The Cupertino Courier

Gardening

Purple orchid trees are semi-evergreen or deciduous and have light green lobed leaves. They bloom in winter through spring with showy, orchid-like flowers in shades of pink and purple. A white flowering variety also exists.

As the weather warms, it's time to begin planting

By Tony Tomeo

After so much unseasonably warm weather in the middle of winter, who would have guessed there would be so much frost so late? All the snow at such low elevations was certainly unexpected. Earlier, it had been tempting to plant early. It now seems that planting should instead be delayed. It is, nonetheless, the season to begin planting warm season annuals and vegetables, as well as more substantial landscape plants.

Petunia, marigold, lobelia, alyssum, ageratum, nemesia, schizanthus and snapdragon are now becoming available in nurseries and are ready for the garden. Impatiens might be arriving in nurseries a bit later because of the late frosts. Viola, pansy and stock can remain in the garden until weather gets too warm in summer, or they can be grown in cooler areas of the garden where summer annuals that like warmth would not be so happy.

Seeds of beans, cucumber, melon, squash, carrot, beet and Swiss chard should likewise be planted about now. Because carrot, beet and Swiss chard perform better during cool spring and early summer weather, they should be planted first, and should be finished before the weather gets too warm for them. The others continue to produce and will be even happier as the weather gets warmer in summer. Seedlings of tomato, pepper and eggplant are more practical than seed and, like the other warm season vegetables, will enjoy warmer weather.

Weeds will enjoy the warmer weather as well. They can grow fast before blooming and producing seed. If pulled as they begin to grow, they may not get the chance to produce seed. They are also easier to pull early because their roots have not spread very far and the soil is still evenly moist from rain.

Lawn grasses that have been subdued all winter are now waking from their dormancy. They will require more frequent mowing and might need watering between rainy weather. High-nitrogen fertilizer will improve the color of lawns that are slow to get started.

New lawns can be installed when soil has dried enough to be turned (such as by rototilling) without getting muddy. Both seeded lawns and new sod lawns will be able to get their roots out while weather is warm, but not yet hot and dry. If planted too late in summer, they may need to draw more moisture than their limited roots can provide.

Bare spots in lawns can be patched either with sod or by seeding. Dead grass should be removed and the surface soil should be loosened before patching. As with new lawns, the patched areas will need more frequent watering than the surrounding established lawn until the new roots have dispersed.

Autumn is the best time to plant many things. Other plants prefer to be planted in winter. However, many plants are too sensitive to frost to be planted any earlier than about now. Bougainvillea and citrus can be planted when frost is no longer expected. By next winter, they should be established enough to survive minor frost damage.

Just as new sod is sensitive to heat and dryness, new bougainvilleas are sensitive to cold because their roots and foliage are so confined. After they have grown for a season or so, they can shelter their own interiors if their exteriors become slightly frosted. Their deeper roots are likewise safer.

Tree of the Week: Purple orchid tree

Although remarkable in bloom, the purple orchid tree, Bauhinia variegata (sometimes called Bauhinia purpurea), is only rarely seen in the Santa Clara Valley. It actually prefers milder winters and more reliably warm springs than it experiences locally. Some of the light green, cloven leaves may linger through warmer winters until replaced by new spring foliage. However, most trees are completely bare for a brief time in typical winters. As large shrubs or small trees, usually with multiple trunks, purple orchid tree can eventually grow to 20 feet tall.

Depending on the weather, purple orchid tree can bloom as early as January or as late as April. The pinkish-purple to pale pink bisymmetrical flowers (with two matching halves) are about 2 or 3 inches wide. There is a white blooming variety that can sometimes be found in Los Angles, where purple orchid tree is more popular. If seedpods that develop after bloom are profuse and look shabby, they can be pruned out.

Horticulturist Tony Tomeo can be contacted at 408.358.2574 or at LGHORTICULTURE@aol.com.