Grow It In Maine

First, a puzzle

Thu, 04/23/2015 - 3:15pm

A grassy bank rises above Boothbay Harbor’s Oak Street.

At this April moment, light blue flowers create spreading scraps of carpet on that bank.

“What’s growing there?” I’ve asked. One person at the neighboring real estate company said, “Those are crocuses.”

But I question that: crocuses grow a whit taller.

I asked friends.

“No idea,” they replied — except for the one who guessed “bluets.” But bluets, or Quaker ladies, bloom weeks later.

“Dunno,” grunted somebody at the inn across the road.

From the botanical gardens: “That’s outside our property.”

The University Extension office? “Our expert’s gone home for the day.” Others were basking in Florida sunshine.

I can’t scramble ‘round on that bank. Who can solve the puzzle? Please tell me: are those fleeting blue flowers called scillas?

Email news@boothbayregister.com with your guesses.

Possible solution?

Diane Randlett responded to the query with this suggestion: “Chionodoxa forbesii, they are stunning. Scillas are different, taller spindlier not as hardy and succulent. C.F. are spectacular! Thank you for bringing them to the attention of the Register's readers. Now if you could find the name of the precious little light blue flower that bloom each spring at Lynnette Page’s house on Eastern Avenue, that would be a mystery solved. The paper said last year that they are Dame's Rocket, but I doubt this. I have photographed them and they seem nothing like the tall lavender flower with several hues of purple and white.”

Keep the guesses coming!

Tuesday, April 22 was Earth Day, the 45th since it was recognized. What did you do to save our Earth?

Awakening tender plants

For its fifth year, my pot of tuberous begonias has come from the basement and welcomed its first waterings. The soil has been moistened, not swamped: begonias are succulent plants, storing their moisture.

From an empty-looking container of soil, tiny leaf nubs have sprouted. The pot stands in filtered morning sun and more warmth than it got in the cellar.

When I see stems beneath those leaves, I’ll give its soil half-strength fertilizer. Contrary to some nursery labels, I am not feeding the plant but the soil from which it draws nourishment.

By now, fuchsia growers have cut back new growth on its stems. Each of those pruned stems has sprouted more stems. You may want to give them one more trimming.

Fuchsia flowers should appear at the end of each slender shoot, as they blossom only there. Begin to water as you would in summer, but don’t drown the plant.

Geraniums should be trimmed to shape and set in east to south windows. They shouldn’t go outdoors at least until Mother’s Day or later, depending on the weather. Red-edged leaves? The geranium is in too cool a spot. Bring it indoors at dusk if it’s outside.