[PLANT PROFILE] POPPIES

April 10, 2024 Karen Logan

Iceland Poppies illustration by karen blackerby logan

POPPIES ARE MY SPRING FAVORITE!

We love our poppies at Vineyard Gardens! We grow a lot of different varieties. There are both annual and perennial poppies. Some are truly perennial, some are short lived perennial and some are annual poppies. The annual poppies love to colonize by reseeding and return year after year. We raise our annual poppies from seed and grow a fine selection for your garden. One perennial poppy we grow from seed is the Spanish poppy, Papaver rupifragum, Double tangerine Gem. It is the latest blooming of the poppies with pretty apricot blooms in late summer. It grows wild in the mountains of Spain along with Spanish lavender.

Poppies like a rich, well drained soil in full sun. Deer Resistant!!

PAPAVER ORIENTALIS/ORIENTAL POPPIES

The most famous of the perennial poppies are the Oriental Poppies. They are long lived perennials that bloom in early spring, go dormant in the heat of summer and then come back bigger and better the next year.

Oriental Poppies are known for their dinner plate sized blooms. The red with the black center is probably the best known. This year we have Crimson Red, Orange Red and Royal Wedding, a white one with a black center. We also have Turkenlouise, a red one with ruffled edges on the petals, and Princess Victoria Louise, a salmon colored one. Oriental Poppies are very dramatic flowers!

Make sure to mark the spot so that you don’t disturb the sleeping poppy!

PAPAVER NUDICAULE/ICELAND POPPIES

Icelandic poppies, Papaver nudicaule (meaning bare stems), are another type of poppy that is considered perennial, but seem to be shorter lived than the Oriental Poppies. Iceland poppies are just gorgeous! Their crepe paper like flowers are very delicate and bloom on tall, thin 1ft stems. Plant 2-3 in a pot and enjoy them all spring and into early summer.

We carry Iceland Poppies in the Champagne Series (individual colors) and the Wonderland Series (a mix of colors). We have the Champagne Series in scarlet, pink, yellow, orange, and red for the individual colors. These are hardy but short lived perennials. They are native to sub polar regions of Asia and North America.

Iceland Poppies are blooming now!

ANNUAL POPPIES

Papaver rhoeas, Papaver commutatum, Papaver paeoniflorus, Papaver somniferum

The great reseeding poppies are the annual poppies. We grow these from seed, seeded in early to mid February and sell them in packs and 2” pots.

Following the spring through early summer flowering, annual poppies have beautiful seed pods that extend the season from summer into fall. These seed pods ripen and spill out into the surrounding soil and baby seedlings emerge the following year. I know of many sunny gardens where annual poppies have colonized and make a fabulous easy to grow display year after year.

This year we are growing:

Shirley Poppies
Papaver rhoeas, including Double Choice Mix
Select Seed, White Bridal Veil
We are growing the peony flowered poppy in Lauren’s Grape, Hungarian Blue and White Cloud.
Ladybird Poppy, Papaver commutatum, a red flower with a black blotch at the base of each petal. It is a prolific bloomer.
Papaver somniferum, in Imperial Pink and The Giant with a red flower.
Ready to be planted now!
**************************************

GROWING & CARE

Plant your poppies in a full sun garden with well drained soil.
They have beautiful seed pods that extend the season beyond bloom.
The annual poppies can be dead headed to extend bloom but at some point let the beautiful seed pods develop and let them ripen on the plant.
Poppies will reseed and you may have lots of little poppy seedlings for years to come.
If they are happy, they will colonize in your garden. It is wonderful when plants colonize! Other plants do this too!

Come to Vineyard Gardens to find out what other plants reseed and colonize in your garden!

JULY GARDENING TIPS

June 30, 2023 Karen Logan

JULY GARDENING TIPS

As the heat ramps up for summer there are many things to be done in the garden to keep things looking great and lay the foundation for a beautiful fall.

*******************************

Spent bulb foliage: Now is the time to cut back any remaining daffodil foliage as it turns yellow. The foliage should be left intact for as long as possible but has generally ripened sufficiently by early July.

Shaping perennials: The last pinch to shape and encourage branching on late summer perennials should occur in early July. It’s still ok to thin stems on congested perennials to improve air circulation. Don’t be afraid to give a hard cut to catmint (Nepeta), lady’s mantle (Alchemilla mollis) and perennial geraniums (Geranium sp.) after the spring flush of flowering concludes.
Container plants: Consider compost tea or organic liquid feed like fish emulsion or seaweed extract for container plants. Feed every 7-10 days. As the summer heats up and container plants fill their pots, twice a day watering might be necessary. Make sure to check the soil by inserting your finger into the first inch or so to see if the soil is moist. When watering containers water deeply (until water seeps out the bottom), to be sure all roots have access to moisture.
Weeds: Catch weeds before they go to seed and continue to apply organic mulch to spots left bare by the removal of bulb foliage and/or weeds. Shredded leaves held over from fall cleanup make a wonderful mulch for annual and perennial borders as well as vegetable gardens. It’s natural, free, local and breaks down over the course of the growing season to add organic material to the soil.
Peonies: Remove spent flowers from peonies once flowering is finished. If plants were staked or tied up to prevent flopping during bloom, the stakes and strings can now be removed providing stems are strong enough to stand on their own.
Vegetable garden: Direct sow succession crops in your vegetable garden for the next round of harvest, such as radish, lettuce, carrots, chard, and beets. Side dress heavy feeders and long season crops like corn, tomatoes, squash, peppers, potatoes, onions and eggplant with a balanced fertilizer now.
Biennials: Sow seeds of biennials like foxgloves, Angelica, Salvia sclarea, Lunaria and Dianthus now for planting in the garden in late summer. These will produce leaves this year, overwinter and flower next year, ending their life cycle when they set seed in their second season.
Irrigation: Irrigate borders and lawns infrequently and deeply. Generally, lawns and gardens need 1” of water each week, or a deep irrigation that penetrates to 6”. Check your sprinklers using a tuna can to see how long it takes to apply 1” of water or, if using drip irrigation, time a run and use a trowel to see how deeply the water has penetrated. Keep track of rainfall using a rain gauge and supplement only as needed. Consider converting parts of your lawn to lower maintenance groundcovers, shrub or perennial borders, or meadow plantings.
Japanese beetles: Depending on your location, Japanese beetles begin to emerge from the soil around July 4th. Keep a close eye out for them, scouting in the morning when they are sluggish and knocking them into a pail of soapy water. The solitary fly, Istocheta aldrichi, is an internal parastite of adult Japanese beetle. Female flies lay eggs on the thorax of female beetles. Upon hatching, the maggot bores into the beetle, killing it. Japanese beetles observed with these eggs on them should be saved to encourage this natrual control method.
Fruit espalier: Lightly prune fruit tree espaliers to maintain shape and thin and/or reduce the length of upright growth. Tie cordons to frames or wires as wood begins to grow stiffer”
-Joann Vieira, Director of Horticulture, Trustees (UMass Extension Landscape, Nursery and Urban Forestry Program)

Always think ahead when gardening. Timing is everything!

PERENNIALS FOR SHADE

June 20, 2023 Karen Logan

Gorgeous combination of Thalictrum ‘Elin,’ Aquilegia, Euphorbia and the leaf and seed pod of Paeonia delavayi. The glowing spikes on the right are from a bedding pocket of a pale yellow Digitalis [photo by Andrew Wiley]

PERENNIALS FOR SHADE

******************************************

SUMMER BLOOMING PERENNIALS FOR SHADE

Even if your yard is shady, you can still have beautiful flowers and foliage! If your yard needs a little more sun but you don’t want to cut down trees you can limb up or thin out a few trees to let a more sun in. On the other hand, If you have a very sunny garden and want to grow some of these wonderful shade perennials, plant a few small trees or large shrubs in the beds. Not only will they provide a little shade but height and size will add interest to perennial beds.

***Alchemilla***
***Anemone***
***Asarum***
***Astilbe***
***Cimicifuga***
***Clematis***
***Epimedium***
***Euphorbia***
***Ferns***

***Foxglove***
***Geraniums (perennial)***
***Heucheras***
***Hostas***
***Ligularia***
***Rodgersia***
***Sanguisorba***
***Thalictrum***

**************************************

Perennials that thrive in shade often do quite well with more sun, as long as they get enough water. The reverse does not apply. Perennials that need sun often grow long and leggy in the shade. Plants that evolved in shade, usually in the understory of other plants, often have larger leaves to capture as much sun as possible. Some good examples are Rodgersias, Hostas, Astilboides and many Heucheras, like the popular Autumn Bride. These plants usually like a rich moist but well drained soil.

**************************************

Astilbe

Alchemilla, Lady's Mantle

Astilbe Montgomery

Astilbe Pumila

Astilbe Sprite

Cimicifugas Queen of Sheba

Clematis Boulevard Acropolis

Clematis Sweet Autumn

Ferns

Athyrium Brilliance

Osmunda regalis

Filipendula Kahome

Geranium Max Frei

Geranium Rozanne

Heuchera Dolce Cherry Truffles

Heuchera Berry Smoothie

Heuchera Primo Wild Rose

Heuchera Snow Angel

Hosta Frech Fries

Hosta Maui Buttercup

Thalictrum Black Stockings

Thalictrum flavum glaucum

Thalictrum roch

Apricot Foxgloves

Euphorbia

DEER RESISTANT PERENNIALS FOR SHADE

Ferns, Astilbe, Thalictrum, Rodgersia, Bleeding Hearts and Heucheras are all good choices for summer blooming shade if deer are a problem in your garden. Astilbes can add color to shade beds with their plumed flowers available in many colors and sizes. Many Heucheras also called Coral Bells, can add color with their foliage which comes in reds, bronzes, deep purples and green. The Heucheras will bloom for 3-4 weeks in summer and their foliage will last all summer. Everblooming Bleeding Hearts start blooming in early summer and continues blooming until late summer. Unlike it’s cousin, Dicentra spectabilis, only blooms in spring and goes dormant in summer. It will thrive in partial shade and spread and is also deer resistant.

PERENNIALS GROUNDCOVERS FOR SHADE

Perennial groundcover plants also do well and spread in partial shade. Plant ground covers and fill up the spaces with plants instead of mulch! Pachysandra is the most shade tolerant. Vinca minor, Asarum and Epimedium are all good choices as well.

Perennial Geraniums and Campanulas will bloom in partial shade. Geranium Rozanne is our best selling Geranium. Geranium sanguineum Album, with white flowers and Geranium cantabrigiense Karmina, with pink flowers and fabulous fall color, are also great plants. The peach leaved Campanula persicifolia comes in blue and in white, both tall and short. The Takion series is the more compact one. We also carry Campanula poscharskyana and Campanula portenschlagiana Blue magic and Campanula rotundifolia, all shorter wider plants that can handle more sun and thrive in walls and cracks in walks. This always indicates they don’t need rich soil.

pollinator month

national wildlife federation

[PLANT PROFILE] ASTILBE

June 20, 2023 Karen Logan

ASTILBE

******************************************

HELPFUL TIPS ON GROWING ASTILBE

Astilbe are deer resistant perennial flowers that bloom in spring and summer. They have soft feathery purple, lavender, red, white or multiple shades of pink blooms with glossy fern like foliage. Some Astilbe have bronze foliage or a deep brown foliage. They grow well in shady areas where other flowers won't thrive. Astilbes attract butterflies. At Vineyard Gardens we carry 25-30 different cultivars.

ASTIBLE ARE DEER RESISTANT!

PLANTING TIPS

____________
* Plant in shade to part
***shade***
* Plant in a loamy
***humus rich soil***
* Water deeply to
***promote deep roots***
* Protect from hot
***afternoon sun***

CARE

***———————-***
* Regularly check Astilbes to
*make sure they are moist.*
* Astilbes spread quickly and
*form broad clumps.*
* Apply organic fertilizer in the
*spring.*
* Divide the overgrown clumps
*every 3 to 4 years in the spring.*
* Typically you can remove spent
***flower blooms to encourage more***
***blossoms but Astilbe are the***
***exception.***
*Astilbes spent flowers
***have ornamental value. They***
***can be left standing if desired***
***or cut down at any time.***
* Astilbes continue to provide
*attractive foliage until fall.*

VARIETIES

Astilbe chinensis Pumila: Forms a ground cover. Height: 10” tall.
Astilbe Sprite and Hennie Graafland: Dwarf Astilbes. Height: 12”-18” tall.
Astilbe Ostrich Plume: A tall pink Astilbe whose flowers are pendulous instead of upright like other Astilbes. Height: 30” tall.
Astilbe Superba: One of the tallest pinks. Height: 24”-48” tall.
Astilbe Mighty Red Quin: Height 39”-47” tall
Astilbe Maggie Daley: Height 28” tall
Astilbe Montgomery: Height 20-24” tall
Astilbe Burgundy Red: Height 12”-18” tall

grow massachusetts

this week’s garden tips

perennial groundcovers

low maintenance groundcovers

[PLANT PROFILE] GERBER DAISIES

June 12, 2023 Karen Logan

GERBER DAISIES

******************************************

Vividly colored Gerber Daisies are best planted in spring after all chances of frost have passed. In our zone, they are considered annuals. They bloom beautifully throughout the summer and die off in winter.

***Varieties***

_______
* Patio Series:
*Tall larger flower*
*Available in two colors.*
* Jaguar Series:
*Short & ornamental*

GROWING TIPS

____________
* Bred for the outdoors
* Flourish all summer
* Best grown in 7” pots or
larger
* Large bloom size 4”-5”
* Height 15-18” with
flowers

unleash the wild on your yard

doug tallamy

SUMMER BLOOMING PERENNIALS

June 8, 2023 Karen Logan

SUMMER BLOOMING PERENNIALS

******************************************

SUMMER BLOOMING PERENNIALS AT THE NURSERY

* Salvia Purple Rain

* Nepeta Walkers Low

* Nepeta Prelude Blue
* Monarda

* Stachys
* Coreopsis Gold
***Standard, Zagreb***
***& Uptick Red***
* Filipendula Kahome
* Alchemilla mollis
***Thriller***
* Lobelia Queen
***Victoria, Starship***
***Scarlet***
* Clematis Boulevard
***Acropolis & Nubia***
* Hibiscus Ballet Slippers

***Asclepias tuberosa Orange ‘Butterflyweed’***

* Rudbeckia Herbstone
* Gaura Sparkle White
* Gaura Belleza Dark
***Pink***
* Rudbeckia Goldblitz
* Asclepias tuberosa
***Orange & Hello Yellow***
* Incarnata Ice Ballet
***& Cinderella***
* Kniphophea
* Thalictrum flavum
***glaucum***
* Thalictrum
***rochebrunianum***

* Thalictrum black
***stockings***

* Thalictrum elin

Clematis Boulevard Acropolis

Clematis Boulevard Nubia

Lady%27s+Mantle%2C+alchemilla+thriller.jpg

ANNUALS

June 6, 2023 Karen Logan

ANNUALS

Annuals are plants that are glorious during the summer but do not survive the winter. They produce flowers and seeds all in one season and then the mother plant dies. The seed falls to the ground and often germinates the following spring and the next generation of seedlings emerge. Often the seedlings are identical or very similar to the mother but they also can be somewhat different and different from each other, like brothers and sisters. When the plant reseeds in the area where the mother plant was, it is called colonizing. Poppies, Bachelor Buttons, Cleome, Larkspur, Browallia americana and Nigella are annuals that colonize. Some biennials, like foxgloves, do this as well.

Annuals usually have a much longer bloom season than perennials. Some bloom all summer long. Many reseed and colonize.

Calendula Bon Bon mix / A dwarf Calendula blooms all summer in full sun or part shade. Calendula flowers are edible. Other edible flowers to use as garnishes include Bachelor Buttons, Borage Borago officinalis, Nasturtiums and Violas.

Calibracoa Sweet Peach. Annual blooms all summer.

Calendulas(Taller). Taller calendulas make good cut flowers. Edible.

Reseeding Tips

__________________
* Deadheading flowers
***will keep the plant***
***blooming longer. If your***
***goal is for the plant to***
***reseed, stop***
***deadheading later***
***in the season to***
***let the seed mature.***
***Seeds need to mature in***
***order to reseed.***
* Do not mulch heavily
***around the mother plant***
***if you want it to reseed.***
***A lot of annuals need***
***light to germinate.***
* Many people mulch
***their beds after gardens***
***get cleaned up in fall.***
***You should do it lightly***
***or not at all if you want***
***annuals and biennials***
***to germinate.***
***These are details that***
***will enhance reseeding***
***success.***

****************

Annuals We Have Available

We have many favorites! The tried and true ones are still around.

There are new introductions of cultivars within each of these.

Geraniums / Impatiens / Cosmos / Cleome / Portulacas / Salvias / Marigolds / Alyssum / Ageratums / Nasturtiums / Nicotianas / Dahlias / Asters / Zinnias / Morning Glories / Amaranthus / Gomphrenas / Pentas / Lisianthus / Scabiosa / Snapdragons / Dusty Miller / Callas / Caladiums / Coleus / Agapanthus / Tropical Hibiscus / Fuchsia

****************

LONG BLOOMING PROVEN WINNER ANNUALS

Argyranthemums / Osteospermums / Lobularias / Calibrachoas / Euphorbia Diamond Frost / Petunias / Torenias / Diascias / Phlox / Verbenas

****************

LESSER KNOWN ANNUALS THAT ARE STRONG GARDEN PERFORMERS

Browallia americana / Orlaya grandiflora / Ammi majus / Erigeron karvinskianus / Nigella / Ceratotheca triloba / Rhemania angulata / Emilia coccinea / Tithonia / Sanvitalia / Dahlberg Daisies / Daturas Ricinus / Clary Sage (Blue Monday and Pink Sundae) / Tibouchina urvilleana

****************

RECOMMENDED DEER RESISTANT ANNUALS

Lantanas / Salvias / Daturas / Ricinus

****************

TRY ADDING ANNUAL VINES TO CONTAINERS & HANGING BASKETS

Mina lobata / Thunbergias / Cobaea scandens (Cup and Saucer Vine) / Mandevilla

Nasturtiums

Salvia Amistad / Salvia Hummingbird / Verbena Vanessa Purple / Nemesia Bluebird / Petunia Vista White / Hippo White Polka Dot / Dichondra / Euphorbia Frost

Dahlia

Cosmos Sonata Pink

Geraniums

Osteospermum Serenity Bronze

Petunia Easy Wave Blue

Portulaca Fuschia

Portulaca Fuchsia

Salpiglossis

Thunbergias

Calla Lily_Zantedeschia Snow Storm

Ipomoea Heavenly Blue

Calibrachoa_Million Bells

Sweet Alyssum

Nicotiana langsdorfii

Coleus

Cleome Senorita Blanca

Cleome Senorita Rosalita

Hibiscus Tropical Jewel Amber

Hibiscus Tropical Jewel Ruby

Lanatana Bandana Mango

Lantana Sunrise Rose

Lantana Bandana Lemon Zest

Lantana Bandera Red

Lantana Lucsious Golden Gate

Lantana Samantha

Tibouchina urvilleana

Tithonia

Eschscholtzia Californica Orange Poppy

*************

Add annuals to your perennial beds, containers & hanging baskets

Annuals long bloom season offers a consistency in color that defines the border. The reseeding characteristic helps tie the garden together with repeating blooms throughout the bed. They seem to come up between and within the perennials in a random fashion with no apparent pattern. It is best not to overcrowd perennials but you can plant plenty of annuals between your perennials. Learn to identify the seedlings so you don’t pull them out, thinking that they are weeds.

We Grow an Assortment of Annuals!

______________
* Fillers in perennial
beds.
* Use in hanging baskets
* Use in container
plantings
* Many annuals make
great cut flowers.

*************

Hanging Baskets

We currently have a large variety of hanging baskets available at the nursery!

***MORNING GLORIES***
***Heavenly Blue***
***Chocolate***
*****
***BEGONIAS***
***Solenia Dark Pink***
***Bossa Nova Orange***
***Encanto Pink***
***Miss Miami***
*****
***PETUNIAS***
***Headliner Banana Cherry***
***Headliner Raspberry Swirl***
***Headliner Night Sky***
***Surfinia Magenta***
***Surfinia Heavenly Blue***
***Heavenly Amethyst Burst***
***Patio Radiant Dark Blue***
*****
***LOBELIA***

***THUNBERGIA***
***Orange Wonder***
*****
IMPATIENS
***Double Sparkler Hot Pink***
***Dark Red***
***New Guinea Impatiens***
*****
***GERANIUMS***
***Great Balls of Fire Light***
***Caliente Orange***
*****
***FUCHSIA***
***Wind Chimes Basket***
***Red/White***
*****
TORENIA
***Summer Wave***
*****
***SCAEVOLA***
***Whirlwind Blue***

Geranium Great Balls of Fire Light Lavender

Begonia Bossa Nova Orange

Begonia Encanto Pink

Begonia Miss Miami

Begonia Solenia Dark Pink

Fuchsia Aretes Upright Rio Grande

Fuchsia

Geranium Caliente Orange

Geranium

Impatiens Double Sparkler Dark Red

Impatiens Double Sparkler Hot Pink

Ipomoea Chocolate (Morning Glory Chocolate)

Petunia Headliner Banana Cherry

Petunia Headliner Night Sky

Petunia Headliner Raspberry Swirl

Petunia Heavenly Amethyst Burst

Petunia Surfinia Heavnely Blue

Petunia Surfinia Magenta

Torenia Summer Wave Large Blue

pollinator plants

perennials, shrubs & trees

PEONIES

May 9, 2023 Karen Logan

Peonies are a genus of woodland plants which are prized for their exceptionally large, showy flowers in late May and June.

brief timeline

*____________*
*Peonies are thought*
*to have originated*
*in China.*
*Before the 10th century*
*they were introduced*
*in Japan.*
*During the 15th century*
*Paeonia officinalis was*
*introduced in Europe,*
*originally for medicinal*
*purposes.*
*In the nineteenth*
*century Paeony*
*lactiflora was*
*introduced from its*
*native China to Europe.*
*One was planted at*
*Kew Gardensin 1789.*

care

___________
Peonies prefer rich well
drained soil.
They do not need much
fertilizer.
A top dressing of
compost in the spring
is enough.
Watch for a black
fungal growth
called botrytis.

Carefully cut it out
immediately and throw
in the garbage. It will
cause stems to wilt.

**************************

PAEONIA LACTIFLORA (HERBACEOUS)

There are two distinct types of Peony. Paeonia lactiflora is a herbaceous species which is a low growing (1-2') clump-forming perennial. Commonly called garden peonies, they are ideal for mixed perennial beds in full to part shade (that's 3+ hours of direct sunlight). With may being a windy month, I would be remiss to not mention that garden peonies require support. They become top heavy with their giant flowers and liable to snap when rain or wind disrupts their ornamental show. Vineyard Gardens carries specifically designed peony cages for this purpose. Make sure to pick some up with your next purchase. We carry Herbaceous peonies that are priced as low as $29.95! In the winter these die to the ground.

Paeonia lactiflora we’d like to highlight:

Moon River (double soft cream and pink fragrant flowers)
Sarah Bernhardt (double pink flowers)
Coral Sunset (semi double coral blooms)

Jan Van Leeuwen (single white flowers)
Laura Dessert (double white flowers)
Paul M Wild (double ruby red blooms)
Lady Orchid (double pink flowers)

**************************

PAEONIA X SUFFRUTICOSA (TREE PEONY)

THE SECOND MAJOR TYPE OF PEONY

It always surprises me how early the Tree Peony’s flower. If you haven’t tried them you might want to. They are an easy plant to grow, slowly becoming a fairly substantial shrub with huge single or double flowers opening in May. The Tree peony, Paeonia x suffruticosa, solves the support concerns of garden peonies with it’s persistent, slow growing, woody structure. Ideal for mixed borders and woodland edges these peonies feature the same large blooms as the garden variety, but can reach up to 6' tall with time. Our Tree Peonies are priced as low as $39.95!

**************************

ITOH PEONIES

This year we are carrying the inter-sectional hybrid, or commonly know as Itoh peonies. During the 1940’s Toichi Itoh from Tokyo crossed the herbaceous peony with the tree peony to create the intersectional hybrid peonies, the Itoh peonies. Their characteristics are intermediate between herbaceous and tree peonies, featuring strong stems which do not require caging or other support.

These 2 cultivars are priced at $39.95

Paeonia Itoh 'Yellow Crown': Beautiful, fragrant double yellow flowers with a hint of red at the base of the petals.
Cora Louise: An Itoh Peony with giant double flowers with white petals and glowing dark red centers.

We carry a smaller quantity of the following:

Itoh Old Rose Dandy
Itoh Misaka
Itoh Takara

**************************

PEONIES

*__________*
*CUT FLOWERS*
*EASY TO GROW*
*LONG LIVED*
*FRAGRANT &*
*DEER RESISTANT!!*

premier cut flower

__________
The Netherlands are
the number one
producer of cut flower
peonies.
Alaska has developed a
cut flower market with
an extended season
due to long hours
of sunlight in summer.

[PLANT PROFILE] POPPIES

April 21, 2022 Karen Logan

POPPIES ARE MY SPRING FAVORITE!

We love our poppies at Vineyard Gardens! There are both annual and perennial poppies. We raise our annual poppies from seed. We grow a fine selection, everything from the Shirley poppies, including an all white one called Bridal Silk, to the red flowering Greek poppy to the large peony flowered poppies. The perennial poppy we grow from seed is the Spanish poppy.

ORIENTAL POPPIES

The most famous of the perennial poppies are the Oriental poppies. They have big dinner plate size blooms. The red with the black center is probably the best known. We carry red, apricot and white flowering Oriental poppies. The flowers have a black center and are very dramatic. Oriental poppies will go dormant in the heat of August but they will come back bigger and better the next year. Make sure to mark the spot so that you don’t disturb the sleeping poppy.

ICELAND POPPIES

Icelandic poppies, Papaver nudicaule, are another type of poppy that is considered perennial, but seem to be shorter lived than the Oriental poppies. Iceland poppies are just gorgeous! They are starting to bloom now! We were able to get them in individual colors as well as in a mix. We will have red, pink, yellow and orange. Their flowers are very delicate on tall, thin stems holding the crape paper like flowers. Plant 2-3 in a pot and enjoy them all spring and into early summer.

GROWING & CARE

Plant your poppies in a full sun garden with well drained soil.
They have beautiful seed pods that extend the season beyond bloom.
The annual poppies can be dead headed to extend bloom but at some point let the beautiful seed pods develop and let them ripen on the plant.
Poppies will reseed and you may have lots of little poppy seedlings for years to come.
If they are happy, they will colonize in your garden. It is wonderful when plants colonize! Other plants do this too!

Come to Vineyard Gardens to find out what other plants reseed and colonize in your garden!

WHAT'S BLOOMING AROUND THE ISLAND

July 30, 2019 Karen Logan

The island is blooming with abundantly beautiful gardens this time of year. A stroll down the streets of Edgartown or Vineyard Haven you will see many of these plants in their full glory. Stop by Vineyard Gardens nursery to learn which plants will work best in your garden!