That scabiosa was planted beside our public pool, it really blooms it's heart out, even in full sun surrounded by concrete.
Favorite Plants in the Cottage Garden
I have managed to kill "Butterfly Blue" every time I plant it.
I'm still crossing my fingers that we'll see some 'Rip van Winkle' blooms this spring.
So many great ideas here!!
I like the idea of hardy geraniums in the iris or lily bed... I've been thinking of what should go between the oriental lilies, also.
I couldn't find Serbian Achillea in PF, but I do love Achillea, so I'll have to google for it... PF did have Siberian Achillea http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/1036/index.html, but it's up to 24 inches tall.
I will also look around for some annual larkspur seed! Consolida ambigua I do see iris leaves in a couple of the PF photos! http://davesgarden.com/pf/showimage/839/ (If anyone has some, please Dmail me... I have some goodies to trade!)
That Leucojum is just gorgeous! I don't remember coming across it before, so I really appreciate the recommendation. I will quickly check to be sure it isn't on the VanEngelen site, LOL (their sale is now, and I already called once this morning to add to the order I placed late last night). Here's a PF link for it, http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/53286/index.html
Corgimom, I've got a Knockout rose at the bottom of the driveway bed, and it's a wonder! I also have a little miniature tea rose that was a bonus from Stark Bros a few years back... wish I know the variety, as it is nearly as tough as the KO!
Happy, I think the Penstemon foliage isn't exactly striking in and of itself, looks a little weedy but fine in a mixed planting. It did have itermittant bursts of bloom throughout summer and another big flush of blooms in early fall... perhaps it just slows down in the heat of summer. I put a few Penstemon smallii seedlings in front of my lily bed this spring, and I just got some more 'Eye of the Tiger' Dutch Iris to plant with them... Before I put them between the lilies, I want to see just how dense a clump they may form...
I'm also thinking that I want some more phlox to go between the lilies... I have a nice clump at one corner of that bed, and I have a clump of purple obedient plant at the other front corner (bet that will pop up all over next spring since it looks like it dropped a ton of seeds before I could harvest them).
happy, it hasn't done well for me either.I planted 5 and also 5 of pink mist in spring '05. there are 2 of the blue left which barely flower and 1 pink.
Jill, I love hardy geraniums with lilies too. With tall lilies I use taller perennials around them too, like shasta daisies, rudbeckia, and penstemon. I like to plant tall lilies between clumps of peonies too; shade for the lily roots and extended color.
Phlox are one of my favorite late summer cottage garden flowers. The form contrasts so beautifully with lilies, and such a long bloom time. I have several colors I can share divisions of in spring.
If they're not sold out, VanEngelen has Leucojum listed under 'best of the rest'. I've really been wanting to try 'Gravetye Giant' too.
Jill, I love hardy geraniums with lilies too. With tall lilies I use taller perennials around them too, like shasta daisies, rudbeckia, and penstemon. I like to plant tall lilies between clumps of peonies too; shade for the lily roots and extended color.
Phlox are one of my favorite late summer cottage garden flowers. The form contrasts so beautifully with lilies, and such a long bloom time. I have several colors I can share divisions of in spring if you'd like.
If they're not sold out, VanEngelen has Leucojum listed under 'best of the rest'. I've really been wanting to try 'Gravetye Giant' too.
Gemini -- I have 'Gravetye Giant' coming out my ears....you ever get up to Indianapolis? I could arrange for you to dig a hundred. Maybe I'd better backtrack -- I think there are a 100. They are old, the trees have grown and they have gotten very shaded, plus I have never dug & divided them -- havne't counted recently. OR I suppose, since you're on the forum, I could dig some for you for postage. Your choice on before or after bloom. I should also tell you that I hate them. They are a big plant with eeensy-weesy flowers too small for the plant, and I don't recommend them except in small quantities as a novelty and be sure to deadhead before they set seed.
A little trivia here...The Leucojum bulb looks very similar to a daffodil, and if you are ever in a position to need to know the difference between the two, the Leucojum bulb has a callous around the basal plate on the bottom and the daffodil does not.
Suzy
Oooohhh, thank you for the generous offer! I would love some, perhaps as the foliage is yellowing next spring. I have lots of natualizing space and I think they would look nice at the edges of the woods. I do have a friend who lives part time in Indy and part time here, so I may be able to get her to stop by for me.
I've mistaken the bulbs for daffodils before; good tip :)
Neal, I would love to trade for some of your phlox in spring! I will have to start an entry for us in my trade tracker... I am sure I will be able to tempt you with something in return, even if I can't convince you to try African Violets! (Oh, and I don't mean to go off topic, but I'm doing a lot of propagating of AVs again this winter, and I'm hoping to trade for hardy "cottagey" perennials... Dmail me if you're interested... I'll post a thread for trades this spring when everyone is dividing plants, too!)
VanEngelen is sold out of the Leucojum (under "best of the rest" and then under "miscellaneous" -- no wonder I didn't see them!), so Suzy maybe we'll have to put together a spring trade also... they could go along the back near the trees and do whatever they'd like. I figure that with our WS efforts and dormant cuttings, we may be doing a trade anyway at some point!
Now, back to our regularly scheduled thread, LOL...
Hmmm, lilies with peonies... something else to work into that plan for the fence bed! Probably I should get the peonies (not yet purchased) in and established first, then plant between them next fall...
We haven't discussed that classic combination of daffodils and daylilies yet... I've got an "island" bed in back, a curved shape going around and between two young maples and a mimosa tree. It's designated for daffs and daylilies. I'm still working on filling it in (starting another round of DLs from seed this winter and also putting more bulbs in this fall), but I think it's going to work out well.
The back portion of the bed is "yellow jonquils for naturalizing" from Breck's. There's a "river" (OK, "rivulet") of Muscari latifolium (a bit taller than grape hyacinths but similar) curving through the middle, and on the front side I have 'Geranium' daffs plus a few mixed ones from a mislabeled bag. I didn't realize how much earlier the jonquils would bloom, but I've just ordered 100 'Ice Follies' daffs to add to the front part of the bed, so hopefully both areas will bloom together (now I need some 'Yellow Cheerfulness' daffs to add to the back part of the bed so they'll bloom with the 'Geranium' ones).
The mimosa is ringed with shorter DLs and miniature daffs, including 'Minnow' daffs and a bunch of wonderful yellow ones from Neal (thanks, Gemini_Sage!) that I'm hoping will bloom next spring.
I'm not sure how the DLs will fare when the trees get big enough to provide significant shade in summer.... will I have to move them? Since the trees are deciduous, I'm sure the daffs will do fine. I guess that's not something I'll have to worry about for at least another 10 years, though. LOL
Illoquin, Rip Van Winkle' bloomed great for me in Vermont for the last 2 years, so I bought a mess of them for Nantucket. I will have fingers crossed. It sounds as if you have your very own Daffodil Festival, I would love to see pictures. Patti
Here is one mail order place I found that still has the Giant Leucojum. The blooms are small, so they are best planted where you can view them up close. I planted three in a triangle to get the one big clump.
https://www.easytogrowbulbs.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=145&gclid=CNS9y73lyYgCFQtwVAod4QyIKQ
I've got a new bed I'm working on also, along the neighbor's fence. It's 6 ft. wide where it goes along the fence, and the general plan is clematis and a climbing rose (Zepherine Drouhin) at the back (supported by some sort of trellis or light fencing to keep them a little bit off the fence since it isn't mine) interspersed with a couple of hibiscus syriacus (rose of sharon)... A 12 foot row of peonies (would this be 6 plants, or more for a "hedge?") down the center, and dwarf iris in front of the peonies. The bed turns away from the fence and widens into an "L" shape (with some taller trees behind it), and I've got a bunch of other stuff going into that section, including a few shrubs... There's a "low spot" at the curve of the "L" where I've put in a trio of Hibiscus moscheutos (rose mallow), and at the top of the fence bed there's a lilac, a variegated weigela, and a pair of dwarf burgundy-leafed weigela, plus some lower growing perennials. I've got most of the "big" items in already except the peonies.
(This year, when the bed was new, I was using it for an overflow & "nursery" area, and I put sunflowers and morning glories along the back by the fence.)
Jill, your new bed sounds like a Monet painting! I can just envision it; it'll be gorgeous- can't wait to see pics! And the bed with all the daffs and daylilies sounds wonderful too. I like the idea of using naturalizing mixes on the outskirts and more defined drifts of single varieties up close, a great cottagy effect. From what you've listed, we love all the same stuff, lol. Oh yeah, and George gave me a trailing AV and someone else gave me a ruffly noid pink, and of course...they're doing great under my new lights...so you got it..I'm hooked. Actually re-hooked; I grew AVs several years ago and loved them. Now I've got somewhere to grow them again :) Ooohh, and I was in to Streptocarpus and Episcia(sp?) too. Winter flowers are so appreciated. Looks like we'll have no problem thinking of stuff to trade, lol.
:-) I will have a bunch of AV plantlets this spring... been juggling and realized I need to get at least one light shelf in the basement set up for AVs this winter, as the propagation trays have reached critical mass upstairs and I have AVs waiting in the wings for a spot under the lights. I've got several Episcia and a couple of lovely streps, too... Fair warning, Gesnariads are an expanding sort of obsession! You do amaryllis in the winter too, right?
I will try to find my design plan for the new bed and scan it in... lots of room for "fillers" in the design yet, especially lower growers that wouldn't mind some afternoon shade, and I'd love some suggestions!
Im trying to get the hang of thinking of drifts and layers and repeating elements....
critter that sounds great, I would love to see it too.
"drifts, layers, and repeating elements"..... That's excactly what I love! The repitition has just started in my gardens as I'm propagating things and that is the tie that binds a casual garden to my eye. That subtle design is great for leading the eye elsewhere in the garden or bringing light to a dark area. It helps keep my garden of collections from looking too chaotic.
Oh, I should mention another "old fashioned" plant that I love and think is very "cottagey," right up there with hollyhocks!
Garden Balsam, or Balsam Impatiens (Impatiens balsamina) grows very well in my north foundation bed, so it's one to consider for shady spots. It does appreciate regular watering but will bounce back if it starts to wilt.
It self-sows, so it will come back year after year, but I haven't had it come up more than a couple feet away from where it was planted. Also, the seedlings are very easy to pull up from any place they're unwelcome, so I wouldn't consider it invasive. The seed pods "explode" with a touch, which is really fun.
In this photo, the balsam has been nearly overtaken in the front by some trailing (small-leafed) coleus...
Lovely combination Critter!
Great colors! I got some in a trade/swap/rr and have the place for them all picked out. Your coleus is really a nice color...surely you bought that and didn't sow it from seed? I heard they take forever.
Szuy
Lincolnitess,
I have been meaning to ask you -- about how many Profusion Zinnias per color are in the photo above with the very first message? I'm wondering whether to buy packs of seed or just cell packs. I don't want 100 seeds of every color.
Thanks,
Suzy
The zinnias in the photo are in a raised 8ft by 8 ft bed. I space them about 12" apart and they fill in by mid summer. I think there are 2 of the Fire Orange zinnias on the far right of the photo, just one of the lighter orange and one of the hot pink. I just arranged them randomly and took the photo from above them looking down. They get maybe 12" tall.
Susan
I've sown coleus from seed, and they did fine with at least an 8 week indoor start under the lights. However, the trailing coleus that I have came from a couple of pots that I bought several years ago. Coleus roots readily in water, so it's easy to overwinter a couple of plants (I tuck them around into other containers)... Pinch it so it will branch, especially if you want a lot of cuttings. I take cuttings maybe 4 weeks before planting out time... root them in a glass of water, then pop them into cell packs so they can get nice root balls. Pinch the tops of the cuttings to promote branching. Easy!
I think the smaller leaves on the trailing coleus make it easy to incorporate into a mixed planting or to use as a border.
Hmmm, we chatted about Penstemon, but we haven't mentioned other plants with lovely flower spikes.... How about:
Salvia (especially the perennial ones)
Lavender (somehow, I associate fragrance with cottage gardens, and this is one of my favorites)
Veronica (I wintersowed some V. longifolia from Gerris2, and it's still blooming!)
Here's Salvia 'Caradonna' and Geranium 'Biokovo' in the little bed with the Penstemon smallii and 'Eye of the Tiger' dutch iris (no longer blooming, but you can see the foliage in the photo). Oh, and you might be able to spot a Muscari plumosa at the front edge of the bed... I didn't think they looked like much when they first started blooming, but they got taller and fluffier over a period of several weeks. The big clump of leaves is Bergenia 'Winterglow', aka Pigsqueak, and the foliage is turning a deep red color now.
critter, you're absolutely right about cottage gardens and fragrance. like horse and carriage, hand in glove, birds and bees.............
Good morning all
I like the dark stems of the Salvia Caradonna. I grew Black and Blue salvia this summer and enjoyed it with
lavender cleome.
This message was edited Nov 18, 2006 5:34 PM
Anyone know what the orange flowers are in this photo? It is from a garden in Holland. Very striking.
http://www.leylant.com/cpg134/displayimage.php?album=13&pos=7
I like that salvia too!
Susan, I don't know, but they sure are interesting. It's like the whole plant is orange.
the salvia is very striking. it's on my list
I wonder if the orange flower could be this variety of "Lion's Tail" http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/112018/index.html or the perennial species of "Lion's Ear" http://davesgarden.com/pf/showimage/10646/? I have L. nepetifolia, thought the blooms in the photo might be similar, but the leaf on my annual variety is different... perhaps one of the perennial Leonotus is a match?
I had a 'Black & Blue' salvia this summer also and loved it, but I don't think it's hardy here. (?) I did take a cutting and put it in water, mostly to watch it bloom, but who knows perhaps it will strike roots.
(edited to fix the first link)
This message was edited Nov 19, 2006 12:51 AM
Could be it. Looks like an interesting plant. thanks for trying to find it for me. Wonder if there is any chance of Black and Blue reseeding? I also grew Sapphire salvia and it was a nice one. Got larger than B and B.
Susan
Kids --
B&B Salvia has a tuber. Dig it up and store like a dahlia. That means -- not too hot, not too cold. Not too dry, not too wet. LOL! In other words, in barely damp peat in a vented ziploc. I think about 40-50 degrees. Every month after you dig it, check to see how it's doing...look for excess moisture on the inside of the bag and also look for dessication, which is more my problem here than being toowet. You can also get fancy if you have more than one. Dip in a bleach solution, see how vermiculite works, wrap in Saran wrap and stuff like that. I realize I sort of sound like I know what I'm talking about, but I am trying mine for the first time right now. I got it in a trade; I think somebody was trying to pull a fast one on me, but I'm gonna show them! LOL!
Lincolnitess, My eyes can't see the detail as well as I'd like, but my first thought is one of those new-style celosias-for-the-cut-flower-market. I emailed him and I'll let you know if he responds. I don't believe he knows much English.
Critter, that is one wonderful plant! (The link for the Lion's Tail was for Lion's Ear.)
Suzy
Good tip on the salvia tuber -- who knew? I will dig it up with my remaining canna this week...
I fixed the first link so that it now goes to the "other" Leonotis species, called both Lion's Tail & Lion's Ear... see why we need the latin names? ;-)
Hi,
I am new to this interesting forum and would like to answer the question concerning the orange flowers in the picture at:
http://www.leylant.com/cpg134/displayimage.php?album=13&pos=7
The full name of that flower is 'Euphorbia Fire Glow'. And yes, indeed it is very striking. Flowers from mid april until late june and even after that it stays very decorative. Byetheway, - that picture is taken in my own garden...
Kind regard,
Mike from Holland
Lovely 'Euphorbia Fire Glow', Mike from the Netherlands! And what a coincidence to run across that picture here! I bet you got a kick out of that....and all of us admiring it so! :-)
I had such a wonderful visit to your country a few years ago. Everywhere you turn there is another spectacular garden! And the windmills, and the canals, and the endless fields of tulips and hyacinths, and the Keukenhoff. Can you tell I had a really good time?
carol
Welcome to Dave's Garden Mike and thanks for identifing the orange plant for me. I just found your photos yesterday when I was looking for cottage garden photos to add to the links thread. Your gardens and home are lovely and perfects examples of what I think of as the cotttage style. I will have to read more about 'Euphorbia Fire Glow'. I have a feeling it might be too cold here for it. Please share more of your favorite flowers and photos with us.
susan
I found the 'Euphorbia Fire Glow' in the plant files. Amazing how the colors change through the seasons. Looks like most places that sell it are sold out. Digging Dog Nursery and Joy Creek Nursery are two places I found that sell it. Sounds like it might grow here in zone 5.
http://davesgarden.com/pf/showimage/130300/
Hi Susan,
Zone 5 is quite cold, I guess?! But it will work out, if you plant them at a well-drained spot and cover them with a layer of leaves during winter. A blanket of snow would be perfect, too.
This euphorbia is my favourite plant in spring and early summer. It doesn't need any care, except in winter, though. It spreads through it's roots, but it will not overgrow other plants too much. When it appears at an unwanted spot, it can easily be removed. It is an eye-catcher for quite a long period, - so it deserves a prominent place in the garden.
And certainly I will come back to share more of my favorite flowers and photo with you. As a matter of fact, just a few minutes ago I uploaded a lot of new pictures to my site. Just go to http://www.leylant.com/cpg134/index.php and click the 'recent'-pictures-album...
Mike
This message was edited Nov 19, 2006 12:01 PM
This message was edited Nov 19, 2006 12:02 PM
I am going to try to order the Euphorbia in the spring. Are your a professional photographer? Your photos are breathtaking. I am going to have to spend lots of time this winter looking at them at leisure. If you check the list of forums here there is one for photos. I know they would enjoy having this link to your photos too. Thanks you so much for sharing all them. Daves Garden is a fun place to meet and visit with gardeners from all over the world. I think you will find many interesting forums here.
Susan
WOW! Welcome to the forum, Mike. It's obvious I was totally offbase with my prediction of you not speaking very good English! It's textbook perfect. My apologies!
The euphorbias I've had grow so fast and strong from seed, Lincolnitess, did you find seed when you went looking?
Mike, The Plant Files say the your euphoribia needs constantly moist soils, do you find that to be true?
(I thought Euphorbias were know for being xeriscaping plants, so that listing in PF doesn't make any sense to me.)
One more idea...Should we put a group trade up on the plant trading forum? Something like: Cottage Garden Forum members need Euphorbia 'Fireglow' Anybody want to make a group trade with us? If somebody has had this plant for three or more years, I bet they have a LOT of it.
Suzy
I did not find seeds for the Euphorbia. There are a number of interesting euphorbias at this nursery:
http://www.lazyssfarm.com/Plants/Perennials/E_files/E.htm
There it says only to zone 6 for Fireglow, but another site said zone 5. It sounds like some of the euphorbias will take drier locations, but just not spread as much, which might be good.
I don't really have a good location to store bulbs and tubers over winter. The garage is too cold and the basement too warm. I finally gave up on cannas after killing a number of them in different locations. I just went out and covered the Black and Blue salvia and the Sapphire salvis with a big pile of wood mulch. Hopefully they are not dead already. They have died back to the grond, but I think the tubers should still be alive. Will see what happens in the spring.
Here is a photo I just took of the Betony. This is what it looks like when not in bloom. Neat green little mound of leaves, only about 6" tall.
Susan
Mike, thanks for that ID! The more I looked at the photo, the more I didn't think it was one of the Leonotus spp!
Susan, I think Bettony is now high on my wish list. It's one of those plants I've seen here and there but not managed to ID, and I love the fact that the foliage stays so tidy after its bloom time is past. Does it spread or reseed for you, or would I need to purchase more than one plant in order to end up with more than one plant?