We have Pansies! And no, it's not too early to plant!

Yes, we have pansies in stock. Violas too. No, it's not too early to plant! Everyone has been walking through the nursery and saying to Victoria, "Oh, beautiful perennials, but it's too early to plant right?"

No! It is perfectly safe to plant trees, shrubs, perennials and yes, pansies! (It's still too early for annuals and warm weather veggies like tomatoes, basil, and peppers.) But now is a great time to put cold-hardy plants in the ground. Especially a rainy weekend like we're about to have. Experienced gardeners know how to let mother nature do their work for them. Moist soil is easier to dig in than very dry soil, and you don't have to drag the hose over if rain showers are on the way.

Happy planting.

PJM 'Elite' Rhododendron

PJM 'Elite' Rhododendron is a Victoria Gardens' favorite shade shrub. They are in stock and in full bloom, and they look fabulous! The flowers look like Azalea flowers, but technically the hybrid shrub is a Rhododendron. The wonderful blooms last April through mid-May, but just before the end of May, the blooms tumble neatly down like autumn leaves.



This self-cleaning habit can be sabotaged by a heavy rain, which mats the flowers to the leaves so the faded blooms have to be picked off, but most years it takes care of itself. The tidiness of the bloom-fall is another plus for this plant, as some of the rhodies need to have the dead blossoms physically removed or the shrub looks messy with brown shriveled flowers.



In the winter the leaves turn a great bronze color. They will grow 2' to 4' tall and wide. The dark leaves have a herbaceous scent. (But don't be fooled, they are not deer resistant!)

Prunus 'Snow Fountain' (Weeping Cherry) Twisted Trunk

This Prunus 'Snow Fountain' (Weeping Cherry) is a perfect spring specimen tree. The twisted trunk is fantastic winter interest and in the spring... well you can see from the pictures - spectacular cascading branches of single white flowers.

We have these garden stars in stock now.

A Reminder: Edibles: Fern Fiddleheads

We are revisiting a post from last year as a reminder (depending exactly where you are located) to be on the lookout for emerging edible fiddle heads.

Also the newest VisitVortex spring guide has a great section on other edible plants: Solomon Seal (which when harvested early, can be cooked like asparagus) , Cat Tails (harvest the heart in late May and eat it like a cucumber), and Wood Violets (can be eaten raw or cooked like spinach). Pick up a free copy of the spring guide for detailed instructions on harvesting these and other unexpected edibles.


Fiddleheads, probably Braken (Pteridium aquilinum).

"The ostrich fern, or fiddlehead, is a Maine delicacy that appears in the early spring-April and May. The botanical name for the ostrich fern is Matteuccia struthiopteris.

Grown ostrich fern leaves taper in width from the middle to both ends. There is a deep groove on the upper side of the big stalk, and the distinctive brown to black shoots that grow from the center of the clump of leaves look somewhat like ostrich plumes.

In the spring, the ostrich fern's distinctive "fiddleheads," the young, coiled fern leaves about an inch in diameter, are mostly green, but have papery brown scales. Nearly all ferns have fiddleheads, but the ostrich fern's are unlike any other. These fiddleheads have a paper-dry, parchment-like sheath that usually has started to peel. Most other fern fiddle head sheaths are fuzzy or woolly.

You can also tell it's an ostrich fern if you see the previous year's leaves, broken to the ground, dead and brown, but still well attached to the root stock. Also, last year's "plumes" (the spore-bearing fronds that are still erect) are often there to identify the plant.

Gather fiddleheads in early spring, as soon as they appear within an inch or two of the ground. Carefully brush out and remove the brown scales. Then wash the heads, and cook them in lightly salted boiling water for at least 10 minutes, or steam for 20 minutes. Serve right away with melted butter."

Although I found some other recipes that sounded fantastic:

"Philip McGuire, head chef of the Blue Strawberry in Portsmouth, N.H., also makes fiddlehead soup. But after sauteing the ferns with leeks in butter, Mr. McGuire adds champagne, cooks the soup to remove the alcohol, purees it and finally adds a touch of cream. He also makes a pesto with olive oil and garlic, substituting fiddleheads for basil, and uses it to stuff veal or, with cheese and nuts, mushroom caps." From the article in The New York Times.

Yum! Seriously, I'm salivating.

The end of that New York Times article list restaurants that feature fiddleheads on their menus, when available in early spring.

According to Wikipedia these are other species of edible ferns:

• Bracken, Pteridium aquilinum, found worldwide
• Ostrich fern, Matteuccia struthiopteris, found in northern regions worldwide, and the central/eastern part of North America
• Cinnamon fern or buckhorn fern, Osmunda cinnamomea, found in the Eastern parts of North America
• Royal fern, Osmunda regalis, found worldwide
• Zenmai or flowering fern, Osmunda japonica, found in East Asia
• Vegetable fern, Athyrium esculentum, found throughout Asia and Oceania

Victoria Gardens at the Farmer's Market

This Sunday we will be at the Rosendale Farmer's Market with plants and a selection of organic garden solutions.

Also this Saturday Victoria will be speaking at Garden Day hosted by the Ulster County Master Gardeners and the Cornell Cooperative extension. It's not too late to register - you can even register at the door. For more information visit http://www.cceulster.org/.

Grow Your Own Figs This Summer

These Fig trees are easy and reliable. Keep them indoors over the winter as house plants, put them outside after the last frost for the summer, and experience the juicy sweetness of your own fresh figs.

Bonfire Patio Peach Tree (Prunus Persica Durazo 'Bonfire Patio')

General Culture:

These petite ornamental peach trees grow in average, medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun. They prefer moist, acidic soil. Zone 5 - 8.

Noteworthy Characteristics:

This peach cultivar is a dwarf which typically grows to 5' tall in 5 years. It features attractive, dark red leaves which hold their color throughout the growing season. Double pink-red flowers are produced in very early spring. Inedible peach-like fruits mature in summer but are often hidden from view by the dense foliage.

Problems:

Peaches generally are susceptible to numerous insect problems, including peach twig borer, aphids, spider mites and scale. But preventative spraying is easy on a tree this size, and there are organic spray solutions available. Peaches of all varieties are also susceptible to numerous disease problems, including peach scab, peach leaf curl, leaf spots, bacterial canker, root rot and mildew, but again, a little preventative spraying can protect these trees.

Uses:

Grown primarily for its profuse, early spring bloom and persistent dark red foliage. Interesting as a specimen or mixed in the shrub border.