Spider Lily

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/plant-finder/plant-details/kc/w870/hymenocallis-caroliniana.aspx

Sounds difficult with the extreme moisture requirement and the marginal hardiness.

Japanese beetles

I have been killing a few Japanese beetles in the garden the last few days, less than a dozen per day, a manageable number so far.

Tiny toads in the garden

I have been seeing lots of tiny toads in the garden lately.

Going to be dangerous for the slugs in the garden when all these toads get a little bigger.

Frog in the garden pool

There is a small frog that perches on the crocodile head in the garden pool.

Saw the frog perched there twice today.

Toad in the Garden

This toad periodically burrows into the soil in this particular pot.

Yes, I know, hard to see, the toad blends perfectly with the color of the soil.  In this photo, the toad is not burrowed in, it is sitting on top of the soil.

Butchart Gardens

http://www.butchartgardens.com/

Yet another gardening destination I would love to visit.

But I do not want to leave the USA.

Tough choices.

Magyar

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/plant-finder/plant-details/kc/c881/ginkgo-biloba-magyar.aspx

We saw Ginkgo biloba 'Magyar' at Northwind Perennial Farm.  Nice looking tree, would love to have one.

Today's Plantings

False Solomon's Seal (Smilacina racemosa) [purchased from Shady Acres] planted near the ford

Bugbane (Cimicifuga racemosa) [purchased from Shady Acres] planted near the ford

Rose Campion (Lychnis coronaria 'Blood Red') [purchased from Shady Acres] planted near the front step

Lamb's Ear (Stachys monnieri 'Hummelo') [purchased from Shady Acres] planted near the front step

Winecups (Callirhoe involucrata) [purchased from Shady Acres] planted near the front step

Compass Plant (Silphium laciniatum) [purchased from Shady Acres] planted in the NE corner of the yard

Gloriosa Daisy (Rudbeckia nitida 'Herbstsonne') [purchased from Shady Acres] planted in the NE corner of the yard

Purple Daze

http://purpledazedaylilies.com/

Today was open house at Purple Daze Daylily Garden in Franklin, WI.

We toured the garden and it is spectacular, tons of blooms and not just daylilies.

We also got to meet Ferguson, a very friendly puppy.

Very much enjoyed our visit.

Saw fellow MGV Sue R. there, always good to talk to her.

Natives vs. Ornamentals

http://northwindperennialfarm.com/main.html

We attended the educational program at Northwind this morning.

The presenter was Ed Lyon, Director of Allen Centennial Garden at UW-Madison.

The topic was Natives vs. Ornamentals.

His conclusion was to use the right plant in the right place, with which I am very much in favor.

Counts as one hour of ongoing MGV education credit.

Tiny Toads in the Garden

Two tiny toads in the garden today, first of the season.

About two weeks later than 2010 and 2012, which is consistent with the timetable for just about everything else.

Italian White

http://www.anniesannuals.com/plt_lst/lists/general/lst.gen.asp?prodid=1020

I love white flowers, because they glow at dawn and dusk.

Peaches and Cream

http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/64638-product.html

A new mutant honeysuckle created by gamma ray radiation.

I want one.  Maybe more than one.

Osiris Cafe Noir

http://www.waysidegardens.com/osiris-cafe-noir-ligularia/p/30715/

Would be a welcome addition to the garden, to accompany our Othello and Desdemona Ligularias.

Bluebird Aster

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/plant-finder/plant-details/kc/y780/symphyotrichum-laeve-bluebird.aspx

I love Asters.

The Asteroid?

http://www.whatsthatbug.com/2010/10/02/possibly-goldenrod-hooded-owlet-caterpillar/

Just one more reason to grow goldenrods in the garden.

Boerner Butterfly Walk

We attended the garden walk at Boerner Botanical Gardens this evening.

The topic was "Bed and breakfast plants that support butterflies."

The guide was Barb Agnew of Barb and Dick's Wild Flower.

The walk was fun and educational.  The guide is an enthusiastic advocate for butterfly gardening with an encyclopedic knowledge of butterflies, caterpillars, and the plants that support them.

Counts as one hour of ongoing MGV education.

Today's Plantings

Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm' (near the Hoffmeyer locust tree)

Miscanthus 'Little Nicky' (near the Hoffmeyer locust tree)

False Solomon's Seal

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

We have a lot of Solomon's Seal, but none of the False Solomon's Seal.

Today's Plantings

Asclepias tuberosa (by the Monrovia Japanese maple)

Asiatic Lily 'Partner' (by the Monrovia Japanese maple)

Speedwell (Veronica spicata 'Royal Candles') [northeast of Seven Sons]

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) [out from Andrew's west window]

Andre Chaudron

http://monchesfarm.com/FEATUREnepetaSDA.htm

If Monches Horticulturist Zannah Crowe is going to recommend it this highly, then I want one.

Cherokee Chief

We have admired the red-flowered dogwood in the garden at the southeast corner of Parkview and 120th for several years.

I learned today from the gardener that it is Cherokee Chief.

[Edited to correct intersection.]

Smartweed

http://www.bio.brandeis.edu/fieldbio/Survival/Pages/smartweed.html

A close cousin of Kiss Me Over the Garden Gate, makes weeding tricky.

Purple Daze Daylily Garden

http://purpledazedaylilies.com/home.htm

We walk by this garden a couple of times a week.

Very nice garden, and not just daylilies.

Today's Planting

http://www.provenwinners.com/plants/physocarpus/summer-wine-ninebark-physocarpus-opulifolious

Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolious 'Summer Wine')

It was a tough choice among Summer Wine, Coppertina, and Diablo (AKA Diabolo).

I chose Summer Wine for its compact stature.

Today's Plantings

Korean Maple (west of the red-flowered dogwood)

Redbud (southwest of the western crabapple tree)

Today's Plantings

Eupatorium rugosum 'Chocolate' (west of the big bluestem)

Penstemon 'Dark Towers' (west of the big bluestem)

Caucasian Spinach

http://www.umassdining.com/blog/permaculture/hablitzia-tamnoides-and-coming-permaculture-plant

Shade tolerant, sounds like a winner, I want some.

White Nancy

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/plant-finder/plant-details/kc/d720/lamium-maculatum-white-nancy.aspx

Lamium maculatum 'White Nancy'

Its toughness is going to be tested, because we have wet soils in winter and dry soils in late summer.

Who was Joan Elliott?

http://www.paghat.com/campanula4.html

The above link answers the question about the origins of the name of the bellflower.

Joan Elliott

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/78839/#b

Campanula glomerata 'Joan Elliott'

Note the hater at the link, might be invasive.

Some local MGVs were discussing Campanula glomerata 'Superba' and they made similar comments regarding keeping it under control.

Today's Plantings

White Nancy (in the furry mint garden)

American Feverfew (native, some pundits call it "minimally ornamental")

Persicaria (repotted to a larger pot, hanging on the hedge in front of the living room window)

'Joan Elliott' bellflower (in the old cow parsnip garden)

New Jersey tea (west of the big bluestem)

'Petite Delight' bee balm (west of the big bluestem)

Today's Plantings

Cardinal Flower (near the telephone pole)

Black Mondo Grass (in a larger pot)

Pyrethrum Daisy (south of the Hoffmeyer locust)

Crapemyrtle

http://www.waysidegardens.com/moonlight-magic-crapemyrtle/p/30739/

Maybe with continued global warming, we can grow crapemyrtle someday.

Basket Columns

http://www.kinsmangarden.com/product/Basket-Column-For-Large-Pots

Very clever.

Silver Bells

http://fleurcottage.blogspot.com/2011/05/akebia-silver-bells-chocolate-vine.html

'Silver Bells' chocolate vine

We have an old-fashioned chocolate vine, it would be nice to have this one in addition.

Today's Plantings

Chameleon (Houttuynia cordata), planted near the telephone pole

Hosta (from Monches, might be Tall Boy), planted near the Redbud

'Black Pearl' ornamental pepper, planted in a pot

Orange Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa), planted near the hops

Unknown, planted near the hops (we had a plant in a small pot, no tag, neither of us remembers buying it)

Superba

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/plant-finder/plant-details/kc/s550/campanula-glomerata-superba.aspx

Campanula glomerata 'Superba'

Local MGVs report that they do well here.

The Dawes Arboretum

http://dawesarb.org/

Columbus, Ohio is now on my destination list so that I can see the 2,000 foot hedge that spells out "Dawes Arboretum."