Comments on: Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day – April 2012

By: Blackswampgirl Kim

Blackswampgirl Kim — Wed, 02 May 2012 03:59:52 +0000

Thanks for the tip on the honeyberries, Nan. I’m moving next year (planning to, anyway) so I think that I’ll wait until my new house to plant any new fruit… but I bookmarked the site so I’ll have it. :-)

I definitely plan to save seed from the millet! (If I have enough, it may be one of my “pay it forward” seed offerings.)

I can only imagine how long your “to-plant” list is, Kim. You’re going to go wild with a bigger space!
-Nan

By: Christin K.

Christin K. — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:40:23 +0000

Wonderful as usual Nan! I think I am kind of in love with that Poncirus. There seems to be a good deal of discrepancy with regards to the hardiness listing of this shrub though. Some sites say it is hardy down to z5, while others list it as being good only to z7. What are your thoughts on that? Not that I actually have enough room in my garden for another large shrub, lol. But I am curious anyhow….
Keep up the great work! Can never get enough of your pics n’ posts ;-)
CMK

Hi Christin! Thanks for checking in. I’m in mid-Zone 6, and there’s absolutely no hardiness problem here the straight species of hardy orange or with ‘Flying Dragon’. It definitely does need ample space, though, because you don’t want to have it anywhere near a path (those thorns are *wicked*); you also won’t want to have to prune it frequently to control the size (for the same reason).
-Nan

By: Melanie

Melanie — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:31:57 +0000

How do you feel about the ‘Red Majestic’ hazel? I have a small yard. Is it worth giving it the space?

I like it very much, Melanie: fantastic winter interest from the stems and catkins, and exceptional deep purple color in spring and early summer. It *is* kind of boring from midsummer through early fall, once the leaves have turned green; the fall color is not wow, but it’s okay. If I had space for only one shrub, would it be ‘Red Majestic’? Yes, I think it might be. Do try to find an own-root one, if you decide to try ‘Red Majestic’ for yourself, so you don’t give yourself a lifetime job of cutting out straight-stemmed suckers.
-Nan