Tag Archives: Heuchera ‘Lime Rickey’

Defiant Coral Bell

North bed on 5-23-25.

Hello everyone! I hope this post finds you well. All the plants in the north bed are doing very well. We’ve been getting plenty of rain lately which always helps. I brought home three very large Colocasia esculenta rhizomes a while back that I planted in the bed. One was sprouting already and the other two had started to rot… Hmmm… So, we shall see what happens.

The four Heuchera (Coral Bells, Alum Root, etc.) on 5-23-25.

In a previous post from May 1, I mentioned having to wait for Heuchera americana ‘Dale’s Strain’ to flower before I could make sure it was actually that cultivar. Well, waiting hasn’t done any good because I’m still not sure.

As of 5-24-25, there are 46 species of Heuchera worldwide. According to Flora of North America, 32 of those species are native to North America. There are two listed on the Missouri Plants website…

Heuchera americana ‘Dale’s Strain’ on 5-23-25, #1046-7.

Heuchera, commonly known as Alum Root, Coral Bells, etc., are really neat plants. They grow in a mounded shape for the most part and send up long spikes of flowers that last quite a while. Well, sometimes… There are many cultivars available with very showy leaves like the one pictured above that I “think” is Heuchera americana ‘Dale’s Strain’.

Heuchera americana ‘Dale’s Strain’ on 5-23-25, #1046-9.

Heuchera americana is actually a native wildflower of the United States and has been used as a parent of many cultivars to add hardiness, vigor, and color. The leaves can change color somewhat throughout the season with some cultivars.

Heuchera americana ‘Dale’s Strain with a 51″ tall stem on 5-22-25, #1045-15.

While the mound of leaves is only 12″ tall, the tallest flowering stem (without proper terminology) 51″…

Heuchera americana ‘Dale’s Strain’ on 5-23-25, #1046-8.

The flowers are…. Ummm…. Well, I still don’t know. Information online says it produces white flowers… The Wikipedia  article says. “Loose racemes of insignificant green to cream flowers up to 1 meter tall bloom June to August. It is a monecious plant with 5 stamen and can either have 5 petals and sepals or 5 tepals.” Copied and pasted here… Let’s back up a minute… Information online says ‘Dale’s Strain’ produces white flowers with no mention of them being “insignificant”… So I waited… When it comes to flowering plants, I have now learned what insignificant actually means. It means not to wait for a show.

Heuchera sanguinea ‘Coral Forest’ on 5-23-25, #1046-10.

The Heuchera sanguinea ‘Coral Forest’ started sending up flowering stems about the last part of April. The plant has made it to 10 1/2″ tall. The species is native to Arizona, New Mexico, and northern Mexico.

Heuchera sanguinea ‘Coral Forest’ on 5-23-25.

The leaves of Heuchera sanguinea ‘Coral Forest’ are, well, green… Kind of a mottled bi-color. Sorry, I didn’t measure the leaves because I haven’t thought about it the last 4 times I kept taking photos of these guys for the day (and twice yesterday). I didn’t think about until now…

Heuchera sanguinea ‘Coral Forest’ with 31″ stems on 9-22-25, #1045-18.

Even though the height to the tallest leaf is 10 1/2″ tall, the tip of the longest (or tallest) flowering stem is 31″! It would be really neat if the stems would stand up straight. Ummm… I didn’t count how many stems there are either. GEEZ! The things you don’t think about!

Heuchera sanguinea ‘Coral Forest’ on 5-23-25, #1046-12.

This plants flowers have been open the entire month of May! Yeah, it actually has flowers that you can see and they are so bright it is hard to get a good photo… The first flower photos I took of this plant was May 8 but that was because I didn’t have time sooner.

As you can see in the photo, the Geranium sanguineum (Bloody Cranesbill) is now blooming like crazy.

Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’ on 5-23-25, #1046-1.

The Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’ has had its ups and downs since I brought it home in 2014, but it is doing great in this bed. The mound is 16″ tall x 21″ wide now.

Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’ on 5-23-25, #1046-2.

I really like the deep maroon color of the leaves. This one hasn’t started sending up flowering stems yet, but the flowers are kind of a pinkish color. I have taken photos of its flowers, but you’ll have to go to its own page to see them.

Heuchera ‘Venus’ on 5-23-24, #1046-3.

Heuchera ‘Venus’ has undoubtedly been the hardiest Heuchera I have grown. It just keeps going no matter what! Even during the winter, this plant took the cold temps without hesitation. It is now 12″ tall x 32″ wide… Yep, 32″!

Heuchera ‘Venus’ on 5-23-24, #1046-4.

Heuchera ‘Venus’ was hybridized by Wijnhout of the Netherlands. Information on this plant’s page says it grows to a height of 12″ tall and a width also of 12″… Hmmm…

Heuchera ‘Venus’ on 5-23-25, #1045-5.

There are many Heuchera cultivars with similar leaves, so it’s a good thing I know what this one is. The leaves to change color with the seasons.

Heuchera ‘Venus’ with a 53″ flowering stem on 5-23-25, #1046-6.

Well… Information online says Heuchera ‘Venus’ produces white flowers on 18″ stems… I measured the tallest stem, which was on the ground, at 53″ tall. So, if the stems are on the ground, are they tall or long? I didn’t take any close-ups of its flowers, but they are, as with Heuchera americana ‘Dale’s Strain’, insignificant… I guess with amazing leaves, flowers aren’t important.

I have grown a few other Heuchera over the years that didn’t make it. They can heave during the winter, but I think their biggest problem were the moles burrowing under their roots during the winter. Then, rather than heaving, the plants would fall in the tunnels during the winter and their crowns would get covered up causing them to die. Even though I would replant them if I could, they would just kind of fizzle out.

Here are some of their best photos…

Heuchera ‘Lime Rickey’ on 5-25-19, #576-30.

Heuchera ‘Lime Rickey’ was a neat small Coral Bell with chartreuse leaves that produced dainty racemes with white flowers. It fizzled out and didn’t return in the spring of 2024.

Heuchera ‘Obsidian’ on 10-11-17, #382-30.

The Heuchera ‘Obsidian’ is the darkest leaved Heuchera cultivar, or at least it was at the time of its introduction by Terra Nova. I brought it home in 2017 and it had its share of ups-and-downs. There wasn’t much left of it when I moved the Heuchera to the north bed in 2023, then it didn’t come back up in 2024…

Heuchera ‘Purple Petticoats’ on 5-1-09, #12-35.

Hmmm… I brought this Heuchera ‘Purple Petticoats’ home when I lived in Mississippi. Well, the heat apparently got to it and it didn’t last the summer… I didn’t bring home any other Coral Bells while living in Mississippi… This is the only photo I have of this plant.

Heuchera ‘Southern Comfort’ on 5-31-17, #339-13.

I brought this Heuchera ‘Southern Comfort’ home in 2017 when I made the “new” shade bed. It was a neat plant and although I moved it a couple of times, it eventually fizzled out during the summer of 2018. Moles were its biggest issue and one day I found it was pushed clear out of the ground…

The shade bed was initially a great place for the Heuchera and Hosta, but it did have its issues. The moles were a problem, it was handy for deer to nibble on the plants on occasion, it was next to the old goldfish pool so it was a mosquito haven, and it was under two elm trees whose leaves would be eaten to shreds by Japanese Beetles. No leaves, no shade…

The north bed is a much better spot and the Hosta and Heuchera seem to be doing very well. It is also much easier to keep them well watered and maintained along the house.

If you haven’t tried them, Coral Bells are great plants and easy to maintain if you live where they will thrive. There are many cultivars and hybrids available with very showy leaves. Just watch out for the moles and their roots heaving over the winter.

Well, I think that’s all for this post. At least it’s time to stop before I decide to add something else.

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

The Shade Bed on 4-10-22

Hosta ‘Potomac Pride’.

Hello everyone! I hope this post finds you well. Sunday afternoon I was writing a post and then I decided I wanted to check the progress of the Hosta and Heuchera in the shade bed. Honestly, I was writing a post that was pointing the finger at myself for procrastinating… Who wants to do that? At 61, I think I am allowed to procrastinate a little, then go take a nap.

On March 20, I walked around the house to check on the perennials, which didn’t take long… A few plants had started coming up and the Hosta ‘Empress Wu’ was already in full swing. Even the Phlomis ‘Edward Bowles’ that I didn’t cover up for the winter has a few new leaves. I went to the shade bed to check on the Hosta and they hadn’t started sprouting yet. I was hoping they didn’t fizzle out over the weird winter temps. Previously, I thought I had noticed the Baptisia sprouting, but on the 20th they weren’t there. Either I was hallucinating or “something” ate them. They are up now for sure and so is the Spearmint I planted in 2021… Which spread. Well, other plants have come up now so I will have to take more photos for another post. I can delay the other post I was working on… 🙂

The photos are as I took them instead of in alphabetical order. You can click on the plant’s name to go to their own pages even though I haven’t added these photos.

The top photo is the Hosta ‘Potomac Pride’. I was glad to see it has started coming up. I was wondering about it since the deer (one particular doe in general) completely destroyed it early and kept eating it all summer. But, as you can see, there is hole in the center where the main plant used to be. GEEZ! It had gotten so big before!

Morchella esculenta.

While I was digging around and pulling up chickweed (GEEZ!!!) around the H. ‘Potomac Pride’, I found this Morchella esculenta (White Morel)! Well, I went blank for a few seconds. Of course, that triggered a desire to completely forget about the Hosta and go hunting. But, I left it alone and continued looking for Hosta. Well, kind of. I dug around in the chickweed on the way to the next one… I have never found Morels in this area.

Hosta ‘Sum and Substance’.

Surprise, surprise! Hosta ‘Sum and Substance’ is alive and well, too! What a relief! Two down and 9 to go. It seems like it has only been a couple of years since I brought this Hosta home, but it is working on its fifth summer already!

Morchella esculenta #2.

Then, I found morel #2…

Hosta ‘Guacamole’.

NICE! The Hosta ‘Guacamole’ is up. What would life be without guacamole? Well, I guess that depends… This one had mole issues a few years ago. They like burrowing under their roots over the winter which pushes them up. That’s not good! The mole repeller has helped A LOT…

Ajuga reptans ‘Chocolate Chip’ (Bugleweed).

The Ajuga reptans ‘Chocolate Chip’ made it through the winter wherever it is growing. It seems to spread during the winter and this photo is one that is completely out of place. Well, I just let them grow wherever they want because you never know. One of the main (oldest), umm, clusters is getting too thick and needs some thinning out. They can have issues if they are too thick. I like this cultivar better than some of the others because of its smaller, dark leaves.

I moved over to the corner shade area next to the end of the old goldfish pool. Unfortunately, there was no sign of Hosta ‘Dancing Queen’… Just a small indentation in the soil where it is supposed to be…

Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’.

The Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’ (Coral Bells) is off to a good start with a few new leaves. Coral Bells are great plants that come in a wide variety of leaf colors. They prefer a fairly shady spot, although there are new cultivars that will grow in full sun.

Lumbricus terrestris (Common Earthworm).

I disturbed an earthworm while pulling chickweed. It’s funny how they stretch out so long and then shrink for a few seconds when you pick them up.

Morchella esculenta #3.

Then while digging through the chickweed, I found this TINY morel. I have never seen one that small before. There are plenty of myths surrounding morels including one that I was told when I was a kid about them popping up full-grown. That would mean they grow underground then just pop up all at once. I think people thought that because they would hunt over a spot then come back later and find a few more. Supposedly thinking that walking over an area would cause them to magically appear. That obviously is not the case…

I have them labeled as Morchella esculenta, but I am somewhat confused about the species name ordeal. It has been an ordeal for a long time and even taxonomists are confused. Testing has solved a lot of the confusion which led to A LOT of species becoming synonyms. Of course, it added a few new species of morels. When I submitted the first morel photo on iNaturalist, it suggested Morchella americana and said the common name was White Morel. Hmmm… I looked up Morchella americana and one website said Morchella esculenta was a synonym. I thought that was nuts, so I did some further investigating and found out that was incorrect. Morchella esculentoides is a synonym of M. americana... Morchella esculenta is alive and well and its common names include True Morel, Morel, Yellow Morel, Morel Mushroom, and Sponge Morel (from Wikipedia), and who knows how many more. The “official” common name is apparently Yellow Morel. Morchella americana was “new” to science in 2012 and its “official” common name is White Morel. I got a kick out of the article saying it was “NEW” to science in 2012. No doubt before that, everyone thought they were M. esculenta. I apologize for blabbing so much about the morels but I could continue.

When new species are named and a document about them is submitted, it goes through a long process of evaluation. It takes YEARS. Just think about how many words are written describing a species whose name changed a few years before but was unknown by the author.

One more thing… Species in the Morchella genus, and probably other fungi, are HIGHLY variable. The grays come up first, then the ones that are more white, the yellows. So, no matter what your morels look like or when they come up, they could be (and probably are) the same species. Until now, I have not found the color variation I would assume are what people call greys (grays).

That took three days off and on…

Hosta ‘Krossa Regal’.

I found one spot out of three where I planted the Hosta ‘Krossa Regal’ but I was so excited about the morel I forgot to take its photo. I took it the next day. OOPS! I accidentally broke off the baby morel! I will look for the other ‘Krossa Regal’ in a few days.

Then I moved around to the other side of the pool.

Heuchera ‘Obsidian.

The Heuchera ‘Obsidian’ is putting out a few new leaves. This one seems to be a little slower coming around in the spring. It is also smaller than the other two.

Heuchera ‘Venus’.

Heuchera ‘Venus’ has been growing new leaves for a while. This one is certainly semi-evergreen and doesn’t hide even during very cold temps. Heat and dry soil don’t bother it as much as some either. The deer have never bothered it like they have H. ‘Obsidian’.

Heuchera ‘Lime Rickey’.

As you can tell, Heuchera ‘Lime Rickey’ has been growing new leaves for a while as well. I thought it was kind of fragile at first, but it can take cold temps very well. The heat is sometimes a different story…

Hosta ‘Blue Mouse Ears’.

I thought the Hosta ‘Blue Mouse Ears’ was a goner a few weeks ago. This one heaves quite a lot over the winter and even in the spring. I usually bury it a little deeper in the spring because its roots will start showing. But, this winter it didn’t heave and there is a low spot where the main roots are/were. Hmmm… Maybe the moral of the story is to put soil around it instead of burying it deeper. I was very happy to see it sprouting.

Hosta ‘Red October’.

Being the second oldest Hosta in my collection (2010), it is always GREAT to see the H. ‘Red October’ return in the spring. We have had our difficulties with moles in the past, but it has survived.

I still haven’t found Hosta ‘Forbidden Fruit’, ‘Whirlwind’, ‘Dancing Queen’, or the small unnamed one that was labeled ‘Blue Angel’… I may have to dig for them like before. I have lost a few along the way that haven’t been replaced yet…

I went for a walk to the back of the farm afterward but I decided to make another post about that adventure.

Until next time, be safe, stay positive and always be thankful. GET DIRTY if you can!

 

 

2020 Spring Update: What Is Coming Up?

Anaxyrus americanus (American Toad)

Hello everyone! I hope this post finds you well. I thought it was a good time to post about the perennials coming up. A few plants have not come up yet that are somewhat slower and several may not come up at all. You just never know… I forgot to photograph the Achillea millefolium but they have been up for a while.

I mowed part of the yard then saw the toad while I walking from the barn to the house. I only saw a few babies last summer so I was glad to see this whopper. I was also glad I didn’t run over it with the mower. While I had the camera out I went for a shooting spree.

In alphabetical order (except for the toad)…

Ajuga reptans ‘Chocolate Chips’

The Ajuga reptans ‘Chocolate Chips’ (Bugleweed) made it through the winter without any dying out like last year. Of course, that means there is A LOT more than before. It is a spreader.

 

Armoracia rusticana (Horseradish)

The Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) growing in the corner bed behind the old foundation spreads a little more each year.

 

Astilbe ‘Fanal’

The Astilbe x arendsii ‘Fanal’ just started coming up last week and has grown A LOT! I brought this plant home from Muddy Creek Greenhouse in 2018 so this will be its third season.

 

Astilbe cv. ?

The smaller Astilbe cv. ? I brought home from Lowe’s in Sedalia in 2014 is still alive and kicking. The label in its pot was not Astilbe but I didn’t realize it until I got home. It is virtually impossible to figure out the cultivar name at this point… I have narrowed it down to a few. This will be its seventh season.

 

Baptisia australis cv. ?

The Baptisia australis cv. ? (Blue False Indigo) I brought home in 2017 made it through another winter. If you remember, it was supposed to be a ‘Lunar Eclipse’ that was incorrectly labeled which I didn’t know until it flowered in 2018. I know… La dee dah… This will be its fourth season.

 

Cylindropuntia imbricata (Tree Cholla).

The Cylindropuntia imbricata (Tree Cholla) was actually nice while I was removing some Chickweed around it. It usually grabs me a few times but this time I didn’t get stuck once. It is already growing a few new appendages. I asked it if it were going to flower this year and the answer was “NO”. GEEZ! I was hoping for a “YES” or even a “MAYBE” since this will be its 6th summer.

 

Echinacea purpurea cv. ? (Purple Coneflower)

Another “cv. ?”, the Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower) I brought home from the business up the street is all coming up. It is possibly the cultivar named ‘Magnus’. The plants I transplanted in the raised bed behind the old foundation in “the other yard” are all doing well, too.

 

Heuchera ‘Lime Rickey’

The Heuchera (Coral Bells) started growing new leaves a while back but H. ‘Lime Rickey’ seems to be having some issues. Actually, is started struggling late last summer but so far it has survived. Maybe it seeds some fertilizer and/or some of the “Good Stuff” (composted cow manure). I am not sure what its issue is… This will be its 3rd season.

 

Heuchera ‘Obsidian’

Even though much smaller than the others, Heuchera ‘Obsidian’ is alive and well. This will be its 4th summer.

 

Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’

The Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’ is in its 7th season now and is doing very well. Even the smaller one is strutting its stuff!

 

Heuchera ‘Venus’

Heuchera ‘Venus’ is definitely one of the top performers no matter the conditions. The way its leaves change color is pretty neat. This is also its 4th season.

 

Hosta ‘Abiqua Drinking Gourd’

Hosta ‘Abiqua Drinking Gourd’ appears to have spread quite a lot. Spring is a great time of the year to tell how well your Hosta are doing as the new sprouts come up. This is its 4th season.

 

Hosta ‘Blue Mouse Ears’

The roots of Hosta ‘Blue Mouse Ears’ normally heave up during the winter, but this time it sunk like the plants on the opposite side of the bed. One reason is because there are no moles in the bed (which you will find out why later). This is its 4th season.

 

Hosta ‘Dancing Queen’

NICE! Hosta ‘Dancing Queen’ is up and has spread very well. This is its 4th season. This is the brightest Hosta in my small collection.

 

Hosta ‘Empress Wu’

I had begun to wonder about the Hosta ‘Empress Wu’. Early last week there was no visible sign of it while the others had been sprouting for a long time. This is its 4th season and it should reach its mature size in the 5th. It will definitely be worth watching.

 

Hosta ‘Forbidden Fruit’

I only two sprouts for the Hosta ‘Forbidden Fruit’ so I did a little poking around and uncovered a few more. This is its 4th season.

 

Hosta ‘Guacamole’

Hosta ‘Guacamole’ back in action for its 7th season… No moles to bother it like they did last winter. It was almost a goner.

 

Hosta ‘Hmmm’

What can I say? Remember this one? It is the one I brought home from Mast’s Greenhouse in 2018 that was labeled Hosta ‘Blue Angel’. It was weird buying a plant that was supposed to be a giant and turned out to be a miniature. You never know… Maybe the supplier used too much growth regulator and it will have worn off by now. Maybe it will grow and be ‘Blue Angel’ after all. Hmmm… That’s why I call it that now. Seriously, when I first saw it at the greenhouse, it looked like a miniature clump that was several years old but the tag said otherwise. While I do want more miniature Hosta, I was in the market for a big one for a certain spot. So, since the tag said Hosta ‘Blue Angel’ I put it in a spot behind other Hosta where it can grow and spread. If it continues to be a miniature it is completely in the wrong spot. Hosta ‘Hmmm’…

 

Hosta ‘Krossa Regal’

There are three clumps of the Hosta ‘Krossa Regal’ since I moved and divided them in 2017. They have done very well since then and this will make its 12th season. I bought this one in 2009 when I lived at the mansion in Mississippi and brought with me when I moved here in 2013.

 

Hosta ‘Potomac Pride’

Once it starts there is no stopping the Hosta ‘Potomac Pride’. I noticed it started sprouting the last of January when I peeked but didn’t start growing until it warmed up. I normally don’t check the Hosta until later but since we had a mild winter I was curious. I was surprised! This is another one I brought with me from Mississippi and it will also be its 12th season.

 

Hosta ‘Red October’

I had some difficulty locating Hosta ‘Red October’ at first in the Chickweed but finally found it among a few clumps of Common Violets (Viola sororia). I tried to pull up the violets but that didn’t work so well and wound up just pulling the leaves and stems off. I will have to dig up the Hosta and remove the violets. Believe me, there are plenty of violets. Hosta ‘Red October’ is now in its 12th season, starting out in Mississippi in 2009. We have had our ups and downs and the clump looked great until the spring of 2018 when I discovered a mole had almost killed it over the winter (from tunneling under it). Last spring I put the two clumps back together.

 

Hosta ‘Sum and Substance’

Ahhh, yes… Hosta ‘Sum and Substance’… I am so glad this one returned because it will make a bright and lovely specimen. It has doubled in size, sprout wise, since last year. I brought this one home last year so this is its 2nd season.

Hosta grow so fast this time of the year as temperatures cooperate.

 

Phedimus kamtschaticus ‘Variegata’

Last summer the “Phedimus kamtschaticus” ‘Variegata’ flowered up a storm then darn near fizzled out afterward. I was glad to see it showing signs of life. We have had our ups and downs over the past nine seasons since I brought it home from Lowe’s in 2012 when I was still in Mississippi. The scientific name of this species has been jumping from Sedum kamtschaticum to Phedimus kamtschaticus and back again several times. I checked again before writing this post and it is still in the Phedimus genus since, ummm, sometime last year. I’m sure the Phedimus people appreciate the acknowledgment since they didn’t appreciate several species being moved back into the Sedum genera (back and forth). Several genera besides Phedimus have gone through the same battles. Crassulaceae is definitely a complex family.

 

Phedimus kamtschaticus

The Phedimus kamtschaticus, the non-variegated one, has spread somewhat the past couple of years. I have been wondering for a while if one or the other is actually a Phedimus kamtschaticus. Maybe this one is Phedimus aizoon… The reason I have been wondering is because of their growth habit. This one is more of a clumper and then it sprawls. The variegated one doesn’t do that. Phedimus aizoon leaves are larger and this one’s leaves are bigger than the variegated one, too. Also, they don’t flower at the same time. I think I need to do some more investigating. I think I bought it from Mast’s Greenhouse in 2016 when I was temporarily without a camera and it was unlabeled… So, this is its 6th season.

 

Phedimus spurius ‘Dragon’s Blood’ ?

This one is another one that mystifies me as far as the actual cultivar name goes. I believe it came from Wagler’s Greenhouse, unlabeled, in 2015. All I know for sure is that it is a Sedum spurium, I mean Phedimus spurius, and it is likely the cultivar called ‘Dragon’s Blood’. Hmmm… I need to update the name on its page.

 

Phedimus spurius ‘John Creech’

Hmmm… The Phedimus spurius ‘John Creech’ is trying to conquer more territory all the time. It is having a population explosion but it had a plan. It had started spreading into the cast iron planter and is using the Cylindropuntia imbricata (Tree Cholla) for protection. GEEZ! This is its 4th season.

 

Phlomis ‘Edward Bowles’

Phlomis ‘Edward Bowles’ made it through the winter and is looking OK. He still thinks I am overprotective of him during the winter but I tell him to get over it. I know I say it every spring but I will say it AGAIN… “I HOPE it flowers this year.” This is its 8th season…

 

Rheum x hybridum (Rhubarb)

Usually, only one clump of the Rhubarb does well, but this spring two of them are pretty big already.

 

Salvia nemorosa ‘New Dimensions Blue’

I was REALLY glad to see the Salvia nemorosa ‘New Dimensions Blue’ coming back up since it almost died last summer. This will be its 4th summer.

 

Salvia x sylvestris ‘Mainacht’/’May Night’

The Salvia x sylvestris ‘Mainacht’ or ‘May Night’, whichever you prefer, is looking good as usual. It is always one of the first perennials to come up and this will be its 7th season.

 

Sempervivum ‘Killer’

The Sempervivum ‘Killer’ looks like it is getting off to a good start. Hopefully, none of them will flower this summer because they just die afterward then the colony goes to crap. This will be our 4th summer but is seems longer…

 

Mole repeller ‘Thor’

Before I end this post I need to tell you about this gizmo. Last spring I saw a message in the spam comments from Steven Liu, a pest repeller company from China, who asked me to test a mole repeller. He said he would send two for me to try out if I would write a review. Well, there were two areas I had in mind that would be perfect so I agreed. They arrived and put one in the shade bed where the newer Hosta are and one on the east side of the north porch. The moles in both areas drove me nuts. Well, the one next to the porch stopped working after a couple of months but the one in the shade bed has been performing nonstop. All summer, through the fall and winter, and it is STILL working. Not only are there no moles in the bed where it is, but there are also none clear around the other side of the old goldfish pool in the other Hosta bed. The chicken house is a good 60 feet away and that area always had a lot of moles… There are none! There are no moles in the yard between the shade bed and the garden and that whole is mole free. So, does it work? This area WAS mole heaven because of the elm trees that attract the Japanese Beetles who lay their eggs in the yard. When I put the Japanese Beetle traps up, the beetles would swarm from the grass. So, Thor really does work. The company, Shenzhen Visson Technology Co., Ltd., makes a lot of different types of ultra-sonic pest repellers that are solar-powered. Now I suppose I better write a proper review since I know how well it works. You can buy direct from the company, but I also noticed their products on Ebay. The mole repellants have been upgraded so Thor is not available. Maybe he will send a few more for me to try out. I could use 10. 🙂

Well, that’s it for this post. I hope you are all doing well and learning to cope with the restrictions because of COVID-19. We are still doing well in this area but you never know what lies ahead. Just hang in there and be safe and stay positive.

 

 

 

 

Heuchera and Hosta Update

Heuchera ‘Lime Rickey’ on 4-23-19, #562-4.

Hello everyone! I hope this post finds you all well. The Heuchera and Hosta are all doing good for the most part. We have been having cool temps this week but nothing serious.  Some of the perennials are growing like weeds now while others are casually taking their time. If you grow several different Hosta cultivars from different size groups, you will find the larger cultivars grow at a much faster rate than the miniatures. At least that is the way it is here.

You can click on the names of the Heuchera and Hosta to visit their own pages.

The Heuchera ‘Lime Rickey’ in the above photo was a little off at first but it seems to be doing much better now.

 

Heuchera ‘Obsidian’ on 4-23-19, #562-5.

The Heuchera ‘Obsidian’ is being weird again this spring. I don’t understand how some plants can do great their first year and then go downhill after that. I dug it up, checked its roots, made sure there wasn’t a mole tunnel under it, amended the soil with cow manure, then put it back in the ground at the proper depth. So far it is still being weird!

Heuchera (Coral Bells) don’t have a lot of rules to keep them going. They need well-draining soil, kind of lose and loamy like most plants. They can go for short dry periods but they prefer consistently damp soil, but not to damp. During dry periods they like at least an inch of water per week or they begin to feel neglected. Although they don’t seem to mind Oxalis and Clover to a point, they consider most weedy companions as intruders. They don’t seem to like the pushy Chickweed or Lamium purpureum (Deadnettle) and always ask if I can remove them. Company is one thing, but enough is enough!

 

Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’ on 4-23-19, #562-6.

The bigger Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’ continues to do very well. The smaller plant next to this one is doing very well also. This plant handed me a “to-do list” reminding me to keep the Virginia Creeper (lower left corner) in check.

 

Heuchera ‘Venus’ on 4-23-19, #562-7.

The Heuchera ‘Venus’… They say a photo is worth a thousand words, but I can honestly tell you this Heuchera looks even better in person. It seems to like its Red Clover companion. That’s good because I can’t remove it. Its stem is right next to the Heuchera with much deeper roots. Heuchera ‘Venus’ is looking better than ever so I don’t think I need to bother it.

Heuchera always looks good this time of the year through most of May. Once the heat of summer sets in and the Japanese Beetles arrive… I have plenty of leaves for mulch that I am going to put on the shade bed, and maybe in the bed in the north side of the house. That will help keep the soil cool and retain some moisture.

Now for the Hosta…

 

Hosta ‘Abiqua Drinking Gourd’ on 4-23-19, #562-8.

The Hosta ‘Abiqua Drinking Gourd’ is taking its time making sure the coast is clear. She keeps reminding me how I couldn’t find her earlier because I was looking in the wrong place. Then she giggles so I know she is just kidding around. I was looking behind the label instead of in front of it… Anyway, the Hosta ‘Abiqua Drinking Gourd’ is alive and well. 🙂

 

Hosta ‘Blue Angel’ ? on 4-23-19, #562-9.

If this is a Hosta ‘Blue Angel’ I will really be surprised. It survived the winter and started leafing out faster than the rest of the Hosta. I have looked at its label several times to verify to myself, and to the plant, that it says Hosta ‘Blue Angel’. The label hasn’t changed and that is exactly what it says… This clump looks like a very nice and healthy miniature Hosta, which Hosta ‘Blue Angel’ is not… Hosta ‘Blue Angel’ grows to a mature size of 36″ tall. Its leaves also do not match Hosta ‘Blue Angel’. So, I need to find out the source of this plant from Mast’s Greenhouse to see what miniature Hosta they have available… I WILL figure it out! I am certainly not unhappy with the plant because it is very good. It just needs to have its proper name.

 

Hosta ‘Blue Mouse Ears’ on 4-23-19, #562-10.

It seems to take a long time for the Hosta ‘Blue Mouse Ears’ leaves to unfurl. I looked back at last years photos and it seems to actually be a little ahead. Patience is a virtue…

 

Hosta ‘Dancing Queen’ on 4-23-19, #562-11.

What a glowing beauty! The Hosta ‘Dancing Queen’ is definitely a winner! Sometimes I go outside in the dark to check on something, like measure a plant (yes, I really do that). If I shine my light toward the Hosta this one lights up like it is saying, “I am here!” I have had several gold-leaved Hosta on my wishlist for many years but there are never any available locally. I was fortunate to have found this one at Muddy Creek Greenhouse in 2017.

 

Hosta ‘Empress Wu’ on 4-25-19, #562-12.

The Hosta ‘Empress Wu’ has grown by leaps and bounds. It wasn’t the first to emerge, but once it did and the temps warmed up it took off and grew faster than any other Hosta here. I have taken several photos of it already that I haven’t posted because by the time a post is finished it has grown more. Then I forgot to take its photo on the 23rd with the other Hosta which is why this one was taken on the 25th (even though it is in the same folder). Currently, it is already 30″ wide and it just the last part of April!

 

Hosta ‘Forbidden Fruit’ on 4-23-19, #562-13.

The Hosta ‘Forbidden Fruit’ is looking very good now.

 

Hosta ‘Guacamole’ on 4-23-19, #562-14.

The Hosta ‘Guacamole’ is doing very good now. I am going to like it much better with it all on the same location.

 

Hosta ‘Krossa Regal’ on 4-23-19, #562-15.

The Hosta ‘Krossa Regal’ is one of my all-time favorite Hosta. I like the color and their vase-shaped habit.

 

Hosta ‘Potomac Pride’ on 4-23-19, #562-16.

The Hosta ‘Potomac Pride’ is an amazing Hosta for sure. It just does its thing and that is growing and looking beautiful! Beautiful large dark green corrugated leaves!

 

Hosta ‘Red October’ on 4-23-19, #562-17.

Talk about a miraculous recovery! I thought the Hosta ‘Red October’ was completely gone. Each time I checked on the Hosta and took photos of them coming up, Hosta ‘Red October’ was nowhere to be seen. The clump had struggled last spring because of a mole tunnel under the roots, so I dug it up. There were only two plants left in the clump so I put them beside two separate Chinese Elm trees. They didn’t do well all summer but they did survive. This spring they were gone. I dug into the soil where I had planted them and nothing was to be found. Then one day, with no camera, I saw they had both came up. Not just a sprout, but the whole plant! It had only been a couple of days since I took photos and they were not there. It was a pleasant surprise for sure! So, I took both plants and put them where The Hosta ‘Rainforest Sunrise’ had been (where one of the ‘H. ‘Guacamole’ had been last year).

 

Hosta ‘Sum and Substance’ on 4-23-19, #562-18.

Hosta ‘Sum and Substance’ is looking GREAT and getting bigger every time I check. This is going to be a great specimen in time.

 

Hosta ‘Whirlwind’ on 4-23-19, #562-19.

Hosta ‘Whirlwind’ is definitely one of those delightful and entertaining Hosta. Emerging in bright colors in the spring then darkening as the season progresses.

 

Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ on 4-23-19, #562-20.

All of the Hosta are doing very well except for the Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’. This will be our 11th summer together and it has always been AWESOME and has never had a lick of trouble until now. Apparently, with the up and down temps this past winter, its roots heaved up exposing some of the roots. Even with leaves as a mulch, it didn’t help that much because leaves blow off. I dug up the clump and dug the hole deeper, amended the soil with cow manure, then replanted what was left of the clump. Some of the roots are sticking upward which is a little weird… Hopefully, it will get back to its old self and start growing better.

Well, that’s it for the Heuchera and Hosta update. It took five days to finish this post! Today I went to three greenhouses to see what was available. I needed to see if Wildwood Greenhouse had another Leucocasia (Colocasia) gigantea ‘Thailand Giant’ and see what else was available. I went to Mast’s because they were in the neighborhood but I didn’t go to Muddy Creek. Then, of course, I had to check with Wagler’s… So, the next post will be about the new plants which I will start on NOW…

Until next time… Be safe and stay positive. I hope you are getting dirty!