I hope you all had a great weekend in the garden! With our cooler temperatures, plants are already starting their fall flush…what a great time to plant and move things around the garden. I want to share a recent exciting horticultural moment for us…nearly a decade ago, we were given seed of a rain lily
Zephyranthes katherine (rain lily) flowering Read More »
This lovely and rather large imperial moth showed up in the gardens Friday…a species that I can’t recall seeing here before.
I just caught Liriope muscari ‘Sideswiped’ in full flower making a lovely show. This unusual selection of the clumping monkey grass has irregular horizontal banding instead of vertical edges…like a zebra miscanthus. The non-weedy liriopes really make a lovely summer show in the garden…just beware of the aggressive spreading Liriope spicata that neighbors share all
Liriope ‘Sideswiped’ Read More »
Several of the South African geophytes (plants with swollen underground storage organs) are looking great today in the gardens here at Juniper Level. The top photo is the amazing Oxalis bowiei, which just emerged from summer dormancy. This 10″ gem is topped, almost as it emerges with stalks of large 1″ bright pink flowers. I
South African Geophyte Day – Oxalis and Eucomis Read More »
So, who is growing Penthorum sedoides? Who has ever heard of Penthorum sedoides? Well, it’s a US native perennial wildflower that can found in all but nine midwestern US states. It’s quite fascinating in flower now in our trial gardens, but I question whether anyone would actually buy it. Thoughts? Penthorum sedoides
Penthorum sedoides (Ditch Stonecrop) – a US native perennial Read More »
Here are photos I took yesterday of one of my favorite trees in the garden, Firmiana simplex. The common name, Chinese parasol tree came about since the seed pods look like umbrellas with little heads clustered underneath. We also love it for the bark, which stays green year round…a trait not seen in many winter
Firmiana simplex – Chinese Parasol Tree Read More »
The only plant we grow with leaves as wavy as our snake is this gem, growing in our rock garden, Manfreda undulata ‘Chocolate Chips’. This selection of the North American native Manfreda undulata is just too cool for words. I can’t imagine having a garden without this fantastic introduction from our friends at Yucca Do.
Manfreda undulata ‘Chocolate Chips’ Read More »
This fellow, a red-bellied water snake showed up under Anita’s car in our garage this weekend, where we found him happily dining on organic frog legs…and other frog parts. Our cat, Zirconia was interested, but unwilling due to his advanced age to engage this potential play toy.
Red-Bellied Water Snake Read More »
Also loving moist soils in the garden is our native Canna flaccida…yes, there are native canna lilies. Most folks grow Canna flaccida for the bright yellow flowers, but the seed pods that top the plant now are simply exquisite. When the pods dry, they can be shaken to produce a distinct rattling sound…great entertainment for
Another American native – Canna flaccida Read More »
Our native cardinal flower, Lobelia cardinalis is simply on fire in the garden now, with spikes reaching 5-6′ tall. As you can imagine, the hummingbirds are enjoying the tasty treat. Moist to wet, organically rich soils grow the tallest plants, although cardinal flower also grows in typical garden soils but just doesn’t get as tall.
Lobelia cardinalis – Cardinal flower Read More »
