Sweet Almond Verbena

Aloysia virgata

Available from Logee's (link here)

I have never seen it offered locally.

Weeping Larch

http://www.romencegardens.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=plants.plantDetail&plant_id=2451&typeID=17

A striking specimen.

Tricolor Beech

Fagus sylvatica 'Purpurea Tricolor' (Tricolor Beech)

also known as 'Roseo-marginata'

http://www.forestfarm.com/product.php?id=1861

We saw several at Rich's Foxwillow Pines Nursery and they were gorgeous.

Rich's Foxwillow Pines Nursery

Today, we visited Rich's Foxwillow Pines Nursery in Woodstock, IL (link here).

Fabulous selection of trees, including many ginkgoes, dwarf evergreens, weeping varieties, and other treasures.

Well worth the visit.

Plume Poppy

http://www.hortmag.com/article/plumepoppy

I took another long look at them on my last visit to Monches Farm.

Impressive.

Recent plantings

(1) [transplanted] jack-in-the-pulpit [dislodged when uprooting invasive shrub honeysuckles]
(1) Tulbaghia (Society Garlic)
(1) Garlic Chives
(2) Rudbeckia hirta 'Tiger Eye Gold' (Annual Black-Eyed Susan)
(1) Heptacodium miconioides (Seven-Son Flower, Northern Crepe Myrtle)
(1) Sambucus nigra 'Madonna' (variegated elderberry)
(1) Dryopteris spinulosa (Wood Fern)
(1) Pulmonaria officinalis 'Sissinghurst White' (Lungwort)
(1) Tiarella 'Crow Feather' (Foamflower)
(1) Phlox divaricata (Woodland Phlox)
(1) Echinacea 'Big Sky Sunrise' (Sunrise Coneflower)
(1) Echinacea purpurea 'White Swan' (Coneflower)
(1) Lilium speciosum rubrum
(1) Campsis radicans (Trumpet Vine)

Mai Tai

Alternanthera ficoidea 'Mai Tai' (Joseph's Coat)

http://www.ashlandgreenhouses.com/detail.php?id=1946&cat=deluxe

Very colorful leaves.

American Spikenard

Aralia racemosa

http://www.mobot.org/GARDENINGHELP/PLANTFINDER/Plant.asp?Code=V270

Roots were used to flavor root beer.

They have some plants at Monches Farm, I should buy one.

Black Varnish

Pseuderanthemum atropurpureum 'Black Varnish'

http://www.american-farms.com/text_plant_pages/pseuderanthemum.htm

According to Monches Farm, it "thrives in shade."

Compost happens

Nice thumbnail sketch of compost from Rodale.com (link here).

Rainfall: 0.375"

Rainfall: 0.375" overnight.

Meehan's Mint

Meehania cordata

http://www.mobot.org/GARDENINGHELP/PLANTFINDER/Plant.asp?Code=A786

Zone 4, shade tolerant, looks like a winner.

Sunshine Farm & Gardens

http://www.sunfarm.com/

For the discerning gardener.

Purple Heart

Tradescantia pallida 'Purple Heart'

http://www.hort.wisc.edu/mastergardener/Features/indoor-tenderplants/Tradescantia/Tradescantia%20pallida.htm

I have one in a pot and will try to keep it alive as a houseplant over the winter.

Bananas vs. aphids

Organic aphid control from Horticulture magazine (link here).

Cool Splash

Diervilla sessilifolia 'Cool Splash'

http://www.finkegardens.com/index.php?p=91

I saw one out at Monches Farm.

I should have bought it.

Everlasting Pea

Lathyrus latifolius

http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/everlasting_pea.htm

Pamela J. Harper

http://www.books-by-isbn.com/authors/pamela/j/harper/

Rainfall: 0.25"

Rainfall 0.25" overnight.

This in spite of repeated forecasts for 90% chance of heavy rainfall.

Goldenrod soldier beetle

http://www.hort.wisc.edu/mastergardener/features/insects/soldierbeetle/soldierbtl.htm

Interesting little creature.

Wafer Ash

Ptelea trifoliata

Wafer Ash or Hop Tree

Small flowers with "the powerful scent of honeysuckle, ..probably the most fragrant of any hardy tree" (Hillier)

- Forest Farm (link here)

AKA Stinking Ash

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1710/

This might work as an understory tree in the garden.

Zone 4 and shade tolerant.

There seems to be some disagreement on the scent of the flowers.

"Carrion flies pollinate the flowers. "

- Missouri Botanical Garden (link here)

Seneca Hills Perennials

http://www.senecahillperennials.com/

Fall shipping starts September 8.

Where did the summer go?

Vermiculite

http://www.rainyside.com/articles/Vermiculite.html

Warns of the danger of asbestos in vermiculite dust.

Paperbark Maple

Acer griseum

http://www.hort.uconn.edu/Plants/a/acegri/acegri1.html

Exotic maple.

Viburnums

"A garden without a viburnum is akin to life without music and art."

- Michael Dirr, leading American horticulturist

http://www.stadlergardencenters.com/journals/journal.php?article=40

I have three:

Viburnum dentatum (Arrowwood)
Viburnum trilobum (American Cranberrybush or Highbush Cranberry)
Viburnum lentago (Nannyberry or Sheepberry)

But I could always use one more.

Red Horsechestnut

Aesculus x carnea

http://www.hort.uconn.edu/Plants/a/aescar/aescar1.html

Would be a welcome addition to the garden.

Ridge Road Nursery

http://ridgeroadplants.com/

Ridge Road Nursery
Bellevue, Iowa

Fantastic selection of trees & shrubs.

I wish they were closer.

Road trip? 3 hours.

Musclewood

Carpinus caroliniana

AKA Musclewood, Ironwood, American Hornbeam

http://www.uwgb.edu/biodiversity/herbarium/trees/carcar01.htm

This would make a great understory tree.

Black Dragon

Wisteria floribunda 'Black Dragon'

http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/PD/47185?cid=pem001729

This would be fun to grow. Massive enough to crush trees, buildings, etc.

City Garden

Rudbeckia fulgida 'City Garden'

http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/PD/46296?cid=pem001729

I like compact plants.

Faerie House

http://www.faeriehouse.com/index.html

We saw them at the Oconomowoc Festival of the Arts.

I did not buy one of their fairy houses and now regret it.

We will see them again at the Mount Mary Art Fair in a couple of weeks.

Busy day

Very busy today, did not get much gardening done.

New Berlin Farmers Market

Bought two beautiful foxgloves (in bloom).

Greendale Farmers Market

Wales Art Fair

Oconomowoc Art Fair

Bought a metal/rock (running figure) piece of garden art.

Soil Foodweb, Inc.

http://www.soilfoodweb.com/

Dr. Elaine Ingham, Oregon State University

Mycorrhizae

http://www.mycorrhiza.com/

I need more mycorrhizal fungi in my life.

Organic Soil Amendments

http://www.rdrop.com/~paul/organics.html

Interesting list that includes Milorganite.

Weed Identification

http://weedid.aces.uiuc.edu/

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Bluebird Nursery

Bluebird Nursery
Clarkson NE

http://www.bluebirdnursery.com/

Source for the Echinacea 'Big Sky Sunrise' that I bought at Shady Acres.

Lilium speciosum rubrum

Lilium speciosum rubrum
Fragrant, deep pink in late summer
Size: 3-4’ x 12” Care: Sun to part shade in moist, acidic soil Native: part of China & southern Japan
Englebert Kaempfer, first physician to the Dutch East India Co. on Deschema Island (1690’s) described Lilium speciosum in his writings, published in 1712. Introduced to Europe by Siebold and to England in 1832. The English periodical Botanical Register described it: “surely if there is anything, not human, which is magnificent in beauty, it is this plant.” America by the 1850’s.

- information provided by Betty Adelman, Heritage Flower Farm (link here)

Sacred Datura

http://www.hortmag.com/article/daturascent/

I love my Datura.

Macleaya cordata

Plume Poppy

http://web1.msue.msu.edu/imp/modzz/00000921.html

I saw a huge clump at Monches Farm covered with hundreds of bumble bees. It was the most bumble bees I have ever seen in one bunch.

On my wish list.

It was perennial of the month in September 2007 (link here).

Trout Lily

Erythronium 'Pagoda'

Available from Michigan Bulb Co. (link here)

I would love to have some.

It would be a war trying to keep the chipmunks from eating them.

Tulbaghia violacea

Society Garlic

http://www.floridata.com/ref/T/tulb_vio.cfm

I planted one, purple flowers, variegated foliage.

Nice plant, but not hardy here, so grown as an annual.

Hornworms and Moths

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05517.html

Interesting article on tomato hornworms and sphinx moths.

Florez Nursery blog

http://floreznursery.blogspot.com/

This looks like a prolific blog with tons of color photos.

Cydonia

Quince

http://www.raintreenursery.com/how_to/QUIN.html

I should plant one.

Yellow Lady's Slipper Orchid

Cypripedium pubescens

http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants/yl_ladyslipper.htm

The picture is from Doug Green's newsletter. His website is here.

It is very disappointing that I have no Yellow Lady's Slipper Orchids in my woodland garden. There are plenty of Jack-in-the-Pulpit. I will have to further investigate the critical differences between the requirements of the two.

I would like to buy some Yellow Lady's Slipper Orchids, but prices are not for the faint of heart.

For example, see http://www.hillsidenursery.biz/orchids.htm.

Butterflies

There have been some beautiful butterflies in the garden lately, including Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) and Monarch (Danaus plexippus).

My favorite butterfly website continues to be http://wisconsinbutterflies.org/butterfly.

Heptacodium miconioides

Heptacodium miconioides

Seven-son flower

Northern crepe myrtle

Listed as a 'Plant of Merit' by the Kemper Center for Home Gardening at the Missouri Botanical Garden (link here)

I bought one today from Monches Farm (link here).

I planted it where Gil & I dug out the rusty steel fence line posts from the good old days when it was a pasture.

Fragrant Delight

Agastache 'Fragrant Delight'

Available from Thompson & Morgan (link here)

I would like to try these but Zone 8 means I would have to grow them as an annual.

Anise Hyssop

Agastache foeniculum

Informative article from The Herb Companion (link here)

Anise Hyssop is one of my favorite herbs.

Petite Wonder

Monarda didyma 'Petite Wonder'

Available from Wayside Gardens (link here)

I like the compact form and the mildew resistance.

Princess Tree

Paulownia tomentosa

http://davesgarden.com/products/market/view/3201/

Saffron Crocus

Crocus sativus

Available from American Meadows (link here)

I have never grown fall-blooming crocuses before, maybe this is the year to try them.

Lunar Glow

Bergenia 'Lunar Glow'

Available from Heronswood (link here)

A yellow-leaved Piqsqueak.

Excellent.

Crested

Graptopetalum 'Crested'

Available from Annie's Annuals (link here)

Zone 8 means I would have to overwinter it in a pot in the kitchen.

Blue Billow

Hydrangea serrata 'Blue Billow'

Available from White Flower Farm (link here)

I like the preference for shade, but the marginal hardiness is a discouraging factor.

Mme. Galen

Campsis x tagliabuana 'Mme. Galen'

http://www.waysidegardens.com/gardening/PD/46629?cid=wem001302

Unfortunately, I do not have any full sun locations.

Ruby Spice

Clethra alnifolia 'Ruby Spice'

http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/PD/46719?cid=pem001720

Zone 3. Impressive.

Was Ruby Spice one of the Spice Girls?

Rainfall: 1.5"

Rainfall: 1.5" overnight.

Four weeks of drought and then almost 4" in a couple of days.

Tough way to run a garden.

Brown-Eyed Susan

Rudbeckia triloba

http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/br_susanx.htm

It has the reputation of being somewhat shade tolerant, which is important in our garden.

Elkhorn Antique Flea Market

Today we attended the Elkhorn Antique Flea Market at the Walworth County Fairgrounds.

http://www.nlpromotionsllc.com/

We bought a beat-up old metal milk can to use as a garden ornament.

The greatest collection of likable old junk I have ever seen in one place.

Whitefly

http://www.dirtdoctor.com/organic/garden/view_question/id/199/

Tomatoes and other topics

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/09/opinion/09barber.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&th&emc=th

Interesting essay on tomatoes, agriculture, planty pathogens, the county extension/land grant university program, and other topics.

Shady Acres Perennial Nursery

Today, we attended the "Behind the Scenes" tour at Shady Acres (link here).

Very informative and a lot of fun.

We saw part of the production facilities and learned how they propagate their plants.

We also saw the new stormwater retention pond stocked with bluegills, bass, and catfish.

Well worth the time.

Rainfall: 2.25"

Rainfall total 2.25" since yesterday afternoon.

Borage

Borago officinalis

http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/PD/0337/

We have a couple of nice plants in the garden this year. It is supposed to be a self-seeder, so we are hoping for lots of volunteers next year.

Purple Pygmy

Agastache cana 'Purple Pygmy'

http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/PD/0221/

We have a couple of the taller, rangier Agastache varieties in the garden, so this would make a nice addition to the collection.

Herbstonne

Rudbeckia 'Herbstonnne'

http://www.hortmag.com/article/rubeckiaherbstonne

Zone 5

I should try it.

Hinkley's Maples

In the August/September 2009 issue of Horticulture magazine, Dan Hinkley picks his five favorite maples:

Acer saccharum 'Newton Sentry' (sugar maple)
Acer carpinifolium (hornbeam maple)
Acer pseudosieboldianum (from Korea)
Acer truncatum (shantung or purpleblow maple)
Acer tegmentosum (Manchu striped maple)

Midwestern Bio-Ag Field Day 2009

http://www.midwesternbioag.com/news/fieldday/fieldday08.html

Chosen by Rodale.com as one of seven summer festivals that should not be missed.

Sounds like a party, but I probably will not go.

It is west of Madison, so it is a long drive.

Recent plantings

(1) Acer palmatum 'Atropurpureum' (Japanese Maple)
(1) Liriodendron tulipifera (Tulip Tree)
(2) Angelica archangelica
(1) Great Green Chervil
(potted) volunteer maple dislodged by planting Japanese Maple
(repotted) cactus [species unknown]
(2) Symphytum grandiflorum 'Hidcote Variegated'
(1) Symphytum [one of the blue-flowered comfreys from Monches Farm]
(1) Symphytum [one of the red-flowered comfreys from Monches Farm]
(1) Plectranthus amboinicus (Cuban Oregano)
(transplanted pot to ground) Calendula
(transplanted pot to ground) Stevia
(1) Digitalis 'Waldigone' (Goldcress Foxglove)
(1) Solenostemon 'Big Red Judy'
(1) Solenostemon (coleus, variety unknown)
(6) Solenostemon (coleus, variety unknown)
(1) Tricolor Sage
(transplanted pot to ground, 2) Borage

Perilla frutescens

http://site.mawebcenters.com/accentsforhomeandgarden_1/catalog_i7476290.html?catId=292152

http://www.pantrygardenherbs.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/plants.plantDetail/plant_id/196/show//index.htm

Caramel

http://www.freeplants.com/heuchera.htm

Heuchera 'Caramel'

Mike Groarty describes it as the coolest plant you can put in your landscape.

Yes, We Have No Chickens

In some cities, the chicken craze has met with resistance, as neighbors demand that local officials enforce no-poultry laws.

- NY Times (link here)

I am surprised that they did not quote some small-minded loser from Hales Corners to support this point.

I might have to move to a more garden and chicken friendly community.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Papilio glaucus

There was an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly in the garden today.

Fairy Fest

http://www.jsonline.com/news/ozwash/52317932.html

Sunday was the 9th Annual Fairy Fest at Monches Farm.

We were busy with other activities and missed it.

Maybe next year.

Late blight

(Thanks to Elizabeth for calling my attention to this story.)

http://cenblog.org/2009/07/31/chemicals-to-save-the-garden/

Phytophthora infestans.

Select Seeds

Heirloom Treasures for Modern Gardens (link here)

D. Landreth Seed Company

The Oldest Seed House in America (1784).

http://www.landrethseeds.com/

Kentucky Coffee Tree

Gymnocladus dioicus

Available from Cold Stream Farm (link here).

Near Ludington, Michigan.