Arty's Garden: Include Fragrant Flowers in Your Garden Design

Originally published in the Nov. 13, 2013, issue

 

If you choose flowers for your garden solely on how they look, shame on you – fragrant flowers are one of the delights of having a nose! In Georgia we are fortunate to be able to grow a wide assortment of olfactory-pleasing flowers.

Floral fragrance can be sweet, bitter, sour, spicy, fruity, pungent, combinations of these and more. There are even a few, such as some of the arums, with fragrances that are not so pleasant, but are interesting to grow nonetheless.

Fragrance can be subjective. What pleases one person another may find heavy and cloying. It is possible to like a fragrance outdoors, but be overpowered by it after several hours in a closed room. While pungent marigolds are not to everyone’s liking, on hot summer days they can be refreshing. Some people dislike the hard, lemony fragrance of a Southern magnolia, but it smells like summer to me.

Banana shrub

Fragrance may vary with the time of day. Banana shrub has little fragrance in the morning, but smells like banana Popsicles in the afternoon. Sweet-bubby bush is usually scentless in the a.m., but in the warmth of an April afternoon releases an enigmatic fragrance that may be a mix of apples, cantaloupes, strawberries and spices. Four-o-clocks, night-blooming jasmine, hardy ginger, nicotiana and petunias are flowers that don’t release much or, in some cases, any fragrance until evening. Don’t decide against one just because you are shopping at a garden center in the morning.

In addition to those I’ve already mentioned, here are a few more fragrant shrubs, trees, vines, annuals and perennials to consider: gardenia, wintersweet, witch-hazel, winter daphne, winter honeysuckle or sweet-breath-of-spring, Carolina jessamine, mock orange, Korean spice viburnum, fragrant snowball, sweet bay magnolia, Japanese flowering apricot, Alabama azalea, sweet azalea, pinxterbloom azalea, swamp azalea, tea olive, narcissus, snapdragon, night-blooming jasmine, mock orange, tuberose, hardy ginger or butterfly ginger, cottage pinks or perennial dianthus, bearded iris, phlox, peony, stock, old-fashioned petunia and flowering tobacco or nicotiana.

Many roses are fragrant, especially old varieties like Blanc Double de Coubert and Souvenir de la Malmaison, but many newer varieties such as Double Delight, Mr. Lincoln, Scentimental, Memorial Day, Gertrude Jekyll and Fragrant Cloud are also known for their fragrances.

It’s impossible for me to select one favorite fragrant flower. A good rose is hard to beat, and I am especially fond of the luscious, yet slightly peppery, gardenia in the summer, the apricot-like fragrance of tea olive in the fall, Carolina jessamine and sweet-bubby in the spring and witch-hazel in the winter. A horticulturist at your nursery or garden center can help you with your choices so you will have fragrance through the year.

If you are really into having a fragrant garden, also consider plants with fragrant leaves such as scented geraniums and herbs. That will be a topic for another day.

Arty Schronce is the Department’s resident gardening expert. He’s a lifelong gardener and a horticulture graduate of North Carolina State University who encourages everyone to discover the pleasures of plants and gardening.



Georgia Gardens List

Find Georgia botanical, public and display gardens in your area. Know of a garden we missed? Send the name, address, phone number and website to dallas.duncan@agr.georgia.gov and we will get it added!

BALDWIN COUNTY

Lockerly Arboretum

1534 Irwinton Road, Milledgeville

478-452-2112

Lockerly.org

BARTOW COUNTY

Barnsley Gardens

597 Barnsley Gardens Road, Adairsville

770-773-7480

www.barnsleyresort.com

BIBB COUNTY

Waddell Barnes Botanical Garden

100 College Station Drive, Macon

478-471-2780

www.mga.edu/botanical/

BULLOCH COUNTY

Garden of the Coastal Plain

1505 Bland Avenue, Statesboro

912-871-1114

Academics.georgiasouthern.edu/garden/

CANDLER COUNTY

The Guido Gardens

600 North Lewis Street, Metter

912-685-2222

www.sowerministries.org

CHATHAM COUNTY

Armstrong Atlantic State University Arboretum

11935 Abercorn Street, Savannah

912-344-2576

www.armstrong.edu/Departments/arboretum

Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens at the Historic Bamboo Farm

2 Canebrake Road, Savannah

912-921-5460

www.coastalgeorgiabg.org

 

Isaiah Davenport House Museum

324 East State Street, Savannah

912-236-8097

www.davenporthousemuseum.org

Savannah Botanical Gardens

1388 Eisenhower Drive, Savannah

912-355-3883

Savannahbotanical.org

CHEROKEE COUNTY

Gibbs Gardens

1998 Gibbs Drive, Ball Ground

770-893-1880

Gibbsgardens.com

CLARKE COUNTY

Founders Memorial Garden

325 South Lumpkin Street, Athens

706-227-5369

Gardenclub.uga.edu/foundersgarden.html

State Botanical Garden of Georgia

2450 South Milledge Avenue, Athens

706-542-1244

Botgarden.uga.edu

University of Georgia Greenhouses
Athens

706-542-3732

www.plantbio.uga.edu/about/greenhouses

COBB COUNTY

Smith-Gilbert Gardens

2382 Pine Mountain Road, Kennesaw

770-919-0248

www.smithgilbertgardens.com

DEKALB COUNTY

Fernbank Science Center

Victorian greenhouses: 1256 Briarcliff Road, Atlanta

Robert L. Staton Rose Garden: 767 Clifton Road, Atlanta

404-378-4311

www.fernbankmuseum.org

Georgia Perimeter College Botanical Gardens

3251 Panthersville Road, Decatur

678-891-2668

Depts.gpc.edu/~decbt/

FLOYD COUNTY

Oak Hill and The Martha Berry Museum

Intersection of Veterans Memorial Highway and Martha Berry Highway, Mt. Berry

706-291-1883

www.oakhillmuseum.com

FULTON COUNTY

Atlanta Botanical Garden

1345 Piedmont Avenue Northeast, Atlanta

404-876-5859

Atlantabotanicalgarden.org

Atlanta History Center

130 West Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta

404-814-4000

www.atlantahistorycenter.com

Historic Oakland Foundation

248 Oakland Avenue SE, Atlanta

404-688-2107

www.oaklandcemetery.com

GWINNETT COUNTY

Vines Botanical Gardens

3500 Oak Grove Road, Loganville

770-466-7532

www.vinesmansion.com

HARRIS COUNTY

Callaway Gardens

US Highway 27, Pine Mountain

800-225-5292

www.callawaygardens.com

MUSCOGEE COUNTY

Columbus Botanical Garden

3603 Weems Road, Columbus

706-327-8400

Columbusbotanicalgarden.com

OCONEE COUNTY

Piccadilly Farm Gardens

1971 Whippoorwill Road, Bishop

706-769-6516

www.facebook.com/pages/Piccadilly-Farm

PEACH COUNTY

American Camellia Society: Massee Lane Gardens

100 Massee Lane, Fort Valley

478-967-2358

www.camellias-acs.com

POLK COUNTY

Polk County Historical Society Museum and Gardens

311 North College Street, Cedartown

770-748-0073

www.polkhist.org

RICHMOND COUNTY

Meadow Garden

1320 Independence Drive, Augusta

706-724-4174

www.historicmeadowgarden.org

SPALDING COUNTY

Meadowlark Gardens

2617 Newnan Road, Griffin

770-228-0974

www.meadowlarkgardens.net

TOWNS COUNTY

Hamilton Gardens

1311 Music Hall Road, Hiawasee

706-913-1444

www.fredhamiltongarden.org 

TROUP COUNTY

Hills & Dales Estate

1916 Hills and Dales Drive, LaGrange

706-882-3242

www.hillsanddales.org

Consumer Q&A: Spring Garden

Q: Beautiful, large, yellow butterflies are all over my flowers. They are an almost solid pale yellow. They are not as large as tiger swallowtails. Do you know what they are? What can I plant to attract more?

A: They sound like cloudless sulphurs. Some entomologists call them cloudless giant sulphurs. Sulphur is an older spelling of sulfur, the mineral that's color is a perfect match to these butterflies. There are other species of sulphurs, but the cloudless sulphur is one of the largest. It is called “cloudless” because some of the other common sulphurs have gray patterns or markings on their wings. Cloudless sulphurs are more abundant in Georgia gardens in late summer and fall. They are beautiful butterflies, and are one of the few species that will migrate south for the winter.

Planting or protecting the larval plants (plants the adults lay eggs on and that the caterpillars eat) along with planting some of the nectar plants the adults feed on are the best ways to attract any butterfly.

Adult cloudless sulphurs prefer to feed on the nectar of many of the flowers that hummingbirds do. Among their favorites are pineapple sage (Salvia rutilans), firecracker vine (Manettia cordifolia), Turk’s cap mallow or wax-mallow (Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii), anisacanthus (Anisacanthus wrightii), Texas or tropical sage (Salvia coccinea), cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis), jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) and single-flowered zinnias. They also like native asters, goldenrods and blazing stars (Liatris spp.).

Caterpillars of cloudless sulphurs feed on partridge pea, clovers, Argentine senna (Cassia corymbosa), wild senna (Cassia marilandica) and other legumes, especially sennas (Cassia spp.).

Q: What are some tips for succeeding with pansies?

A: Prepare the bed beforehand by adding compost, especially if you have heavy clay or sandy soil. If planting in containers, use high-quality potting soil and the largest containers possible. Make sure the containers have a drainage hole at the bottom. Plant the pansies where they will receive at least four hours of unfiltered sunlight each day. Provide morning sun if possible. To fertilize, use a balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-10 and follow directions on the label. It is always better to under-fertilize than to use too much. Water your plants, especially those in containers, before a hard freeze. Keep the old flowers pinched off so they don’t produce seeds. This is called deadheading and encourages the production of more blooms.

Q: I had five huge holly bushes cut down as they were getting too large for me to take care of. They were 10 to 12 feet high and seven feet across. Is there a simpler way to remove the stumps than having them dug up? I cannot do it myself or get to them with a truck and a chain.

A: Digging up the stumps is the fastest and surest way to get rid of them, but it will be an arduous task because the bushes were large with a large root system. An easier, although much slower, option is to cut the bushes down as close to the ground as possible and remove every shoot as soon as it sprouts until the stump eventually dies along with the root system. You must be persistent in keeping the sprouts removed or the hollies will come back. You may want to spray or paint some brush killer on the stump and on the sprouts as they appear. Be careful not to let the herbicide get on any other plants. Follow all label instructions when using any herbicide.

Q: What are some vegetables I can grow in pots on my deck?

A: Almost any vegetable can be grown in a container if you keep it watered. Due to the limited root space, the plants are going to dry out more quickly than those planted in the ground. They will probably also need more fertilizer. The best options for growing in containers are vegetables with smaller fruits or those that have a smaller stature and don’t spread out much. Some good possibilities include leaf lettuce, radish, eggplant, garlic, carrot (round or short-root varieties), tomato (determinate varieties will stay shorter), hot and sweet peppers and bush varieties of summer squash and cucumber. Use the largest containers possible as they will provide more root-room and make the plants less vulnerable to drying out or getting blown over.

Q: Can we grow dahlias in Georgia? We had them as a child and I miss them.

 

A: Dahlias thrive where days are warm but nights are cool. That is why they are favorites farther north. However, we can grow many dahlias here in Georgia. Keys to success include selecting heat-tolerant varieties, preparing the soil with plenty of compost and mulching them well.

 

Look at the website of the Dahlia Society of Georgia at www.dahliasocietyofgeorgia.com. It is a wealth of information and includes a dahlia growing guide for Southern gardens and old newsletters with photographs that will inspire you. If possible, visit the society’s display garden at Stone Mountain State Park to see different varieties in bloom and judge how they perform.

 

Q: How much sunlight should a vegetable garden receive?

 

A: All vegetables need sunlight, generally the more, the better. The garden site should receive at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. A minimum of eight to 10 hours each day is even better.

 

Therefore, vegetables should be planted away from buildings, trees and shrubs shading the area. The roots of trees and shrubs will also compete for nutrients and water.

 

Got a question? Visit our website, write to us at 19 MLK Jr. Drive, Room 128, Atlanta, GA 30334, or email arty.schronce@agr.georgia.gov. 
 

ARTY'S GARDEN: Pansies and Violas Provide a Winter Rainbow

Originally published in the Oct. 30, 2013, issue

 

Even the most ardent fans of Gone with the Wind may find it hard to believe that when Margaret Mitchell began writing her famous novel she had a different name for Scarlett. The original name Mitchell gave her heroine was Pansy.

 

Pansy was a common name for girls in the 19^th century. Sources that track these things claim that Pansy reached its peak of popularity in 1900 and dropped off the charts by 1950.

 

Though the name Pansy is no longer popular, the flower pansy is more popular than ever! In fact, as we look at the millions of pansies in bloom all across Georgia in the coming months, we may find it hard to believe there was once a time when pansies were not a widespread part of our winter landscape. Some gardeners did not plant pansies in the fall, but waited until early spring. Seriously! They were missing months of color and beauty! And the varieties available 50 years ago were few and inferior compared to what we have today.  

 

Today you will find many varieties of pansies and violas for sale in nurseries and garden centers. Violas are pansies with smaller, but more numerous flowers. Few flowers other than bearded irises offer such an array of color. Yellow, gold, crimson, dark red, rose, blue, violet, lavender, purple, white, cream, apricot, orange and combinations of these are all part of the pansy and viola palette. There are some that are almost black. These dark beauties look like they are made of velvet and provide an ideal contrast to yellow, white and orange varieties.

 

Georgia growers sowed seeds for pansies and violas back in July or August and nursed the seedlings along through late summer so that all we have to do is pick out the forms and colors we want when we go to a nursery or garden center.

 

Plant your pansies and violas in sunny areas in well-prepared beds or containers filled with potting soil. Water them well at planting. Especially be sure to keep those in containers watered during winter dry spells. Keep dead blooms pinched off to encourage new blooms to appear. If seed pods form, the plants may stop flowering. To fertilize, use an all-purpose balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-10 and follow directions on the label. Remember, it is always better to under-fertilize than to use too much.

 

If you don’t want just pansies and violas, you can add winter color with other hardy annuals such as snapdragons, ornamental kale and cabbage, dusty miller, dianthus and curly parsley.  Visit a local nursery or garden center today to see what varieties of pansies, violas and winter annuals they have available. They can also advise you on preparing your beds with compost or soil amendments and what fertilizers to choose. If you aren’t sure about what color flowers look best together, they can help you with that as well!

 

Arty Schronce is the Department’s resident gardening expert. He’s a lifelong gardener and a horticulture graduate of North Carolina State University who encourages everyone to discover the pleasures of plants and gardening. 

ARTY'S GARDEN: No Need to Buy Bay Leaves When You Grow Your Own

Originally published in the July 24, 2013, issue

By Arty Schronce

I read that bay, Laurus nobilis, was not hardy in Atlanta, and I struggled growing it in a pot indoors. Around 1996 I planted my one-foot-tall bay plant outside since I was tired of carrying it in and out.

Earlier this month I pruned off some of the limbs and branches of my bay (now practically a tree) yet again to keep them from touching the power line going into the house. I even had to take a saw to one of the limbs. Needless to say, the bay proved itself more than winter hardy for me. And to think I struggled with a small plant in a pot for so long. 

I have not bought any bay leaves in years. When a recipe calls for them, I walk into my garden pantry and pick whatever I need. My love of my bay is not just about the convenience or the money I’ve saved; I have also become a bay snob. Those dried-up bay leaves in cans and little jars at the supermarket don’t pack the flavor and fragrance of my Georgia-grown leaves. Who knows when those store-bought leaves were picked or how long they have been on the shelf?

In the kitchen, bay is an essential herb used in spaghetti sauce, stews, soups, gumbos, roast chicken, pork, stuffing and seafood boils. I use bay leaves to prepare black-eyed peas and black bean soup. Because the leaves are tough, they are removed before serving. In going through recipes, I found one in which you simmer bay leaves in milk to make hot chocolate. I’m going to try that as soon as we have our first cold snap.

Bay plants are slow to start from both seed and cuttings, so the quickest way to get one is to buy one. Due to the difficulty in propagation, bay is more expensive than other herbs, but is worth it. Remember, you’ll never have to buy a bay leaf again. Look for bay in the herb section of your nursery or garden center. Bay is sometimes referred to as “true laurel,” “sweet bay” or “bay laurel.” Do not confuse it with the sweetbay magnolia, Magnolia virginiana, or other plants with bay or laurel in their names.

Plant your bay in a sunny location in well-drained soil. A southern or eastern exposure is ideal. Gardeners in the Georgia mountains who want to grow bay may not be as successful as I have been. They may experiment by planting it in a sunny spot protected from winter winds. Planting near a south-facing brick wall will provide even more protection from the cold.

No one has to let their bay get as large as mine. It can be kept pruned to a smaller size. If you don’t have room for a bay or think you’ll never use many leaves, see if you can plant one in a common area such as a church or a community garden where it could shared with others.

Bay is also one of the traditional greens of Christmas. Include branches of bay with holly, fir, rosemary and pine when making wreaths or filling vases with greenery. Bay branches tied together with attractive bows make welcome and inexpensive gifts for the cooks on your Christmas list. When I share bay with friends from up north, where it is indeed not winter hardy, they treat me like a sultan of the Spice Islands bestowing riches. 

I wonder if any Georgia Christmas tree growers have considered growing bay (as well as rosemary) to make wreaths or to sell as greenery. Though fir, pine trees and greenery get composted after the holidays, leaves of a dried bay wreath could be used in the kitchen all year. That might be a good selling point ... along with some of that bay-infused hot chocolate.

Arty Schronce is the Department’s resident gardening expert. He’s a lifelong gardener and a horticulture graduate from North Carolina State University, and encourages everyone to take pleasure in their plants and gardens.