Plant spree

I recently bought 20 plants at my favorite local nursery, Flower Factory, and managed to get all but one of them in the ground within 48 hours. I bought 2 to 5 plants of each variety except for three plants  that were onesies. Even those were joining their siblings in the garden so I felt that, though I bought a lot, I was very focused and didn't stray from my list. 

I added ferns (Dryopteris australis, Polystichum makinoi, P. polyblepharum), Lizula (wood rush) and Asaram splendens all to the Turtle Mound in my ongoing effort to stabilize the slopes that can no longer grow grass because of the shade. Dryopteris australis (Dixie Wood Fern) is a tall workhorse fern. I've been planting them for that last few years and they've come through every kind of winter and summer weather. 

A few fancy plants: Another hardy Begonia to hide another summer bare spot left by one of my dormant Trilliums. Heuchera 'Silver Gumdrop'; this summer marks my first venture into this Heuchera color. Tricyrtis 'Samuri', a shorter toad lily with gold-edged leaves and dramatic flowers for the front of the border. 

I've had a love/hate relationship with both native and European gingers (Asarum canadense and A. europaeum) because they proved to be almost invasive in my garden. But given the fact they are colonizing the Turtle and Buddha Mounds, I've made peace with them. Not only am I letting them spread to their heart's content, I've added A. splendens — the variegated beauty in the lower left corner of the photo above.

We've had a four day dry spell this week so I got out in the garden and worked, worked, worked as next week looks rainy again. Since it's the end of August, I plunked two shrubs and a small tree into holes in the border where they will sit until Spring. I hope by that time I will have decided where they should permanently be sited.  

Comments

[Lisa at Greenbow]

I am absolutely drooling over your acquisitions. I haven't been tempted to purchase or plant anything yet. It is bone dry here and supposed to be in the 90's for a week with no rain available. Rumor has it that our area will be breaking temperature records. We will see. I wouldn't be surprised. I did break down and purchase a few mums and pumpkins for a bit of decoration.

[Linda Brazill]

I shouldn't complain about too much rain when I see so many areas of the country with extremely high temps and little rain. I did some work dividing and moving things in an area that is more open and it was wet enough that I hope everything survives. Where I planted on the mounds the tree cover kept that area dry enough to work. We'll know next spring if it survives if I like the look!

[Kris P]

I wish I had your level of restraint, Linda. I'm joining a friend to visit a couple of our favorite nurseries up Ventura/Santa Barbara way in a week, and then attending my botanic garden's plant sale the following week. I have specific items on my list but I've no doubt I'll deviate. Getting the plants in the ground on a timely basis is also going to be a challenge as I'm trying to stay clear of the areas in the debris zone around the house. In the best of all possible worlds, I'd delay both plant shopping trips another month but the schedule has been set by specific sale announcements I've no control over.

[Nell]

Lack of rain and continued heat have kept me from going on any new plant sprees, so it's fun to hear about yours.

It's going to be a big enough challenge getting planned moves and transplants done when things finally cool down, in time to settle in before freezes. Unless maybe those freeze dates get pushed back in sync with the extended summer, which seems to last longer every year...

[ceci]

Its like you live in another world, confirmed by a situation where gingers become almost invasive! I'll need to remind myself when things go into deep freeze up there - I hope by then our heat and drought are over.

ceci

[Loree / danger garden]

That's a lot of plants! I've never heard of Dryopteris australis but love it's tree fern proportions. I wish I could get Asarum splendens to take hold in my garden. It lives, but doesn't spread.

[Beth@PlantPostings]

Love that place. Looks like you found some great acquisitions. I need to transplant some things before it gets too cold! And I have a large order of Alliums that I need to get in the ground, too, although I guess I have a little more time for that.

[Linda Brazill]

Tell me again where you live. I'm making a little cheat sheet so I can keep track of where my frequent commenters live. That way I will understand your references.

[Linda Brazill]

I've been planting Dyopteris australis for about three years and the older ones are stunning. Stand straight up at almost 3' tall. We'll see if the Asarum splendens works for me.

[Linda Brazill]

Our earliest fall freeze date is long past and still the night temps are up in the 40s. Since I still have a few mail order plants I am waiting for, that is a good thing as I usually don't try to plant this late. But one of my fave nurseries is going out of business so I just ordered some things yesterday. Hope I don't regret it.