Always Growing

“Taking Good Advice”, a copyrighted post, was written for my WordPress blog called Always Growing by Jan in Covington, Louisiana

It takes some time for many plants to really get established. Three years ago, I bought a Queen’s Wreath vine (Petrea volubilis) on the recommendation of a nursery employee. He assured me it was a gorgeous, blooming vine, and since he had steered me to some wonderful plants before, I trusted him. The first year, nothing. I wasn’t concerned or disappointed because I thought that this vine would only bloom in the spring time. Second year, a few blooms. This year more blooms in the spring, but then it has also started blooming in the summer.

That employee assured me that this would grow into a showstopper, and I think my vine is finally on the right tract. It only needed a little time. I am so glad I took a chance on Queen’s Wreath and listened to that nursery worker’s advice.

“Patience”, a copyrighted post, was written for my WordPress blog called Always Growing by Jan in Covington, Louisiana

I have to learn patience. Whenever I buy a new plant, many times I have unrealistic expectations. I always expect plants to grow faster and bigger than is really possible. Perennials need time to get established, but I have a hard time accepting that fact.

If I buy a plant, I want it to flower the first year. I have such a hard time waiting for plants to mature. Case in point, two years ago I purchased an Queen’s Wreath (Petrea volubilis) vine on the recommendation of a nursery worker. He said when it bloomed, it was gorgeous. Since he had steered me to other wonderful plants, I bought this vine. I knew that it was too late for the vine to bloom that year, but surely it would bloom the next year. No such luck. Nice foliage, but no flowers. How disappointing!

This year, however, the first blooms have appeared. It seems that this vine only needed a little time. While not many blooms are appearing, at least I know what they look like and what to expect as it grows larger.

Many plants that I have been disappointed with have finally grown big enough to make a nice showing now when they bloom. I now know that the same is going to happen with the Queen’s Wreath. It is not the plants fault that I have been disappointed, it is my own impatience – something I need to work on.

“A Lovely Sight”, a copyrighted post, was written for my WordPress blog called Always Growing by Jan in Covington, Louisiana

The Chinese wisterias are in bloom.

I have loved this spectacular spring-blooming vine since I was a child. This must have been a very popular vine in the 50′s and 60′s because I seem to remember seeing it growing in nearly every neighborhood. We had a next door neighbor who had a large arbor that was covered with wisteria flowers. I remember thinking that this looked so romantic.

I do not have any of this wisteria in my garden since it is just too rampant, but the neighbor across the street has it, so I get to enjoy it without worrying it will take over.

Every morning when I leave to go to work, this view is the first thing I see as I walk out the front door. Such a lovely sight.

“Spring Yellow”, a copyrighted post, was written for my WordPress blog called Always Growing by Jan in Covington, Louisiana

A visit from my sister who lives in Virginia and a big birthday weekend have not given me much time to garden or blog. I will have a lot of catching up to do in the next few days. It seems like every day there is something new showing up or blooming in the garden. This is how gardening is supposed to be in the Deep South. Extended cold periods and just about everything brown is really unknown to us.

The Carolina jasmine has started blooming.

It is not only the bright yellow flowers that I like about this vine or the fact that it blooms so early. What I really like about this plant is how all of a sudden it just bursts into bloom. It seems like one day there is only leaves and the next day – Bam – flowers all over.

The only down side to this lovely spring-flowering vine is how short the bloom season is. I wished it would have those spring yellow flowers for a few months rather than weeks.