One must always appreciate life’s little gifts.
Cut Peonies From The Garden
Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - May 2012
It’s Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day and this month’s theme is Visions in White. Here’s what’s blooming in my garden right now.
Moonlight Chinese Hydrangea Vine
Weston’s Pink and Sweet Swamp Azalea
Oakleaf Hydrangea
The panicles are just beginning to bloom.
Catalpa Tree
Difficult to photograph, but you get the idea.
A closer view of the blooms among the giant leaves.
Even the lichen covered bench is beatiful with blossoms scattered about.
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!
Planting en masse
My partner and I often joke as we shop for plants, ‘oh, we like that, but do you have 25 of them…’ Garden center employees think we’re kidding or give us a strange look and move on to the next customer. Truth is, most retail outlets don’t often carry that many of a kind unless the plants are tiny. We’re really not joking though– big properties call for big plantings.
To accommodate the large expanses, we practice planting en masse. That simply means we try to plant masses of the same plant to create a bold statement- one that stands up to the house and property. It’s a hard thing to get used to because it means we often have to wait awhile until we can acquire large quantities of like plants. It’s getting easier though. Gardening does teach patience!
Recently, I created a mass planting of Heuchera ‘Plum Pudding’ in a shade bed. It’s the same bed that I removed all the horrible clay soil from last year (See Conquering Clay Soil). I planted very few things last year to allow the new soil to rest and settle over winter. We had purchased 8 Plum Puddings last year and planted them as a test. They came back beautifully and now it was time to fill in the space bordered by Hosta ‘Blue Angel’ and Liriope muscari ‘Variegata.’
The Heuchera color and form contrasts with the variegated Liriope. The ‘plum’ color is echoed in other plants within the same bed.
The first step involved placement of the 33 new plants. In summer, the Liriope plants will touch each other and spill over to hide the black edging.
I encountered many earthworms as I dug the holes. That’s a great sign! The soil is healthy and loamy. I needed only a hand trowel to create the holes.
By fall, the Heuchera plants should mature and begin to make their statement. And by next spring, that statement will hopefully have an exclamation point. You get a sense of the desired effect when you look at the few Heuchera which were planted last year (far right).
Plantingen masse has many benefits in garden design. It need not be limited to large gardens only. It can have a calming and unifying effect on any garden. It seerves to connect and ease the transition from one area to another. Try to avoid the ‘one of everything’ approach, which can fatigue the eye. Last, masses can visually enlarge even the smallest of gardens. The repetition of form, texture, and color encourages the eye to never stop in one spot, but slowly flow through, creating the illusion of a bigger space.
To close, here are a few examples of how mass plantings work and enhance garden spaces.
Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - April 2012
Welcome to a soggy version of Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day. There has been a tinge of frost over the past couple of nights, but the spring rains have arrived and the garden is awakening. I’m always in a bit of a panic when this day arrives because I typically plant more plants for foliage than I do for blossoms. I’ve managed to find a few things in bloom though. I’ve even stretched the rules a bit with my last photo…
The very first Peony blossom of the season has just opened. Wish I could tell you which one it is, but the Peony bed is a hodge podge of inherited plants mixed with new plants. The latter were recklessly planted with no record keeping.
Over the hosta garden, Crataegus viridis ‘Winter King’ or Winter King Hawthorn is in full bloom. This tree provides dappled sunlight for the shade plants beneath. The Hostas are emerging nicely and seem extra robust this year.
Dicentra spectabilis or Bleeding Hearts are always a welcomed site. There were ten or so plants on the property when we moved in six years ago. They are a bit scattered and need to be moved together to create one mass.
I’ve captured the last blossoms on Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Toro’ or Highbush Blueberry. This shrub is new at Sutherland and we don’t expect much fruit this year, but will be thrilled with any yield. Also looking forward to the leave’s fiery colors in autumn.
Although the foliage on Acer palmatum Kiyohime doesn’t qualify as a bloom, I had to include it because of its striking color. After living with this Japanese Maple three seasons, I can honestly say I prefer spring’s new growth to the fall foliage.
Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day is a Meme created by May Dreams Gardens. Gardeners post images of what’s blooming in their garden on the 15th day of every month. All are welcome to participate.
Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - March 2012
On beautiful warm and sunny mid March morning, this is what is blooming in my garden.
Hellebore White Spotted Lady
Star Magnolia Tree - bud and blossoms
Hellebore Ivory Prince
Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day is a Meme created by May Dreams Gardens. Gardeners post images of what’s blooming in their garden on the 15th day of every month. All are welcome to participate.
This Bud's For You
In a couple of weeks, I will embark on my 47th trip around the sun. That puts me at 188 seasons passed should I make it all the way around. You’d think the changing of the seasons would be blasé by now, but that couldn’t be any further from the truth.
Spring’s tiny buds have been gradually swelling and will burst open any day now, once again transforming themselves into luscious foliage and blooms. I never tire of this spectacular show. Maybe this post should be titled “Spring Spectacular.”
The images below are just a glimpse of spring’s emergence at Sutherland. To commemorate it, I thought it would be fun to juxtapose the spring buds (photographed only one day ago) with their mature leaves. Enjoy the show.
Emperor I Japanese Maple Tree
Ogon Dawn Redwood Tree
Climbing Hydrangea Vine
Kiyohime Japanese Maple Tree
O isami Japanese Maple Tree
Hydrangea image ©The Scott Arboretum. Emperor I image ©Shadow Nursery Inc.
In Like a Lamb…Spring Chores, Tips & Reminders
March is just around the corner and our weatherman is predicting mild and pleasant weather. Could 2012 be the Midwest’s year without a winter? Does that mean that March will go out like a lion? I certainly hope not. And that’s all we can really do– hope. No matter what, there are many things we can and should do throughout March in preparation of spring’s official arrival. Below is a list to help you get growing this season.
Spring Garden Chores and Reminders
- Plan your vegetable garden before you plant. Ask yourself the following: How much space do you have? How much light does your plot get? Most vegetables require six hours of light each day. How much time can you dedicate to tending? What do you like to eat?
- Start seeds indoors so they are ready to transplant when the soil temperature warms.
- Mid-March is a good time to plant cool season crops such as cabbage, kale, chards, cauliflower and broccoli. A cool-season crop is defined as a vegetable that grows best with temperatures of 60 to 65 degrees F. Cool-season crops can tolerate light to moderate frosts, but are intolerant of high summer temperatures.
- If this is your first vegetable garden, have your soil tested before you plant. Your local Cooperative Extension Office can help with this.
- Prepare garden beds by adding more organic material to your soil and work it in about 6 inches deep. This is a good yearly habit to get into.
- Now is a great time to get your mower in for a tune-up or take blades in for sharpening. Do it before everybody else does to avoid long waiting periods for service.
- Pick a day to bring out any patio furniture and clean, repair, or touch up as needed.
- Clean, sharpen, and oil garden tools. Organize your garden shed/work area.
- While the garden is still dormant, take an objective look at “the bones” of your landscape and select areas that need improvement. Trees, evergreens, grasses and berry-covered shrubs will create structure and visual interest year round.
- Order mulch for beds and borders.
- On a sunny day, rake and pick-up fallen branches, twigs, leaves and any other debris from the winter months. Cut back ornamental grasses.
- For a burst of color, fill a few containers with pansies as soon they become available. Pansies can tolerate frost and freezing temperatures. Resist the urge to purchase warm season annuals until the danger of frost has past.
- Keep filling bird feeders this time of year as food is scarce in colder regions.
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
- H. x hybridus Party Dress Group
- H. x hybridus Harvington Yellow Double Spotted
- H. x hybridus Harvington Double Red
- H. x. hybridus Harvington Yellow Speckled
- H. ‘Pirouette’
- H. x ericsmithii ‘Winter Moonbeam’
- Helleborus x. sternii Blackthorn Group
- H. x hybridus ‘Emerald Queen’
- H. Double Spotted
- H. x hybridus Harvington Double Chocolate
- H. x ericsmithii ‘Winter Sunshine’
- H. x hybridus Harvington Yellow
All images ©Immediate Media Company
Autumn at Sutherland
It’s been a dazzling fall at Sutherland; mornings crisp and clear, the daylight golden and foliage brilliant. Autumn is by far the most interesting time of year around this place with so many things in various states of decay, others hanging on for a final encore. Shadows are long and low, silhouettes revealed and trees sing out with the familiar rustle of parched leaves as they give way to the earth. It’s the sound of summer saying goodbye. Or is it winter saying hello?
As customary with a blogging gardener, I present you my fall as captured between chores and strolls at Sutherland.
Planting Peonies
Herbaceous Peonies are my favorite flower. Whether in the garden, a photograph, painting or as a cut flower, the lush petals and voluptuous blossoms mesmerize me and take me back to my childhood where nearly every farm had a few random peonies planted here and there. As a child, I took great interest in the ants that marched all over the flower buds. Everyone believed the ants were necessary for the buds to open. We now know this is only a myth. The ants are simply attracted to the nectar that forms on the outside of the bud. I will admit, it’s still fun to imagine those little guys are somehow responsible for all the gorgeous blooms.
We have planted nearly 30 peonies at Sutherland over the last three years. Some inherited, others selected from the vast inventory at Peony’s Envy. Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting Kathleen Gagan, proprietor of Peony’s Envy and purchased two more white historic cultivars to add to our collection. The bare roots from Peony’s Envy are packed in peat moss and shipped when they are dormant (spring and fall). A beautiful label identifies the variety by name and displays a lovely color photograph of the bloom. The label also contains pertinent information such as shape and color description, bloom time, size, and hybrid provenance.
Fall and early winter are excellent times to plant bare-root peonies. You can plant up until permanent frost or in spring as soon as the ground can be worked. Site selection is important too. Peonies need sun to bloom- at least 5 hours of full sun a day. Plant in less sun and they will take longer to mature and flower.
Peonies can tolerate a wide range of soil conditions including clay, so long as it is not constantly wet. Sandy soils are not ideal because nutrients leech out of the soil easily. Sandy soil should be amended with clay and compost to create a suitable growing condition. Regardless, the soil must drain well. Peonies do not tolerate wet feet!
I’m always surprised when I see bare-root stock. As gardeners, we are often so focused on what is happening above the ground that we forget what is going on beneath it. The root divisions from Peony’s Envy are a good reminder of this phenomenon. Each division contains three to five eyes, pink or white buds located on the crown that will become next year’s stems, and a substantial tuberous root system.
Let’s Get Planting
Don’t be intimated by the strange gnarled clump of root. Start by inspecting it for size. You will need to dig a hole about 1 foot deep by 10 to 12 inches wide. Remove any rocks and loosen the soil that has been removed from the hole breaking up any clumps. If you have heavy clay soil, you may want to amend your soil with some good compost. You may also add a slow release fertilizer that is low in nitrogen, such as bone meal or bulb tone.
Hold the root in the hole and lower it until the top part (also known as the crown) is ½ to 1 inch beneath the ground surface. Here’s a tip: Lay the handle of a shovel or rake across the hole to create a surface-level guide. Reminder: Keep the crown facing upward and tubors (carrot-like shapes) pointing downward. With the root centered in the hole, gently backfill with the loose soil keeping the root position as vertical as possible. As you backfill, gently press down to remove any air pockets around the roots. If the top sinks beneath the desired depth, lift the root so it does not settle below 1.5 inches.
Once planted, water in well and avoid mulching over the crown. Mulching changes your planting depth and can insulate the plant causing it to not flower. Planting too deep is a very common mistake. Over the next two growing seasons, make sure you give your peonies a good soaking every two or three weeks if it is not raining regularly. This allows the roots to develop and send out a healthy fibrous system. Be careful not to overwater because the plants will not tolerate wet feet. Allow the soil to dry out fully between watering.
Note about Planting Depth & Hardiness Zones: Herbaceous peonies grow well in zones 3 to 8. Peonies should be planted deeper in lower numbered zones and more shallow in higher numbered zones. In Indiana (Zone 5) we plant at a 1 inch depth.
What To Expect
Blooms on a young plant are typically not true to their form. It takes about 3 years for a plant to fully establish. Removing first year buds will promote the best root growth. With a little patience and care, you’ll have gorgeous peonies blooming for decades.
For a sensational selection of Herbaceous, Intersectional and Tree Peonies, visit peonysenvy.com.
Ants, bouquet, and spring progression photos copyright Peony’s Envy.
Back in the Limelight
I get a lot of grief from my landscaping friends about selecting Limelight Hydrangea as a foundation plant. And you know what? I get it. I realize that half of the year, there is not much going on in front of the house except a few well pruned boxwood. But for all their downtime, these hydrangeas make up for it with stong visual appeal. Every summer, when the heat is unbearable and it seems that everything around me is wilting, I am graced with 5 foot tall hydrangeas– panicles everywhere in shades of lime and cream. And that’s just act one. By fall, the glorious blooms begin to blush in shades of pink, until their final curtain call is made sporting handsome shades of tan and ecru. Sure, this planting goes a bit against the grain, but maybe that’s why they remain in the limelight.
Independent’s Day • A visit to Pine View Nursery
It’s no secret that you’ll always find the most intriguing and unusual plants (and people) at an independent garden center or nursery. Likewise, owners of ‘independents’ can be rare and idiosyncratic individuals whose passion and pursuit for horticulture manifests itself into a business.
Such is the case with Kevin Collard, proprietor, horticulturist, and head grower of Pine View Nursery (est. 1993). I went down to visit Pine View on July 3rd, and while there were no Independence Day firework celebrations in Leitchfield, KY that day, the pyrotechnics were found in the display gardens and nursery hoop houses. I was given a private tour of the offsite nursery where this boxwood evangelist grows thousands of this centuries-old shrub.
Inside each house, Boxwood are organized by cultivar and size. Shown above & below: Buxus sinica var. insularis ‘Justin Brouwers’.
Hundreds of pots line up like little soldiers and are nurtured until they are ready for sale.
The black screen-like cloth covering each house has a special function. It blocks the sun which cools the house. This aids in preventing the pots from drying out too quickly. The weave of the cloth determines the shade density. It can block percentages of sun by 20 to over 90 percent.
Some of the Boxwood are field-grown over an extended period of time and later sold as mature specimens.
Over the years, boxwood have fallen out of favor with many gardeners, but today’s gardeners are rediscovering this wonderful shrub that serves as the backbone for many landscapes and formal gardens. With increased deer browsing, water restrictions in urban environments, and the discovery on several new cultivars, boxwood are again gaining popularity.
Benefits of Boxwood:
- Deer resistant
- Drought tolerant
- Easy to maintain; require little to no pruning
- Growth versatility: many grow in both sun and shade
- Long lived
- Fulfill many design needs due to their many shapes, sizes, and growth rates
Back at the retail garden center, visitors are greeted by very large specimens of Buxus sempervirens ‘Dee Runk’. These tall uprights are indeed Boxwood. They are the largest ‘Dee Runk’ I’ve seen to date. They’re beautiful and I bet they’re pretty in winter snow.
Under the porch roof is an assemblage of antique tools and relics related to gardening and farming. A most spectacular collection of old watering cans is suspended in air around the perimeter of the porch– literally too many to photograph.
Walls of vines are being formed in the once open air porch. Clematis grow up the simple trellis structures lining the porch. This is Clematis ‘Candida’.
A ‘fireworks moment’ in purple– Verbena bonariensis in the foreground with Zebrina pendula (Wandering Jew Plant) hanging in the background.
Several display gardens line the property and greenhouses where I was treated to another fantastic tour. The day was unbearably hot and humid but the bursts of color were not lost on me.
Above: Calla Lily ‘Flame’ was quite vibrant in the hot sun. Kevin stated that this Calla defies the odds because it is not hardy to his zone. I say that’s pretty lucky! The foliage is incredible in and of itself.
The copper and red Coleus plants are striking among the various greens in the surrounding foliage. These Victorian gems are one of the most versatile plants in ornamental horticulture.
The bloom on this plant is very charming and stopped me in my tracks. Its color lies right between red and orange. This is Cyrtanthus elatus, and is part of the Amaryllis family.
As we walked along, this Yucca flaccida ‘Bright Edge’ caught my eye with its spectacular form and variegated foliage. It truly reminded me of fireworks in the evening sky.
Bougainvillea is always spectacular and this one was quite exceptional. The true, perfect flower is small, tubular, commonly white or yellow, and surrounded by showy, vibrantly colorful petaloid bracts. Bracts are sometimes larger and more brightly colored than the true flower.
And so, just as a grand finale of a July fireworks show heralds Independence Day, so do the independent garden centers herald their unique and specialized offerings to gardeners alike. I could have spent another day with Kevin Collard at Pine View Nursery. His passion for horticulture is intoxicating and inspiring. And we didn’t even get to the Japanese Maples.
Fortunately, Kevin does talks and lectures nationwide. I’m lucky to have met him at one of his numerous presentations here in Indianapolis. If you’re ever in Leitchfield, KY, stop in at Pine View or book him as a speaker for your next meeting or symposium. His Boxwood presentation doesn’t disappoint.
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.
Spring At Sutherland
It’s an understatement to say that we were overwhelmed when we moved into Sutherland five years ago. It was overgrown and needed to be tamed. And while we were dreaming and rearranging the property into the garden of our dreams, we did not speak of it aloud. We could barely keep up with all the mowing– 2 acres by push mower. Gardening, like so many other projects, would be relegated to our daily mantra “maybe next year.” For now, there was Honeysuckle to dig out, trees to remove, and hardscape in all the wrong places.
That was a long summer, and this old house has not stopped throwing us curve balls. Still, as I mow today (still by push mower, but much more productively), I can’t help but notice the improvements we’ve managed to make along the way. Sutherland, like no other, has strengthened my connection to nature in both large and small ways. As I find myself gazing across the lawns, I give you a few remnants of our beautiful spring.
The Horse Chestnut tree is in full bloom. I love the white flowers which form the panicles. Believe it or not, this beauty was hidden by a dreadful Silver Maple tree– quickly abolished along with other problematic specimens.
Dicentra spectabilis is commonly known as Bleeding Heart. These herbaceous perennials were already here when we moved in. They are lovely plants that love shade and bloom from April to May. Because the foliage goes dormant somewhat quickly, it’s best to plant these among other later developing perennials which will fill in as the Bleeding Heart foliage begins to die back.
I believe this Hawthorne Tree is a Winter King Hawthorne. Although it’s not one of my favorites, it’s at its best in bloom and serves a useful purpose as it provides shade for the Hosta Garden. The Hostas beneath are slowly waking up from their long winter nap.
In the fall of 2009, we planted 26 herbaceous Peonies in colors black, red, purple, pink, and white. Many were purchased as bare-root from Peony’s Envy and others inherited. There were few blooms to speak of last year (not surprising), but this year they are coming on strong. Unfortunately, we did not get the names of each variety documented, so it’s gonna be a surprise when they all bloom. The gorgeous red Peonies were a gift from Mrs. Shirley Whitlock.
These concrete urns were added our second summer at Sutherland. I don’t know if the original house had urns or not, but I like them here. They typically hold Pansies till June, then they are replanted with something more dramatic for the summer months.
Spring Awakening
So often spring crops up with such fervor, that we hardly notice its subtle colors aside from the obvious greening of the lawns or the intense hues that daffodils and tulips offer us. Before the show is over, take time to admire and appreciate the delicate, soft and unexpected hues too. Below are a few of my favorites. Click on the first image to begin the slide show.
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.