Category Archives: Programs

Benjamin Bessette’s Recommendations for Autumnal Gardens

Presented in a program of the Garden Club of the Sandhills at the home of Marilyn Grube on October 12, 2011.

As noted by Helen Von Salzen, GCS Recording Secretary with a disclaimer on the spelling of the names of the plants mentioned by Mr. Bessette.

Things To Do In the Fall in the Garden:

Deadhead and Clean Up

Divide and transplant, esp. Irises

Plant bulbs

Plant shrubberies and trees

Some fertilizing

Mulch after leaf and pinestraw dropping has diminished

Trim “woodies” before mulching and, if possible, after they have gone dormant

Don’t trim Crepe Myrtles until late February

Things that Bloom in the Fall:

Annuals

Mr. Bessette calls mums “throw away perennials” since they don’t do well after flowering

Pansies – for Winter color

Snapdragons – not easy to find, can overwinter and might last

Annual Ageratums

Angel Trumpets- a tender plant but one that might be perennial, here, if protected

Perennials-

Perenial Ageratum – can be invasive

Montauk Daisy – white flower

Japanese Anemone – does spread, likes shade

Toad Lilies

Lavender

Ginger Lilies

Society Garlic

Sedum

Pineapple Sage – red flower

Melon Sage – orange flower

Mexican Sage – purple and white flowers

Mexican Petunia – can spread, Fall Bloomer

Blanket Flower

Jerusalem Artichokes

Marsh Daisy – can grow to be 10 ft. tall, spreads too much

Confederate Rose – needs a lot of space

Bulbs to Plant for Fall Bloom Time-

Dahlias

Saffron Crocus

Spider Lily

Resurrection Lily

Ferns –

Tassel Fern

East Indian Fern

The above two kinds of ferns are evergreen in this area.

Arum Fern

Ornamental Grasses

“Basically grown for tall tassels that bloom in the Fall”

Miscellaneous Plants for Fall Color or Bloom –

Sweet Autumn Climatis  – be careful to control it, very invasive

Knock-Out Roses – “almost evergreen” and still flowering

Some camellias…old rule that small leaves have Fall flowers and big leaves have Spring flowers is no longer universally true due to introduction of new hybrids.

Encore Azaleas – “twice as expensive because they give you twice the show”

Gardenias are still blooming.

Crepe Myrtles – if deadheaded after blooming in July, they will rebloom in the Fall

Oak Leaf Hydrangeas

Blueberry Bushes

Magnolia Trees

Sourwood Trees

Persimmon Trees

Highlights of GARDENS BY DESIGN Lecture

Given by Mary Frances Tate, APLD

For the Garden Club of the Sandhills on February 9, 2011

Helen Von Salzen, Recording Secretary

  • Know the ultimate size of the plant you select.
  • Give each shrub or perennial enough room to grow.D
  • Don’t overplant.
  • Have fun in your garden!
  • Keep it simple.
  • Add a little humor.
  • Use stones but partially bury them.
  • Old Pool Needs a New Look…add a small water feature
  • Water Course (“Try to mimic nature.”)
  • Do make an entrance.
  • Do let the color of plants echo that of the furniture.
  • Is the path too narrow or just right?
  • Path around a home adds mystery.
  • Add a stone border to planting bed (“This will hold the mulch.”)
  • Flag stone “mowing edge” will prevent damage to wall or flower beds
  • New design and new plants create welcome at side door.
  • Do use an arbor for a focal point.Do add a bench under a tree.
  • Garden Rooms
  • Don’t be afraid to prune.
  • Speaking of pruning (“Just let them grow.”)
  • Do add a trellis over a door.
  • Sometimes you have to start over.
  • New design and new perspective.
  • Do use natural growth habits.
  • Do know how big they’ll grow.
  • Do use perennial plants.
  • What about a tree form? (“Overgrown plants can be reshaped into decorative form.”)

10-13-10 Program Recap – Camellias

Camellias in the Sandhills

A Talk by Matt Hunter, of Wilmington, NC for the Garden Club of the Sandhills

October 13, 2010 at the Sandhills Community College

As Recorded by Helen O. Von Salzen, Recording Secretary, GCS

Vice-President Ann-Boyd Newman introduced Matt Hunter and provided biographical information about him to the audience. According to Ann-Boyd Newman’s data sheet, Mr. Hunter is “both a Camellia expert and a Master Gardener” who has “served as both the President of the Tidewater Camellia Club and as  the State Director of the American Camellia Society” and who “currently serves as Vice-President of the ACS and (who) has been selected as President-Elect…” of the ACS.

Mr. Hunter informed the audience that Camellias, which originated in Asia, were named after a Jesuit priest named joseph Kamel (1661-1706) and introduced to Europe in 1792 and to the United States shortly thereafter.

He defined the various types of Camellia plants:

*        Camellia sinensis

*        Camellia japonica

*        Camellia reticulata

*        Camellia sasanqua

*        Hybrids and Other species.

He also described different types of flowers, distinguished by shapes and numbers of petals, such as:

*        Single

*        Semi-Double

*        Anemone

*        Rose-form Double

*        Formal Double

*        Peony-style

He provided planting instructions for Camellias;

*        Well-drained soil

*        Dappled shade

*        North or West exposure

*        Five feet, of more, apart

*        Mildly acidic soil with a ph of less than 6.0, likely near pine trees

*        Wherever azaleas or crepe myrtles grow is a good place to plant camellias

*        Plant as foundation plants, specimens, small trees, or hedges

He warned the audience that the “main killer” of camellias is planting them too deep.

He suggested that they be planted with their crowns above the soil level because they will sink when settling and need to remain “two to four inches above the surrounding ground” or they are susceptible to root rot.

He recommended membership in the American Camellia Society and had some application forms available. See www.americancamellias.org or e-mail:

ask@americancamellias.org for further information in regard to membership.

The American Camellia Society is located at 100 Massee Lane in Fort Valley, Georgia 31030 and the Toll-free Telephone number is 877-422-6355.

Mr. Hunter recommended the following varieties of Camellias for planting in the Sandhills of North Carolina and he told us that the three most popular varieties in NC are the Professor Charles S. Sargent (red, multiple petals, long-lived) and the

Lady Clare (winter bloomer with big pink flowers) and the Pink Perfection (very tough and resilient).

He told us that the Camellia reticulata that has large, red, multi-petaled flowers which is named Dr. Clifford Parks is named after a North Carolina researcher and he told us that the Gov. Mouton is the “oldest in Wilmington, at Airlie Gardens.”

Here is the list of names of camellia varieties recommended,

for the Sandhills, by Matt Hunter of the American Camellia Society:

King’s Ransom

Bob Hope

Carter’s Sunburst

Christmas Beauty

Guest Star

Cherries Jubilee

Debutante

Fashionata

Gigantea

Grace Albritton

Gov. Mouton

Moonlight Bay

Lady Laura

Herme

Deep Purple Dream

Prof. Charles S. Sargent

Lady Clare

Lady Vansittart

October Affair

Show Time

Margaret Davis

Tomorrow Park Hill Blush

Nuccio’s Gem

Betty Sheffield Supreme

Charlie Bettes

Dr. Clifford Parks

Nuccio’s Jewel

Ville de Nantes

Pink Perfection

Nuccio’s Cameo