13,520 Garden Web Discussions | Perennials
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.
It isn't Linaria purpurea- the stem/foliage on those are pretty glaucus. Plus the flowers are distinctly snapdragon-like ;-)
While I've never seen a purple loosestrife in real life, I always thought the flowers were "fatter"?
I'm fairly certain it IS a Veronica. Could be a Veronicastrum if the whole head (with side shoots of flowers) wasn't picked. My bet still goes with Veronica though ;-) I've noticed the flower density/how close packed the flowers are really differs from cultivar to cultivar. It always seems the longifolia types are longer and "sparse" looking somehow.
Pic below of my 'Red Fox' Veronica to show how the stigmas are left behind. Link shows it on Veronicastrum...
CMK
Here is a link that might be useful: Veronicastrum
Picture certainly looks similar.
From memory, I'd have said not Veronicastrum virginicum.
Unfortunately have already cut them back.
However, picture of 'Lavendelturm' (Lavender Towers: in the reference picture) in our garden in July.
.
This post was edited by SunnyBorders on Sun, Aug 25, 13 at 1:39
I'm with your parents and would like to eliminate them as well due to their sloppy habit of falling over but chances are you'll find them cropping up in other spots--they do seed around. Check them out on Google if you're interested in more information. As christinmk mentioned, Tradescantia is the botanical name; the common name is spiderwort. While they do attract pollinators, they're not my favorite perennial thanks to their floppy habit.
They are pretty sad looking. At my house I have lots of areas bordering the woods that I want to landscape with wildflowers and natural plants. I think they'll work out well there. In exchange, I gave my parents the iris tubers that were also ID'd on this forum. Love a good trade :)
Wow, lots of great things here! Reading through this thread, I realized I have more tiny things than I thought!
I just bought two variegated Mouse Ears hosta (I think they are called Frosted Mouse Ears) and hosta Cameo, another mini (which is kinda funny because I also just bought a hosta Empress Wu and Komodo Dragon - for another thread, perhaps?). I was enchanted with them as soon as I opened the box!
I also have some tiny astilbe, whose name escapes me, cyclamen, creeping sedum (one very tiny one again whose name escapes me at the moment). I used to have oomphaloides, but they died out on me. I also love primroses and portulaca, and lily of the valley. Love creeping phlox but sadly it does not love me.
As for spring plants, I do have a lot of the minor bulbs - crocuses, iris reticulata, chionodoxa, scilla, grape hyacinths, dwarf early narcissus, snowdrops, and species tulips, all of which are very welcome sights in the spring! I've got some fall-blooming crocus as well.
Akebono, you reminded me of bluets, which I never would have mentioned because I never planted them and thought they were a "weed". For the 17 years I've been here, every spring they just pop up in a large spot in my so-called lawn. Everyone loves them - even my husband and son mow around them when they mow the lawn. I never knew what they were till about ten years ago when I got curious and finally looked them up.
Funny how walking past all these little things can bring a big smile to your face!
Dee
Hi all!
I saw Franeli's photo and comments regarding the lingonberry. I'm right at the borderline zone for it to grow. My mother tried once and it did not work. I may give it a go. Could you tell me how many mature plants are needed to make the 1 cup sauce? I always buy it for the holidays. If I could grow it, I'd feel like I'd get an added bonus! thanks all for letting me diverge.....
I've never grown it myself but, if you Google it, it's generally accepted that it's high on the invasive list.
the link post.. just fell to page 2 ...
you WILL regret... not removing it
ken
Here is a link that might be useful: link