notes and musings from a perennial gardener
A Pennsylvania gardener
Bellflowers, sometimes called harebells, belong to the genus Campanula, named for the bell-shaped flowers they bear. Encompassing over 500 species and subspecies, bellflowers includes tall upright forms to creeping ground covers. Native to temperate regions of the northern hemisphere, most hail from the Mediterranean and Asia, with a few native to North America.
No matter; hardy campanula are both beautiful and easily grown. Let’s look at some of the more commonly available varieties.
The garden looks very different from last year at this time. We lost our Magic Carpet spirea hedge out front, which succumbed to root rot and died over the winter. I lost all my foxgloves and several deep purple salvias, which dominated the main perennial bed last year. And I coppiced our purple smoke tree, so its height is missing in the landscape. I also had to take out about a third of my roses due to disease.
When workers installed our new roof last fall, they managed to damage several foundation plantings. Several Sky Pencil hollies in the same area were languishing (not enough sun), so I ended up replacing half the foundation plants on the north side of the house. Even so it will take time for those holes to fill in.
But the peonies and iris are just wonderful this year, loaded with blooms! All the replanting gave me ample opportunity to try new things. There’s still plenty to see. Come along for a virtual walk-through!
Got spots? Yellow, curled, prematurely dying leaves? If the plant is otherwise healthy looking, the culprit is probably leaf spot. Most leaf diseases are caused by fungi, although bacteria and nematodes can create foliar problems too.
Earlier this spring, conditions were ideal for fungal diseases to get a foothold in many gardens. First it was unusally warm, then turned quickly colder with temperatures remaining below normal for several weeks, followed by a period of no rain. Such conditions are optimal for leaf spot.
Here’s what to know and how to control this common, widespread nuisance.
