I'm going to through one of the Lupinus perennis starts in my xeric garden and see how it does. I've read it likes some dryish soil so maybe that's part of the problem.
Pat, that Penstemon palmeri is a native from the Rockies. I planted it last year and it did nothing. No growth, no flower, no death. It was weird. Little did I know it was doing things under the soil because after it broke dormancy it grew and now it's flowering. I'm tickled with joy.
FIRST FLOWERS MEMORIAL DAY 2015
That probably explains why I've had success with lupines. Mine are the Russell hybrids, not the straight species.
What an interesting first year, Sequoia. I can see why you're so pleased with this year's results.
Sundrops from last year's group buy.
Penstemon Dark Towers.
Knock out roses and yarrow moonshine in very bright sun.
The only blanket flower that survived the winter.
Volunteer foxgloves. I believe the original came from Gita.
Haha, Sally... I think I'll actually have room for one of each after I put those beds along the sides of my driveway. I plan to put a few decorative rocks in there, those irises would make great bed partners for the rocks. :)
Awesome mix of blooms SSG. I've never had luck with blanket flower. It doesn't come back for me. I bet it would though if I planted it in my xeric bed.
Yes they did Ecnalg, I use these little wire props for the occasional stray stem but this year I used all of them and I still have a couple of clumps where the whole clump is laying over.
This fall I could have white, light blue, white with purple falls, yellow and butter and sugar Siberian Iris at the swap if anyone would like them.
I was scrambling for stakes too this year, Holly. We would be delighted to rehome some of the butter and sugar Siberian iris. Is that one you posted a couple of days ago? Great photo of the cascading iris!
This message was edited May 27, 2015 8:33 AM
This message was edited May 27, 2015 8:47 AM
Yes, the butter and sugar are just beautiful.
So many beautiful flowers, everybody!!! Wow!
Here are some of the Columbines that I started from seed last year. I thought I planted Barlow Columbines, but they don't look anything like Barlow Columbines. Oh well.
Irises.
Looking good Donner. I think those Columbines are great, I really like the last blue one.
Peonies are blooming too.
The baby deer looked like only abut 5 minutes old. He was already eying my garden, about 4 yards away from my kitchen door 8-(.
I can collect seeds from the one you like, Jeff. Not sure if they will produce the same plants though. Has anybody tried to grow plants from hybrids like these?
donner---
Your Iris and Columbines are perfection! I can't believe you just grew them from seed
last year! And--now they are blooming!!!
My colors never come out right. Cheap camera,,,,NO Macro closer than 4"..Ugh...
I will never go to an SLR camera--but a better "point and shoot" one would
be nice.
I know nothing about cameras,,,,,just which button to push to take a picture.
Welll,,,,,maybe a few other things as well....
Clematis "Proteus" first bunch of blooms....LOVE this one! So different...
My "Estonian Clematis "Piilu" is starting to bloom too. Will post later...
G.
Wow, I came home to some great photos tonight ! Those columbines are gorgeous and I just have to have some of those white/blue irises in that second pic. What are they called, Donner ?
CAM, I bought my Irises at an Iris garden in Virginia, so they are all named Irises. Unfortunately I bought them before I learned the importance of keeping plant variety names :-(. I only know the first pink one is 'Beverly Sills' and the yellow one is 'Lemon Brocade'. I will let you know if I can get the white/blue one identified.
In the meantime, I can dig up a piece of rhizome for you if you remind me before the fall swap.
That little fawn is so cute! I guess its mom couldn't leave it alone in the woods while she came to your house for lunch : ) A doe left her fawn by our front door once while she ate.
Thanks, Donner, appreciate it. I'll do some research too and see if I can find the name of that one.
Yeah that fawn is cute indeed. I can almost picture the fawn licking its lips and tying a bib around its neck in preparation to eat your plants...LOL
If you could save some of those delightful columbine seeds, that'd be great! Thanks :-)
wow, donner, great pictures, thank you for posting!!
I think the columbines will hybridize freely, but to me they are all beautiful
Beatufiul Clematis "Proteus", Gita. Huge flowers on a small plant.
donner--
IF your blue and white Iris is the same one as mine (just a better picture)
I believe it may be the same one as was ID's on ATP as "Stairway to Heaven".
In s ome pictures of it the blue is more intense....may be just the camera.
http://irismart.com/iris_individual_5/stairway_to_heaven.htm
This picture was taken in May of 2007. Had to hunt for a good picture of it.
It was in my neighbor's bed and her father, who had a Holland bulb Nursery in S. MD
gave her these.
I dug some of these up when her house sat empty and before the Pakistani family moved in.
Glad I did.
G.
Ahhhh..... I think you have something there, Gita.
Thank you.. MUST HAVE !!
CAM, that is a great Iris, I have a bunch of it from Gita. If she 'stiffs' you, I will help. haha. Or anyone else. The clump in front of my house is a bit big for it's spot.
Hard to decide how much mixing and how much repetition to do in any given area, with any given genus. I also have a nice frilly purple one that needs a better place.
Gita, very pretty Iris.
Mine isn't quite the same though :o(. I don't remember the beard on mine is a bright orange in color. It is either blue or white, not as striking as yours. I will check again when I get back to my home PC and look at other photos of this plant. The picture on your link also shows some yellow-ish tinge on the white, but mine doesn't have it.
Identifying plants from photos is always tricky :o(
Thank you, Sally ! and LOL :)
Good eye, Donner. Either way, both are GORGEOUS !
Cam, I've got some gold-colored Irises that occasionally throw off some cool sports (wine colored, dark purple, blues).. not sure of the variety though - maybe "Colour Medley", maybe "Broken Colours", .. maybe even "Grand Canyon Gold", just not sure, but they sure bloom prettily and have a lightly sweet scent. I'll GLADLY bring you some in the Fall if you like! =)
Goodness peoples, you all are just FILLING this page with gorgeosity! =)
That would be awesome, Speedie ! When I create the beds on either side of the driveway, I'll have tons of room. And having Irises pop up and bloom in the Spring along both sides if the driveway would be very nice.
Super sweet, they're yours! =)
Awesome.. THANKS !
You are very welcome. =) So.. uuhh... where's the Swap this Fall? Hahahahaa!
Edited to say: I have just begun a "2015 Fall Plant Swap" list, so I don't forget. Got ya down for 5 irises.
This message was edited May 28, 2015 2:07 PM
I have no idea where it will be. If it's too far for me, I may just take a bus. :)
Five... outstanding ! Thanks again !
OK--here is the same blue/white Iris that I have had since 2007.
1--Here is the "Stairway to Heaven" (?) one just this month. The colors are paler--perhaps time takes a toll? My yukky camera? Perhaps the soil is "worn out"? I seldom fertilize anything....
2&3--I also have a solid light blue iris--pretty much the same shade as the above--
just all blue. One clump of this one is smack against the bed edging.
I could dig it up.....
4 & 5--Also--I have a deep, solid purple Iris that i know I can share--as it has been
sitting potted up in a couple 8" bulb pots since "The Big Iris Dig"...(don't ask!)
This deep purple iris is from my long-deceased Uncle's garden.
Same story---he died--house and yard sat untended--I dug some up.
See? The camera I have now just does nor p/u the true shades of blues or reds.
Same flower--different shade of purple.
Gita, may I claim one of those beautiful purple ones please? Absolutely gorgeous, and it would go beautifully with my yellow/gold ones.
Cam, OK, I just remembered I'd discussed my Irises in a thread elsewhere here and had them ID'd as "Belvi Queen", so now you'll know what you're getting. :)
Even has an interesting name... thanks !
This Baptisia australis is still opening up, but I couldn't wait to snap a pic because this is the first time I have ever seen it bloom! Someone gave me this plant in Fall 2010, but it didn't get enough sun until I had my Silver Maple cut down.
Wow... those blooms are stunning, Muddy !
Very pretty baptisia! Mine has the same colored blooms but doesn't flower well at all. It didn't bloom at all last year and this year I got only a few.
Yes, very nice! Maybe there's hope for the baptisia I just planted this spring. Soon after planting it, it is now crowded by the established perennials. Next season when they break dormancy together, it should do fine though (fingers crossed).