If these are the kind of plants and garden pictures you like to see, you will want to save May 7th for our plant sale and May 18th for the Dallas County Master Gardener Garden Tour. All these pictures were taken at The Raincatcher’s Garden last week.
True gardners can’t pass up two things-plant sales and garden tours. As you will see in the information below these pictures, you have the opportunity to make plans for both!
Iris borderDill blooming in front of our grapesBlue Salvia in the Color WheelA big dill!Hardy Amaryllis
The Raincatacher’s Plant sale is May 7th. Information is right here.
If you’ve been to Raincatcher’s Garden of Midway Hills anytime during the past two weeks, a seasonal spectacle may have caught your eye. Everywhere you look, from the Edible Landscape/Courtyard area extending out to the north garden, pathways are filled with the sight of spring blooming pink poppies.
Move in a little closer and listen carefully for a soft humming sound. As you might have guessed, honeybees are busy at work foraging for pollen from the abundance of poppies that share these garden spaces with our herbs, vegetables and wildflowers.
Are you wondering…why are honeybees so attracted to poppies? As the late Robbin Thorp, native pollinator specialist for UC Davis in California so succinctly stated…” they’re not there for the nectar – they’re there for the pollen”.
Poppies should be considered as a quintessential plant for pollen production. And honeybees are one of the chief pollinating agents. A deeper dive into the world of poppies gives us some interesting information regarding pollen.
It is true that honeybees are attracted to poppies for pollen only. The reason why is that the inflorescences of all poppy species lack nectaries, thus no sugary nectar available to pollinators. Flowers, however, are packed with pollen-bearing anthers. Because pollen is the honeybee’s main source of protein, collecting it is a necessary task. Once collected, it is used for brood development and to feed the young larvae. And, fortunately for the bees, scientists have found that poppy pollen is remarkable clean, containing few fungi or mycotoxins.
Come visit our garden and take time to stroll the garden paths filled with poppies. Expect to be mesmerized by an eye-catching explosion of frills. Early morning and late afternoon seem to be the optimum time to experience the honeybees in action. Don’t be surprised to see as many as four or five honeybees foraging frenetically within a single flower.
(Raincatcher’s Garden of Midway Hills…Our “field of poppies!)
Linda Alexander, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008
The kiosk in the north garden at Raincatcher’s Garden has been somewhat ignored over the years. We felt it would be a good opportunity to give people visiting the garden some useful information about events happening at the garden, as well as plant details. It was time that the kiosk served some purpose!!! The first poster that was added to the kiosk was information about our blog, Dallas Garden Buzz. Hopefully, visitors to the garden will use the QR code and find a wealth of plant information, beautiful garden photos and great recipes. Another flyer was added to announce our annual plant sale coming up on Tuesday, May 7, 2024
One of our main missions as Master Gardeners is to be a resource for gardening knowledge to the community. We will be using the kiosk to do this by posting a monthly plant information sheet featuring one of the plants in the garden. Not only will visitors be able to read the plant information but they will also be able to stroll through the garden trying to locate the plant on the flyer.
Below is the first “Plant of the Month” information sheet that is currently posted in the kiosk. Hopefully, this will be the first of many!!!
Chinese Ground Orchard
The Chinese Ground Orchid is a perennial bulb in the orchid family that grows to a height of 1 – 1½ foot with a 1 foot spread. It is a shade plant that does well in morning sun and afternoon shade but it will also grow in full shade. The blooms last for about 6 weeks and the foliage looks like a palm tree seedling when not in bloom. This tropical plant does well as a ground cover or growing under a tree and is a good choice for a container in colder climates. The Chinese Ground Orchid spreads by rhizomes and is easily propagated by divisions. This beautiful plant is blooming in the courtyard now.
Jackie James, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 1993
A view of 3 Snowball Viburnums, looking thru my blackberry bushes.Eleagnus flanking the west side, hellebores underneath.
Spring comes and this is what I see every year out my south-facing windows. What a sight! I planted these 3 snowball viburnums 11 years ago. They have been the showiest, easiest plant choice I have ever made. The buds are chartreuse and and bloom into softball size white blossoms.
As you can see from my picture above, mine are now feet 15 tall and slightly crowded but I don’t mind. The winter honeysuckle that has gotten bigger than I ever expected is pushing one snowball to the East. It is going to be pruned!
Last year even with the unbearably hot temperatures, my viburnums bloomed a second time. There were’t as many blossoms but in that terrible summer heat it was nice to see a few snowballs.
Plant Attributes
This picture from Neil Sperry’s website shows the early chartreuse bloom.
Common Name: Chinese snowball viburnum, Chinese snowball tree
Botanical Name: Viburnum macrocephalum
Family: Adoxaceae
Plant Type: Perennial, Tree, Shrub
Mature Size: 6–20 ft. tall, 6–15 ft. wide (grows larger in warmer climates)
Sun Exposure: Full, Partial
Soil Type: Well-drained loamy, sandy, or clay soil
Soil pH: Acidic
Bloom Time: Spring
Flower Color: begins chartreuse then becomes white
Hardiness Zones: 6–9 (USDA)
In Dallas, Snowball Viburnums do not loose their leaves in winter
Excellent cut flower with long vase life!
Ann Lamb, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2005
Early last fall I planted a 4” pot of caraway in my raised garden bed. That little plant has now more than tripled in size.
Just a few days ago tiny white flowers appeared atop the feathery foliage. Blooming should continue until sometime during late spring or early summer when spent flowers yield those small, but wonderfully aromatic, hard brown seeds used in cuisines throughout the world.
If you’ve never grown caraway in your garden, follow along as we learn more about this carrot-like plant which is edible from root to shoot!
Caraway is a hardy herbaceous biennial requiring two seasons to complete its life cycle. The first year, bright green threadlike foliage resembling that of a carrot form a mound 1 to 3 feet high. Next comes the umbels of creamy white, delicate flowers that resemble Queen Anne’s Lace.
Once the flowers are spent, brown ribbed seeds appear. The familiar caraway seed is actually the fruit of the plant. It is recommended that seeds should be harvested about a month after they have blossomed. To accomplish this, clip off the seed heads and place in a paper bag to finish ripening.
While caraway seeds are most often associated with rye (or dark rye) breads there are a many other applications for using it. Some include: desserts and baked goods, liquors, stews, casseroles and as a flavoring for beef and pork dishes.
When the plant has produced seed, dig up the taproot and use as you would any other root vegetable.
Caraway is a pleasing plant to grow in your herb garden. The lovely little flowers attract beneficial insects, including honeybees.
For two different dinner options recently, we enjoyed caraway leaves straight from the garden in the following ways:
Tossed in a green salad along with radishes, tomatoes, and avocado slices Sauteed yellow squash and onions with a generous sprinkling of fresh caraway leaves for a flavorful lift
Linda Alexander, Dallas County Master Gardner Class of 2008
Master Gardeners get into the Arboretum free on Fri before the Learn to Grow Classes. Just wear your DCMG badge and advise the ticket agent that you are a Master Gardener coming for a Class. Attend the class and visit the gardens for the rest of the day. This is a reminder the class is at 11am, Friday, March 1st in the Tasteful Place at the Arboretum. All members of the public are welcome to the class.
Starla and I will be showing pictures from our tour of America’s Garden Capitol and discussing photo tips.
Here is a preview of one the beautiful gardens, Wyn Eden.
Ann Lamb, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2005
Starla and I will be speaking at the Dallas Arboretum during Dallas Blooms at 11am on Friday, March 1st. We will be coordinating with the Dallas Blooms theme-A picture’s worth a thousand words, showing pictures of our recent trip to America’s Garden Capitol and giving photography tips.
Click here for information about our talk as part of the series: Learn to Grow Horticultural Presentations. Many other classes will be available by other Dallas County Master Gardeners. Check the calendar!
No charge except your admission to the Arboretum.
The DCMGA Japanese Maple Sale Begins March 6
Once again, we are offering a large selection of Japanese Maples from Metro Maples for purchase with all proceeds going to DCMGA. If you were disappointed because you missed out buying one of these lovely trees in the October sale, be sure to get online early to make your selections. The SignUpGenius for ordering and purchasing maples will go live March 6 at 8 AM. At that time, you can order and pay for your selection(s). One-gallon trees are $35.00 (including tax) Two-gallon trees are $46.00 (including tax) The SignUpGenius will close at 5 PM on March 13, or earlier if all trees are sold. Our inventory of trees sold out within hours last October. Please bring your confirmation to the pickup on Saturday, March 23 between 10 AM and 1 PM at Raincatcher’s Garden.
SAVE THE DATE: Raincatcher’s Garden Annual Plant Sale
Midway Hills Christian Church
11001 Midway Road
Dallas, Texas 75229
Tuesday, May 7th 2024
10 AM – 3 PM
We will have annuals, perennials, herbs, peppers, succulents, shrubs, trees, groundcover, bulbs, houseplants, decorative pots, yard art, etc.
All proceeds from this sale go to Dallas County Master Gardener Projects.
Ann Lamb, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2005
In our Zone 8 climate they are not only survivors of winter’s chill but soon after a January freeze, Hellebores lift their lovely heads and shower us with an abundance of February color. Starting now and continuing into late March and early April, refresh your home by selectively snipping and arranging their decorative blossoms.
If you aren’t already growing Hellebores in your garden, now is a really good time to give them a try. Many of our local garden centers currently have a wide selection of varieties with colors ranging from ivory and pale green to pink and dark burgundy. You might find comfort in knowing that the symbolic meaning of hellebores includes peace, serenity and tranquility.
My hellebores were planted three years ago and were used to make each of the featured arrangements. However, this was my first time to use hellebores as a cut flower, but it won’t be my last. It has been impressive to see how well their strong and sturdy stems hold up when anchored in a “frog-type” holder.
Here are my top three reasons for growing hellebores:
During the dreary backdrop of winter, hellebores bring joy to your garden with a rainbow of beautiful colors.
As a cut flower, hellebores hold up well and can be arranged in unique and beautiful ways.
As you can see from the photos, hellebores provide honeybees with a much-needed nectar source when options are extremely limited.
Linda Alexander, Dallas County Master Gardener class of 2008
Helleborus, ‘Glenda’s Gloss’ will be planted along the wavy wall in memory of Raincatcher’s volunteer and dear friend, Glenda Nix. She was loved and is missed.
What does it take to keep a garden like The Raincatcher’s Garden producing? Dedicated leadership, hearty volunteers and planning are essential componets. This week Beverly sent out this list from the vegetable patch. It’s inspiring and reminds us of what we can do in our own gardens as spring comes towards us.
Harvest lettuce, spinach, and broccoli;
Hand water the raised beds, corral, and greenhouse (but not the donation garden);
Start sunflower and marigold seeds in trays;
Direct sow climbing nasturtiums near the raised bed trellises;
Start lettuce, spinach, collard greens, and chard seeds outside in the corral after amending with Espoma fertilizer;
Transplant lettuce from greenhouse if ready;
Make melon cages, bring heavy gloves and wire cutters if you have them;
Keep working on the Morgan building and greenhouse.
Cabbage in the greenhouseSpinach enjoys the cooler temperatures while the tomato seedlings are protected by coziesYuliana, Darla, Trish, and Kay planting lettuce and radishes in the corralRadish seedlings on Valentine’s Day (picture by Darla Reimer)
Ann Lamb, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2005 with Beverly Allen, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2018
Who doesn’t love a beautiful iris plant? It’s one of the first plants to bloom in the spring and it is rugged, reliable and very easy to grow. The iris is named for Iris, the Greek goddess of the rainbows and personal messenger for the Gods. It is a long lived perennial that needs a minimum amount of care.
There are almost 250 species of iris and they come in a multitude of colors. With many different types and colors available, there is a perfect iris for every garden. The most popular iris is the bearded iris. Other popular varieties include Siberian and Japanese irises, Louisiana irises (which are native to North America), and Dutch hybrids. Bearded iris get their name from the “beard” that runs down the center of the cascading petal.
The rhizomes need sun and air to keep them dry. If they are covered with soil or mulch there is a chance the plant will rot. Some say to plant the bearded iris rhizomes “with their face in the sun” leaving the upper part of the rhizome exposed. Iris plants need at least 6 hours but preferably 8 hours of direct sun. The best time to plant iris is early fall. This will give the plant enough time to settle into the ground and start rooting before the first frost. They should be planted 12–18 inches apart. If you have different types of iris cultivars, plant each type together in groups of 3 to 7 plants for a greater color impact.
After iris plants have finished blooming, cut the flower’s stem down to the base but do not trim the leaves. The plant’s foliage carries on with photosynthesis in order to generate energy for next year’s growth and flowers. It is best to divide iris plants in the fall.
We are lucky at Raincatcher’s Garden to have the most beautiful collection of iris so I hope you enjoy the photos taken at the garden.
Or better yet, visit the garden in the near future and see these beauties in person! If you have iris in your garden, share them with friends and neighbors and help spread the joy of iris!
DALLAS GARDEN BUZZ 