Today in Ohio, the wind is blowing fiercely, making it an ideal opportunity to appreciate the vibrant blooms inside the dome. Join me in my 20-foot geodesic biodome as we take refuge from the wind and bask in the summer-like warmth. My viewers will not only enjoy a stunning flower showcase but also pick up some helpful tips for year-round gardening.
In this post, I want to share the Pillar Rose of Sharon Shrub in my home landscape. Check out videos and images with my personal review of this plant. About The Pillar Rose of Sharon The video below is a quick Q&A submit on my website asking about this shrub. I share my honest opinion on how I grow the shrub and where to find it. This video is part of my Bren Haas Channel. I received this plant as a trial in 2018. It was only about 10″ tall when it came in the mail to my home garden in Ohio. Due to the fact that I am a huge hibiscus and rose of Sharon fan, I was so excited to try this new variety. The shrub took off immediately. What I love most about the plant is that it grows quickly and requires little to no maintenance. The first year you need to make sure it is watered well to get established. Like most Rose of Sharon this variety loves full sun so put it in a spot where it can show off in Mid-Summer. Fortunately, I have a purple Pillar Rose of Sharon growing in my garden as well. Here are some key things to keep in mind about the plant: 10-16 ft. tall and 2-3 ft. wide at maturity Grows best in at least 6 hours of full sun USDA hardiness zone 5-10 are recommended This variety does not drop seeds no pruning or deadheading required water well first year to get established Where to find these shrubs I have found this plant online at Proven Winners and on Amazon. You can ask your local garden centers about this plant and hopefully, they can get it in for you if you’d rather buy locally. Most Proven Winner plants that are bought online are grown by local growers in your area so you receive the best quality plant. Let’s Connect I would LOVE to hear what you think of this plant. Be sure to reach out to me on the social media links provided on my site. I would also invite you connect on my website by commenting on this post. Happy Gardening,
Hollyhock is a plant I am sure everyone who has visited a country garden has experienced. In this post I share the Hollyhock in my garden and easy ways to grow your own. Along The House When we first moved into our home in the country I was very excited to see that hollyhocks were on the property. However, the previous owner didn’t pick the ideal location for these old fashion easy to care for flowers. I first fell in love with the hollyhock at my mother in laws home. She had them planted right up against the house. People plant them so close to the house because the structure works as a great wind block. Some gardeners will stake them in the garden or plant them next to a fence. Saving The Seeds My mother in law use to deadhead the hollyhocks along the side of her house and just drop them into the ground below all summer long. I’ve done this and it works great. Giving the seeds to friends I am drying the pods and opening them up to only save the actual seed. The assortment of mauve, pink, and white hollyhocks was located up against the house. In the past few years I’ve taken a few of the seeds and transplanted them in other places in the yard but these original bloomers stay reseeding themselves each year in the same location where I’ve added a few of my favorite landscape shrubs. The seeds are easy to spread and are a cheap way to add spectator color to any landscape or garden. The image above shows the 3 different tones of pink and white that have been blooming in my garden for over 8 years with little maintenance. Pretty Pink – What’s Not To Love?! Pest Control Another Fan of the Hollyhock Perennial is the Japanese Beetle Unfortunately, I’m not the only fan of the hollyhock perennial. The Japanese beetle loves to fest on this flower from last July on. It is best to set up a beetle trap somewhere in your yard away from the hollyhock so they will stay clear of this tender bloomer or you can also spray the plant starting in early July. When using an organic insecticidal soap product you must spray the bug or it rarely works. I do recommend a homemade insecticidal soap but they have to mix fresh (do not let them sit in sprayer too long or the soap crystalizes. It is also important to remember with the organic products you have to apply after rain or watering.https://youtu.be/3Tjcp7nyMWs Find this video on my Bren Haas YouTube Channel. How To Plant Hollyhocks Hollyhock and hibiscus are in the Malvaceae (mallow) family. This is why the blooms look so similar. I am a huge fan of the Rose of Sharon ( Hibiscus) is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae. It is super easy to plant hollyhocks in your garden. The perennial is basically maintainace free onces it gets established. Hollyhock blooming in late June – July Hollyhocks Reseed Along the House Bright Pink Hollyhock Grown From Seed More About My Hollyhock Plants Here are a few post I share about the different varieties growing in my home garden. Check out the Hollyhock TAG on my Website. My suggestion to you if you would like to add hollyhocks to your garden is to be creative and not afraid to mix the colors. Direct sow (planting the seed directly in the ground) is really the best way to plant this perennial. I have had mine bloom the first year after planting seeds in Autumn the previous year. Hollyhock Resources https://www.extension.iastate.edu/osceola/sites/www.extension.iastate.edu/files/osceola/April%2030%20Hollyhocks.pdf http://extension.msstate.edu/newsletters/garden-tips-newsletter/2013/hollyhocks Thanks for stopping by My Website Today! Let’s Connect Are you a fan of Hollyhock? I hope you will take the time to share this post using the social media links provided. Be sure to connect with me by commenting on my contact page featured on this website. Happy Gardening,
It has been a super busy growing season. Let’s kick back and share about easy growing in the home garden on a GardenChat. In this post, I highlight some of my favorite things to grow the first year in the cut flower farm. Late July Walk in the Cut Flower Garden In the video below I feature what it is like to walk through my Flower Farm in the evening. You can hear the bugs, birds and of course Boo Kitty. Look close to see the different vegetables, roses, herbs and even weeds that are welcome to grow freely this time of year in my garden. This video is found on my YouTube page at Bren Haas YouTube Channel Highlights From Home Garden Here are some of my favorite things to grow in this garden I like to call my Flower Farm. It has a few extras that only flower a short time and later produce vegetables. When you enter the flower farm area at the front gate be sure to grab a handful of snacking! The Candyland tomatoes have been my guest’s favorite to nibble on while walking about in the flowers. The photo below shows the flowers that hide the tomato plant making it a fun surprise once noticed. The video, my Rebecca’s World Dahlia is featured a few times. This dahlia was left behind during the winter 2016-17 season and made it through to bloom all summer long. The photo of this dahlia is featured below. Feel free to share it on social media but be sure to mention @brenhaas. Loads of Dahlias in the video because this is what I love to grow! After cutting a few of these be sure to check out my post about how to keep the flowers looking fresh featured on this site. Let’s Connect What was this season like for you in the home garden? I’d love to hear from you so be sure to comment on this website post. You are also invited to send me a detailed comment on my contact page. Don’t be shy… strike up the conversation on the social media links provided. Happy Cut Flower Gardening to You,
Some of the most stunning blooms in my home garden this week are coming from the Hibiscus Plants. There are three different types of hibiscus in my garden and I’m going to share them with a growing tip for you today on this blog post. Perennial Hibiscus In the image below is my is perennial hibiscus (rose mallow)and one might think this is bloom will steal the show in my garden today but wait until you see the front porch hibiscus later in this post. The beetles enjoy the leaves on this plant but the bloom doesn’t seem to mind. I’m anxiously waiting for the large variety I have in the front garden to bloom later this week so I can share the amazing size of that flower. The plant is so easy to grow as long as you give it full sun and try to add organic mulch in early spring. This Perennial Hibiscus (Rose Mallow) will bloom for most of the month of August into September with little to no maintenance. Tropical Hibiscus I’ve been collecting tropical hibiscus ever since I met the wonderful growers at Costa Farms in 2008. My collection has grown and I’m able to keep these southern growers overwinter in my sunroom, greenhouse, and let my dome here in NW Ohio. The blooms on these tropicals provide instant beauty and were blooming with my tulips in early spring. These plants like to be fed so be sure to give them lots of love to continue blooms. A Few of My Tropical Hibiscus Blooming On My Front Porch During Summer Months Rose Of Sharon ( Bush Hibiscus ) In the photo above on my website is the Sugar Tip Rose of Sharon Hibiscus syriacus is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family, Malvaceae. It is native to south-central and southeast China. The Rose of Sharon shrub was the first bush I added to my home in 1993. The shrub reminds me of growing up in the city as a child. My parents had a Rose of Sharon that bloomed white right off the front porch. Today I have many different varieties of the Rose of Sharon including a few that begin blooming in late August. Below you will find my doubling Rose of Sharon that begins blooming in late July. The only thing I have to do to this hibiscus is to provide a growing space with lots of sunshine and add a nice dressing of compost mulch in the spring. The images above show my Rose of Sharon that is booming right now in my garden. A few are still just forming buds for a late summer bloom. The biggest enemy of the hibiscus blooms during the summer months outdoors is the Japanese Beetle. Find More About Hibiscus on My Site Let’s Connect I hope this post inspires you to check out the Hibiscus available for you at your local garden center. There is a hibiscus that will suit your blooming preference so I hope you will check them out and try one of each if you have the space. Happy Gardening,
