The ideal conditions for a great rain lily flowering season is a dry period followed by rain. This summer, we’ve had that in spades. Following 23 days with no rain, we’ve had 8″ in the last two weeks. Rain lilies of the Amaryllid genus, Zephyranthes are designed to hold their flower buds below ground until
Deluged with Rain Lilies Read More »
Running into our fascinating native green tree frogs, Hyla cinerea, is a regular occurrence at JLBG, and I seem unable to resist taking far too many photos of these amazing creatures. Recently, I was able to capture a ventral view for the first time, when one perched on my office window, doing its spiderman impersonation.
One of the trees that the late J.C. Raulston cherished, and hoped to see become more widely planted is the Asian (China, Japan, Korea) native, Euscaphis japonica, commonly called the Korean sweetheart tree. This little-known genus consists of only two species, and in 2017, one taxonomist proposed eliminating the genus altogether, and moving it into
In 2018, we offered the variegated rose of sharon, Hibiscus syriacus ‘Carpa’. Although it sold well, we never managed to offer it again. In the meantime, the plants in our garden have made truly outstanding specimens to 8′ tall x 4′ wide. What we like the most is that it has produced zero seedlings. Many
Carpa Diem – Seize the Hibiscus Read More »
The old British wartime quote could certainly apply to the beautiful Campsis grandiflora ‘Morning Calm’. This J.C. Raulston introduction is a summer flowering machine. We have long been fascinated by this amazing Asian (China, Japan) vine, a sister to the misbehaving North American native trumpet creeper, Campsis radicans. While I appreciate Campsis radicans in the
Keep Calm and Carry On Read More »
Flowering in the garden today is the little-known Southeast US native, Rudbeckia mohrii. This odd coneflower can only be found naturally from nine counties on the border of Florida and Georgia, where it thrives with pitcher plants in flooded ditches. The plant is named for German born pharmacist, turned Alabama botanist, Charles Theodore Mohr. Mohr
Mohr, Mohr, Mohr…How do you like this Coneflower Read More »
One of the joys of growing plants from seed is to study the amazing variability within seedlings. Below is one of our outstanding Agave ovatifolia seedling selections from 2014. This form is very compact and dense, with wonderfully pleated foliage. Since this species never offsets, it will flower and die, unless we destroy the central
Jabba the Century Plant Read More »
After finally getting some long overdue rain, the crinum lilies have put on quite a show. The crinum flower season at JLBG runs from March thru October. Here are a few of the July flowering cultivars to enjoy. These amaryllid family members form huge underground bulbs, making them difficult for most nurseries to offer in
The Crinums of Summer Read More »
Looking lovely in the rock garden this month, despite the heat and drought is our 10 year-old patch of the Greek native, Dittany of Amorgos (Origanum calcaratum). This amazing woody perennial oregano can be found on island like Crete, hanging out in crevices of limestone cliffs. At JLBG, we grow it in our gravel amended
Dittany of Amorgos Read More »
We have long been fascinated with tissue culture, and it’s ability to produce a large number of difficult to propagate plants in a short time. Without tissue culture, many of the plants we grow in our gardens today, simply wouldn’t be available. New hostas, that we all enjoy, would still be priced north of $200
The Great Lab Experiment Read More »
