|
Post by jfowler on Mar 6, 2010 18:05:47 GMT
I thought I'd do the progressive gallery thing again this year. So, here it is with the "winter look": March 6, 2010... before spring cleaning I agree it looks pretty rough, but it should look a lot better in a month or so when the flowers appear. Here it is after a trim: March 6, 2010... after spring cleaning I usually trim it all the way back each spring except for the Sarracenia purpurea. I believe they get some benefit from keeping last year's pitchers. Here is a closeup of a couple of Sarracenia flava var. flava to show how I have trimmed the pitchers: March 6, 2010 - Sarracenia flava var. flavaI wanted to burn the bog this year, but I found out there is a city no-burn ordinance, and I didn't want to spend the night in jail. The garden is experiencing an invasion of a Polytrichum moss species, and the only way I can control it is by manual removal. When it reappears (I know it will), I'll dab on some Round-up (herbicide) with an artist's brush. It will probably take me several seasons to rid the garden of this invasive pest, but I'm going to give it a try. It took me one hour to trim the pitchers and two additional hours to remove the pesky moss by hand. Stay tuned for more as the season progresses... Jim Fowler, Greenville, SC
|
|
|
Post by jfowler on Apr 1, 2010 17:18:52 GMT
With the warm spring weather we have had this past few weeks, the front yard bog garden is really taking off. Here are a couple of updates to the progressive gallery: Sarracenia flava var. flava - 4-1-2010 Another Sarracenia flava var. flava - 4-1-2010 Drosera filiformis var. traceyi hibernacula coming out of hibernation - 4-1-2010 I can hardly wait until the pitcher plants are in full bloom... Jim Fowler, Greenville, SC
|
|
|
Post by jfowler on Apr 4, 2010 17:17:16 GMT
While Brokken's garden is weeks ahead, mine is catching up. Here are a couple of items to show its progress: 2010-04-02 Sarracenia flava var. flava flower bud 2010-04-04 Drosera filiformis var. traceyiAs far as the sun dew is concerned, it's already started catching bugs! The one circled on the right is an aphid, which is definitely not wanted in a bog garden. 2010-04-04 Aphid on Drosera filiformis var. traceyi
|
|
|
Post by Adammmm on Apr 5, 2010 18:59:42 GMT
The filiformises look good. The only CPS i can not keep overwinter for some reason are Pings and Droses. I will try this year though. I killed A Perfectly good capensis by putting it in my minibog. I guess ill have to buy another
|
|
|
Post by jfowler on Apr 5, 2010 19:27:22 GMT
LOL! I didn't think you could kill D. capensis except by flame thrower or nearby nuclear explosion! I'm sure that there are some members, here, that would gladly give you some more to start in your garden...
During the winter in our part of South Carolina, the low temps get down around 15 degrees F. My VFT's and Thread-leaf sundews are generally covered by leaves, though.
|
|
|
Post by debradenzer on Apr 5, 2010 23:22:03 GMT
How fun! I love to see all the progress! I hope when I get to the point of creating a bog, mine does as well. Thanks for sharing!
|
|
|
Post by brokken on Apr 5, 2010 23:25:18 GMT
Looks very promising. You're very lucky to be able to grow your plants directly in the soil of your garden. I guess one advantage to living in their natural habitat.
|
|
|
Post by jfowler on Apr 6, 2010 15:21:14 GMT
Thanks, brokken. I should be clear about the garden: It is lined with a thick, rubber, pool liner material. It is about 18 inches (45 cm) deep, and the soil consists of 50% Canadian peat (Sphagnum) and 50% washed sand. I don't want anyone to think that the plants are planted in our native clay soil.
You are correct about the plants being native to our region, though. I wanted to stay away from trying to grow any plants that couldn't tolerate our extreme temperatures (15-20 degrees F. in the winter and 95-100+ degrees F. in the summer) as well as our variable humidity.
|
|
|
Post by jfowler on Apr 8, 2010 23:37:54 GMT
As you all can tell, I'm getting antsy waiting for the Sarracenia to bloom -- it's just a few days away. Here are a couple of images of S. flava var. flava after a good spring rain: 2010-04-08 S. flava var. flava in the bog garden 2010-04-08 closeup of bud with rain drops
|
|
|
Post by jfowler on Apr 12, 2010 22:37:50 GMT
Today, after work, I walked outside in the front yard to check on the bog garden. The sun was setting, and it just lit up the Drosera filiformis var. traceyi plants. I had to take a photo of that. My Sarracenia flava var. flava are usually the first pitcher plants to bloom, and now the flowers have started opening up. I'm really pleased. There are lots more Sarracenia species to bloom, and that should take a few weeks... 04-12-2010 Drosera filiformis var. traceyi04-12-2010 Sarracenia flava var. flava
|
|
|
Post by jfowler on Apr 13, 2010 22:47:49 GMT
Not much going on, yet. Here is a closeup of D. filiformis var. traceyi and a Sarracenia flava var. flava flower: 04-13-2010 04-13-2010
|
|
|
Post by jfowler on Apr 15, 2010 17:55:47 GMT
Today, the bog garden is showing off it's best of Sarracenia flava var. flava (yellow pitcher plant) flowers. There are other varieties (and colors) in tight bud. So, for the next few weeks, there will be additional shots that will show the variety in color of the pitcher plant flowers. 04-15-2010 Sarracenia flava var. flava04-15-2010 Sarracenia flava var. flava - however, I think this one may contain some Sarracenia alata due to the shape of the petals and the way the petals tend to flare at the tips... 04-15-2010 Bog Garden
|
|
zhilin
Full Member
touch the sky, reach the star
Posts: 294
|
Post by zhilin on Apr 15, 2010 20:48:06 GMT
Hi, Jim, from the last picture, seems the surface soil is dried, right? Is it safe to let the soil so dry?
|
|
|
Post by jfowler on Apr 16, 2010 2:27:51 GMT
Sorry for the confusion, zhilin. We have a number of large oak trees in the neighborhood, and those are oak leaves which have been there since the fall season. Actually, the "soil" is quite wet underneath the leaves. I'm not happy with having oak leaves in the bog garden -- I'd rather have pine needles, but there are no pine trees close by, and the leaves actually help to keep the soil from drying out in the summer.
|
|
|
Post by Adammmm on Apr 16, 2010 21:42:32 GMT
LOL! I didn't think you could kill D. capensis except by flame thrower or nearby nuclear explosion! I'm sure that there are some members, here, that would gladly give you some more to start in your garden... During the winter in our part of South Carolina, the low temps get down around 15 degrees F. My VFT's and Thread-leaf sundews are generally covered by leaves, though. It was just cause of lack of light or something... I'm ordering a red soon
|
|