Design

I managed to tuck the last plants that I had left in small pots into a well-mulched nursery bed this morning. It was a lovely day for it. They included several small coral honeysuckle plants ( Lonicera sempervirens ) - freebies from the Garden Writers conference, a small Arkansas bluestar ( Amsonia hubrechtii ), and a Salvia greggii cultivar and another red Salvia species that the Plant Delights descriptions had really talked up. And which had leaped into my box! They'll all be a lot happier in the ground while we're traveling during winter break.

I enjoy the spontaneity of some perennials. As I get to know more of their habits, whether they're long-lived, whether they sulk in summer heat and drought, and where they might pop up next, it's fun to watch what's coming back strongly, what's disappeared, and where the new Allium bulbs I planted last fall are popping up. I ordered a variety of spring-flowering Alliums , Tritelea , and Leucojum from Brent and Becky's Bulbs, and popped the large number that I received into various places around the garden. It's a continuing surprise about which ones are flowering and where, as I'm not a very obsessive record-keeper! Most of the Allium species were chosen because of their attractiveness to bees, and close to 'normal' looking flowers, but a couple have turned out to be rather large, unusual specimens -- definitely not mixers in a border, but needing a distinct spot! This one is Allium christophii , I think. I'll have to find my order list. ...