What else do you grow?

Peony, the name escapes me right now. If it wasn't under snow would run out and look it up.

Maxine

Goldfinch, I purchase gold fish for .19c each at the pet store and leave them in all summer.
After trying to catch those little buggers have given up and leave them in the pond over winter. Some times they survive and some times not.
I will have to dig up one of my ponds this spring as it sprung a leak last fall. Will drop in a stainless steel tank I had used before and get it set up with water lilies and fish this spring.
Not looking forward to it as I am beginning to think this is too much for this old lady.
Love the color on this iris, think I now have over 400 different varieties of iris.
Will have to count them this spring when cleaning up the flower beds.

Maxine

WOW - that iris is delicious! You must have huge gardens to have 400 varieties.

I like delphiniums too but those colors are really nice - haven't seen either one before.

Good deal on the goldfish. I know what you mean about feeling too old to tackle some of those projects.... but that won't stop us now, will it!

Chris

NOPE!!

Maxine

Maxine those are beautiful Iris's and a lovely path and pond!
The NZ Delph. is gorgeous!

Thanks for the lovely complements. They deserve another picture.

Maxine

Delicious? I think scrumptious is a more accurate description of that bearded iris.

Now Maxine, when you go and count your iris varieties, you're going to write the names down, right? It will be time consuming, but I guaranty you won't regret it.

Most of the iris have tags by the plant.
This dang computer was screwed up last summer and still is. Won't let me attach a name to each picture of plant.
Frustrating as all get out!!

Maxine

Leftwood, Tell me about milk thistle. Is it hardy? does it start from seed?

Goldfinch, that is the largest sempervivum spread I've seen around here. Is that growing in plain dirt or did you make scree? My larger ones die every winter so I'm curious about how you are so successful.

Karen

Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum-now correctly spelled), is an annual, but grows fast. It really hates transplanting, and unless you do it early in life with only 2-3 mature true leaves (or less), you're liable to kill it if you try. Even then, ultimate size will be less. So its best to sow it where you want it to grow. I've gotten the best germination sown in the late fall, and second best sown as early as soil can be worked in spring. Sowing after danger of frost is past has yielded nothing for me. But plants don't seem to emerge until around that date.

It only produces one stalk, which brances toward the top for 3-10 rather large, yellow thistle like looking flowers.

Wickedly thorny, but makes nice dried flowers too.

Hi Karen,

That picture is only a tiny portion of my semp bed. It's actually about 15' long and 4' wide. We have nice black dirt and I just mix playground sand with it - about 50/50. They don't need rich soil, that's just the type I have. They do need good drainage though. The bed is against the house so that may shelter it some. All winter long they are under several feet of snow. They look a little rough in the early spring but pop back quickly. I usually loose a few during the winter too but they fill back in.

Leftwood, just googled some more pics. Almost looks like reptile skin!

Goldfinch- You got it going on. That's a lot of semps.! I don't have mine in 50% sand.
I'll see if I can find a pic.