Ward,

The cherry queen that you gave me has two gorgeous blooms on it and several more to come during the coming week. The color is almost the shade of wild thing. However, I recall it being red at Palmyra. Can you clarify. Both shades are spectacular, just want confirmation.

Also, would one of the coming weekends be a good time to visit, bloom/bird wise? I have several friends interested.

Suchie

Suchie, I would wait awhile before visiting, while there is much more in bloom is should just (an act of faith) just get better and better.

It is possible a label got switched on your Cherry Queen, and if so I am sorry. Back in April there were around 150 rooted cuttings, all labeled but prone to getting knocked over. Cherry Queen is a very dark red, so if it is not, it ain't Cherry Queen.

Thanks for the update Ward. It is gorgeous whatever it is and I hope hardy. Would early August be the best time to visit?

Suchie

That would be a good time, you could stop on your way to Longwood Gardens. Longwood most years has incredible displays of hummingbird plants.

Ward me thinks you are obsessed with Longwood Gardens
Personally I would take Bartrams any day over Longwood

sarah merion station, Pennsylvania zone 6B

You are right Sarah, I am. It has been almost a year since I have been there, but yes.

Sarah, Ward,

Bartram's does look very promising (I just visited the website). I have been to longwood before (several years back), but have to look at it from the hummingbird garden perspective this time.

Suchie

Where else can you see huge plantings of some of our favorites - although every year is different so I don't know what will be this year. It is a multi-ringed botanical circus.

Okay Bartrams is fascinating it's more of a historical garden. Longwood Gardens still reminds me of Disneyland. If you like it there alot and want to go often you can volunteer and go for free. Or join which I did for a year. But I have seen more hummingbirds at Jenkins Arboretum in Devon then any other public garden in Pennsylvania. In NYC there's the Botanical Garden where I saw more hummingbirds than any other public garden. Now for salvias In the book on salvias by Betsy Clebsch The closest garden to us is Wave Hill

Anyway I will stop rambling and post this link to an article on gardens in my area

http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/06/05/travel/escapes/05Gardens.html?ref=todayspap

sarah merion station, Pennsylvania zone 6B

Hey Ward,

I'm heading to Cape May on the 11th of July for 10 days of fun in the sun(hopefuly). What are the must see stops for hummers, butterfies and gardens in the area?

I usually hit Leamings Run cause its very close to the campgrounds I like. I guess the C.M. bird Observatory? Is the place in Goshen even open anymore?

I also want to do some kayaking, but I may be solo on that cause hubby has to work most of the 10 days and he suggests I don't kayak alone. Trying to fit everything in is always a challenge.

Pam NJ 6B

Ward,

I would also like that information.

Pam,

Do you get someone to maintain your feeders when you are gone?

Suchie

Sarah,

I just read your message. Are you thinking of Brooklyn botanical gardens, or is there something else in the city? I was there last year, late spring and did not see any hummers.

Suchie

Suchie,

Quote "Do you get someone to maintain your feeders when you are gone?"

Are you volunteering?

Actually, thats why I'm leaving my husband home. He'll only be with me on the weekends, someone in this family has to work. And I have an offspring who can water plants, which I am more concerned with than the feeders.

Pam NJ 6B

Suchie I've never been to the Brooklyn Gardens. I meant the New York Botanical Garden. They have a very cultivated native section where there were alot of hummingbirds Wave Hill is in the Bronx too There are lots of salvias there I didn't see any hummingbirds there though.


http://www.wavehill.org/home/

http://www.nybg.org/

sarah merion station, Pennsylvania zone 6B

I think I found the answer to my own question.

http://www.capemaytimes.com/garden-journal/08july-peak.htm

I could probably only do the Sunday gardens tour......ut it sounds like a winner to me!

Pam NJ 6B

Sarah, Pam,

Thanks for the information. I have a lot of gardens to visit during the coming weeks.

Suchie

Suchie,

If you need a garden buddy to hit up NY Boanical gardens, Ive never been and would be interested in going!

Pam NJ 6B

Pam,

Would you like to go this week, maybe Wednesday, or Thursday? I can take off from work. I am pretty open this week and next week till Saturday.

Suchie

Suchie and Pam I was there the first time around the second week of September when I saw all those hummingbirds at the New York Botanical Garden even so I didn't see any at Wave Hill the same day.


I never saw that many at Longwood ever. I have been to Longwood every other week for a year.

Here is a link about Longwood in case you go there It's a garden bargin

http://www.brandywinetreasures.org/

sarah merion station, Pennsylvania zone 6B

It is worth reading Jane's garden columns, they are archived at the Cape May Times site. Jane has some of our type plants in her garden in Cape May and also features a lot of the standard plants that wildlife gardeners grow at the Jersey Shore. She references the series of garden fieldtrips that Pat Sutton leads in Cape May County. Pam has been on a number of them and can attest to the quality of some of the gardens. It is always nice to meet fellow travelers and spend some time in their gardens.

Sushie,

We are on for thursday. I'll catch you on the landline later tonight.

Ward,

Quote "Pam has been on a number of them and can attest to the quality of some of the gardens. It is always nice to meet fellow travelers and spend some time in their gardens."

Are you talking about ME or the Pam at Palmyra??? I've never been to those garden walks before, I tried to once but it never panned out. $35 for one person isn't tht bad, but if I have to pay for hubby to, that gets a bit pricey. I guess we'll see.

Pam NJ 6B

I thought I had met you a few years ago on one. It was some workshop or fieldtrip that I was tagging along on. Perhaps I should have thought more about retaining my memory back in the 1970s? Maybe I did and just can't remember. I am beginning think I stepped through the looking glass.

Suchi and Pam I know it's a little late but it's free on wednesdays sorry It's 4 dollars more than Longwood

http://www.nybg.org/visit_the_garden/admission_grounds.php

Ward join the club I even have two white rabbits

sarah merion station, Pennsylvania zone 6B

Thirty-five bucks seems quite steep to me, when did things get that expensive?

Sarah, I suspected you were a rabbit owner and suspect you have a looking glass too.

Pam, you might want to check out the NJ Audubon centers - the two on Cape Island. I believe one of them offers some sort of Kayak trip although I don't know the date.

Cape May Research is I think still closed to the public. You can visit the gardens but from what I hear they have been neglected for some years now. I believe Jane Kashlak did an article on local gardens awhile back in Cape May Times, there is a lighthouse garden she mentions that I have heard very good things about.

Sarah,

Thanks for all the info and links. Pam and I are off to NYBG on Thursday.

Suchie

Getting ready to leave for our Garden trip. We'll bring back lots of photos!!! I guess I shoud teach Suchie how to post pics, tke some of the burden off me....

Pam NJ 6B