An unapologetic plant geek shares advice and opinions on gardening, the contrived and the natural landscape, as well as occasional topics from the other side of the gate.

May 15, 2013

Bloom Day: Almost Ready For My Close Up

     As of this Bloom Day I have only 3 days to finish getting my garden ready for a tour this Saturday.  I have been working off and on in my garden all winter and spring, but everything can't be done ahead of time, and there will be lots of last minute tweaking, deadheading and weeding. Though bloom-wise I am in a minor May gap, there should still be plenty of things for the group to see including some new plants.  I spent yesterday planting my purchases from the annual plant sale at the botanical garden.  I worked the sale all three days, plus spent the week before getting it ready, so I knew exactly what I wanted when the registers opened.

     One of the things I bought was Cuphea ignea 'David Verity'.  I had it several years ago, but it just up and died during the middle of the summer.  Smitten, I will try again.
Cuphea ignea 'David Verity'

      I also bought a potential plant replacement. One of my oldest perennials is Jerusalem sage (Phlomis fruticosa), and it is in a slow decline.  I planted my Phlomis-in-waiting at the base of the older one, just in case.
Phlomis fruticosa

     Right next to the Phlomis is one of my favorite native perennials, Amsonia hubrichtii (Blue Star).  Truth be told, I really can't stand its skim milk blue flower color, I grow it for the foliage texture and fall color.
Amsonia hubrichtii

Cestrum aurantiaum 'Orange Zest'
Cestrum aurantiaum 'Orange Zest'

Gaillardia x grandiflora 'Goblin'
Gaillardia x grandiflora 'Goblin'

Rosa x 'Pat Austin'
Rosa 'Pat Austin'

Rosa x 'Betty Boop'
Roas 'Betty Boop'

Tradescantia x 'Blue and Gold'
Tradescantia x 'Blue and Gold'

     Several years ago I bought some Ruellia at a different plant sale, and tagging along in the pot was a rain lily and this unidentified Tradescantia.
Tradescantia (unknown)

Iris siberica
Iris siberica

Allium christophii (Star of Persia)
Allium christophii

Portulaca x 'Happy Hour Mix'
Portulaca 'Happy Hour Mix'

Baptisia 'Purple Smoke'
Baptisia 'Purple Smoke'

     Quite unintentionally, the color of the Baptisia is a good match with the pansies (Viola x 'Persian Medley') blooming at its base.  It has not yet been hot enough to make the pansies melt out.
Baptisia 'Purple Smoke' (2)


Viola x 'Persian Medley'

     I do not want to show another close up of my Hime quince (Chaenomeles x 'Hime'), which has been flowering since November, so you get its neighbor, Hydrangea quercifolia 'Little Honey'.
Hydrangea quercifolia 'Little Honey'

     Little Honey is only one of many plants I have with gold or chartreuse foliage, and looking around the garden yesterday I realized I might be a chrysophilist.  Case in point, this tree is Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Frisia’ (Frisia Black Locust), which I grow for the foliage, but the sweetly scented flowers are nice as well.
Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Frisia’

     If you would like to see what is blooming in other blogger's gardens, then you should visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens, after all, it is the month of May.

38 comments:

  1. How exciting to be part of a Tour of Gardens...

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    1. Exciting is one word, I can think of others.

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  2. Cool stuff. The color combo of Baptisia and Pansies really surprised me! Very nice display and unusual combination.

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    1. I did not create the combo on purpose. Normally the pansies would be gone by the time the Baptisia blooms.

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  3. Nothing like a garden tour to increase the stress level but it also gets everything done early so you can rest a bit right after. Love your bloom. My amsonia is just budding. Soon.

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    1. I have gotten a lot of things done in the garden that I have meant to get done, tour or no tour.

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  4. Your garden clearly will be looking beautiful for the tour. I never intended it but I realize I have a lot of yellow foliage plants as well. Easy to get hooked! Love the baptisia and pansy combo.

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    1. I don't know what it is, but my eye goes to gold foliage immediately.

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  5. I wish I could come to the tour. I love the baptisia and pansies combination. I really like that locust tree too. Beautiful!

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    1. I am sure I do not need to tell you what I am going through here. At least with mine they are all coming on an activity bus, and then they all leave at once.

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  6. Your blooms are looking spectacular and I'm sure that the folks lucky enough to tour your garden will be blown away (figuratively that is, haven't heard any storm warnings for your area or anything.)

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    1. I could take a little storm, especially if it came with some rain.

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  7. Hope the tour is an enjoyable event for you, and then of course that you get some rest.

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    1. It should be enjoyable. The official tour is in the morning, and then my co-workers will be coming over later for the after tour. That is the one I am more worried about.

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  8. They're going to love your garden. Everything looks wonderful.

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    1. Thank you Nell. It does look good right now if I do say so myself.

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  9. That's exciting Les, I'm sure your garden will be gorgeous! Who else from NBG has their garden on the tour?

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    1. It will be me, Brian O'Neil and Sybil Stone. The group will also pick up boxed lunches from Taste to eat on the grounds of The Hermitage.

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  10. I'm glad to see the 'out' view of the Baptisia. I planted Baptisia over the last two years, I'm curious to see how they progress this season. Good luck on your tour. The only tour it seems I receive is from my critical neighbor.

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    1. I have been seeing some of the yellow Baptisias at the botanical garden, and I think I am going to have to add one to my garden. I just don't know what I will have to take out to make room.

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  11. Your garden looks great! I checked the link to see about visiting your garden, but the sales are closed. I'm in northern VA. What lucky folks to be able to take the tour. :o)

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    1. Yes, I think all the seats are filled. If you ever come to the Norfolk Botanical Garden look me up. The butterfly house opens Father's Day Weekend.

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  12. Les, I loved the plant sale last weekend but I loved seeing all the beauty at the NBG even more. I was tempted to purchase a Phlomis but I don't have room. Instead I bought Othonna cheirifolia (Barbary Ragwort). Your garden blooms are stunning. The Allium is to die for!

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    1. After watching Othonna bloom through the winter and maintaining that attractive foliage, I bought one as well.

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  13. Relax! Looks tour-ready to me.

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    1. I am almost done with the garden, but the house is a wreck.

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  14. Amsonia flowers leave me cold too. In fact I tried to photograph A. hubrichtii for bloom day and ended up deleting all the pictures. Enjoy the tour!

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    1. I have all these cool new ice plants, but none of the pics I took looked good, so they did not make the cut.

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  15. People will be awed by your garden I have no doubt. I love your combination of baptisia and violas. You're a bit harsh on the Amsonia flowers, though. I admit they are a bit insipid, but I like them anyway.

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    1. Well the Amsonia flowers aren't bad enough for me to remove the plant, and I knew what to expect when I bought the plant.

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  16. Plenty going on for your tour and all unusual. I am so glad that you have now given me official permission to admit that I don't like the flowers on Amsonia hub. I thought there was something I wasn't getting.

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    1. I will overlook the flowers because I know what that foliage does as a contrast to other foliage and for its fall color.

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  17. How generous of you to throw open your gates to gardening enthusiasts! And thank you for giving us an advance sneak peek. Hope the weather is favorable for you tomorrow.

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  18. Good luck with the tour...I'd be a nervous wreck, for sure! LOVE 'Purple Smoke'...it's my only Baptisia...and mine finally bloomed this year...after 3 years...woohoo! Happy Bloom Day :-)

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  19. Hope it went really well Les.

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  20. I hope the tour went well. Wish I could have been there for it. Your pics make it look very enticing.

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  21. The tour must have been a smashing success as your garden looks beautiful. Now you must be recovering from it all.

    "Chrysophilist"--so there's a name for that, too! :)

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  22. You are getting your garden ready for the tour and here, I am getting a tour ready for the gardens. So much work organizing. But I do know it is also loads of work for the gardeners too! Hope is was a success and your garden a smash.

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