What do you see on your garden walks? 2012

[RickR]

PK, those are very healthy Cup plants.  They don't look like they are in a very moist place, which I thought they needed.  Are they?

Trond; like the Daffs and Snowdrops I have; no seed on Lycoris to date; and those clumps are pretty old.

I wondered if that was an old patch of Lycoris, Michael...

I thinned mine last year for the Chapter sale, but they seem to be doing well.  They always look like they will produce seed, but I've always cut them down before they have a chance.  I'll let some go this time, and see what comes up for you, Trond.

              

[Hoy]

I thinned mine last year for the Chapter sale, but they seem to be doing well.  They always look like they will produce seed, but I've always cut them down before they have a chance.  I'll let some go this time, and see what comes up for you, Trond.

That's kind of you, Rick   

I had to buy this Penstemon, it was named Penstemon 'Rick R' 

[cohan]

Rick- another person growing Lycoris in z4- clearly my idea they were z6 was mistaken 

Good find, Trond- both for the name and colour

[Hoy]

My garden is not particularly well-tended at the moment due to our long absence but some plants do bloom anyway.

I have several Clematis and many are flowering at the moment, Clematis (forgotten name), C x jouiniana 'Praecox', Francoa appendiculata (the main flower stem finished for the season), and a untidy corner with a mophead Hydrangea and an Anemone.

       


The Lonicera periclymenum is a weed but have showy flowers and a very pleasant fragrance, here the cv 'Serotina', a Malva struggle through the dense growth of weedy plants - notice the bindweed, the fern Osmunda regalis, the new growth of Rhododendron bureavii is almost as good as its flowers.

            

[cohan]

Nice to come home and find lots of things in flower

[RickR]

Remember guys, only Lycoris squamigera is fully zone 4 hardy.  Other Lycoris not so much.  I've had a couple L. chinensis that I've missed digging come through, but not happy looking.  And Lycoris radiata survives here for 7 years so far, but never adapting.  They come up in the fall, get frozen back, and limp along into the summer.  Leaves never surpass a pitiful 5 inches and they don't look that happy.  They apparently are cold hardy enough, but never amount to anything.

[Bundraba!]

Idyllic late summer: There's a lot of "fade". Iris have stopped growing, Daylily leaves are tinged with browns and yellows, the air is still and thick but not uncomfortably so. There is a lot of rot in some of the "alpines" -this is unfortunately normal -but I really like the scene in the garden now, composed of only a few plants, but so glorious; the slow turn-over into autumn! The blues in Platycodon and Gentiana add a touch of magic but they must be sought by the eye in this garden right now as they are not common.
 

An expanded view of My Little Shade Garden and an excellent Hosta for flower color; H. 'stilletto'.
 

[Tim Ingram]

Very nice shade plantings with the hostas. Do you not have slugs in the garden?! By this time in the year we are normally very dry (naturally and due to too many woody plants), so many late flowering perennials struggle. I give the alpines on the sand bed a good soaking every now and again...

[Lori S.]

All those beautiful plants and plantings, Michael, and peaches too!  I never would have thought that was possible in zone 4.  
Heck, I'm amazed at Lycoris squamigera being hardy... must give them a try now.

Wow, nice penstemon, Rick Trond - it is an amazing colour.  (Hey, knowing that you are a lover of language, note that that plant will give you the chance to use the word "eponymous"   ... a rare enough opportunity!)

[Hoy]

Seems I should try any Lycoris I come across!

Michael, my favorite time of the year is the spring although all the other seasons have their charm too Have to look for Hosta 'Stiletto' too

Have been warm and dry for some days. However I don't need to water the garden but a few pots.

Bacopa 'Blue Shower' and an Agapanthus

[McDonough]

I had to buy this Penstemon, it was named Penstemon 'Rick R' 

Rick, did I miss previous mention of Penstemon 'Rick R'?  Please tell us about it, the color is amazing!

[Lori S.]

I had to buy this Penstemon, it was named Penstemon 'Rick R' 

Rick, did I miss previous mention of Penstemon 'Rick R'?  Please tell us about it, the color is amazing!

Ooops, sorry!  I think I have caused everyone to go astray - I just backtracked and realized it was Trond who bought Penstemon 'Rick R', not Rick!    Scratch my comment about using the word "eponymous"... unless you can come across that one, Rick.  Any idea of the heritage of that penstemon, Trond?

[cohan]

Michael- your garden looks as dreamy at this time as ever I'm especially happy to see the larger views, since I am just now thinking about how far to space regular perennial beds from raised rock beds, and have not yet come to any conclusions (except that I have one that is way too close, since the Achilleas are flopping over onto the edge of the rock garden...lol) Anyone else that has shots that show how the two types of beds relate to one another in your landscape, I'd love to see!

Tim, always nice to see your sand bed-- not dry here, although we are having some warm sunny days, after tomorrow, the whole week has 30-70% chance of rain again...

Trond- nice blue on the Bacopa- is that an annual or can you overwinter it?

[Hoy]

Ooops, sorry!  I think I have caused everyone to go astray - I just backtracked and realized it was Trond who bought Penstemon 'Rick R', not Rick!    Scratch my comment about using the word "eponymous"... unless you can come across that one, Rick.  Any idea of the heritage of that penstemon, Trond?

Lori, I  wondered who you talked to and what you talked about

I can't find the label although I am sure I put it somewhere. I think it was Penstemon superbus 'Rick R'. I'll report on hardiness next year!

Trond- nice blue on the Bacopa- is that an annual or can you overwinter it?

It is a perennial although I assume it is difficult to overwinter inside. I'll try though.

[RickR]

I can't find the label although I am sure I put it somewhere. I think it was Penstemon superbus 'Rick R'. I'll report on hardiness next year!

You just won't stop the charade, Trond!  Fun, but I'm on to you, though... 

I thought that bacopa was extra nice, too.  The white form has been around for decades here, but only now is it catching on with the general gardener.