Month: May 2022

Japanese Sacred Lilies and Slugs

| Flower Roberts

I usually do not want slugs in my garden, but I do want bright red berries.

I have dozens of Japanese Sacred Lilies/ Rohdea japonica.

It is one of my few evergreen blooming plants, so I keep propagating it.

It is not really attractive, but it is supposed to bring good fortune.

Its blooms look like little corn cobs.

You must closely examine a stalk to discern its floral parts.

I have had these for decades but not one red berry has been produced.

Apparently, the little corn cobs are pollinated by slugs. What else would be drawn to this?

So how does one attract slugs? Will it be worth it to get red berries?

I think I will let things be and hope for the good fortune without the slugs or the berries.

FLOW

It is Not June Yet

| Flower Roberts

Spring gets me rushing around in the garden. I am always behind… dig, weed, seed, weed, water, feed, weed.

I spotted my first daylily bloom yesterday. It was Emperor Butterfly down on the bunny bank. Excuse me, it is not June.

Emperor Butterfly daylily

It is bad enough to have all the weeds zooming ahead of schedule. Now my own flowers are showing me up.

Not one but three daylilies are blooming. “It is still May.” I say!

Whooperee was actually first because I spotted a spent bloom on it from the day before. Its juicy blooms are a deer favorite.

Whooperee Daylily

I guess the hot temperatures last week fooled them.

Nutmeg Spice burst into bloom this morning, although its not June.

Nutmeg Spice daylily

I guess its time to sprinkle Deer Scram. I’d best hurry… sprinkle, weed, dig, weed, feed, deadhead, weed.

I think I am getting too old to garden.

Slower Flower

Monarchs and Milkweed

| Flower Roberts

If I could name two things that thrill me on sight in my garden, they would be Monarch butterflies and a form of milkweed called Butterfly weed/Asclepias tuberosa.

Milkweed is named for its milky sap that gets ingested by the caterpillars. This causes predators to vomit so they soon learn to leave the yellow striped caterpillars alone.

Asclepias tuberosa/ Butterfly weed

Even if Butterfly weed was not on the Monarch menu, I would plant it. The blooms and buds make beautiful bouquets.

This plant is easy to grow and propagate. No problems with pests.

Plant some milkweed and wait for the Monarchs.

Flow

The Goose Choo Choo

| Flower Roberts

I knew they were coming around the bend in the river before I saw them.

The cacophony of honks gives away their location.

I also knew they would be in a line.

One parent in front like an engine, the other bringing up the rear as the caboose goose.

I did not know how many cute little fuzzy ducklings would be swimming in between.

I wish I knew what they were saying. Are they barking out orders to their goslings?

I would also love to see their feet paddling underwater. The smaller ones must paddle faster.

I look forward to their visits each spring. They waddle up my neighbors ramp to eat their grass.

Flow

My Crazy Clematis

| Flower Roberts

I always wanted a purple clematis because my Gran had one growing up the side of her porch. I loved how it highlighted the side entrance and provided some shade. She had superb taste in everything… furniture, food or flowers.

I purchased a bare-root Jackman Clematis decades ago. I still have its package. That’s how I remember what I have and when I got it. It is also why my office is messy.

The Jackman clematis is supposed to bloom in summer, mine is covered with blooms now.

Jackman clematis

Another anomaly is that its blooms have differing numbers of petals. There are many five-petal blooms, but about as many four-petal and six-petal flowers. This breaks some botany rules.

I have looked at many photos of Jackman clematis on the internet. The variation shows up in some photos. I do not know why this plant is a shape-shifter.

All I know is that it is lovely and reminds me of my Gran and her beautiful home.

FLOW

In Love with Foxglove

| Flower Roberts

Their rosettes of fuzzy leaves appear first. They show up wherever the seeds are blown.

Some plants stay lovely little green cones while others grow spires toward the sky.

I wonder what color will appear on the blooms, but I am certain there will be spots.

Those spots are what get me. I wonder around peering into the little hats.

Admiring the patterns that guide the bees to the treasure.

They are magic. I imagine fairies and elves wearing them.

I am in love with Foxgloves.

FLOW

The Beauty of Sarah B.

| Flower Roberts

Sarah is beautiful all the time, from bud to bloom, in any light.

I don’t know how she does it. I guess that’s why she is famous.

She seems delicate, but powerful.

Her bud is like a glass marble, her bloom like a floating taffeta tutu.

Sarah Bernhardt peony

Whoever named this peony named her well, Sarah Bernhardt.

FLOW