The Obsessive Neurotic Gardener

Monthly Archives: September 2023

Flame Grass – DGP

Posted on by Posted in Ornamental grass .

For roughly a week near the end of September, I like to stroll down the steps of my front porch each day at exactly 5:30 pm EST, turn to my direct left and marvel at my Flame Grass (Miscanthus ‘Purpurascens’). The descending sun continues to light up those delicious silvery blooms on the grass while the surrounding plants fall into darkness.

It’s a show like no other.

Flame Grass

And this is only the beginning.

Soon after, the leaves of the Flame Grass transform to a bright orange and then the show reaches a level I can’t explain with words. But I’ll be sure to feature it in a future Daily Garden Photo (DGP).

Until then, bathe in the silvery white goodness I’ve shared with you today.

And hold off on asking me about that dead tree in the background. I’m working on it.

Captain Sawyer’s Place – DGP

Posted on by Posted in Family, Travel .

If I’m going to make it to 365 straight Daily Garden Photos (DGP) as promised, you’re going to have to grant me some leeway with the photo subjects. It can’t always be a “garden” photo. But, I will do my best to ensure each pic has some sort of garden reference or pictures of plants within it.

Deal? Deal.

Today’s photo is a current day shot from Captain Sawyer’s Place, a bed and breakfast in Boothbay Harbor, Maine where my wife and I were engaged back in 1995. We stopped by during our vacation up that way this past summer and let the kids see where mom and dad made it official.

Captain Sawyer's Place

I won’t bore you with the details, but I got down on one knee in our room after spending days waiting for the perfect moment that never materialized. I don’t recall my exact words, but I know it was from the heart and I’m pretty sure it was awesome.

The funny thing is we never shared our engagement with the owners and still didn’t when we visited again this summer. My wife and I avoid the fanfare when at all possible.

BTW, the kids weren’t blown away with seeing a piece of our origin story in person.

Never change.

Scaevola – DGP

Posted on by Posted in Annuals .

Scaevola, also known as fan flower (which was news to me until I just researched it seconds ago), is my preferred annual for the front of a border (as seen in my Daily Garden Photo below) or as a spiller in a container.

Scaevola

I purchase Scaevola small in spring and in no time, they spread and fill a sizable open space. This includes pouring over on to my driveway where it softens the pavement and can withstand a trouncing from a basketball or a temporary flattening from a bike tire.

It isn’t deer resistant, but I plant it strategically where the deer don’t like to roam, like along my driveway.

What has your experience been?

Hummingbird moth – DGP

Posted on by Posted in Critters .

The hummingbird moth, categorized as an insect, continues to hang on the Verbena and I’m appreciative of the opportunity to try and capture her on film. Well to capture her digitally, if accuracy is important to you.

hummingbird moth

I originally planned to list out some cool facts about the hummingbird moth, but figured I’d share the link to the Birds and Blooms article instead. You can check it out here.

Interesting fact: Birds and Blooms magazine did a small feature on me in their print magazine years and years ago so I’m partial to those fine folks. Hence the reference to their link. I’m solid like that.

Bee balm – DGP

Posted on by Posted in Fall color .

The instinct is to cut bee balm to the ground with their dead flowers and powdery mildew riddled leaves.

But I don’t.

I let them die with grace.

I like the flower petals strewn throughout the garden.

But most importantly, I love me some spent Monarda (Bee Balm) blooms in front of the ornamental grasses providing that much sought after fall and winter interest.

Bee balm

Carex Feather Falls – DGP

Posted on by Posted in Ornamental grass .

Today’s Daily Garden Photo (DGP) is my current favorite part of the garden. I’ve shared multiple pics of it over the past few years, during multiple seasons. But it wasn’t until I added five Carex ‘Feather Falls’ (Sedge grass) this spring that it truly reached what I like to think is epic level.

Carex Feather Falls

I’m legit in love with these sedges with their bright presence and flowing leaves. I will be adding a lot more of these once I see them return next spring. Allegedly, they thrive in full sun (yay) and will be hardy to zone 5 (I’m zone 6).

I’ll need to see it before I believe it.

But if they do return without issue, I’ll be purchasing a ton more Carex ‘Feather Falls’, probably into the double digits.

For more info, check out this link.

You’re welcome.

Mia – DGP

A mess – DGP

Posted on by Posted in Garden Design .

Today’s Daily Garden Photo (DGP) is a tangled mess and I love everything about it.

From the bottom up:

  1. Baptisia (False Indigo) supporting all that fell on her.
  2. Sorghastrum nutans ‘Sioux Blue’ (Indian grass) blooms flowing from right to left
  3. Helianthus salicifolius (Willow-leaved sunflower) blooms that toppled over
  4. Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Foxtrot’ (Giant Fountain Grass) flowers popping up amongst the sunflowers, a bit out of focus.
  5. Backed by Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Amber Jubilee’ (Ninebark)

My version of controlled chaos.

I was going to end it there but something else in the photo above (the owl house in the top left) stirred up a memory that I have to share with you.

It was a late summer afternoon, the kind where the days are still hot and muggy but relief arrives in the evening. The threat of school in the air. My brother-in-law, nephew and I out in the backyard attempting to put up the owl house, a gift from my wife. The only difficult task was to dig the hole for the post. And if you know anything about my soil, it’s wet, clayish and littered with shale. Not an easy dig.

With post hole digger in hand, I killed it. I slammed her down and twisted with reckless abandon. I refused help from my two assistants, determined to see it out myself.

An hour later, task complete. Cement added and we were done. For kicks, we wandered around the woods that border the back of my property. These woods are not deep, with clear views of three homes on the other side. As we neared the end of our stroll, a voice in the distance startled us all.

“What are you doing back here?” It did not carry a friendly vibe.

“I live here”, my response.

“No you don’t.”

Um, what. “I sure do, that’s my house right there.” Finger pointed at my house.

“I don’t believe you.” The man picking up the pace as he walked towards us.

“Are you serious?” I honestly thought it was a joke.

“I am.”

“How can I prove it to you?” Now I’m angry.

“Oh okay, good to meet you.” Just like that he flipped over to believing me. Weird.

We all chatted for a few minutes, neighbors getting a chance to know each other.

I haven’t see him since. I wouldn’t recognize him if I saw him again. I have no clue if he still lives there. Such is life out in the country where neighboring homes aren’t so close.

But that’s not the memory that was sparked by the photo. Just me rambling before getting to my point. Post owl house installation and a much deserved shower, the family headed out to the Bridgewater Commons. After some shopping and a quick dinner, we returned to the car and my wife instinctively handed me hand sanitizer. This was pre-pandemic. We were on that shit early.

After starting the car, I dropped a few drops on my hands

And screamed.

My blister covered hands pulsating as the alcohol spread to every inch of available raw skin. I’m not proud, but what I yelled out next has been added to the family lore:

“Holy f’n shit that hurts like a mutha f’er.”

And yes, they all laughed at my misery.

Deer – DGP

Posted on by Posted in Deer .

It always happens.

Yet I’m the dummy who thinks, “Maybe this is the time it won’t happen?”

Inevitably, I’m wrong.

It happened again last night.

Buttonbush

My Buttonbush shrub (Cephalanthus occidentalis) devoured by the deer. Only a few “buttons” left behind.

Carnage.

It’s not surprising. The deer have done it before. A lot.

And you know what, they have every right to do it. This shrub isn’t marketed as “deer resistant” so all bets are off. I knew what I was getting into.

Am I sad? Yes. I planned to feature it here in a few days and I looked forward to the flowers persisting into winter.

But that won’t be happening.

Such is life.

A Maine lighthouse – DGP

Posted on by Posted in Travel .

We (all four of us) squeezed in a week’s vacation up in Maine this past August and yes, we all fell in love with it. We’re already planning a return trip next summer and as we like to do, have researched real estate. Give me Maine, April through Dec 25th, and somewhere with no Winter, Dec 26th through March 31st. Sounds ideal, right?

The ocean views in Maine? Extraordinary.

The small towns? Adorable.

The lighthouses? The cherry on top.

This pic will always remind me that I see the world through the lens of surrounding plants.

And I’d have it no other way.