September 2022: Garden of the Month

Posted on September 1, 2022 by Ashland Garden Club

This time of year, many Ashland gardens are starting to look little tired, victims of prolonged excessive heat and thirst. Ornamental grasses do particularly well in these conditions and those gardens that feature them continue to thrive. Elizabeth and Gerard Boulanger’s gorgeous front yard at 453 Tucker Street is a great example and is the Ashland Garden Club’s Garden of the Month for September 2022. It requires only a modest amount of water to put on a beautiful show year-round.

The Boulangers moved here in June of 2021. They tidied the front yard, particularly giving room to the Japanese blood grass, the leaves of which are currently a stunning dark purple, so it wouldn’t get lost in the thicket. Their display of ornamental grasses highlights the varieties of colors (some of which change seasonally), blooms, shape, and blade structure. The large green grasses directly in front of the house turn a bronze color in Autumn.

They have done a lot of work on the side yards during their short tenure here, including a massive restructuring on the western side, terracing the space to make it more usable by creating a bocce ball/horseshoes court and pleasant patio on different levels. The handsome block retaining walls were created by Jorge Regalado and his crew from Firststone Masonry. Elizabeth credits Gerard for the design of this area, but admits to making some suggestions. Dwarf gingko trees border the wooden stairs on one side and buddleia shrubs border the other side. They have started a hedge along the fence in back, along the north side of the property, to soften the near part of the nice view toward the hills. Trees include juniper, maple, and ash.

Elizabeth and Gerard personally work in the yard when they can and clearly enjoy the plants. Particular favorites are Pacific northwest myrtle, hydrangea, sweet peas, dogwood, and lavender. Christie Mackison of Shooting Star Nursery has advised the Boulangers on plant choices.

Photos by Larry Rosengren

Article by: Ruth Sloan, AGC Garden of the Month Chair

Horticulture Report: Red Twig Dogwood

Posted on August 27, 2022 by Ashland Garden Club

Article by: Lynn Kunstman, Jackson County Oregon Master Gardener

Posted by: Carlotta Lucas, AGC Member

Horticulture Report: Sambucus nigra

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Article by: Lynn Kuntsman, Jackson County Master Gardener & Wildlife Management

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Horticulture Report: Rudbeckia hirta

Posted on August 13, 2022 by Ashland Garden Club

Rudbeckia hirta

Black-eyed Susan ‘Prairie Sun’

Type: Herbaceous perennial – CULTIVAR

Height: 2.50 to 3.00 feet Spread: 1.50 to 2.00 feet

Bloom Time: June to frost

Bloom Description: Yellow-tipped orange rays with green center disk

Sun: Full sun Water: Medium Maintenance: Low

Suggested Use: Annual, Naturalize

Flower: Showy, Good Cut

Attracts: Butterflies Tolerate: Deer, Drought, Clay Soil

Culture

Biennial or short-lived perennial that is winter hardy to USDA Zones 3-7. It blooms in the first year from seed planted in early spring, and is accordingly often grown as an annual. It is easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Best in moist, organically rich soils. Tolerates heat, drought and a wide range of soils except poorly-drained wet ones. For best result from seed in the St. Louis area, start seed indoors around March 1. Seed may also be sown directly in the garden at last frost date. Some varieties are available in cell/six packs from nurseries. Set out seedlings or purchased plants at last frost date. Deadhead spend flowers to encourage additional bloom and/or to prevent any unwanted self-seeding. Whether or not plants survive from one year to the next, they freely self-seed and will usually remain in the garden through self-seeding.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Ruudbeckia hirta, commonly called black-eyed Susan, is a common Missouri native wildflower which typically occurs in open woods, prairies, fields, roadsides and waste areas throughout the State. It is a coarse, hairy, somewhat weedy plant that features daisy-like flowers (to 3” across) with bright yellow to orange-yellow rays and domed, dark chocolate-brown center disks. Blooms throughout the summer atop stiff, leafy, upright stems growing 1-3’ tall. Rough, hairy, lance-shaped leaves (3-7” long). Plants of this species are sometimes commonly called gloriosa daisy, particularly the larger-flowered cultivars that come in shades of red, yellow, bronze, orange and bicolors.

Genus name honors Olof Rudbeck (1630-1702) Swedish botanist and founder of the Uppsala Botanic Garden in Sweden where Carl Linnaeus was professor of botany.

Species name of hirta means hairy in reference to the short bristles that cover the leaves and stems.

‘Prairie Sun’ grows to 3’ tall on stiff, upright, leafy stems. It produces a long summer-to-fall bloom of large, daisy-like flowers (to 5” diameter) featuring orange rays tipped with lemon yellow and greenish center disks. Flowers bloom singly atop strong, sometimes-branching stems. Rough, bright green leaves (3-7” long) in basal clumps with smaller stem leaves. ‘Prairie Sun’ is an All-America Selection winner in 2003 and a Gold Medal winner at the 2003 Fleuroselect trials in England.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. Susceptible to powdery mildew. Watch for slugs and snails on young plants. Can self-seed freely. Deer tend to avoid this plant.