Phlox are preparing their first flush of blossoms. Cut back as soon as that first flush is over and they may well bloom again. It's worth a try. TONY P. WRENN Visit the Photo Place

'Trash trees' and the colors of July

Mimosa and rose of Sharon can be quite attractive this time of year. By Tony P. Wrenn

Date published: 7/15/2006

THOUGH I KNOW that it has problems, seldom reaches true adulthood, is considered a trash tree by most people, and is difficult to find in garden centers, the mimosa is still a favorite of mine. Just now it is in full blossom, its feathery bundles of flowers ranging from soft pink to almost red.

The flowers appear at the terminal ends of branches above masses of fernlike foliage, and they are undeniably handsome, and especially welcome along roadsides, where they provide as much color and interest in July as the redbud and dogwood do in April and May.

For some reason, mimosa is one of those trees that most gardeners never get close to, and by keeping their distance they miss much of the charm of the tree, for the flowers are scented, with a delicate perfume that is yours for the sniffing. You must get close enough to savor that scent, though, for it does not waft around on the breeze as many scents do. It seems to prefer staying closer to home, and though one can occasionally recognize its aroma from afar, a close encounter of nose and blossom will be pleasant enough to make you seek it out again and again this year, and in future years.

Mimosa roots easily, and, given the opportunity and space, can grow into a fine small tree 20 feet or more tall, with a spread equal to its height. One of its problems in the landscape is that it produces seedpods of some size, generally at least 6 inches long, and that it produces them in great quantities.

The pods often persist in hanging on the tree, drying up and shrinking as they age, which does little for the appearance of the tree. When they do drop, they can be a cleaning problem, but they are fertile enough to ensure the continued appearance of the tree in the wild, while in the garden they are easily controlled.

Many garden plants are reseeders that will pick their own sites, but there is no reason to leave siting to the plants' desires, for seed gathering is an old and honorable garden activity. Just now, the larkspur in my garden is dry and ready to gather, which is a simple process. I go through the larkspur patch with a brown paper bag and shake plants over it. A few plants will yield a surprising amount of seed. Malva, lychnis and hollyhock are gatherable now, and tiger lily bulbils, produced at leaf nodes along the stem, can be gathered at almost any time, since they are fertile no matter what their size. All these can be resowed this fall or kept for spring planting. If kept, seeds need to be dried thoroughly and stored in a frost-free environment, in labeled bags that breathe.

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Date published: 7/15/2006