Sunday, February 21, 2010

Plants for deep shade - Prunus laurocerasus 'Mari'

It belongs to those extremely few cherry laurels which are frost-hardy even at us (Z5). It grows 1-2 meters both in height and width. It lives on all kinds of soil. And it tolerates deep shade – we have one under each walnut tree – as well as dryness..

Monday, February 15, 2010

Publishing on the garden all over the year

In the last autumn the largest Hungarian gardening magazine Kertbarát Magazin contacted me through the blog, and we agreed that in 2010 we would publish a series of articles on our garden.

In number 1-2, published now in February, Wendy Algeier made with me an interview on the garden, and in each of the next issues I will write an article on a selected topic.

In April, in number 3-4 on the ground covers blooming in springtime. I have selected primarily such plants that grow well also in dry part-shade or shade.

In June, in number 5-6 I will write about – guess – roses.

In number 7-8, in August I will give an overview on the garden in summer, and I will present some of my favorite flowers.

In number 9-10, in October my topic will be alternative fruits as well as trees and shrubs getting colors in the autumn.

And finally in number 11-12 about the garden in wintertime.

I do this series with a great pleasure. I hope the readers of the Magazine will also find delight in it.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

A preview of summer

If winter is already as burdensome for you as for me, here you are some preliminary images of this summer: my order of this year from Köstritzer Dahlien.

Ordering of them is absolutely not more expensive than buying dahlias here at home.

But, in contrast to the dahlias bought in Hungary, theirs are always of good quality and you get what you see on the photo on the bag. Just to compare: in the last year I purchased seven dahlias in Budapest’s “New Garden”. One of them has not even sprouted, and one bag contained a plant completely different from what was written on its bag.

Unfortunately I can only maintain small-flowered sports as our garden has not enough sunshine. But they also have fantastic dahlias with 25-30 cm large flowers.

Dahlias are simple to care for: they need much water and you have to pole them, especially those with large flower.

They are beautiful on the table not only when freshly cut, but also dried. They are very easy to dry: compose a bouquet, hang it on an airy but not sunny place, and wait until it dries.