What’s Growing and Blooming?
What’s Growing and Blooming?
Spring Botanicals in Aiken with Bill Tiszai
What are some of the “favorites” that will grow and bloom in Aiken in the spring?
There are several classic trees and shrubs that let us know we’re on our way to spring. Camelias are at the top of the list and begin before spring with their brilliant blooms in various colors and combinations. We also love the Japanese Magnolia, commonly called the Tulip Magnolia, with its vivid purple tulip-shaped blooming flower. Yellow Forsythia is another favorite that will produce a wonderful yellow flower before the leaves. Of course, you can’t forget the okame cherry trees with their beautiful pink blooms.
What are or is some of the most common “spring” gardening problems in Aiken?
As soon as we hit our first warm week, many customers want to plant tomatoes, which is still a bit early in February. We always run the risk of a late frost in March, so we recommend paying attention to the weather and covering or moving plants when frost is expected. We are blessed in Aiken to have very favorable conditions for planting throughout the year, so there really isn’t a bad time to garden. While it may sound obvious, it’s easy to overlook the importance of watering regularly, especially when rain is not sufficient.
Do you have any “spring surprises” that you could share?
One of our favorites right now is Edgeworthia Chrysantha, also known as the paper bush. It blooms in winter with beautiful white florets that pack a punch with its scent. Another shrub with a wonderful scent is winter daphne that also provides beautiful blooms earlier than others. Because it’s harder to find, we really enjoy having it when it’s available. We’ve been fortunate this year to find several different varieties of camelias with beautiful color combinations. We love sharing things that are unique and only found in small numbers. We just received a nice shipment of palms, which adds a tropical feel to any landscape.
If there were one garden resolution to make during the spring what would you suggest that be?
Don’t be afraid to try things, and if it doesn’t work out, try again. While we like to reduce things in our lives to an exact science, gardening is still working with mother nature. Things might not always work just the way we want them to, but don’t let that discourage you – try again. Once you experience a little success with nurturing something and experiencing its beauty, you will be hooked. It’s a wonderful way to relieve stress and connect to nature, which is something we could all use more of these days.
