Vines in the Garden

Hey look!

…Thumbing through the new September Sunset Western Garden magazine I read an article (page 54) addressing readers’ questions regarding vines that can be planted near the house, and lo and behold, a picture of my very own rose arching over my front door was pictured!

I have a few thoughts on vines:

First of all, the rose over my front door is a Cecil Brunner. It is lovely when it blooms, really showy, but it only blooms once a year in the spring. During the rest of the year I have to prune back the new wandering branches and stocks as they will completely obstruct my entry if I let them! But this rose is merely child’s play when it comes to vines. For instance - Wisteria, Trumpet Vine (Campsis Radicans), Passion Flower (see picture), Ipomea (Morning Glory) and the Lady Banks Rose can all grow 30 feet high or wide! Be careful not to plant them close to other trees because they will climb and overtake their foliage.

Wisteria will eventually grow a trunk the size of a tree, as will the Trumpet vine. Make sure that you have strong supports, and preferably metal (any wood support will eventually rot, not to mention it’s practically impossible to manage with vines growing on it).

Ipomea, or Morning Glory, is beautiful in bloom but it will go dormant in the winter, looking weedy and dead. Also once you have it watch out - it’s hard to get rid of!

Great all ‘round vines are: Solanum jasminoides (potato vine), Hardenbergia and many of the Jasmines. Carolina jasmine too, but keep in mind that this vine gets very big and full – make sure you have enough space.

Clematis

HardenbergiaTrumpet VineLadybanks RoseWisteria

Planting for the Fall

The other day one of my friends emailed me asking what she should plant for the fall and where she could by seedlings.

Some of the local Sacramento nurseries will carry cool-weather vegetable seedlings, but large stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s will not. A great source for organic vegetable seedlings and seeds is Peaceful Valley Farms. They have a store in Grass Valley, take a little drive and visit them.

Some cool weather vegetables are: Garlic, shallots, Oriental Greens, Mustard Greens, Mâche (European variety – delicious!), Spinach and some herbs such as Cilantro and Dill.

Fall is also the time for planting cover crops. I like to plant Crimson Clover (also available in bulk from Peaceful Valley Farms). In the spring the clover produces bright red flowers, and when it’s done blooming I turn the crop under and the clover brings oxygen to the soil. Fall is also time to plant wildflowers and bulbs. You’ll see bulbs available at most of the big stores and nurseries.

If you don’t want to bother with a winter garden, you can cover your beds with the fallen leaves and put the garden “to sleep”. In the spring, turn the leaves under, as many of them will have composted.

Late fall and early winter is the time to cut back your ornamental grasses. They will turn a straw color. Make sure to cut them back before the spring and the new growth comes in.

And finally…it’s cooling down so enjoy your garden! We are fortunate to have mild weather all the way through October and into November, and it’s lovely to have meals in the garden.

On a trip to Germany, roughly ten years ago, we saw this stunning show of Boston Ivy covering a building...

As a side note - check out these vertical gardens. They are not exactly vines, but plants planted on the vertical faces of buildings. While I was in Paris last summer I saw a building done by this particular designer and I was thrilled!