A Blue Oak.......Are You Kidding Me!!

Quercus laceyi (Q. glaucoides)........Lacey Oak or Texas Blue Oak...

This my friends is a true resident of the Texas hill country, along with the Big Tooth Maple (Acer grandidentatum). We had the pleasure of viewing both of these "Texas Star Trees" a couple weeks ago on a short trip to the hill country.

The Lacey Oak is a medium size tree in good soils and a shrub on poor soils. Full sun to light afternoon shade with morning sun are the best exposures. Lacey oak is tolerant of heat, drought, and high PH soils, but does not like wet feet. Lacey oak will survive on well drained clay soils but prefers well drained limestone soils. Cold tolerance is thought to be good to zone 7.

This tree has much to offer in the nature of a landscape addition. The leaves expand as a soft pink color, turning blue-green as they mature, hence the name Blue Oak. The foliage is seldom bothered by insects or disease. Fall color varies from brown to yellow. The growth habit will vary with environmental conditions, with the ultimate size ranging from 30 to 35 feet in height and spread, making it ideal for those small lots or as a specimen tree.




(Information taken in part from: Texas Extension Service....Field Guide to Trees by Benny J. Simpson and Texas Superstar.com....Thank You Very Much!)

One of My Absolute Favorites........Firewitch Dianthus

Dianthus gratianopolitanus 'Firewitch'

This plant is one of my all time favorites, I have been using this particular cultivar in my landscape designs and at my personal home for years and this is one of the best articles about Firewitch...enjoy.....Ralph

The Perennial Plant Association has selected Dianthus gratianopolitanus 'Firewitch' as their Plant of the Year 2006. This species of Cheddar Pinks, native to Cheddar Gorge, England, has spicy clove-scented flowers (the sweet fragrance of carnations) which face upward for maximum color impact. This German cultivar is one of the bluest-foliaged, one of the most tolerant of heat and varying soil conditions, and is one of the longest flowering of the many types of Dianthus.

This plant is similar to Dianthus 'Bath's Pink', but the cultivar 'Firewitch' ('Feuerhexe') boasts single, shocking magenta-pink blossoms that are nearly fringed on the edges. They are attractive to butterflies and make excellent cut and dried flowers. The plants bloom heavily from late spring into early summer, sporadically throughout the summer, and often rebloom in early fall, particularly when deadheaded consistently.

The masses of flowers contrast beautifully with the silvery blue foliage. The tight mats of linear, needle-like, evergreen foliage grows about 4-6” tall (the flowers top out at 7-8” tall) and 18-24" in diameter. This dianthus is not favored by deer once established. It is hardy in zones 3-8.

Landscape Uses

Dianthus 'Firewich' has bright magenta flowers.

Being relatively short, ‘Firewitch’ is an excellent plant for the front of the flower border or as edging. It is an excellent plant for the rock garden or a raised bed where it can spill over the edges. Its spreading tendency makes it an outstanding groundcover, particularly on dry slopes. Many plants can be placed together to create a “pool” of deep blue foliage when not in bloom. Individual plants can be kept smaller by pruning the foliage in very early spring or after the first flush of bloom. This plant also works well in containers.

Culture

Dianthus 'Firewich' is a great plant for the front of the border.

Dianthus grows best in loose, well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soils in full sun. It tolerates light shade, particularly in the afternoon. ‘Firewitch’ tolerates short dry periods, but needs regular watering during prolonged drought. Fewer flowers will be produced when grown in hot, dry areas. Don’t fertilize too much, as this promotes lush growth that may leaves the plants with gaps.

If grown in a container, plant in a mix with very good drainage and place in full sun or light shade. Water thoroughly when dry, but do not allow the medium to remain wet.

Dianthus can be propagated by division in early spring, just as the new growth begins to appear. This is recommended every few years because it tends to be a short-lived perennial otherwise.

– Susan Mahr, University of Wisconsin - Madison

Gaillardia.....Spring is Coming

Spring is coming and what better thing to do, than to talk about what we want in our Spring and Summer gardens......The Gaillardias are some of my favorites, of course I love the color combinations of yellow and red, they just seem to light up the area.

What a great and colorful flower. One familiar to all who have ever gone on a meadow jaunt in the beautiful Texas prairies...the one you most likely saw was Gaillardia pulchella......the annual or tender perennial. You can see meadows ablaze with this red and yellow delight sometimes called Indian Blanket. It blooms just after the bluebonnets are finished and often is the most dominate color in the field. This Texas wildflower grows throughout the state and is anywhere from 12 to 24 inches tall and will spread to 12 inches. Seed for this flower may be purchased from numerous sources.

This is Gaillardia aristata the true perennial
seen in the local flower beds around town. The common name you will hear for this one is Blanket Flower. Most likely the best known cultivar is Goblin, a sure winner for summer color....be careful not to over water in the heavy clay soils of this area. This cultivar is neat and compact grows 12 to 15 inches tall. These plants can be purchased from your local nursery or ask your landscaper to brighten up your full sun beds with an addition of Gaillardia "Goblin"



Gallardia mixed with Artemisia "Powis Castle".


















A word of caution for new perennial gardeners, give the garden a chance. It will take at least 2 seasons for the garden to fill in, this not the same as a heavy "seasonal color" bed, one that is changed for each season, heavily water, and fertilized. The perennial bed will, with patience and proper planning will give you explosions of color throughout the year, after blooming some of the perennials can look weedy, shear back and get ready for the next round of blooms. Want a perennial bed but don't want the work....give me a call at CGreen Landscape Irrigation.

All Things Christmas..."Sort Of".......

Schlumbergera bridgesil

Can anyone remember when we were kids and at Easter we would go to the feed store and buy baby chicks...sometimes multi-colored......Oh my.....Well the plant of consideration this week is not a pastel blue baby chick and unfortunately we really only appreciate it's beauty at Christmas hence the name "Christmas Cactus".


This plant is a native of Brazil, it is an epiphytic cactus with flat jointed stems. Sometimes call the Orchid cactus because of their rare and distinctive beauty...the word epiphytic means they derive their support from a host plant and are just passengers and not parasites....kinda cool just along for the ride....


Taking care of business: Schlumbergia bridgesil needs an average minimum temperature at night of about 62 degrees F. Use a soil mixture of 3 parts peat moss to 1 part loam or sand. Keep the soil moist during spring and summer with high diffused or filtered light. Fertilize every 2 weeks during this period. For bud formation, plants require full sun with a drier cooler conditions, plus the shorter days of fall, (Christmas..... Yea!!) In the fall , reduce the watering and keep the plant cooler, with a minimum temperature of 55 degrees F at night. Increase watering when the flower buds appear and fertilize every 2 weeks with a balanced household fertilizer at 1/2 strength until the flowers open.
(Information...(in part) taken from Cal's Plant of the week From the University of Oklahoma.... Thank You Very Much)


Now it would not be Christmas with out a Reindeer Run, and what better time to do it than when it is freeeeezzzzing cold outside. So this past Saturday when it was just those conditions, my trusty companions and I went forth. The local Lifetime Fitness was hosting a Reindeer Run in association with "Toys for Tots" bring a toy, have some fun, freeze and sweat, sound likes Christmas to me. So we went out to have some fun and represent the company CGreen Landscape Irrigation (to the best of our ability)...enjoy the pictures.




My daughter Melissa and Dixie the best runner in the group........















Okay.....this would be me...still cold...But look a the smile on Dixie's face...she love to run and loves the cold weather

Where There Is a Wall There Is a Way

Well is is winter and what better thing to do in the winter than build a wall. Now is the saying "Walls make friends or make better neighbors"?

Oh well, here at C Green Landscape Irrigation we are building some walls, borders, and beds. I started these pictures a day late, but it will be interesting to follow the progress of this wall as it comes into it's "own".

Lots of preparations have already taken place from shooting the grade, to painting the layout, laying re-bar in the trench for the footing, to where we are today. This wall is being constructed of "Oklahoma" chop stone on a concrete base reinforced with steel re-bar. Each layer will be mortared, leveled, adjusted, pushed and pulled, till the finished product is a focal point of the new landscape.

Natural stone walls either mortared or dry stacked, add extra dimensions of color, texture, depth, and contrast to your landscape. Not only are stone walls and borders beautiful, but functional as well, some walls and borders can act as retaining walls, borders for flower beds, and sometimes stone pathways can take you to that hidden part of your garden or landscape. Natural stone architecture takes the normal landscape to the next level (no pun intended) inviting you to see what is around the next corner, or down that stone pathway to your next garden adventure. Stay with us as we daily update the progress of our stone walls and borders.

A Plant Worth Investigating

Achillea millefolium

This perennial plant is a native to Europe and Asia it is a member of the vast Asteraceae family. The 2"-6" clusters of tiny pink, white, or yellow flowers form atop a 6"-4' spike. (Depending on the individual species) The foliage is fern like. Achillea is drought resistant, and will grow in almost any soil. The plants bloom in June, but will bloom again in September if the dead clusters are removed. Common Yarrow has fern-like foliage and can be used as cut flowers. The species has pink flowers but cultivars can provide white or red blooms. They grow in ordinary garden soil and full sun. Cut off old flowers to prolong the flowering period. Achillea may become a weed if not controlled. Propagation: Divide in the spring. This plant can be grown in semi-shade, say morning sun……it will not bloom as much as in full sun and will not reach max height, but it is fantastic to use with holly ferns and hydrangeas for a wispy fern like clumping appearance. We should use this more in our landscapes, it of course a perennial. This past weekend we were in Fredicksburg, Texas, the landscaping around the pool where we stayed had several clumps of Achillea in mature growth. There was a gentle wind blowing in the pool area and the effect of the wind on the foliage of the Achillea was quite pleasant. Try it.....you will like it.....

It is a Dog's Life

Well, Thought I would post some of my friends, this is "Dixie". She has been my running partner for a couple of years and chief guard of the back yard. She is on constant patrol for bunnies and rodents, when found she promptly dispatches them to a better place and them leaves the body on the back doorstep for me to praise her. How can you not love that! She is by far the best and friendliest companion anyone could ask for.