What do you see on your garden walks? 2012

[Bundraba!]

I've been aware of this pest in other gardens, even in other parts of the country, but seemingly not so bad as here, which really makes me wonder if growing conditions contribute to the problem: The plants may have a defense, but if it isn't available to them via the environment, they are lost. In your case, Cohan, I suspect the lack of certain pests might have something to do with that -49 degrees you post. That would probably deter me!

Unless the splitters have been busy the Agave is still A. parryi.

[cohan]

Probably the cold winters help with some pests- though you'd never know it by the bazillions of bugs in general- and they are out before the snow is gone (though maybe its the large number of bugs that keep pests limited)! To be accurate, though, I've never seen that -45C-49F in person, its just a record low, usually nothing lower than -40C/-40F and not always that even.  Nonetheless, there are some days in mid-winter when I find it hard to  believe that anything- animal or vegetable- can still be alive out there!
Interestingly, there has been a need for sub -40 winters to slow the eastward spread of pine beetles (not right here) and we just haven't had much of it. Last I've heard, though, the beetles have slowed a bit for some other reason....

[RickR]

Scilla scilloides is putting on a much better show this season compare to recent years.


Apparently, eryngiums are quite tasty; I suppose that is why the are usually so darn thorny.  Something ate one of my two Eryngium agavifolium planted out this year in the garden.  A 3 inch divot was left, and the culprit had eaten right into the soil.  I could still feel the primary roots radiating out from what would have been the crown.  Eryngium agavifolium is not prickly at all.
              

 A Helianthus cultivar.  Sometimes the buds are more interesting than the flowers.  And Gentiana septemfida, not liking the heat stress.
        

Vernonia gigantea topped out at 9ft 10 inches.  Yes, I measured, and how else but on a ladder can I get pics of the flowers?
        

        

[RickR]

Euonymus hamiltonianus var. sieboldianus is beginning to color up for its last year in the yard.   After ten years it is beginning to sucker, and I don't want the next door neighbor having to deal with it.  On the bright side, E. planipes (thanks, Mark!) or a medlar will be replacing it.
Pics of sieboldianus from above and below.
          

The herbaceous Aralia continentalis replaced the woody Aralia elata that had threatened to invade my other neighbor's lot. Chamaecyparis thyoides always has heavy cone set for me.
          

[Tim Ingram]

Rick - the Vernonia must be really stunning to have in the garden! I wonder how tall Eupatorium purpureum can get under ideal conditions? Your mention of Eryngium yuccifolium reminded me of the New Zealand aciphyllas, another formidable group of umbellifers. Many of the family have the same chemistry as things like carrot and parsnip, and if you smell the roots you can often make this out. With the aciphyllas their form must have evolved to counteract grazing by the many flightless moas of past times. Having said this I have had rabbits eat the leaves in the garden here so they must be particularly tasty!

[fleurbleue]

Kelaidis, what a nice Salvia is your S. penstemonoides ! I didn't know it.

[Kelaidis]

Salvia penstemonoides was thought to be extinct, but was rediscovered near Dallas, Texas--it is a beautiful thing that seems to be hardy for us. I am amazed that Impatiens omeiana is hardy in Newfoundland, Todd! Or has it not been through a winter? Inula rhizocephala has always been monocarpic here, Lori--you must have very special conditions to have it rebloom twice more. I am relieved we do not have Psyllids, however. This time of year the garden seems to have a second spring, and the botanic gardens has almost too much to relate, but my own garden is more manageable. Here are some of the highlights from the last day or two...

1) This pale form of Allium cyaneum came to me as A. sikkimense (Joy Creek Nursery)--it's better sited than others of this species, and shows off more. Needs something contrasting next to it, though...
2) Artemisia filifolia is the only shrubby sagebrush in this area, always growing on sandy soils. It was native to my property, and this one magically appeared in just the right spot. I love its extravagant swirls.
3) Colchicum (Merendera) pyreneicum is always the first of its clan, inducing a bit of panic (which is why its Spanish name is "I scare the shepherds" [with the approach of winter]/ I love it in the evening when it closes,
4) And in the daytime when it is wide open.
5) I take my tender cacti outdoors for the summer, where they are happier, and often bloom: here Coryphantha elephantipes
6)-7) I've grown Cyclamen purpurascens long enough that seedlings are popping up all sorts of places--here in among sempervivums, and elsewhere--often in full sun!
Not much blooming here on my dry xeriscapes (east and west Ridges), except for Mexican hair grass (Nasella tenuissima) which I must cut back before it takes over...
9) Eriogonum allenii is well into its second month of blooming, alongside Seseli gummiferum: two of the mainstays of my summer garden.
10) Hedeoma hyssopifolium from the Chiricahua Mts. of New Mexico, its first year here. It makes a dense mound of bloom with time.

Only down to the H's--must post another note next for the rest...

[Kelaidis]

1) This time of year the Hylotelephiums make a great show: just planted this H. 'Bertram Anderson'' a rew weeks ago...
2) Hylotelephium cauticolum must be one of its parents: it makes a great show on a dry corner of my rock garden where it's hard to grow most alpines.\
3) The Star Performer in my garden right now is this Lobelia cardinalis, or probably a hybrid with the Mexican species, come to think of it. It's been in this spot then or more years.
4) Even the vegetable garden is decorative with Ipomoea (draped, bloomsin the morning) and crimson Amaranth everywhere.
5) Salvia microphylla 'Hot Lips' has been blooming much of the summer, but lulls at the height of heat--now that its cooled off a bit it's kicking in. Amazing a plant from southern Mexico is so hardy.
6) I love the scarlet of Salvia darcyi, which I finally have growing well at home.
7) Just to prove I am not a rock garden snob, I do grow a few annuals (here in a brash combination: petunias, callibrachoa and Angelonia)   
Kniphofia porphyrantha finally blooming after half a dozen years!
9)The black spikes on Veratrum formosanum--one of my favorites, dark though it be..
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

[Kelaidis]

Noticed the last two did not show up: will try posting them again:

7) Just to prove I am not a rock garden snob, I do grow a few annuals (here in a brash combination: petunias, callibrachoa and Angelonia)   
 Kniphofia porphyrantha finally blooming after half a dozen years!
9)The black spikes on Veratrum formosanum--one of my favorites, dark though it be..
                                                                                                                                                         

[Hoy]

Rick, I don't think I'll ever grow a plant that I need a ladder to admire! At least not in one season.

I had several Eryngiums once and they were never touched by slugs
Scilla scilloides looks pretty. Seems to be a nice plant.

[cohan]

Rick, Scilla looks good, and Vernonia impressive! I have yet to try and fall blooming bulbs here, curious to know if any of them will be early enough to make it...lol We've already had a couple of frost warnings- for Rocky Mountain House (30km west), but I think my yard is not as quick to freeze..

Panayoti- second spring indeed! lots of good reds A couple of tiny C purpurascens are flowering here right now, too..

[Hoy]

Panayoti, Impatiens omeiana is completely hardy here and my climate isn't any better than Todd's! I can't grow the red salvias for instance and Lobelia cardinalis survive only a season or two. I would love to have they all in my garden!

Winter is still some months away here so the cyclamens have not appeared yet.

[RickR]

I must first correct a mistake I made recently in this thread (now corrected in that post):
http://nargs.org/smf/index.php?topic=1009.msg19409#msg19409
Not Eryngium yuccafolium, it is Eryngium agavifolium.  A slip of the mind, and hard to believe no one caught that!  E. yuccafolium is commonly listed by American nurseries offering prairie wildflowers.  It is a very different looking plant.
---------------------------

I especially like flowers that open and close and open and close... but that Colchicum is certainly the most dramatic that I've seen!  All great plants, Panayoti and Michael!

[Hoy]

Rick, I once did grow both but I didn't remember which was which

[Michael J Campbell]

Colchicum agrippinum