Blogfinger

To the Editor:

You have posted beautiful pictures of Ocean Grove gardens in the past.  I’ll be moving to the Grove year-round in a few months and was wondering if you could share any insights in the best bulbs and flowers to plant in the sandy soil of Ocean Grove?  Maybe others could share as well.

Nancy Clarke. September 19, 2011

EDITOR’S NOTE:   Please use the comment button below to offer suggestions to Nancy.     PG

Daffodils growing in Eileen's Ocean Grove garden. Photo by Eileen Goldfinger

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Posted in House and Garden | Tagged What to plant in Ocean Grove gardens | 9 Comments

9 Responses

1. on September 22, 2011 at 5:11 pm Luisa

   If you are looking for a cheerful and easy plant for sandy soil in very sunny areas, I recommend melampodium. Put small plants in the ground in the spring and then just sit back and watch them grow and bloom until the first frost. They form mounds of tiny bright yellow flowers.

   Some perennials (i.e., come back every year) that are great in sun are: gallardia, obedient flowers, black-eyed susan, Shasta daisies, bee balm, and especially phlox.

   
   
2. on September 22, 2011 at 3:32 pm Nancy C

   Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. Keep them coming!

   
   
3. on September 22, 2011 at 9:49 am Jennifer

   Hearty Hibiscus and Rose of Sharon seem to love it here too.

   
   
4. on September 22, 2011 at 9:43 am Shelley Brown

   Oriental lilies are a favorite, lovely scent and carefree. An herb garden does well in the somewhat sandy soil, including rosemary, chives, thyme, and basil (these are available as baby plants from the Flower Shop on Main Avenue in late spring); partial sun okay, preferred for basil. Bon appetite!

   
   
5. on September 21, 2011 at 10:17 am Nancy McManus

   Ocean Grove is home to the most beautiful hydrangea I have ever seen.

   
   
6. on September 20, 2011 at 1:53 pm Megan

   We have very sandy soil, our front yard/patch gets full broiling sun and I have a black thumb. Have had great success with marigolds, moonflowers, black eyed susans and bachelors buttons. Had hyacinths one year but the squirrels dug up the bulbs. 🙁 Good luck and welcome to the Grove. 🙂

   
   
7. on September 20, 2011 at 12:12 pm Daniel Beaman

   Even though gerber daisies are annuals, ours come back every year.

   
   
8. on September 20, 2011 at 7:40 am Monica

   Our cone flowers and dancing flames grow wonderfully well. The day lily growth is also tremendous.

   
   
9. on September 19, 2011 at 7:05 pm Eileen @Blogfinger

   Autumn is the time to plant bulbs which bloom in the spring and summer. We have had success in Ocean Grove with daffodils, tulips, narcissus, hyacinth, and muscari. You can plant these until the ground freezes. Here we are in Zone 7 which means that we have milder weather for a longer time in autumn.

   When you plant the bulbs, follow the instructions for depth of planting, and add some bulb food into the hole.

   You can also plant irises in the fall along with lilies— including daylilies, Oriental lilies and Asiatic lilies.

   Two good free and informative reference catalogues are: White Flower Farm (whiteflowerfarm.com) and Wayside Gardens (waysidegardens.com).

   Eileen Goldfinger, House and Garden Editor @Blogfinger

   
   

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