Anita and I are always looking for ways to improve our photography skills since capturing the essence of a garden in a photograph can be a challenge with all the variables that mix to create a satisfying image. Practice is one of the keys to improvement and so is learning techniques from garden photography professionals. We […]
Garden Photography – Photo Capture and Processing Workshop Read More »
The rain lilies are quite incredible in the garden now as summer rains have them blooming almost constantly. Here are two images taken this week…top is Zephyranthes ‘Batik’, and the bottom is Zephyranthes ‘Rose Perfection’. Rain lilies can tolerate bone dry conditions for months, then the flowers explode 3 days after a rain shower. Flowering
Rain Lilies flowering up a storm Read More »
If your ferns arrive a tiny bit crushed, please excuse us. I discovered the culprit early this morning when checking inventory in the greenhouses. Evidently our fox babies love ferns as much as our customers…in this case, the perfect spot for an early morning cat nap.
Cat nap in the ferns Read More »
After another deluge of rain last night, we’re now sitting at 7″ of rain for the last week, which leaves us nearly 10″ above our yearly norm…progress on the ark isn’t happening nearly fast enough. On the positive side, I’d taken lots of cool mushroom photos this summer including this un-named specimen above that struck
Someone hurry and finish the ark Read More »
We’re looking for a part-time equipment operator who can operate a tractor, mower, and preferably a skid steer and front end loader. Hours may be up to 40 hours some weeks, and less when weather or work load dictates. If you know anyone who has this skill set and might be interested, please have them
Wanted – Equipment Operator – Part time Read More »
I had read countless expert accounts, both on-line and in print, that Ferocactus wislizeni wouldn’t grow outdoors in our cold wet winter NC climate. Indeed, I had failed with plants from commercial sources, so in 2005, I went hiking into the Arizona mountains (Pima County), where I found seed on a plant at 3700′ elevation.
Ferocactus wislizeni – genetics matter Read More »
Here are our top two performing agapanthus in full flower now…top is Agapanthus ‘Stevies’ Wonder‘ and the bottom is Agapanthus ‘Ellamae’. We’ve trialed lots of agapanthus, and these are absolutely the best we’ve grown, both with 3′ tall flower stalks that have been flowering for several weeks and are still growing strong.
Agapanthus – blue flowers for the summer garden Read More »
Here’s our Vietnamese selection of the elephant ear cousin, Remusatia vivipara. I found this form with dark black leaf back patterns while sliding down a moist hillside in North Vietnam during monsoon season. Not only has it survived our very cold winters, but it looks really cool when planted where it can be backlit by
Remusatia vivipara elephant ear Read More »
Allium ‘Millenium’ is looking great now in our full sun rock garden. As I travel around the country, it’s great to see this ornamental onion finally getting planted more. Unlike many of the larger alliums that go summer dormant, this one doesn’t really start flowering until mid-July and continues until fall…a favorite of yellow swallowtail
Allium ‘Millenium’ Read More »
We’re currently busy evaluating and naming lycoris hybrids for possible introduction. Here’s a cross of Lycoris incarnata and Lycoris longituba that we’ve named Lycoris ‘Stargazer’ for possible introduction in 2015. The question is…do you like it and would you purchase it? Height is about 2′ tall and winter hardiness should be Zone 4-5.
Lycoris ‘Stargazer’ Read More »
