National Rose Garden

The U.S. Botanical Garden has a new National Garden of which the Margaret Hagedorn Rose Garden is part. Last Wednesday, I toured this new garden (as part of a group) with the USBG's Rosarian. The most striking thing was that there were no roses in bloom! The Rosarian was embarrassingly aware of this and said next year the tour would be in May (more appropriate).

I was interested in the layout of the garden and what had been chosen to plant with the roses, so the fact that the garden was not yet in bloom wasn't that big of a deal to me. Also, I'll be back next month for a tour of the National Garden itself and will get a chance to see the rose garden again.

Here are a couple of photos that show you the layout:



(It'll be even nicer when the pots get filled.)


The garden is named after the wife of the founder of Miracle-Gro, one of the major sponsors of the garden. Jackson & Perkins has named a rose for her and there are several in the garden. Most of the roses are own root (yea!) and the area is mulched with cocoa hulls from Hershey. They will not be spraying for Japanese Beetles as they try to be as organic as possible. I definitely will want to come back in summer to see how the garden manages. Part of their organic routine has been a spring feeding of sea kelp, cottonseed meal, alfalpha meal, milorganite, cockadoodledoo and epsom salt.

You can get a nice handout on the garden at the mailbox (just like at Longwood!). Among the things we learned was that President Reagan designated the National Flower in 1986 after the US Congress recommended it. The roses in the garden may change over time as any that don't make the grade will be replaced by something else. We were told it was their intent to have all classes of roses represented.

Planted with the roses were a number of herbs (thymes, sages, catmint, calamint, etc.), hardy geraniums, various groundcovers like Lithodora difusa 'Grace Ward' and Mazus reptans 'alba'. I was particularly interested in those as I have acquired both recently; however, I purchased a lavender Mazus (part of the Steppables line). The blue of the Lithodora difusa is so striking that I just had to try it. I learned at the Rose Garden that it needs sharp drainage.

Here are a couple things I wasn't familiar with that were planted in the garden:


This is Cudweed, Artemisia ludoviciana 'Valerie Finnis'.

And, this is Cancer Weed, Salvia lyrata 'Purple Knockout'.


Lithodora difusa 'Grace Ward'

Something else new were the dwarf peonies that Klehm's Song Sparrow Nursery has introduced:


On the far wall, the flowers of each state are displayed in portraits made by children. Scotts Miracle-Gro sponsored a contest and these were the winning entries.



A most interesting one:



This is an area that has roses planted that it is hoped will cover the area. I saw Carolina Jessamine planted here also. (More empty pots...)


You can see how lovely it will all be when it is more established.

Here's an idea that we could all copy. Clematis have been planted behind the shrub roses.


Various types of thyme are planted between the pavers:



However the real stars right now in DC are the tulips:






Who can resist violas?




Across the street at Bartholdi Park (part of the USBG):


It's too bad signs like this are necessary:


Around the fountain, a gorgeous (and very patriotic) display:


Closer:


Tulips by the Capitol:


A last image, the Capitol in spring:


*****
All pictures are clickable.

Garden Education: Orchids for the Home

Friday found me at the U.S. Botanical Garden eagerly awaiting a class on orchids. Now, I love orchids but I am not at all confident of my ability to keep them happy. The timing of this class was perfect in that I had just added two orchids to my meager collection of four (if you’re counting, we’re up to six!). The two new orchids are not the faithful dendrobium or the considered easy phalaenoposis (see this post).

Arriving early, I spent my time taking some pictures (which I’ll share later). Asking about admission to the class, I was told I could go ahead and seat myself. An empty seat right in front caught my eye and not being shy, I headed that way. After settling my belongings, I hopped up to take pictures of the amazing orchids on display for us.

Our speaker was a Mr. M. Spelta, one of two orchid experts at the botanical garden. Mr. Spelta immediately began conveying information to us in a relaxed way that put us all at ease. New orchids are still being discovered, he told us, and with hybridizing efforts ongoing, our choices of orchids are almost unlimited. We learned that orchids can grow in trees (epiphytes), grow in rocks (lithophytes) and in the ground (terrestrial).

The four most important things to remember regarding orchids are humidity, light, air movement and watering. A humidity tray with rocks was recommended (but don’t let the plants touch the rocks) and we were advised to water approximately once a week, preferably in the morning. Distilled, spring or rain water is best for your orchids, but you can let tap water stand for approximately 30 minutes and then use it. Misting your orchids in the morning is also a good thing. Do not over water your orchids!

Air movement is important for the health of your orchids. Many growers use fans on their orchids. You may also take your orchids outside in warm weather where the natural air movement will be beneficial. Give them some shade as they can burn. Check the leaves and if they feel warm, you need to move them. Horticulture oil was recommended for any insect problems or one teaspoon of dish soap diluted in a gallon of water would also work.

Orchids need light, but not direct sunlight. Dendrobiums can take more light than some other varieties. Phalaenoposis need a ten degree difference in temperature to encourage blooming. It was suggested that putting your phalaenoposis in a window now in the evenings (while the temperatures are still pretty cool) for about two weeks would probably convince them to bloom (if they are not already).

A good fertilizer like Peters or Miracle Grow (30-10-10) given at half the recommended strength can be applied every two weeks or so while the orchid is growing. If it is flowering, drop that to once per month.

Mr. Spelta graciously answered numerous questions. He also suggested that we call him at the garden with any questions and he would be glad to answer them.

(This is like one of the ones I just bought! It's fragrant!)

After the class, I went back into the orchid habitat and took still more pictures! I’ll post those to follow.

****

For more information, check out the American Orchid Society.

U.S. Botanical Garden: Orchids

Here's some of what I saw on the 23rd, before and after the orchid class:

(An orchid border)

(Those fabulous Nuns Orchids still going strong)





(Showgirl showing off)

(There were two of these fountains with the orchids...nice way of adding some humidity)

('Crazy Horse' paphiopedilum)









(Always look up!)

This looks to be a good place to end for now. There's still more and not just orchids, mind you! I'll try to get to those either this evening or tomorrow.

US Botanical Garden: Amaryllis

If you were waiting to see the Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) from the US Botanical Garden,
here they are:


Rosetta


Lemon Lime


Grandeur


Giraffe


For further discovery, the U.S. Arboretum has a gallery of Amaryllis photographs.

USBG: Orchids

As promised, here are some of the orchids I saw at the US Botanical Garden on 2/8/07:

Phais tankervilliae 'Nun's Orchid(s)':



See how tall they are:



Cymbidium 'Citron Alba':



Cymbidiums 'Memoria Rose Greer and Show Girl':



Cymbidium "Debbie Adams':



Unknown Cymbidium:



Another unknown Cymbidium:



That's all for the orchids for now....I'll post the amaryllis pics and some other stuff later.

How can you not love orchids, right?