First toads of 2013

Saw two large toads in the garden yesterday, first ones of 2013.

Lobelia

http://www.anniesannuals.com/plt_lst/lists/general/lst.gen.asp?prodid=617

Would love to try this, but concerned that like most Lobelia, it would be short-lived.

Also, the moisture requirements seem extreme.  Similar to Astilbe, a dry plant is a dead plant.

Hypertufa

http://www.plantersplace.com/upload/articles/a-trough-of-ones-own-jul01/

This project has been on my to-do list for several years.

Maybe I can do it this summer.

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Wild & Weedy

http://www.llewellyn.com/product.php?ean=9780738719078

A Wild & Weedy Apothecary by Doreen Shababy

Looks like an interesting book.

Another Dormant Gardening Blog

http://beeinthecity.wordpress.com/

It always makes me wonder when an active gardening blog goes dormant.

First Hummingbird of 2013

There was a male hummingbird working the hanging basket of moss roses last evening.

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Feverfew

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/plant-finder/plant-details/kc/z960/tanacetum-parthenium-aureum.aspx

All this time, I thought we had the American feverfew, when we really have the invasive European feverfew.

But the one we have is a great plant, a tried and true performer.

We will have to get some American feverfew to go with it.

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Jack

http://www.hortmag.com/plants/plants-we-love/jack-in-the-pulpit-a-unique-perennial-for-shade

We love our Jacks, and they do well, spreading by themselves.

We have more now than we have ever had.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Friday, May 10, 2013

A Shady Front Yard Garden

http://www.finegardening.com/item/27729/miyakos-shady-front-yard-garden-in-connecticut

Beautiful garden featuring some of my favorites: hellebore, Virginia bluebells, trillium, etc.

Strawberry Spinach

http://parkseed.com/strawberry-spinach/p/05471-PK-P1/

Chenopodium capitatum

A fascinating combo of fruit and edible greens.

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Blue Joint

http://www.everwilde.com/store/Calamagrostis-canadensis-Seed.html

"the most frequent grass associate of sedges"

We have numerous sedges but no blue joint.

Have to get some.

Early Amethyst

http://parkseed.com/product.aspx?p=48727&utm_source=PK130502

Callicarpa dichotoma 'Early Amethyst'

Would love to have a beautyberry, but we do not have full sun and we do not have well-drained soil.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013