Hostas, Iris, Daylillies . . . . Oh my!

Being a collector these are some of my/our passions. At one time I had a collection of about 20 (of each). The limitation was space not interest. The picture is of Cherry Daylilly, part of our collection available next year. We have one in bloom on our parking strip and a few others.

One of the great things we're able to do with Emerald City Gardens is to share our collection and interests with other plant geeks. Iris season is passed but we still have two of our favorites: Silver Edge (see photo below) and Variations in Blue. As always, the ones blooming sell first so the ones with blooms sold so those who came late didn't get to see the flowers.

When it comes to Hostas it doesn't matter whether they're in blooms or not, the foliage is why you want them. One of our favorites, and divisions from our yard, is Patriot. Striking white variegation on this one. We sold out of the divisions from our yard but we've been lucky enough to find a source for more :) Others from our collection are: Golden Tiara (small), Mouse Ears (dwarf and super cute), Royal Standard (BIG and fragrant), Elegance (BIG), and more.
I can't say Daylilies are my favorite, or may they are. We had a huge collection at one time but moving into a small lot we've had to make choices. The Swanson's Gold sold quickly, at this time I think we have one left. Condilla is an unusual double yellow, Pink Damask is pink of course. In the future we'll have many unique and award winning ones available. Next year we should have some Cranberry Cove available, it's very cranberry. There's much more to come.

Bamboo

I'm not a bamboo expert but I've maintained several bamboo groves in top shape for over 10 years. In that time I've made several mistakes and learned a lot.
Depending on which bamboo variety you have you have either noticed the canes emerging and growing strong already or some just breaking the surface of the soil. Bamboo, though tough and usually will survive anything here are a few tips.

Care:
Bamboo will usually grow toward the moist spots in the yard. If you have it in a container and let it completely dry out it usually dies. In the ground, once established, it'll take a dry spot but it grows stronger and healthier in a spot well watered. Feed it a high nitrogen fertilizer.

One of the best things to keep it looking good, healthy, and get bigger canes is to prune out the 3-4 year old canes. They're usually the ratty looking ones. If you have black bamboo they're usually the ones bleaching white. If you cut out the older canes then that energy goes into the new growth and also gives the new canes more room.

Pests! Once in a while bamboo will get a spider mite. There are toxic things you can spray it with but I prefer to hose them down whenever I water. Mites love dry and hot, hate moist and cool. Also the pruning out the oldest canes tends to get rid of many mites since they tend to pick on the older growth.

Not all bamboo are invasive! There are now several hard clumping bamboos available. Also there are shade ones, dwarf ones, variegated ones, and fake ones (Nandina).

Happy spring time?

Hey,
The iris are starting to bloom, as well as peonies :). We have two selections from our yard: Iris siberica 'Variations In Blue' and Iris siberica 'Silver Edge', two of our favorites. We also have a few hostas from our yard that are super cool: Partiot, Golden Tiara, Royal Standard (fragrant), and Pearl Lake.

Bad news :( Check your junipers, cypresses, and arborvitae's, are the tips dying or brown? I've noticed around our place and the neighbors the juniper tip moth & leaf miners have emerged. At first I thought it was poor watering but at closer inspection there were tiny green caterpillars dangling from the branches. The tip moth lays their eggs late spring/summer on the branches, the emerge and burrow into the tips of the stems and stay there over winter. Around April they start hatching and eat from the inside of the leaf causing it to die. May they emerge and start over. While inside the leaf there's nothing you can do except prune it off. Now you can use something like Neem to control the moths and eggs. Prune out the damaged foliage and spray. Other plants that are known for leaf miner are: columbines, hosta, and vegetable leaf crops. Check the leaves, it looks like little tunnels are inside the leaf. Pick and destroy, do not compost.

Andy