What would you say is in "full bloom" in your yard right now

Okay, I'm intrigued: "that ground covery bush with small white snow-in-summer type flowers". Is it ever green? How tall does it get?

Oh yeah. I was looking at my Edgeworthia today and I think the opportunity for blossoms is past. I was at Molbaks several weekends ago (at least two) and the Edgeworthia they had there were so fragrant. Good luck on yours, Julie.

My mom had a rhody that bloomed in January every year. The blossoms were beautiful for about a week and then would invariably be killed.

My rhodies won't be in bloom for at least another month, I don't think.

Katie- it is evergreen. It's currently spilling over the edges of a rock garden making a nice hedge for snails to hide in where it touches the ground.And I just had to go out in my jammies and check (because I have a terrible visual memory) but I would say it gets about 6 to 8" on fairly woody stems.

Oh, you know what. I just remembered I took a picture of it a few weeks ago - if this works (my first picture upload), it's pictured mingling with the aforementioned snow-in-summer.

Looks like Iberis - Candytuft. Very pretty combination!

Kathy, I am crossing my fingers for the edgeworthia... I smelled some not too long ago as well, and would love to be able to go up an sniff in my own yard!

Most of my rhodies are a long time out, but my two early bloomers are a joy right now (Christmas Cheer is just starting to fade, and Rosamundii is getting close to being full out).

In North Portland I've got blooming:
Purple crocus
Indian plum
Bergenia
Violets

The only blooms I am responsible for are the violets which I planted last year. The rest came with the house. This is our second spring in the house and it's still such a delight to see daffodils and crocus pushing their way up. The bergenia is on its way out this year. There's a shovel with its name on it. I think I'll replace with Sweet Autumn Clematis. Has anyone had trouble containing this variety of clematis?

I would give Sweet Autumn plenty of room to roam. I had one in a smallish lilac which it completely covered and continued its journey up onto the roof. Was pretty, but when it rained the top heavy lilac had a difficult time staying upright. I ended up yarding the autumn clematis out of the lilac and replacing it with a more behaved jackmanii type (equally pretty but lets the lilac shine through a bit more).

Welcome rockems and Kycmmo.

KYMMCO AND ROCKEMS-----Welcome from me too. It is great to have your additions to our forums.

Thans for the welcomes!
I'm so happy to have found this forum!

We are having a greenshed christining at my house on April 10th and you are both invited. We will be swapping seeds and plants, bringing extras for ladies in South America, touring nurseries, and anything else that comes to mind. There is info on 'Apropos of Nothing' thread and 'Willows greenhouse' thread. Hope you can make it. Question? Just ask on either thred.

Ahh, thanks everyone for the warm welcome - I'll definitely check out the Willows greenhouse thread. And hi Rockems, nice to be newbies together.

I'm wondering how you all feel about Bergenia. Looking around at my neighbors from my spot high on a hill in Seattle, my house appears to be the only one without a big strip of Bergenia edging the sidewalk. The plants are blooming their heads off right now - the pink looking really nice with all the flowering trees. But I hate them! I hate they way they look all winter with the leaves along the bottom rotting off and the way they smell... but my hate is starting to waver. I've seen a few varieties in catalogues that look really pretty, and I've started to think maybe one or two plopped in the border wouldn't be so bad. Maybe it's just the strip planting and no maintenance that I don't like... or maybe I'm being drawn over to the dark side.

Any counsel from you wise ones?

You can see from my container picture that I have a big stand of them behind the container pictured. I love them - I love that they do so well in our climate, that they're evergreen, that they spread slowly, that they are out in early spring, that they provide a different leaf shape and texture than other plants in the garden. I would love them more if the flowers were yellow or peach or orange, but mother nature seems to prefer pink.

Because they do so well in our climate, I've seen them used pretty much everywhere and I know that gets a little tiring. Probably part of the reason Laurie doesn't like Forsythia and I'm not so fond of Photinia.

Do you ever go to Paghat's garden page? She puts up a lot of information here. I contacted her once to see if she ever hosted visitors, but she prefers not to . . .

I saw a full stand of blossoming Euphorbia this week and a row of Pieris in full glory this morning. Also, the 3 magnolia trees that stand right by my building in downtown Seattle are open today and the fragrance is awesome! I will be checking my Star Magnolia this weekend to see how it's doing and when I can expect blossoms.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.paghat.com/images/bergeniafence_april.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.paghat.com/bergenia.html&usg=__voZ-Al75pMMoiE7s-hMDh7ugYyw=&h=325&w=255&sz=21&hl=en&start=18&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=7PCMFfksRv3eNM:&tbnh=118&tbnw=93&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbergenia%2Borigin%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26tbs%3Disch:1

Kymmco, I share your dislike of bergenia. I find it a sqatty plant with gaudy flamingo pink blooms (I've never liked pink very much in general, although I do tolerate it in flowers). I do have some planted though, thinking it may grow on me. I feel much the same about primroses, even though they are a jolly early bloomer. I have some of those planted as well. Equal opportunity gardener...

Bergenia does come in different colors. I have a purple one. I wouldn't like rows of them, but a clump on a large rockery looks nice.

Funny bringing up the Bergenia - I have LOTS of them - they filled in one side of an area on the north side of my house.
These are a cultivar with the Oar-sized leaves. They do very well in bloom & because the drainage is very good there, well, they decided to take over the space, which does not leave enough room for my Rodgersia, so I will dispatch with them. I was looking at them just last weekend & wished them well.
If anyone wants them - they may have the whole lot.

Green Elephant . . .

oh yeah...Bergenia celebrated. If not at the GE, then the mulch pile.

I grew up in Seattle, too, and it seemed every darned bit of rockery had a big old clump of bergenia. I disliked it for quite a long time, but now I have one with very small leaves and it's OK-for now. It's blooming for the first time this year. I do like that it blooms now. I've also got one that starts out variegated, which I kind of like, but would like better if it stayed that way. I've got lots of pretty dry shade and they are tolerating it, and are evergreen, so that's a positive for me. Still, can't say that they're one of my favorites.

I've got galanthus, bergenia, a few early daffs, primroses, hellebores, hepatica, arabis, aubrieta, cyclamen coum, those short bright red semi-species tulips with the stripey leaves (brain fade tonight), Indian Plum, crocus, and iris reticulata blooming.

My evergreen clematis should bloom anytime now, and the Ribes is getting close.

This is in full bloom: Rhododendron 'Lucy Lou'. I just put her in last year.

I am laughing at the Bergenia posts. But first, Sharon, I wish my crocus were as pretty as those. I have decided that next year I will plant more, and I will plant them where the rain will not touch them! Every year I look forward to the crocus, only to have them look like purple and white soup. Blech!

Yes, Kayte, we should have a mourning for the Edgeworthia blooms. Too much too soon, I'm afraid. I might get one. The rest are toast. As are my tree peony blooms. Now that REALLY hurts. Maybe I'll be lucky and the plants will want to put up more buds, but at least two tree peonies look terrible and I picked off mush buds. One night of frost...rats. Another year down the drain.

Now, regarding the bergenia, I just cannot make up my mind about them. First I hate them, then I love them. I have several cultivars. The one I definitely like is a newer one called 'solar flare'. It's smaller, tidy, and has nice leaves. That one is a keeper. I also have 'Bressingham Ruby'. It underplants two witch hazels. It's fairly nice in the winter, with reddish leaves. But I've been on the verge of ripping it out for two years.

Kayte, how big are the leave on that bergenia you have? Believe it or not, if they are bigger than the old cultivar that came with my house, I might be interested. I have seen those grown in dry shade and they are just dandy. I'm always looking for things I can grow in the doug fir area. I've been considering moving some of my old standby ones, but I really want the ones with the huge leaves. The leaves on mine are 8-9 inches from tip to the start of the stem. They are in full bloom right now, so I'm satisfied with them where they are. They give me that combination of pale green leaves and gaudy pink that I so love! :)

Edited to say my Ribes isn't even close to blooming. Not even any buds yet. It's in a lot of shade.

This message was edited Feb 26, 2010 11:47 PM

I am waiting patiently for my crab apple trees to flower.

There is a house around the block that has Bergenia in the front garden and it always looks ratty except for about 2 weeks when it first starts blooming.

Judi, you nailed it again: ratty.
I'll try to remember to get a picture today for you, Pixy. I don't ever water them - they are in a protected area with nice soil on the north side of my house. Actually, they only look ratty after a severe winter - this year not so bad, but to be honest, I haven't gotten up closse & personal with them. It's always better from a distance. Better yet - without glasses!
Sue, i have Bressingham Ruby, too. I think that's the one I got. They are going to be moved to get more morning sun. Nice leaf colour.
Oh my! The clouds have obliged & Mr. Sun is out today!

Kate - I got you a greenhouse. These are EXACTLY the same ones that Molbaks is selling for $79.99. I wanted to take all the rest of them because they were "such a good deal", but then thought better of it . . .

Now I got a Bergenia from one of y'all at a plant swap because I was looking for something to put in a place with dry shade, under a Ceanothus shrub where my dog used to hang out. He is now buried there, and I know this might sound funny but the Bergenia leaves remind me a little bit of dog ears so they would be appropriate in an odd sort of way. I hope I won't regret planting this and really not like it very much later on. I wouldn't want a whole drift, just a little clump.

Aw those leaves do remind one of dog's ears. That's a sweet thought. I will never look at them the same way (with disdain) again.

Katie59 - what kind of greenhouse did you find for 80 dollars? I need to know!

Sorry - not a full greenhouse. One of those mini greenhouses with a heavy plastic zippable cover. This site calls it a plant tower:

http://www.littlegreenhouse.com/flowerhouse-tower.shtml

Bergenia look ratty (excellent descriptive word, there) when they are not tended the same way other perennials are tended. Somehow, we think that because they are 'evergreen' we don't need to do anything to them. No so. If the old leaves from last year are cut off, making way for the new growth, they can be downright -gasp- pretty!
Always feeling the need to root for the underdog, I now must take a few moments to tend my bergenia and see if I can grow to love it again.

Still want to know how big those paddle shaped leaves are, Kayte. I saw a cultivar somewhere, maybe at Lakewold? that had ginormous leaves, worthy of growing for the large leaves alone. I wonder if that is what you have.

Oh, I think I will have TWO bloom on my edgeworthia! Woo hoo!

Yes, ratty and "dog-eared" Hee, hee.
I am going to plant it anyway and see what happens. So long as its not invasive, I can keep it to a small clump.

They are not invasive. But like any plant given an optimal site, it grows VERY well. My neighbour gave me 6 small ones years back - they have grown well & now cover a large area. Easy to dig out. I forgot to take the picture today, Pix. I'll try to remember tomorrow. A note is in order, set at eyeball height on the back door.

I was in & out today, trying to work around the rain this afternoon. Tomorrow is supposed to be dry, unless someone changed their mind! I got a bit overwhelmed at how much is coming up & then all the "Spring" clean-up I need to accomplish. Oh, that's right - it's still February. I think I lost my new Trillium - no can find. But the tag is still there. Hope it was a delicious treat...

That trillium may show up again next year. I've had a couple get chomped and just sit and wait and show up again next season.

It's funny, I've never seen all of us so consistently lukewarm about one plant before. I'd agree about cutting off the icky leaves-it does make a difference. Seems like I saw a giant leaved bergenia at Cistus-was it when I was there with you, Pix?

Holly, you've got a better reason than many of us to give it a try. I like the idea of thinking of them as puppy ears, too. If you change your mind later, no harm done, try something else. :)

Kathy - thank you! I thought they would be sold out. I'll dmail.
Holly - Would you like enough for a swath of them?
I think they are really nice in flower, and like most other plants, look better by about May. I'm sure I would look happier when it's warmer.
I agree Pix, regarding how we think of them as evergreen.
Similar to the Hellebores: I don't like big winter-funky leaves.

Here is my doggy burial spot. I know you are all going to think I am ready for psychiatric treatment, but when I was placing the rocks for the border I noticed that 2 of them were flat on one side and looked kind of like canine teeth when placed on end. Bear with me here, but if you imagine it just right (do you have on your foil hats? I think this will work better if you are wearing those) my border rocks look like a big doggy smile. I put his ball there and a stepping stone that a child made for me a few years back. Then I just couldn't bring myself to do anything else until now. I have weeded a bit, have a little more of that, will add compost, and then I need to figure out what to plant other than my Bergenia sprout. Any ideas would be appreciated. The area gets a little sun in from the sides. It is dry in the Summer because the Ceanothus does not like Summer water.

They only had one left on the shelf, but when I inquired, the guy at the cash register said they had several more. It wasn't nearly as crowded as it should have been.

Too early for Trillium - I have a stand in the woods about 10 feet from the yard - I always use them as a benchmark.

K, Holly - you're making me cry. If it wasn't so dry, I'd say "dog-tooth" violet. How about a nice grass? Did he do any grazing.

The only grazing he did was in the compost, and he got himself poisoned that way one time (had to have a horrible charcoal drink to absorb it) so I had to put the compost in a completely contained bin to prevent him from getting into it.

Some grasses would be nice. I have some bronze carex that Katye gave me at the seed swap. I could put dog tooth violet over by where his ball is, since that is further away from the Ceanothus roots and I could water it.

Blue grass would be nice with the Ceanothus, maybe. Yellow flowers would be pretty against the blue.

I could relocate a clump of daffodils. Even my egg yolk yellow ones might work with their color softened by a blue grass. Come to think of it, Methow liked egg yolks. That was all I had to feed him when he first showed up at our house on a New Year's Eve.

Getting back to the main purpose of this thread, I have a Corylopsis gotoana that is beginning to bloom. This is its first year.

Corylopsis has such a pretty, soft, yellow.

I keep looking at all the forsythia blooming and thinking of our discussion. But I guess it's not used so heavily here that I'm sick of it. From afar, I like the bursts of color.

I can't stand it. I know we're going to lose franny sooner rather than later, as she is already 13. Healthy, but definitely getting old. I can hardly bear to think of it.
How about a creeping rosemary in that bed? Then the bulbs could grow up through it. The grasses would look nice with it, and it would smell good as well.


This is why I like my neighbor's forsythia. It's the only color in that corner right now and really lights it up.

In bloom: Corylopsis - full-on, Osmanthus - starting, Fl. Plums - about half-way to the Pink Cloud effect.

Holly, I see the dog smile & I agree about the rocks.
Since it's dry, what about a Festuca? They don't like the wet, euther. Bergenia will need the moisture more, but I am happy to provide you with as much experimental material as you need.
Will you be at the Grn Elephant? I'll bring then - or later if you can't make it.
I love the colour yellow - absolutely adore it. BUT, i only like Forsythia in other people's gardens! I had to rip a very old one out when i moved here 25 yrs ago - the branches had arched & hit the ground, and rooted in wherever they touched. what an experience...
Yellow screams "look at me!!!" & I find the colour uplifting, particularly late Winter/early Spring. But yellow can dominate, which is why it needs other colours around it to stifle the screaming. Hence, the reason I created my yellow-blue-white & sometimes purple garden. No pictures until it comes alive in another couple months.
Oh Pix, I totally missed seeing the post-it I placed at eye-level about the picture of the Bergenia Oar Paddles: so out i go to take one!

ok - camera slapped me: need to recharge batteries. I'll send later.

This message was edited Feb 28, 2010 10:20 AM

Pix that's a gorgeous photo. I have a similar situation with my pond corner - it has a neighbor's forsythia blooming right now behind it and I love love love it. I love the way that burst of yellow in the distance makes your eye stretch out and focus beyond the confines of my yard - it draws the neighborhood into my garden :)

Okay, plant identification question coming at you. The same neighbor has a 10 foot tall beast blooming just behind our fence - it has pink and white blooms four to six inches across with a lot of petals like a David Austin rose. I'm assuming it's a camelia - is that normal for them to be that tall though? I don't know much about them obviously..