Developing a garden takes a lot of planning, time, and patience, but come next year, I'll have more gorgeous azaleas blooming than ever before here at my Bedford, New York farm.
Last weekend, I purchased 150 beautiful azaleas from White's Nursery in Germantown, Maryland. White’s Nursery specializes in azaleas as well as rhododendrons. All the plants are for my new azalea grove - a garden I designed along two sides of the carriage road between my Summer House and my stable. We've already planted more than 370 azaleas in this area - shades of pink, orange, crimson, yellow, and white. I just love azaleas! Of all the shrubs that flower in spring, azaleas provide some of the most brilliant displays. I am so excited to see this garden mature.
Enjoy these photos.
Last weekend, White’s Nursery in Germantown, Maryland hosted a big Spring Open House to sell some of their plants – I am glad we didn’t miss it!
Look at all the gorgeous blooms. White’s Nursery has more than 350 varieties of evergreen azaleas such as Glenn Dale, Bowie Mill, Satsuki, Robin Hill and many others. In addition, they also carry a wide selection of deciduous and native azaleas such as Calendulaceum, Chop Tank, Great Balls of Fire, Lemon Drop, Red Pepper, and some fragrant varieties.
All of the plants are grown right on site. Owner, Mike White, and I discussed my garden needs and he helped select the best specimens.
We picked all the plants up in my large trailer. Here, the plants are getting a good watering before the five hour ride back to my Bedford farm.
Once they arrived, I placed them in the garden where they would be planted. They were organized by color and variety.
We placed them strategically along the carriage road – keeping like colors together and always keeping the plant’s mature size in mind. Azaleas prefer morning sun and afternoon shade, or filtered light. Hot all-day sun can stress the plants and make them more susceptible to pests.
With so many plants to get in the ground, it is important to work quickly and efficiently. Pasang worked on digging the holes. The holes are made at least twice the size of the root ball about to be planted. Azaleas thrive in moist, well-drained soils high in organic matter.
Then each plant is placed into its designated hole.
As each specimen is planted, a good handful of fertilizer is dropped into every hole and mixed with the existing soil. I always use an all-natural fertilizer to aid transplant survival and increase water and nutrient absorption.
Phurba uses a hori hori to scarify the roots of this specimen. A hori hori is a Japanese-inspired tool with a double-edged, rust-resistant blade that’s serrated on one side and sharpened on the other. It is great for cutting through tough roots. Scarifying stimulates root growth.
Then he manually breaks up the bottom of the root ball. Essentially, he breaks up small portions to loosen the roots a bit and create some beneficial injuries. This helps the plant become established more quickly in its new environment.
Next, the plant is placed into the hole and then checked to be sure it is at the right depth.
Phurba ensures the best side of the plant is facing the road and then backfills the hole. Azaleas have short root systems, so they can easily be transplanted in spring or early fall.
Here it one all planted – and it has a lot of room to grow and spread. Some azaleas, including native types, can reach towering heights of 20 feet or more. Dwarf azaleas grow two to three feet tall, and many garden azaleas stay four to six feet in height with as wide a spread.
The length of azalea leaves ranges from as little as a quarter-inch to more than six inches. Leaves of most azaleas are solid green with a roughly long football-shape.
Some of the plants are blooming so beautifully. Azaleas are native to several continents including Asia, Europe, and North America. These plants can live for many years, and they continue to grow their entire lives.
This is an evergreen azalea developed by hybridizer Joe Klimavicz. This one has two-inch wide pink ruffled blooms.
Azalea flowers can be single, hose-in-hose, double or double hose-in-hose, depending on the number of petals. The tube-shaped base of the flower contains a stamen that protrudes from the center. The leaves are often evergreen with wooly undersides.
Azalea petal shapes vary greatly. They range from narrow to triangular to overlapping rounded petals. They can also be flat, wavy or ruffled. Many azaleas have two to three inch flowers and range in a variety of colors from pink to white to purple, red, orange and yellow.
The best time to shop for azaleas is when they are in bloom so you can see their flower colors and forms.
Lastly, Pasang walks to every azalea and gives it a good thorough drink. Whenever watering, be sure to focus on the root zone – it’s the roots that need access to water, not the leaves.
I just love how the rich bold colors of azaleas look in the gardens. All these new azaleas are great additions to this new and developing grove. As the saying goes in the plant world… “first year sleep, second year creep, and third year leap.” I can’t wait to see it this time next year!
All the gardens at my Bedford, New York farm are looking so vibrant and full this year. Among the eye-catchers right now are all the viburnums exploding with blooms around my Winter House.
Viburnums have long been one of the most popular flowering landscape shrubs. This large group of plants consists of more than 150 species and numerous named cultivars. Viburnums include deciduous and evergreen specimens as well as small trees, mostly native to North America or to Asia. The flowers come in three major types - flat clusters of florets, flat umbels outlined with larger blossoms, and dome-shaped, snowballs. I grow several varieties here at Cantitoe - and all are my favorites.
Enjoy these photos.
Located right outside my Winter House is my White Garden – a beautiful space nestled under the partial shade of two stunning katsura trees, Cercidiphyllum. In the front corners are two topiary viburnum. Viburnum is a genus of about 150 to 175 species of flowering plants in the family Adoxaceae along with elderberry.
Here is a closer look at one of the two topiary viburnums abloom with delicate white flowers.
The flowers can be sweetly fragrant and are primarily creamy white, but can vary in shades from white to pink. The individual florets grow in clusters usually found at the ends of branches.
Viburnum flowers are produced in corymbs that are about five to 15 centimeters across, each with five petals.
Topiary viburnums look exquisite planted in the garden, but they can also be planted in large containers. As with any planting, always consider the mature size of the specimen when choosing a specific pot or location.
Further down in the same garden, I have three other varieties including these Japanese and Chinese snowballs. Viburnum shrubs can range in height from two feet to 30 feet tall. These stand along one side of my driveway – everyone always stops to take a look.
This is Chinese Viburnum, Viburnum macrocephalum. It shows off six to eight inch flower clusters that open in April. The blossoms are composed entirely of sterile flowers that are lime green at first, changing to white.
The shrub is full of these beautiful white snowballs. Chinese snowballs grow up to 12 to 20 feet tall with a dense, rounded form.
Here is the Japanese snowball, Viburnum plicatum. This shrub grows eight to 15 feet tall and wide. It has showy, two to three-inch snowball-like clusters of white sterile flowers which also start blooming in April.
Japanese snowballs prefers moist, but well drained soil, and some shade.
A deep watering once a week is usually sufficient for viburnums, either through rainfall or irrigation. Native varieties that are well-established are fairly drought tolerant.
Each shrub looks more full than the last.
At the corner is a doublefile viburnum – one of the most attractive of viburnums, with a spreading, horizontal branching form.
The delicate flowers of a doublefile viburnum look very similar to the flat flowers of the lacecap hydrangea. It blooms in April with two to four-inch clusters of small fertile flowers edged with large, sterile flowers, giving the lacecap effect.
This Viburnum mariesii is one of two in my Stewartia Garden – also doublefile.
This pair was planted here just a few years ago and already blooms so gloriously every spring. Viburnums are mostly moderate- to fast-growing plants. They can grow from one foot to more than two feet per year.
Here, one can see how the flowers form on top of the branches. They are borne in terminal or axillary panicles, clusters, corymbs, or cymes, which are often spherical or domed.
The foliage ranges from glossy green to a dull, dark green, velvet appearance to foliage that is thick and leathery.
Many viburnums flower best in full sun, but light preferences vary from full sun to mostly shade.
I have several more viburnums flowering in the perennial garden across from my vegetable gardens.
In the fall, these shrubs will feature colors ranging from a glossy red to scarlet or purple. Viburnums are loved for their flowers, their fragrance, and their fruits and provide interest throughout the seasons. If you don’t have one in your garden, I hope this inspires you to plant one, or two, or even more…
As spring transitions to summer and days get more hot and humid, it’s important that all the animals on my farm are kept as comfortable as possible.
Last week, Helen and Dolma from my stable crew gave all the Sicilian donkeys a good summer clipping to remove all the extra coat left over from this past winter. Not only will this help keep them cooler during the coming season, but it will also prevent their coarse fur from matting.
Enjoy these photos.
It’s haircut day for my five sweet donkeys Billie, Jude “JJ” Junior”, Truman “TJ” Junior, Rufus, and Clive. They get clipped in late spring so they’re more comfortable during the warm, humid months of summer. On this day, the girls are first.
Helen uses smaller clippers to get into tighter spots, such as near the mane and neck. She is very careful in areas with looser skin. The donkeys are very accustomed to getting their coats clipped, so they remain quite calm during the entire process.
Helen clips in short strokes to make sure the coat is nice and even. And always take the clippers against the direction of the natural lie of the hair. Whenever the lie of the hair changes, adjust the direction of the clippers.
Dolma uses a larger professional grooming tool. It is good for removing large sections of coat, such as on the back and sides.
Before clipping a section of coat, Helen and Dolma take time to assess the skin health and to feel the coat for any small abrasions or lumps that could get caught by the blade. If there are any clumps of matted hair, they need to be cut with scissors first. Here, it is easy to see how thick the coat is, and how much needs to be removed.
In this photo, one can see the fur as it is taken off. A medium blade is used on the clippers for all the donkeys. It’s also important to stop every few minutes to brush any loose hair from the clipper head and vent. This will help to prevent the clippers and blades from getting too hot.
Dolma is also very slow to clip any sensitive spots such as along the belly.
Helen and Dolma are both wearing overalls by Dovetail – an exclusive women’s workwear company based in Portland, Oregon. Dovetail’s all-season utility apparel is great for the stable. Helen and Dolma wear Dovetail overalls all-year long. Both Billie and Jude “JJ” Junior enjoy having full sight of each other during their spa treatments.
What a big difference! Billie and “JJ” look much cooler already. These girls have such shiny coats too – this is always a sign of good health and proper nutrition. After their haircuts, they are placed back in their stall while the boys get done.
Clive, Rufus, and Truman “TJ” Junior are next. Here’s Clive ready for his “spa” treatment. The natural coat of a donkey helps regulate body temperature and protects them from inclement weather and flies, but because my donkeys grow such thick, heavy coats in winter, we clip them yearly to keep them comfortable.
Donkeys are herd animals, so they don’t like being separated from other members of their pack. We always keep my donkeys together, so as each one is clipped the others stand nearby.
Helen works on Rufus’ neck.
“TJ” is so calm waiting for his haircut – I wonder if he might even enjoy these sessions.
We like to keep the legs and head as-is to give the donkeys more protection from biting insects.
Here’s Helen with Clive. These Dovetail overalls are designed to fit and move easily while bending, shearing, walking, reaching, etc. There are also ample pockets for holding tools and other necessities while working.
Dolma works on “TJ” – clipping his back and sides.
I think the donkeys are hoping they get some good treats after they are clipped. If clipping an equine for the first time, be sure to familiarize them with the sounds and feel of the clippers before doing any actual grooming. It is always important to carefully introduce new things and activities to them.
Here, one can see the clippers smoothly removing a section of fur.
What a good boy you are, “TJ” – almost done.
And look at all the fur that came off. And there is still more to cut.
Here’s “TJ” after his haircut – what a handsome donkey.
Once they are all clipped, Dolma and Helen give them a quick brushing to remove any loose hairs.
And then Dolma wipes them all down with a damp towel.
And here they are all finished. All the donkeys wear fly masks to protect their faces from the biting insects. They don’t mind them at all. These three look much cooler and much happier already!
Here’s Dolma with the girls. The donkeys are all off to their paddock for a bit of play time before lunch! Thankfully, the next few days will be a bit cooler here in the Northeast – temperatures are only expected in the low 70s. Thanks Dolma and Helen!
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
