Oh my stars!

Corydalis temulifolia ‘Chocolate stars’

Gardens Illustrated magazine describes it this way: “Wonderful crinkle-edged, rust-coloured foliage in winter becomes almost orange in March. By April, lavender flowers deck the now bronze leaves. The whole plant gradually fades to olive green by June and sits unobtrusively in the garden until November when the first frost knocks back the green leaves and reveals the new rusty leaves emerging from below. It is a sight for sore eyes in February.”

I think that sounds just divine.

Image Source: John Grimshaw’s Garden Diary

Make Way for Hellebores

One of the very sure signals of winter’s departure is the emergence of Hellebore buds in my garden. Although some species can bloom as early as Christmas, mine are late winter bloomers, hence the common name Lenten Rose.

I grow Hellebores for their evergreen foliage, but the bonus is the very early blooms. They are relatively care-free and make great companion plants to my Hostas. Hellebores are typically sold as shade plants and that indeed is one of the benefits of this plant, but many Hellebores can receive a fair amount of sun all year long and do just fine.

When the weather cooperates, I jump outdoors and remove the old tattered foliage to reveal the emerging flower stalks beneath. This practice known as “deadleafing” shows off the flowers much better than leaving them to compete against the old battered foliage.

To begin, I inspect the plants to check how high the buds are. This is my cue for how close to let the pruners come to the plant’s interior. Note: On old leaves its normal to see browning and blackening of tissues as the individual leaves go through their natural life cycles. If you see this in otherwise active and healthy tissue, it could be a sign of a fatal disease known as “Black Death”.

Next, I snip away at the plant removing the old stems and leaves. This technique need not be precise. The new growth will eventually cover the snipped stems.

I collect the spent foliage and discard it away from the garden. This will reduce the spread of any harbored disease to other plants.

There, all nice and trim. Over the next week or so, the plant will fill out and hide the recent cuts. When blooms are spent, simply remove them and enjoy the lovely evergreen foliage all year long.

Although Hellebores will grow in a variety of soil conditions, adequate soil preparation is the key to long-term health and vigor. This is true for many ornamental perennials. Welcome Spring!

New Shade Garden Plants: Part 2

Yes, I know it’s bit insane when you consider how many new plants I’ve introduced at Sutherland this year. But in my defense, most were on sale, or purchased with my employee discount at the garden center. And a bit of review for the newer readers: we have spent the last several years painstakingly clearing, cleaning, and amending the property and soil so we could at long last begin the fun part– planting! The following concludes my list of shade loving plants that were incorporated into the garden this season. I hope you see something you like, or better yet, have some personal experience with any of them that you can share with me.

 

Hosta ‘Fire Island’

The brilliant yellow leaves of this Hosta really caught my attention earlier this spring. By summer, the leaves had turned chartreuse and the base of each leaf stained with red from the petioles. As this plant matures, it should develop rippled edges and just a touch of corrugation (already evident on some leaves). I’m a sucker for yellow and chartreuse in the shade garden.

Height: 10-14”

Spread: 15-30”

Exposure: Part shade, Full shade

Bloom time: Midsummer

Bloom color: Lavender shades

Water: Even moisture, regular

 

Hosta ‘Hollywood Lights’

Whenever I see a pretty green Hosta, I snatch it up. So often, the green plants take a back seat to the blue, yellow and variegated variaties. The asymmetry of the variegation is refreshing after seeing so many “perfect” specimens at leaf shows. Each leaf is distinctive with the interplay of dark green margins and chartreuse centers.

Height: 23”

Spread: 43”

Exposure: Part shade, Full shade

Bloom time: Midsummer

Bloom color: Pale Lavender shades

Water: Even moisture, regular

 

Hosta ‘Hyuga Urajiro’

I can hardly pronounce the name of this little guy! It’s by far the most unusual Hosta I have in the garden. The top side of the leaves are frost blue with fine yellow streaks while the underside have a metallic silver sheen. The blooms are fantastic on arching stems– white with just a hint of pink. I’m not a fan of streaked Hostas, but I had to give this odd plant a try.

Height: 8-10”

Spread: 14-16”

Exposure: Part shade, Full shade

Bloom time: Midsummer

Bloom color: White shades

Water: Even moisture, regular

 

Crytomium x fortunei - Fortune’s Cold Hardy Holly Fern

Can ferns be macho? I say yes, and tend to be drawn to those that appear more masculine. Fortune’s has tough-looking woodland style with strong upright form and holly-like leaf formations. A nice departure from the more dainty ferns, which tend to resemble green doilies in the garden.

Height: 18-24”

Spread: 15-18”

Exposure: Part shade, Full shade

Bloom time: NA

Bloom color: NA

Water: Even moisture, regular

 

Dryopteris erythrosoia - Autumn Fern or Japanese Shield Fern

When I created my first Hosta bed, I envisioned a collection of mostly Hostas sprinkled with an occasional Hellebore and some gold grasses for contrast. As the bed grew, so did my appetite for differing plants, and dare I say color? I really like the contrasting warm tones on the new fronds of the Autumn Fern against the many shades of green, gold, and blue from the neighboring plants.

Height: 12-18”

Spread: 12-18”

Exposure: Part shade, Full shade

Bloom time: NA

Bloom color: NA

Water: Even moisture, regular

 

Polystichum polyblepharum - Tassel Fern 

Maybe what I really want is a fern garden!? Here’s another fern that I’ve introduced to the Hosta garden. The Tassel Fern is all about texture. It’s a sturdy fern with luscious shiny dark green fronds that bend backward after they emerge. The word “polyblepharum” means “many eyelashes.” Oh, and did I mention, deer resistant?

Height: 18-24”

Spread: 12-15”

Exposure: Part shade, Full shade

Bloom time: NA

Bloom color: NA

Water: Even moisture, regular

 

Euphorbia x martinii ‘Ascot Rainbow’

This was a great find! It looked terrific in the pot and has just gotten better and better since it’s been in the ground– even through the drought. The foliage and bracts are stunning in shades of cream, lime, and green. As the weather cools, the ends should become red, orange, and pink shades. Chalk this up as an excellent heat and drought tolerant plant. Technically not a ‘shade’ plant, it resides in sunny area within the shade garden.

Height: 20”

Spread: 20”

Exposure: Full Sun, Part Shade

Bloom time: Late spring

Bloom color: Multicolored

Water: Low to Average water needs

 

Heuchera ‘Plum Pudding’

As noted in a previous post, I’ve planted around 40 of these in one mass planting. I’m a big fan of purple/burgundy foliage plants. I find the lovely plum-purple leaves with dark purple veins on this Heuchera quite sumptuous. It blooms in white/cream shades, but I find the flowers on most Heuchera quite distracting, so I cut them off immediately after they bloom. Looking forward to a big batch of plum pudding next spring.

Height: 8-10”

Spread: 12-16”

Exposure: Full Sun, Full shade

Bloom time: Late spring to midsummer

Bloom color: White shades

Water: Average water needs

 

Heuchera ‘Purple Petticoats’

The photo your are looking at was not taken by me. It’s actually from the Terra Nova website, where I learned that ‘Purple Petticoats’ placed first for winter foliage at a top horticultural show during one of Holland’s toughest winters. The frilly edges of the leaves are accentuated by the clinging frost. I hope to witness this chilly effect in my own garden this coming winter.

Height: 12”

Spread: 24”

Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade

Bloom time: Spring

Bloom color: White shades

Water: Average water needs

 

New Shade Garden Plants: Part 1

Working at a Garden Center and Nursery has been a blessing and a curse at the same time. It’s very difficult to resist the urge of bringing home new plants everyday. From time to time, I give into temptation and add a little something here and there at Sutherland. Looking back though, I guess it’s been more than just ‘a little’ something. Maybe I have a problem. Could I be turning into a plant collector? Could it be time for an intervention?

Before the big drought, I began with a few additions to the shade gardens. Its been difficult trying to keep it all alive during the dry period, but I think I have persevered. The following plants are new 2012 introductions at Sutherland.

 

Astilbe x arendsii ‘Rhythm and Blues’

This lovely perennial is set along the front of the house. I’m unsure of the finicky nature of this very thirsty plant, but when I saw the beautiful raspberry-pink plumes, I knew I had to give it a try. Much like a peony, the bloom period is fleeting, but so worth it. Astilbe is a great plant for color in the shade garden.

Height: 25”

Spread: 16-20”

Exposure: Part sun

Bloom time: Midsummer

Bloom color: Pink shades

Water: Prefers consistent soil moisture.

 

Thalictrum Evening Star Strain

In the Hosta garden, I’m trying this Thalicturm by Terra Nova. A grower/friend of mine gave me three of these to try and I shared two with other gardeners. I’m looking forward to next season to get a report back on their performance. This is a lovely woodland perennial with foliage like Epimedium.

Height: 8”

Spread: 10”

Exposure: Part shade, Full shade

Bloom time: Spring

Bloom color: Pink shades

Water: Average to moist

 

Thalictrum kiusianum, Dwarf Meadow Rue

In a different area of the Hosta bed I’ve placed a Thalictrum commonly known as Dwarf Meadow Rue. My goal for this slow spreader is to fill in all areas between the larger Hosta plants where unsightly mulch and bare spots are visible. The lacy foliage will contrast nicely against the larger leafed plants.

Height 4-6”

Spread 12-16”

Exposure: Part Shade

Bloom time: Summer

Bloom Color: Lilac shades

Water: Average to moist

 

Fallopia japonica ‘Variegata’, Variegated Japanese Fleeceflower 

I’m very excited about the addition of this plant as it meets several visual criteria in the garden. This is tall vigorous grower with heart-shaped creamy white leaves splashed with dark green specs. The new growth often has coral shades on reddish stems. I’ve only had the plant a few months and already I’m loving all of its attributes.

Height: 4 feet

Spread: 2-3 feet

Exposure: Full sun, Part shade

Bloom time: Late summer, Early fall

Bloom color: White shades

Water: Low to average water needs

 

Filipendula palmata ‘Variegata’, Meadowsweet

I find the large maple-shaped leaves along the stems of this plant enchanting. I maintain that I am a foliage guy and couldn’t resist these leaves splashed and marginated in white, platinum, lime and dark green. The leafy stems rise to 4 feet and in late spring are topped with a large plume of white flowers. This plant is best in part shade. Note: Apologies for this photo which focuses on the bloom and not the foliage. What was I thinking?

Height: 4-6 feet

Spread: 2 feet

Exposure: Part shade

Bloom time: June

Bloom color: White shades

Water: Moist, well-drained

 

Final thoughts: 

I’m frightened by the quantity of plants listed above and I haven’t even gotten to the Hostas, Trees, and Shrubs yet. Oh my… stay tuned.

Thalicturm Evening Star photo copyright Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc.

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - August 2012

Mid way through the eighth month of the year, I’m happy to report that there are a few things other than Knock Out Roses in bloom. No matter what the weather may bring, my Limelight Hydrangeas never disappoint. In my opinion, this underrated plant deserves to be in the ‘Sensational Shrubs’ category. It’s very low maintenance and the reliable bloom display comes on just as the rest of the garden seems to have petered out. The flower heads are large (6 to 12 inches) and emerge soft lime green, transitioning to cream in high summer. As Autumn arrives, the tiny individual blossoms fade to parchment-tan and pink. By November, dried panicles are perfect for cutting and ready for autumnal arrangments indoors. I’ve even seen a crafty gardener or two weave some panicles into holiday arrangments too!

Also blooming are the old fashioned Hosta plantaginea. These old standbys are a workhorse in the shade garden providing sturdy, upright scapes and shiny lush foliage. This well known Hosta is native to China and was first identified by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck in 1789. Because of its many wonderful attributes, it is still used extensively in hybridization today. Hosta plantaginea is a common sight in many older shade gardens and is prized for its very fragrant pure white flowers.

These plants were donated to my hosta garden from a dear friend of my partner. She tells us that the original plants traveled from Germany in a steamer trunk of her great grandmother’s. That would put the journey back into the mid 1870s. While I can’t verify that story, I do know that many Hosta were imported into Europe long before they were in the West, so her timeline would hold true. Hmmm. In any case, generations of Hosta lovers know that few things are as lovely as the perfume of plantaginea in the summer evening air.

Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day is a Meme created by Carol at May Dreams Gardens. Gardeners post images of what’s blooming in their garden on the 15th day of every month. To see what’s blooming all over the world today, visit Carol’s blog.

Shade Gardening with Hostas

It recently occurred to me that the thing that got me into ornamental gardening is the thing I rarely talk about on my blog– Hostas. A few years ago, I was perusing a White Flower Farm catalog when I came across a photo that ignited something in me. That image led me to create my very first self-expressed garden.

I set out to recreate that Hosta garden using the same collection of plants pictured in that photo. Since then, I have branched out on my own, trying new plants here and there, but the original plants have more or less become the bones of my Hosta garden. Here are a few of my Hostas today.

Hosta ‘Liberty’

 

Hosta ‘Blue Angel’

 

Hosta ‘Pineapple Upsidedown Cake’

 

Hosta ‘Risky Business’

 

Hosta ‘Stained Glass’

 

Hosta ‘Lancifolia’ 

 

As you can see, I don’t get all crazy and collect rare plants– I’m not that kind of gardener. In fact, many of my plants are ordinary specimens that can be found anywhere. And every now and then, a friend will point me in a new direction and I’ll try something different at their request, but I can honestly say that I don’t derive any pleasure from boasting about my rare-hard-to-find-aren’t-you-jealous-of-me plants.

Why garden with Hostas?

Generations of gardening enthusiasts have turned to Hostas as the “backbone” of their garden and landscape designs. Here’s why: Hostas tolerate shade. Hostas are low maintenance. Hostas have a three-season presence. Hostas blend beautifully with other perennials, annuals, trees, and shrubs. Space limitations need not discourage you from gardening with Hostas as many are suitable for growing in containers as well.

I hope to share more Hosta growing tips through the season. Until then, happy shade gardening!

Hellebore: The Christmas Rose

One of the great things about Hellebores is that they are among the first plants to bloom in the garden. Their winter blooming habit and myth of an angel giving a blossom to a young shepherdess who had no gift for the infant Jesus, has earned them the nickname ‘Christmas Rose.’ Interest in these late winter/early spring beauties are said to show maturity in a gardener. I don’t know about that, but it does remind me of a story. A non-gardener friend of mine was with me when I was plant shopping. On a mission to buy up all the H. ‘Ivory Prince’ that I could find, I was elated when I spotted one. I picked it up and lovingly smiled at it (you plant nerds know what I’m talking about). Then, during ‘our moment’ I heard my friend who was standing behind me say “that’s ugly!” We’re still friends, but the Hellebores don’t care for him much.

I can understand his reaction. The plant had bloomed weeks prior, and all that remained was deep dark leathery foliage with silvery-grey veining. For a non-gardener, that would be no match for all the colorful annuals we zoomed past to get to my beloved Hellebore. Helleborus ‘Ivory Prince’ is still my favorite. I love it’s upright bloom, though many species have blooms that nod to the ground. Regardless, I think they’re pretty special because they bloom just when you need a little jolt to snap you out of the winter doldrums. Bloom time is generally between December and March, and the foliage is a great compliment to summer and fall flowering plants. Another great attribute of the Hellebore is the thick hardy foliage that stays green throughout winter (Zone 6 and above). Did I mention they love shade? A partially shaded location that offers dappled shade would suit them well– think beneath a tree canopy. I use them as a companion plant in the Hosta garden. Growing tip: Cut back the old foliage in late winter to fully enjoy the emerging flower stalks.

The genus Helleborus covers a group of perennial herbaceous plants that come from Europe and Asia. During the past decade, they have gained popularity in the US. In 2005, they were named ‘Perennial Plant of the Year’ by the Perennial Plant Association. You need to shop for them during bloom time to truly appreciate their appeal. Traditional bloom form is usually star shaped with 5 sepals (petals). As commercial hybridization increases, more doubles, semi-doubles, bi-colored and picatee varieties are finding their way into the market. A picatee is a flower whose edge is a different color than the flower’s base color. Buying Tip: Don’t buy unless you see a flower or a photo of the flower so you know exactly what you’re getting.

I believe that every garden has at least one spot for a Hellebore. Aside from blooming when most plants are still in winter dormancy, Hellebores are easy to grow and pretty carefree plants. And that my gardener friends,  is an awesome Christmas present all it’s own! Happy Holidays from Hortus|5.


Image Key

  1. H. x hybridus Party Dress Group
  2. H. x hybridus Harvington Yellow Double Spotted
  3. H. x hybridus Harvington Double Red
  4. H. x. hybridus Harvington Yellow Speckled
  5. H. ‘Pirouette’
  6. H. x ericsmithii ‘Winter Moonbeam’
  7. Helleborus x. sternii Blackthorn Group
  8. H. x hybridus ‘Emerald Queen’
  9. H. Double Spotted
  10. H. x hybridus Harvington Double Chocolate
  11. H. x ericsmithii ‘Winter Sunshine’
  12. H. x hybridus Harvington Yellow
 All images ©Immediate Media Company

Going Green

Don’t worry! This isn’t the post where I rant and rave about sustainability and recycling. Instead, I simply want to celebrate summer’s arrival and celebrate the color green. Please enjoy the images that I captured today after mowing the lawn for the 13th time (yes, I’m counting). 

A view of the backyard after mowing. For some odd reason, there were no mature trees on the East side of the back yard when we moved to Sutherland. We’ve added four new trees this spring and two of them are visible (barely) on the right side of this image. The northernmost tree is a Golden Dawn Redwood, Metasequoia glyptostroboides Ogon. Below that is ‘O isami’ Full Moon Maple, Acer japonicum ‘O isami’.

I love the giant heart-shaped leaves of the old Catalpa tree. The leaves remind me of Hosta leaf forms. Sitting beneath its canopy always transports me and I am transfixed for the duration.

This is a ‘borrowed view’ of the Catalpa as its trunk sits just over the property line. The tree has a strong lean to the South and receives quite a bit of attention from visitors because of its impressive form and stature. The extremely large leaves provide very dark shade.

The Hostas are sporting wonderful shades of green. The excessive rainfall and mild climate has kept them lush and growing. Hopefully the temperature will remain balmy. Hot temperatures combined with humidity and moisture are a recipe for Crown Rot Disease which can destroy the entire plant and contaminate the soil. For more information on this fungal disease, click here to read a publication by Iowa State University Extension.

A detail of a dwarf Japanese Juniper, Juniperus procumbens ‘Nana’. The new foliage is bright green and turns to a bluish green as it matures. Travels to Asia during my corporate career really ignited an appreciation for all plants native to Asia.

We’re very excited to introduce this new groundcover to Sutherland. Over the past 6 months I’ve become very interested in Epimedium, also known as Barrenwort. Some people call it Horny Goat Weed, but I can’t say that without smirking. A large majority of Epimedium are native to southern China. We specifically chose a variety recommended for it’s ability to survive in dry shade, but in all our excitement, we failed to notice that not one of the 3 flats purchased had tags in them. Not to worry. We now have a great excuse to go back to Arrowhead Alpines to solve the mystery and get more!

Even the herbs are in on the green act. The luscious leaves of this Chervil plant are great with vegetables as well as salad, soup, chicken, white fish, and egg dishes. It has a lovely parsley-like flavor with a hint of aniseed. Personally, I love it on new potatoes with butter. Grown outside and positioned in semishade, it is a “cut and come again” herb.

Pipe-hittin’ Gardener

Are garden catalogs the “crack” of avid gardeners?  I find them to be a highly addictive and powerful stimulant that deliver an intensity of pleasure beyond the bounds of normal human experience. And throw in good photography? Well, you might as well be speedballing.

But seriously, I’m pretty darn sure that it was a photograph in a White Flower Farm catalog that sent me over the edge. I used to get that catalog, or “the pusher” as I now refer to it, for many years. Then one spring, a featured Hosta collection caught my eye. That single image of the most spectacular grouping sent me into euphoria. A high like no other I had ever experienced.

I’ll never forget that summer. Racing around to every garden center like a desperate crack whore, pouring through hoop house after hoop house, trying to fulfill my plant list. Damn that catalog! They say crack cocaine is a substance that affects the brain chemistry of the user, but it’s no match for Hostas. Thus, my education into the life of an addict began. I was addicted to gardening.

From a first time user’s perspective, the garden turned out remarkably well (shown above). Three years have since passed and I still can’t escape the intense desire to recapture the initial high. Time to hit the pipe again. The Seed Savers Exchange catalog has just arrived.

P.S.  I don’t really use and I have the waistline to prove it.