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Photograph by Shari Kaplan
Wisteria Hysteria: Wisteria grows easily on trellises, fences or anything else within reach. It also puts forth beautiful, pendulous flowers--usually in purplish lavender.
Guadalupe Gardens to hold annual spring celebration
By Tony Tomeo
It seems that this time of year, I cannot get any time to work in the garden. Before we finish with the Open House at Bay Laurel Nursery, we will be assembling our display at Spring in Guadalupe Gardens. These events are considerable work for those of us who exhibit, but excellent opportunities for garden enthusiasts to indulge in extraordinary horticultural experiences.
Spring in Guadalupe Gardens will be April 28, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Columbus Park, located at the intersection of Spring and Taylor streets in San Jose. This annual event features plant sales, garden tours and gardening information, as well as educational and entertaining children's activities.
Guided tours include the Historic Orchard, the Recycled Water Demonstration Garden, the Heritage Rose Garden, as well as a walking tour out to the River Park. No rose enthusiast should miss a tour of the Heritage Rose Garden, which is one of the most (perhaps the most) complete collections of old world roses in the world! Unlike most classic rose gardens, the Heritage Rose Garden is designed for the benefit and preservation of the roses. There is quite literally nothing like it.
The Water Wizard Festival is a new presentation of environmental education activities for children. It involves games, experiments and activities designed to educate children about the Guadalupe River watershed, water conservation, pollution prevention, recycling and gardening.
There will be information about water-wise gardening and composting, as well as free samples of compost provided by BFI. Several horticultural experts and I will be staffing the "Ask the Experts" booth, where garden enthusiasts may come to ask gardening questions. (I always enjoy meeting people who are so enthusiastic about horticultural activities.) The Saratoga Horticultural Foundation, the Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County, the John B. Stowell Dahlia Society, the Clara B. Rees Iris Society and the Santa Clara County Rose Society will also be available for expert advice.
The vendors at Spring in Guadalupe Gardens provide a variety of specialty plants, including, but certainly not limited to, vegetables, trees, roses, cacti and succulents. Those who are absolutely unable to attend the Open House at Bay Laurel Nursery will still be able to see the rhododendrons at this event. Other vendors provide decorative pots and garden ornaments.
Incidentally, Tom Liggett of Liggett Roses in San Jose will also be among the vendors. He is the designer of the Heritage Rose Garden and the authority on roses.
Parking and admission to Spring in Guadalupe gardens in free. More information may be obtained by calling 408.298.7657, or by visiting www.grpg.org on the Internet.
Vine of the Week: Wisteria
Wisteria, Wisteria sinensis, is perhaps too easy to grow. It climbs so voraciously and grows so large that it often outgrows its trellis or support and climbs into nearby trees, roofs, utility cables or anything else it can reach. With very regular maintenance, wisteria may be grown as shrubbery or trees.
Although it tolerates adverse conditions, the roots rot easily in poorly drained soil. Young plants respond well to fertilizer, but too much fertilizer may minimize the bloom of mature plants.
During summer, fast-growing twining shoots may be pruned to prevent development of a tangled mass. Structure pruning in winter helps contain the vines, but should be selective to maximize bloom. Most of the blooms appear on spurs or on the proximal (nearer to main stem) parts of twining shoots.
The most popular wisteria produce purplish lavender flowers in clusters several inches long. Various cultivars produce pink, blue or white flowers. Vines grown from seed are variable and may not bloom as profusely as the parent vine. Japanese wisteria, Wisteria floribunda, is occasionally available, but not as well suited to the climatic conditions of the Santa Clara Valley. If it blooms successfully, it is not nearly as profuse as other wisteria, but the flower clusters are impressive and may be 18 inches long.
Although wisteria vines are commonly available, acquisition of specific cultivars may require considerable research. The most classic wisteria are seen in old established landscapes where they have space to grow. Those at Villa Montalvo have been impressing visitors every spring for longer than I can remember.
Horticulturist Tony Tomeo may be contacted at 408.358.2574.
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
