Joanne McKinnon Garden Photography

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New columbine photo added in the Perennial Gallery. The seeds are sowed directly in the garden about the same time they go to seed. There are species and hybrids growing side by side. All pollinated by bees at about the same time. Found one plant with different colours this year. I will upload the photo in the same gallery.

Aquilegia: Aquilegia Canadensis, Aquilegia Formosa, Aquilegia Vulgaris, Aquilegia Caerulea, Aquilegia Eximia, Aquilegia Pubescens

If you are looking for a rose with blooms like a hybrid tea, that can resist powdery mildew and black spots, give Lambert Closse some thought. This fully double, hardy rose tested well in Ottawa, Ontario and L’Assomption, Quebec. It can survive the winter in zone 3 with very little damage. You can also propagate this rose by soft wood cuttings taken at bud stage. This rose is well worth adding in any flower bed.

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Finally received Espresso from Rockwood Gardens, with an explanation for the long delay. Their supplier went bankrupt. I placed the small root in water for a few hours before potting it up. Our resident groundhogs like the taste of new geranium leaves. In a pot, I can keep the plant safe and out of their reach.
Double Jewel is blooming and doing well. I’ll post a photo soon.

Two new links were added in the Pelargonium index. Both for descriptions of pelargonium species and Pacific Bulbs include photos. Well worth reading.

To my surprise, this rose survived the winter, and Winnipeg Parks died. So hats off to Peter Lim and Jerry Twomey for cultivating a rose that can take some bad weather. I planted this floribunda in a renovated bed. The soil was heavily amended, but it still needs lots of compost.

I ran out of cones before I got to this rose. After mounding the soil at the base, I built a teepee and covered it with a few layers of jute netting. I did have to prune off a lot of dead wood, but it bounced back thriving.

Read more | Botany For The Artist | Canvas prints

This rose nearly landed in the fire pit last year. For a rugosa, it’s a bit finicky. The Hunder is a cross between a  ‘Rubra” (Rugosa) and ‘Indepence’ (Floribunda’). So it needs more care than the average rugosa. Mulching the base is a must. I tried cedar chips with little success. I moved it to a more sandy soil amended with plenty of compost. Added small rocks at the base to protect it from mud splashes. It worked, no black spots. It is also the only rugosa in my garden to get protection from winter colds.

Rosa Rugosa | Read more

Double Jewel is now forming buds. It survived winter with only snow for protection. Compost is added at the base every now and then.

Geraniums: The Complete Encyclopedia

I started this dahlia from seed a few years ago. When I cleaned up the flower beds in the fall, I decided to keep the tuberous roots. I dusted them with sulfur and let them dry for a few hours. Then they were placed in a thick paper bag and stored in a cool basement. Now I’m glad I did because the seeds are not always available.

The Dahlia Primer

Last summer, I divided and replanted these intermediate irises in amended soil. This makes it easier to find iris borers and diseased rhizomes. They bloomed much better this year. While surfing the web for more on this iris, I found an interesting article on Heritage Irises. The site’s designer is located in New Zealand. It is well worth a visit.

If I were in a position to vote for best performance by a rose in my zone, Rainbow Sorbet would be a winner. None of the nurseries I visited in my area sell it. I found mine in Plantagenet, Ontario last year. Les Serres Quenneville is nothing fancy, but they more than make up for it with a huge selection. Rainbow Sorbet does need winter protection. However, it is well worth the extra effort.