Perennials

Blue Ginger Blooms

| Flower Roberts

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

Jewels of Opar Self-Sows

| Flower Roberts

I love this ‘Limon’ Jewels of Opar for many reasons.

Jewels of Opar ‘Limon’

The tiny pink blooms are lovely.

The seed pods really do look like glistening jewels in wiry stems.

The leaves have a bright hue that stands out among other greens.

Lastly, it self sows which is a plus if it grows where you want it.

Jewels of Opar

Seedlings do not like to be moved, so I usually pull up plants that are growing where I do not want them.

I am glad ‘Limon’ planted itself because I did not manage to sow most of my seeds this year. The Flower’s garden is in self-service mode most of the time.

Jewels of Opar ‘Limon’ is loved by tiny bees

The stems of flowers and pods/jewels are a beautiful addition in flower arrangements.

Flower loves the Jewels

My Three Devils

| Flower Roberts

I want to begin by saying that I believe in the evils of man. I pity the plants that are given such names. These will be loved by me despite their assigned, evil names. As luck would have it, my next blog post will be about ‘Lucifer’ Montbretia. They are heavenly right now.

My friends, the Popes, delivered their last two Devil’s Tongue plants yesterday. They have purged them from their gardens. I am happy to be their new mama. I have a lovely spot for them picked out.

I put all three pots together for a photo.

The little sprout poking out in the pot to the right is the now infamous Amorphophallus konjac from earlier posts. It is to my great relief that the accidental castration did not kill it. https://floweralley.org/?s=Amorphophallus

The mishap was fortuitous because I never would have uncovered the ‘brain’ bulb had I not be concerned over its survival. https://floweralley.org/?s=Devil%27s+Tongue

I love the umbrella plume of foliage.

Amorphophallus konjac

The stem has unusual markings.

I will update you on the three Devils when they are settled in to their new home.

FLOW

Light Peach & Dusty Plum

| Flower Roberts

My two favorite colors together is a strange mix. I would never have considered them paired until plants did it.

This is the third time that I have found them together.

I did not mean to purchase a plant this year, only pine needles. But when my heart jumps, my purse opens.

This is the ONLY plant that I have bought this year. I know that is hard to believe. There is a story…maybe a book?

Who can ignore a name like ‘Peachie Keen’ when one sees it?

The second example is budded up and will bloom in a few weeks. The first will come last, hopefully it will bloom again soon.

Stay tuned!

FLOW

The Sweetest Plant of Spring

| Flower Roberts

I love all my plants, but some are easier to love than others.

This yellow Epimedium is a treasure. It requires only one thing, to be cut back in early March.

It likes shade. Can handle any water requirements, but appreciates moisture and light mulch.

The blooms are nothing short of magical. They are tiny, complex and delicate.

The yellow type blooms first. My white is compact, but worth bending down to admire.

The orange Epimedium blooms last. It is gorgeous.

Epimediums are hard to find, but worth the hunt.

Yellow Epimedium

Once you have one, you will understand why it is a favorite.

Flower

Through Purple to Orange

| Flower Roberts

I love this combination. It is colorful chaos and breaks rules.

Maybe that’s why I love it.

The tall Verbena bonariensis should be in the back, but it moved to the front.

Verbena bonariensis

At least Asclepias tuberosa has stayed in it’s place.

Asclepias tuberosa / Butterfly weed

I noticed some tiny brown grenades (frass) on its leaves.

Follow the poop to the pupa.

I am happy to see these.

They will by Monarch butterflies in a bit.

I consider butterflies airborne flowers.

Through the purple to the orange you will find someone wearing yellow with black stripes.

That will someday change to an orange and black ensemble and fly away.

My garden amazes me.

Flow

I Love Foxgloves

| Flower Roberts

I could not let May end without mentioning my foxgloves.

I consider them fascinating.

Each thimble is designed to guide a bee into it.

The spots inside are like little landing lights.

The tall spikes of blooms and fluffy leaves below create perfect balance.

I have planted them many places from which they disappear, only to reappear somewhere else.

Digitalis purpurea

Seeds sown in the fall will sprout in spring and bloom a year later.

They are self-sowing biennials. Enjoy them wherever they choose to grow.

Flow

Garden TuTu

| Flower Roberts

There is a pink tutu dancing in my garden.

Be not afraid. I am not gardening in tulle.

It’s my Pink Muhly Grass, Muhlenbergia capillaris.

The wind is blowing and it is putting on a show.

The sun makes it sparkle.

Just when most perennials are headed off stage, here comes ‘Miss Muhly’ dancing in her pink tutu.

What a great show in the garden.  Bravo!

FLOW

Orange Phlox on the Rocks

| Flower Roberts

Here is that color again. Orange, but not orange.

I think the pink eye plays tricks on the human eye.

The name on the tag is ‘Orange Perfection’ garden phlox by Garden Rich.

It does not stand up straight like some phlox or creep along on the ground like other phlox.

It reclines on the rocks.

I like the contrast between the orange and gray.

I like its cascading to soften the rock edges.

I got this right by accident.  Phlox on the rocks serendpity.

Flow