Each Little World

A lasting solution

In the summer of 2018 I had my garden helper dig and divide the Hostas that were planted at the end of the driveway. We rearranged smaller plants into a nice grouping and I thought that little garden was done for good.

But the loss of a neighboring tree stressed them more than I anticipated. I'm not a big fan of Hosta flowers so I spent a lot of time removing the flower stems and damaged foliage. Then the Hostas filled in so fast they were going to need diving agains. I realized I had created a high maintenance bed. It was small but called for too much attention. 

Last summer I started over and decided to recreate the no-maintenance bed I had designed in the traffic island in front of our house. 

I put in three groups of Allium 'Millennium' surrounded by Calamintha nepeta ssp. nepeta with two blue Hostas that withstood the conditions in that location better than the others. For some early season color I planted Muscari and big Alliums. Then I added a few clumps of Penstemon 'Dark Towers' from the back garden where they were getting shaded out. A few weeks ago I added a row of Allium senescent 'Glaucum' across the front edge of the bed. When the city does our big street project next year, the sign will be removed. 

I am crazy in love with this bed — even though I have to stand in the street to get a proper view of it. 

It is always alive with bees and pollinators and needs no supplemental water during dry spells. 

i had forgotten I plunked in a Geranium wallichianum 'Crystal Lake' until it made its way through the Calamintha to the light. It is a lovely companion to the Alliums. A. Millennium blooms later than A. 'Summer Beauty' which was in the traffic island. It also has tighter spheres and a more intense color. 

Since plants don't stop growing, I will have to do some work here in the future as well. But all of the plants here now are much easier to deal with than a Hosta bed. Even the two Hostas I left in place are smaller sized and so shouldn't be quite as much work as the massive ones that were here before. 

Potted and pleased

I have a lot of lovely pots in my garden but I rarely fill them with plants. For a few years I put a big pair on the deck on either side of our British bench. Each one held a boxwood; then I swiped that for a big blue Hosta in each. But this year, I somehow seem to have filled at least a dozen pots with plants. Some were intentional and some happenstance. Initially I fell for a number of Begonias and wanted a way to display them for the summer. 

A pair of large wood fired stoneware pots are on opposite sides of the path in the area with most of my flowering plants. Each features a Begonia and a deeply colored Geranium. 

I was thinking of these plants as annuals and did not save most tags. This one is getting more sun than it wants and is showing some leaf burn. 

I grabbed this one at a nursery recently to pop into a hole before a tour. Once the tour groups left, I moved it to the deck. 

The flowers were lovely waving in the wind. But it's the stems that are the noteworthy part of this plant.

I needed a home for my last Begonia; a silvery leaved variety. I put it in a big pot with a number of plants that were so crowded elsewhere in the garden that I pulled them out and added them to the pot. i am particularly pleased with the Begonia/Hosta color combo.

The plants that wouldn't fit got pots of their own. Note that I used native Penn Sedge as a filler/mulch throughout this big pot. 

Herbs are on the nearby steps. 

I used little pieces of tree bark as mulch. I kept finding it on the ground after windy days and decided to see how it would work in small pots.  

I often put a shrub in a pot until I find time — and the right location — to plant it. This is Thuja orientalis 'Franky Boy.'

This one has white shells and flat stones used as mulch.

I saw Gladiolus murielae in a friend's garden last summer and fell in love with the flowers. I put my two pots of bulbs up on bricks which has deterred critters from digging in them — at least so far. 

I decided my Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis 'Sugar Shack') was not happy where I planted it last year. So I put it in this big pot while I decide on its new home. I was hoping it would provide a bit of shade to the nearby plants as the Pagoda Dogwood that sheltered them died. 

I pick up the biggest pine cones and save them to use as decorative mulch in pots where they are visible. 

There are always pine cones on the paths and in the beds in my garden so I set out a pot where I can collect them when I find them. I just added a second pot for sticks and weeds. That way I don't have to keep taking debris down to my work area every time I pick something up. The pot of weedy bits may not be the most attractive container but I am thrilled with what a step-saver it is. I'm also amazed at how quickly I keep filling it up.

I'm not sure whether all these pots mean I am about to become a container gardener, but I've been having fun. They're mostly in two locations so it hasn't even been a big task keeping them watered. All the pots, except for the ones made of terracotta, are wood-fired stoneware by Mark Skudlarek of Cambridge, WI.

Opposite effects

Two orange lilies just opened across the path from each other. They could not be more different or create more opposite moods.This is an Asiatic lily, 'Forever Susan.' I personally call her 'Suddenly Susan.' When she opens, the garden is suddenly transformed. The word 'forever' makes me think of something old and delicate which 'Susan' definitely is not.

Across the path is Lilium canadense, a very delicate beauty. This one is in its first season and is not very tall. I have a small group of this lily in red, yellow and orange. Once you discover these lilies you will be hooked. 

Garden fireworks

Love the way the foliage from Iris reticulata shoots up like fireworks after the flowers are gone. 

Crossing my fingers

Last weekend temps got up into the 80s followed by overnight lows hovering at frost levels. Day time temps have been chilly with mostly gray skies. We're supposed to hit 60°F. today and tomorrow and then drop back into the 50s for the next ten days.

The good news is that the overnight lows are all expected to be in the 40s, so I can plant the four mail-order shipments of perennials that are sitting in the living room, front hall and basement sink. 

A friend and I went window shopping for trees and shrubs at our fave nursery, K & A, on Tuesday. We bundled up, but we were still freezing. Here's the reality of our weather: All the perennials at the nursery were under covers and many had to be moved back into the greenhouse as we all wait for Spring to decide to stick around.

Two pots of tender bulbs on the left. First time I've tried to grow these and I'm nervous about how long it's taking for them to appear; as well as how long they've been stuck in the house. On the right are Orchids and Cyclamen: house plants waiting to go outdoors for the summer. In the middle are a mix of plants ready to go in the ground today.

I was expecting this small package of Cyclamen and Primula from Edelweiss Perennials but had not noticed the alert that I was also getting a package from Broken Arrow Nursery. Actually two big packages from them filled with evergreen and deciduous shrubs. Both nurseries sent beautiful plants wonderfully packaged. Can't wait for it to warm up a couple more degrees and then I'm off to plant and play in the garden. 

GBBD: 4.15.2022

The week began with temperatures in the 60°'s, leading me to expect a lot of blooms to showcase today. Alas it was downhill from there with a week of freezing overnight lows that began on Wednesday, followed by very high winds all day yesterday. So the garden looks pretty much the way it did at the beginning of the week. We're both still waiting for pleasant spring weather to stay here for more than a day or two.

Crocus (above)

Iris histrioides 'George'

Iris reticulata 'Harmony'

The garden is awash in Chionodoxa; stems are visible everywhere but few flowers yet.

Hellebores are attractive at every stage. This is H. 'Sandy Shores' from the H. Honeymoon series.

I moved the two Hellebores (above and below) a few years ago and they've settled into their new home nicely. 

They're both probably H. 'Royal Heritage' strain

H. niger 'Sunset Group,' a rare Hellebore whose flowers face outward.

Hepatica 'Apple Blossom'

Hepatica nobilis 'European Pink'

A wonderfully quirky-colored Iris reticulata hybrid — 'Mars Landing' — that is 5 years old and has not increased. I need to find a source to get more. 

To see what's blooming in other gardens, visit Carol Michel who hosts the monthly meme: Garden Bloggers Bloom Day.

Between the raindrops

Tuesday afternoon was warmer and sunnier than it's been for a while. I worked in the garden for a couple of hours, mostly cutting back Hellebore foliage as the flowers are quickly pushing up. Also caged a few plants that I know the rabbits will eat if I don't protect them. I'm already seeing some new foliage that has been munched. 

Helleborus torquatus

Helleborus x hybridus 'Kingston Cardinal' from Dan Hinkley of Heronswood Nursery fame. This is an longtime stalwart in my garden, planted in 2008. I think Hellebores are like species Peonies: attractive in all seasons. 

Helleborus niger in the front garden. It's had buds hidden under the snow for weeks, if  not months. 

These flowers always look more fragile than the Hellebores that bloom in the spring. This is a late fall/winter bloomer and has been waiting a long time.

The snowdrops looked perfect in the brief warmth and sun. This is Galanthus gracillus ex. 'Montrose', bulbs I got from a blogging friend who is also a Galanthophile. The plastic milk carton is protecting Martagon lily bulbs while I make cages.

Galanthus 'Straffan'

Clearly I added a clump of new snowdrop bulbs to a spot where I had already put a few G. 'Magnet'. Magnet is twice as big with a very distinctive look. 

This little gem popped up next to the deck where I don't recall planting any snowdrops. I have planted two different varieties with yellow markings over the years, but have had little success with them. So it's frustrating to finally see them and be unsure as to what I am, in fact, seeing. Is it 'Blonde Inge' or 'Primrose Warburg'?

 Luckily the folks over at the Snowdrops in American Gardens FB page said it's G. 'Blonde Inge.' This is a great group and I love seeing the incredible variety of unusual snowdrops and rare spring ephemerals the members post. 

Galanthus 'Magnet' is my favorite and is easily identified by the flower shape and the way it dangles off its pedicle. 

G. woronowii has distinctive foliage: wide and shiny. 

Galanthus 'White Dreams'

I don't like the look of labels all over the garden and there are few that are readable after a winter or two. So I make notes about where I planted things on the back of the id card for each plant. This spring I am taking wider shots to help me remember just who is where. 

Not much else is showing so I've left the dead Hellebore foliage as another aid in indentification.

Across the path, I've noted two main plants in this area and where I'm widely spreading some snowdrops. The Paeona japonica is pushing up but I always leave stalks so I don't accidentally step on them at this point. 

As these area fill in I want to take another set of photos where I can see the surrounding plants and the clumps of snowdrop foliage. Even a rough idea of where these bulbs are planted will be helpful as I work on this bed and the one above this year. 

Alas, I woke up to snow this morning and looks like it will continue for a while. Temp is currently 32°F. with the high today only getting up to 36°F. I'm taking it as a sign that I must stay indoors and make some new cages for the plants that are likely to start appearing this weekend when it warms up. 

Goodbye to March

Rain on Wednesday turned into snow sometime during the night. March arrived very lamb-like, so I suppose I should not be surprised that it left with a growl. Or maybe that's just me growling at the weather. The much-needed moisture is appreciated, but I would really like to see some flowers. I went out yesterday morning to check the rain gauge and snapped a few photos. Even a little bit of snow transforms the garden.

I walked left off of the deck and came around the gravel garden with the long view up to the Tea House.

The change in the temperature overnight meant that the top of the rain gauge was frozen in place. I could see how much was in the tube, however; another inch and a quarter in the last two days. 

The first snowdrops have been beaten down so much with rain and snow that I think they're past their prime. Hope the later ones still show up to make a splash.

More rain is forecast for Saturday and next Monday through Thursday. Last summer and most of the winter, the forecasts have been off. It seems like reality has finally caught up with them. They say rain is coming and there it is. 

IVOM: The end and the beginning

Last week it rained on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Then it started to snow on Friday. Saturday and Sunday, the overnight lows went down to 17°F.

I went out yesterday afternoon to see if there were any flowers to bring indoors. The first bloom I came across was a small dried Hydrangea arborescens flower that had flown over the fence from my east side neighbor. The shrub it came from is actually one that had been growing on my side of the fence and travelled underneath into their garden. I dug mine out years ago, so it was rather fun to get one of the flowers. 

I clipped a frond of an autumn fern to join it in a tiny wood-fired vase by Tony Gebauer of Door County. The raku vase is by the late Wisconsin artist John Natale. 

My earliest snowdrops (Galanthus varieties) were fallen over or closed up again. I decided to pick a few in hopes they'd open and perk up indoors. Voila!

The ones with green tips are G. nivalis viridapice. The ones spread wide open are G. 'Magnet', the rest are likely G. plicatus 'Dionysus'.

My grandmother's tiny Chinese cloisonné vase is the perfect container for them. 

Spring meets winter

There's still snow on the ground and it's cold outside; only 19°F. (-7° C.) at noon and supposedly only feels like 9°F. But my snowdrops "in the green" from Carolyn's Shade Garden in Pennsylvania arrived in the mail just now. 

I potted them up and will plant them out next week when it's warmer. I can see snowdrops, planted in the garden in years past, poking through in the sunniest spots.

I should have some flowering blooming next week. I can't wait. That's Galanthus 'Wasp' on the left and G. 'Mrs. Macnamara' on the right.