13,520 Garden Web Discussions | Perennials
GP1, love that Desert Four OâÂÂclock and the Blue Hair Grass is very cute. I'm planning on ordering that 'Blond Ambition'.Thanks!
Karin, no problem with a thread drift, I like penstemons too, although mine all disappeared on me this spring.
Babs, IâÂÂve seen a car dealer near me that used ribbon grass in the ground, wow, what a job they are going to have keeping that in control, itâÂÂs spreading in a dense matt. Japanese and Siberian Iris are a good substitute and they look nice with your SolomonâÂÂs Seal. Thanks!
CMK, I have a lot of part sun and IâÂÂd have to watch the moisture levels, I may give that Blue Oat Grass a try. Putting the aggressive plants in under a tree, good idea. ItâÂÂs not easy finding something that grows vigorously under trees.
I do like that âÂÂAureolaâ and IâÂÂm going to keep my eye out for that. Thank you!
The leaves do look oakish, but if you look at the back part of the plant you can see the red bracts similar to a poinsettia. Compare it to wild poinsettia, an euphorbia related to the Christmas poinsettias and also a southeast native plant.
Here is a link that might be useful: NC wildflowers website
Woodyoak, the crabapple in my photo is an American Spirit, but the fruits on my Profusion and Prairiefire look identical. I don't think these fruits are edible, except by the birds. Last spring, flocks of robins, and other birds, dined on them. Before that, I didn't think that even birds would eat these fruits. I think these trees are all some sort of Asian ornamental trees.
My grandmother had one of the old varieties of crabapple trees that you refer to, and she put up delicious spiced crabapples one year. I'm nostalgic for them too!
That's a pretty apple, Woody. I am sure everyone feels this way, but don't you think certain foods, fruits and vegetables especially tasted better when you were young? I wonder if it is an illusion, or if it was our 'young' taste buds or is it actually that it was tastier? :-)
Ha you always make me smile when I read your comments! Its like what a fool person asks such a dumb question. Haaaa Thanks for the answer. I was hoping I didn't have to tear the plants out. Let me ask another question. Is it time to cut things back in zone 5? I need to clean up things before I can move anything or before I can plant out my summer sown things. Oh lovely summer sowing . Free plants!
I'm not sure if that is new growth. It seems a bit early for the plant to be doing that. I enlarged the photo and compared the leaves in the center to the leaves on the blooming stems and they are very, very different. Are you sure something else didn't self-sow right in the middle of the plant? That happens. It's hard to say. I'm aware that new growth leaves look very different from the older leaves, but there's something about these leaves that just doesn't look right - almost like another plant right smack in the middle.
There isn't much you can do about it now, but make a note and see what's going on with this plant either after it's done blooming or next spring. You might have to lift it out of the ground to see if something else is growing there.
Kevin
This post was edited by aachenelf on Mon, Aug 26, 13 at 6:34
I almost bought a 'Little Spires' yesterday. I'm thinking about taking out my Perovskia after 15 years in the same bed because it is flopping & driving me crazy. Especially this year, since we've had a lot of rain. But regardless, I do have other things in the bed that need water and I do have clay soil. I heard that 'Little Spires' remains upright, so if anyone has that variety, how is it doing?
I bought 'Little Spires' this past spring and so far it is completely upright. I like it - lots. Seems very sturdy. I'm not so sure about the ultimate height however. I think it's advertized at 2 feet, but I'm sure mine is taller which makes me wonder what it will do in year 2 and after.
Kevin
seriously ....
the orchard 2 miles from my house.. has a 6 foot stack of them for sale..
and somehow.. a woman who drove 65 miles to meet a total GW stranger.. is too shy to go ask an orchard.. if they have baskets for sale..
crikey woman ... which on is it.. franklin.. want me to call them for you????
ken
Here is a link that might be useful: i called.. no one answered ...
We bought a half dozen baskets on line some years back. I can't locate the receipt, so not sure where we purchased them, but here are a few places that sell them:
http://wooddowels.frankedmunds.com/category/wood-baskets
http://www.wasserstrom.com/restaurant-supplies-equipment/cooking_woodbasket_1000148
http://www.groworganic.com/1-bushel-basket-with-2-handles.html
I started phlox gardening with no name phlox purchased from the local horticultural society spring sale and have gradually purchased and supplemented those plants with a variety of more recent named cultivars.
Have found those big old no names (to me) to be very reliable, but they need periodic division, reducing and replanting with enriched soil to stay attractive.
I'm now beginning to need to divide, etc., the named cultivars. In the case of 'Peppermint Twist', it's actually just because it spreads so rapidly in our garden.
I don't see any seeding with the newer named cultivars.
The reliable oldies above, occasionally seed, but even if the seedlings were worth keeping, division produces lots more phlox anyway.
I did have a previous experience with seeding and seedlings of the older cultivar 'White Admiral'. The plants produced were nondescript with wishy-washy pinkish flowers. I believe these represented reversions in the direction of the phlox' ancestry.
At the end of a hot muggy day , as the sun moves into its final position , and with the swallows dive bombing for mosquitoes Nothing , and I mean nothing , smells as good as Phlox David .
Whats weird is I had no ideal they had a scent until I gave up my 35 year smoking habit .
My feelings about Helenium Tie Dye have changed. It has darkened up and is quite colorful, and I am liking it better. I only wish I had pinched it back some. Here are some recent photos.
photographed in the morning before the sun hits it:
photographed in the afternoon when the sun hits it:
I have another one that is in a shadier spot all day and its more goldish orange, so will be moved.
Something that worked in the past when word wars broke out: just stop posting. Eventually the thread dies a natural and usually welcome death.
Funny thing is, the old thread sometimes pops up again months or years later because some unsuspecting soul has done a "search" and come across the original topic. Unbeknownst to them, they re-activate the hornet's nest.
Perhaps we could start the topic afresh with a slightly different name.Anyone who wants to keep fighting can talk to themselves here.
But you really have to restrain yourself from even posting "thanks" or "good idea" or "you stink" Every post brings it back to the top again.
My two cents worth ....
aseedisapromise:
Gazania said it very well about the Missouri Eve Primrose
You know how there is the 'great' debate re. a true blue flower. Well it seems cut and dried to me that the Missouri Primrose is the poster child for true yellow. I was out this morning and this young plant had two so sunny yellow blooms.
I've been cutting back Joe Pyes to tidy them up for over ten years. It makes a huge improvement. The plant is shorter, more compact, not likely to flop, and produces more blooms -- but a bit later. When they get to be about 18" tall, I shear tham back by half, and about a month after that, I cut them back again, but by about a third. I stop cutting them back around July 4th. The timing might be different in your area, but you know how to figure it out.
Rabbits did the job for me early in the season. In fact, they kept chewing my Little Joe to the ground over and over. I was afraid it wouldn't make it. For some reason, they stopped and it did recover. It just started to bloom about a week ago and is only around 2 feet tall, but I can't say it branched out like normal pinching does. It's definitely very full however - more from the base of the plant.
Kevin