Exciting new plants

Last year my next door neighbors had this Elephant Ear, Colocasia 'Coffee Cup' in their yard. I was very impressed with it. Much to my surprise (and theirs, I think) not only did it winter over, but it came back with offshoots this year. So, he gave me one. As it grows, the leaves will curl up, forming a cup. They fill with water when it rains, and birds will drink out of the. So, here is mine.

I planted the beebalm last year, but it did not bloom. I was expecting bright red flowers, so I was very surprised to see fuchsia blooms. It is very pretty, and mixes well with the rose campion.

This is the second year this amaryllis has bloomed. It has not grown near as tall this year. Also blooming are the pond flags (iris), pinks, peonies, veronica (speedwell), climbing roses.

Blooming today

Here are some pictures of what is blooming today. I have been surprised by the three different shades of spiderwort. They are much more robust than in previous years. Also the first of the rose campion (it is the small magenta flower with the soft gray/green leaves) is a bit early.

Mulch and new things

I've been putting in lots of annuals, and gift plants. I put a smilax beside the front porch. I should be able to train it up the side and over the top of the porch. I have also put in ginger lilies, more helleborus, hollyhocks, iris, kniphofia, purple oxalis, and zinnias. I put caladiums in the planters near the pond, but also in the ground behind the pond.


My iris are really beautiful, but I have found that I have some dark purple ones that are rather short, and can't be seen where they are. I will need to move them.

The roses here are an older climbing Bourbon rose Zephirine Drouhin. They did not bloom last year, but are putting on quite a fragrant show this year.

The small plant we got at a plant/yard sale. The lady called it a Mexican violet. I can't find that name anywhere, for anything resembling this plant. I'll watch it grow and try to figure out what it is. I just hope I have it planted in a good spot.

A nice surprise

I love iris. Bearded iris are my favorite, but I like them all. Perhaps this is because it was the only flower my mother grew, and I always enjoyed picking them when I was little.

I have gotten iris from many different places. Some from the house I grew up in, which have now moved 3 times with me. Some from friends and some from plant sales. Often I don't really know what they will look like when I plant them. Yesterday my husband bought a huge bunch of purple Dutch iris at a yard sale.

My great surprise is pictured here. I planted some iris last summer, too late for them to bloom. I didn't know what they would look like. This is the first to bloom, and it is a stunner! I've never seen one with such a mixture of purple and white. It has a lovely scent as well.

Spring is busy

Although I've been very inactive on this blog, I've been busy in the garden. This is such a great time to move things.

I was given some more iris, and my crinums were far too crowded, so we dug a new bed in the back yard, and moved the iris and criums there. I have added dianthus to the front bank, as well as hens & chicks (sempervivum tectorum). I've also added them to various bare spots around the yard. I moved two hardy begonias to the far back of the yard. They were not doing well where they were. I was given several more helleborus, and I have planted those in the front south gardens (with others which is one of these photos) and in the back. I also added two white azaleas to the back and moved some money plant (Lunaria annua) and hostas to the back. We have a nice shady area around the pond.

I've divided hens & chicks, aromatic aster, and canna, and given those to other gardeners. I've also added a number of annuals to the yard, such as marigolds, petunias and dusty miller.

I am not going to do many vegetables this year, but I am adding more herbs to the garden. I planted a scallion plant, and I have some oregano from another gardeners to add. I also plan to add chives and perhaps some other great herbs.

I am excited about some of my perennials. I have many more crocosmia than last year. Also my bourbon roses have lots of buds. They did not bloom at all last year. The catmint is coming up, but I have seen no sign of the butterfly weed I planted in the fall. So far, the lantana has not returned either. My biggest surprise is the Clematis I planted beside the deck last summer. It did nothing, but this year it is robust and blooming. This is a good photo of it.

More snow!

Only 2 inches of snow, but it is pretty. I would have like a day at home. This follows on more than 2 inches of rain over the past few days.

It is fun to see daffodils blooming through the snow. I am also beginning to see other perennials emerging, such as aromatic aster, sedum and spiderwort. New leaves are appearing on my two climbing "bourbon" roses.

Getting ready to plant.

Yes, I realize it is only the middle of February, but there is really is so much to do. We treated the grass with weed & feed yesterday. Today we cut back the monkey grass, the butterfly bushes, lantana and angel trumpet. I also mulched more leaves and spread mulch around.

Yesterday I picked my first daffodils! I have hyacinths with buds. My dark red camellia is just beginning to bloom as well.