Ah…ignorance is bliss, isn’t it?
This time of year, I truly get tired of all the white flowers enveloping my world. The onslaught of white flowers makes me want to cry. You see, in this area of the country, the Pyrus calleryana- or flowering pear has become quite invasive. I want to cry because I know everyone driving the highways in Delaware and Maryland this time of year actually think all these pretty white flowers mean spring is here.
Ah…ignorance is bliss, isn’t it?
Anyone who knows even the tiniest bit about ecology and plant populations knows too much of anything is a true sign something is wrong. The thickets – and I do mean thickets, so tightly woven you could hardly put your hand through them – of pear seedlings are so abundant, all you see is white on the edges of many highways throughout the area. I want to erect a banner saying – I know this is pretty, but PLEASE do not fall victim and plant this highly invasive plant in your yard. I know that won’t work, so I don’t waste my money, but I sure do think about it and I feel my blood boiling each time I venture out. My husband laughs and says, “Hey, if I didn’t know you, I’d think it was pretty too…”.
I suppose it would be best to stay home this time of year, but that’s not possible. It’s getting worse and it makes me mad every time I see a pear planted in a new landscape. Yes, some claim to be sterile, but as they found out with the famed introduction ‘Bradford’ – being sterile does not keep the plant from being cross pollinated by other selections – hence the problem. Ok – I feel better now for getting that off my chest.
Here’s my wish for this month: Please, if you are selling flowering pears to the mid-Atlantic area – think about this before you continue to do so.
Since I am sick and tired of white flowers, I thought I’d bring you some fantastic new, brightly colored , mildew resistant summer phlox selections. It helps to take my mind off the ignorance.
Plants Nouveau is happy to bring you two brand new selections for 2009.
Phlox paniculata ‘Party Punch’ was found by famed plantsman Dick Maas from The Netherlands. I’ve had it growing in my yard for three years and it has survived immense disease pressure. It has a color like no other phlox. Unfortunatley, like most unusal colors in the orangey-pink family, it is terribly difficult to capture the color in a picture, so I encourage you to get some trial plants. Click on the link in the name of the plant (or here) to read more about this new selection and see images, but remember, the images don’t do it justice – this is one you have to see for yourself. This plant can be easily propagated from cuttings and the royalty will be $.25 per plant sold.
Phlox paniculata ‘Lord Clayton’ was found by Tammy Clayton of Michigan. Tammy sent me some dormant plants in the fall of 2006 and my good friend from my Conard-Pyle days, Tim MCGinty, now GM of North Creek Nurseries was very helpful in growing the plants on and building up stock. Thanks to Tim for keeping it alive and planting it out for all the PPA party goers to see! Click on the link in the name of the plant (or here) to read more about this unique, jewel-toned blooming, purple leaved selection. I’ve talked about this plant before, but there are samples now and a better fact sheet, so I’m presenting it again. This plant can also be easily propagated from cuttings and the royalty will be $.25 per plant sold.
I know there’s a lot of phlox out there, but these two are not part of a series, nor do they come attached to minimum growing requirements. AND…best of all, they were both trialed in the heart of powdery mildew country and they successfully passed the test in two locations! Even ‘David’ gets mildew in my garden, so I know these are good!
Happy weeding,
Angela Treadwell-Palmer
President, Plants Nouveau