Rock Garden
Before
Mom tried a rock garden, erosion control section, with buried farm fence, rocks, and creeping myrtle planted 3 yrs ago. Doesn't seem to be holding up very well. Still seems to wash out.
Let's see what I can add/do to fix it up...
Phlox
I've always liked creeping phlox in other people's gardens. Sadly it's only a spring bloomer, but the bees are enjoying it so far. It looks a tad beaten right now, but I'm hoping they'll perk up in a week or two.
Wooley Thyme
I saw this guy at the greenhouse in the "foot friendly" groundcover section. I instantly fell in LOVE! It is SO cute!!!
I added it to my rock garden project last evening and the small shoots or vines spreading out are already taking root and sticking to the ground. What an amazing little bugger. I'll see how it does over the next couple weeks and I may have to grab more of his friends (if my wallet can handle it - they're pretty pricey!).
African Daisy
My son and I couldn't resist this plant when visiting a local GH. I decided it should be the center piece of the rock garden. Even though it's a perennial, it should give us blooms all season.
Rockfoil Touran White
(aka saxifraga x arendsii) I needed "something" besides purplish pink in the garden and grabbed this one at Kmart. I'm curious how well it will do here and if it will spread out a little next year.
So far...
Well, it's starting to look better. Maybe I'll add some small fall-bloomers next paycheck. Sadly, the photo is over-exposed and my cellphone camera kinda sucks.
Border
My mom had some rock paver cuttings lying around. I thought to add them to the base of the rock garden. "Maybe" it'll help hold some of the soil up during heavy rainfall. We'll see...
Better pic
This picture is nicer than the previous over-exposed ones. My phlox doesn't seem to be looking as good, tho. But the overall garden is starting to look much better.
Sempervivum arachnoideum
In other (and simpler) words... cobweb houseleek.
Cobweb semp planted
So I felt bold and divided the pot into 3 clumps and placed them here and there in the rock garden. I like how this one fit above the big rock. And any chicks that broke off, I tucked in here and there between other rocks.
Hens and chicks
I brought these back from my old house and had them temporarily in my mom's south flowerbed until today. I think they will look and do better in the rock garden than there. I really hope semps are as hardy as people say. I'd hate to loose these guys.
Pretty pink vine
This one is really a nice surprise. It was already there along with the creeping myrtle trailing down the slope next to the breakwall and making kind of a spill of flowers at the bottom. It's also in my "Uknown" album, because I have no clue what it is.
Rock Soapwort
My pretty pink vine turned into Rock Soapwort (aka: Saponaria ocymoides) thanks to the great people on Gardenweb forums. I love how this spills down the side of rock garden. And it blooms right after the myrtle is done with it's flowery show.
Latest pic
This is probably the finished product for the year. I'd like to add more to it here and there, but thinking "good enough" for now and let current plants grow and establish.
NE Garden Disaster
North bed - left
L to R: Unknown shrub, unknown evergreen/juniper, barberry, glory-of-the-snow (upper right corner), storm beaten tulips across front (only one bloomed this year (far left). Pretty sad... hoping to remove/transplant unknown shrub, barberry, and tulips some time soon.
North bed - right
Here, we've got some unknown tuber (left bottom) we took from my old house (no clue until it blooms), weather beaten tulips, unknown juniper, some shrub that has yellow leaves, juniper, then unknown shrub same as other side. We will be removing/transplanting the 2 junipers, tulips, and farthest unknown shrub soon.
Added Euonymus
Placed this awesome baby in the far right side of gardens. From what I researched it likes dry-ish shade. Hurray! But I may have to move the hose reel in a year or two depending on how much it grows/climbs.
Frosty Pearl, up close
I SO love this little guy. Some day he shall grow up big and tall (and I hope he climbs the wall).
Spirea 'goldflame'
I figured it out that it was some sort of Spirea. Still not sure if it's 'goldmound' or 'Double Play gold'. Think it's the later. The foliage is much more chartreuse/gold than how it comes out in the pics. UPDATE: It's a 'goldflame' as I saw it's twin in a local nursery.
Spirea, up close
It's getting ready to bloom. My mom says it blooms purple flowers, but I'm guessing they're gonna be pink.
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06-30-09_1739.jpg 2009-07-07
Hosta undulata
To be added to one of these beds.
H. undulata planted
I placed this little bunch to the left of the Tiarella. Once I stood back, I thought "Ut oh, I planted it a little too close to it's neighbor!". Hopefully the Tiarella will work AROUND the hosta in time. We'll see...
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06-30-09_1745.jpg 2009-07-07
Tiarella 'sugar and spice'
Yay, I found some foam flowers on a trip to a GH yesterday. Can't wait to add them. I think they'll go nice next to the Spirea.
Tiarella planted
So this is it's new home to the left of the spirea bush. I'm not sure how much it will spread this year as a groundcover, but can't wait. :)
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06-30-09_1744.jpg 2009-07-07
Hosta 'Bressingham Blue'
Went for a day trip to Traverse City area and passed a greenhouse. I HAD to stop. With a solid blue hosta in mind, I picked this variety above the other two available. I just liked it's look. :)
Filling the gap
My new 'Bressingham Blue' should fill this 4' gap and make a nice color bridge between the chartreuse spirea and the frosty pearl euonymus. It may spill over a little into the patio and rocks once it's all grown up, but I'd kinda like that anyways, hehe.
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06-30-09_1742.jpg 2009-07-07
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06-30-09_1743.jpg 2009-07-07
Sick Heuchera 'Marmalade'
Was in a rush and did a quick purchase at the GH. Then... saw these spots. They seem to be all over this otherwise gorgeous plant. (see next photo for underside of leaf)
Eww...
Every place there is a dark spot on the top of the leaves are these growths underneath. They look pretty gross and I REALLY need to get rid of whatever ails this plant. I'm keeping it FAR away from my other plants and gardens at the moment.
Sedum bed
Starters
So what did I do wrong? I took out too much topsoil with the sod and was left with nothing but pure sugar sand (aka "blow sand"). So I added what little cheap topsoil I had along with a bit of aged manure. Planted first packs of sedum, watered, then realized it was kind of concave! This will all wash out in our next heavy rain. :( I'll be trying to bring it up a little once I get more topsoil or "something" to fill it with. Hurry and go to work, sedums... GROW AND SPREAD!!!!!
(Oh... and that's my son's killer rose tree (bottom left). It really hates me, I swear. Grabs me with a thorn from even 10 ft away, it seems. Transplanted it a couple months ago. It's really growing slow, but that's ok by me *snicker*.)
Sedum reflexum 'blue spruce'
I love the blue in this guy and pics I've seen of the yellow flowers are awesome. I started with two 6 packs and planted any broken stems here and there. Sadly, budget put a stop to adding friends until next pay day.
After Raising
So we found some topsoil my mom had stashed behind her horse trailer, added a little composted manure, and raised the soil level up to come closer to old height. Since these are fairly new plantings, I didn't want to replant yet again, so we built up inbetween and around the blue spruces. I sure hope I didn't create stem rot for these guys. We'll have to see how it goes.
Ready to bloom
This is an up close of first sedum blooms this year.
Stretchy
So it's looking pretty stretchy or leggy so far. I want to add some 'angelina' to the mix here and there (once finances allow) to fill it in some more. (Update: since then, horses like to stomp this bed on occasion... but we're working on it.)
Perennials
Carex morrowii? (Japanese variegated sedge)
I nabbed this little bunch from an overgrown, leaf-covered garden from my old house on April 21st. I wasn't quite sure what it was, nor did I know what to do with it. So I plopped it into the North garden by the wall.
I planted it in same depth of soil it was in before (but I didn't compensate for the heavy leaf cover it was poking through). I don't think I planted it deep enough. :(
I believe it is Carex morrowii 'Aurea-variegata' from what I can tell. But then saw pics of C. oshimensis 'Evergold' in a catalog and now confused.
Tried bunching
It seemed so spaced out and sticking out of ground too far so I tried bunching and banking the soil up around it. It still looks unhappy...
Carex2
Carex up close
Euonymus "Frosty Pearl"
I've never seen these before so had to grab one while browsing new plants at Kmart - and I picked the one that had the MOST white in it's variegation. It will go perfect on the far west side of my shaded North gardens next to a wall.
Sadly, I can't find much more info about it online than what was already on the tag it came with. I can't wait to replace the icky, unknown shrub with this beauty. It's gorgeous!!! (and I hope I don't kill it... )
Hosta undulata 'Medio variegata'
Once I rip out a failing juniper out of my North garden, I want to plant these hostas in it's place. I like the fact that the leaves are somewhat curly.
There are 4 small ones to this pot. I asked the owner of the GH if I could divide them. She said "very carefully". So, we'll see what's in the potting soil, and IF I feel gutsy enough to do it. Otherwise the whole clump is going in the ground instead of spreading them apart.
Hosta babies
5 bunches of 3-5 stalks... should I divide them??? I'm scared!
WHAT IS THIS CRAP!?!?
Ok... so I'm a newbie at gardening ANYTHING, and maybe this is a common occurrence, but WTF?
It's all over the top of the potting soil my hostas came in. What alien creature is this? Where did it come from? Will it overthrow my garden if I let one escape? What do I do with it?
My son thinks it's cool, so could he grow it indoors in a pot?
Houseplants
Spathiphyllum - Peace Lily
Bought at Kmart last month, still doing ok with pebble tray in NE basement window.
Sansevieria1
I think this is a Sansevieria trifasciata, but not sure on variety. All I really know is that it's a Sans of some type. :P
Sansevieria2
Maybe this is a better pic, dunno...
Cat vs Sans 1
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Cat vs Sans 2
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New Spathe
I thought it was really cool how they emerge.
Too much!
This seemed to happen overnight/day. It was either too much direct sunlight coming through the window or it got too cold right there by the glass (went to 30s F a couple nights in a row).
Poor spathe...
This is the front of the sun/cold burnt spathe. I guess I'll have to pluck it off at the base. But that's ok, it will give the plant more energy to grow the newbie forming (see other pic).
Others
Harry Lauder's Walking Stick
This is my mom's Harry Lauder's Walking Stick bush. I think it's so cool how the branches are all twisty-turvy.
Lantana x?
Saw this in the perennial section at Kmart and thought "how pretty!". All it said on it was "Lantana" on the pot. NOW... I find out it's only hardy to zone 8 or higher!!! So it's either going in a container, in the ground and digging up in fall, or... just use as annual and take cuttings and pray they survive until June 1st next year.
Lantana flowers
I still wish I knew what variety of Lantana this is. Some kind of 'confetti' I believe. I couldn't resist the pink, yellow, and orange flowers ALL on the same plant. Now I have to decide where and how to plant it...
Lantana planted
Still doin' good adjacent to rock garden on slight slope.
Lilac1
Not sure what type of lilac it is. I believe my mom planted it a couple years ago. Some growth, but still no blooms. :( She said that it "tried" blooming last year, but I think a frost knocked it out.
Lilac2
Same one just different angle. It's about 3 ft tall now.
Hoya, maybe?
If it is a Hoya, what variety is it? Or maybe we have to wait for it to bloom again?
Hoya, maybe? 2
Up close version of it... (please ignore litter box below, LOL)
African Violets
My mom received these beauties as a "Get Well" gift when she had the flu. I couldn't help but take a photo. They are in 3 little separate pots in the basket.
So pretty!
This bicolor violet just blew me away. The white frill around the edges entranced me.
Radermachera sinica
This China Doll is doing nicely NEXT to my mom's sink in her kitchen... not IN it, haha. I don't care for it too much, but glad she rescued it from Kmart-care.
Clematis paniculata
Aka: Sweet Autumn Clematis (SAC). Placed this on the NW side of walkout basement break wall. Hopefully, it climbs up towards deck above and also falls over break wall to basement patio area. We'll see how invasive it really is... Mhuahahaha! :P
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06-30-09_1747.jpg 2009-07-07
Outside bush/shrub1?
Not sure what it is, but my mom is moving it out of this bed soon.
UPDATE: It has been ID'd as a red currant bush.
Outside bush/shrub3?
A little closer look.
Outside bush/shrub2?
up close blurry pic of it...
Visitor
Saw this cute little catepillar climbing around in the rock garden. It's color contrast of chartreuse/black caught my eye.
Visitor2
Pretty yellow moth adjacent to rock garden on breakwall.
Visitor3
A small type of bumble bee really loves the Spirea!
Unknown
Cute unknown
This indoor plant belongs to my mother. It seems to do really well on a table by a north shaded window. It gets a little sun during the day when the sun shines through her cathedral windows, but other than that, it's full shade. No clue what it is, but I love her little asian planter w/ figures. Philodendron?
Mystery plant
Found this 4/21/09 growing in abandoned garden at old house as a small group of 1" white tubers with purple tips coming up through heavy leaf cover. Wasn't sure what to do with 'em so I plopped them into the North shaded garden to see what would happen.
It's growing... and FAST! Still no clue yet and don't know if this will be it's new home or not.
Mystery plant 2
Still growing strong in nearly all sand. It's taking forever to bloom, but whatever it is... it sure is a hardy plant. I do toss water on it occasionally. Can't wait to see it's flowers!!!
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06-30-09_1738.jpg 2009-07-07
Viney Volunteer1
Upon digging up plants at old house, this one must have come along with my Glory-of-the-snow transplant. Just noticed it yesterday. No clue what it is, but I may move it since it is viney and don't want it taking over my flowerbed.
Viney Volunteer2
It seems to be growing...
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06-30-09_1750.jpg 2009-07-07
Yew?
At least that's what my mom says.
Yew? up close
I'm still clueless...
Holly type
This little volunteer came along with a barberry bush my mom dug up from a friends place. No clue what it is, but it has holly-like leaves. We'll see if it takes off, try to ID, then transplant somewhere else.
Pretty vine
Found this trailing down the breakwall by my rock garden along with the creeping myrtle. It kind of spills at the bottom making a nice overall effect, I think. No clue what it is... but I love the little, pink flowers.
Pretty vine 2
Here's an overhead shot of the spill at bottom of rock garden.
Pretty vine 3
Wow, it's really getting showy. Lots of pink flowers. :)
Morels
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05-13-09_1131.jpg 2009-05-18
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05-13-09_1132.jpg 2009-05-18
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05-13-09_1215.jpg 2009-05-18
Soaking
After halving and washing, I soaked them for 1 hr in a salt bath.
Natives
Speedwell - up close
Here's a closeup of the very tiny flowers it pops out with. They are so small, you usually don't catch them when just walking by unless several blooms at once (which happens in big patches of this stuff).
Speedwell - Thyme-leaved
This stuff grows all over around here, especially in my mom's lawn. It's very low to the ground and even has 10 ft diameter splotches here and there. Any clue what it is? See next pic for closeup with flowers.
UPDATE: It's been identified as Thyme-leaved Speedwell (Veronica serpyllifolia) thanks to Gardenweb folks.