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Archive for the ‘Hardy Geraniums’ Category

After reading an article by Graham Rice, I realize that my ‘Double Jewel’ reverted back to its parent “Plenum Album’. Mine is too tall and the flowers are missing the dark eye. I will let the geranium self-seed, and maybe I will get a nice surprise next year.

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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.

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

Found another online Canadian source for the ‘Espresso’ geranium, this time Spring Gardens. They are associated or a branch of Brecks’s. I received by mail an offer for 50% off catalog prices on 64 shade plants. Instead of the usual catalog, these are printed on individual pages with the botanical name, price and other information, some are real tempting.  About half of my property is covered with trees.

I visited the site to find out what else they have and found the geranium in the Sun perennials section. According to the description, they are ‘deer resistant.’ I do get them from time to time, but mostly my visitors are from wild fowl. You can see them in the Nature Album and a previous post.

Found a new Canadian source for Geraniums, Rockwood Gardens They are part of Brecks Ltd. I bought my Alba Rugosa from them years ago. The hedge is still going strong.

Out of the five geraniums offered, four are on sale. One I’m considering for my own garden, Raspberry Star. The other, Espresso is only 6.99.  I use hardy geraniums at the front of my rose beds.

If you like the bloom in the header, you might like to know that the Double Jewel Hardy Geranium can be ordered online from Veseys. I just got my catalog and they have several others I’m considering for this growing season.

The Birch’s Double looks like a good companion for my roses and I can picture Crystal Lake at the base of Mme Hardy.

The Double Jewel is growing next to a Hunter rose. Bought it late in the season so it didn’t bloom that much yet. You won’t find the Hunter in the Rose Collection. It nearly died and I moved it. Sometimes I need to move plants a few times to find the right spot for it.

In the same bed, I have a Broad Petaled Geranium (platypetalum) and it did very well.

Now I placed the catalog aside for a few days. Or else I’ll be ordering more than I can handle again.