I just snapped this photo of one of my all-time spring garden favorites…the hardy orchid, Calanthe sieboldii. These easy-to-grow woodland orchids prefer average to slightly moist soil. We’re just a the tip of peak orchid season in the woodland gardens here at Juniper Level.
Calanthe sieboldii – hardy orchid Read More »
Plants in the nursery cold frames are finally emerging as spring begins. Here’s a new photo from one of our hosta greenhouses. If you’re used to receiving small, recently propagated hostas from other mail order companies, we think you’ll be pleasantly shocked at the size of our hostas.
Hostas emerging at Plant Delights Read More »
It was great to finally see Trillium viridescens in the wild, although due to the cold spring, only a couple of plants were beginning to flower. These also grew in floodplains, where they were unfortunately being devastated by the excessive deer populations…a problems that must be addressed before we loose more valuable plant populations. I
Trillium viridescens Read More »
Another plant that really threw us for a loop were the populations of dwarf Trillium sessile. These plants all topped out between 2″ and 3″ tall…totally unlike any of the other Trillium sessile that we’ve ever seen. Very cute!
Trillium sessile dwarfs Read More »
It’s always exciting when you find a variegated plant in the wild, so here is one of our discoveries…a variegated sport on Cynoglossum virginicum…our native woodland Hound’s tonuge.
Variegated Hound’s Tongue – Cynoglossum Read More »
I’m going through my toothwort phase, so was thrilled find this serrate-edged, silver-leaf form of Dentaria angustata. Dentaria, or cardamine as they are now officially known are great native spring ephemerals that are sadly little-known by gardeners.
Silver-leaf toothwort Read More »
It was great to finally see Phlox bifida in the wild, although we were shocked to see where it grew. We expected to find it on dry shale banks with Viola pedata, but instead found it growing in soggy wet seeps.
Erythronium rostratum, one of the most beautiful of the trout lilies, was everywhere in low, moist soils. What an amazing spring ephemeral! We’re starting to grow this from seed, so hopefully if all goes well, we’ll have some to share in a few years.
Erythronium rostratum Read More »
Much to our surprise, winter decided to make one last surprise visit to Juniper Level, so our garden and research staff are scrambling to cover plants who thought it was safe to come out of the ground. Current local forecasts are calling for 32F, so that means hostas, calanthe and bletilla orchids, and podophyllums get
One last gasp of winter Read More »
It’s a regular swarm of activity in the gardens at Juniper Level Botanic Garden today on so many levels. First, this gaggle of honeybees decided to vacate their dwelling is search of better digs. Right now, they’re gathered on an alder, waiting on a community organizer to arrive and direct them further.
A swarm of activity at Plant Delights Read More »
