Rose of Sharon

The Rose of Sharon is a plant of many colors as well as names. It's also called Althea, Rose Mallow, and Hibiscus.  I like Rose of Sharon best -  so that's what I'll use here. Colors are from pure white to deep reds.

The Rose of Sharon has worked its way into a section of my heart . .and it's becoming one of my favorite shrubs. Not only because of its brilliant colors, but because of it's easy maintainance. It's drought tolerant, pest free and disease resistant as well! What a JOY!!!!

I'm sure you remember seeing these shrubs in your grandmother's landscape. I've even known some to use them as foundtion plantings; but I prefer to use mine as specimens. Hybridizers have increased the petals per flower and their blooming cycle. Most of the older varieties are of one layer of petals; hybridizer have worked to bring us multi-layered blossoms! They are ALL beautiful.

These are decidous shrubs and get more brilliant with age. They love full sun but will perform OK in partial shade. My tallest one is about 8'  and some make a small tree. Each bloom lasts only a day, but from late May until July it is continuously putting on buds; therefore, there's always blooms on the bush durinng this cycle. Because of this bloom habit I've never tried to use it in arrangements.

My first cutting of a Rose of Sharon came from a good friend's mother's (Mrs. Fletcher) home. It's pure white in color and never fails to put on a show each year.

 

Mrs. Fletcher


Of course, I've named her "Mrs. Fletcher".

On my next encounter with this shrub, I was driving through a neighborhood and saw this gorgeous plant growing beside a lady's garage.

I stopped and asked her what it was and she had no idea. She offered me some cuttings (I would have asked for some if she hadn't) . . I was babysitting with my granddaughter, Tiffany, at the time. She was two- years-old and 'helped' me get them in the propagating bed; therefore, this one is named 'Tiffany'. She's a gorgeous lavennder color with mulitlayered petals.

Tifffany



Red Rose of Sharon

This red one I've had for eons. I have no idea where it came from, but I love  it! This plant always makes me think of my mother; she LOVED red and she had a couple of these in her yard while we were growing up . .I couldn't wait each year for it to bloom.






Patsy purchased two of the Blue Chiffon in 2009 and shared with me . .how sweet. I think it's gonna be my favorite! Not only because she's beautiful, but because of who gave her to me.

She's touted to be a fast growing shrub, however, in my garden she's a little slower growing that most Rose of Sharon, but her beauty more than makes up for the slow growth! I'm not blaming the shrub itself for the slow growth. We are going into our 14th week of with only 1/4" of rain. . not to mention over 100 degree temps in the afternoon. If I can keep her alive maybe she'll catch up next year.

Blue Chiffon

The one below is a Lil Kim. I purchased this one mostly because of her name. She had burgandy around the perimeter of her blooms when I bought her, as well as the burgandy throat. But when she bloomed in my  yard, the petal coloring isn't there, but the throat is. That's OK - I'll love her anyway!

Lil' Kim

Beautiful Daylily

I  know that I said in an earlier post that daylilies are NOT my favorite flower. But I just have to share this one. My sister-in-law gave me this one. She said she paid $50 for one plant . .as much as I love flowers, I'd have to look and think a long, long time prior to dropping $50 for one plant. I'm happy she shared with me! Now I'll share with you.

A Friend in your Garden

With the demise of the honey bee gardeners are looking for other great pollinators for their gardens.

The Mason Bee, not to be confused with the destructive Carpenter Bee, is a friendly, helpful and productive worker in your orchard or flowers.

This photo is from the web

They are not aggressive and won't sting unless you attack them or if should they get trapped under your clothes (not likely). Neither do they make honey.

The Mason bee doesn't live in hives, but builds nests in hollow stems or insect holes found in trees or wood. Or you can purchase nests already constructed.

I purchased one nest for them several years ago. Even though they started nesting in it immediately, it took a couple of years for the nest to reach capacity. This nest is constructed from some type of bamboo and has stood up under the heat and fluctuating temperatures of S GA for at least three years. I paid less than $20 for it.

Front View

The Mason Bee is anti-social. They take care of their young, but only their young! The male is useless except for procreation. The males are sacrificial and forced to hibernate in the most exposed area of the nests. In case of a severe winter, they'll be the ones to die rather than the females.

In the spring the females are hard at work gathering nectar for their young while simultanously pollinating your fruit trees and flowers. They will range about 100 yards from their nest, but I keep my nest right in the middle of the garden. Don't want these babies to wander too far from my gardens!!!!

Side View

I  worked for over an hour trying to get a good photograph of the Mason Bee - to no avail. They're fast, they're small and they are elusive.

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/Other/note109/note109.html provides good construction instructions if you're interested in making your own Mason Bee nest.