More Clematis Making Friends with the Shrubbery

I was pleasantly surprised to see how 'Josephine' has left the fence and seems to be crawling around with her new shrubby friend 'Lemon Wave' Hydrangea.

Also discovered the digital macro feature on my camera (hidden in the SCN selection) which vastly improves the camera focus on close-ups - get ready for lots of bug, raindrop and petal photos!

Here's an Oddball Shrub

This is Tripterygium regelii that I started from Gardens North seed in 2004. It was a very sad little specimen for the least few years. However, this year its growth has been spectacular. I like the way the leaves are held, the red stems and nice white panicles. So far the leaves are free from insect damage too - a big plus. I think it's time to make up a permanent tag - it's earned a spot in my garden.

Set Your Clematis Free!

Years ago I saw a clematis growing up and through a small magnolia. It was just stunning. So first oportunity I had, I purchased an 'Elizabeth' magnolia and planted this clematis right at its base. Well, poor old Liz only made it through one winter. However, the clematis continues to thrive, climbing through and growing with this Persicaria polymorpha.

In another section of the garden, I planted a fall-blooming clematis next to an old Viburnum. Just when the Viburnum was looking weary at the end of the season, it was nice to see the puff of white flowers in between the branches. For those of you without a fence or trellis, do consider growing these lovely vines in conjunction with your large perennials and woodie plant material.

A Quick Holiday

Just got back from cottage country where I was able to revisit a shoreline refurbishment project in Bracebridge Ontario. My sister-in-law and brother have a grassy shoreline that they will be reconverting from grass to one that is more in keeping with the natural beauty of their surroundings. These projects not only look great, but they really help with the health of the lakes - reducing run-off and providing places for the creatures to nest and feed.

This shoreline was grass right down to the lake just a few years ago. It's amazing how nicely it is developing in such a short period of time. Bits of shoreline were left open on purpose and natural rock steps were added so that visitors are still able to get down to the water easily. As well, waterfowl have a place to come on shore. It's a great example to show cottagers how native plants can be incorporated in shoreline landscaping.

Surprise Visitors in the Garden

You may just have to use your imagination when you look at this photo - but I assure you there are a pair of yellow finches snacking away at my Doronicum seeds! In the past, I'd been quite good at getting these seed heads cut down - as you probably know, most plants with daisy-like blooms are easy to start from seed - hence, a little weedy in the garden. However, when I saw these lovely little birds perched on the stems, pulling the seeds out, I couldn't help but think, maybe a bit of weeding isn't so bad, if it means the finches will stay in the garden just a little longer.

An Easy Woodlander to Grow From Seed

Pinellia tripartita is a really easy-to-grow woodlander with the great common name of Green Dragon. I started this from seed attained from Gardens North outside of Ottawa. Five plants germinated - three made it through - and now it looks as if they may be self seeding which is just fine with me - nothing like being able to share something a little unusual with friends. It grows about 30 cm (around a foot) high and as you can see blends well with Hosta. Unlike many other woodland plants that emerge just as soon as the ice is out of the soil, Pinellia is very late - in fact it doesn't appear until most of the hosta leaves have unfurled - so it is really important that you mark where they are. Several times I've thought I had an empty spot (banish the thought!) and began to dig away when I remembered that this little patch of soil was indeed taken.

An Unusual Bulb for Sun or Shade

This interesting member of the onion family is called Allium nectaroscortum siculum and was brought to my garden by chance. Like all the allium I have tried (I think I've got about 6 different varieties), it self seeds very easily. Chances are, the seed arrived in my garden in a potted perennial that is now long gone. It is growing in sandy soil in a shaded location under a PeeGee Hydrangea - and stands about a meter high. It's a quiet sort of plant that you have to look for - the blooms are a soft green/pink shade. From the one chance plant, I now have three.

You would find find this allium in early fall in a good nursery, or on-line from a bulb supplier. For something that's a little unusual that works in both sun and shade - it's another good plant.

A Nice Little Shrub

Just a quick post to show you Deutzia 'Chardonnay Pearls'. Year 3 in the garden - treated it just as nastily as I could - and here it is looking lovely. Unlike it's unruly Deutzia cousins that grow to be immense - this little fellow with its chartreuse leaves grows about 30 cm high and wide. The little flower buds look like pearls - the blossoms are really a nice bright white against the yellow/green leaves. I have it growing in part sun/shade where it really lights up an otherwise dull corner.

Plants to Hide Bulb Die-Back

One of the tricky parts of gardening, is trying to find plants that will cover the leaves of spring blooming bulbs as their leaves and stems turn brown and die back to the ground. I've used Hosta and Hemerocallis with tulips. In one section of my garden, I have paired this giant Persicaria polymorpha with Allium. As you can see, it's not quite perfect - the Persicaria is quite successfully upstaging the Allium that aren't quite done. Although it really does hide the nasty brown leaves at this stage! I've also seen 'Anthony Waterer' Spirea used in a mass planting in Toronto with these giant Allium. In the boulevard planting on the fly it looked quite good - wanted to stop, but would have risked a collision if I had. Another suggestion I read about from University of Guelph was to pair Ligularia with these big onions. Their leaves would certainly cover the mess at the bottom and there would be no flower competition - as Ligularia have nice yellow or orange blossoms much later in the summer.

Sunburn in the Garden

Here's what happened to my Hosta montana macrophylla. The sunburn appears to have caused a weakened leaf structure which was then pummelled by heavy rain last night making a bit of grotesque sight in the garden.

There is really nothing that can be done other than remove the most damaged leaves - ultimately this should not harm the overall health of the plant. Even though I've had some heat damage in years past on these big leaves - it has never been this bad. Perhaps it was the fact that it had been so cold and the change in temperature so dramatic - 20C in just one day - the leaves simply hadn't had a chance to toughen up to ready themselves for the heat and sun.

Suffering from Heat Fatigue

Once my camera was free of condensation was able to take this picture. We did get some rain, but not enough to really soak the plants. Japanese tree peony completely kaput from the hot weekend. And, have never seen this before but it looks as if several varieties of Tricyrtis (Toad Lily) have melted in the heat. Parts of their leaves and stems have collapsed in sections - it's not pretty - hopefully they will have enough time to rebound and will still bloom this fall. Hosta that don't see any sun continue to look fabulous - those that get bright sunlight later in the day are showing leaf damage. Really do look like they've been splashed with hot molten liquid. Here's hoping we get the scheduled rain this afternoon & perhaps some cooler weather!

The Temperature is Rising

Madly photographing garden - there will be tonnes of change shortly - the temperature started at 12C this a.m. and is forecasted to be 32C by the end of the day. Anything that is close to being in bloom will be out in full by tomorrow a.m. Those plants that have been held back by the cold, plus those that bloom later may actually all be in bloom at the same time - will make for some very interesting photos.

Japanese Tree Peonies in Bloom

The blossoms don't last long, sometimes only 3 days - but their beauty certainly makes up for it. Tree peonies have woody stems unlike herbaceous peonies that have stems that die back to the ground every fall. Because the stems are woody - they don't need to be staked. Tree peonies will take some shade - and in fact, do a little better (and last a little longer) if they have shade in the afternoon. Cool temperatures also help extend the period of bloom. This 12C weather is just perfect - will take as many photos as I can, because it's going up to 32C this weekend and that will be the end of these pretty flowers.

Also note - that tree peonies can live for over a hundred years - so when you make your selection - buy the best you can afford - they will be around for a very long time!

Garden is Percolating in the Rain

A shot from yesterday alas. A bit too wet to venture out with the camera this a.m. I started this Echium russicum last year from seed. I had purchased a plant a couple of years ago and loved the fact that it produced and kept its red/maroon/purple blossoms for such a long period of time. You might be more familiar with the lovely blue Echium vulgare or Viper's Bugloss that we see blooming along railway tracks and in fields early to mid summer.

Echium russicum is listed as a biennial, perennial, or perhaps monocarpic (blooms & dies). My purchased plant is still around, although much smaller than those on their year two. So if I wanted to keep a patch going, I'd probably start some fresh from seed. This is a plant that grows from Zone 2 to 9 - perfect for any location in North America.


For really cool photos of Viper's Bugloss check out Brian Johnston's article at http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/indexmag.html?http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artfeb04/bjbugloss.html

The Perfect Day Starts with Ducks in the Garden

I don't know where they came from - but for a while I thought they might be setting themselves up in the yard. As you can see, we've been busy spreading compost in the garden and on the lawn - almost immediately it's returned to a lovely green colour. Unfortunately, the grass seed appears to have been eaten by numerous little birds who've moved into the neighbourhood. Hercules, our indoor cat, has been zooming from window to window going nuts trying to follow them. Today was the first day the Japanese tree peony started to bloom - will try to get a good shot and post it tomorrow.