Page 6 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JUly 14, 2023 Saugus Gardens in the Summer Here’s what’s blooming in town this week to make your walks more enjoyable By Laura Eisener H ollyhocks (Alcea rosea) seem to be having a great season. So far, the rust which plagues this genus has not shown up, though the recent rains may change that soon. Members of the mallow family (Malvaceae), hollyhocks are old-fashioned favorites with many color possibilities. Two shades of spectacular apricot toned flowers bloomed this year in Randy-Sue Abber’s garden along with some deep red ones, offspring of the dark maroon ones she planted a few years ago. Like the lilies we talked about last week, sometimes plants are called roses which are not actually members of the rose genus (Rosa spp.) or even the rose family (Rosaceae). The rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) is a member of the mallow family (Malvaceae), for example. Sometimes rose as part of a common name refers to a pink color, as is the case with rose campion (Silene coronaria, formerly Lychnis coronaria). Rose campion is a vivid pink flower with velvety gray leaves. It is sometimes known as crown pink (the species name coronaria means crown). Other common names, such as Rugosa roses, pale pink crown vetch and bright yellow bird’s-foot trefoil bloom near the Rumney Marsh pathway. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Laura Eisener) Hollyhocks in Randy-Sue Abber’s garden are blooming in new colors this year. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Laura Eisener) rabbit ears and mullein pink, come from the fuzziness of the foliage. Although not related to mullein (Verbascum thapsis), both plants, like lamb’s ears (Stachys byzantina), have delightfully soft foliage that help these plants tolerate hot sun and provide ornamental interest in their own right. If unpruned, the early July blossoms of rose campion will go to seed and the plant will die by late summer, but seedlings will likely turn up elsewhere in the garden. If the fading flowers are pruned, the plant will keep blooming late into the summer and likely return another year. This Eurasian plant is a member of the pink family (Caryophyllaceae) and the campion (or catchfly) genus (Silene). The campion genus is a large one, containing close to 900 species. In addition to the usual bright pink/magenta flower color, it may occasionally have pale pink or white flowers. Most roses native to the western hemisphere bloom only in June, as the European roses did in Shakespeare’s time. Because of hybridization with Asian roses, which continue blooming for months, we have come to expect blooms from June to September, and even sometimes into December in our climate. For many decades the saltspray or ruRosa virginiana blooms at the “goldfish pond” at the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Laura Eisener) gosa rose (Rosa rugosa) was the standard rose for sand dunes and salty roadsides. Their fragrant flowers bloom well into October, and they produce a colorful fruit called a hip, which persists into winter. In recent decades, native species, such as Virginia rose (Rosa virginiana), have been planted in these locations. Virginia rose blooms only in June and early July, but it also produces bright red hips and its fall foliage is a spectacular vivid red. These are both often called simply “wild roses” because they are “single” roses with only five petals, rather than the multiple petals that many hybrid roses have. Some hybrid roses do have “single” flowers, such as the ‘Ringo All Star’ rose, which changes shades of pink as the flowers mature. The rose family (Rosaceae) gets a lot of attention because in addition to ornamental roses, which are among the world’s most admired flowers, it includes many edible fruits and berries. There are almost 5,000 species in this family, which is divided into 91 genera. Apples (Malus spp.) and cherries (Prunus spp.) are just two of the important food crops. The rose genus (Rosa spp.) has about 100 species in it worldwide, but countless varieties and hybrids. Breeders are constantly at work to bring improvements to the available plants, despite the fact that they have some pretty spectacular qualities already! 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. Rose campion blooming near Saugus Center has bright pink flowers and velvety gray foliage. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Laura Eisener) Rosa ‘Ringo All-star’ is a reblooming single rose that changes from pink to apricot shades as it blooms. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Laura Eisener)
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