southlandsnursery.com

April 12, 2012

Dahlias for the discerning…..

Filed under: Uncategorized — yodiehead @ 11:49 pm

‘EMBRACE’ is one of my new favourite dahlias ! This ‘cactus type’ produces lots of flowers on a fairly small plant, and is perfect for cutting. This picture was taken in my dahlia bed out at the farm in Langley. We are growing many unique varieties of dahlias to sell this year, but this is one of the best !! They are now available, in one gallon pots and are selling very quickly. Other varieties available include ‘PAM HOWDEN’ – the show-bench favourite. This ‘Waterlily’ type has orange/lavender flowers that are quite unique. ‘Nuit d’Ete’ is a very near-black cactus type. ‘Bracken Sarah’ is a fabulous pale flesh/peach recurved ball type with 6″ flowers. It is my #1 favourite dahlia ! We have about 15 other special varieties available right now as growing plants in one gallon pots @ $9.99 each. Don’t wait too long, as they will be gone !

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March 21, 2012

We’re Ready !

Filed under: Uncategorized — yodiehead @ 11:42 pm

Our benches are filling up with lots of yummy new perennials ! Every day brings a few more trucks with orders and offerings – Spring must be here.
We always like to buy ‘full’ pots – usually older crops that will flower this year, not next. Beware of loose plantings, instant ‘re-pots’and wobbly plants sold near and far.
Because we really do know plants, we only buy the best. And, lots of growers respect this and are eager to show us their finest. It works out well!

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March 10, 2012

You should meet Arum italicum and friends !

Filed under: Uncategorized — yodiehead @ 12:15 am

Winter ? Really ? Arum italicum and its various forms and hybrids sold under this name are probably winter’s best foliage. In December/January their beautifully engraved leaves pop out of the ground looking fresher than fresh . The foliage is big and bold, and shows up well against dark soil. This plant tolerates absolute torture ! Summer drought, winter wet, total shade, burning sun…. no problem. This show will go on no matter what you do or don’t do.
In late spring, your nose will alert you that something died in a pile of mothballs amongst the pretty leaves. A quick inspection will reveal large apple green spathes (envision a stretched- out Calla lily). This stinky ‘flower’ will eventually become a kooky hotdog-on-a-stick of bright orange berries. They are very ornamental . Leave them alone. Eventually, they will topple over and lots of baby Arums will sprout. That is what happened in the above photo.
What I really like is the variation in each seedling ! Some have better markings than others, just like people ! You can dig them up and separate each plant, or just let them form a big clump of mixed foliage.
Drop by the nursery and see what we now have for sale. Look at our gorgeous clumps by the front gate ! (on the inside, of course).
Whatever you do, don’t leave without your very own Arum italicum - Nature’s pretty, secret , summer stink bomb !

One gallon pot size are $9.99 each

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March 4, 2012

Hellebore Time

Filed under: Uncategorized — yodiehead @ 11:54 pm

We are selling more Hellebores than ever ! Lots of progress has been made in breeding and cloning – the plants are vigorous and stunning !
We are excited to have a lovely batch of blooming hybrids from the O’Byrnes in Eugene , Oregon. Everyone now knows theirs are the best.
This is the last year they are selling blooming plants to other nurseries , apparently. So, hustle down here fast – every one is lovely.
I remember (not that many years ago) travelling to Seattle at 5 A.M. to get in line to buy a double hellebore for $50.00 .
With the 50% exchange rate back then it was closer to 100.00 by the time I got it home.
OURS ARE FLYING OUT OF HERE @ $29.99 and $39.99 each

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March 1, 2012

Introducing My New Collections !

Filed under: Uncategorized — yodiehead @ 6:59 am

Here they are ! For Spring 2012, I have designed two exclusive bulb collections to make creating beautiful combinations in your garden a no-brainer.
With access to virtually anything I thought would be affordable and easy to grow, I put together one ‘creamy peach’ collection, and one ‘dark drama’ collection. I am calling them the ‘Bel’Occhio Collections’ . Bel’Occhio is Italian for ‘Beautiful Eye’ – ’nuf said.
Both are priced at only $19.99 ! This is less than these bulbs would sell for on their own. What a great gift idea ! I think they would be great to take to dinner (instead of wine)…. or for a ‘Thank You’ of any type.
We can ship them to you, anywhere in Canada ! Drop by or phone us to make your selections before they’re all gone ! Shipping fees extra, at cost.
Phone: 604-261-6411, Fax 604-261-6403

Next year , 2013, look for them nationwide at better garden centres .

Bel’Occhio Collection # 1 includes : @ $19.99

1 tuber clump of Giant Dahlia ‘Cafe au Lait‘ - one of my personal favourites. An unusual true parchment colour unlike any other.
Now very hard to find.

3 Oriental lily bulbs ‘Salmon Stargazer’ - a tasteful, softer shade…. super hardy, fragrant, and truly beautiful. Perennial. Not crazy tall.

3 Oriental lily bulbs ‘Casa Blanca’ - the best lily ever . Huge, fragrant white…. fabulous as cut flowers. Perennial. Orgasmic perfume.

1 tuber clump of Giant Dahlia ‘Moonlight Sonata’ - A gorgeous salmon shade, a gorgeous shape, a gorgeous plant habit.
All these qualities, and great for cut flowers!

Bel’Occhio Collection #2 includes : @$ 19.99

3 Asiatic lily bulbs ‘Landini’ - it’s hard to believe a lily could be this dark – almost black. No ‘Photoshop’ here…. a shiny, burnished mahogany black ! Super hardy, steel rod stems, perennial. Stunning.

1 Dahlia tuber clump of ‘Karma Choc’ - a very very dark brownish red that appears black. Very different ! I like to mix a few super dark dahlias in with my peachy and orange ones, in the garden and in cut bouquets .

2 Canna tubers ‘Australia’ (not australis) – the darkest, shiniest black foliage of any Canna. Flowers are also very dark – a lipstick red.
Strong, upright growth to about 4′.

1 Dahlia tuber clump of ’ Kenora Macabre’ – a WOW flower ! Super dark red, a full , formal-but-shaggy cactus type I love !
This variety stops people in their tracks at dahlia shows !

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February 25, 2012

The Roses Are Here

Filed under: Uncategorized — yodiehead @ 11:55 pm

My plant of David Austin Rose 'Teasing Georgia' after 3 years

We have just finished potting up our roses for 2012. With the demise of Jackson &Perkins (our main supplier), the selection is certainly not
what it used to be. But, we did locate many of our personal favourites. From personal experience, I can vouch for several David Austin varieties.
At my new garden in Langley, BC, I am very pleased with ‘Lady Emma Hamilton’ - a Kool-Aid orange/pink/beetroot combo that blooms non-stop !
I am also stunned by ‘Teasing Georgia’ . Mine is six feet x six feet in only three years. It is a fantastic soft yellow and smells great.
I also love ‘Sally Holmes’. This is a shrub rose that has big wands of single white flowers with showy brown stamens. It is distinctive at thirty feet away.
‘GoldenWings’ is another great one ! This older , single-flowered shrub rose has been a pleasure. Simple flowers that open wide to show off
their lovely brown stamens. Bees love it !
At my old house in Vancouver, I always loved ‘Leander’ . This is an early David Austin variety that lately has been re-popularized by word of mouth.
It is a peachy, fragrant, disease-resistant dream and super vigorous. Mine got eight feet tall every year, after a hard pruning ! It didn’t mind part shade.
‘Abraham Darby’ was similar. But, the scent was even better – delicious, fruity fragrance from lots of big peachy flowers. This rose became a climber for me. It used an ancient fig tree as a trellis and bloomed constantly , on and off, almost all year. It was happy in total shade, which was a surprise.
’Madame Alfred Carriere’ is a white- flowered climber that also grows and flowers in shade, (or sun). Everyone wants one . I also used to grow
Rosa glauca . This hardy species has unusual grey-purple foliage , which is the reason to grow it. It does get big . More upright than wide, to about eight feet by four feet. The flowers are just OK – lots of single pink ‘wild’ roses, followed by attractive hips. Grab one if you see it for sale. We have some now., but won’t have them later……

All our potted roses are $29.99 each

Roses For Sale for 2012 – climbers. Click to open file

Roses For Sale for 2012 -Floribundas . Click to open file

Roses For Sale for 2012 DavidAustin varieties. Click to open file

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February 21, 2012

It’s Begonia Time !

Filed under: Uncategorized — yodiehead @ 11:49 pm

Late February/early March is the time to purchase and pot-up tuberous begonias. We offer super-jumbo sized tubers of the very famous ‘ American Hybrid’ strains .
These are better than the much more common (and way smaller) Belgian tubers sold almost everywhere else. The American Hybrid strains have enormous flowers of perfect form.
I like to grow them in wide, low clay pots. They appreciate morning (but not afternoon) sun once placed outside in late May. A Northern exposure is fine.
By starting your tubers now, indoors, the plants will have a headstart and begin flowering in June. I have found it beneficial to fertilize very often- once a week is fine – with a water soluble
fertilizer like 20-20-20 or 15-30-15 in my watering can. I save my tubers from year to year , by dryingthem out in late September/October and storing them cool, dark and dry in a heated basement.
It is around this time of year that I replant them and start the show again.

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February 16, 2012

Those cute little Cyclamen

Filed under: Uncategorized — yodiehead @ 12:09 am

Cyclamen coum is a hardy little charmer that loves to grow (and naturalize) under deciduous trees or just about anywhere that has good drainage. In February ( often earlier), the showy flowers appear and signal the return of Spring! Few things in the garden draw more ‘ooohs and aaaahhhs’ than these little kittens! They are very long-lived, and totally carefree. They are somewhat addictive !
It takes about five years to reach blooming size from seed. Consequently, the growers don’t ‘give them away’ but they are worth the small extra expense. Some have incredible foliage, patterned in silver and contrasting zones of green. Once a few are established in your garden, they will produce seeds and little Cyclamen will start appearing in just the right places !

We have a lovely crop in bloom right now at $8.99 each.

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February 9, 2012

A Long Time Coming

Filed under: Uncategorized — yodiehead @ 8:40 pm

I used to hybridize orchids,especially Cattleyas. In the late 1990′s, I was shipping my seedlings all over North America.
(I advertised in the American Orchid Society magazine) There was one cross (#99) that I couldn’t bare to sell any of because
the two parent plants were my two favourites. There were also far fewer seedlings than usual from the seed pod.
This cross was between BLC George King ‘Serendipity’ AM/AOS and BLC Peaceful Dawn ‘Orchidglade’ .
Two fabulous peachy cattleyas – imagine Angelina Jolie crossed with Brad Pitt as a flower.
Now, in February 2012, the first seedling of this cross has finally flowered ! 13 years ! And patience is not my best quality !
It is a beauty . A lovely and unusual colour combination, a very good shape and a strong fruit fragrance all combined from a dream gene pool .
Thirteen years from a tiny, microscopic seed is a miracle. But, daylilies flower in two years…
I am not sure they are as beautiful. How could they be ?

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December 10, 2011

Trend Spotting

Filed under: Uncategorized — yodiehead @ 8:21 pm

BLOW MOLDS ARE COOL
I remember these from my childhood in Winnipeg. We never actually owned any of them, but a house nearby was a crazy wonderland of them at Christmas. A swindler-of-seniors lady known as “Birchdale Betty” created a mini-Vegas on her lawn every year. She later ended up in prison, I heard.
I have searched our local “antique” markets for them, to no avail. If you go to garage sales, you might get lucky. Unfortunately for me, I don’t have time on weekend mornings to go to any, so I find them on EBAY !
The vintage ones are the coolest. Because they are so lightweight, shipping is affordable and fast. I recently got a light-up “Tweetie Bird” and a Baby Jesus ! I had to buy one I call “Sister Woman” , a large, faded caroller in a big skirt and giant bonnet who looks quite ill. Her catatonic daughter is leaning into her.
I do see a limited supply of these forgotten, ironic Christmas treasures online. Get into them now, before Barbra Streisand buys them all !

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