Flowering now is the amazing Hymenocallis azteciana, from Northern Mexico. The wide glacous foliage, which doesn’t emerge until June, is enough reason to grow this dazzling spider lily, but the clumps are also topped with 3′ tall spikes of narrow-petalled white flowers, which open each evening. Our form is from an original collection in Jalisco, […]
Spider Lily of the Aztecs Read More »
Hibiscus ‘Summer Carnival’ is looking rather exceptional and unfazed in the garden, as we approach a week of temperatures in the 100s F. This amazing introduction from plant breeder Hans Hansen at Walters Gardens is the first stable variegated hardy hibiscus. This can be grown as a marginal aquatic, or as we have it planted
A Hot Summer Carnival Read More »
Our ten year old plant of Cryptomeria japonica ‘Gifu’ is looking quite lovely. Often sold under the trademark Dragon Prince, this compact selection from Japan’s Gifu Prefecture, is one of the smaller of the “dwarf” Japanese cedar selections. In our good growing conditions, our 10 year old plant has reached 2.5′ tall x 3.5′ wide,
Cornus kousa ‘Akatsuki’ and Asclepias perennis putting on a lovely light show in the summer garden. The white flowers of the native asclepias are a bright color echo of the white variegation of the dogwood. Cornus kousa ‘Akatsuki’, Asclepias perennis
Several of our new crinum seedlings are looking quite nice after our recent rain, so we wanted to share the beauty. Building up enough numbers to share takes years, so none of these are available yet. Most are winter hardy from Zone 7a and south, but a few should be fine into Zone 6. Enjoy.
I hate to be a tease, but… Read More »
Striking a pose in the moist garden is Sarracenia flava ‘Black Ascot’. This incredible, native yellow pitcher plant has a variety of amazing forms. The key for success is full sun for 6-8 hours, and moist toes (roots). We offered this selection for the first time in 2020. We have it in production again and
Through the years, we made a couple of selections of the giant Chinese Solomon’s Seal, Polygonatum martinii, including the one below, Polygonatum ‘Bellissimo’. These amazing plants often top 6′ tall, so are truly giants in the woodland garden. We’ll start chopping on this soon, so we can one day have enough to share.
Many folks don’t realize how the entrance to their garden sets their mood, as you drive in and out. Even apartment complexes now spend money on a somewhat higher quality of landscaping, understanding that it helps people feel better about where they live. Here is a recent shot of our home drive as we enter
Here is one of several clumps of the hardy Sinningia ‘Bananas Foster’ we planted along our patio retaining wall, where we can sit at night and watch the hummingbirds dine. This amazing plant flowers from May through the summer, so there’s no need to refill the red plastic feeders with high fructose water. These are
A Hummingbird Dessert – Bananas Foster Read More »
We are infatuated with the dwarf Greek daphne, Daphne jasminea, that lights up our dryland rock garden with small, white, star-shaped flowers in May and June. For us, flowering also continues sporadically throughout the summer. Our five year old specimen has reached 8″ tall x 20″ wide.
Look down at the White Stars Read More »
