Sunday, March 16, 2014

Seeds for the 2014 Friends of the Libraries of Foster - Links

Hello Friends!

For anyone wishing to donate seeds for planting for this year's 2014 Friends of the Libraries of Foster's Annual Plant Sale, the following links to "Tomato Bob" include many heirloom seeds at 1960's! prices.  The website is a wealth of information about planting and heirloom varieties.

Thanks for your support!

http://www.tomatobob.com/

http://www.shop.tomatobob.com/Sales-and-Specials_c19.htm?page=all

Thursday, May 9, 2013


Libraries of Foster
   Perennial Plant Sale   
May 11, 2013
Plant List


Ajuga Repens ‘Caitlin’s Giant’
(8”, spreading ground cover, burgundy leaves with blue flowers - early summer)



 
 
Angelica Gigas
(3-6+’ x 3’, clump forming biennial or short lived perennial which self-sows freely, 
deep purple bracketed umbels 3-5” across late summer. A favorite!)



 
Aster Tataricus
(8+‘, lavender blue daisy flowers in fall, spreads stoliniferiously,
one of the late flowering perennials.)




 


 


Convallaria Majalis Rosea
(8”, pink Lily-of-the-Valley, spreads quickly)


 


Red/Yellow Daylily
The daylily is often called "the perfect perennial," due to its dazzling colors, ability to tolerate drought, capability to thrive in many zones, and requiring very little care. Daylilies thrive in full sun, although certain daylilies require partial shade, depending on color. Lighter shades, such as yellow, pink, and pastels require the sun to bring out all of their color. Darker daylilies, such as some red and purple flowers, need shade because their darker colors absorb heat.  Today, daylilies come in an assortment of shades, whereas they formerly were only available in yellow, pink, fulvous, and rosy-fulvous. Now the flowers can be found in many shades of yellow, pink, red, purple, and melon. The only shades daylilies are not available in are pure blue and pure white, which hybridizers are working on.  Daylilies have a relatively short blooming period, depending on the type of daylily. There are a variety of different daylilies; some of which will bloom in early spring, while other wait until the summer or even fall. Most daylilies bloom for one to five weeks, although there is a type of daylily known as a re-bloomer, which will bloom twice in one season.



 
Digitalis Lutea
(24-30” x 12-24”, clump forming perennial Foxglove, pale yellow flowers, self-sows)





 

Green Eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta ‘Irish Eyes’ – ‘Irish Eyes’ lives up to its name with large single golden-yellow daisy-like blooms with a prominent green central cone. It has long sturdy stems and makes a good cut flower. As with all Gloriosa Daisies, these are short-lived perennials that many treat as annuals, although they will often self-seed. Grows 28-32″ high by 12-18″ wide. Hardy to zone 5.



Hemerocallis – Yellow Minor Daylily
(2’ - very light yellow flowers, spreads)




Hemerocallis Fulva Daylily
(30” double orange/red flowers, spreads)


 Hosta ‘Gold Edger’
(12-14” spreading gold foliage)





Hosta Plantiginea
(2-3’, clump forming, fragrant large white flowers in late summer,
light green foliage)





Hydrangea Petioles
(climbing Hydrangea, 50’, white flowers in early summer)



Hydrangea Quercifolia
 Oak leaf Hydrangea
(6’ x 8’, panicle of white flowers tinged pink, green leaves turn bronze/purple in autumn)





Lamium Maculatum
(8” x 3’, groundcover, pink flowers in late spring, spreads rapidly)




Lamium Maculatum ‘Beacon Silver’
(8” x 3’, groundcover, white flowers in late spring, spreads rapidly)


 
 

Obedient Plant

Obedient plants are easily established and very drought tolerant, forgiving plants. Although they prefer a moist, slightly acidic soil (5.5 - 6.3 pH), they’ll grow just fine in average - poor soil and spreading will be less of a problem. The biggest maintenance chore is keeping obedient plant from rampant spreading. Although the plants pull out easily enough, they seem to pop up everywhere. If you’re tempted to wait and let them flower, be sure to get out there before they go to seed. Long season gardeners can get a second flush of blooms if you deadhead the first flowers. Wait until spring to cut back old foliage.


 

Rubus Cockburnianus Aureum - Gold
(Ghost bramble, 4-5’ x 5-6’, silver prickly branches with gold leaves,
adds great texture in the border, in winter gold branches add interest,
cut to ground in spring)
 

Tansy
Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) is a perennial, herbaceous flowering plant of the aster family, native to temperate Europe and Asia. It has been introduced to other parts of the world and in some areas has become invasive. It is also known as Common Tansy, Bitter Buttons, Cow Bitter, Mugwort, or Golden Buttons. 

 


 

 
 
 


Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Perennial Plant Sale - Plant List


Libraries of Foster
   Perennial Plant Sale   
September 08, 2012
Plant List


Ajuga Repens ‘Caitlin’s Giant’
(8”, spreading ground cover, burgundy leaves with blue flowers - early summer)



Amsonia Tabernaemontana
 Willow Blue Star
(3’ x 4-5’, blue flowers late spring, lovely vase shaped perennial, self-sow)



 
Angelica Gigas
(3-6+’ x 3’, clump forming biennial or short lived perennial which self-sows freely, deep purple bracketed umbels 3-5” across late summer. A favorite!)



 
Aster Tataricus
(8+‘, lavender blue daisy flowers in fall, spreads stoliniferiously,
one of the late flowering perennials.)




Campanula Persicifolia
Telham Beauty'
(36” clump forming perennial, light electric blue flowers in early summer, self-sows)



 
Campanula Takesimana
(20”, rapidly spreading rhizomatous perennial, pendent bell shaped white flowers splashed with purple in summer. Good groundcover for poor area. If used in a border it must be kept under control, self-seeds)



Chasmanthium Latifolium
(Quaking grass, 3-4’ x 4+’, lovely in fall & winter, self-seeds)




Clerodendrum Trichotomum
(15’, bushy shrub or small tree, white/red flowers in summer, self-sows)





Convallaria Majalis Rosea
(8”, pink Lily-of-the-Valley, spreads quickly)


 

Daliah
Dahlia is a genus of bushy, tuberous, herbaceous perennial plants native to Mexico, Central America, and Colombia. A member of the Asteraceae or Compositae, dicotyledonous plants, related species include the sunflower, daisy, chrysanthemum and zinnia. There are at least 36 species of dahlia, with hybrids commonly grown as garden plants. Flower forms are variable, with one head per stem; these can be as small as 2 in (5.1 cm) in diameter or up to 1 ft (30 cm) ("dinner plate"). This great variety results from dahlias being octoploids—that is, they have eight sets of homologous chromosomes, whereas most plants have only two. In addition, dahlias also contain many transposons - genetic pieces that move from place to place upon an allele - which contributes to their manifesting such great diversity.Dahlias grow naturally in climates which do not experience frost (the tubers are hardy to USDA Zone 8),[34] consequently they are not adapted to withstand sub-zero temperatures. However their tuberous nature enables them to survive periods of dormancy, and this characteristic means that gardeners in temperate climates with frosts can grow dahlias successfully, provided the tubers are lifted from the ground and stored in cool yet frost-free conditions during the winter. Planting the tubers quite deep (10 – 15 cm) also provides some protection. When in active growth, modern dahlia hybrids perform most successfully in well-watered yet free-draining soils, in situations receiving plenty of sunlight. Taller cultivars usually require some form of staking as they grow, and all garden dahlias need deadheading regularly, once flowering commences.







Red/Yellow Daylily
The daylily is often called "the perfect perennial," due to its dazzling colors, ability to tolerate drought, capability to thrive in many zones, and requiring very little care. Daylilies thrive in full sun, although certain daylilies require partial shade, depending on color. Lighter shades, such as yellow, pink, and pastels require the sun to bring out all of their color. Darker daylilies, such as some red and purple flowers, need shade because their darker colors absorb heat.  Today, daylilies come in an assortment of shades, whereas they formerly were only available in yellow, pink, fulvous, and rosy-fulvous. Now the flowers can be found in many shades of yellow, pink, red, purple, and melon. The only shades daylilies are not available in are pure blue and pure white, which hybridizers are working on.  Daylilies have a relatively short blooming period, depending on the type of daylily. There are a variety of different daylilies; some of which will bloom in early spring, while other wait until the summer or even fall. Most daylilies bloom for one to five weeks, although there is a type of daylily known as a re-bloomer, which will bloom twice in one season.



 
Digitalis Lutea
(24-30” x 12-24”, clump forming perennial Foxglove, pale yellow flowers, self-sows)





Digitalis Purpurea
 (3-6’ x 2’, biennial Foxglove, purple flowers, self-sows freely)



 
Digitalis Viridiflora
(30” x 2+’, perennial Foxglove with small white flowers, self-sows freely)




 
Echinacea Purpurea
(Coneflower, 4-5’ x 18”, purple-red flowers in summer, self-seeds)



 
Eupatorium Coelestinum
(Perennial ageratum, 2’ x 2’, bright blue flowers in fall, spreads)





Fallopia Japonica Variegata
 (5-6’ x 5-6’ shrub, white leaves splashed with red/green, glows at dusk,
 not invasive in zone 6 especially in drier soil, very sought after!)

 

Green Eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta ‘Irish Eyes’ – ‘Irish Eyes’ lives up to its name with large single golden-yellow daisy-like blooms with a prominent green central cone. It has long sturdy stems and makes a good cut flower. As with all Gloriosa Daisies, these are short-lived perennials that many treat as annuals, although they will often self-seed. Grows 28-32″ high by 12-18″ wide. Hardy to zone 5.



Hemerocallis – Yellow Minor Daylily
(2’ - very light yellow flowers, spreads)




Hemerocallis Fulva Daylily
(30” double orange/red flowers, spreads)


 
Hosta ‘Gold Edger’
(12-14” spreading gold foliage)





Hosta Plantiginea
(2-3’, clump forming, fragrant large white flowers in late summer, light green foliage)





Hydrangea Petioles
(climbing Hydrangea, 50’, white flowers in early summer)



Hydrangea Quercifolia
 Oak leaf Hydrangea
(6’ x 8’, panicle of white flowers tinged pink, green leaves turn bronze/purple in autumn)





Lamium Maculatum
(8” x 3’, groundcover, pink flowers in late spring, spreads rapidly)




Lamium Maculatum ‘Beacon Silver’
(8” x 3’, groundcover, white flowers in late spring, spreads rapidly)


 

Lavender Plant
Lavender plants will tolerate many growing conditions, but it thrives in warm, well-drained soil and full sun. Like many plants grown for their essential oils, a lean soil will encourage a higher concentration of oils. An alkaline and especially chalky soil will enhance lavenders fragrance. While you can grow lavender in USDA Zone 5, it is unlikely you will ever have a lavender hedge. More realistically you can expect to have plants that will do well when the weather cooperates and to experience the occasional loss of a plant or two after a severe winter or a wet, humid summer.  Lavender is a tough plant and is extremely drought resistant, once established. However, when first starting you lavender plants, don't be afraid to give them a handful of compost in the planting hole and to keep them regularly watered during their first growing season. It is dampness, more than cold, that is responsible for killing lavender plants. Dampness can come in the form of wet roots during the winter months or high humidity in the summer. If humidity is a problem, make sure you have plenty of space between your plants for air flow and always plant in a sunny location. Areas where the ground routinely freezes and thaws throughout the winter will benefit from a layer of mulch applied after the ground initially freezes. Also protect your lavender plants from harsh winter winds. Planting next to a stone or brick wall will provide additional heat and protection.



 

Lobelia Siphilitica
(blue cardinal flower, clump forming perennial, 2+’,
bright blue flowers late summer into fall, self-seeds)





Lychnis Coronaria - Alba
  (Rose champion, 32” x 18”, silver velvety foliage, magenta
flowers in early summer, white flowers, self-seeds)




Lychnis Coronaria – Angel’s Blush
(Rose champion, 32” x 18”, silver velvety foliage, magenta
flowers in early summer, white /pink centers, self-seeds)




Lysimachia Clethroides
(Gooseneck loosestrife, 3’ x 2’, white gooseneck shaped flowers,
can be invasive in moist soil, lovely flowers for flower arrangements)





Lysimachia Ephemerum
(3’ x 3’, clump forming perennial with glaucous leaves
& small white/purple pink centered flowers, self-sows, a real beauty!)




Miscanthus Sinensis ‘Morning Light’
(Ornamental grass, 4-5’ x 5+’, white/green graceful foliage, beautiful when backlit by rising or setting sun, spreads more slowly that most grasses & does not self-seed which is a plus) 
Money Plant

Money plants are pretty easy to look after; they will self seed so if you do not require money plants in the garden the following year, remove the plants before they shed seed. It is necessary to mulch the plants at the beginning of winter if you are planning to grow as a biennial.

 

 
 

Obedient Plant

Obedient plants are easily established and very drought tolerant, forgiving plants. Although they prefer a moist, slightly acidic soil (5.5 - 6.3 pH), they’ll grow just fine in average - poor soil and spreading will be less of a problem. The biggest maintenance chore is keeping obedient plant from rampant spreading. Although the plants pull out easily enough, they seem to pop up everywhere. If you’re tempted to wait and let them flower, be sure to get out there before they go to seed. Long season gardeners can get a second flush of blooms if you deadhead the first flowers. Wait until spring to cut back old foliage.


 
Phlox – White/Pink
Phlox (/ˈflɒks/; Greek φλόξ "flame"; plural "phlox" or "phloxes", Greek φλόγες phlóges) is a genus of 67 species of perennial and annual plants in the family Polemoniaceae. They are found mostly in North America (one in Siberia) in diverse habitats from alpine tundra to open woodland and prairie. Some flower in spring, others in summer and fall. Flowers may be pale blue, violet, pink, bright red, or white. Many are fragrant.

 
 

Platycodon Grandiflorus
 (Balloon flower, 2’ x 1’, blue flowers in summer, self-seeds freely)




Rubus Cockburnianus
(Ghost bramble, 4-5’ x 5-6’, silver prickly branches with silver leaves, adds great texture in the border, in winter silver branches add interest, cut to ground in spring)



Rubus Cockburnianus Aureum - Gold
(Ghost bramble, 4-5’ x 5-6’, silver prickly branches with gold leaves, adds great texture in the border, in winter gold branches add interest, cut to ground in spring)

Tansy
Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) is a perennial, herbaceous flowering plant of the aster family, native to temperate Europe and Asia. It has been introduced to other parts of the world and in some areas has become invasive. It is also known as Common Tansy, Bitter Buttons, Cow Bitter, Mugwort, or Golden Buttons. 

 


 

Valariana Officinalis Garden Heliotrope
(4’ x 4+’, very fragrant white flowers in early summer fill the air with scent, self-seeds freely)