low-maintenance plants

Well, it's been a month since the invasion of the Japanese beetles, and they still haven't touched my Flower Carpet roses. I saw one or two at the beginning of the season, sprayed the shrubs with neem oil and haven't seen any since. The Flower Carpet roses elsewhere in our yard, which I never sprayed with anything at all, also got passed over by the Japanese beetles.

The one exception has been some slight nibbling on the Flower Carpet Scarlet roses I'd planted in a container along with one of my dad's cannas, but the beetles went straight for the cannas and left the Flower Carpet roses alone. Only after I removed the decimated canna and threw it out did some of the lurking Japanese beetles in the area give the roses a try. They soon lost interest, however, and seem to have disappeared altogether. I find them occasionally drowning in our swimming pool or hopping a ride in on some veggies I've brought in for dinner. But other than that, they've been a real eat-and-run kinda gang.

My gardening friend documented a similar situation, in which she'd planted Flower Carpet Scarlet next to other easy-care shrub roses. As you can see, the Japanese beetles devoured the shrub roses while passing over the Flower Carpet Scarlet.

Shrub roses (left) Flower Carpet roses (right)

She does have some Japanese beetles eating the blossoms of her Flower Carpet Yellow and Flower Carpet Amber, she says (although mine have remained unscathed). But again, she notes, they're just nibbling on them and it's just a few leaves here and there, whereas almost all her shrub rose varieties are a mess, some more than others.

When it comes to deterring Japanese beetles, I prefer the neem oil spray. When I first began growing roses several years back, I tried the handpick-and-drown strategy I'd seen employed by my best friend's mom. But I guess I'm just a wuss. After my first two drownings, I felt so guilty I just couldn't do it anymore. Plus, I was too impatient to wait till the next morning (when they're all groggy and too slow to fight). The beetles were eating my plants THEN!

I know, I know, neem oil ALSO kills beetles (similar to hormones in their body, it makes them "forget" to eat, breed and even fly) but then again, I'm not physically holding them down and watching them implore me with their little shiny, Japanese beetle eyes to let them go home to their little Japanese beetle families. 

My friend has luck with the Bonide^® neem spray on the Flower Carpet roses, as well, but says it does nothing for the shrub roses, evening primrose, sundrops and some cranesbill geraniums.

Flower Carpet roses' Japanese beetle-defying ability has also been noted in an article by Associated Press garden writer Dean Fosdick. The article, which talked about using shrubs as "green furniture," ran most recently in the July 24, 2010 edition of the Nevada Appeal (Carson City, Nevada's daily newspaper).

"Flower Carpets have glossier, disease-free leaves," wrote Fosdick, "and seem to be more resistant to Japanese beetle infestations than do other rose varieties." 

Good news for those of us looking for low-maintenance plants and easycare gardening!

So, how do Flower Carpet roses hold up against Japanese beetles in your garden? How do other shrub rose varieties do? Post a comment, and tell me all about it!

Looking for a colorful, heat and drought-tolerant landscape plant that lasts in containers and hanging baskets or that fills a lot of space in the garden and landscape? Then check out today's guest post on the red-hot, Bonfire begonias, from Sabina Reiner, brand manager for Selecta First Class, Inc.

The Bonfire series, which now includes the Bonfire Choc varieties featuring dark "chocolate" foliage, was developed by Tesselaar Plants and is now sold through the Ball Horticultural Company network as part of the Selecta First Class catalogue of products.

There are lots of begonias on the market, but Bonfire has brought them to the forefront again. Tell us all about it, Sabina!

Sabina Reiner

Bonfire begonia

Bonfire — the HOTTEST begonias on the market

By Sabina Reiner

The Bonfire series of begonias is not only one of our best-selling single varieties — it's one of the top consumer plants out there. Bonfire begonias are a great convenience plant for consumers, first and foremost, because they require less water and recover easily from drought stress.

Bonfire begonias also take the heat and perform like a champ, with brilliant, dramatic color all summer long.

These beautiful begonias are a great choice for visual appeal and interest in your garden or on your patio. They're high-impact, low-maintenance plants, creating continuous color and vibrant floral displays with a minimum of effort.

As a home gardener, I tested this series in my own garden. The key, I learned, is to not overwater it. It flowers from early summer through early frost, handling more heat and cold than many other begonia varieties. It also loves humidity. Although it'll tolerate shade or partial shade, it'll flower most profusely and produce the most vibrant color in full sun.

And yes, you can overwinter Bonfire begonia indoors (see "Overwintering Bonfire" below).

Last year, Selecta added Bonfire Scarlet (with brilliant red-orange blooms) to its product collection:

Bonfire (Scarlet) begonia in hanging basket

Bonfire in the landscape

Now, for 2010/20111, we're adding the dramatic, dark-foliaged Bonfire Choc series.

In addition to exciting, new, dark "chocolate" foliage, the Bonfire Choc varieties offer a great upright to mounding habit, making them perfect for containers, hanging baskets and landscaping. And like the original Bonfire series, Bonfire Choc varieties are extremely drought-tolerant and heat-tolerant while delivering colorful flowers and fantastic foliage all summer long.

Bonfire Choc Red

Bonfire Choc Pink

Bonfire Choc won rave reviews when it was introduced at this year's California Spring Trials (the annual event unveiling many new plant introductions about to hit the market). Choc Red, in fact, was one of garden guru Allan Armitage's top picks at the trial! Southern Living's Grumpy Gardener also praised the Bonfire series there.  

Design tips

I've found that the Bonfire and Bonfire Choc varieties look most provocative when paired or grouped with deep burgundies, true purples and/or silver foliage. 

Overwintering Bonfire

Gardeners in cold climates can overwinter Bonfire begonias indoors. Just let the plant rest in a cold (not freezing), dry place. The images below show the progression of Bonfire coming back to life in the spring.

Pancake-like Bonfire begonia tubers starting to wake up:

1½ months later:

 And I look forward to it returning to its glorious state:

Thanks so much for contributing, Sabina!

Also check out the great post by Margaret Roach, author of the popular A Way to Garden blog, on her love of Bonfire begonias and her success in overwintering them. Bonfire begonias were also the Featured Plant of the Week in this May 19 post by Valley View Farms (one of the largest and most complete independent garden centers in the mid-Atlantic region)!

The original Bonfire begonia was also named as one of 10 “basket-worthy annuals that can take the heat and the sun” in the May 7 PennLive.com post (featuring a picture of Bonfire) by George Weigel (garden writer for the Patriot-News in Harrisburg, Va., circulation 102,000).  Bonfire and Bellfire begonias also star in the annual edition of Container Gardening magazine (by Fine Gardening, circulation 140,000).

Have you grown Bonfire begonias, or tried to overwinter them? Please post a comment, and include some pics!

If you’re into easy-care gardening like I am, check out the winners of the Mailorder Gardening Association’s Green Thumb Awards for 2010.

Chosen by an independent panel of garden writers and editors, winners are chosen for their uniqueness, technological innovation, ability to solve a gardening problem or provide a gardening opportunity and potential appeal to gardeners.

Agave neomexicana ‘Sunspot’ (at right)

As the most cold-hardy variegated agave, this succulent, evergreen, native plant has fat, blue-green leaves with creamy-yellow variegation on the leaf edges. At 12-15 inches wide and 9-12 inches tall, it’s perfect for containers. Hardy in zones 6-9. ($14.99, High Country Gardens).

Advantage Cell Grown Transplants

An innovative alternative to bareroot plants. Fall Creek Nursery’s 30 years of experience in producing blueberry plants for mailorder has resulted in a unique cell-growing system that minimizes transplant shock and boosts plant growth. (No price listed. Available through JW Jung, J.E. Miller Nurseries and Nourse Farms).

Botanic Garden Series Seed Packet Line

Chosen in conjunction with botanic gardens to protect native North American species. Denver Botanic Gardens helped pick the first 15 varieties. ($2.69 per seed packet through Botanical Interests).

Spice Zee Nectaplum^TM (at right)

A delicious cross between a nectarine and a plum. A beautiful ornamental, too, with purplish-pink springtime blooms followed by dark red leaves maturing to a rich greenish-red. Self-pollinating. July harvest. ($39.99 through Nature Hills Nursery).

Double Phlox Tiara

The first ever double-flowering phlox. Double-white flowers unfurl like a rose bud atop compact, lightly fragrant foliage. Hardy in zones 4-8. ($14.99 through Van Bourgondien).

Eleanor’s Garden Container Gardening Kit

A complete, compact and portable garden-in-a-kit with everything you need to raise fresh, healthy food. 4-foot-square containers expand vertically and horizontally with additional kits. Unique interlocking drainage collection system prevents water damage. ($89 and up through Eleanor’s Garden).

Territorial’s Tasty Tomato Collection

Everything a gardener needs to successfully grow tomatoes from seed. Includes seed for Sweet Million Cherry, Stupice Ultra Early, Fantatic Beefsteak, Brandywine and Heinz 2653 sauce tomato. ($69.95 through Territorial Seed).

FreezePruf^TM Frost Protector for Plants

A way to protect plants against a sudden frost or freeze - improves a plant’s natural cold tolerance up to 9.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Resists washing away and lasts up to six weeks. ($11.99 per 32 oz. bottle through Stokes Tropicals).

Iron X^TM Selective Weed Killer for Lawns

Suppresses weeds quickly and effectively without damaging grass. Safe for people and pets as soon as it dries. ($34.95 per 16-oz. bottle  of concentrate, Gardens Alive!)

Critter Chaser XR^TM Deer and Rabbit Repellant Strips

An easy and environmentally-friendly way to protect your plants. Releases odor mimicking carnivorous predators (not offensive to people) slowly and evenly over time. ($19.95 per package of five, Gardens Alive!)

Information courtesy of the Mailorder Gardening Association. For great information on mailorder gardening catalogs and websites, visit the site at www.mailordergardening.com.