How to grow Flowering Dogwood (Cornus kousa) from seeds 四照花種子孵法

How to grow Flowering Dogwood (Cornus kousa) from seeds 四照花種子孵法

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus kousa) flowers in early summer. 四照花初夏的花開滿枝椏.

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus kousa) flowers in early summer. 四照花初夏的花開滿枝椏.

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus kousa) red ripe fruit in late summer to early fall. 四照花夏末秋初的紅色成熟果實.

Fall colour of the 3rd year seedling. 實生苗第3年的紫紅秋色.

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus kousa) seeds.
四照花種子.

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus kousa) seeds germination from day 34. 四照花種子第34天開始孵出

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus kousa) seedlings turning green. 四照花種子開始伸展及轉綠

First set of leaves. (Cornus kousa) 第一對本葉長出.

Second set of leaves. (Cornus kousa) 第2對本葉長出.

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus kousa) from seeds, first time having flower buds! (red circle). 實生的四照花第一次有花苞形成了!

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus kousa) from seeds, first time having flower buds! (red circle). 實生的四照花第一次有花苞形成了!

This beautiful small flowering tree or large shrub is very beautiful and easy to grow in full sun to partial shade location.  Late spring pink flowered varieties usually bloom first then white flowered varieties. The four large “petals" are not really flower petals, they are actually bracts.  The pom-pom like center are many tiny flowers.

這種美麗開花的小型樹或大型灌木很容易栽種在全日照或半日照處.  春末夏初才開白花,白色的花瓣其實不是花瓣,是萼片,中間那撮小小的團狀看似花心的才是真正的花. 不過也因此有更長的賞花期.

I like the white varieties just because the most of spring flowering trees and shrubs bloom in mid to late spring, when white flowered varieties flowers to summer, I feel I have spring extended! 😉

我喜歡白色的這種,因為它晚開,當春花都開盡了它才登場,感覺就是春天因此而延續了! 1.Its fruit ripe in mid-late fall so you have to collect the fruit, remove the fruit pulp and clean seeds.

Dry seeds, put the seeds in a re-sealable bag and then store in freezer for 1-1.5 months to simulate winter.

1.這白花的成熟的果實是紅色形如小荔枝的果實,內有數個種子.  要去掉皮與果肉渣後取出種子,洗淨乾燥後放在小夾鍊袋於冰箱冷凍庫來保存"過冬"如此種子可以保存數年,要種時才取出.

2.Wake up the seeds by bath seeds in warm water for 2 days. You can use thermal bottle to do this if you have large quantities of seeds to grow.    Seeds have quite thick hard shell so it is OK.

2.將種子由冰箱取出後泡溫水2天可叫醒種子. 若孵的種子數量多可以用小保溫壺. 種殼很厚,稍熱的溫水都沒關係.

3.Scoop the seeds and plant in a pot or container.  Use moist potting soil or well drained growing medium.  I covered the container to keep seeds moist and place in warm place.

3.撈出種子後種在溼苗盆或容器上放在溫暖處,用蓋住保溼保溫方式悶到發芽破殼.

4.Check seeds once every 2 or 3 days.  Seeds usually germinate around 30-45 days according to the temperature.

4.每兩到三天檢查種子並打開透氣.  依氣溫不同通常30-45天發芽.

5.Pick up the germinated seed and plant in the individual small pot.  Place them in warm, partial shade location.   Keep moist.

5.揀出剛發芽破殼的種子個別種在小盆中,置放在半日照溫暖處生長.  注意保溼.

6.Transplant the seedlings to bigger pots or in the ground when they have 8 leaves.  Move them to full sun location and apply light fertilizer. From seed to flower is about 4-6 years according to the soil and light exposure.  It is very nice gift tree to grow for any garden! 🙂

6.小苗本葉約8片時可以移到較大盆或是地植. 改成全日照可以開始施用肥料.   根據土壤肥沃及日照程度不同,種子種到開花約4-6年.   它是很適合當禮物的庭園小型開花樹種.

Language of flower – Am I Indifferent to You?

四照花的花語:我與你不同嗎?

Broad-leaved Helleborine(Epipactis helleborine)小河蘭

Broad-leaved Helleborine(Epipactis helleborine)小河蘭
This is one of the common native orchids in Ontario, Canada. I see them free flowering in July/August under big trees. No fragrance, flower size is small about 1cm (3/8″) across on a flower stem, seed pods usually mature around October, self seeded. Mature plant height is almost 60 cm (24″), they prefer shade.
北美原生的小河蘭,成熟植株約達2呎高,夏天7月/8月開花,十月種子達成熟會爆開,種子粉狀細小,容易生長繁殖,喜生長在陰暗的大樹下. 花無香味,有逐漸城市化的趨勢.

Reblooming double daylilies續開型重瓣萱草

Reblooming double daylilies續開型重瓣萱草

Sweet rocket (Hesperis matronalis)歐亞香荊(芥)

Hesperis matronalis, this plant has many other common name, such as sweet rocket ,dame’s rocket, dame’s violet… I like its purple flowers and the evening fragrance. So easy to grow, biennial, full sun.

紫花南芥,歐亞香荊(芥) (學名Hesperis matronalis,一種芥子科植物,產于歐洲,有成簇而又芳香的紫色或白色花朵,通常是二年生草本植物,生長快速,花莖長而花多,入夜後才散出香甜花香.繁殖迅速,多為野生分佈.成熟株高90公分,寬60公分.

Enjoying my creeping thyme享受百里香的紫色花毯

It is the time to enjoy my creeping thyme, the purple flower carpet is so fragrant and soft. Time to take a break and enjoy rolling on this spring treat! 🙂 You can grow from stem cuttings or seeds easily.

庭菖蒲開花了!Blue-Eyed Grass Sisyrinchium angustifolium ‘Lucerne’

庭菖蒲Blue-Eyed Grass Sisyrinchium angustifolium ‘Lucerne’
Cute little perennial ground cover plant with dainty little flowers, it is very easy to grow and propagated. Full sun to partial shade.
庭菖蒲, 鳶尾科, 為北美原生多年生草本植物,容易栽種,全日照或半日照,喜溫暖,但不耐高溫,台灣適合高冷地栽培. 葉片細長像小草. 桃園長庚分院好像已有種植. 多以分株或種子來繁殖. 因為植株去年新買的所以這是第一次實際開花. 成熟植株高度約25cm高x40cm寬幅.

Bleeding Hearts! 綻放的荷包牡丹!

Bleeding Hearts! 綻放的荷包牡丹!
White, red, pink, pink flowers with golden leaves and dwarf one! 白色,紅色,粉色,粉色金葉,還有矮性品種!

Forsythia is blooming! 連翹盛開了!

連翹（學名：Forsythia）是木犀科連翹屬,為灌木植物. 非常容易栽種,容易扦插成活. 小花金黃璀璨,春季盛開,全日照.

Blooming Crocuses 番紅花開花了!

Blooming Crocuses 番紅花開花了!

I think they are cute and pretty to look at and their blooms really telling us ‘it is spring!’.

容易栽種又小巧可愛的番紅花盛開了–春天到來了!

Dahlia Planting 大理花球根包種植

Dahlia Planting 大理花球根包種植

Dahlia is one of my favorite flowering bulbs! It is so easy to grow them and propagate them (from seeds, young shoots and divide the tuberous roots). There are so many flower colors to pick from at a good price! Long blooming seasons and they are good for cut flowers!

In end of fall I will cut my Dahlias down to remove anything above ground and dig the root out for indoor storage through winter. I have been saving the roots many years. I often divide the roots in early spring then give some away to my clients and friends.

Bees and butterflies love them, I haven’t noticed humming birds go to them though. The flowering season is from mid/late spring to frost! Great value!

Here are some pictures that I took in my garden and the new bulbs that I have planted in big pots.

大理花是我喜愛的球根花卉之一,因為它容易栽種和繁殖(種子,新芽扦插和球根分株). 開花期很長又花色繁多. 而且價格低又可當切花花材.

我種的大理花常常一年比一年多,都是在初春球根分株得來,有多的就送給客戶或朋友. 秋末要在霜降前去掉土表以上部份挖出球根貯存室內過冬. 它的超長開花期從春末到霜降,真是物超所值的花!

照片上是我園裡種植的和新買剛盆植下的球根花色.