the passengers, you begin to realize, no one knew the Europeans,
   --- as well as Sir Winston!

Daisy Maya

Gloriosa Daisy Maya
(Rudbeckia hirta 'Maya')

Daisy Maya is a double-flowered Gloriosa Daisy with large rich golden blooms. It is the first semi-dwarf, Prairie wind tolerant Rudbeckia.

Gloriosa daisy Maya is also one of the most adaptable blooming plants, surviving in both heat (dry or humid), as well as cooler and rainy climates.
Like all Rudbeckia's, Maya is extremely heat tolerant. It is also a minimum care plant. Add in it's gorgeous big double blooms, which show all summer and you have a winner.

Zone: Treat as Annual
Height: 45-50cm (18-20")
Spread:  35-40cm (14-16")
Habit: Upright
Exposure: Full Sun
Moisture: Just Moist and Well Drained

What I like is the fact, that Maya can also survive in, normal, clay, sandy and acidic soils.

Maya can be used in containers, garden beds, and large hanging baskets, and of course big blooms like these,
   --- can also be used as a cut flower!

Greenhouse Profit

A couple were driving past a greenhouse on a Sunday afternoon. They came to a muddy patch in the road and the car bogged down. After a few minutes of trying to get the car out by themselves, they saw the Greenhouse Operator driving down the road on his tractor.

He stopped and offered to pull the car out of the mud for $50. The husband accepted and minutes later the car was free.

The Greenhouse Operator said to the husband, "You're the tenth car I've pulled out of the mud today."

The husband looks around and asks the Operator, "When do you have time to work in your greenhouse, at night?"

"No replied the Greenhouse Operator,
   --- night is when I pump water into this hole!"