After a wild ride weatherwise last week, things look to be settling down. There's a haze of green spreading through the woods and we're about to get into the really exciting part of the spring at last. Just for fun, test yourself on these plants that offer early spring interest and see which ones you know, and which you'd like to know. Start with the beauty above, 1) a seldom seen but rather easily grown woodlander. Its flowering is brief but exciting so when it's in bud, chill the wine and call your friends over. Answers at the end of the post! 2) From a vast tribe, this is the easiest species, though not usually seen in this color. 3) These little bottlebrushes emerge early from velvety buds and are sweetly scented, and the leaves of this shrub turn beautiful shades of red and orange in fall. 4) A handsome ornamental perennial for moist situations, but usually found in the vegetable garden. 5) Another moisture lover, this one a native. Self sows to make large colonies in time... perfect for stream margins, bogs or the edge of a pond. 6) A lively version of a common shrub, this one grows slowly and tolerates part shade, where the variegation sounds a bright note. 7) Sometimes a bit challenging to establish, but once this charmer finds a happy spot it will be with you for many years, and increase by offsets and seedlings. 8) Native shrub that now comes in many leaf colors including chartreuse, dark purple, and this one that starts out in shades of orange and coral, maturing to bronze tones for the rest of the summer. 9) An Asian plant fairly new in the trade, useful for foliar contrast among ferns, hostas and other shade plants. The glossy leaves are often flushed with pinkish red. 10) It's a mystery why this tough-as-nails, early flowering, non-invasive sweet pea relative is so little grown. Perfectly lovely under deciduous trees, gradually forming large beautiful clumps. 11) Exquisite color scheme of blood orange, olive and gold on this uncommonly planted bulb native to western Turkey. 12) Bog-dweller that unfurls super early, this plant actually generates enough internal heat to emerge through frozen soil. As bold as a Hosta when it finally reaches full expansion. 13) Very elegant little plant that grows from curious conical corms. This variety has great vigor in spite of its dainty appearance. Flowers early and then vanishes until the next spring, making it ideal to grow among late-emerging perennials. 14) Found in the Rocky Mountains, this striking conifer will grow well in our area and offers vivid golden new growth for up to six weeks in spring. 15) This plant, a native of alpine meadows, was once classed as an Anemone but now has another name. Comes in white, pink, violet or this (my favorite) dusky red. The exquisite blooms are followed by fluffy seedheads and a mound of handsome, ferny foliage. ANSWERS: 1) Double Bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis f. multiplex. 2) Cowslip Primrose, Primula veris 'Sunset Shades'. 3) Dwarf or Coastal Fothergilla, Fothergilla gardenii. 4) Rhubarb, Rheum rhabarbarum. 5) Marsh Marigold, Caltha palustris. 6) Variegated Japanese Yew, Taxus cuspidata 'Dwarf Bright Gold'. 7) Snake's Head Fritillary or Checkered Lily, Fritillaria meleagris. 8) Ninebark cultivar, Physocarpus opulifolius 'Coppertina'. 9) Crimson Fans, Mukdenia rossii 'Karasuba'. 10) Spring Vetchling, Lathyrus vernus. 11) Species Tulip, Tulipa orphanidea ssp. whittallii. 12) Skunk Cabbage, Symplocarpus foetidus. 13) Dog-tooth Violet or Trout Lily, Erythronium x 'Pagoda'. 14) Lodgepole Pine cultivar, Pinus contorta 'Taylor's Sunburst'. 15) Pasque Flower, Pulsatilla vulgaris 'Rubra'. NOW GRADE YOURSELF! 0-4 answers correct: You're on training wheels but I envy you... there's so much more in the world of plants and gardening for you to discover and explore! 5-9 answers correct: Bravo! You're quite knowledgeable and experienced... keep up the good work! 10-15 answers correct: Congratulations, you're a real plant nerd... do you want a job?
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I've got mixed feelings about this sort of mildish winter we're having... for the most part it's been chilly, gray and wet here in the Hudson Valley. On the one hand it's a bit alarming, but after the last two years, I'll take it. And gardenwise, there are some plants that are truly reveling in the lack of snow and ice and the less-than-polar temperatures. My Hellebores keep trying to bloom, showing buds already, the Primula foliage is still fresh and juicy, and the leaves on my Magnolia virginianas are glossy, gorgeous and unmarred by the searing winds we've usually experienced by mid-January. So far, that is... Another group of plants that look particularly cheerful not to be buried in snow are all the smaller Sedums that not only stay (mostly) evergreen through the winter, but take on even more interesting tints in the colder months. I have a real weakness for these little creeping plants and use them wherever I can find a place: between stones, as edgers, in containers and as mini-groundcovers under larger perennials and shrubs. There are dozens from which to choose, and I keep increasing our offerings at Pondside because our customers seem to love them as much as I do... and why not? Growing them won't impress a card-carrying member of the North American Rock Garden Society, but they're a wonderful group of plants for beginning gardeners to succeed with, being quick to establish, fast growing, easy to propagate, versatile and extremely forgiving. Here then, some of my favorites... Sedum rupestre 'Blue Spruce' Probably the first Sedum I ever bought, many years ago, and I still have descendants of the same plant in my garden today. I love the spiky glaucous foliage, indeed reminiscent of a coniferous evergreen, but also suggesting something from beneath the sea. It produces stalky yellow blooms in June that are to my eye somewhat incongruous, so I usually cut them off. That is, if I have the time. In June. Which come to think of it, hasn't happened lately. Sedum rupestre 'Angelina' 'Blue Spruce's more glamorous cousin, and extremely vigorous. Makes a good edging plant and looks beautiful spilling over a wall or the edge of a container. She colors up orangey-bronze in the cooler months but in the summer stays a nice refreshing lime green. Super easy to increase your stock by sticking two-inch long cuttings into the ground wherever they're needed. Ubiquitous, but I wouldn't garden without her. Sedum spurium 'John Creech' The spurium group contains several excellent groundcovering Sedums, and 'John Creech' is one of the best. He makes a tight, weed-suppressing mat in full sun or light shade, with clean, lettuce green foliage topped by clear pink flowers late in the season. Apparently John Creech was a former director of the U. S. National Arboretum, who first imported this plant from the Central Siberian Botanic Garden in 1971... so you know it's tough! Sedum spurium 'Tricolor' Vive la France! (or for all you France-haters out there, just call it Freedom Sedum) Dainty leaves edged in white and tinted pink belie its remarkable ability to spread... as much as a foot in one season in rich soil... making it a prime small-scale groundcover. That said, it's easy to rip out where it's not wanted, so it should never become a problem. The rose-pink flowers and ruby stems complement the foliage tints perfectly... pretty as a Parisienne! Sedum spurium 'Voodoo' Another spurium type, this one with deep mahogany red foliage that's stunning paired with 'Angelina' or other chartreuse plants. Similar to 'Dragon's Blood', which has been around forever and a day, but with deeper and more consistent color. The pink flowers in late summer are ok but with foliage like this, who cares. Sedum kamtschaticum 'Weihenstephaner Gold' This is a super workhorse Sedum, always attractive and healthy looking in spite of less than ideal conditions. Serrated rosettes of glossy deep green turn bronze in winter and quickly form a tight, weed-resistant carpet in full sun or part shade. In summer it covers itself with attractive canary yellow flowers that age through shades of copper and bronze to pale tan. Large plantings can even be mown to remove the spent flowers. Easy, useful, reliable. Sedum album 'Athoum' If pink or yellow flowers don't suit, there are Sedum album varieties with... yes, you guessed it... white flowers! 'Athoum' is one of them that's commonly used nowadays on green roofs, and I've planted a patch at the front of one of my beds (above) where it holds its own respectably as an edger. The little jellybean leaves have a high cute factor up close, and they blush shades of pinky-purple in winter. Spreads easily as pieces break off and root, but never alarmingly so. Sedum hispanicum The Spanish Stonecrop is a lovely, delicate thing that can vary in its coloring but is always some version of gray-green, shading towards blue, pink or purple. References say it can be used as a groundcover (maybe in California!) but I've always had better luck keeping it through our harsh winters in a trough or planter. Supposedly it has white flowers but I can't remember mine ever blooming though I've grown it for twenty years. It's really beautiful paired with some of the tiniest creeping Thymes like 'Elfin'. Sedum acre 'Aureum' Fine textured but tough as a boot, and perfect for filling crevices in stonework or edging a sunny retaining wall. Another plant I bought once, or maybe I was given a piece, years ago. Now I have big patches that mingle nicely with several other creeping Sedums and provide a tidy carpet through which my tiny early bulbs emerge. New growth is bright yellow flowers that disappear without deadheading... then fresh green foliage for the remainder of the season. Sedum rubrotinctum 'Mini Me' The tiniest creeper I grow, with pinhead sized leaves on threadlike stems. The texture is as fine as moss, but unlike moss, this Sedum relishes full sun and dry conditions. Because it's so small it takes some time to fill in, but will eventually form a thick mat and even sometimes trails out over flat stones and attaches itself to them. Green in summer, turning reddish in fall, winter and early spring. Perfect underplanting for a larger succulent houseplant, too. Lots of people have rock outcroppings on their property, but few of them are as creatively planted as this one at Pondside owner Jake Watt's house. Facing southwest and forming one wall of his pool enclosure, the ledge has been planted with a variety of creeping Sedums that blend beautifully with native mosses and lichens. Since these photos were taken, Jake has replaced the lawn with a carpet of Sedum as well. Not for nothing are Sedums called "Stonecrops"... their draping and billowing textures provide the perfect foil for stone whether it be vertical or horizontal, as in this roof garden. Mixing several compatible varieties together in a tapestry planting is easy and very pretty. Use no less than three and no more than five different kinds that have similar scale and vigor. For a unique container display, use the smallest Sedums as a lush lawn underneath dwarf evergreens, as did garden designer Chris Locashio here. At Pondside we like to group the smaller Sedums with Creeping Thymes, Sempervivums, the smallest Alliums, Campanulas and Veronicas... any combination we think will inspire you! There are many more kinds of Sedums and many more ways to use them, but I hope I've whet your appetite, given you some ideas and increased your appreciation for this group of easy and rewarding little plants. "All the leaves are brown, and the sky is gray..." So sang The Mamas & the Papas, which dates me. But we had a very good run this year, didn't we? A long, measured fall with lots of bright color and a real Indian Summer (another song, but that one's from my parents' generation). The slow pace of the season gave us quite a few days to do fall gardening (hope you all got those bulbs planted!) and an opportunity to observe some of the lesser sources of foliage color that are easily overlooked while the Maples, Hickories and Oaks are blazing away. One of the first splashes of brilliant color comes from a vine that I would never recommend planting, but there's so much of it around that it can be enjoyed from a safe distance. That's Toxicodendron radicans, aka Poison Ivy, pictured above climbing an old Catalpa tree near Kinderhook. Although I've never heard of anyone growing it as an ornamental, it's known to have been sent back to England by some of the early plant explorers and grown there by John Parkinson, who included it in his 1640 herbal. Another early color splash, and far less toxic, is Purple Love Grass, Eragrostis spectabilis. It's native to the eastern US from Maine to Texas, and tolerant of dry, sandy and infertile soils. Not very prepossessing until it comes into flower in late summer, when the cloudlike bloom can often be noticed along highways or in unmown fields. It's used to great effect (above) in the Spencertown garden of artist Linda Horn, who's assisted by garden designer Heather Grimes. A terrific companion for grasses, and another American native, is Amsonia hubrichtii, the Arkansas Blue Star. Pale blue flowers in late spring are followed by mounds of deer-proof foliage, whose delicate texture complements bolder plant forms. Come fall, it morphs through greeny-gold into shades of buttery yellow, sometimes quite brilliantly. Euphorbia polychroma 'Bonfire' is always colorful, from the moment it emerges in spring until it's covered by snow, but it looked particularly nice this fall contrasting with the leaden hue of this Rue plant, Ruta graveolens 'Jackman's Blue'. Many of the hardy Geraniums color up nicely in the fall... this is Geranium macrorhizzum 'Ingwersen's Variety', an indispensable groundcover plant for me, and some of the smaller ones, like Geranium x cantabrigiense 'Biokovo' become brilliant little mounds of red in October. All the Hakone Grasses, also known as Japanese Forest Grass, are beautiful and graceful plants, useful for providing a linear texture in shade, but there are some that have striking autumn color as an added bonus, like Hakonechloa macra 'Nicolas'. A slow grower, but worth the wait. Almost everyone grows some Hostas, and many of them turn bright shades of yellow after frost. This unidentified variety in my garden pleased me with its lurid, almost iridescent demise. I don't grow many Astilbes but I'm partial to this one, 'Delft Lace'. The flowers are a good solid shade of pink, not timid or washed-out, but it's the foliage I really like. It emerges tinted reddish bronze and matures to a deep glossy green, then takes on some good color in the fall. Trend conscious, it varies from year to year... last fall it chose shades of yellow and pink and this year, red was apparently the thing! Tan, brown and beige are colors too, and can serve as foils and complements to all the fiery shades of the trees and shrubs. Left to right: the late-blooming Aster umbellatus (here in garden designer Betty Grindrod's sunny border) has white daisies followed by these fluffy seed heads. Miscanthus giganteus, the tallest grass we can grow hereabouts, takes on silvery-gold tones before bleaching to pale tan. And cumulus clouds of seedheads are the climax of the season for the fine-textured native Boneset, Eupatorium hyssopifolium. I love these bobbles in beige, the seed heads of one of the native Bee Balms, Monarda fistulosa or Wild Bergamot, again in Linda Horn's garden of almost entirely native plants. Also featured prominently among the tall grass plantings on the High Line. The fall rains and cool temps always prompt many interesting fungi to emerge. This velvety brown beauty popped up under one of my White Pines and I have no idea what it's called... any mycologists out there who can help? Three more perennials that were show-offs in my garden this season: Cinnamon Fern (Osmunda cinnamomeum), pink-flowered Epimedium (Epimedium rubrum), and Dwarf Crested Iris (Iris cristata 'Tennessee White') Even the lowliest plants can be eye-catching as the seasons change, like this ground-hugging Sedum 'Angelina'. Lime green through the warm months, she bronzes beautifully in the cooler temperatures of fall and early spring. There are many more colorful small plants that can be appreciated for their autumn tints, we just need to keep our eyes open for them, and savor their often vivid progression towards dormancy. With bulbs arriving for sale now in nurseries and retailers, I'm already thinking about next year's garden and looking forward to a nice season of fall planting. And after a much needed soaking rain and a change toward cooler temperatures, my garden looks much refreshed, as do most of us gardeners! Because my garden isn't fenced against deer, I don't plant that many Tulips, so after the Narcissus bloom I still crave some bold form and color from bulbs that fill the gap before most perennials flower, and that's where Alliums are so valuable. These ornamental cousins of onions, garlic and chives are tough and extremely pest resistant... mice and voles don't usually bother the bulbs and deer ignore the flowers. Plus, as with most bulbs, they're easy to plant and a welcome surprise when they emerge in spring. There are many kinds to try, and here are a few of my favorites... Allium 'Globemaster'. These are the largest flowered Alliums I grow... giant globes of softball size up to 8 or 10 inches across. Blooming in late spring, they really make a statement! The huge flower heads (technically umbels) attract butterflies, pollinators and curious passersby. Allium 'Purple Sensation'. For general garden use, I like this cultivar best. The flowers are tennis ball size, and the individual bulbs are reasonably priced, so groups and drifts are affordable. I plant them among perennials (like Amsonia hubrichtii, above) that will bloom at the same time and help cover the Allium foliage, which is yellowing by the time the flowers open. 'Purple Sensation' is reliably perennial in my garden, on well-drained sandy soil. I love it as a color echo and flower form contrast with dark purple Bearded Iris (left above), and the seedheads remain decorative as the summer progresses, fitting into the cooling green, white and silver scheme I like for this area (above right, with Rose 'Darlow's Enigma' and white Lychnis coronaria coming on). Allium schubertii. Another big guy that's fun to grow is Allium schubertii, each of the flower heads attaining a diameter of 8-12 inches and looking a bit like the chandeliers at the Met! They dry very nicely right on the plant and can be collected for winter decorations... everyone will want to know what they are. They bloom in late spring, and are used to clever effect at the Claverack, NY garden of Peter Bevacqua and Stephen King (above right, photo by Peter) emerging from a plush carpet of Stachys byzantina 'Helene von Stein'. Very cool. Allium atropurpureum. For those partial to deep dark colors in the garden try these beauties. Dome-shaped rather than spherical, the 2" umbels are a smashing shade of wine-purple. Native to the Balkans and appreciates a hot dry spot with free-draining soil. Nice in a meadow setting also, to add some vibrant depth of color. Allium sphaerocephalon. Drumstick Alliums are smaller flowered with slender foliage and willowy stems that make them really useful for interplanting with perennials. I use them liberally among my Heleniums where they open at just the same time (above, left) and continue adding color and form for several weeks, until the hot weather annuals nearby take up the banner (above right, with Helenium 'Mardi Gras', Pennisetum 'Vertigo' and deep purple Perilla frutescens). Allium 'Millenium'. One of my very favorite perennials is this clumping form that tops out at only about a foot tall, but blooms in late summer and remains attractive throughout its entire growth cycle. 'Millenium' is a newish hybrid developed by plant breeder Mark McDonough that has proven extremely tough and adaptable for border use. The flowers are a good shade of lilac-pink, not washed out like some other similar cultivars, and the foliage is glossy and healthy. The flowers age gradually to a duller shade of lavender, then into a silvery tan, and if not removed will remain attractive into the winter (above, right). You'll find 'Millenium' usually sold in the summer, as a container perennial. Allium tuberosum. An Allium you'll probably only find in the herb section of your favorite nursery, but one that I think is beautiful in flower. It's Garlic Chives, Allium tuberosum, in bloom now in early September and terrific in the border as well as in the herb garden. I think it would also be great in a meadow as it self-sows prolifically (cut off the seed heads before they ripen if you have it in a border). I love the clean white flowers and the flat leaves are delicious in soups, potato salad and stir-fries. As many of you know, there are lots more Alliums to try... this is just a small sampling of my favorites. They are a diverse and very decorative group of plants, and I hope you'll give some of them a trial! One of the real highlights of our trip was visiting Singapore's Botanic Gardens, a world famous institution established in 1859 that has now been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The garden is beautifully designed and maintained, and popular with Singaporeans as well as tourists, with over four million visits logged annually. It's also a major center for the study of tropical botany and horticulture; its collections of plants, rare books and herbarium specimens are extensive and serve as a critical resource for research on the region's flora. What's more, it's really fun to visit, with cool educational exhibits like the "Evolution Garden" that walks you through the history of flowering plants as they developed over millions of years (the Cycads section is shown above). The garden has a park-like layout with many winding paths and grade changes. It's enormous, and divided into many areas of specialized collections and theme gardens that make it impossible to see everything in one visit. The Orchid collection is famous here, comprising over 1000 species and 2000 hybrids, many presented in stunning displays that rival any perennial border in England or Rose garden in the U.S. Here, pastel-colored Dendrobium hybrids are bedded out with red Costus woodsonii, a South American ginger. There are plenty on display for those who prefer a more vivid color palette, like this Papilionanda hybrid, 'Bangkok'. And amazing blends of more subtle tones... this is 'Ninja', a Dendrobium cultivar that caught my eye. The lawn looks a little worse for wear, but attests to the popularity of these gardens with locals and visitors alike. After gorging on the incredible colors and forms of the Orchid collection, we headed to the Fernery for some soothing green. I had to keep reminding myself that all these plants are growing outdoors, not in a conservatory! Another restful area was the lush Ginger Garden, a collection of plants related to the culinary ginger (Zingiber officinale), which has over 3000 relatives, many grown for decorative purposes. There are many beautiful water features throughout the garden... above, the Sacred Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) and below, the queen of Water Lilies, Victoria amazonica. Perhaps the greatest treasures other than the National Orchid Collection are the magnificent tropical trees scattered throughout the grounds. Some of them, like the Mengkulang (Heritiera elata) on the left above, with its curiously furrowed and folded trunk, are survivors of the original jungle that once covered the island of Singapore. This particular tree was first catalogued in 1908, the first of its species to be recorded scientifically. On the right is an enormous Kapok tree (Ceiba pentandra) planted in 1934. Kapoks are fast-growing and were once an important commercial product of the tropics. Prior to the invention of synthetics the fluffy seed coating, similar to cotton, was used extensively for stuffing pillows, toys and life preservers. One of the most impressive collections is the wonderful variety of palms. In the "Palm Valley", many species are arranged around a huge lawn that slopes down to a concert shell, like an exotic Tanglewood! Some of the most unusual palms we saw are, on left. the Red Sealing Wax Palm (Cyrtostachys renda) a clumping palm native to Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo. Right, above: the Ruffled Fan Palm or Vanuata Fan Palm (Licuala grandis) and the silvery Satra Palm (Bismarckia nobilis) from Madagascar. Two more palms we loved: a hedge of Lady Palm (Rhaphis excelsa) and impressive specimens of the Umbrella Leaf Palm (Johannesteijmannia altifrons), a beauty that hails from the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo. A rarity, now endangered in most of its native range, is the Double Coconut (Lodoicea maldavica) a dioecious palm from the Seychelles. The nut is considered the largest seed in the world and takes 7-9 years to mature. The Singapore Botanic Gardens is fortunate to have several specimens, both male and female. The Baobab tree (Adansonia digitata) is considered the largest succulent in the world... kind of like a gigantic Jade Plant. Highly adapted to dry climates, its massive trunk stores water, and can survive leafless for nine months of the year. To me it always looks like something from a Flintstones cartoon! It's fun to see plants we normally consider houseplants used as groundcovers and perennials! This is the "Donkey Ear" from Madagascar, Kalanchoe gastonis-bonnieri. Here's a crazy cool thing we saw a couple of places in our travels: the Curtain Ivy (Cissus verticillata). The foliage is pretty nondescript but the aerial rootlets that hang down, absorbing moisture from the humid air, are spectacularly curious. Here it's grown over a pergola but we had dinner under an arbor of it at a restaurant in Cambodia... very memorable! We also saw many varieties of Bird-of-Paradise (Strelitzia), one of the most widely grown flowering plants in Southeast Asia. The Singapore Botanic Gardens has an extensive collection in one area, massed in large plantings. Bougainvilleas are ubiquitous in Singapore, seen mostly in screaming shades of magenta, fuschia and hot pink, but we found this soft melon color to be more soothing in the heat and humidity. That's my personal tour, hope you enjoyed it and please take my advice... if you're ever in Singapore make a special effort to visit this incredible resource... you won't be disappointed! As some of you already know, my husband Kuan is Singaporean, so we're in Southeast Asia visiting family for a couple of weeks. And of course while here, I had to check out some of the gardens and plant life in this lush, exotic and humid part of the world! First stop, Singapore...a very clean, modern and westernized city. Among all the skyscrapers and high rise apartments there are still some vestiges of British Colonial architecture, like the courtyard garden at the Raffles Hotel, left above, and a Presbyterian church. The original Main Post Office has been converted to a hotel, and these colonial period administration buildings are now upscale boutiques and salons. Even though the city is completely developed, the concrete is mitigated by the exuberant plantings everywhere... all the streets are tree-lined and even the freeways are bordered with dense plantings of Palms, Bird-of-Paradise, Bougainvillea, Cordylines, Ficus and many other tropicals unfamiliar to me. One of the most commonly seen is "Flame of the Forest" (left above) aka "Poinciana", Delonix regia. It's grown as a large street tree as well as pruned into a shrub. And I was really wowed by the huge Bird's Nest Ferns and other epiphytes that adorn almost every tree trunk! Frangipanis are seen everywhere too, in several colors, but I think the clean white one (Plumeria alba) is the most beautiful. The fragrance isn't heavy, like a Gardenia, but light and sweet... more like an Azalea. Orchids, Orchids everywhere... the national flower of Singapore and used as freely as we use red Geraniums back home. Mynah birds are always around too, begging for crumbs and vocalizing loudly, much like our Starlings (in fact they are related) but seem so much more exotic. Next, on to Bangkok for a long weekend! Love of plants is universal, and people grow things wherever and however they can manage, as seen in these Thai houses along a canal. Our time to explore gardens was limited, but we managed to visit one place on our must-see list: the Jim Thompson Museum. Thompson was an American ex-pat, a Princeton trained architect who fell in love with Thailand while stationed there in WWII. In the 1950's he assembled a group of six traditional Thai wooden houses, furnished them with a stunning collection of Asian paintings, sculpture and ceramics, and surrounded them with a lush tropical garden. The garden is a series of courtyards enclosed by the six buildings and a high outer wall. There are few flowers to be seen... shade, greenery and water features are used to provide a sense of coolness and tranquility in this very hot climate. Water bowls are placed throughout, with tiny fish, like minnows, to keep them free of mosquitoes. On the right, an antique Chinese post is used as a garden ornament. Orchids in antique porcelain pots add color in the cool, open spaces beneath the raised houses. A doorway is kept off limits with a garland of dried Gomphrena blossoms, a flower we commonly grow here as a summer annual. Not everything in Bangkok was charming... while walking in a park we saw this HUGE Monitor Lizard slithering out of a drainpipe. Ewww. And don't even ask about the public toilets. Small caveats aside though, I'd highly recommend a trip to Thailand... friendly people, fantastic food and lots to see... I hope we'll be returning to explore more of this beautiful and fascinating country. That's all for now... next post: Singapore's world class Botanic Gardens! As we move toward the heat of real summer, retreating into the shade seems a sensible option. Away from the glare of full sun and the bright hues of summer flowers, our eyes can rest a bit and enjoy the many shades of green even the simplest garden has to offer. And we can increase that range of tones, and add some liveliness to shady spots, by planting some of the many cultivars that feature golden, chartreuse or yellow-green foliage. In recent years there's been a big increase in the number of plants offered in this palette. It seems just about any perennial, shrub or tree can now be found in a "golden" version. There are lots of annuals in these shades too, but in this post I'll feature a few hardy plants I know well and find useful to give variety and a little sparkle to your shade plantings. One of the earliest perennials to emerge is always Dicentra spectabilis, the old-fashioned Bleeding Heart. 'Gold Heart' is a new twist on this old favorite, with rosy stems and green-gold foliage flushed with tones of peach, followed by the usual bright pink pendant hearts. The foliage matures to lime green and stays attractive much longer than the common sort, especially when grown with consistent moisture. Grassy textures are valuable in the shade as counterpoints to Hostas, Hellebores, Rodgersias and other shade lovers with bold foliage. One of my favorites (though hard to find in nurseries) is Carex elata 'Aurea', aka Bowles' Golden Sedge. Like all sedges it thrives best in a moist spot, and its delicate texture and graceful habit are as pleasing as its bright coloring. There are hundreds if not thousands of cultivars of Japanese Maple, and although most people are only familiar with the commonly seen dark red 'Bloodgood', there are many more that can be grown here in Zone 5, especially if given some protection from winter wind. 'Orange Dream' is so-called because the emerging foliage is peachy-coral, and its fall coloring is flaming orange. But during the summer this dense, shrubby grower lights up the shade with delicate palmate leaves of fresh lettuce green. It needs protection from the hottest afternoon sun but will take morning sun or dappled light under high trees with no problem. Winning my prize for my favorite new plant of the last couple of years (and that's not easy... I fall in love continually) is Aralia cordata 'Sun King'. This is the third season for my plant, and it's achieved about three feet in both height and spread, although some references claim it will reach six feet in height. Nonetheless it's vigorous, hardy, bold and untroubled by any pests so far, even deer. Site this beauty where you can see it while enjoying your evening cocktail, as it has a flourescent quality that absolutely glows in the twilight. Spiraea thunbergii 'Ogon' (Ogon means "gold" in Japanese) is a chartreuse version of the old-fashioned Baby's Breath Spiraea, Spiraea thunbergii. The white sprays of early spring blossom are indeed very dainty, but of less interest than the delicate willowy foliage that stays bright yellowish green all summer, providing wonderful textural contrast to coarser leaved shrubs and perennials. 'Ogon' is a bit slow out of the gate, but once growing it stays in the three to four foot tall range when mature, a trait that makes it valuable for planting schemes where a more rampant shrub would be overwhelming. Filipendulas (also known as Meadowsweet or Queen of the Prairie) can be aggressive growers, but Filipendula ulmaria 'Aurea' is much shorter and hasn't been the least bit troublesome for me. The compound leaflets are decorative all season, and the feathery white flowers are pleasing though not terribly showy, so I cut the flower stalks right down to the ground after they finish and enjoy the greeny-gold foliage for the rest of the summer. The photos show my planting beginning to mingle with its neighbor, the charming but rather thuggish Anemone canadensis. Hostas are an obvious choice for shade, and there are many from which to choose. Although Hostamania is no longer the virulent disease it was ten or fifteen years ago, there are still dozens of new cultivars flooding the market every year. I'm content to stick with tried and true workhorses, like 'Paul's Glory', pictured above, but other reliable choices for adding golden highlights would be the smaller 'June' or the giant 'Sum and Substance'. A good shrub for using under deciduous trees is the golden form of Red-twigged Dogwood, Cornus alba 'Aurea'. You get the deep red stems in winter, plus a graceful summer filler in this zippy shade of bright green. Very pretty next to a shady pool or stream where it can get its roots down into consistently moist soil. Hakonechloa is the queen of shade grasses, and there are several beautiful cultivars available. These Japanese Forest Grasses adapt well to our climate and are unequaled for grace and poise. If you're trying them for the first time, I suggest you start with this variety, 'All Gold'. It increases at a steady rate and is seldom bothered by pests (except for my cat Alice, who likes to nibble it, and then throw up). Shown in the photo at the beginning of this post is another fine cultivar, 'Aureola', striped green and gold, and with an extremely elegant pendant habit. Catalpas are common trees hereabouts, but the golden version, Catalpa bignonioides 'Aurea' is worth seeking out for its bold chartreuse leaves that unfold flushed with bronze. My plant, shown here, is two years old and well established now, so starting next spring I'll stool it to the ground annually to get the largest, most tropical looking foliage possible. For yet another grassy texture in shade, try the Golden Spiderwort, Tradescantia 'Sweet Kate'. It needs bright shade to achieve its best color, so I grow it at the edge of my shady shrub border where it gets some filtered sunlight. Flowers are deep violet, opening over a long period in June and July. After that I cut it all the way down to the ground and it regrows another compact tuft of bright foliage that stays decorative until hard frost. If you think Yews are boring and suburban, check this one out: Taxus cuspidata 'Dwarf Bright Gold'. It's a stunner that needs protection from the hottest afternoon sun but will really light up a shrub planting, or can be used among perennials to give some form and substance. Or clip it into whatever shape you desire! Finally, for those truly brave gardening souls, how about a Dwarf Greenstripe Bamboo, Pleioblastus viridistriatus. Very aggressive, but if you're able to contain it or have a lot of space, this makes a gorgeous tall groundcover. Best cut to the ground every spring to force a new flush of fresh foliage that will top out at 2-3 feet. Or to be on the safer side, it makes a lovely specimen grown in a large pot in shade. Every garden has some shade, even if it's just the north side of a building, and these are just a few of the many, many selections available to liven up those areas... so there's no excuse for boredom in the shade anymore... for plants or for gardeners! You won't win any accolades from plant snobs for planting Viburnum 'Shasta', but you will be rewarded with a beautiful four-season shrub that's easy to grow and extremely useful. The Viburnums are an enormous tribe comprising lots of good garden shrubs, some native to North America, others worldwide. The ancestors of 'Shasta' hail from the forests of China and Japan, but it was bred here in the states by the U.S. Arboretum from a cross first made in 1954, and finally introduced into commerce in 1979. (This is almost exactly the time frame my lifetime took from conception to college graduation, so I feel kinship). Its correct full name is Viburnum plicatum forma tomentosum 'Shasta', but we can shorten that for our purposes to Viburnum 'Shasta'... we'll know which one we mean! At any rate, most Viburnums aren't too picky about soil but want even, reliable moisture. Some, like Arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum) even tolerate swampy conditions. I have three Shastas planted in a shady shrub border that never really dries out and they're thriving, putting on a foot or two of growth every year now that they've established (it's year five for them). They've achieved seven feet or so already, nicely screening my neighbor's driveway. Even if they were just green blobs they'd have already paid their way, but they offer so much more: distinctively tiered horizontal branching that gives them winter interest, then when they leaf out and bloom in April and May, fresh lacecap flowers all along the branches to rival any Hydrangea, followed by abundant red fruits that are relished by Robins and other fruit-eating birds. Healthy green foliage the rest of the summer and finishing out the year with tones of russet, plum and even violet... not a bright fall display but subtle and satisfying. My plants are growing in filtered light under high shade, but a Shasta planted in full sun will flower even more prolifically, as long as there's adequate moisture. Its fast, dense growth and hardy constitution make it a good candidate for an informal hedge (unclipped, of course) and the lacecap flowers blend with native and naturalistic plantings better than some other Viburnums with larger, showier blooms. Plus, it's rated very resistant to the pesky Viburnum Leaf Beetle, which can devastate other types like Viburnum dentatum and Viburnum trilobum. Nor is it a martyr to aphids, like the European Snowball, Viburnum opulus. If you're not sold already, factor in that Viburnum 'Shasta' is rarely even nibbled by deer in my garden, even though they regularly maul the Hostas growing underneath. 'Shasta' has a broad growth habit, so make sure you give it adequate space. Eight or ten feet between plants is not too much; a mature specimen may easily measure eight feet tall by twelve feet wide. Then just sit back and enjoy it, season after season, a truly reliable and rewarding workhorse of a shrub! Yes, it's finally spring. At our place in the northwest corner of the county, the first sure sign is the flowering of the Witchhazel, a soft yellow variety called 'Pallida'. It always comes as a bit of a shock, in a raw, wet week that's still too uncomfortable for working outdoors, but suddenly there it is, blooming away. After that there's a succession of minor bulbs: Winter Aconites first, then Snowdrops and Iris reticulata, then a purple Crocus planted who-knows-when by some former resident of our old farmhouse. This week, just in time for the first really gorgeous days, the Scilla sibirica are opening in the lawn on the south side of the house. But the first perennial show of the year comes from the Hellebores. Their flower buds were already pushing up three weeks ago, when I raked off the winter debris and cut back their old foliage, still hanging on but tatty and battered by the winter weather. In a couple more days the stems were several inches high, and by now the flowers are open and new foliage expanding, well before most other herbaceous plants have much to show above the ground. Hellebores are native to a broad swath of territory from western China, into the Near East, and throughout Europe. The Balkans are a particularly rich trove of species. Much collecting and hybridization has been done in the last twenty years or so, resulting in many new crosses that bloom at a younger age and carry their flowers in a more outward-facing manner than some of the older strains. But they're all lovely. The most often seen Hellebores in this area are the orientalis hybrids, commonly called Lenten Roses. They are, of course, no relation at all to Roses, belonging instead to the Buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, and around here they seldom bloom until Lent has passed. These are reasonably easy to grow, and come in a wide color range, with single or double flowers. Hellebore hybrids are featured prominently at Margaret Roach's garden in nearby Copake Falls, NY. (open for visitors via the Garden Conservancy on May 9th) Margaret's also written several excellent articles on Hellebores that are archived on her website, awaytogarden.com. If you have a woodland garden like my friends Joe and Stuart, you may also want to try the Bear's Foot Hellebore, Helleborus foetidus. It thrives for them in the filtered shade under birches, seeding around among stones and other shade-loving perennials. The Bear's Foot Hellebore is taller, sometimes two feet or more, with drooping clusters of pale green blossoms carried above the handsome, finely divided foliage. The individual plants are shorter-lived than other Hellebores, but once they start seeding around you'll have them reliably for many years. Although most of the recent hybridization has been done in Britain, the Pacific Northwest or the Southeastern US, most varieties on the market today are well adapted to our Zone 5 climate. They enjoy a good rich soil that drains well in winter, and filtered light under trees or at the base of large shrubs. They're also reasonably deer resistant, except when the tender buds are emerging, so hit them with some spray or scatter some Milorganite around them in the early spring. After the leathery leaves emerge they are rarely bothered. Try as I may, I can't help buying a couple of new varieties every spring, so I now have what I hesitate to call a collection--more an accumulation--of them. I was initially drawn to the darks: the wine-reds, deep violets and slatey blue-blacks. They are mesmerizing close at hand, but now that I'm beginning to plant them farther from the house, I find that the whites, yellows and pinks show up much better from a distance. So I suppose I'll continue adding to my plantings a few at a time, and I urge you to do the same. They're gorgeous, useful, rewarding plants, but I warn you... quite addictive! Welcome to late winter, that magical season that lasts and lasts! The snowbanks, coated in dingy road grit and spangled with dog droppings, have lost their annoying whiteness, and no one bothers to shovel anymore. Instead we enjoy the long, dark evenings, punctuated by the plink, plink, plink of the leaking roof and the occasional crash as another gutter rips off the house. At the nursery all our orders for spring are in, and we're starting to receive deliveries of tools, pottery and garden accessories. And although we're still weeks away from being able to receive our first deliveries of live plants, I thought a little preview of what's to come might be welcome. Helleborus x ballardiae 'Merlin'. Large, outward facing flowers open pink, then mature through dusky plum to deep cranberry. The very dark green leaves are marbled with slightly lighter veining and the stems are reddish, making for a beautiful foliage plant even when not in flower. This group of Hellebores (which also includes 'Icebreaker', 'Penny's Pink', 'Cinnamon Snow' and others) was bred by Josef Heuger in Germany to bloom at a very young age and with an extremely long flowering period. We had a few 'Merlin' last year and they sold out almost immediately. I snagged one for myself and so far, it appears very vigorous and completely at home here in our Zone 5 garden. A mature clump should measure in the neighborhood of 18" across and 12 to 15" tall. All Hellebores are wonderful garden plants: deer and disease resistant, long-lived, early flowering, evergreen and shade tolerant. Clematis x 'Guernsey Cream'. I first bought this plant years ago, admittedly because I liked the name, but it's proven to be one of the most reliable Clematis I've ever grown. Very free-flowering and hardy into Zone 4, it's so prolific that I've shoveled pieces off the main root and planted them elsewhere on my property. And it seems less prone to fungal disease than the classic white 'Henryi', which I also love. The 5" flowers of 'Guernsey Cream' open palest yellow with green central bars, fading to ivory white as the blossoms age. It makes an excellent companion for old roses, and the golden seed heads extend its interest well past the flowering period. Clematis pruning is a topic that drives gardeners mad, but there's no reason to stress. 'Guernsey Cream' is classed in Group 2, those whose main flush of bloom is borne on the previous year's growth. All I do is trim out some of the weak and broken stems in early spring, then tip the others back to just above a swelling bud. My vines top out at around 8 ft, making it a good choice for a fence or a light trellis. Euphorbia polychroma 'Bonfire'. This plant has been around for quite a few years now, but I never tire of promoting it... truly one of my Top 10 Perennials (don't ask what the other 9 are). The regular Euphorbia polychroma is sort of a standard old reliable garden stalwart, but 'Bonfire takes it to a whole new level, starting with its emergent colorplay of reddish foliage and lime green flower buds... a real spring tonic! Then it pays its way all through summer with compact mounds of burgundy that need no deadheading, staking or shearing. As fall temperatures drop, the leaves take on tints of violet and bronze that complement Asters to perfection. My only caveat with 'Bonfire' is that it seems to resent disturbance, even planting, making it a bit of a challenge to establish. But once it takes, it's virtually indestructible. Like all Euphorbias, it has a milky sap that causes skin irritation in some people, so wear your gloves when handling! Agastache 'Purple Haze'. All the Agastaches are beautiful but most of them are, alas, only hardy to Zone 6 or 7. I admit that I've had a little trouble overwintering this stunning variety, but local garden designer Heather Grimes swears she's kept it for years here with no problem, so I'm going to retry it in a different spot. It's definitely worth a little extra effort to find just the right microclimate so that it overwinters reasonably well. The tall racemes of smoky blue/purple seem to stay in flower for weeks and weeks and weeks, making it a wonderful high summer complement to Daylilies, Achilleas, Echinaceas and other midsummer perennials that tend toward the warm end of the color spectrum. And I love the foliage fragrance: anise, hyssop or root beer, depending on your nose. 'Purple Haze' is highly deer and rabbit resistant, drought tolerant and a bee and butterfly magnet. Site in a well-drained location with plenty of sun and enjoy the long display! That's about all for now, folks... just a little taste of things to come. Spring is just around the corner, so keep the faith for a few more weeks and we'll soon all be swamped with outdoor chores, the winter blues behind us for another year. |
Welcome to Sempervivum, an opinionated, sometimes informed and completely unqualified journal of gardens, plants and plantings by artist-gardener Robert Clyde Anderson. Archives
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