Lily of the Valley ...make my heart Sing

       Approximately eight years ago Kalee, my daughter and her husband Will were looking for a special project for a Mother’s Day gift. They had been staying with us for a couple weeks and realized how overwhelmed I was with the scope of constant work involved with the upkeep of my gardens. 

One of the most expensive items, plus the most time consuming task during my early days of managing my 6 acres of gardens and land, was controlling the weeds by mulching. I began out of desperation to explore creating alternatives such as using green living mulch under big areas, so I did not have to buy and spread mulch each season. 

This area under the large Siberian Elm which required a lot of mulch was a prime example. I was in need of a spot to let one of my favorites Lilly of the Valley  plants run wild and the space under this enormous tree was perfect. Kalee and Will made it happen by transplanting a hundred or more  Lily of The Valleys to the space under the tree. They took them out of a perennial garden where they were invasive and placed them under the tree where  they could grow, protect the Siberian Tree roots and sing joyfully. 

Flash forward to May 2020, and the space has filled in beautifully. As I  worked in the space today I could smell the amazing fragrance calling out to me. The Lily of Valleys are so thick that they block out most weeds. This time of year they spew forth such a sweet scent and have a very unique display of small white bells. Even after they are done blooming the dark green foliage remains a soft carpet under my massive tree. 

As a child my mother and grandmother always had this plant in our gardens. They would send me out to pick them and then sing to me the following song:

White coral bells upon a slender stalk,

Lilies of the valley dress my garden walk.

Oh, don’t you wish that you could hear them ring?

That will happen only when the fairies sing…

Last night as I picked these little gems, weeded and edged the area, I heard the fairies singing and ringing the bells. I definitely felt my mom and grandma’s sprite with me. What a great pre Mothers Day evening in the garden…thank you fairies!

Facts about Lily of the Valleys:

From “Gardening Know How” 

Growing Lily Of the Valley: When To Plant Lily Of The Valley

Around since at least 1000 B.C., lily of the valley plants are one of the most fragrant blooming plants in the spring and early summer throughout the northern temperate zone.

The stems are covered with tiny white, nodding bell-shaped flowers that have a sweet perfume and medium-bright green leaves that are lance-shaped, 4 to 8 inches (10-20 cm.) high and 3 to 5 inches (7.5-12.5 cm.) wide.

This moisture-loving plant forms a spreading mass with red seed pods remaining after flowering, which makes lily of the valley attractive after blooming and very carefree. Growing lily of the valley plants (Convallaria majalis) is easy, as they will remain perennial in USDA Zones ^[1]2-9.

Growing Lily of the Valley

This easy-care plant doesn’t require much to thrive. Preferring partial shade ^[2] and moist soil, growing lily of the valley is easy if you know how and when to plant. That being said, these plants are adaptable and will grow very well in dry shade too. Lily of the valley can also be adapted to full sun or full shade, depending on the amount of moisture it receives.

When purchasing plants, look for the following cultivars:

• Convallaria majalis ‘Albostriata’ – This type has dark leaves with white to cream longitudinal stripes.

• ‘Aureomarginata’ – This variety has cream to yellow-edged leaves.

• Rosea – A pink variety, not as vigorous as the white-flowered species but very pretty.

• Convallaria majuscule ‘Greene’ – This North American native is great for naturalistic ground cover and provides a carpet of beauty between other native plants.

When to Plant Lily of the Valley

Knowing when to plant lily of the valley will help to ensure its survival in your garden. Planting lily of the valley should take place by late fall. Cool winter temperatures are required to allow a proper dormancy period ^[3].

The single underground rhizomes of this plant, which are known as “pips”, can be divided anytime after flowering. November or December would be the ideal time for division ^[4] and planting lily of the valley. Care should be taken when planting as it is a poisonous plant, so keep it away from children and pets.

Try planting lily of the valley plants in a naturalistic garden. Planting lily of the valley in outdoor containers would also be a great way to control its spread and provide it with the moisture it enjoys.

No matter what method you choose for growing lily of the valley, you will find that lily of the valley care is easy and worth the rewards.

Article printed from Gardening Know How: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com

URL to article: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/lily-of-the-valley/growing-lily-of-the-valley.htm

URLs in this post:

[1] USDA Zones : https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/planting-zones/usda-planting-zone-map.htm

[2] partial shade: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/what-is-partial-sunlight.htm

[3] dormancy period: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/plant-dormancy.htm

[4] division: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/propagation/propgen/dividing-plants.htm

Have any questions about this topic? Visit us at https://questions.gardeningknowhow.com to ask your questions and get friendly answers from gardening experts.

You can also find us at: 

'Like' us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gardeningknowhow

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/gardenknowhow - @gardenknowhow

Follow us on Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/gardenknowhow/

Copyright © 2020 Gardening Know How. All rights reserved.

My Saucy Saucer Magnolias

Walk into my yard right about now and you are hit with an incredibly sweet fragrance.  It calls to your senses and fills a person with an intense need to linger and take in the freshness.

A sincere thanks to the gardener who tended his property many years ago and planted two of these beauties.  They are ever bit of 30 feet tall, one is pink and one white.

These are Saucer Magnolias (Magnolia x soulangeana). They generally are lower growing but mine two beauties send there limbs high up in to the sky.  Early in  the spring, in Kentucky it is usually in March, the tree become filled with large buds, that remind me of large pussy willows.

The buds open up to a magnificent display of saucer-shaped flowers. On the White tree, the closed blossoms have a light pink or purplish-pink tinge that burst open into a large white blossom. The Pink tree buds look similar but open into pink blooms.

The tree become full of blooms. Unfortunately March winds play havoc with the blooms and the ground often quickly becomes covered with individual white petals.  But even if they only last a few days, they are worth it!

The bark is grayish and smooth, and the limbs are somewhat twisty, although the tree grows in a rounded shape.  Since the bark is somewhat tender to lawn mower damage, I maintain a safe green zone under each tree.

This tree is listed as being a medium to fast grower and good for zones 4-9.  Both of mine grow in full sun.

This tree is a hybrid cousin of the Southern Magnolia and has been grown since 1826.  The fragrant blossoms sure give it's distant relative a run for its money.

 I see lots of nests tucked in the limbs, and the seeds are enjoyed by a number of birds. This is a great tree/shrub, on of my favorite rites of passage from winter into spring.

A Spring Carpet of Beauty

Grecian Windflowers bring joy in the Early spring! 

There are so many beautiful plants popping up in my spring garden it is hard for me to focus and write about just one. But I love this plant and it was a gift from a gardener that worked this great space long before I was blessed to acquire the land. 

Early every spring my side yard by the Herb House becomes a field of purple, pink and bluish small daisy like flowers. They are Grecian Windlfowers (A.blanda) . 

They are a perennial spring bulb that produce blooms that resemble small daises. They great a colorful ground cover that extends into my lawn. They light up the area and graceful underscore the emerging daffodils and wood poppies. 

The foliage is medium green and somewhat fern like.  Although they only last for few weeks, they are a highlight for me and bring me joy early in my garden.  They are hardy zones 4-9. 

I have tired without much luck to share and transplant these special flowers. I will keep trying..they are worth it!!! They do readily self sow.  

BASIL BECKY..... Gardening from the Heart: What is that amazing Fragrance ?

BASIL BECKY..... Gardening from the Heart: What is that amazing Fragrance ?:                    Our Golden Doodle Ivy loves to walk around around our property and see what is blooming.  In Indiana she can run free, b...

What is that amazing Fragrance ?

                   Our Golden Doodle Ivy loves to walk around around our property and see what is blooming.  In Indiana she can run free, but in Kentucky she tends to run off to either neighbor to see if she can find Horse or llama droppings.  So she drags me all around smelling what ever is out there.
                   On our journey today, the roles were reversed. I kept getting this sweet orange scent and after wandering around for over 15 minutes I found the source of my delight.  It was the Winter Honeysuckle. (Lonicera fragrantissima).   I love the common names: "Sweet breath of spring, Fragrant honeysuckle, January jasmine, Chinese Honeysuckle, Kiss-me-at-the-gate. All of these names desceibe the scent perfectly.
                   
                   This shrub has been in one of my Garden Islands since we bought the property.  I have miss ID'd it for many years thinking it was a Mock Orange, due to the scent.
               
                   I realize this plant is invasive and in fact banned in many States. I have lived here for over 20 plus years and this plant has stayed nicely within its Island bounds.  I will not move any of it up to Indiana, but wow do I enjoy this spring beauty.
   
                  I have done nothing special to deserve this sensual experience. It grows each spring and gives me a sweet kiss when most needed....

Favorite Herbs: Salad Burnett

  I have started the spring clean-up. It is going to be really intense since I really limit what I do in the fall for my buggy friends.  So let the fun begin.
   Much to my delight when I removed the leaves from my herb garden in Indiana, the Salad Burnet (Sanguisorba minor) was still green and growing strong.

This is one of my favorite herbs for many reasons. #1 It stays evergreen in the garden. #2 The young leaves can be used in salads, dips, where they impart a mild cucumber flavor. #3 The blooms are edible and can be used to make a tasty rose-colored herb vinegar or just tossed into a salad.

Here is one of my favorite recipes using Salad Burnet. I have used it to stuff cherry tomatoes or mushrooms. It is also great with crackers or veggies.

Salad Burnet Dip: Mix together: 1 Pkg  Cream Cheese,  4TBLS Fresh Salad Burnet Leaves finely chopped, 2TBLS Garlic Chives chopped,  Chopped lettuce to taste, 1 teaspoon salt and pepper. Blend with 1/4 cup mayo and sour cream.

Salad Burnet Vinegar is so easy and so beautiful.  Just pick the blossoms and infuse them in white wine vinegar that has been brought just to the boiling point. Then bottle it up and let it sit for a couple days. You can strain it and put into decorative bottles and then enjoy it!!

This herb is low growing except for when it sends up its blossom shoots. It is a nice front of the herb garden plant. It will occasionally reseed in the garden. If you have issues with cucumbers this is a great alternative.

Basilbecky will always have this herb in her garden.

BASIL BECKY..... Gardening from the Heart: I Love Winter Sowing

BASIL BECKY..... Gardening from the Heart: I Love Winter Sowing:                      Three years ago, I tried Winter Sowing. Wow! It yielded such fantastic results, that I have continued to do it and it...

I Love Winter Sowing

       
             Three years ago, I tried Winter Sowing. Wow! It yielded such fantastic results, that I have continued to do it and it will always be on my "to do" list for January.  Over my 40 years of gardening, I have always had such good results with direct-sowing, but really struggled with starting seeds. Incorporating this technique into my routine has been a game changer.
              This method yields excellent results by mimicking nature. I accomplished this by using the seeds that need the cold stratification that sitting outside in their "winter greenhouse" provides.  For example, I ended up last year with over 100 Foxgloves. These plants naturally drop seeds in the fall and then new plants appear in the spring. Other Biannuals such as Parsely have also been so prolific.
              I also had so much success with different Milkweeds, Agastache, coneflowers, and Butterfly Weed. The possibilities are endless.  I have attached an article that I published Regionally. I hope you will try this method and recycle your plastic containers and end up with great seedlings!

 I first heard about the Winter Sowing technique for starting seeds on a podcast over a year ago. The hosts were homesteaders in Texas. They had extensive gardens and also sold plants. They propagated most of their seedlings using this method. Of course, a quick Google search provided me with much needed additional information including a definition that follows.

" Winter Sowing is a method by which seeds are sown into containers that act like mini-greenhouses. These seed vehicles are then located outside, experience the chill of winter, and eventually germinate in the spring." It is a phrase that was first coined by Trudi Davidoff.  You can read more about her on her website www.wintersowing.org. 

      I do not have a greenhouse, so finding a suitable area to start seeds is very difficult for me. The notion that I could use the outdoors as a place to start seeds set my wheels in motion, so I gave this method a try.    

   Now after one attempt I am hooked. That is not to say that I had a 100% success rate and all was perfect. But the pros outweighed the cons, and I am going to do this method of sowing certain seeds again this upcoming winter. 

    Here are the steps that I took for this project.  

# I sorted through my recycling to find an assortment of potential plastic containers. Milk jugs, vinegar jugs, fresh greens containers, large fruit plastic containers, and liter beverage bottles all went into the potential greenhouse pile. 

#2 I decided to start with perennials. I have good luck with direct sowing annuals in the garden but not perennials. So I end up spending a fortune on new perennials.

#3 All summer I collected seed packets, buying some when they went on sale after the planning season rush. I tried to focus on plants that I wanted in mass and ones that I have not had great success with direct sowing. Here is an example of the many ones I tried. 

Parsley, both the curly and the flat leaf( I need an abundance of these for my Spicebush Swallowtails to munch on). Hollyhocks (I am still experimenting with this beauty, as it always dies in my garden. But I am determined). Butterfly Weed, (to add to my Butterfly Garden), plus some Coneflowers and various other perennials. I tried to stick to seeds that required cold stratification to germinate. 

#4 Early in January, I enlisted the help of my husband to prepare the bottles for me. I have a lousy track record with knives, so I thought this the best approach.

#5 The milk and vinegar jugs, were cut open about 1/3 of the way down and just 3/4 of the way around. So it resembled a lid that opened but was still attached. By doing this, I was able to plant the seeds evenly. And I figured that when they are ready to venture into the real world, I will be able to transplant them into the garden swiftly. My husband created drainage holes on the bottom of the plastic jugs using both a box cutter and a drill to make the drainage slits and holes. The salad greens containers already had hinge type lids and just needed some additional drainage holes.  

#6 I purchased seed-starter mix and filled each vessel with about 4 cups of the mix. Next, I made sure the soil was wet.

#7 Following the directions for seed planting depth and coverage, I sowed each container. Then I watered them into their winter home. 

#8  I marked each filled container in two places. First I used a water-soluble pen and wrote on a plastic knife and duct-taped it to the side and also I labeled each jug by writing on the container. 

#9  At this point I wished them all a good growing season and battened down the hatches. I used duct tape to seal the flip tops, and made sure the caps were off the jugs and took them outside to my patio table. Since I had a somewhat eclectic array of duct tape, including Mickey Mouse, from a project with my grand babies, my Winter Sowing project table was very colorful.

All throughout January, February, March they endured the snow, sleet, and rain and I did doing nothing to them. By April I was starting to see some sprouting, then in May there was a lot of significant growth. Near the end of May, I began to transplant my hundreds of seedlings into pots and the gardens.

I would estimate that I had about a 60% success rate. Here are the reasons for the failures. 

#1 The salad containers worked the best. The holes in the bottom of the vinegar jugs and coke liter bottles seemed to get stopped up, not allowing the water to drain efficiently. Thus causing the containers to fill with water and destroy the seedlings.  So next year I will focus on better drainage. 

#2  My labeling system was a big miss. I double labeled all the growing bins, but only about 1/2 of the labels were still legible. I had saved all the seed packets, 

and had to do a guessing match game. My labeling system needs some serious TLC before next season. 

#3 I need to be more proactive with transplanting the seedlings. I lost quite a few due to not separating, thinning and putting them either into pots or safely in the ground.  My lack of experience with transplanting seedlings was an issue. But I learned and will do better next year.  

The bonus was that I ended up with hundreds of seedlings, from Foxgloves to Parsleys to Butterfly Weed and much more. It also helped me fill that urge to get my hands in the dirt in winter and provided me with something interesting to watch all winter long.  I feel my outdoor Winter Sowing without a greenhouse was successful. I hope you will give this fun project a try. 

This project has inspired me to explore the world of seeds....maybe too much !! Enjoy

BASIL BECKY..... Gardening from the Heart: Keep on Learning ..

BASIL BECKY..... Gardening from the Heart: Keep on Learning ..: Through-out my many years of gardening, I have always had a deep desire to learn everything I could about this passion. It started as a yo...

Keep on Learning ..

Through-out my many years of gardening, I have always had a deep desire to learn everything I could about this passion. It started as a young child when my interest in nature was artfully nurtured by my parents. I remember vividly spending hours being fascinated watching my mother tend to her award-winning irises. She would patiently answer every single question I fired at her about how to grow and then display them for the flower shows. 

Memories of time spent with my father in the yard tending to our large apple trees and various other small gardens are forever etched in my mind. Each summer all six kiddos were assigned the task of picking up every apple, even the rotten ones. Daily chores became an opportunity to learn and I soaked up the information like a sponge. Only after every single of the expired apples was up off the ground, would we all go inside and churn the apples into yummy applesauce. I was proud to be the number one churner and if I close my eyes, I can still taste the sweetness of that red hot apple sauce we made. 

My love of nature continued to be nurtured by my parents in many different ways all throughout their lives. This gentle guidance turned me into a life long learner and seeker of nature knowledge. This was a wonderful gift to bestow upon a child and one that I have worked hard to pass forward to my own kids and grandbabies. 

My parents were avid gardeners so alongside encyclopedias and Nancy Drew novels were flower and landscaping books  As a young gardener, I devoured every garden book that I could find. I loved looking at Mother’s collection of books, most of which still occupy valuable spots on my bookshelves. 

In my early garden- years there were many garden shows on public television and HGTV that gave me inspiration. Shows such as  “Gardening by The Yard “  starring Paul James have unfortunately become a thing of the past and so there is currently no G in HGTV. Luckily  KET/BBC  still airs and produces some great shows such as “Growing a Greener World”  hosted by Joe Lamp’l. 

I personally feel very strongly that visiting gardens all over the country has helped me grow so much. There is not one garden that I have strolled through that has not inspired me in some way. I always see a new plant combination, unique garden art or some other exciting change I can make to my spaces.  

But flash forward to this decade and my continuing source of knowledge comes from 
social media. I am in awe of phone apps that allow you to take a picture of a plant and then voila, growing information magically appears. And keep in mind the expanding diversity of garden blogs Instagram feeds and Garden Facebook groups. Lastly even Siri can provide you with instant knowledge. But a word of advice, always verify the information and the source. 

However, the fastest growing communication /media field is now the Podcast. I must confess that I personally have gotten hooked. Perhaps it is because I spend a lot of time in the car driving back and forth to our lake house, or perhaps it is my insatiable desire to learn all I can about my passion. Whatever the case, I love podcasts and know they have expanded my knowledge exponentially.   

The diversity of garden content, and the variety of “how to” topics is vast, and the individual personalities of each podcaster spur me on to listen to as many different garden podcasts as I can. 

Just as each garden that I walk through becomes an inspiration, each podcast opens a new door. Many are interviews with experts and authors of new books. I am sure that is the reason my book collections have increased at least 3 fold in the last few years. 

Here are some of my favorites and my humble critique of why I enjoy them. The list is long and each one is very different but well worth my time. 

I must say my number one go-to is “A Way to Garden by Margaret Roach”  She is a gifted writer, lover of nature and wonderful interviewer. Every weekly episode is inspiring and fun. Her books are so insightful as well. I really enjoy the fact that her Podcast is put on by the smallest NPR Radio Station in the USA. 

“PlantRama: Science, Art, And Dinner: It’s all in your backyard”  by Ellen Zachos and CL Fornari is another podcast that I never miss. The conversation is always lively and educational. Both ladies offer different perspectives resulting in complete coverage of any topic discussed

“Joe the Gardener”  hosted by Joe Lamp’l is podcast packed full of garden knowledge. He explores every aspect of gardening. In addition, he offers some great on-line courses, Youtube videos, and much more. 

A few others I really enjoy are “ Gardenangelists”  The hosts are Dee Nash and Carol Michel. It is a meeting at the garden gate between two top gardeners from different regions. The Podcasts is fun to listen too and always leave me wanting to buy more plants and books. I was so excited to meet Carol at a “GardenCom” event in Indianapolis over the holidays. I look forward to being involved with this group and meeting so many talented Garden Communicators, 

A few other podcast worth spending time listening to are  “Epic Gardening: Daily Tips and Advice “  hosted by Kevin Espiritu “, “Let’s Argue About Plants”, hosted by two editors of “Fine Gardening Magazine”; “Cultivating Place” hosted by Jennifer Jewel, “The Daily Gardener” by Jennifer Ebeling and “The Plants We Eat “ hosted by UNC Botanical Gardens…Jeff Gilman and Cindy Procter. 

All these Podcasts have supporting websites, Youtube videos, and offer so many ways to keep your gardening knowledge growing.  So join in on the latest craze and send me the Podcast you enjoy and I will add them to my list. 

BASIL BECKY..... Gardening from the Heart: Reality in 2020...Letting it Go

BASIL BECKY..... Gardening from the Heart: Reality in 2020...Letting it Go: One year ago we made the decision to purchase my parent's beloved property in Brown County Indiana. We love the property, and as I hav...

Reality in 2020...Letting it Go

One year ago we made the decision to purchase my parent's beloved property in Brown County Indiana. We love the property, and as I have mentioned before, it sits directly in between all three of Blitz’s( Blitzbuilders.com) offices.  So perfect for Randy, as he will never retire. It is dramatically different from our property in Kentucky. But 50 years of memories and acres of untouched land kept calling to us. I believe my parents were watching from above and not letting it go until someone in the family stepped up. 

I have struggled with this decision because I love our house in Kentucky, I love the South, my good friends and all my beautiful gardens and years of plant collections. But it has become harder and harder for me to keep up with two properties. We love to travel to visit family and explore new places with friends. Massive gardens with collections of antique peonies, perennials, 60 different varieties of trees, vegetables, fruit gardens, and natives do not tend to themselves, so I am having to hire out a lot of the garden labor. So maybe it is time to come full circle and begin to let it go.

We have so enjoyed the lake this last hot summer and working together, with my husband of 45 years, to develop new gardens and new memories. Our grand-babies love to come to the lake and that is so important to us. 

Brown County gardening will be such a different situation. I intend to do raised beds and containers for veggies. Because growing my own food is very important to me as well as creating native pollinator gardens.

The areas that I plant will be wild native flowers and gardens. But we have acre after acre of native forest and untouched land. Wildlife all around and a beautiful lake to enjoy. 

It just is too hard for me to balance both places …so I am beginning the transition of taking seeds, moving plants. When I am at the lake, it is so peaceful and less stressful than my beloved gardens in Kentucky. 

I believe my big Siberian Elm gave me a sign this fall, it dropped one of its big limbs. My mantra for this house has always been if my Big Siberian Elm ( one of the largest in the country ) ever goes, I will have to sell the house. But it is a long way from going and will be here for years to enjoy.

This will be a very slow process, but if there is anyone out there who wants a beautiful historic home, with over 6 acres, a barn, and a historic 200 year-old out-building. Plus an unbelievable collection of perennials, trees, and natives…please let me know. I will not give this property up until I know I have someone who will love and care for it as I have done for 25 years. 

We have lovingly taken care of the land and the house. We have kept all of the original features and it has been well-loved  We are doing some work now to prepare to sell. So reach out to me if you have an interest… or just keep checking in for updates on this transition.