Page 14 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JUly 12, 2024 Saugus Gardens in the Summer Here’s what’s blooming in town this week to make your walks more enjoyable By Laura Eisener A n inflatable tube man waved at passersby on the Fourth of July in Lynnhurst last week. Anthony and Whitney Mugford send “Wavy Davy” out on patriotic holidays like Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. The celebratory mood is backed up by patriotic bunting on the porch and the abundant blooms of the hydrangea. Hydrangea flower color – at least in the bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) and somewhat less common mountain hydrangea (Hydrangea serrata) – is affected by soil chemistry. A blue flower color is the result of acidic soil, while pink tones are more likely if the soil is sweet. Eastern Massachusetts usually has an acidic soil due to the granite bedrock, while some parts of New England, such as sections of the Berkshires, have a sweeter soil – also known as more basic or more alkaline. Soil acidity, or pH, can change to become more acidic by adding aluminum sulfate to the soil, while it can become more alkaline by the addition of limestone. The flower color will not usually change immediately, but as new buds develop they will be influenced by the soil additives. A few varieties are less affected by the soil, and species that usually have white flowers will not change blossom color at all. In Oaklandvale, Dennis Bogdan’s 30-year-old cactus is flowering very abundantly this summer. The eastern prickly pear cactus (Opuntia humifusa) grows wild in the sand dunes of Provincetown and in dry areas in the southern Appalachian Mountains. I have seen it planted and growing in some residential gardens near Halibut Point State Park in Rockport and a few other places with dry sandy soil, A patriotic, inflatable tube man was part of the Fourth of July party along with the very floriferous hydrangeas in Lynnhurst. (Courtesy photo of Laura Eisener) but it looks like it was planted there rather than part of a wild population. Other names for this species are Devil’s tongue because of the tongue-like shape of the prickly pads, and Mexican fig because of the appearance of the edible fruit. Eastern prickly pear is one of only a few cactus species native to the eastern United States. Most others grow in the dry Midwest and in the Rocky Mountains. Most members of the cactus family (Cactaceae) have adaptations that allow them to survive in extremely dry climates. In many cases, as in the prickly pear cactus, it is the stem that performs photosynthesis. Not all cacti produce leaves, but some members of the Opuntia genus do have small green leaves. The stem has an oval flattened shape and can store water. Admittedly, the cactus is in the backyard and can’t be seen walking by on the street, but the garden is full of charming features, such as two small koi ponds and a waterfall, and many other flowering plants. Dennis’ brother David along with their mother Shirley Bogdan created a beautiful AmerOne of the more surprising plants to most visitors in Dennis Bogdan’s garden is the prickly pear cactus. (Courtesy photo of Laura Eisener) The clematis climbing the lamppost in Dennis Bogdan’s front yard is attracting attention with its beautiful flowers. (Courtesy photo of Laura Eisener) ican flag out of fence pickets which can be seen from many areas in the yard. If anyone in the family wants a handful of blueberries for breakfast, they can pick them from the shrubs (Vaccinium corymbosum) growing on one side. In the Bogdan family’s front The flag decoration over Dennis Bogdan’s patio is here for more than just the Fourth of July! (Courtesy photo of Laura Eisener) yard, a clematis (Clematis hybrid) vine steals the show this week. Clematis are members of the buttercup family. The showy parts of large-flowered clematis hybrids are actually the colorful sepals. There are usually six of them, and the colors may be purple, pink, reddish or white. Most clematis species are vines that climb by the reaction of the leaf stalk or petiole when it encounters an object, such as a branch or trellis. It will wrap itself around any potential support. UsualAn appealing addition to the landscape are the fish in Dennis Bogdan’s garden pond. (Courtesy photo of Laura Eisener) This beautiful native cactus flowers in Dennis Bogdan’s garden every year. (Courtesy photo of Laura Eisener) ly, the most appropriate supports are tuteurs or trellises with small twiglike parts that the petioles can easily grasp. Editor’s Note: Laura Eisener is a landscape design consultant who helps homeowners with landscape design, plant selection and placement of trees and shrubs, as well as perennials. She is a member of the Saugus Garden Club and offered to write a series of articles about “what’s blooming in town” shortly after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. She was inspired after seeing so many people taking up walking.
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