Honeysuckle Caprifolium

A honeysuckle is blooming in my garden, delicate fragrance of its flowers is especially pleasant in the evenings! Some of you who grows a honeysuckle bush knows that it's an excellent climber, its shoots rise up to  4-6 m. 

 

My honeysuckle was planted after the planning the garden when arches and trellis for lianas were set along the summer house. Because it is difficult to replant later this large vine, one can damage its roots.

 

 

I love Perfoliate Honeysuckle (Lonicera caprifolium) because is unpretentious, hardy, has gentle and fragrant flowers and orange-red berries. Flowers are white or yellowish inside and purple outside, have an unique shape with long stamens. Although life of a fragrant flower lasts 3-4 days, but in general, flowering lasts about three weeks.

 

 

As this vine prefers a sunny location, I planted it at a trellis on the east side. Lonicera caprifolium is growing fast, its young shoots grow by 1.5-2 m per season. Another new plant bred from cuttings grows on the other side of the house. It's said the plant lives up to 50 years or more in one place.

 

 

Despite the fact that  honeysuckle came in the North from more southern areas, it winters well and does not need covering in my garden. If you would plant it near a support, you have to remember that honeysuckle stems twist counterclockwise. If you cut off the shoots which are too long it will stimulate the growth of lateral shoots. Also I like that Lonicera is completely resistant to pests and diseases. 

Do you have this plant in your garden? Is it wintering and blooming well? Thank you!

 

Peonies of All Species

          The peony exhibition is held annually in the Botanic Garden of Saint Petersburg. Over 250 species of herbaceous peonies in vases from the Botanic Garden collection, "Thais" nursery, "Dinos Park" company and private collections were presented at the Exhibition-2014.

As I wanted to visit this  exhibition all my garden works were postponed. I came to the opening at 11am to see and to take pictures without the large number of visitors.

Many species of Russian and world peony selection were presented and moreover, I could see the winners of world peony exhibitions. At this year's show I was especially interested in to learn about modern peony group ito-hybrids, which have yellow-orange dominating color palette that is unusual for other peonies.

In the new building of the Botanic Garden where peonies were exhibited, industrial refrigerators were installed so it was possible to demonstrate immediately all groups of peonies - as early-flowering and late blooming.

The first visitors carefully examined and photographed favorite species of peonies. The scent of flowers was so great in the halls that many visitors especially children wanted to smell them.

Besides of peonies in vases I liked the floral arrangements with peonies, leaves of hosts, asparagus, decorative grass, some perennials with small flowers. Also there one could choose a good gardening book.

Have you been to any exhibition this year? What did you liked there? Thank you!

Chickweed for a Rockery

Chickweed (Cerastium) grows in my rocky garden. In its first years chickweed grew poorly, suffering from the winter frosts and thaws. Finally, after 3 years it has become a beautiful plant and began to bloom white small flowers.

Maybe you do not know this plant, so I'll tell you about it. It's an herbaceous perennial, gray because of dense pubescence. I like that it forms dense cushions. It has creeping shoots, flower stalks are15-20 cm tall. Lily leaves are small, silvery.

The flowers are white up to 1.5 cm, petals are deeply cut into two parts at the top. In our climate chickweed blooms in May and June 25-30 days. The fruit is cylindrical box with numerous teeth upstairs. In landscape design it is used since 1820.

If you do not want it to spread through your garden, simply remove the new shoots. In my garden it is not spreading but rather can be lost from frost and thaw. I do not cover it for wintering only prune heavily frosted ends of shoots in spring.

Does chickweed grow in your garden? Where do you use it: in a rockery, a flowerbed, or in hanging baskets?
Thank you!