Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas join us once again for the third and final episode of The Cover Up Retrospective, where we’ve grouped some previously aired short segments together for easier access.

In the first segment, Morning Glories are a featured annual vine, but this category also extends to gourd and mini-pumpkin vines, scarlet running beans, and more. Sedums, including Hens and Chicks, are the featured ground covers (and succulents) in this episode. These herbaceous perennials, commonly known as stonecrops, are great options for rock gardens and other areas that are drought prone. Both of these vines and ground covers are low maintenance and relatively easy to grow.

The second segment discusses the benefits of sedges, bearberry, and trailing arbutus as ground covers and vines that support pollinators and provide shelter for insects and birds. Sedges are a good alternative for a ‘native’ lawn. With over 2000 species, mostly low-growing, and many ever green, they can also be used as a living mulch. Bearberry is a great option to plant under oak or pine trees as it thrives in partial to full shade environments. The name, Trailing Arbutus (a.k.a. Mayflower and Plymouth Mayflower), is derives from the fact that the flowers of this plant were the first to greet the pilgrims after their first winter. It is a native perennial subshrub that forms a creeping mat, usually four to size inches high.

The third segment focuses on flowering vines. Passionflower is a beautiful climbing vine with white and purple or blue flowers. There are now hardier varieties that can survive in zone 5. While it blooms from midsummer to early fall, each flower only lasts about one day. The Kiwi vine is another interesting option that can grow up to 33 feet long and has some varieties that are hardy to zone 4. A native of China, it has green heart shaped leaves that are spirally arranged on the stem and a flower that has a slight resemblance to the kiwi bird. Both passionflower and kiwi vine can be fragrant additions to your garden if you can provide the appropriate support for them to climb.

Host: Jean Thomas

Guests: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Photo by: Jean Thomas

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski

Resources

Welcome to The Cover Up Retrospective Part 2. This conversation features potential ground covers and ornamental vine choices to consider for your own garden. Master Gardener Volunteers Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas share some of their favorites in these three previously aired segments.

The first segment starts with a discussion of Green and Gold (a.k.a. golden star) which is a low-growing, clump-forming herb. It thrives in full sun or part shade with long-blooming yellow flowers. This ground cover is climate resilient, slow-growing, and does not have to be ‘pampered’. Dutchman’s pipe, a relative of wild ginger, is a vine that can grow 15-30 feet in length and width. It’s a great option if you want to create a privacy screen as long as it’s given a strong support to grow on.Its tiny flower even attract hummingbirds.

Purple and white flowers are the theme of the second segment. Wild Geraniums (cranesbill) and native Wisteria are the focus. A cousin of the annual geranium, the native wild geranium is a hardy perennial that comes in a range of cultivars forming mats of foliage that look great planted under shrubs or with spring bulbs. Don’t confuse the native American Wisteria with the invasive variety that can pull down structures and spreads easily. The native version can grow 15-40 feet so it does need a sturdy support. Planted in full sun, it will reward you with fragrant blooms that attract hummingbirds and butterflies.

The final segment features golden ragwort and climbing hydrangeas. Tim likes golden ragwort for its bright yellow flowers as well as its ability to compete with invasive plants like garlic mustard and Japanese stilt grass. It thrives in moist shady locations, naturalizes rapidly and has a long spring blooming period. Spreading via underground rhizomes, it forms clumping colonies and attracts multiple bees, butterflies and moths. Climbing hydrangeas, like other vines, need a sturdy support, like plenty of water, but are not very aggressive. Known for their attractive reddish-brown bark, they are happy in partial shade and produce fluffy white clusters of lace-cap flowers.

Host: Jean Thomas

Guests: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Photos by: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski

This Cover Up Retrospective (Part 1) is a series of previously aired short segments focused on ground covers and vines. We’ve packaged them together for your easier access. Featuring Master Gardener Volunteers, Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas, it focuses on some of their favorite plants that do well to ‘cover up’ rock walls, trellises, as well as the ground. As with all plants, their beauty and functionality vary based on the eye of the individual gardener. This episode includes three of these segments.

The first focuses on Ajuga and Trumpet Vine. Jean starts off with a discussion on ajuga, also commonly known as bugle weed. A relative of the mint family, the speed of its lateral spread is based on light conditions, but its foliage provides its ‘star’ quality. Tim then talks about trumpet vine which can be aggressive, even though it is not ‘invasive’. Just make sure to plant it to enjoy its showy blooms on a strong structure or rock wall. It needs sun but is drought tolerant and deer resistant. Hummingbirds love it as well as bees and the sphinx moth.

The second segment features two wild strawberry plants and scarlet runner beans. Tim loves the ever green and versatile wild strawberry which spreads with runners and feeds multiple birds and other wildlife. But he also likes the barren strawberry which has yellow flowers inedible fruit, and spreads via rhizomes. One of Jean’s favorite vines in the scarlet runner bean, an annual that arrived in the US with the pilgrims. If deer visit your garden, make sure the fence this plant so that you get a chance to enjoy it.

The third segment is all about the color ‘coral’. Heuchera (a.k.a. coral bells) is a hummingbird favorite ground cover with its graceful flowers, but it is really loved for its foliage that is available in multiple colors. There are 35 species of heuchera in the USA, so there is bound to be one just right for your garden. Coral honeysuckle is native to the southern US, but hardy in our NY zones A sun lover, it can grow up to 20 feet long producing red/orange flowers. It is even deer and rabbit resistant with lots of birds enjoying its red fruit. Just make sure not to confuse it with the invasive bush honeysuckle variety.

Until next time!

Host: Jean Thomas

Guests: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Photo by: Jean Thomas

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Jean Thomas