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The Garden Website.com
​May

Amanda's Garden Consulting Company
Flaming Parrot tulips. 

The Garden Website for May

Blog: Easy Vegetable Garden Trellis 
Blog: Tomato Seedlings to Plants 
Design a Veggie Garden - Veggie Garden Tips - Planting Veggies - Companion Planting 
Using Bedding Plants - Bedding Plant Designs - Just a Bit of the Top - Container Time - Rose Love 
Garden Tours Revisited - Bugs - Spring Bulb Care - Pruning - Houseplants & Tropicals - Prepare Beds for Planting 
Lawn Care - May Arrangement - May Garden Chores - Amanda's Garden Blog - For the Tropical Gardener
Plant of the Month: Jack-in-the-Pulpit - Need help?

Aquilegia,columbine,Paeonia 'Kinkaku' tree peony,May gardens,spring gardens,May flowers,May lawn care,vegetable gardening,pollinators,May garden journal,The Garden Website,com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett,garden website.
Pink columbine and a yellow tree peony called 'Kinkaku' with Sophie.

May Intro

Paeonia 'Bowl of Beauty',
Bowl of Beauty peonies.
A perfect garden means different things to different people. To some, it’s neat and tidy with plants clipped tightly into geometric shapes. Only pretty insects are allowed such as butterflies and ladybugs. Weeds are not permitted and are eradicated with herbicides. All plant debris and organic matter is raked or blown off the soil. Lawns are short and expansive. Everything must be perfect and in its place. Businesses and condominiums prefer this neat, tight and clipped look but it’s costly – not just for all the maintenance and chemicals that are used, but also for the price nature has to pay for this non-sustainable approach to gardening.  
This type of ‘gardening’ makes more work for the gardener and landscape maintenance company because it doesn’t function without the aid of a human being.  Nature’s natural systems doesn’t work in such an environment. When you work with nature, the garden takes care of itself. Songbirds eat the slugs and snails while flowers grown without pesticides allow bees, butterflies and other pollinators to feast on pollen and nectar. The garden is alive with birds, frogs, toads, hedgehogs, butterflies and all kinds of organisms big and small, good and bad all working together.
Five things are essential to convert your garden into a functional ecosystem without few, if any,        outside inputs: a succession of different types of flowers throughout the year, an area of lawn that’s not mowed, no chemicals including pesticides (including soap and water), herbicides and synthetic fertilizers, a source of standing water (pond, bird bath, shallow dishes) and leaving organic matter on top of the soil.
Plant flowers that attract beneficial insects like marigolds, angelica, ox-eye daisies, cornflowers, dill, cosmos, calendula and yes – dandelions! Simple flowers are best, like daisies, so insects can rest while they feed. Flowers from beans, sweet peas, peas, laburnums, wisteria and other legumes are also attractive to many insects as well as hummingbirds.
If you want to reduce your time working in the garden, but you want it to flourish then don’t keep a tidy garden. You’re hurting the ecosystem when leaves, spent flowers and other plant debris are raked or blown off garden beds. Insects will and do eat plants, but don’t forget there are insects that eat the plant eaters.
So the next time you are doing a walkabout in your garden, relax and enjoy. Maybe plant more flowers… any excuse to plant more flowers and I’m all in.
Happy garden and hey, stay safe out there.
Cheers,
Amanda


Doronicum orientale,leopard's bane,Dart's Hill,May gardens,spring gardens,May flowers,May lawn care,vegetable gardening,pollinators,May garden journal,The Garden Website,com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett,garden website
Leopard's bane (Doronicum orientale).

Need Help?

May gardens,May flowers,May garden chores,pruning,bedding plants,annuals,planting plants,soil improvement,fertilizers,houseplants,tropical plants,vegetable gardening,companion planting,succession planting,crop rotation,mulch,The Garden Website.com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett
Need help figuring what to do in your garden? Make an appointment for Amanda to come to your garden to show you how to grow food, sow seeds, prune, design beds etc.  Need help trying to figure out how to get the garden ready for spring? Get Amanda to teach you the ropes by making an appointment here. Register here  for Amanda to teach you all about pruning your plants in your garden at your convenience. During the Covid-19, consultations are done with precautions including personal protection and keeping recommended social distancing. 

Ask Amanda: Sappy Plum tree

Picture
Dear Amanda, my plum trees are very ill. There is more and more amber liquid coming out from the trunks and branches. I have attached a photo. What can I do to save my plum trees? Thank you so much!
Sandy, Auckland, NZ

Answer: ​Hello Sandy, thank you for your submission and the picture of your plum tree. Plum trees tend to be rather sappy trees, but when they bleed sap (gummosis), it could be a symptom of a more serious nature. There are a few causes why trees ooze sap, especially plums. To read more click here.

Amanda's Garden Blog

Iris siberica,Siberian iris,May garden chores,spring gardening,May garden journal,The Garden Website,com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett,garden website
Siberian iris.
  • Blog: Easy Vegetable Garden Trellis 
  • Blog: Tomato Seedlings to Plants
  • Video: How to Divide Dahlias 
  • Video: How to Plant a Tree
  • Video: How to Prune a Grapevine in Winter
  • Damping Off - A Seedling Killer!
  • Lawns: ​Seeding, Sowing, Renovating
  • Lawn Grub Control
  • Tuberous Begonias 101
  • Dahlias 101
  • Pruning in Winter
  • Pruning & Training Grape Vines in Winter
  • Insects & Diseases Control with Dormant Spray
  • Dealing With Drought
  • Heritage Vancouver 7th Annual Garden Tour
  • Growing Potatoes
  • Pruning Shrubs into Trees
  • Portland's International Rose Test Garden
  • 10 Steps to Festive Planter
  • Christmas Tree Selection 
  • Collecting & Saving Seeds
  • Heritage Vancouver 6th Garden Tour
  • The Dunbar Garden Tour 2018
  • Easy Roses Do Exist.. Really!
  • Dart's Hill, A Garden Park
  • VanDusen Botanical Gardens Visit
  • Tall Kale Tales
  • Northwest Flower & Garden Show, Seattle
  • Pruning in Winter
  • Pruning & Training Grape Vines in Winter
  • Insects & Diseases Control with Dormant Spray
  • Why Christmas cactus Don't Blossom
  • A Quickie Festive Swag
  • Putting the Garden to Bed
  • How to Drain Soggy Soil
  • A Visit to the Arizona - Sonora Desert
  • Banana, Palm Tree Winter Protection
  • Lasagna Gardening, Sheet Mulching
  • Saving Geraniums, Coleus, Bougainvilleas & Other Tender Plants 
  • Spiders Everywhere - Oh My!
  • Tomato Troubles & Soil Solarization
  • Trees That Drip That Sticky Stuff
  • Balcony Bliss
  • One Huge Beetle! 
  • A Summer's Day Harvest
  • The Dunbar Garden Club Private Tour
  • Leaky Birdbaths and Slug Free Strawberries
  • Easy Roses
  • Oops... Wrong Plant, Wrong Place
  • I Had An Ugly Lawn...
To subscribe to my blog click here. 
Rosa Dortmund,Iris siberica,May garden chores,spring gardening,May garden journal,The Garden Website,com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett,garden website
A deep blue Siberian iris and a pink climbing rose called 'Dortmund'.

May Garden Stars

Rhododendron 'Mount Everest',May gardens,spring gardens,May flowers,May lawn care,vegetable gardening,pollinators,May garden journal,The Garden Website,com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett,garden website
Mount Everest rhododendron, broadleaf evergreen, flowers April to May, 4-5’ tall & wide, part shade. Zones 5 to 8.
Camassia leichtlinii,Camas,May gardens,spring gardens,May flowers,May lawn care,vegetable gardening,pollinators,May garden journal,The Garden Website,com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett,garden website
Large camas, Camassia leichtlinii, summer bulb, 3 - 4 ft x 1 -2 ft, sun to part shade, Zones 5 to 9.
Allium 'Gladiator' flowering onion,May gardens,spring gardens,May flowers,May lawn care,vegetable gardening,pollinators,May garden journal,The Garden Website,com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett,garden website
Gladiator Flowering Onion, summer fragrant, flowering bulb, full sun, 44 inches, Zones 4 to 8.
Columbine,Aquilegia vulgaris,May gardens,spring gardens,May flowers,May lawn care,vegetable gardening,pollinators,May garden journal,The Garden Website,com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett,garden website
Columbine, Aquilegia vulgaris, herbaceous perennial, 18" - 3ft, sun to part shade. Zones 3 to 8.
Aurinia saxatilis,basket of gold,May gardens,spring gardens,May flowers,May lawn care,vegetable gardening,pollinators,May garden journal,The Garden Website,com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett,garden website
Basket of Gold, Aurinia saxatilis, deciduous ground cover, sun, dry, 1 ft x 1.5ft. Zones 4 to 7.
wood anemone nemerosa,May gardens,spring gardens,May flowers,May lawn care,vegetable gardening,pollinators,May garden journal,The Garden Website,com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett,garden website
Wood anemone, Anemone nemorosa, herbaceous perennial, 0.50 to 1.50 ft, part sun to shade, summer dormancy, naturalizes. Zones 5 to 8.

Paeonia suffruticosa,tree peony,May gardens,spring gardens,May flowers,May lawn care,vegetable gardening,pollinators,May garden journal,The Garden Website,com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett,garden website
Tree peony, Paeonia suffruticosa, deciduous woody shrub, 3-5’ x 3-4’, sun to part shade. Zones 5 to 9.
Red-hot poker plant,torch lily,Kniphofia uvaria,May gardens,spring gardens,May flowers,May lawn care,vegetable gardening,pollinators,May garden journal,The Garden Website,com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett,garden website
Red-hot poker, torch lily, Kniphofia uvaria, rhizomatous herbaceous perennial, 3’-4’ x 2’-3, sun. Zones 5 to 9.
Weigela 'Florida Variegata',variegated weigela,May gardens,spring gardens,May flowers,May lawn care,vegetable gardening,pollinators,May garden journal,The Garden Website,com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett,garden website
Variegated weigela, Weigela ‘Florida Variegata’, deciduous shrub, 4-6 ft. tall & wide, full sun to part shade, pink blooms May through June. Attracts hummingbirds. Zones 4 to 8.

Mecanopsis baileyi,Himalayan blue poppy,May gardens,spring gardens,May flowers,May lawn care,vegetable gardening,pollinators,May garden journal,The Garden Website,com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett,garden website
Himalayan blue poppy, Mecanopsis baileyi, short-lived herbaceous perennial, 3’ to 4’, dappled shade. Zones 5 to 7.
Papaver orientale,
Oriental poppy, Papaver orientale, herbaceous perennial, 15” – 3’ x 1’ -2’, sun. Zones 3 to 8.
Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum,doublefile viburnum,May gardens,spring gardens,May flowers,May lawn care,vegetable gardening,pollinators,May garden journal,The Garden Website,com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett,garden website
Snowflake Doublefile Viburnum, Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum 'Summer Snowflake', deciduous shrub, 5-8 ft x 8 -19 ft. Full sun, part shade. Zones 5 to 8.

Syringa pubescens subsp. patula 'Miss Kim' Korean lilac,May gardens,spring gardens,May flowers,May lawn care,vegetable gardening,pollinators,May garden journal,The Garden Website,com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett,garden website
Miss Kim Korean lilac, Syringa pubescens subsp. patula 'Miss Kim', deciduous shrub, fragrant, part to full sun, 4 - 8ft x 5 - 7ft, slow growth. Zones 3 to 8.
Phlox subulata 'Candy Stripe' moss phlox,May gardens,spring gardens,May flowers,May lawn care,vegetable gardening,pollinators,May garden journal,The Garden Website,com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett,garden website
'Candy Stripe', creeping or moss phlox, Phlox subulata, herbaceous perennial groundcover, to 6 inches tall x 2’ spread, full sun, drought tolerant, attracts butterflies. Zones 3 to 9.
Laburnum,golden chain tree,May gardens,spring gardens,May flowers,May lawn care,vegetable gardening,pollinators,May garden journal,The Garden Website,com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett,garden website
Golden Chain Tree, Laburnum x watereri 'Vossii', deciduous tree. Hanging clusters of fragrant, yellow pea-like flowers. Part to full sun, 20 ft x 15 ft. Zones 6 to 8. All parts are poisonous.

Allium siculum,Sicilian honey garlic,May gardens,spring gardens,May flowers,May lawn care,vegetable gardening,pollinators,May garden journal,The Garden Website,com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett,garden website
Sicilian honey garlic, Allium siculum, bulb, flowers late spring to early summer, 4’ x 12 -18”, deer resistant, sun. Zones 5 to 10.
Mont Blanc Deutzia,May gardens,spring gardens,May flowers,May lawn care,vegetable gardening,pollinators,May garden journal,The Garden Website,com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett,garden website
Mont Blanc deutzia, deciduous shrub, fragrant blooms, attracts bees, butterflies, birds, 4 -5’ tall & wide, sun to dappled shade. Zones 5 to 8.
Lonicera Peaches & Cream honeysuckle,May gardens,spring gardens,May flowers,May lawn care,vegetable gardening,pollinators,May garden journal,The Garden Website,com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett,garden website
Peaches & Cream honeysuckle, Lonicera, deciduous vine to 5 feet, fragrant flowers attract hummingbirds & bees from May to June, sun to part shade. Zones 4 to 9.

 GARDEN Tours Revisited

VanDusen Botanical Gardens,garden tours,may gardening,May flowers, May garden journal,The Garden Website,com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett,garden website
April at VanDusen Botanical Gardens.
Dunbar Garden Club Garden Tour,garden tours,may gardening,May flowers, May garden journal,The Garden Website,com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett,garden website
A vignette from one of the participant's garden at Dunbar Garden Club .
blue poison dart frog,Tucson Botanical Garden,garden tours,may gardening,May flowers, May garden journal,The Garden Website,com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett,garden website
A Blue Poison Dart Frog at the Tucson Botanical Garden.
Since all garden tours have been cancelled due to Covid-19, perhaps a revisit to past tours are in order.  Click on the links below: 
  • Portland's International Rose Test Garden
  • 6th Heritage Vancouver Garden Tour
  • Dunbar Garden Tour 2018
  • Darts Hill Garden Park in May
  • VanDusen Botanical Garden in April 
  • The Northwest Flower & Garden, Seattle
  • Arizona Senora Desert
  • The Dunbar Garden Club Private Tour
  • 7th Annual Heritage Vancouver Garden Tour
David Austin,Rosa Windermere,Portland Rose Test Garden,garden tours,may gardening,May flowers, May garden journal,The Garden Website,com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett,garden website
David Austin, Rosa Windermere, Portland's Rose Test Garden
Heritage Vancouver Garden Tour,garden tours,may gardening,May flowers, May garden journal,The Garden Website,com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett,garden website
A Gothic style garden from the 7th Annual Heritage Garden Tour

May PLANT COMBO

Plectritis congesta,Sea Blush, Camassia,camass,indigenous plant of the Pacific Northwest,wildflowers,May gardens,spring gardens,May flowers,May lawn care,vegetable gardening,pollinators,May garden journal,The Garden Website,com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett,garden
Pink Sea Blush and blue Camass are indigenous to the Pacific Northwest.
Pink flowers of the annual Sea Blush (Plectritis congesta) and the blue flowers of the bulb camass (Camassia leichtlinii) grow on a sunny slope together. Both like full sun and well drained soil. They are native plants, indigenous to the eastern coasts and forests of North America. 

Watering Restrictions start May 1

water restrictions Vancouver,May Gardening,May flowers,The Garden Website.com,Amanda's Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett
For Metro Vancouver, B.C.
Water restrictions start May 1 and end October 15. If you don’t live in Metro Vancouver, contact your local municipality for their watering restrictions.
Residential lawn watering schedule:
Even-numbered addresses: Wed and Sat, 4 to 9 a.m.
Odd-numbered addresses: Thurs and Sun, 4 to 9 a.m.
Trees, shrubs & flowers: Any day from 4 to 9 am for sprinklers, hand watering and drip irrigation. All hoses must have an automatic shut-off device. 
Non-residential (businesses) lawn watering schedule:

Even-numbered addresses: Mon, 1 to 6 a.m., Fri 4 to 9 am.
Odd-numbered addresses: Tues, 1 to 6 a.m., Fri 4 to 9 am
Trees, shrubs & flowers:
Any day from 1 to 9 am for sprinklers, hand watering and drip irrigation. All hoses must have an automatic shut-off device. 
For more information, click here 

plant police

aphid on artichokes,aphid control,preventing aphids,barrier to insects,May gardens,spring gardens,May flowers,May lawn care,vegetable gardening,pollinators,May garden journal,The Garden Website,com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett,garden
An aphid infested artichoke.
aphid on artichokes,aphid control,preventing aphids,insect barrier,May gardens,spring gardens,May flowers,May lawn care,vegetable gardening,pollinators,May garden journal,The Garden Website,com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett,garden website
Pantyhose protect artichokes from aphid infestations.
To protect artichokes from aphid infestations, protect their flowers with pantyhose as soon as the flowers begin to develop. The sheer fabric of the hose allows air and light in, but prevents aphids. It must be done before the aphids find the artichoke for this barrier method to be effective. 

Designing A Vegetable Garden

vegetable gardening,crop rotation,crop succession,companion planting,interplanting,May flowers, May garden journal,The Garden Website,com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett,garden website
Make a plan of your veggie garden so you can rotate crops efficiently year to year.
  1. Plan: Make a plan of where to plant each crop before planting your veggies.
  2. Locating Plants: Place tall plants and vining veggies, such as trellised grown cucumbers, on the north side. This prevents the taller plants from shading their smaller neighbours. 
  3. ​Rotate Crops: A map and photos of last year's garden are handy to have, especially when it comes to rotating the crops. 
  4. Why Rotate Crops: Avoid growing the same crop in the same soil 2 years or more in a row. For example, tomatoes will be prone to fusarium wilt, verticillium wilt, late blight, powdery mildew, tomato hornworms and flea beetles. Nutrient deficiencies are also bound to occur even if soil amendments such as compost and/or fertilizers are added.
  5. ​To learn more about crop rotation click here. For more on vegetable gardening click here.

Veggie Garden Tips

vegetable gardening,crop rotation,crop succession,companion planting,interplanting,The Garden Website,com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett,garden website
  1. Exposure: Locate your garden so it receives at least 6 hours of direct sun per day.
  2. Location: If possible, locate your vegetable patch close to an outdoor faucet and near the kitchen.
  3. Size of Beds: Make the beds 4 foot wide so you can reach in from all sides. The length of the bed depends on your space, but remember you do have to walk around it. A garden that’s 4 foot wide and 6 foot long, is easy to navigate around. 
  4. Larger Beds: For gardens larger than four feet in width, install a 2 foot wide path for easy access and to help define and organize the different crops.
  5. Garden Paths: Use coarse cedar wood chips so it doesn't rot. Line the paths first with landscape fabric then add a couple of inches of mulch on top. Click here for more on vegetable gardening. 

Planting VEggies

planting vegetables,vegetable gardening,crop rotation,crop succession,companion planting,interplanting,The Garden Website,com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett,garden website
Tomatoes should be planted at least 2 feet apart.
  1. Select the sunniest location in the garden. It’s preferable to have at least 6 hours of direct sun.
  2. Prepare the soil by removing all weeds and debris.
  3. Mix in a 2 or more inches of compost, SeaSoil, well-rotted steer or sheep manure. Mix it in just a couple of inches – that’s all that’s necessary.
  4. It’s advisable to wait a week for the soil to settle before planting.
  5. Select a cloudy day to plant if your schedule and weather allows.
  6. Water the veggie plants while they are in their pots the day before planting.
  7. Water the garden the day before planting especially if the soil is dry.
  8. Check your design by placing the plants, which are still in their pots, on top of the ground where you are planning to plant them. Adjust as necessary.
  9. Spacing plants:
  • 2 to 3 inches apart: garlic, spinach
  • 4 inches apart: beets, leeks, onions and turnips
  • 6 to 8 inches apart celery, leaf lettuce and Swiss chard
  • 10 to 12 inches head lettuces, peppers
  • 18 to 24 inches tomato, potatoes and cabbages
Climbing Veggies: To learn how to make an inexpensive trellis click here. 
  • For more on vegetable growing click here.
planting vegetables,vegetable gardening,crop rotation,crop succession,companion planting,interplanting,The Garden Website,com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett,garden website
Gently remove plants from their containers by tipping them upside down.
planting vegetables,vegetable gardening,crop rotation,crop succession,companion planting,interplanting,The Garden Website,com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett,garden website
Gently loosen the roots, but don't destroy the rootball.
  1. Be careful when upending them out of their pots. Try to keep their rootball intact. Gently loosen the roots with your hand, especially if they are tightly bound.
  2. Firmly place the plant in the hole so the crown of the plant, where the stem and roots meet, are level with the surface of the soil.
  3. Firm soil around the roots and hand water gently but thoroughly. Ensure that all the soil is moist, even between the plants. Any patches of dry soil will suck the moisture away.
  4. Pay attention. Check on the plants daily to ensure they are receiving adequate moisture and are adapting to their new home. For more on planting click here.

Companion Planting

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A mixture of crops utilizes every inch of space.
Companion planting is a great way to utilize as much garden space as possible while encouraging healthy growth, deterring insects and improving soil. Beans, peas and other legumes provide nitrogen to nearby crops as they capture nitrogen from the air and store it in their roots. Legumes help feed neighbouring crops such as lettuce, corn and tomatoes.
 
Root crops partner well with leafy crops (lettuce and onions) and above ground fruiting crops such as peppers. They also mix well with carrots or another root crop. Add a row of bush beans between any of the crops to provide nitrogen. I love the look and the efficiency of combining lettuce, broccoli and kale together.
 
Once a short term crop has been harvested such as radish, lettuce and spinach, plant another crop in the same spot. Broccoli, cabbage, kale, bush beans and bush cucumbers will quickly fill in the space and don’t forget edible flowers such as nasturtiums, calendula. To repel insects consider a band of marigolds. For more on companion planting, crop rotation and succession planting click here. 
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Marigolds not only add some colour to this container full of veggies, they also ward off insects.

Using Bedding Plants/annuals 

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A cosmos called Rose Bon Bon, like most annuals, are grown for their plentiful and colourful blossoms.
What are they?
  • Petunias, begonias, impatiens and other bedding plants are short lived plants are referred to as annuals. They only last one growing season then die, but they put on quite a show of colour before they do so. Bees and other pollinating insects love them so plant lots!
Extend their life:
  • Since annuals die once they have produced seeds, remove their spent flowers as soon as possible. This will also reduce legginess. 
Save your money:
  • Since you need more than a few bedding plants for a good display, purchase them in cell packs, not individual pots. You can buy 6 in a cell pack for less than one in a 4 inch pot; such a bargain!
Don't waste your money:
  • Select annuals that are just coming into bud and avoid ones that are in full flower or have finished flowering. You want them to be in their prime in your garden not on the store shelf.  
Select the right ones for the conditions:
  • Read plant labels for height, width, sun or shade preference. ​​​
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A six cell pack of impatiens at $3.99. That's only 66 cents a plant.
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Just one 4-inch petunia costs $2.99.

Bedding Plant Designs

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White petunias compliment the blues and purples of verbena and lobelia.
Designing with colour:
  • Harmony: Use only two or three colours ex: red & yellow
  • Monochromatic: Use different shades of the same colour ex: violet, mauve, deep blue, navy blue
  • Whites: Add white, silver or grey for highlights and to separate colours that don't go together like orange and pink. 
​Good displays:
  • Don't be stingy when planting annuals. The more the better. A swath of colour is better than just a few plants. 
  • Ex: for a band of colour place three rows of marigolds spaced 4 inches apart. 
  • Ex: for a grouping plant an odd number of marigolds in a group of 3, 5 or 9.
Spacing: 
  • Small annuals - 4 to 6 inches apart: ageratum, pansies, petite marigolds, alyssum, lobelia, sweet peas, snapdragons
  • Medium annuals – 6 to 8 inches apart: wax (fibrous) begonia, petunias, annual salvia (S. splendens), dusty miller, celosia, large marigolds, celosia, zinnias, million bells (Calibrachoa)
  • Large annuals – 8 to 10 inches apart:  impatiens, large sunflowers, geraniums, lavatera, coleus
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Lay out the garden beds by placing plants on top of the soil while they are still in their pots.

Just a Bit Off the top Please! 

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An Autumn Joy sedum without a trim.
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An Autumn Joy sedum after it had a trim.
There are many perennials and some annuals that benefit from a little trim this time of year. Just taking an inch off the top of each stem, just above a leaf, initiates branching. One stem becomes many, which means more blossoms and a more compact plant that isn't so leggy and tall that it falls over. Use this technique for garden phlox, chrysanthemums, asters, veronicas, autumn joy sedums, campanulas and other leggy stemmed perennials. 
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This garden phlox is prone to getting so tall it tends to fall over with the weight of the blossoms.
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Cutting back the tip of the stems will promote branching and a stockier plant with more but smaller flowers.
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It's difficult to tell from the picture but the tips of these phlox have been cut off.
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This mint plant is an example of how plant grow two shoots once their tips have been removed.

Lawn Care for May

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For a healthy lawn and to prevent grubs, set the mower at 2.5 to 3 inches, no lower.
This is the last good month to work on the lawn before it gets too hot and it enters into summer dormancy. As soon as temperatures goes above 24°C (75°F) lawn grass growth declines throughout Canada and the upper top third of the United States. Our grasses are cool season grasses and grow best in spring and fall.  So if you still haven’t filled in the patchy spots in your lawn or if you want to replace the entire lawn, do it right away or even better, put it off until fall. For more info on renovating your lawn, click here
  1. Mow lawns frequently so only 1/3rd of the grass blades are cut off at each mowing.
  2. Set mower at 2.5 to 3 inches. Longer grass prevents chafer beetles from laying their eggs and encourages stronger root growth so it’s healthier and tougher.
  3. Keep clippings on the lawn (as long as they don't clump). Grass clippings provides nitrogen as they decompose reducing the need to fertilize.
  4. Water! 1 inch a week at least. Drought contributes to grub infestations, weeds, moss and a sad weak lawn.
  5. Fertilize with a slow release nitrogen fertilizer (first number highest ex: 8-5-3).
  6. Soil and the grass benefit from an organic fertilizer. Second best is slow release plant food. Look for ones that contains magnesium, calcium, iron and other nutrients.
  7. Read and follow fertilizer instructions before applying.
  8. For more on lawn maintenance click here.  
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Mow lawns frequently so you don't have to bag the clippings. You'll save on fertilizer too.

Container Time

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The spike in this planter is the thriller, pink petunias are the filler and white lobelias are the spiller.
  •  Use planters that have drainage holes and don't cover the holes with rocks or anything else as it impedes drainage. The soil will not escape from the holes, contrary to popular belief. 
  • Add a drainage tray under the pot to act as reservoir  and to protect decks and patios. 
  • Use a good quality potting soil, not garden soil. 
  • Group plants that like the same conditions together such as wet soil, dry soil, sun, shade, part shade. 
  • Combine perennials (ex: creeping phlox, daisies), annuals (ex: petunias, impatiens), shrubs (ex: spirea, cinquefoil), fruit (ex: strawberries, blueberries), veggies and herbs. 
  • For an effective design use the 'thriller, filler and spiller' method. Plant a tall plant, 'the thriller', in the middle or the back. Around the thriller use plants to fill-in around the taller plant. For a 'filler' select bushy medium sized plants. Around the rim of the container, place a 'spiller' - plants that will spill over the edge.
A container for shade:
  • thriller: red & green coleus filler: red impatiens spiller: red & white fuchsias
A container for sun:
  • thriller: green dracaena spike, filler: purple salvia, spiller: cascading mauve petunias
  • For more on containers click here. 
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The same planter a month later.

May Garden Chores

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Most rhododendrons flower this month.
Please note that coloured text are linked to another page on this website or another website. Most of the pictures are also linked and will redirect you if you click on them. 
  1. Plant: Victoria Day Weekend (mid-May) is the traditionally time to plant tomatoes and other tender plants such bedding plants outside in Canada. 
  2. Plant: Trees, shrubs, vines, perennials veggies, herbs and bedding plants as soon as possible before it gets too hot and dry. 
  3. Prepare Plants for the Outdoors: Before planting anything that has been growing inside including seedlings, transplants and houseplants, prepare them for the outdoors first. Gradually acclimatize them (harden-off), by taking them outside for an hour at a time, increasing the duration and exposure to the elements. 
  4. Potatoes: Pile up soil around the shoots as they grow. This increases yields and protects the potatoes from the sun preventing them from turning green. For more about growing spuds click here. 
  5. Rhubarb: Pick rhubarb stems as they develop and feed with a high nitrogen fertilizer. 
  6. Strawberries: Remove runners so plants will dedicate their energy to produce strawberries. Once fruits form, allow the runners to make new plants.
  7. Fertilize: garden beds with an organic fertilizer or a slow release one.
  8. Improve soil: mix in compost, SeaSoil and/or composted manure. For more on soil building click here.
  9. Roses: fertilize by giving them a few inches of compost and work it into the soil or use a slow release plant food. Repeat after each flush of blooms. ​
  10. Weeds: Pull weeds out by their roots; don’t let them go to seed - or at least remove their flowers so they don't set seed.
  11. Why Mulch? To prevent weeds, reduce watering and fertilizer, lay down a 3 inch layer of an organic mulch on top of soil but between plants. Click here for more.
  12. Inspect: Keep on top of weeds, insects, plants that need staking, plants that are too dry, too wet.. by daily walks through your garden. 
  13. Stake & Cage: Support tall plants and ones with top heavy blooms as they grow: delphiniums, phlox, cone flowers (Echinacea sp.), peonies etc. A more gentle, but effective method, is to situate tall and leggy plants amid bushy plants to help keep them upright. 
  14. Eye Protection:To prevent eye injury, place tennis balls on the tips of all stakes. 
  15. Vines: Tie new shoots of clematis, wisteria, honeysuckle, climbing roses and other vines to help them find their way so they don't attack other plants. 
  16. Topiary: Regularly trim them throughout the season to keep them tidy. ​
  17. Dead head: Plants look so much better when their dead flowers have been removed. It also prevents wasted energy as seed production is halted. It's easy to do with perennials and annuals, but with lilacs and rhododendrons it can be quite time consuming and tricky, but take as many dead flower clusters as you can. 
  18. Groundcovers:  Deadhead groundcovers once they have finished flowering to tidy up the plants and to promote more flowering (aubretia, yellow alyssum (Alyssum saxatile) perennial candytuft (Iberis sempervirens) etc. Instead of de-flowering each stem one-by-one, just grab the plant by the ends where the dead flowers are, and cut about a third off. ​
  19. Compost: Activate your compost if you haven’t already done so. First turn existing compost, add water if dry, add a green layer (veggie scraps etc.) then a brown layer (torn newspapers or dry leaves), then add more water.
  20. Not composting yet? Compost issues? Learn how here.
  21. Take softwood cuttings from forsythia, Mexican orange (Choisya ternata), beautybush (Kolkwitzia sp), lavender, hydrangea, mock orange (Philadelphus sp.), spireas, rosemary and thyme. Softwood cuttings are made from the new growth at the end of the stem.​ To learn more click here. 
  22. Sow seeds directly in the ground: peas, sunflowers, California poppies, beans, nasturtiums, carrots, lettuce and other annuals and veggies. Read the back of seed packets for when to sow, how deep and suitable conditions. 
  23. Continuous harvests: Don't sow all the seeds in the seed packet at the same time. For a continuous harvest sow seeds 2 weeks apart. 
  24. Containers: Plant up containers and hanging baskets.  Keep them in a shady protected location for a few days for them to recover, then place them in their permanent location. 
  25. Containers with existing plants: Remove an inch or two of soil from the top of the pot and replace with some compost or SeaSoil. Repot ones that are potbound and need a bigger pot. Add petunias and other annuals to add some flowers and colour. 
  26. Greenhouses: Keep them ventilated during the day and close up by night if temps are chilly. Check on plants daily as the sun heats things up quickly. Water thirsty crops and provide shading (netting, cloth etc.) on the south or west side if it gets too hot and sunny. 
  27. Houseplants: Repot top-heavy, rootbound houseplants. Tell-tale signs that a plant needs repotting is they need daily watering and/or they are top heavy.  
  28. Lawns: Fertilize with a high nitrogen fertilizer, preferably slow release and/or organic.
  29. Mow and mow some more. Mow the lawn often and keep the clippings on the lawn if they are not too long. Mowing more frequently and leaving the clippings makes mowing much easier and the clippings feed the lawn.
  30. Bad Lawns: If your lawn is causing you more trouble than its worth, consider alternatives: a garden using sheet mulching, a patio, mulch or plant groundcovers instead. 
  31. Birdfeeders: It's a critical time of year for all birds, including hummingbirds. Keep all feeders clean and supplied with seed and nectar. Wash hummingbird feeders before refilling to prevent diseases. 
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Hummingbirds are nesting and taking care of their young so they really appreciate hummingbird feeders.

Bugs

Picture
When you see aphids, ladybugs are not too far behind.
  1. Pesticides: Avoid using pesticides, including soap and water unless you really have to. But treating any plant, check for lady bugs and other beneficial insects. Note that even soap and water kills the good guys.  
  2. Bug Barriers: Protect broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and leafy crops, right after they are planted with a floating row cover to protect them from cabbage butterfly, leaf miner, carrot rust fly and other insect pests.
  3. Nocturnal Bugs: If you don't know what's eating your plants, go out at night with a flashlight as many are nocturnal. Handpick caterpillars and slugs if you're not squeamish. 
  4. Bug Traps: Place pheromone traps in apple trees to decrease codling moth populations.
  5. Slugs & Snails: There's many ways to control these ravenous mollusks. To learn how click here. 
  6. Caterpillar infestation? Control with an organic option Bacillus thuringiensis. It only kills caterpillars, so avoid spraying near butterfly gardens.
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A cloche protects veggie plants from insects.

Spring Bulb Care

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Remove spent flowers from tulips and daffodils so they don't go to seed.
  1. Deadhead: Remove spent flowers from tulips and other spring flowering bulbs to prevent seed production and to encourage larger blooms next spring.
  2. Spring bulb foliage: After the flowers fade, feed bulbs with a a high nitrogen fertilizer (first number highest). This provides food to encourage next year's blossoms. Keep green leaves on until they turn yellow then it is safe to cut them back. Don't remove the leaves when they are green as they provide the bulb with food for next year. Fertilize bulbs after flowering, with a high nitrogen fertilizer (first number highest).
  3. Can't Wait? If you need the space taken up by springs bulbs and can't wait for them to yellow, dig them up with a shovel. Do this very carefully so the stems don't break from the bulbs. It's tricky, but it can be done. Once the bulbs are dug up with their stems intact, plant them in a plant pot, firming soil around them, water and place in a protected and bright location away from full sun. 
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Planting bulbs in bulb trays in the fall makes it easier to remove them in spring once their leaves turn yellow.

Pruning

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Remove or cut back broken branches to a side branch any time of year.
Best time to Prune
  • Prune plants immediately after they finish flowering.
  • Don't prune summer flowering plants now as you will be removing their flowers. 
Establish your objectives before pruning. 
  • Make spindly plants more compact.
  • Increase the amount of stems therefore flowers.
  • Improve health by removing dead, diseased, crossing, broken and branches that grow towards the centre of the plant.
  • Overly long branches and ones that get in the way of walking by.
  • Only remove one-third of overall growth, no more
  • Cut off or cut back overly long limbs and ones that are in the way of people walking by.
Avoid: 
  • pruning plants just before they flower.
  • pruning just after they sprout new foliage. 
  • pruning if it isn't necessary.
Aftercare
  • Water and apply kelp or fish fertilizer or spread compost at the base of the plant.​
  • For more on How to Prune click here.
  • For more on Pruning Tools click here.
  • To register for pruning instruction in your garden click here. 
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Inspect shrubs and trees for bird nests before pruning.
Birds are busy nesting and raising their young this month. Before pruning shrubs and trees, have a good look around for their nests. Hummingbirds generally live nearby to any feeders so keep your eye out for their wee, and I mean ‘wee’ nests. They are difficult to spot so be mindful when you are pruning. For more on pruning click here. ​​

Houseplants & Tropicals

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Devil's trumpet and other tropical plants must be hardened off before vacationing outside.
  • Fertilize and repot houseplants.
  • Use potting soil, not garden soil.
  • Add a slow release fertilizer or purchase soil with it already included.
  • Select a pot one or two inches larger. Overpotting promotes rotting.
  • Gently loosen roots before planting. Place in pot at the same depth it was previously, then firm soil around roots and water gently. Place in a bright location out of direct sunlight.
  • Once plants have recovered, consider giving them a vacation outside (except for African violets and other hair leaved plants). 
  • To prepare houseplants, bougainvillea, coleus, geraniums and other tropical plants for the outdoors move them outside for an hour in a shaded, protected location. Prolong the time and expose them to more weather each day until they can stay out all day and night. For more on hardening off click here. 

Prepare beds for planting 

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Start off by removing all the weeds, roots and all. Mix in at least a couple of inches of ​compost, SeaSoil, triple mix, and/or well-rotted, aged or composted manure. Don't use fresh manure or uncomposted compost. Level with a rake and water. Plant first, then apply a 3 inches of an organic mulch on top of the soil between plants. 
For previously mulched beds, remove the mulch then add compost etc. Another quicker and easier option is to move the mulch away from plants then mix in compost etc., around the plants. Replace the mulch so it is 3 inches deep. For more about mulch click here. Keep it a few inches from tree trunks and avoid covering plants. For more on improving soil click here. 

Our Feathered Friends

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Keep birdfeeders stocked, but don't forget clean them when needed.
Inspect bird feeders, bird houses and bird baths and clean if necessary, if you haven’t done so already. At this time of year, hummingbirds rely on the kindness of those that offer them nectar. My hummingbird feeders have been very busy, so much so, they have gone dry before I even realized. They sure are keeping me on my toes but I am glad to help out, especially when they have their young’uns’ to feed. 

Help Pollinators

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Fennel flowers provides nectar and pollen to pollinating insects.
It's common knowledge that bees and other pollinating insect populations are declining. The reasons are many, including the use of pesticides, herbicides and the reduction of meadows and other wild spaces.

Gardeners can help these essential beneficial insects by allowing a few dandelions, Queen Anne's lace, buttercups and other weeds to take up some space in the garden, as they provide food for many beneficial insects.
 
Vegetables can also be a wonderful source of pollen and nectar. Allow a few of your carrots, radishes, beets, onions, garlic and other roots crops to flower. Herbs are another valuable source especially borage, lavender, rosemary, salvia and thyme.
 
Crocus, hellebore, primroses, hyacinths, willow, maples, redwoods, dandelions and other spring flowering plants are critical sources of food for early season pollinators especially bees.
 
Here’s a few tips on how to help our bees and other pollinating insects:
  • Plant lots of the same plant in groups of tens so they don’t have to fly far and wide in search for food.
  • Use a variety of flowering plants including trees, shrubs, vines, annuals, perennials, vegetables and herbs. If in doubt, grow lots of vivid colourful flowers, especially fragrant ones. 
  • Allow root crops and other veggies to flower.
  • Select untreated seeds and plants.
  • Avoid insecticides, fungicides and herbicides.
  • Avoid flowers with so many petals the pollen and nectar are hidden or absent.
  • Select flowers and flower cluster that are flat: daisies, sunflowers, rudbeckia, coneflowers, fennel, anemone, calendula, marigolds, poppies, zinnia, sweet alyssum, cleome, perennial geraniums, asters, cosmos and joe-pye weed.
  • Select tubular flowers: lavender, veronica, sage, butterfly bush, bee balm, lupin, anise hyssop, lilac, honeysuckle, wisteria, laburnum, peas and beans.
  • Allow some weeds: dandelions, goldenrod, buttercup, creeping charlie and clover.
  • Provide water. Shallow trays of fresh water, especially when it is hot and dry, is essential for their well-being. 
  • Avoid using insecticides, including soap and water, as they kill all insects and not just the plant eating ones. For more on insects click here. 
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Cone flowers are desired by many pollinating insects, like this bee, because insects can rest while they feed.
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A shallow water dish helps bees during summer's heat and drought.

Rose Love...

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Pink Pet is an easy care China rose.
If you love roses click on Roses to be redirected to learn the different kinds of roses, easy roses, how to plant them, how to prune them and much more. 

May Arrangement

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May flowers include lilacs, peonies, irises and rhododendrons.
  1. camass (Camassia leichtlinii)
  2. columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris)
  3. Mexican mock orange (Choiysa ternata)
  4. red peony (Paeonia latifolia)
  5. yellow rhododendron
  6. pigsqueak, (Bergenia cordifolia)
  7. pink tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa)
  8. Kinkaku yellow tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa 'Kinkaku')
  9. Elsie Lee azalea (Rhododendron ‘Elsie Lee’)
  10. Bearded iris (Iris germanica)
  11. mauve azalea (Rhododendron)
  12. assorted lilacs (Syringa)
  13. Siberian iris (Iris siberica)
For details on the flowers and for more arrangements click here.

Plant of the month
Jack-in-the-Pulpits & Cobra Lilies
Arisaema species 


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Japanese cobra lilies are coveted by plant collectors and rightly so.
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Jack-in-the-pulpit, A.triphyllum, is a common western native woodland plant.
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All arisaemas bear tiny flowers that encircle a narrow spike called a spadex.
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The spadex is covered by a hood called a spathe.
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A Jack-in-the-pulpit's colourful stripes.
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A Japanese cobra lily bear hoods that are pure white, like the mouth of a cobra. (A. sikokianum)
Arisaema triphyllum,Arum,woodland native plant,shade plant,May flowers,The Garden Website.com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett,garden website
A colony of jack-in-the-pulpits enjoy moist, organic soil and shady conditions.
Arisaema ringens,Japanese cobra lily,Arum,woodland native plant,shade plant,May flowers,The Garden Website.com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett,garden website
This cupped Japanese cobra lily, A. ringens, grows 12 to 18 inches tall. Hardiness zones 6 to 9.
​Common Name:  Jack-in-the-Pulpit
Botanical Name:  Arisaema
Form:    low upright
Family:  Arisaemateae
Genus:  Arisaema
Species:  numerous
Plant Type: tuberous herbaceous perennial
Mature Size:  from 1 to 2 feet depending on variety
Origin:  China, Japan, Africa, Mexico and North America.
Hardiness Zone: depends on species
Foliage:  green leaves are divided into 3 to 5 leaflets depending on the variety
Flowers: an erect central spadix (spike) surrounded by a spathe (bract)
Fruit: red berries
Exposure:  part shade to shade
Soil:  high organic, moist soils, dislikes clay and sand
Uses:  woodlands, natives
Propagation:   seed, offsets
​Problems:  no insects or diseases

Comments: 
Arisaemas always attract attention with their unique and beautiful flowers. These coveted beauties’ fame stretches from Asia to North America with over 190 species. Western species are referred to a jack-in-the-pulpit and Asiatic species are called cobra lilies.
 
Arisaemas are classified as arums; members of the Araceae family. All arums share the same flower morphology an erect central spadix (narrow spike of tiny flowers) surrounding by a spathe (a bract that resembles a hood).
 
Flowers emerge in April and May with green leaves that are divided into three or five leaflets.  There’s no main stalk as the flowers and foliage grow as a colony. As summer approaches, the plants wither and become dormant. Summer dormancy is normal and is part of their life cycle. The only remnants are the bright red berries that replace the hooded flowers.
 
Colonies spread readily, especially when disturbed so don’t forget they are there when you’re digging in the garden during the summer.
 
Provide arisaemas with conditions close to their native habitat – lowland woodlands with seasonal flooding. Soil should contain lots of organic matter and be moist, preferably with 3 inches of an organic mulch. Water in the summer as they dislike prolonged drought. They dislike full sun, so keep them in shady to partially shaded locations. Being from the forest, they are suited to being planted under larger plants that provide them with shade during the heat of the day. To improve hardiness, cover plants in fall with a thick layer of mulch. 
 
Three-leaf Jack-in-the-Pulpit, A. triphyllum, is the most common species of North America. Plants are 1' - 2' tall with two trifoliate leaves with inflorescences (flowers) that have green or purple and white stripes.  (Zone 3-9).
 
Japanese cobra lily: A. sikokianum, is a less hardy species from Japanese with hardiness zones from 5 to 8. Plants are bolder and taller growing from 18 inches to 2 feet, but prefer the same growing conditions as their western counterpart. The hood of the cobra is dark purple with stripes of green and white on the outside. Inside the hood is pure white. They are quite striking and are difficult to find. 

The whipcord cobra lily, Arisaema tortuosum, originates from the Himalayas. They have a distinctive purple or green whip-like projection that extends upright from the hood up to a foot in length.
Arisaema triphyllum,Arum,woodland native plant,shade plant,May flowers,The Garden Website.com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett,garden website
Colourful berries from a jack-in-the-pulpit appear in fall after the plants have died down.
Arisaema tortuosum,whipcord cobra lily,Arum,woodland native plant,shade plant,May flowers,The Garden Website.com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett,garden website
The whipcord cobra lily, A. tortuosum, has whip-like projections that extends up to a foot in length.
Arisaema sikokianum,Japanese cobra lily,Arum,woodland native plant,shade plant,May flowers,The Garden Website.com,Amanda’s Garden Consulting,Amanda Jarrett,garden website
Japanese Cobra Lilies, A. sikokianum, are attention grabbers.

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While working in Florida as horticultural consultant, it became apparent that there was a need for a book on tropical shrubs. There are so many wonderful shrubs to choose from, so I wrote a reference book to make the selections easier. Ornamental Tropical Shrubs includes pictures in full colour and information about the plants in point form. So if you live in the tropics and subtropics and need a reference book on tropical shrubs, or you just want to have a look-see click here. 


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