'Rick Jordan'

'Rick Jordan' is one of the best stellars around.  It grows thick and has bright pink blooms that seem to pop.  I have learned it is a popular plant too through this year's sales, so I will up the production next year.  I have not had luck with using it in breeding, but perhaps in due time.

The month of May is always hectic, and now that the greenhouse is clearing out and I can actually breathe, I am in the process of retiring older stock plants.  Few gardeners do this regularly enough.  The best vigorous plants are 1-2 years old in my opinion.  It is sad to compost old friends, but you can always plant them out in the garden for one last showing before the frost claims them.

Other plants I should have grown more of for sales: 'Royal Norfolk', 'Elmsett', 'Grainger's Strawberry Jam', 'Red Explosion' and 'Decon Peacock'.  Live and learn I guess. 

The best seller by far was/is 'Grainger's Antique Rose'.  When I get my act together I will take more photos to share.

Pelargoniums As Cut Flowers?

Surprisingly enough pelargoniums can make really nice cut flower arrangements.  Granted they do not last as long sometimes, but when collectors are cleaning up plants regularly this provides ample opportunity to make an arrangment.

At the last Ontario show I entered some rosebud cut blooms ('Grainger's Antique Rose' & 'Appleblossom') in an antique majollica pot.  I think the pattern is actually cabbage, but it also resembles pelargonium leaves to me, so it seemed like a good fit.  I didnt win first prize, but it does show just how decorative pelargoniums can be.  Not a great scent, but considering the cost involved (nothing), it's hard to complain.  I find doubles, semi doubles, and rosebuds make the best blooms for arrangements and will usually last a few days.

'Grainger's Little Devil'

When 'Grainger's Little Devil' was a seedling I could tell it would be a miniature.  When seedlings branch quickly it is a good sign.  And a stellar that grows thick is another good quality, as many older varieties need regular pruning to keep a good shape.  'Grainger's Little Devil' has green foliage with reddish petioles and single red blooms.  The one flaw is that the petals drop (shatter) fairly easy, so hopefully I can use it to breed a double with similar leaf and growing habits.  It clones easily, and all of my stock plants are loaded with blooms right now.

The weather in Southern Ontario is rain, rain, and more rain!  For the month of May I cannot recall another another that has been so wet.  We are at least 2 weeks behind in heat.

'Majorca'-Better Than An African Violet!

As I have ranted before, why more people do not grow miniature and dwarf pelargonims under lights is beyond me.  Just take 'Majorca' for instance.  Great golden foliage with a nice light copper zone and double pink blooms.  This variety needs very little trimming to keep a nice shape and it blooms nonstop.  And this specimen was grown under lights!  If I havent convinced any violet growers yet, consider this: most zonal pelargoniums are resistant to mites and most thrips!  (Also aphids for other growers)

Finally great weather has hit here in Ontario.  Lots of sun and warmer weather.  I can only imagine the plants will be leaping in the greenhouse this week.  I need to build another shelter in the yard for shielding my plants during heavy rainstorms.  It sounds extreme, but those plants that go outside for the summer never get rained upon.  This cuts down on any fungal disease, but it drastically limits my mobility as I will run outside before and after rain.  No more insane than people jogging I guess.  At least I get some exercise as well as some award-winning specimens!  For anyone not nearly as paranoid as me, some varieties should absolutely be protected from rain such as 'Dolly Varden' and other weaker "silver" tricolours.  As many do not like hot afternoon sun it is best to keep these under shelters in my opinion.

'Black Knight' & Gardening Stress

'Black Knight' is a super variety.  Rich dark foliage and vibrant dark pink/red (I forget the name for this particular colour) blooms.  It is a dwarf, and it grows thick without much trimming maintenance.  I find a lot of the dark foliage/bright flower combos get a lot of attention when guests visit my collections.  It is also useful in breeding.

Now that May is here and the greenhouse is full, there is never enough time in the day.  The week before plant sales is always a killer.  Watering takes forever.  Cleaning takes forever.  And the marketing and tagging takes forever.  Don't get me wrong, I love the challenges of growing plants, and seeing everyone interested is very rewarding.  But I cant wait till the greenhouse thins out, the warmer weather permits many plants to go outside for the season, and I can get a summer vacation with my most favourite plants.  The forecast for southern Ontario is for a warm dry summer.  Is anyone else not believing this?  That is a good pelargonium forecast, but I will believe it when I see it.

Many of my seedlings are changing now that they are growing bigger.  One seedling from a cross made last fall has bloomed!  Golden foliage with large single purple/pink blooms.  An interesting combination and I was very pleased when I saw the blooms today.  The father was 'Crystal Palace Gem' and the mother 'Bold Imp'.  I will get a picture to share.

'Jericho' & The Spring Plant Sale

'Jericho' is one of the most beautiful pelargoniums ever created.  Ian Gillam of British Columbia, Canada hybridized this variety and while it is very slow growing, it has extremely beautiful foliage and blooms.  I used 'Jericho' in many crosses this past fall, so hopefully some seedlings will take on some characteristics.  I find it is most happy growing under lights, and while I kept one under the patio umbrella last year, I found it did not appreciate the summer heat.

Well, the big spring sale was yesterday at the TBG.  I was very happy to pick up my Japanese Maples which I preordered through Vineland Nurseries.  I sadly only found ONE (yes, ONE) variety of pelargonium that I needed/wanted.  I sure hope people with good collections start sharing plants or else many varieties will be going extinct over time.  Taking a cutting is so easy to do...it takes less than a minute even with sanitizing the bade and writing a tag.  I am always amazed how poorly people communicate when it comes to their collection lists.  A few people have told me that many people never share or trade plants...ever.  I make my own varieties and love sharing/trading/selling them.  If people do not care to grow my plants they will die with me, and that's a shame.  So hopefully I have inspired everyone that reads this bring more cuttings and plants to your next society's meeting.  Bring something for a new member to welcome them to the club, or extend an olive (err, pelargonium branch) to somebody who could use an act of kindness.  Gardening karma...what goes around comes around...