13,520 Garden Web Discussions | Perennials
Sorry! I had a really busy week! I got my mums from tons of places (food city-walmart-lows-the nursery) I know they are spaced super close together and I will space them out next spring. The size of them is probably about the size of a medium dinner plate. They are now racked with buds btw...did I miss any questions?
You think yours are close together, come check out mine! I planted probably 10 different mums together in a circle. I thought I'd left enough space in between them and now I've learned to space them alot more next time. They grew huge! I had no idea.
Yours look great!
You can also bundle up the seed heads and tie them under a bird feeder. Goldfinches love them.
Now that is an excellent idea! I'm always torn between my urge to tidy up and wanting to leave the seed heads there for the birds. Now I can do both!
Hi all, newbie poster here (so I should probably stay out of this, but won't). I just wanted to chime in with my support for GW and the Perennials forum specifically. In my limited time here, I've really come to value this site so much as an authoritative informational resource. It seems that half of my garden related Google searches land me in a GW thread of some kind. This is so much more than just some internet forum! The reason is due to all of you knowledgeable, smart, experienced (and very polite!) gardeners willing to participate out of the goodness of your hearts. I hope that all of those who have contributions to make will continue to do so.
Here in NH we've had quite a mild summer. I was so hopeful for some wonderful phlox, echinacea, lush hosta, etc, etc......but......although the weather more than cooperated, the woodchucks did not! Bad, BAD woodchucks! LOL! They systematically made their way around the garden mowing down all sorts of goodies. Our neighbor caught one of them and he was forty pounds! Surely from the five or so years he has been enjoying the smorgasbord that is my garden.
Good thing we gardeners rebound so well from so many different surprises from weather to animals or anything else that "derails" the garden. If I had a nickel for every time I said "well, there's always next year"...........somehow we persevere and remain hopeful for that next surprise in the garden.
Here's to a glorious fall for everyone!!
Lol, it's a bouncing bet aka soapwort. Saponaria officinalis...looks like a double form, so definitely from someone's garden.
The old saying: when life gives you lemons, make lemonade...well you should make soap, I suppose.
This post was edited by dbarron on Thu, Aug 28, 14 at 18:57
Thank you guys so much for your advice and encouragement, I really appreciate it! That other thread was very helpful too and I will have to check out some of the plants and books that were recommended there. I also love that Erysimum 'Bowles' Mauve' and it's definitely going on the list for the front. I agree that with our water situation we don't want a lot of grass here and that's also a good point about the mowing.
The little bed in question is about 10x3. I'm attaching a picture. It faces southwest and gets lots of sun. I'm not sure about the soil--that is something I will have to find out. 
From 2014-08-28
I'm starting here because I'm quite intimidated at the thought of planning the side and front yards: 
From 2014-08-28
From 2014-08-28
But I think I will just have to dive in and try some things and not worry too much about getting it all perfect right from the get-go... We are getting pretty tired of the mulch look and need something alive here!
Many small nurseries offer free or low price landscape design planning. You could visit a couple of nurseries and have them draw up plans for you then think it over and research the plants they recommend. You have a lovely home (love the stone porch) in a climate ideal for gardening: you really can't go wrong.
Some Hostas are fine in sun. Do a search in the form at the bottom of the Hosta forum for sun Hostas. There are other large leafed plants. You can do a search in this forum for that since I know there have been threads on large foliage recently.
Look at reticulated iris which bloom here at the same time as species crocuses.
The link below takes you to the New Hampshire Hosta web page listing sun-tolerant hostas. There are nearly 200 cultivars listed, giving you a reasonably broad selection.
My own variegated hakone grass is growing in a mostly shade bed surrounded by hosta, columbine, heuchera/coral bells, variegated Solomon's seal & lady's mantle.
Here is a link that might be useful: Sun tolerant hostas
I have two places I look for plants, Daves Garden PlantScout, and The U of MN's Plant Info Online. Neither listed it, so it may not be currently available in the US, though both listed several other selections of this plant. Perhaps one of the other selections is similar.
I did notice that this plant was listed as suitable for zones 3-9, and though I know nothing about gardening in your neck of the woods, that may be the reason that no one carries it locally.
Here is a link that might be useful: UMN Plant Info Online
IME x biokovo thrive in warm, rather dry and well draining soil.
I watched batches of them thriving in a neglected planting, using mineral soil like for green roof. They grew compact and tidy.
some in my own garden sometimes lose leaves in a dry period.
The stem turning black sounds not so good though.
Where did you place yours, what was the potting medium like?
good luck, bye, Lin
Re G. 'Rozanne'. People would be a lot happier with this plant if they understood that it's a twiner, and in fact looks its best twining into neighbors. I can't think of another plant that behaves that way without overwhelming neighbors, and seeing the blue flowers apparently coming from a shrub or another type of perennial is part of the charm.
Bougainvilleas can definitely be grown in pots with good results. If they are overwintering indoors, don't expect blossoms, but otherwise, as long as you are pinching to encourage branching and giving them at least 5 hours of sun a day, they should be fine. Potted plants also need regular feeding, much more so than plants planted in the ground. They also have to have really good drainage. The problem could also be in the source for your Bougies. There is truth to the fact that some plants are better than others. How they are started can be just as important as how they are cared for once you get the home. I hope this helps.
Here is a link that might be useful: How to Grow Bougainvillea
In a pot a plant can only grow as much as the space provided for roots in the pot. The general rule of thumb is to pot up an inch or two every few years, if your goal is to increase the overall size of the plant. If bougies are fast enough (like wisteria), then you can pot up at larger increments. I plopped a wistera from a 1gal to a 5 gal and filled it in one season.
Decreased growth, or vigor, is typically a sign of root congestion. If you take a look at the root ball, and roots are circling everywhere and lifting all dirt....it's time for some root maintenance. I don't know when it's best to root prune bougie's though.
Lavender is a real bug-a-boo. My French one looks worse than that. The Spanish one is looking good but it probably won't make it through winter. The English ones croaked. I decided to try them all to see if any would make it. They went downhill when we got humid in June (except the Spanish). Have you been humid there? That was my best guess here because they were planted in the ground in gritty soil, perfect drainage, full sun and I didn't water them since I read not to do that. I keep saying I will not try them again, then I do.
I just sprayed a big patch with roundup. It's beautiful for a little while in summer, but the one I have (c. glomerata) just spreads too much. Plus the tiniest bits of root hitchhike to new areas and spread some more.
There's probably a good reason she has them all over ~but they are beautiful.
back in suburbia.. on limited lot size... i too fixated on size ... etc ..
moved to 5 acres... i dont have to worry about all that nonsense ... given i have no space constraints ...
you know what..??? .. the garden can take care of itself and i dont have to force my predisposition on it all ... and 99% of the time... i like the result ... its what i would call the 'cottage garden' look ... as compared to 'formal garden' look ...
the other 1% die.. for not cooperating with my outlook .. lol ...
my point.. if i have one... you spent a lot of time and effort.. trying to force your will on the plants ... and you were constantly frustrated ... thats not quite what the garden should do for you.. raise your blood pressure ... let the peeps with the garden staff.. do the whole 'formal' thing ....
so you let them do their own thing.. and now they are happy.. and you are happy ... one might call that .. a more zen approach to the garden ...
ken
I am going to give hay scented fern a go!! Sounds good for my area. It has room to run and the height is a benefit.
Thanks!
Ferns do fine in part sun. Avoid full afternoon sun. The key to lush ferns is moisture. They crisp in dry soil, even in shade.