I got two of these ‘Daybreak Coreopsis. I placed them as bookends of this small flowerbed.
This area has been neglected all summer. I am grateful that “Lil’ Bang” has thrived through my neglect.
It is a perennial so I hope it will survive the cold here on the mountain.
The tag claims hardiness to -20°F. We shall see.
FLOWER
The early fall color in my yard is pink.
I know when the Pink Muhly and sedums bloom pink that cooler weather is on its way.
One of my favorite pink bloomers is Jewels of Opar ‘Limon.” It is a magical sight with its tiny, shiny seed pods and delicate pink blooms.
Flower is still trapped on her decks waiting for healing and railing. Stay tuned. Next week is the week!
FLOW
I look forward to these fire-engine-red blooms every June.
Everything about this plant is beautiful, its straight bright green leaves, its yellow and red buds and its red blooms opening in a triangular pattern.
This Crocosmia/ Montbretia/Lucifer is scattered throughout my gardens.
The deer ignore every part of this plant. Oh, happy day! This is the easiest plant in my yard. It may need support as the blooms get heavy.
No matter what is blooming around it, Lucifer steals the attention.
Flower
This Verbascum is dreamy. I want to make its blooms into jewelry and wear them.
It is not just the colors that get me, although I find the dusty plum and creamy peach delicious.
Its the little, fuzzy faces that make me want to wear it. Like a delicate corsage close to my face or in my hair.
When I spied this plant in a pot I grabbed it up and did not let go. Sometimes you just know!
FLOW
I fell in love with Fallopia’s variegated leaves. The white splotches on bright green were irresistible. I put it in a featured location so I could see it from all angles.
The red twigs, with bright white and green are gorgeous in any light. I loved its tiny, white, aromatic blooms covered in bees during June.
I did not know I had allowed in a menace for several years. The first problem was the Japanese Beetles. They prefer these leaves to any other plant in my garden. I do not like to provide food for pest, as you know. So each summer when the beetles arrived I simply chopped down the stems and burned them.
But the something else occurred. I kept finding those beloved leaves in miniature away from the parent plant. Further and further away. I put the parent plant in a pot and buried it. This has slowed down the appearance of escapees.
If you look up Fallopia japonica ‘Variegata’/Japanese Knotweed. You will see it is a menace in the south. A gorgeous menace.
FLOW didn’t know!
Digitalis purpurea is one species of plant that is unpredictable. It changes location and form. Just when you think it is in the right place in a border, it moves or changes height or color. Then you have tall plants in the front and short plants in back.
Where you planted a soothing white ends up hot pink with spots. I will not complain simply because I love them any where they show up no matter the height and color.
I did count on a white version called Dalmation to brighten a shady spot, but pink has been just as nice.
The blooms are magical to me. The ones with the pointed bottom lips remind me of elf hats and the ruffled blooms look like fairy bonnets.
It is one plant I intend to have in my garden forever. Shifty and sly as they are, they are still one of my favorite flowers.
FLOW
As soon as the yellow and orange Epimediums reach full bloom, I start watching the tiny, white one.
Its fluttering white flowers sneak out slowly. This plant deserves close inspection.
Its heart-shaped leaves and winged flowers are delicately arranged on almost invisible stems.
This is one of my tiny treasures. Two more will soon follow in posts…Chinese Dunce Caps and Jessop.
My blood runs green.
FLOWER
This Crocosmia is my absolute favorite. It blooms so prolifically that it requires support fences to hold up the flowers.
I love the symmetry which reminds me of Stealth bombers flying on stalks.
The best part about Montebretia ‘Lucifer’ is that nothing eats it.
I really love Lucifer in bloom.
FLOWER
I ordered this ‘Blue Ginger’ from Logee’s Greenhouses in 2017. It finally bloomed.
It has gotten bigger these past six years. I have potted it up numerous times. It does have lovely purple edged leaves and purple striped stems, so the bloom is not it’s only attribute.
Still, I was pleased to see that something good happened while I was away. Ian turned over a few pots and broke one. Nothing else was damaged. We are fortunate.
Waiting six years for this Dichorisandra thyrsiflora to bloom is nothing extraordinary here. The Flower is playing the long game in her garden.
Next post will be about my two Century plants. Now, that is a long game!
FLOWER is home again
floweralley 