I'm a new gardener, with a big, empty, open back field. Its on a bit of a slope, so the top is hot, dry full sun, and it transitions through to wet, part shade and full sun. I'm looking for anything to add growth/color varieity that I can give a little love the first season, and let it "take over". If anyone has any suggestions, or postage plants, I'd love 'em!!
I do have lots of pink/white honeysuckle, grapes, cattails, "ditch lillies", gorgeous flowering cherry, silver maple, viburnum, and a flowering vine I am about to ID if those should be of interest. My beds are young, so I can also offer cuttings of offer golden palace, and purple honeysuckle; sedums purple emperor, vera jameson, variegated w/ pink flower, golden carpet, autumn joy, and dragon's blood; vinca major, spearmint, oregano, chocolate mint, and apple mint.
-Lu
edited to clarify sedum availability
This message was edited Jun 20, 2005 10:28 AM
Natualizers Needed!
I have some daffodil bulbs that are dying back and some crocus, if that is the kind of thing you are looking for. LMK
I can send you LOTS of Vinca Minor 'Periwinkle', Creeping Jenny, lamium 'Arch Angel' if you'd like.
Marc
sending mail..............
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This message was edited Jun 17, 2005 4:10 PM
I have some 'Ragged Robin' seed, harvested this spring already. It is a very pretty dainty more or less wildflower. It is the first thing that blooms in the late winter for me here in Oregon.
Let me know if you are interested in some seed to put out in your field.
Carol
if you are growing apple mint and chocolate mint just wait, you wont need any other plants. They will take over everything. ;-)
I also have some vinca vine I can send but it is very, very invasive.
Are you interested in Obedience Plant (a gorgeous, but very invasive flowering plant that will NEED to be put on the "back 40acres") ?
or canna or elephant ears?---good bog plants
Nancy
shuggins: slim on the daffodils here (I have 6 yellow, and just got a few white), what are you looking for?
RikerBear: No lamium here yet, what could I send you?
Daisy: That Ragged Robin would be a color I don't have in the field, I'd love some....
Mississippi: Love that Obedience plant! I just traded for some red canna, doing those few in pots as they will not winter here. When they start to divide more, I'll start putting in the beds. Also rec'd a small elephant ear pup in a secret trade, learning about what it needs. Am I correct in thinking I've seen them in non-green?
slgrow: have vinca, thanks tho!!! (near the mailbox....)
Thanks for all of the suggestions everyone!!! DG is going to make my yard AMAZING!
-=LuLu
Lulu,
I will send you some Ragged Robin seed this week then.
Carol
LuLu, tell me more about the purple honeysuckle :-) I think I could be talked into a trade of lamium for honeysuckle.
Marc
Marc, it is a cutting, as its from one of my newest babies, hope that would be okay. Its only a few feet tall at the moment, so its small, but sooo pretty. Gorgeous wine colored stems/veins, brilliant red/violet buds, with traditional white to yellow blooms. This pic doesn't do it justice.
Lonicera japonica 'purpurea'
http://davesgarden.com/pf/showimage/40856/
I'm learning about posting pics too. Maybe I'll try and grab a few shots while there is sun, and post them after I'm done in the beds.
-Lu
LuLu, looks to similar to what I already have, so why not just send me some postage monies and I'll get you a box of lamuim out. My address is in the 'Exchange', and I would think $5.75 would get you a mice sized box of rooted starts.
Let me know
Marc
LuLu,
I've got unnamed Iris and daylily I can send you for postage when the daylily are done blooming. But please give me a least a month - 6 weeks, I will let you know when to send. The iris are a mix, the bed will have to be dug into because they are not blooming like they should. They were all named at one time, just over the years I've lost the tag so I put them in that bed. I can't even tell you when I dig into a clump if it by chance will ahve different colors, but you are welcome to them. The daylily, I received these in trades as look-alikes, but I still like to see them bloom. I'm sure I will have other stuff to add also.
Right now I'm busy with SaSe's going out, trades coming in and more trades going out in the next two weeks.
Thank you very much for making me feel welcome here.
Annie
Oh Ms. Raggedy, sounds like you could be starting my July/Aug project. :) I am not fussy about color out back, its the rainbow area. Stuff around the house is a little bit more planned, but not by much at the moment. Its coming as I move things around.
This site is making me a lily-a-holic...
er, iris-a-holic...
no, hosta-holic....
Plant Head.....
-LuLu
PS My mom makes RA&A and dolls by hand, embroiders the face and everything, so beautiful. Made 30 for my aunt's catholic school bazaar (she was principal) now the diocese is closing it. So sad. So many dollies with out mommies. So many nuns being moved around the US. Hopefully we get to keep ours local.
I have two types of ribbon grass I can send you if you would like that. Again, for the life of me can't remember the name. I just wouldn't send something unless I ask you first. I wouldn't want to send them if you didn't want them......hehe I guess, in a way, i'm always digging like a gopher, but If no-one is interested I will leave it be. Why make work out of work.
Right now I've got a collection of raggedy's that won't quit. I've kinda slowed down getting stuff unless it is different or unique, but I bet your mom's babies are beautiful.
Annie
I don't have any ribbon grass, and I'm not fussy about names at this point. That will come someday.
-lu
I will send it when I send you the other plants, I will let you know when to send the postage and about how much. If any postage is left I will tuck it under the label in an envelope before I tape it to the box.
Annie
Lululocks,
Sent the seed today.
I haven't gotten the pic yet, is too windy here in Oregon still. Am not happy. Want to take some pics and put them online here on DG.
Carol
I'll be looking forward to it! Thanks so much! :)
LuLulocks,
I have purple siberian iris that I'm dividing. Very lovely. Also have some pink tiarella that will spread in your moist shade. I certainly seems to be spreading quickly in mine!
I also have a beautiful campanula that tend to run rampant, but it's so lovely I can't bear to throw it out. It's about 4 feet tall with pinkish white bells speckled dark pink on the inside. It takes full sun to part shade and would naturalize well.
In addition, if you are interested in ferns I have many lovely sword ferns that are native up here. They get larger each year and add great evergreen texture to the garden. I'd be glad to send you some if you want them.
I can also send you some seeds for love-in-a-mist. (nigella) Very light and airy, good texture and color with volume. (sounds like I'm talking about hair, doesn't it). The flowers are blues and creams and everything in between.
If you are interested in a trade, I would be interested in your flowering cherry, honeysuckle 'purpurea', Sedum 'purple emperor'. Do you have a photo of the pink/white honeysuckle? The photo you took for Rikerbear was glorious!
If you are running low on things for trade, I'll send you stuff for postage.
Melissa
Oh, and I forgot to list the ever-present, yet beautiful, Lysimachia ciliata 'firecracker'. Purple foliage, bright yellow flowers. Spreads like crazy, but worth the effort to contain it. Would mix well with the campanula.
This message was edited Jun 22, 2005 12:03 AM
LuLu - I have a big open are in the back, as well, and have a ton of rudbeckia, coneflowers, and daisies that go nuts blooming and seeding back there. The daisies are going now, and the rudbeckia and cone flowers will follow. When their done I'd be happy to go seed collecting for you at the end of the season for postage.
I'm a tad blond at times, so an email reminder later might be needed :)
Pixie: those all sound great! I'm rooting some purple emperor now, as it is small. That pic wasn't from my camera, and I missed the photo op on the pink honeysuckle, might be able to get one of the "regular" one I have, as some of that is still blooming, and I have TONS. The purperea needs to be rooted as well, unless cuttings are ok. Trades are getting thin, but I'm always happy to share what I have. :)
sstateham: I'll make myself a note, thanks so much for the offers!!! :)
Hmm, I'm really a cutting failure so far. (But there are some DGers who are 'mentoring' me along.) How about I let you know about the postage and we do it that way? You just need to let me know how much postage you want to spend because I can send as much as you can spend! LOL I can do a flat rate box for 7.70, or I can do two of those, whatever you like. The ferns tend to be on the heavier size.
Pixy
Lulu perfect way to describe multiple addictions. Plant Head LOL.
Hello all, I just wanted to.. well.. point out that while many gardeners (myself included) gravitate towards big spaces full of plants.. Plants that fill very quickly may be invasive, which means as gardeners we should really be pulling them out not spreading them around.. many can easily make the jump into native environments, and while I guess my name gives away my environmental allegiance, I have seen things like European buckthorn and purple loosestrife (which is beautiful, if you haven't seen it) completely take over pieces of land.
I've studied conservation biology for the past three years and now am looking into possibly becoming a grower myself.. in part to try to introduce people to our native plants as answers to your particular problem: lots of space that kindof needs to get filled quickly. I myself have a side lot that's almost completely empty, affording an unfortunate view of my neighbor's big red house ;). This kind of area is what many invasives were introduced for.. but there are also many natives that will spread quickly as well, and the effect you get is often stunning because of the uniqueness of shape and color and texture of many of the plants that might fill the space if left to its own devices.
Just to be clear, I am not advocating ripping out all of your exotic plants and going completely native.. though in response to some of the issues in the invasive forums some gardeners are doing just that. Many exotics are innocuous, they run very low or zero risk of naturalizing, and.. well they're just so darn neat. But when you cross over to things like ribbon grass (I don't want to pick anyone out at all.. but I have it in my community garden plot and it's impossible to get rid of ;) ) and honeysuckle (on the list of the top ten worst invasives.. any asian honeysuckle.. along with bittersweet and barberry) there's a problem. You're not planting it in your garden, you're planting it in your entire area. Grasses are wind pollinated and dispersed, and the honeysuckle has irresistable berries that get carried wherever birds choose.
At any rate I also have some suggestions for some plants for your area. I would be willing to send them for postage if it helps you grow as a gardener faster.. that's just my opinion of why people turn to invasives: I don't know if you are a new gardener but when I was younger I planted bishop's weed in my garden at my parent's house. Planting bishop's weed is like a gardening sin, and since it's almost impossible to completely eradicate, every time I visit I am reminded of what the results are. If you ever plan on preading more planned gardens into this area, consider that often invasives take years and years to clear out.. or you can spot weed them three of four times a year, more if you've got bishop's weed ;).
Oy. Sorry it's not a rant... but something I'd certainly like to add.. if anyone would like to take issue I'd be happy to try to debate it in a friendly fashion in another thread perhaps. Suggestions for you, then:
For your very dry area, the native orange milkweed Asclepias tubreosa would be very happy, it grows on exposed roadsides but is also usually available for purchase as a container plant.. not sure in your area but you might also be able to collect seeds in the late summer, but it is flowering right now in my zone (should still be in yours) so you'd have to find a roadside where it grows soon.. here's a link with a photo (couldn't find one on daves garden.. which is strange) http://www.victorianvilla.com/sims-mitchell/local/nature/niche/174.htm
Purple meadow rue, Thalictrum dasycarpum, (http://www.ionxchange.com/species_pages/t/thalictrum_dasycarpum.html) is a really cool foliage plant with interesting flower clouds in the spring. I have a few 2nd year plants I might be able to send you, and also have some seeds I'm letting ripen, I'd be happy to send either.. the leaves are similar to Aquilegia in color, kindof a soft blue. This is also a native, though again I'm not advocating going only native but just.. trying to nix invasives. It's fairly drought tolerant when established (so are Aquilegia, you might try scattering some seeds of them?, maybe lower on the slope), and it's seeds have little wings for some wind dispersal, so it should move throughout the space.. I'll try to get a photo of the large mound I have, it's now about 2.5 feet high and maybe 1.5 wide.
Your wet area can have some really cool things with, two plants that come to mind are Lobelia cardinalis or siphilitica, which seed themselves very well and are found in boggy wet areas.. where they are stunning when they all bloom. They also tend to make a lot of seed, so many DGers should be able to help you out. I can send you some 2nd year plants of L. cardinalis, I wish I had siphilitica to trade, still hoping to find some this year on the forums. Also, Jack-in-the-pulpit should love that area, especially the shadier places in it, and when jack's happy he does tend to spread around. Also if your soil is more on the acidic side you could be lucky enough to be able to grow the native pitcher plant and/or sundew.. carnivorous bog plants that are very interesting to see.. They do want acid peat substrate though. Last for this area I'll mention the native impatient, jewelweed, which really brightens up shade to part shade with that bright orange or yellow. And they're Impatiens.. which means they've got the explosive seed capsules that help them fill in pretty well. Also I believe they produce seed all season, so you could probably go collecting.. they're happy in muddy drain spots and shady side of the road creeks etc, and I don't think even the most staunch conservationist would say you were doing any harm collecting these seeds.
There are definitely some exotics that I'd consider too... mainly things that can't survive a winter are going to be pretty safe.. I've been planting canna lilies mostly for foliage and as a living screen in areas, I was given three tubers 2 seasons ago and now have around 50. They love wet but will tolerate drying out to an extent.. depends on how much you want to water but I could send you some pieces that are really ready to be planted.. they get large very quickly. And if you promise to consider the possibility of weaning off honeysuckle.. I'll send you a passiflora "purple haze." You'd bring it in in the winter.. but.. the flowers are outrageous and once established the cuttings are not as bad to root as you might hear.
Hope I don't step on too many toes, really trying to be helpful and conscientious at the same time.
Byron.
Darwin--Wow that's a lot of carefully phrased information--and I'm with you! Its great that you took the time to share your thoughts--very important I think for all of us to keep natives on our minds and in our gardens. Not only are the specifically appropriate to our growing spaces, they often have bird/butterfly/caterpillar interest as well! I have natives in my gardens and am working on a "native only space".........its very exciting and rewarding, so I can heartily encourage it.
You'll be pleased to know LuLuL will be receiving some natives in her planting box from me too ;0)
A note on the Asclepias........I've found it very challenging to transplant ue to its tough woody roots--seeds however are a dream to work with.
I'm familiar with the other plants you mention as well--all are in our surrounding woods (except the pitcher plant) and are lovely specimens.
Here a few that here on my place have become a pain in the rear and I now burn them..
Crosmeia, Purple drumstick allium, the orange alstromeria, and arium itacium. All of these I wish I had NEVER planted.
Last year took out 3 trash bags full of Crosmeria, 4 of purple drumstick allium, 1 of orange alstromeria and no clue how much of the aruim, this year did more of the same just not quite as many bags, figure in about 5 years more I will have them gone.
D
I certainly second the motion on Bishop's Weed! And on using natives. I have many things in my garden that spread easily, but they also are easy to control. We have an enormous amount of trouble with english ivy up here. It's creating dead forests! Likewise, purple loosestrife is a no no, as it is particularly invasive here. I think it's up to the individual to make sure he knows what plants invade and take over in his part of the world and do his part to keep them from getting out of control, including not growing them if they are not easy to contain. Pampas grass is another free seeder that comes to mind.
So, Patrick, if I'm offering to send anything that will be invasive in your area, just let me know and I won't send it. If you've got lots of moist area, you may want to rethink the lysimachia.
Also, I'm still waiting to hear from you about how much you want to spend on postage. Please email me if you want me to use the flat rate box.
Thanks for the responses, and for the additions... There's definitely a war going on between indigenous species and exotic pathogens and invasives.. while I am certainly a gardener I'm also definitely a conservationist, and I think one of the best ways to help protect native environments as gardeners is by playing up how rewarding it is to be able to use flora in our gardens that might have originally been growing here, and also very true about wildlife interests.
I have the yellow swamp candles loosestrife and the gooseneck loosestrife.. They spread but I don't really see them being 'aggressive..' possibly not in clay soil, though the purple loosestrife is a very large problem here. I might put them in the class of lily of the valley, which I also have a ton of.. but if you want to get rid of these guys you can, in one season pretty much.. and I haven't seen any reports of them naturalizing in forest settings.
I have to just make one point, and it's not a popular one. There are a lot more people gardening out there than there are people who know how to garden. Of course, it's a learning process, and no one is exempt. We can share our mistake plantings with others but I really tend to think part of the answer comes from a bit more regulation of the nursery business.. that's just my two cents.. I wish I could believe that people could be trusted to just do their research and get advice about what to plant etc.
Lulu I hope I didn't offend you, You can grow whatever you'd like to, just hoping to increase your options. I'd love to send you some plants to try. Let me know what sounds good.
Darwin, good point, but I always hate to see more regulations since that usually means an increase in the cost of doing business. But it may come to that. I absolutely cringe when I see nurseries continuing to sell English Ivy here. Or St. John's wort, impossible to get rid of. Or I've even seen that wicked scotch broom that is taking over the world up here! It is almost impossible to eradicate and I've seen entire fields of it!
One discouraging sign I've noticed in this area is that native plants are more expensive to buy. Gardening with natives is on a roll up here, and it seems like the more popular it gets, the more expensive the plants are. It's a shame, because we have many, many beautiful plants that grow willingly and with little effort on our part, but they cost a premium.
Maybe we need a new thread about this.
So yesterday morning, I type this nice response to most everyone here, the phone rang, and I must have closed the window rather than press send. Lets try again....
In regards to everyone's amazing offers:
My apologies for being MIA. I have been semi-forced into a job change. Nothing major, just a small time vortex and cash speedbump. I'll be emailing soon, and sending postage out. Please don't send your plants first, I am super "blonde" at times
Darwin: No smushed toes here at all. I worry about invasives. I'm already battling the "native" growth, I don't need to make it worse. Actually, most of the problem plants were introduced about 50+ years ago. I'm trying to research things a bit before I put them in, but I'm sure I've made a few mistakes. Luckily, everything out there is new this year, so I have time to rectify errors if I have made any. Do you have suggestions for the best ways to look into this? I am considering doing the master gardner program at URI.....I'm sure that would offer some great resources.
My moist area is ruled by skunk, cattail, and jewelweed. I would call that crazy begonia invasive if it weren't so easy to remove. Two different red lobelia live here, and I may have the blue on the way. I really like that rue, and the orange milkweed. The milkweed I have here is sort of a pinky white. I think those carniverous plants just might do well here. I have a moist shady area that is topped by about a half dozen huge white pine.
Red canna are here in a pot, with bright green leaves. Maybe I'll end up with other colors eventually. I love love love passiflora, had one years ago. I live very close to an amazing grower of them: Logee's. I was thinking about going to get a zone 5 hardy one, maypop. But, if it would get invasive, I'll go for a 6 or 7 and winter it with some other delicate darlings. Ancient property, ancient house, small windows, means very few houseplants.
If you can use wood fern, I have tons I could send for postage. Just let me know how may pounds you would like. Also have colocasia that grow in the ground here, small sago palms, agave americana, crape mertle suckers (pink) and wondering jew.
Daisy
I.. doubt you have to worry about hardy passiflora going invasive.. if I'm thinking right they die back to the ground in the northern limits of their ranges (though they also shouldn't have any natural predators where you are... I was taught that the only thing that can eat them are tropical butterfly caterpillars that can sequester the cyanide in them like the monarch uses milkweed toxin. Though I read a post about something eating someone's passiflora so I'm not sure.
The parent of this plant was a logees order.. I've heard great things about them and they seem to know a lot about the plants they're growing, I'm sure they'll be able to give you a better answer about the chances for invasion.
If you can't find any info about a plant you'd like to try that says it's a problem (and you've done a few searches on the 'net or asked growers on here etc) you're probably in the clear.. Just keep an eye on the plant (and watch for spread into the surrounding areas) for a few years before you consider it a peaceful member of your gardens :) It sounds like you've got quite a few great plants already, and I was very happy to read that you at least know what invasives are... and have decided to keep away from them. Yes, the jewelweed is quite agressive in its preferred habitat.. it is something known as a "disturbed area species" as well as a wet woods species.. It would naturally disappear as a wetland filled in and dried out the ground as the tree roots became denser. But it is a great bright color and you can apparently use the stems and leaves to rub on poison ivy if you ever have the need.
Sounds like the master gardener program would be a great idea, I'm thinking about taking it on as well. If you don't get the information directly you will most definitely meet people who will know where to go in your area. One quick point that they'd hopefully teach you :), in my conservation courses we defined aggressive species and invasive species differently.. Aggressives tend to be the ones that can certainly take over in your garden... smushing out other plants.. but they fall short of being able to successfully start populations in native environments of whatever area is in question. Invasives are terror in the garden and can make that jump. (There are scores of slightly different definitions, I just find that point helpful in gardening.. If you've got a big expanse of yard, go for some aggressiveness.. with caution.. but invasives are obviously just not worth the risk to plant. Ick, and cattail certainly can get nasty. Though it does look so neat. I unfortunately have a bit of a problem with European buckthorn... I've taken a lot down but they are the only bushes between my house and my neighbors... It's been really hard to force myself to give up the privacy each time I get the saw out.
I actually don't have the orange milkweed.. I'm thinking about going to dig some up from some dump areas though I have been warned before about the roots... If I'm at all successful and can get any transplants established I'll e-mail you about them at a later date, otherwise I'll be collecting seeds of them when they're ready (and could send you some of them). Otherwise I have plenty of the rue which I'm really starting to love.. Let me know when you're ready and I'll pack a box, no rush. Oh, yeah and you can certainly expect a passiflora. Won't be hardy for you but I cut it way back in the winter and then root the cuttings.. then it grows inside and I cut it back again in the spring. Makes for good sharing.
Cheers,
Byron.
Byron, thanks for making the point about invasive vs. aggressive plants. Good point to remember.
Now - you appear to know something about Passiflora vines, so would you mind posting to the following thread:
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/525778/
I simply cannot believe that no one on DG knows the answer to this and I've now wasted about 40$ on dead passionflower vines!