Crop 321 WINTER

Pictures taken in December of snow, sleet and freezing rain on plants, fruit, foliage, together with propagation, planting, repotting or nursery maintenence at the Flowering Shrub Farm in Voorheesville, NY. www.floweringshrubfarm.com

Every few days throughout each month, I add several more pictures, comments and links (with the most recent additions added at the top) before I start another similar page the following month (more about the newsletter at bottom). Click on the picture and it may open a larger version with more detail.

BELOW ARE PICTURES TAKEN December 30, 2009

I'm shopping around for a greenhouse so that when its sunny outside we would have a room that was reasonably warm kept that way with passive solar heating. So whenever I have an opportunity to take pictures of a likely structure, I do. This is a picture of Don answering a call (01230greenhouse087_123009.jpg).

Rosa alba maxima plant for propagation only (01230albamaxima073_123009.jpg). I try to have two of each variety of plant in large pots. In spring, one will get cut back and used to take cuttings from during July through November. The other will be a demonstration of how it grows and flowers. I'll alternate their use each year. click for larger image.

'Belle Poitevine' Hybrid Rugosa Rose for propagation only (01230bellepoitevine023_123009.jpg).

Inside the coldframe where I store rooted cuttings for a couple years during winter (01230coldframe003_123009.jpg). click for larger image.

Hardwood cuttings in three gallon pots (around fifteen per pot) stored in a propagation box inside the coldframe (01230propagation019_123009.jpg). click for larger image.

'Duchess of Portland' for propagation only (01230duchessofportland078_123009.jpg). click for larger image.

'Fruhlingsmorgen' Hybrid spinosissima Rose for propagation only (01230fruhlingsmorgen043_123009.jpg). click for larger image.

'Harison's Yellow' Hybrid foetida rose (01230harisonsyellow048_123009.jpg). click for larger image.

'Hippolyte' Hybrid gallica rose for propagation only (01230hippolyte071_123009.jpg). click for larger image.

Rosa damascena 'Trigintipetala' or 'Kazanlik' a primary source of Attar of Roses since the 1600's for propagation only (01230kazanlik052_123009.jpg). click for larger image.

'New Dawn' Climbing wichuranna rose for propagation only (01230newdawn033_123009.jpg). click for larger image.

'Scabrosa' Hybrid Rugosa Rose for propagation only (01230scabrosa029_123009.jpg). click for larger image.

BELOW ARE PICTURES TAKEN December 25, 2009

Lilac 'Sarah Sands' started last year in 2008 (01225lilaccrop037_122509.jpg). I'm trying something slightly different. By attaching the numbered inventory label to the pot when a cutting is first inserted, marking the presumed name, placing all pots of a similar variety together, it makes for easier photo tracking on the web site. Once it blooms I'll tie an orange piece of survey ribbon to a stem.

Lilac 'Dark Night' started last year in 2008 (01225lilaccrop041_122509.jpg). Note the drip lines running between the pots.

(01225thefarm025_122509.jpg). Next year you'll be able to see a hundred espalier trained apple trees. If we dont sell the trees we'll still have the apples.

BELOW ARE PICTURES TAKEN December 19, 2009

Rhododendrons roll their leaves as a defence against wind or cold (01219rhododendroncarolineanum121909.jpg). Click on the picture.

Rolling of leaves in winter is completely natural when a rhododendrons roots aren't absorbing much moisture because the ground is frozen and the plant attempts to reduce transpiration from the leaves (01219rhododendroncarolineanumclose121909.jpg). Click on the picture.

Rolling of leaves when its warmer may indicate the soil is to dry, the existence of root rots or some other root related problem but in winter its just the rhododendrons way of reducing its use of water (01219rhododendronmaximumleaf121909.jpg). Click on the picture.

(01219rhododendronmaximumseed121909.jpg). Click on the picture.

BELOW ARE PICTURES TAKEN December 8, 2009

Preparing for winter snow and ice involves hanging the hoses and irrigation lines on the side of the barn where there is easy access even when there is a couple feet of snow (01208barnside120809.jpg). The upper end can be unhooked and dragged to the faucett. The lower end unhooked and dragged to the cold frame. If I were to coil the hoses they could easily freeze in the coil shape and as I drag them up on to the barn they drain quickly.

I can stack pots and trays on the lower shelf, then go in the barn, open the window and drag them in (01208potsort120809.jpg). The top shelf keeps snow and ice from encasing the pots. The entire shelf unit can be used elsewhere by removing only six quarter inch lag screws. Pots that have been previously used cant be used again until they are sterilized. My operation is to small to reus plastic pots so every other month or so I truck them to another area nursery that does clean and reuse plastic pots. I have to buy new ones.

In the cold frame are the hardwood cuttings I've been taking this fall (01208propagate120809.jpg).

The door to my office is red (01208reddoor120809.jpg). We plan tp paint the barn white in spring but the door will remain red so its easy to find. I keep a place for me to relax during the plant sale with a refrigerator for cold drinks and a couch for naps.

On the right most of the roses are stored for the winter pot in pot, their roots mulched (01208rosestorage120809.jpg). The shed roof has a blue tarp on it, we'll have to reroof it next year.

BELOW ARE PICTURES TAKEN December 6, 2009

Belgian Fence at our neighbors house planted in 1991 (01206belgianfence120609.jpg).

The day after the first snow storm of the season and looking for better screensavers for my subscribers (01206crabapple120609.jpg).

Looking to the west from where the lilacs are planted are 'the woods' (01206forest120609.jpg).

A row of lilacs in the upper field (01206lilacs120609.jpg).

Looking across several rows of lilacs toward the northeast (01206nursery120609.jpg).

The patio note that the tables are cut pieces of blue stone with treated lumber frames supporting (01206patio120609.jpg). On the trellis overhead is American bittersweet.

The road least traveled alongside the nursery allows us to trailer plants to and from the fields (01206traveled120609.jpg).

The front porch where we have seating for six (01206twopleasantporch120609). The front porch faces south east and is best when used in the morning. Our back porch faces southwest and we sit there in the afternoon or evening when outdoor cooking beckons with savory smells. I am a belever in large covered porches with comfortable seating rather than decks that cant be used when its raining or snowing. I'll sit here even on the coldest days, blanket on my lap and coffee in hand.

BELOW ARE PICTURES TAKEN December 5, 2009

I like to try and get good pictures that can be used as wallpaper during the first snow fall of the season (01205crabapple120509.jpg). Slightly out of focus.

A forest garden is usually a quarter acre garden filled with trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals that are chosen primarily for their use in the kitchen or fireplace not for any ornamental habit (01205forestsunkengarden120509.jpg). My attempt starts with an old house foundation, trees that have grown up from it and stone walls along the sides. Now I am selectively adding fruit and nut trees, blueberry bushes and more.

Started with grapes trained on a three rail fence and was joined by the wild rose (01205grapeandwildrose120509.jpg).

Lilacs in the upper field (01205lilacrow120509.jpg).

BELOW ARE PICTURES TAKEN December 4, 2009

I keep my plants for propagation in 45 gallon pots next to arranged around my place so they are easily photographed or admired when flowering (01204apothecarysrose120409.jpg).

I dont plan to grow or sell any plant that cant be grown this way in Voorheesville, NY (01204newdawn120409.jpg).

Most of my plants were introduced in the 19th century or before (01204roseraiedelhay120409.jpg).

They often display nice fall foliage, decorative fruit and fragrant flowers from time to time (01204rosamundi120409.jpg).

Those introduced in the twentieth century are usually those I call "CLASSICS" having been noted in literature many times while still sharing those primary characteristics; hardiness, disease resistance and fragrance (01204leverkusen120409.jpg).

Many have also been noteworthy in a historical context (01204leda120409.jpg).

Propagation begins with the setting out (on the tailgate of my truck) those things I think are needed (01204prepareforprop120409.jpg). Here I have a black plastic three gallon pot, a pruner to take cuttings, a pencil to make holes in the cutting compost, a marker to note the variety on the date label, today's date on a label, a utility knife to create a slit in the pot to attach the label to. At the top of the picture, almost out of site, is a bag of cutting compost. It is my policy not to share which one it is because there are many provided by soil and fertilizer companies to make the job of propagation easier. Its best if you find one that works for you, experimenting with several alternatives.

I remove several canes from the plant to be propagated, in this case the Apothecary's Rose or Rosa gallica 'officinallis' (01204threecanes120409.jpg).

The canes are cut into several pieces with three nodes each on top middle and bottom (01204cuttings120409.jpg). The variety and its vigor of growth usually determines the length of cutting, but each should have a top node slightly above soil to form leaves and two other nodes beneath soil that will form roots in spring.

The pencil is used to create the holes in which to insert the cuttings (01204lookingin120409.jpg).

I encase the pot in a clear plastic bag and tie it so that vapor will not escape (01204balloning120409.jpg).

After carrying the ballooned pot to the cold frame I remobe excess plastic bag from above the tie and pull the bag down the sides until the top is taut (01204covered120409.jpg). I hod it there with a bungee cord and cut drainage holes around the bottom so excess water can drain. The date label is attached directly above a drainage hole and so I cut holes in the bag around the outside where the holes in the pot are. The bag still maintains its integrity as a bag and so if its picked up by the bag top it will still hold the pot inside.

BELOW ARE PICTURES TAKEN December 1, 2009

Taking hardwood cuttings at the flowering shrub farm starts with one of our old roses in a 45 gallon pot. This one is 'Belle de Crecy' (01129belledecrecy112909.jpg). More information on this particular variety Rose we grow is at http://www.floweringshrubfarm.com/crop181.htm

I removed two canes from soil level (01129cuttingcane112909.jpg).

A 3 gallon pot about two thirds full of cutting compost and thoroughly wet (01129justaddwater112909.jpg).

Here at my work table see the two canes and potted cutting compost (01129twocanes112909.jpg).

I cut pieces of cane that have 3 nodes and insert them in the damp cutting compost. Here you can see the cuttings inserted so that the top node is barely visible (01129lookingin112909.jpg). In spring nodes below soil may produce roots while the top node may produce leaves.

Here you see the 3 gallon pot in a plastic bag with a bungee cord around it to maintain moisture at the top, holes are cut at the bottom so it drains easily (01129incoldframe112909.jpg).

At the beginning of each month I start an issue in one of several hundred past newsletter pages and send a link to my subscribers. Every several days I'll add more pictures, comments and links to other pages. After a week or two I link the page to the month shown on my home page.

Pictures of flowers are often of the inventory type with the date the picture was taken within the picture. Each inventory picture is saved using a file name that starts with the inventory number of the actual plant either for sale or in the garden for propagation, ending with the date. Simply by saving the picture without the date I can overwrite the picture in a crop page for that variety alone.

Most of the plants have more than one season of interest. So I try to take pictures of the plants we grow when they are blooming but also in fall with decorative foliage or fruit and in winter when covered with ice and snow.

Potential Customers subscribe and I send a link to them from the latest picture-newsletter. When they see something they like they come buy it in bloom. I like to hear your comments so please email me and subscribe if you haven't already. Those who dont subscribe will have to wait for the most recent pictures until part way through each month but can still enjoy last year at this time.

IN WINTER I AT LEAST TRY TO SHOW LILACS IN THE FIELD, ROSES IN STORAGE, PLANTS IN 45 GALLON POTS OUTDOORS AND THE INSIDE OF THE COLD FRAME WHERE I OVERWINTER BABY OWN ROOT PLANTS AND NEW ROOTED CUTTINGS.

We grow plants to sell at our plant sale. Read my notes on the zone hardiness numbers I use. Do we do mail order? Check my picture-newsletter Want to purchase? email me.