It takes more than a downpour to deter SEWMGVs from benefiting from a very informative program at Jerry Nelson’s. Fortunately, all 27 of us were able to assemble in Jerry’s huge barn where he had to speak rather loudly to be heard over the rain on the roof. Today, Jerry would be demonstrating container planting of some rather new annual introductions. He would be planting in one pot, but his new potting arrangements are incorporating groups of pots that he arranges in tiers or some other horizontal design. Jerry demonstrated using crates what different configurations would be possible. This also allows for more plants to carry out a theme.
Jerry starts out with new potting mix and incorporates some garden soil to retain moisture. Since pots dry out rather quickly, one technique is to line the pot with plastic that has holes poked through, topped with the lining from disposable diapers. To soil that filled about 7/8 the pot, Jerry mixed in a slow-release 15-9-12 Osmocote, plus about 1 tablespoon of a quick-release 12-12-70 granular fertilizer; unfortunately this type is not readily available since the phosphorus exceeds the regulated amount of 10. He also adds another slow release 40-0-0 which would most likely be available to the plants in July.
Jerry started with a Tropical scarlet with bronze leaf canna started from seed. He will place the plants according to how they will be viewed; in this instance at the back instead of the center. A new introduction from Australia is Kangaroo Paws which he has in yellow, orange and burgundy. Because he has an excess of them, each of us would take a plant and report on our success with it. Next came a new series of hypnotica Dahlias, “Coralberry Punch” and “Blackberry Punch”; Salvia “Summer Jewels” a white Lantana; Coreopsis “Cherry Lemonade”; Gazania, “Sunset Jane Lemon Spot" very miniature roses; Juncus, “Flying Hedgehog"; Gomphrena, “Fireworks”, and maybe a few more. Just when we thought the pot couldn’t possibly support another plant, Jerry added a long stake in the center for a Moonflower climbing vine to give added height. We tallied up the cost of the materials and estimated the pot’s cost at about $100. The person who was #7 on the sign-up sheet got to take it home. Besides the Kangaroo Paws, each of us took home two fern plants.
The rain still didn’t let up, but there was still more to see outdoors. We headed for his greenhouse that was filled to capacity with blooming plants ready for planting and the vegetable garden had onions making a bold statement. Jerry pointed out various trees in his vast collection, martigon lilies that will be blooming in a couple of weeks that he thinks are the most hardy of lilies, peonies with still tight buds, climbing hydrangea on the arbor, and I’m sure I missed a few things.
Everyone went away happy with the plants from Jerry, plus some exchange plants that some MGVs contributed.
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