Thursday, August 3, 2017

Living Fossils in Calgary Update


 Last year I planted two living fossils in my Calgary garden as a trial experiment and have some good news! My article from July 2016 explains all you need to know about the two species, Ginko and Kentucky Coffee Tree, that have their histories firmly planted in prehistory.

Last fall gave us some freezing daytime temperatures in early October so the Ginkos were barely able to turn yellow before freezing and the Kentucky Coffee just dropped all its leaves when the cold hit. The winter gave us extreme cold, well into the minus 30's with plenty of snow, some of the coldest weather I can remember in decades. The bad news is the potted Ginko did not survive but the one in ground did as did the Kentucky Coffee, so we now know that these trees can survive some of our coldest winters.

Spring came on slowly but May got hot and back on track for our growing season, both these trees leaf out in late May when frost is no longer a danger ( most of the time) even the Kentucky Coffee which is supposed to be so late was only a week or two behind most trees in leafing out, they probably appear bare because the buds are extremely tiny.

The surviving Ginko is very slow on growth, like none at all, just leaves. The Ginko in the pot actually grew about 8 inches or so which makes me wonder if it's a difference in individuals or just a better location issue?


This Ginko receives about a half day of sun and also had very little, if any, winter kill, also no pests in the summer.

Kentucky Coffee Tree is also very slow growing, the one I have maybe grew a few millimetres  but seems to have come thru the winter quite easily! This tree also has zero pests and seems to love our hot summer this year.

So far there have been no problems growing these trees in Calgary, in our climate it's always worth trying something new.






July 2017 In Photos


     In true Calgary style this summer has been the extreme opposite of last summer. Where last year we set records for rainfall from June to August, this year is shaping up to be the hottest on record! It has rained only a few days since May and the temperatures have ranged from about 25 to 35 C ( 78 to 96F) since then as well. The meteorologists say that August is on track for above normal temperatures so it will likely be the hottest summer ever recorded. Above a mixed perennial bed of Iris, Chicago Apache Daylily, Snow in Summer and Red Sedum.


The hottest temperature ever recorded in Calgary is around 39 degrees, it has never hit 40C or 100F because of our high elevation but 35 C is about as hot as a summer day can get in these parts.


This Adelaide Hoodless Rose bloomed quite nicely through July.


We are trying some Goose Necked Gourds this year, I don't think we have a long enough growing season for Gourds but the white flowers are quite interesting.


I recently planted a Pardon Me Daylily for a hot corner, they are supposed to have the reddest flower of the daylilies which is probably true, certainly the darkest.


Another experiment, Picotee Morning Glory, even though I started these early they don't seem to grow much, not like a vine at all. This one bloomed at only a few inches tall, colour me confused! I'm used to morning glories growing 4 or 5 feet tall so I don't think I would recommend this variety, nice flower though!


One of my favourites, Cockscomb Celosia, are excelling in the hot temperatures this year.


This Canna was given to us by my sister in law in Ottawa, it comes out of winter storage no problem for many years now. The tropical foliage is always a summer delight.


The wild Saskatoon berries were very nice this year perhaps due to warm weather while flowering. These "blueberries of the Prairies" are very nice in pies or other desserts, I picked and froze a large bag for later.


The Goldenrod is early and plentiful this year. I always thought it fun that European gardeners really fell in love with this plant while here it grows wild in any field.


The new vegetable patch has already given us Kale, Snap Peas and Swiss Chard, later we are hoping for Zucchini, Beans and Corn.


This Dr.Ruppel Clematis grows and blooms happily amongst the thorns of Japanese Aralia.


Chameleon Plant Houttuynia grows slowly in a moist and partly shaded spot, it's borderline hardy here so I'll let you know how it goes.


Looking Glass Brunnera brightens this shady corner.