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Garden Chat Blog

On occasion we e-mail a short newsletter to subscribers. Much of what is contained in the e-mail is posted below as a blog. It's a great way to keep up with what's going on at Fritz Creek Gardens, alerts to sales specials, gardening tips, plant profiles, and much more.

If you would like to receive this by e-mail click here and fill out the signup form.

Tags and More

May 10, 2010. We've talked about this before but we have a lot of new subscribers to the e-mail so I'll chat again about this important subject. Jeff Lowenfels had an article last week in the "Anchorage Daily News" that started this conversation. Jeff is the oldest — let me rephrase that — Jeff has been writing a continuous garden column longer than any other writer in the USA. Better, Jeff? Anyway, he's been around a long time and has seen a lot. It's always fun to see what is running through his mind in his weekly columns.

But back to tags, they are the first test. If it says zone 9, forget it. But if it is even close to your zone and you really, really like it, you shouldn't immediately dismiss it. When a breeder has to indicate the zone for his or her new plant, he or she can only state what personal experience is. So how many breeders trial their new plants in Alaska? Very few. So after this first test, you need to check out the recommendations for shade or drought tolerance, etc. These again are subjective. How many of us grow our hosta in full sun? Certainly the folk who are successful with the big, healthy-appearing hosta grow them in some sun. Full shade and they don't come up until late summer, never reach their potential, and eventually succumb. But I guarantee every tag your read on a hosta says grow in "shade."

How many of you have your delphiniums reach 8 feet? Impossible! Didn't you read the tag, it says 4 feet. Again, tags can give us a little information but Alaska growers are mostly on their own, just like everything else for us Alaskans. We're always reinventing the wheel, right? So bottom line: read the tag, then talk to other growers and your Alaska nurseries, then decide if you want to try it on your own.

Paeonia Update

Don't be worried if you haven't seen much from your Paeonia (peony) yet this season (picutred is our new 'Garden Treasure' peony). It is way early. That goes for almost anything in the garden right now. Be patient and don't disturb the soil for another couple of weeks at least, longer for the higher elevations. The ground is still very cold (if not covered with snow, too).ÊRemember the rule, plant no earlier than Memorial Day weekend and that goes also for messing too much in the garden. If you are cleaning the gardens, be careful. The tiny buds of many plants are just barely below the surface. You don't want to damage them!

Meconopsis (Blue Poppy)

We have our first supply of Blue Poppies and I know we will be sold out quickly. We'll try to get more later but they are a good 550 mile trip away. They look terrific. Remember, these guys are born and raised in Fishy Peat. That should give you your first clue that they like lots of compost. Secondly, they need excellent drainage. They will rot, I guarantee, in the winter if they have wet feet. So think heavy feeder and sharp drainage.

Plants With Bulbous Roots (Rhizomes)

With our cold soils and long winters, plus throw in the heaving factor we experience, usually we recommend planting everything deeper versus shallower. The one exception is plants with rhizome type roots, such as Paeonia (peony), iris or day lilies (see photo at right for a peony root). These plants need to be planted shallow. How can you remember that? If it looks like a fat hot dog looking thing, don't you think it looks like it would rot like an onion if it gets too damp? I know, where does she come up with this stuff? Certainly not in any book you've ever read but doesn't it make sense? But really, if it has a big fat root, think shallow planting. Paeonia will not bloom if planted more than 2 inches deep, iris will not bloom, and rot too, if you plant it very deep. I plant my iris where I can almost see the fat root on top of the soil. I don't mulch and I've yet to lose one of the sibirica iris with this method. I have lost plenty of iris planting too deep before I finally got the message.

Trees, Shrubs, Alaska Hardy Roses, Vines and Shade Plants

Our 53-foot container from Canada will arrive this week. We have been advertising they would be here and ready Saturday, May 15. As one of the many benefits of being an e-mail subscriber, we're letting you know they will be ready for you on Friday, the 14th. Those of you who have large orders I hope will come by ASAP. We've experienced more pre-orders this year than ever and I'm a bit concerned that I might have missed someone.

As our long-time gardeners know, we have one of the largest if not the largest varieties of product hardy for Alaska. We also know what we are doing so can help you with planting instructions and answer your questions. Our prices are similar to the discount stores, too, and I know for a fact, less than most other Alaska nurseries.

Spring Really is Coming!

April 25, 2010. Just when we are about to give up hope, about to think spring will never arrive, it does. As I was walking from the house to the propagation greenhouse something yellow flashed in my periphery. I stopped dead in my tracks. Could it be? Yes, my first crocus is open. Every year the very first thing to bloom in my gardens is the yellow crocus then the purple guys start to come out and then all heck breaks loose. Never mind that there is still several inches of snow in my upper gardens, the Sun Happy Garden is coming alive.

I removed the mulch of fallen mountain ash leaves and behold, the crocus were everywhere. I don't think I could survive without crocus. And no, you can't plant them now. Every year when folk see them they want to plant some, too. Well, you know, you have to do that in the fall. When you are tired of gardening and thinking of other things, you have to plant bulbs if you want to see them in the spring. I'm feeling a bit smug today.

Did you notice Fred Meyer's ad for their hanging baskets? Our prices are the same and I really do believe ours are a bit more exciting. We have the newest of the new including the picotee petunias. I can't decide which one I like the best. One variety is a warm reddish purple with a chartreuse edge and the other is dark, dark purple with an almost silver edge, both quite spectacular. We've combined them with the ever popular white bacopa that will hang over the side just like a bridal bouquet. Of course, we have tons of other varieties and styles. But I noticed our prices for the single pots of annuals at $3 are less than Freddies!

And yes, we are taking basket orders and will hold them until you can put them outside. We have pictures here at the greenhouse so you can see what they will be when they grow up. But, if you can take them home with you now through May 5, we will give you a 10 percent discount. We are really busting at the seams. They will need to be kept where they can get good light and between 45 F and 75 F.

Sunday May 9 is Mom's special day. And for the 5th year we have made sure our Dicentra (bleeding hearts) are in full bloom just for that special date. They run $14.50. If you aren't sure what she would like, there are always the very safe gift certificates. Our gift certificates start at $25 and we make them special for Mom's Day.

Click on the link to see what's available this year in our Dicentra selections.

Our tree and shrub shipment will be here May 15th and I've been sweating it. If it is still freezing at night the buds would get frost bit and that would be a real disaster. It's always very nerve wracking trying to guess when it's safe to receive our huge 48 foot container. They come from Canada and they are just a couple of weeks ahead of us in weather, so the trees are pretty much leafed out, the crab apples are usually full of flowers, etc. I can remember quite vividly calling Tarri at 5 a.m. one year to come help keep the hoses going etc. when we had a very late frost. But, now with the crocus up, my confidence level is rising. The one liner list of what we are getting is on our web site now and we are taking orders. 2010 Shrub & Tree List »

Our first shipment of Paeonia for retail sale has arrived and been potted. We were able to get the very rare yellow Paeonia 'Garden Treasure' this year for the first time. What a beauty. Unfortunately the price reflects the rare and beauty part, too. But, this week we sold several to Anchorage folk who say they have paid up to $150 in the past and saw ours offered for only $89 and thought it was quite the bargain!

Remember, we're closed on Mondays and Sunday it's noon to 5 p.m., the rest of the week we're open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Now Open for Gardening!

April 14, 2010. Hello gardeners! Well, tomorrow will be a big day for us here at Fritz Creek Gardens. We will be opening for the season. We are totally excited and hope you can get out soon to say hi and talk gardening. I'm hungry for your visits.

Please be sure to check out this web site when you get a minute. Once again our web master has gone way beyond the pale to make sure I'm accurate in all my names and, of course, he is great about deciphering all my copy and matching it up with the pictures etc. I know our web site is used by many folk in the industry as a reference for their customers and universities have told me they refer their students to the site and, of course, the garden writers flatter us with their references also. I'm quite proud of all the hard work coming together and being accepted in the trade as accurate and authoritative.

Of course, the real reason we have the web site is we do mail order all over Alaska and we want our out of town folk to have every advantage available to them. Then there are the "locals" who do their research before their visits to the greenhouse. After all, it's not always easy to come to the greenhouse and see a plant with 5 leaves in the spring and picture what it will look like later in the season. It's great to check out the web, see the pictures and a bit of growing information about the plants before your visit.

We're open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday and, remember, we're closed on Mondays. I know it's early and if you don't have a greenhouse, it's hard to purchase plants now. Please don't let that stop you from visiting. We just want to see you and talk gardening.

Our lilies, Alaska Hardy roses, Paeonia (peony) and hanging baskets will not be available for a few more weeks but we are taking orders for these very popular items. We have great pictures and will be glad to help you with your selections. Our tree and shrub shipment should be here around May 15.

So that's it for right now. I sure hope you can swing out and visit us soon.

Rita Jo

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