13,520 Garden Web Discussions | Perennials

Also called resurrection lilies, naked ladies. They get the energy to grow quickly and bloom from the leaves which emerge in the spring and then die back so when you decide where to plant be sure to mark the area so you don't forget they are there and dig into the bulbs because you think the spot is bare. I plant a lower growing perennial in front of them to hide the bare spot.

The blooms last 1-2 weeks depending on how hot the weather is during that time. I trim off the faded blossoms as they wilt.

You might want to just buy more (readily available), vs disturb them. They tend to sulk for a couple years and not bloom after disturbance. If you have plenty, by all means dig some...otherwise digging them will mean no blooms for a few years.

If you do dig...right after flowering is probably the best time, though you're unlikely to kill them at any time you if you dig and immediately replant.

I was going to say catmint too. I've had both and the Snow in Summer lost a lot of it's foliage after winter here and looked so scraggly that I took it out.

Well so far it is the Snow in Summer ! I was going to let them mingle together but remembered the catmint dies out in winter while the snow in summer does not. So that would not look very good. But the snow in summer is winning out over the catmint. Amazing!

if you wanted to level it.. you should have added fresh soil to the shallow end .. and raked that ...

but i want to suggest.. you go a bit more zen on your contemplation ...

i have visited... a lot of gardens ... and the ones that are UNIQUE... are the ones that are different ... and i like to see how the gardener dealt with whatever ... you are really limiting yourself in garden contemplation.. if all you look at is the plants ...

your premise seems to be.. I WANT TO BE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE ... i say pshaw on that ...

there is no standard ... it is what it is ... and work with it.. to make it your own ...

when i moved from flat graded to suburbia... my 5 acres ... i got has hills [maybe undulations int eh meadow is a better term ] ... it was a challenge to incorporate the 6 foot hills ... but it never came to my mind.. to bulldoze them all flat... to be like everyone else ...

soooo ... just think along the lines.. of how to use your change of grade.. to your best advantage ... why not ...

one easy way ... if you insist on a flat look ... would be to plant taller stuff in the lower ground.. and make it APPEAR ... that the result is even.. to the eye ... and then as the garden tour is winding up.. ask your guest.. did you notice how i did that ...

you are in a box of wanting flat earth ... that went out in the 1600's or so ...

i say you have an opportunity to show off ... go for it ...

ken

Keep in mind that you want a slight slope so that rain water runs away from the foundation.

Nice ideas. Funny thing is that I replanted 2 TS this summer after lost 2 to rabbits earlier this year.

Looking at your garden and the tall T. Splendide (so beautiful) and Bobo, how about a couple neat looking ornamental grass that have some purple color to complement the mostly green color and the texure of the tall green conifer ?

I recently planted a switchgrass Cheyenne Sky. It is the most drwaf and compact form (2 ft tall, plus 1 foot very airy tiny flower). The mix of dark purple/silver blue foliage, with a breeze, makes me stop and look at it everytime I walk by the garden. I planted 3 Heuchera Frost Violet next to the grass. Will try to take a picture tomorrow.

Roses are another option as well if you choose the kind that is drawf and carefree as mentioned by Karin. I have double knockout, pink and red in different places and they bloom for the entire May-October. But they are tall for your purpose. But drift roses would be good alternatives.

Vivian

UPDATE

Not the best picture but here is my rejigged border of BOBOS (put in last fall). There are 6 BOBOs (5 of the 6 are blooming profusely) and between each pair there is either an "Azure Rush" hardy geranium or "Havana Blues" hardy geranium. These geraniums have not done much flowering this season :(.

I think they both look more like siesta than salsa (based on online photos)...though neither is absolutely identical to any other (lol).

Perennials.com says that 'Salsa''s bloom time begins in early summer, while the bloom times of the other Mariachi series Helenium, including 'Siesta', begin in mid summer.

What to believe?
For instance; the Perennial.com image of 'Siesta' doesn't look like 'Siesta' at all.

Make sure your VEHICLE can pull as much as your trailer can hold.

And the larger trailers may hold more, but they weigh more. Don't waste your towing capacity on a trailer you can't fill up.

Oops, I lied. Ours is 4 x 6. Just got back from emptying 3 months worth of clippings at the compost facility. Now that it's empty we can fill it up again when we tackle some overgrown shrubs this weekend.

"if you hang pack rat carcasses all along your fence its supposed to attract rain. You might want to throw in a bear for extra insurance"

Thanks for the laugh and condolences. I can hear thunder, a LONG way away. Somewhere someone is getting rain. Pity it's not us.

Cheryl

WE have had .46 " here this month but every so often we get a bit of rain. In Austin , 30 miles away they had 7" a little more than a week ago. 1 1/2 miles away got 1.3" so things change very quickly around here. WE are 10" below normal where other areas around here are above for the year. That said, because of the extreme water diet we were on, we were able to fill our 20,000 gallons with the bits and pieces of rain that we got.

Below is a picture of what happens when there is a downpour and the water can't get out through the overflow spout fast enough and backs up the pipe. Our 3,000 sq ' roof of our shop is a butterfly roof and drains into 10 feet of pipe. . They become a waterfall right over our door. It does not happen to often. One way to keep the Jehova Witness away. Cold showers abound here. I can now not stand down wind from you with confidence.

The other option is waiting till fall. I have killed 2 beautiful silver lavenders by doing the waiting thing. I have been doing a perfect storm of rooting and germinating so fall is busy this year.

Last fall for my birthday, my daughter gave me several daylilies. I very seldom plant anything this late but bulbs. thought I might overwinter them in pots, but finally decided to plant in the ground. They all lived and all bloomed but one! I'm still amazed. Especially since we had one of the coldest winters in years.

Proudgma, your irridescent insect looks like a beneficial Longlegged Fly to me.

Earwigs can do a lot of damage and you normally see a lot more of them at night with a flashlight. If you don't see slugs, I'd suspect earwigs could be doing that damage. I have not seen them bother my hydrangeas before. They prefer basil and echinaceas usually.

The seedlings also survive winter here in cold snowy MN without any winter mulch. I don't have too many yet but can see the day coming so have been less careful weeding around them and not caring if a seedling gets weeded out.

Edited to add:
Also have been culling my stands of echinacea for the largest and best colored and/or fragrant flowers. Was surprised today to see a lone plant far way from the others with a large very nicely shaped white flower in a partly shaded area. A keeper for sure.

This post was edited by mnwsgal on Tue, Jul 29, 14 at 0:30

thanks for the offer Karin. . . but it's lookin like I'm going to have enough in my future.

The black eyes really make that one. Absolutely gorgeous. And I LOVE your mutant!

Today, I removed this section of plant and indeed it's a mutation and not a seedling, so that's kinda cool. I potted and will tend it before setting out when it becomes established.

bellarosa, the mother plant is a self sown seedling and a nice surprise, as I hadn't grown any white delphiniums prior.

rouge, I'll drop you an email sometime soon.

1 per cell.

I start most of my perennial seeds via wintersowing. Here in zone 5, that means they are still very tiny by the time the hot summer weather arrives. I pot them up and wait until Sept to plant them in their permanent location. This has always worked out well for me.