Tag Archives: Geranium sanguineum-Bloody Cranesbill

North Bed End Of June Update

Partial North Bed on 6-19-25.

Hello everyone! I hope this post finds you well. We’ve had a hot few days then it started raining and cooled things off a bit. The bed along the north side of the house has been looking GREAT, so I thought I would take a few photos and write a post. Umm… It took longer than expected because photos would get out-of-date fairly quickly. Then, I would take more photos. Time goes by, you know.

So, here we go, in alphabetical order… As always, you can click on the name of the plant to go to their own page (if they have one). Oh, and I’m not using Grammarly right now, so please excuse any goofs. 🙂

Aegopodium podagraria (Snow-On-The-Mountain) on 6-20-25, #1062-2.

The Aegopodium podagraria (Snow-On-The-Mountain) has been behaving itself so far. I had idea I could just keep it growing along the foundation… Maybe if I ignore it. 🙂 It doesn’t help when it is the first on the list in alphabetical order… No page yet.

Astilbe x arendsii ‘Fanal’ on 6-20-25, #1062-3.

I don’t think the Astilbe x arendsii ‘Fanal’ liked me moving it forward in the spring of 2024 because it has certainly showed its disapproval. It was in front of the Hosta ‘Empress Wu’ which was getting so large it started covering the Astilbe within no time. So, I moved where I thought it was halfway between the ‘Empress Wu’ and the Achillea millefolium. Apparently, the Achillea moved again… Closer to the Astilbe… I really like this plant, so I hope it snaps out of it.

Geranium pratense ‘Boom Chocolatta’ with 32″ tall flower stems on 6-20-25, #1062-4.

The Geranium pratense ‘Boom Chocolatta’ has grown beyond my expectations. It has become rather bored with the Achillea millefolium (Yarrow) next to it, though. It complained somewhat, but I said it was there first. Actually, I didn’t put the Achillea in that spot. I put it closer to the house several years ago and it just traveled to where it liked the light much better.

The plant without the flowering stems was around 22″ tall x 30″ wide when the above photo was taken on 6-20-25. The top of the tallest flowering stem was 32″!

Geranium pratense ‘Boom Chocolatta’ with 8 1/4″ wide leaf on 6-20-25, #1062-5.

I looked for the largest leaf and found this whopper that measured 8 1/4″ wide…

Geranium pratense ‘Johnson’s Blue’ on 6-19-25, #1061-4.

The Geranium pratense ‘Johnson’s Blue’ on the other side of the step has also done great. Although not as robust as ‘Boom Chocolatta’, it is well suited for a front of the border or stand-alone plant without taking up a lot of room. ‘Johnson’s Blue’ is a very old cultivar that is still available.

The mound measured around 14″ tall x 18-20″ wide, while the tip of the tallest flowering stem was 21″ tall on 6-19-25. It is a bit sprawly on one side, so I had to hold the flowering stem up to get the measurement…

Geranium sanguineum (Bloody Cranesbill) on 6-20-25, #1062-8.

After flowering up a storm, the Geranium sanguineum (Bloody Cranesbill) is still looking great. I always have to mention I bought the ancestors of the plants in this bed in the early 1980’s when I was living in my grandparents old house (across the driveway). When my parents moved into the new house and the old house was torn down, dad moved them here to this spot.

Geranium sanguineum (Bloody Cranesbill) leaves on 6-20-25, #1062-10.

The leaves are a nice dark green…

Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’ on 6-20-25, #1062-11.

The Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’ has done quite well and has been flowering for a couple of weeks. The dark leaves of this plant and chartreuse leaves from the Lysimachia nummularia ‘Goldilocks’ look very good together.

Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’ on 6-12-25, #1056-6.

Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’ has 32″ stems!

Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’ on 6-20-25, #1062-12.

How’s that for a dark leaf

Heuchera ‘Venus’ on 6-20-25, #1062-13.

The Heuchera ‘Venus’ has been an attention grabber with its size and the color of its leaves. It’s flowers aren’t much to talk about and its tall stems lay down on the job. Well, heck, some of them were over 50″ tall! Soon, I will remove the stems and tidy ‘Venus’ up a bit.

Heuchera ‘Venus’ on 6-20-25, #1062-14.

‘Venus’ is very proud of her leaves…

Heuchera americana ‘Dale’s Strain’ on 6-20-25, #1062-15.

The Heuchera americana ‘Dale’s Strain’ continues to do very well. I measured its flower stems a while back at 51″ tall! Umm… The flowers in the photo definitely do not belong to this plant… No page published yet.

Heuchera americana ‘Dale’s Strain’ leaf on 6-20-25, #1062-16.

The Heuchera americana ‘Dale’s Strain’ definitely has colorful leaves. NICE!

Heuchera sanguinea ‘Coral Forest’ on 6-20-25, #1062-17.

While not a large plant by any means, the Heuchera sanguinea ‘Coral Forest’ has made up for it with its continual show of bright flowers.

Heuchera sanguinea ‘Coral Forest’ on 6-12-25, #1056-10.

It is STILL producing bright flowers and they last A LONG TIME. The flowers are the WOW factor for this plant. It likes sharing them with nearby plants, too (stems won’t stand up straight).

Heuchera sanguinea ‘Coral Forest’ on 6-20-25, #1062-18.

It has smaller marbled leaves that are somewhat fuzzy… No page published for this one either. I’m working on it…

Now for the Hosta…

Hosta ‘?’ on 6-20-25, #1062-19.

This Hosta ‘?’ has been a great performer for several years after bringing it home from a local garden club plant sale. It wasn’t labeled, but I wanted it anyway. I’m not even sure what year it was and the first photo I took of it was in 2024. To me, it looks exactly like the former outstanding cultivar I had called Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ that succumbed to mole issues in the shade bed and didn’t return in 2020. Click the link and have a look and tell me what you think. There are a lot of cultivars that look similar, especially when H. sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ is a parent to many other great cultivars.

Hosta ‘?’ with 34″ stems on 6-20-25, #1062-20.

I measured the flower stem at 34″ on 6-20-25. Like H. sieboldiana ‘Elegans’, it has white flowers.

Hosta ‘?’ leaf on 6-25-25, #1064-2.

NICE LEAF! Look at the puckering!

Hosta ‘Abiqua Drinking Gourd’ on 6-20-25, #1062-22.

The Hosta ‘Abiqua Drinking Gourd’ is doing much better now, but still a far cry from what it was several years ago in the old shade bed. It’s a survivor, so I know it will continue to do better.

Hosta ‘Abiqua Drinking Gourd’ on 6-20-25, #1062-23.

The leaves of the Hosta ‘Abiqua Drinking Gourd’ are very “puckered” and kind of cup-shaped. I haven’t seen any slugs for MANY years, but they are also snail resistant.

Hosta ‘Dancing Queen’ on 6-20-25, #1062-24.

The Hosta ‘Dancing Queen’ has been doing great adding its bright color to the bed. The one that fizzled out in the shade bed usually flowered in June. One year it started sending up a bud the end of May. This one is doing great, so I guess it will bloom when it gets ready. I only took two photos of it in 2024, one when I brought it home and the other in July. The July photo doesn’t show any signs of a flower stem. Hmmm… I guess we’ll just have to wait and see if it decides to bloom or not.

Hosta ‘Dancing Queen’ on 6-20-25, #1062-25.

It’s leaves are fairly thin so they do have a few holes…

Hosta ‘Empress Wu’ on 6-20-25, #1062-26.

The Hosta ‘Empress Wu’ is a magnificent plant and is still growing… I am usually speechless when it comes to this plant. Imagine that!

Hosta ‘Empress Wu’ on 6-20-25, #1062-27.

It has several flower spikes and this one was 42″ tall when I took the photo.

Hosta ‘Empress Wu’ on 6-20-26, #1062-28.

The leaves are getting larger, too. They have a good thickness, but sometimes a critter still likes to have a nibble.

Hosta ‘Forbidden Fruit’ on 6-20-25, #1062-29.

The Hosta ‘Forbidden Fruit’ is one of the nicest Hosta in the bed. I like its dark green margins and the bright centers. The plant has a very good shape!

Hosta ‘Forbidden Fruit’ on 6-25-25, #1064-3.

I took a couple of updated photos on the 25th. It is really strutting with its new flowers!

Hosta ‘Forbidden Fruit’ leaf on 6-25-25, #1064-4.

I forgot to take a photo of its leaf before, so I looked under some of the leaves to see if I could find a bigger one. I think they just keep growing as the summer progresses. It appears to be more green in the center, perhaps because it has been out of the sun… Hmmm… Well, I may have to do a re-take…

Hosta ‘Guacamole’ on 6-20-25, #1062-31.

The Hosta ‘Guacamole’ has been its always AWESOME self and grabs a lot of attention. It’s a great performer no matter what! I know you may think there are weeds on its right side, but they are Commelina communis var. ludens (Asiatic Dayflower). OK, so maybe they are weeds in some respect, but I kind of like them…

Hosta ‘Guacamole’ on 6-20-25, #1062-32.

How’s that for a leaf. The specks on the leaves are grass clippings from mowing… I mowed the area in front of the bed with the push mower, but a friend mowed it again while my riding mower was broke down… He didn’t know the “rules” about getting grass clippings in the bed…

Hosta ‘Krossa Regal’ on 6-20-25, #1062-33.

This Hosta ‘Krossa Regal’ has been doing quite well, but isn’t exactly like the last one. It’s leaves don’t have the “silvery glow” for some odd reason… OK, so maybe the “silvery glow” is called bloom…

Hosta ‘Krossa Regal’ on 6-20-25, #1062-34.

It’s leaves are very nice with a thick substance making it pretty snail resistant.

Hosta ‘Patriot’ on 6-20-25, #1062-35.

The Hosta ‘Patriot’ is a brightly colored plant nestled among the Geranium sanguineum (Bloody Cranesbill). Both have done quite well… I have noticed that, while not a large plant, ‘Patriot’ likes to spread out.

Hosta ‘Patriot’ on 6-20-25, #1062-36.

The leaves of ‘Patriot’ have nice dark green centers with a bright white margin. I’m not finished with its page yet…

Hosta ‘Potomac Pride’ on 6-19-25, #1061-10.

The Hosta ‘Potomac Pride’ has been doing GREAT in spite of the Ostrich Fern’s advances. It doesn’t believe in boundaries. ‘Potomac Pride’ has been an impressive companion since 2009 in Mississippi, being moved here to the shade bed in 2013, and to the north side of the house in the spring of 2023. It is very glad to be safe from nibbling deer, too. At least so far…

Hosta ‘Potomac Pride’ on 6-19-25, #1061-11.

It has had a new bud starting when the above photo was taken.

Hosta ‘Potomac Pride’ on 6-20-25, #1062-37.

I really like the large dark green, puckered leaves of the ‘Potomac Pride’.

Hosta ‘Whirlwind’ on 6-20-25, #1062-38.

The Hosta ‘Whirlwind’ is doing quite well now, but for a while was hidden by surrounding plants. Actually, it was slow to come up and I had problems finding it. It seems to think I forgot about it, but the truth is I forgot where I put it because I couldn’t find it. I had to look at photos from 2024 to figure it out… I really like this plant, but sometimes I think I put it in the wrong place, but the Heuchera‘s ‘Dale’s Strain’ and ‘Coral Forest’ were added last spring and weren’t as prolific. OK, so I’m trying to find words to pacify ‘Whirlwind’ so it won’t feel so left out. After all, in alphabetical order, it is last on the list. I’m off the hook for that argument since I didn’t name the plant…

Hosta ‘Whirlwind’ on 6-20-25, #1062-39.

I always compliment if for having such nice leaves, though. Makes it smile…

Lysimachia nummularia ‘Goldilocks’ (Creeping Jenny) on 6-20-25, #1062-40.

I really enjoy the way the Lysimachia nummularia ‘Goldilocks’ (Creeping Jenny) creeps around in the bed. Sometimes I accidentally pull it up when I am weeding. but I just stick it back in the soil and it continues growing like nothing happened. It is certainly a happy are carefree plant. It does creep out into the grass, but that’s OK…

Matteuccia struthiopteris (Ostrich Fern) on 6-20-25, #1062-41.

Hmmm… I think I may have planted a monster when I put this Matteuccia struthiopteris (Ostrich Fern) in the bed. It has grown by leaps and bounds! I guess all I have to do is move some it to another spot or two.

Matteuccia struthiopteris (Ostrich Fern) on 6-20-25, #1062-42.

I really like the leaves!

I started this post several days ago and it is finally finished. We have had plenty of rain so far, but soon that will likely change. We have had a few hot days with hot wind, then it rained again and cooled off. Soon, that will change and it will get hot and the rain will stop for a while. It always does, but for now we will enjoy the break.

So, what will I write about next? Well, let me see… I did repot several of the cactus and succulents that may make a good discussion. I took plenty of photos and they aren’t likely to grow so fast to make them out of date like the plants in the north bed. I kept taking photos, then more, because they kept growing, then started flowering, so I would have to take more. GEEZ! Well, now this post is finished, so I better hit the publish button.

Until next time, be safe, stay positive, stay well, always be thankful, and GET DIRTY!

North Bed Comes Back To Life…

Most of the flower bed on the north side of the house on 4-29-25.

Hello everyone! I hope this finds you all well and out and about. Spring is a great time of year and filled with so much energy. The grass and other plants are growing, but so are the weeds! I know I have been absent from posting for a while, but I am still alive and well.

I did have a couple of setbacks last year but I seem to have recovered well. From past posts, if you remember, I normally always avoided going to the doctor and taking natural food supplements, trying to eat well, etc. I thought I was fine, but I injured my shoulder last April and things got weird from there. I had insurance, then not, then again. I went to the doctor and my blood pressure was VERY high. He put me on blood pressure medicine and gave me a shot in my shoulder. Well, it helped, but not always. Some nights the pain would be unbearable, so I would take a couple of pain pills and go to bed. The pain would stop and I would be OK for a few days. The blood pressure thing persisted and one day I had to go to the walk-in clinic locally. My blood pressure was WAY HIGH and my medication was doubled… One night, the pain wouldn’t stop and was all across my chest and up to my chin. I drove to the ambulance garage, it was around midnight. They checked me out and rushed me to Research Hospital. Once there, they were ready and waiting… They said I was “having a heart attack. Hmmm… Anyway, they put in three stints on October 4 and I was ready to go home after surgery. I felt great! Well, they had other plans. I had to stay for a few days and was told I needed two more in a month! My blood pressure meds had to be decreased by half, but I am taking a total of 10 different prescription meds! GEEZ! They want me to take that many for a year! Let’s just say I have a new respect for modern technology.

I’m not sure what happened, but I think the shoulder injury and pain contributed to the high blood pressure in the beginning, then somehow half of my heart wasn’t working due to my arteries being plugged or something. How can I feel GREAT until my shoulder issue? Well, I had a lot of questions and my shoulder issue is is still somewhat bothersome, but usually no pain. Still taking a shot for that once a month or so. An X-Ray showed arthritis back in April last year, but the insurance company wouldn’t pay for an MRI. Still can’t have one because of the metal in the stints, and the magnetic pull from an MRI wouldn’t be good for a while… GEEZ!

Then a couple of months ago I came down with the flu which led to more meds. I thought I was going to die for a few days, but after a week I felt better. Then, one day my breathing was weird. Went back to the clinic and they took another X-Ray and said I had bronchitis… More meds! The X-Ray showed I has a nodule on my lungs and some other weird stuff. That led to a CT scan and a visit with a pulmonary doctor… He said all that stuff was likely from the flu. He scheduled a breathing test (can’t remember the name of it) followed by another visit with him. He said the test results were perfect but wants another CT scan in July.

Thank God for insurance! Thank God for the doctors, the surgeon, and all the staff that have cared for me and all they have done. I’m still alive and I feel great now.

My main computer started going whacky a while back, so I transferred all the photos and documents to the old computer (2009 iMac). That took a while… I took the main computer, which was a 2012 iMac, to the shop. I called a couple of days later and the tech said, “Do you want the good news or the bad news first?” I’m not going to tell you what happened to the computer, but I wound up with a newer 2017 iMac out of the deal that cost me $100. It works like a charm so far. The few days I had to use the old computer almost drove me batty… If I hadn’t transferred all the stuff to it, though, it would have been a disaster. The only problem is that hundreds of bookmarks I saved from research were lost as well as an important document that seems to have disappeared. Well, it was an entire list of species I have identified and all the notes that went along with it. The document was transferred to the old computer fine, but somehow it disappeared after I transferred it to the new one. Between the photo folder, another list, and the blog, I am making a new list like the one that disappeared.

I am now teaching the new computer botanical language. It thinks I’m illiterate… I haven’t installed Grammarly on this one yet because it also thinks I am illiterate… So, forgive me if I have misspelled something while on a roll typing. The spell check works very well without Grammarly and it doesn’t try to correct my grammar. 🙂 We all have our own style of writing and at 64, I think I’m doing OK. I can spell just fine, it’s just that sometimes I hit the wrong button and don’t notice it. Enough babbling and on with the post!

Astilbe x arendsii ‘Fanal’ on 4-29-25, #1039-2.

I moved the Achillea x arendsii ‘Fanal‘ forward last spring because it was getting covered up by the increasing size of Hosta ‘Empress Wu’. Now it has the Achillea millefolium to contend with… Maybe I moved it to far…

Geranium pratense ‘Boom Chocolatta’ on 4-29-25, #1039-5.

I was very glad to see the Geranium pratense ‘Boom Chocolatta’ return this spring. I really like its dark leaves!

Geranium pratense ‘Johnson’s Blue’ on 4-29-25, #1039-3.

I was just as glad to see the Geranium pratense ‘Johnson’s Blue return. It is in a spot nothing has ever returned before for more than 2 years. Hopefully, it will continue to enjoy it here. Both of the above cultivars were new last spring. Ummm… I don’t have a page for either one YET…

Geranium sanguineum (Bloody Cranesbill) on 4-29-25, #1039-6.

The old Geranium sanguineum (Bloody Cranesbill) is still alive and well after being here for over 40 years! I planted it in a bed I made behind my grandparent’s old house in the early 1980’s and dad moved it here when they built the new house. There are several clumps of it in the north bed now. Soon it will be alive with color!

Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’ on 4-29-25, #1039-7.

The Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’ is ready for 2025. I brought this one home in 2014… I like its dark leaves! It is a later bloomer…

All four Heuchera (Coral Bells) returned for 2025. Well, they are kind of evergreen, so I knew they would spring to life once temps warmed up…

Heuchera ‘Venus’ on 4-29-25, #1039-8.

The Heuchera ‘Venus’… Kind of at a loss for words! All winter, no matter how cold it was, this plant was letting me know it would’t stay cold forever. On warmer days, it would perk up a little, and on cold days it would be flat. Once the temps were more agreeable, its color came back and it started growing like mad. It is getting close to flowering now… I brought this one home in 2017.

Heuchera americana ‘Dale’s Strain’ on 4-29-25, #1039-9.

I bought the Heuchera americana ‘Dale’s Strain’ and the one below last spring. This plant has grown A LOT and has its eye on ‘Venus’. The plant above didn’t have a tag but there were some flats that did. Well, the tags were all mixed up and I wasn’t sure what was what… Being they were small and in May, they didn’t bloom last year. There were three different tags to choose from, so I brought home one of each to try and figure them out… Well, I ruled one out.

I thought the one in the above photo was H. sanguinea ‘Coral Forest’ but apparently not…

Heuchera sanguinea ‘Coral Forest’ on 4-29-25, #1039-10.

This one is “likely” Heuchera sanguinea ‘Coral Forest’. Information online says it is supposed to have red flowers and ‘Dale’s Strain’ is supposed to have white flowers. The leaves of both species are also different and so on… If the one I am calling ‘Dale’s Strain’ doesn’t have white flowers, I will still be confused… Heck, with the tags at the greenhouse like they were, neither one may be right. It’s not the greenhouse’s fault. They came that way from the grower and the flats were bought at an auction… No page for either one until I make up my mind… GEEZ!

NOW, for the Hosta! All 10 came up!

Hosta ‘?’ on 4-29-25, #1029-11.

I brought this Hosta ‘?’ home from one of the local garden club’s plant sale several years ago and put it here in the north bed. It was unlabeled, so I have no idea what cultivar it is. It has aways done GREAT and has a great color and awesome leaves. There are so many cultivars that look so much alike I will likely never figure it out. As long as it is happy, I am happy. 🙂

Hosta ‘Abiqua Drinking Gourd’ on 4-29-25, #1039-12.

The Hosta ‘Abiqua Drinking Gourd’ made it up but the clump isn’t as big as before. It had its ups and downs in the shade bed the last couple of years it was there, but it did much better here last year. I brought it home in 2017 and I really like its leaves. It was the American Hosta Growers Association Hosta of the Year in 2014.

Hosta ‘Dancing Queen on 4-29-25, #1039-13.

I had to bring home a new Hosta ‘Dancing Queen’ last year after the old one had a battle with the deer and didn’t make it through 2022. I was really glad I found it because it adds so much brightness. I was glad to see it return this spring. Just look at how bright it looks nestled among the Viola sororia (Common Blue Violet).

Hosta ‘Empress Wu’ on 4-29-25, #1039-14.

The Hosta ‘Empress Wu’ didn’t raise any time strutting its stuff. It keeps growing and growing. It was reportedly the largest growing Hosta in the world, but I’m not sure if that is still the case. It is a spectacular plant for sure! If you can bring one home, I would highly recommend it!

Hosta ‘Forbidden Fruit’ on 4-29-25, #1039-15.

The Hosta ‘Forbidden Fruit’ is looking great!. Actually, I couldn’t find it at first and forgot where it was until I saw if behind a photo of the Heuchera sanguineum ‘Coral Forest’ from last year. I went and checked and found it starting to come up. The tag was gone on several of the Hosta, including this one, so I made a new one for each plant… I have had this one since 2017.

Hosta ‘Guacamole’ on 4-29-25, #1039-16.

I replaced the old Hosta ‘Guacamole’ I had since 2014 with this new one last year. The old one had issues with moles in the shade bed and didn’t return in 2023. The new one was a good-sized plant when I brought it home and took right off. As you can see, the new one is off to a great start for 2025! Always a nice plant!

Hosta ‘Krossa Regal’ on 4-29-25, #1039-17.

This Hosta ‘Krossa Regal’ is another one I brought home in 2024 to replace the old one that didn’t return in the shade bed in 2023. I had the old one since 2009 and brought it with me when I moved from Mississippi. I was glad I found this one in 2024. I always like the vase-shape growth habit of this cultivar and its leaf color. I grew my first H. ‘Krossa Regal’ in the early 1980’s.

Hosta ‘Patriot’ on 4-29-25, #1039-18.

This Hosta ‘Patriot’ was new last year and doesn’t have a page. It was a great performer in 2024 and is already looking bright and lively. This one was easy to spot when it started coming up because it had purple sprouts. Now I need to make a page for it…

Hosta ‘Potomac Pride’ on 4-29-25, #1039-19.

Hosta ‘Potomac Pride’ now has the privilege of being the oldest Hosta in the group. I bought it in 2012 while I was in Mississippi and brought it with me when I moved back here in 2013. It likes it here much better! It also likes it here in the north bed better without the deer nibbling on it leaves and the moles playing with its feet in the shade bed. It is a great cultivar for sure and one worth trying.

Hosta ‘Whirlwind’ on 4-29-25, #1039-20.

The Hosta ‘Whirlwind’ has always been slow to come up, so I was beginning to wonder. Finally, it showed up! This is a new plant with kind of twisted leaves with a great color. It is a smaller Hosta that doesn’t take up a lot of space…

That’s it for the Hosta so far. There is always room for more…

Lysimachia nummularia ‘Goldilocks’  (Creeping Jenny) on 4-29-25, #1039-21.

I should mention the Lysimachia nummularia ‘Goldilocks’ (Creeping Jenny) since it is an important part of the north bed and it has been here since 2014. I really like the way is meanders through the other plants. It has a very shallow root system so it doesn’t compete for moisture from the other plants. It hugs the ground so it doesn’t cover up other plants. The bright chartreuse color is an added bonus.

Matteuccia struthiopteris (Ostrich Fern) on 4-29-25, #1039-22.

Last, but not least, is the Matteuccia struthiopteris (Ostrich Fern). When I started taking photos of the plants in the north bed on April 9, the Ostrich Fern hadn’t even sprouted yet. The “stumps” were firm so I knew there was something in there. Then rained for a couple of days, and the next thing I knew they were a foot tall! Now they are growing like mad and spreading a little. I planted one root here several years and it came up but then didn’t come up for a couple of years. Then, in 2022 it came back to life and has done fine since…

That’s all I have for this post! Until next time take care, stay positive, stay well, and always be thankful! Oh, yeah… GET DIRTY!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Plants & Update

Hello folks! I hope this post finds you all well, safe, warm, and prosperous! I just wanted to take a few moments and share with you what has been happening since the last update. I took photos April 8 but didn’t finish the post. After a week of warmer weather, most of the perennials had grown so had to start over.

First, I wanted to share a photo of one of the baby grasshoppers that have been in my bedroom windowsill for about a month. I have never seen baby grasshoppers before let along having them hatch out in the house. I tried to take photos before, but they were too tiny for me to get a good photo. Sunday, the 8th, I finally got a photo that wasn’t blurry.

The first three photos are from April 8 and I didn’t take new photos of them on the 13th.

 

Achillea millefolium-Fern Leaf Yarrow

Sunday afternoon I as I took my camera outside, I started on the west side of the north bed next to the porch. First, the Achillea millefolium is continuing to grow… Not only are they among the last to be affected by colder temperatures, they are also among the first to return in the spring. In fact, they peek out off and on during the winter everytime we have a few days of warmer weather.

 

Lysimachia nummularia ‘Goldilocks’

If you need a spreading ground cover that you don’t mind crawling among your other plants, then you should try Lysimachia nummularia. Here in mid-Missouri, the Creeping Jenny all but disappears during the winter. They, too, are among the first to return in the spring. I bought this Creeping Jenny cultivar in the spring of 2014 and they have spread nicely in the north bed. I think this year I am going to move them around in other beds to see how they do in different areas.

More of these have come back up in the past week, even in places I didn’t have them as much last year. What a traveler!

 

Geranium sanguineum-Bloody Cranesbill

The patch of Geranium sanguineum or Geranium sanguineum var. striatum has been struggling for the past couple of years. I think maybe they had an episode of crown rot a couple of years ago so maybe I need to dig the area up and replant them. They are normally pretty hardy but when they get really thick they can have a few issues. Many plants do this, including the Ajuga (Bugleweed). These are the descendants of the Geranium sanguineum I bought from Bluestone Perennials in the early 1980’s when I first moved to the farm when grandpa passed away in 1891. Dad moved them to this spot after my parents bought a manufactured home and moved to the farm in 1996. This species could be Geranium sanguineum var. striatum which has larger flowers than the species so this year I will measure the blooms…

 

NEW PLANTS!

I am a member of several plant groups on Facebook, including one called Cheap Succulents and Cacti. I had never bought plants from anyone on the Facebook groups before but when I saw this particular Sedum from Elizabeth Li I couldn’t help myself. I contacted her and she said she had other plants, too. I checked her offering and they were mostly Echeveria. But she also had a Kalanchoe that also looked tempting… So, bought two plants. She shipped them on Monday and they arrived on Friday (April 13).

 

They were shipped bareroot and she had them all nicely packed in shredded paper.

 

They have a good root system…

 

Kalanchoe marmorata-Penwiper Plant

The Kalanchoe marmorata has very thick leaves, kind of rubbery, with brownish-purple blotches. The leaves have a weird sticky feeling that is hard to explain. Common names include Penwiper Plant, Pen Wiper Plant, Spotted Kalanchoe, Penwiper, and Baby Penwiper. They are native to West and Central Africa where they grow up to 48″ tall but in pots, they normally grow to about 16″. The species was first described by John Gilbert Baker in Gardener’s Chronicle & Agricultural Gazette in 1892.

 

 STARTING OVER ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON…

Now, let’s start over in the south bed…

Phlomis ‘Edward Bowles’-Jerusalem Sage

Phlomis ‘Edward Bowles’ continues to do well despite it normally doesn’t come back up until May. Every time the forecast says the temp is going to be below 35 during the night, I run out and put the pot back over it before I go to bed. 🙂

 

Baptisia ‘Lunar Eclipse’-False Indigo

The Baptisia x ‘Lunar Eclipse’ has really taken off this past week. Hopefully, it will flower and we can really see what it can do. This is the first Baptisia I have had since I have been back on the farm and only the second I have ever tried. I tried ‘Carolina Moonlight’ in 2012 while I was in Mississippi but then I forgot about and left it behind when I moved here in February 2013. Well, it was dormant and I may not have even been able to find it. I am really looking forward to this plant flowering!

 

Salvia nemorosa ‘New Dimensions Blue’

The Salvia nemorosa ‘New Dimensions Blue’ was new last spring. I also bought a ‘New Dimension Rose’ but it didn’t do well during the invasion of the Marigold ‘Brocade’ last summer and did not return this spring.

 

Salvia x sylvestris ‘Mainacht’

The Salvia x sylvestris Mainacht is doing well as usual. Always one of the first to come up in the spring and will flower continually throughout the summer. That is, as long as I keep it deadheaded.

 

Stachys byzantina-Lamb’s Ears

All I can say it was a good thing I divided the big clump of Lamb’s Ears last spring because the bigger clump all but died out over the winter. The photo above is from the division I made and put in the southeast corner bed in the somewhat amended crappy fill dirt. The other division is in the southwest side and it is only doing fair. I have heard the Stachys byzantina can be somewhat invasive but I have never had that problem. I think location plays an important part, especially during the winter months. Even though plants may be very cold tolerant, they still need protection with a layer of mulch. The larger clump is on the edge of the bed and the wind keeps any type of cover blown off. Normally I don’t remove the dead leaves and stems until spring when new growth starts to emerge. I think that was a big problem because I pretty much cleared off the south bed last fall.

I haven’t gotten the page for the Stachys byzantina added on the right yet. I am on the “S’s”, but STILL working on the Sedum pages. I got stumped on one species for several days just trying to figure out who actually named the plant. Finally, I just had to admit it was actually unknown so I could move forward.

 

Iris x violipurpurea ‘Black Gamecock’-Lousiana Iris

The Iris x violipurpurea ‘Black Gamecock’ is still alive and seemingly OK. I am debating moving this clump, too, because I think it would do much better elsewhere. It is in the area between the basement steps and the back porch. I had certain plans for this spot when I moved here in 2013, but those plans did not materialize. When I started working in this area there were about 20 cats here. I amended the fill dirt but the cats thought it was a good spot to dig… Then dad bought a few roses and wanted them planted along the basement steps… So, I did. I also have Zinnias along the steps every year, but someday…

 

Prunus calleryana-Bradford Pear

Dad planted this Bradford Pear shortly after they moved their manufactured home here in 1996. It is usually LOADED with flowers every spring and the bees and pollinating flies just love it. Outside of a few wildflowers that are already blooming, there isn’t much for the honey bees and other pollinators to feed on.

 

The tree has had a lot of issues in the past and does need some pruning to get it back in shape. The wind took the top out of it several years ago, before I returned, and there are several dead limbs that need to be removed.

 

Progne subis-Purple Martin

The Martins have officially returned for 2018. I have an issue… Even though I pretty much do everything on the farm and have certain ways I do things or think they should be done, sometimes dad will have a different opinion. Normally, I just do what needs to be done and tell him what I did after the fact. Last summer, after the Martins left, I was getting ready to clean out the Martin house and put the covers on the holes. Dad said to just cover the holes and clean it out next year. GEEZ! So, I did. Last week, when three Martins showed up, I need to go clean it out and open the holes. Dad said to just open the top two rows or the sparrows would try and take it over. GEEZ AGAIN! So, I went out, cleaned out all the nests and only left the top two rows open. Within a couple of days, there were A LOT more Martins so I had to lower the house AGAIN and remove the rest of the covers. You know, they are fighting over the nests in the top two rows… Can’t they see they are all open now? If you have never seen male Martins fight over nesting rights, I will tell you they are very determined and vicious! You would think they were going to kill one another.

 

Nepeta x faassenii ‘Walker’s Low’-Catmint

The Catmint in the corner on the right side of the back porch is doing really well despite it being in the crappy fill dirt. I keep calling it crappy dirt, but there must be some value in it. It sure can grow weeds! Soon, the Catmint will be LOADED with flowers!

 

Cydonia oblonga-Flowering Quince

The Flowering Quince is now LOADED with flowers.

 

Sedum spurium ‘John Creech’

The Sedum spurium ‘John Creech’ is doing much better now. It seems to do weird things over the winter but at least it survived… I really like this Sedum with it smaller leaves. It also spreads very well. I do not have its page ready yet, hopefully within the next few days. It is next on the list and there doesn’t appear to be anything whacky with its name.

 

Sedum kamtschaticum-Orange or Russian Stonecrop

This is also one of my favorite Sedums. It has fairly good sized bright green leaves and will produce an abundance of yellow flowers later. This plant could also be Sedum kamtschaticum var. ellacombeanum but I am not sure. That variety is somewhat larger so I will be taking measurements this summer. This species, along with many other Sedums, were moved to various other genera to reclassify them into groups according to various traits. Sedum kamtschaticum became Phedimus kamtschaticus. Apparently, the name change didn’t win much favor because the Phedimus genus is now a synonym of Sedum, at least on most plant name databases. I wonder what the results of a polygenetic test would say?

 

Sedum kamtschaticum ‘Variegatum’

Well, the Sedum kamtschaticum ‘Variegatum’ survived the winter and hopefully, it will spread a little more this summer.

 

Sedum ‘Unknown’

HA! I am still uncertain what the species of this Sedum is. I have a few ideas and I will have to make my decision soon. I found a tag that says Sedum ‘Cherry Tart’ which I bought in 2016 but this plant is older. I believe I bought it unlabeled from Wagler’s Greenhouse in 2015. It could be Sedum spurium ‘Dragon’s Blood’…

 

Sempervivum x ‘Killer’

The Sempervivum x ‘Killer’ is still looking very good despite the frigid temperatures in January. I just bought it last spring and since it survived the winter, I know it will be around for a very long time.

 

Physostegia virginiana-Obedient Plant

Well, GEEZ! I bought this plant last spring from a local garden club’s plant sale. I knew the Obedient Plant could be invasive which is why I bought it especially for this spot (a corner along the foundation which used to be my grandparent’s old house). The leaves always pile up in this spot over the winter and when I pulled them back to check on this plant… Well, as you can see, one plant turned into many. 🙂

 

Cylindropuntia imbricata-Tree Cholla

Alive or dead? I don’t know yet. When Mrs. Wagler gave me this cactus in the spring of 2016, she said it was hardy outside. It survived last winter with no problem but this winter was much colder. So, I am patiently waiting. A photo taken of this plant last April 20 showed it was growing those new limbs. It still feels solid in the ground, so maybe after more warmer temperatures, it will show signs of life.

 

Tephrocactus articulatis var. papyracanthus-Paper Spine Cactus

You know, I have had some oddballs, and this cactus is certainly no exception. If this plant were in a larger pot, or outside, its odd balls would be falling off and growing new plants. It usually just sits there, not making any sign of life, making me wonder if it alive or dead. Then, I noticed it had new growth. When did it do that? When I was buying plants from Wal-Mart in February 2016, a piece fell off of one of the other cactus so I put it in my pocket and brought it home. 🙂  I don’t consider that stealing when you think of what could have happened to it otherwise. Maybe swept up off the floor and thrown in the trash. So, I have had this plant for two years and it has been in this same small pot the whole time.

I think I will close this post for now and save the Heuchera and Hosta update for the next post. Maybe tomorrow. 🙂

SO, until then, stay well, positive, safe and GET DIRTY!