Rutgers Plant Sale: Snapdragon, Petunia
Every year in early May there is a wonderful plant sale at Rutgers Gardens. I went with a friend on Friday and met another friend there. I bought: snapdragons, petunias, Rutgers tomato plants (I’ve been growing those for the past few years – not too big, not too small, and they are developed at Rutgers!), two kinds of rosemary and some broccoli plants. Here’s to praying that the broccoli plants do not get eaten by a ground hog or by deer. A friend sent a link to wolf urine packs – should I try those? Another idea was sticking garlic near them. We shall see. One friend bought swiss chard and eggplant; another friend purchased a variety of cilantro. All the plants at the sale are top quality. Last year I bought a hydrangea plant – the leaves got eaten by a deer before it flowered, but happily this year despite being only sticks in the winter it is now full of green leaves again.
Here is one of the snapdragon plants now in front of my house. I got a mix of yellow and magenta/pink snapdragons.
My petunias are now planted in a sunny corner of my yard, at the edge of the sidewalk and the driveway.
This tulip is growing in front of my porch. No, I did not get at the Rutgers Plant Sale, nor did I plant it last fall. The tulips that are growing on my block seem to be the ones that survived being eaten up by deer.
Finally, my strawberry plants (which I planted about ten years ago?) have those white flowers. Next step: juicy red strawberries! No more hunting for half decent organic strawberries in the store. For two weeks, we get a marvelous treat. Must make sure to pick them – last year we were too busy and neglected to pick the last bunch (they turned to mush on the plant).
Good news! I got my watercolor paints out again today (they’ve been away in the closet far too long). I did a quick painting of my garden using an exercise from One Watercolor a Day. Soon enough, I will have a watercolor that I will post on this blog. Stay tuned!
Eileen says
The plant sale sounds great. We have some tomato and strawberry plants growing too. Looking forward to seeing your watercolor..Have a happy day and week ahead!
Leora says
Eileen, I hope to do another watercolor this week. Thanks for the encouragement.
Felicia says
sounds like you are ready to garden. enjoy
Leora says
Felicia, the hard part is over (making decisions and getting those seedlings into the garden quickly). Now I just need to tend and water. Maybe I will plant a few more. I have cucumber seedlings growing as well.
Mary says
You have pretty flowers in your garden. I have only a balcony but my strawberries have survived the winter too! :)
Leora says
Enjoy the strawberries!
A Quiet Corner says
Gardening, whether nourishing wild flowers or adding natives, is wonderful! A great collection for planting there at Rutgers...:)JP
Susan Cooper says
I too am working on spring planting in my garden. With severe drought, it makes for difficult chooses in plants and what to let go. :(
Leora says
Oh, dear! I don't envy you. When I first started gardening, New Jersey had a drought. I decided to stop watering my impatiens. I haven't planted those flowers since - they require too much water!
A.K. Andrew says
I love plant sales & this looked like a good one. Great pics as always:-)
EG CameraGirl says
I LOVE spring plant sales. Still too early to plant annuals and veggies here but toon, very soon....
Sallie (FullTime-Life) says
Wonderful plants; great to have tomatoes developed especially for your area. Love the pictures and am sending best wishes for a perfect garden (and for the deer to dine elsewhere).
Carver says
Beautiful shots and the plant sale sounds like something I'd enjoy. Interesting ideas for protecting the broccoli.
Jeannette Paladino says
Leora -- thanks for the tour of the plant sale at Rutgers Gardens. Is this a commercial garden that Rutgers maintains for college and non-college personnel or just this one-time sale? Hope the deer keep away!
Leora says
Jeannette, the plant sale is once a year. Rutgers Gardens is open to all. The description of the gardens: "Rutgers Gardens are largely self-supporting, relying heavily upon the generosity of financial and material donors and the efforts of our many volunteers." More on the website: http://rutgersgardens.rutgers.edu/about.html
Michelle RamblingWoods says
How nice to have a plant sale like that near you. My hydrangeas get eaten every year now and never flower so I am thinking of taking them out and replacing with something less deer friendly. I love your strawberries. We have them growing in the yard and across the pond, but I have never looked for the berries...Something to look for...
Leora says
Michelle, regarding strawberries, there are wild ones and there are more "domestic" ones. The wild ones are small and not very sweet. We have some wild ones that grow like weeds, but the strawberry plants I put in about ten years ago I bought from some online plant nursery and produce plump, juicy, large strawberries.
Lorri M. says
What a lovely set of photos! I love how the whiteness of the dogwood (?) trees stand out in the first photo. Each photo is filled with beauty. Snap, snap! I like snapdragons-they stand so tall and proud-that is if nobody starts snapping the blossoms.
I enjoy going to plant sales in a garden setting, like the one you went to.
Leora says
Lorri, you talk about tall standing snapdragons - the ones that last in my garden over the winter *do* stand tall. (Did I originally grow those from seed?) However, the ones I've bought at plant nurseries or at this plant sale unfortunately seem to flop. I once asked a plant nursery person about this, and he had no idea.
Lorri M. says
You know, I have had luck with snapdragons grown from seed, as well. Interesting. And, ones I have bought do not last. I wonder if it is the soil and amendments of our own gardens.
Please leave a comment! I love to hear from you.