Update on Everything

My first report is about the snail traps and beer. Three traps were empty, no beer, no snails. Two were disgusting. Full of milky beer and dead snails of every size. Some snails were still swimming. I have decided to test some other Snail products, since this was not a clear win. I cannot bend to change these. I imagine they would get more nasty over time. Stay tuned for Operation Snails Part 2.

Empty or gross. Lose:lose


I must also report on the snails that did not partake of the alcohol in the Tiki Bars. They just keep coming! Basil must be their favorite food. I put this pot up on a block and they climbed to eat it.

Snail climbing to basil.

Another favorite is Beach Bum Blue Evolvulus . It has no flowers, few leaves and is covered in slime. Not the look I was going for!

Beach Bum Blue. No blue, only snail slime.
Irresistable plants moved to safety on pcinic table. Oh, the irony!

I have been graduated to no walker on flat land. I can also drive again. I am grateful to be unencumbered in my movements and not dependent on others so much. I will still use my all-terrain walker in the yard and grabbers to keep from bending past the 90° limit.

Ready for action

I am happy to report that the beheaded ‘Lucifer’ Montbretia has rallied due to deer repellant and is looking lovely, though lopsided.

Lucifer rallying

The rhododendrons are really putting on a show here in the Blue Ridge Mountains. This is the time of year my parents would host their church’s “Fifty Plus” group and serve home-made peach ice cream on the porch. I sure do miss them. I am doing projects in their memory to help with mourning. No worries.

I will work on these during rainy afternoons when I cannot silently stalk nature. Stay tuned for reports on these activities.

FLOW on her way back

Lucifer Steals the Show

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

Lovin’ Some Lucifer

Montbretia ‘Lucifer’ demands attention wherever it grows.

Montbretia ‘Lucifer’/ Crocosmia crocosmiiflora

I have it on banks, at corners and along walkways.

The only thing ‘Lucifer’ needs to be fabulous is a little support while blooming.

Its rocket red blooms are on long arching stems in a triangular pattern.

The red and yellow buds are beautiful also.

It grows from little brown corms similar to gladiolas.

Anyone who loves red flowers and hummingbirds should grow some ‘Lucifer’ in the garden.

Flow

P.S. A New Zealand reader shared this link about Lucifer being a pest in some places. I have added it below. Lucifer has been in my gardens for years and has not presented itself as a problem…yet. It is super easy to grow which may mean it is super hard to kill

.https://www.weedbusters.org.nz/what-are-weeds/weed-list/montbretia/

Lovin’ some Lucifer

This crazy bloomer is another “top three” for me.

Montbretia is a perennial bulb.  The genus is Crocosmia. 

There are also yellow and orange forms, but Lucifer is the superstar.

It is deer resistant and rodent resistant.

It likes full to partial sun.  No special water or fertilizer treatment is required.

Support is needed as the hundreds of blooms develop on each stem.

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The structure of the whole plant forms a lovely three to four foot fan.

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Each stem has alternate arms which hold an array.

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It’s easy to miss the beauty of each bright red flower, because of the number of blooms.

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Even the buds are works of art.

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Easy care plant, deer resistant and beautiful.

Win:Win:WIN!

FLOWER

 

 

My Other Favorite Plant

Montbretia ‘Lucifer’ is a Crocosmia crocosmiiflora. 

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Lucifer I love.   The flowers could not be a brighter red.

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The leaves are a lovely fan of green beneath the tall stalks of buds and blooms.

The structure of the bloom stalk is geometrically balanced and crazy pretty.

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This is a must for any border or bank in June and July.

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FLOWER