13,520 Garden Web Discussions | Perennials
A couple of others I forgot previously:
My Siberian iris is at least 35 years old. It was already growing at a house I rented for a while, and I divided it and spread it around, and then took some divisions with me through another house and now to this garden. I don't know how long it had been growing at the original house, but it was built in the late 40's or early 50's I think.
My Ville de Lyon Clematis is probably well over a dozen years old and shows no sign of slowing down. It has somehow managed to avoid being completely eaten by the voles.
I moved more plants than furniture. There was still a lot for the new owner. A great many of the neighbors helped themselves in the interim. Neighbors left plenty for the new owner who was clueless about plants. New owner was not a gardener but he was not a rapper outer either. I drive by and it still looks like my garden, just needs some weeding. The neighbors will be over to do the thinning.
Arlene, just wanted to say that the quality of your photos is lovely! I would love to hear what kind of equipment and any special techniques you use, though obviously your skill with your camera contributes the largest part to the beauty of your shots.
do you plan on building more new beds???
if so.. i would use this space as a nursery bed.. to grow out quite a number of plants.. that i would move to the new beds in fall ... just kinda jam them in there ...
there arent many 18 inch roses... so i dont understand that limitation ... and if you google up some images.. . you will see that your rose.. has the potential to fill that whole spot ...
and i am wondering why you planted it so deep.. that the bud union is below grade .... there are at least 3 rose forums.. if you wish to learn from those peeps ...
if that is your native soil.. i am jealous ....
ken
The white fence is from when I tried to make the area a larger bed but never took it down.The area in front of the bed is prone to spring flooding so I had to make it the smaller but raised bed.I have more soil and I plan to seed the area surround the area with grass to improve the entire area. I planted the rose according to the care card instructions so the bud union is about 1" to 2" below the surface.The poppy is going to be exchanged today b/c I have a Shorthair that like to eat grass so I don't want him high on opiates ;) Thanks for all the tips
Well now I feel silly.The Shasta/Montauk Daisy's I thought were not coming up are actually the Hollyhock "Fiesta Time' I planted in the same garden next to each other and forgot which was which,DOH. I really hate biennials. BTW,the Shasta/Montauk Daisy's are coming up really nice but still no sign of the Rudbeckia Hirta "Gloriosa Daisy Prairie Sun" yet ;)
Wrongly assuming legumes always grew well in alkaline soil, I was mortified to find that lupins simply turned up their toes at the slightest whiff of alkalinity. Preferring a soil ph of 6.5, they gradually grew feeble and chlorotic and faded away. Along with the (failed) trillium, this was one of my first lessons in the importance of soil ph.
Thank you, Camp! I ordered some Dutch Clover and some of their *mini* clover. My plan is to mix the two and also add a little grass seed for good measure. I think I'll just scratch the surface, sow, then maybe throw some compost on top, water if dry and hope for the best!
The seeds don't really need a covering but they do need to make a good connection with the soil, so rolling the seeds (or walking on them) helped...I tried to do it after a bit of rain (no water in the woods) and never needed to irrigate, once it germinated. (I also mixed in some grass seed).
I too have the variegated one shown above and it doesn't revert...had no idea it was capable of that, lol. It is a very vigorous grower! If you are in Canada, I'll ship you some!
My neighbour has the green one. It has invaded my corner in the back. I keep having to pull it out, but I'll never get rid of it. Sure you want it? I would recommend growing it in pots and submerging them in the ground to at least be able to somewhat control it...if you want control...or just let it grow if you don't mind it travelling.
the fritillaria.. is one of the very few things in nature.. that present an almost perfect square ... the white dots .. and that has always amazed me ...
if you mull on it.. most things in nature are flowing.. or curved.. or round ...
one of very favorite spring flowers...
they actually grow from fallen seed.. here in MI ... IF YOU CAN FIGURE OUT HOW NOT TO PULL OUT THE SMALL BABES NEXT SPRING.. THAT LOOK EXACTLY LIKE GRASS ...
KEN
A pic from yesterday of the new leaves of Cimicifuga 'James Compton':
'Pink Spike' probably has that name for commercial reasons. I've seen it in a friend's garden and does not differ that much from other dark leaved cultivars. Not a bad plant but if you read the words 'pink spike' you expect to get a plant with pink and not white spikes ;)
I really love the scent of Cimicifuga (still refuse to call them Actaea). Wish I could bottle it!
Glad to know the ultimate size of the species racemosa. I will have to rearrange my plans….better now than later. When I am planting a bareroot sometimes it’s hard to visualize. They are due on Tuesday.
The far end of the beds have the most room for spread. I just moved two standard goatbeards there, from the center where they were too tall. I think I’ll put 2 of the racemosa next to them, and center the third where I take out the old James Compton. I’ll move the latter to a sunnier spot, maybe it will do something.