Blooms Archives - Page 5 of 8 - The Obsessive Neurotic Gardener

Allium time

Posted on September 5, 2014 by jmarkowski Posted in Blooms, Bulbs .

I am slowly becoming obsessed with Allium (or “ornamental onion” for you less evolved species). Three autumns ago I planted my first Allium bulbs and was all jacked up when most made an appearance that following spring:

I immediately fell in lust and was pleased to know that it was possible for the bulbs to not rot over the winter (for those uninformed, my soil drainage blows chunks).

Of course, they all ended up only surviving that spring and were not to be heard from again. But that was OK. It was a small financial investment and minimal sweat equity required for the reward of those phenomenal blooms.

Last fall, I gave it another shot and planted just one Allium ‘Globe Master’, that giant blooming onion I’ve seen in so many other gardens. While there was promise that this would return year after year, at $9.95 a bulb I decided to play it safe.

I can tell you now, it doesn’t matter if it fails to make a repeat showing in 2015. What I got in 2014 was enough for me:

The 8″ to 10″ bloom was such a presence and a focal point both in bloom and out of bloom:.

Hell, I even made it my social media profile pic when it was only partially in bloom:

It wasn’t until late July when the stem actually dislodged from the ground, so two and a half months of interest was worth the $9.95.

I also started to acquire some other perennial Allium in spring and added ‘Blue Eddy’ as a groundcover that not only bloomed in late July, but also avoided any destruction from the rabbits and the deer:

Allium ‘Mt. Sinai’ was also added and bloomed like mad from early August until now:

I will continue the hunt for additional cultivars this fall and hope and pray that my attempts to find areas of better drainage in my yard pay off and we have repeat bloomers next summer.

On top of that, I just placed an order with Bluestone Perennials for a whole bunch of different Allium bulbs that include (all photos from the Bluestone Perennials website):

Allium ‘Schubertii’:

Allium ‘Azureum’:

Allium ‘Drumsticks’:

And one additional Allium ‘Globe Master’ because, well, it’s awesome.

Wish me luck!

The End and the Beginning

Posted on September 4, 2014 by jmarkowski Posted in Blooms .

The faded blooms on Monarda (Bee Balm), Clethra (Summersweet) and Eupatorium (Joe Pye Weed) are still damn interesting, especially when back lit by the sun:

Physostegia ‘Vivid’ (Obedient plant) and its initial blooms slowly climbing up each stem:

Boltonia ‘Snowbank’ (False Aster) exploded in bloom this past week. At least that is what I think this is. I never planted it myself so I have no idea how it got here. Which now makes me think it is something entirely different. And now I look unprofessional. And my credibility is shot. And I just started three consecutive sentences with the word “and”. Pathetic:

Some new blooms

Posted on August 25, 2014 by jmarkowski Posted in Blooms .

Helenium autumnale (Sneezeweed):

I’ve struggled with Sneezeweed for a long time now but may have finally found the right location. The ugly “legs” are disguised by other plants in front of them and they have each other for support (three are planted closely to each other).

Because of that, I skipped on cutting them back in June to control their height this year. The true test will be in the next week or so as all of the blooms emerge:

Chelone lyonii:

Boltonia ‘Pink Beauty’ is another perennial I typically cut back in June to hopefully prevent it from toppling over when blooming in late summer but completely forgot to do so this year. So far so good. Maybe that proactive pruning wasn’t necessary after all:

Not necessarily newly blooming, but some new visitors I couldn’t be more psyched to see on Asclepias curassavica (Silky Gold Milkweed):

Sedum ‘Autumn Fire’ rounding into form:

Miscanthus purpurascens (Flame Grass):

Pennisetum ‘Hameln’:

And my very young Andropogon gerardii ‘Red October’ has thrown up some blooms in its first year (bless her heart):

This grass will rule over all of the other grasses within the next two years. I am so stoked in anticipation.

Into the wild (sort of)

Posted on August 18, 2014 by jmarkowski Posted in Blooms, Garden problems .

When we moved into our house ten years ago, one of the draws was the privacy afforded by the wild growth and woods at the back of our property. Neighbors are great and all, but hanging in your backyard without any eyes on you (deer being the exception) is pretty damn cool. Not to mention the enjoyment of seeing nothing but nature’s gift while enjoying an after dinner cocktail or two on the deck.

In ten years, I’ve only walked through this wildness twice. The first time was with my son who was three at the time and was ~~dumb~~ naive enough to believe we were actually in the rain forest. We had a great time until we stepped out and realized we were covered in ticks. Not good.

The second time was to chase down the dog who escaped into the unknown one winter. It took me close to 45 minutes to locate her as she managed to get inside an area fenced off with barbed wire. I nearly took my leg off trying to hop inside so I could carry my 75 pound Labrador Retriever to safety. I’m convinced this is where the deer hang at night and sit around the fire planning their assault on my garden. I’m OK with it as I’d rather they hang here safely than venture out and encounter one of the thousand hunters in the area.

This wild area is rather nondescript the majority of the year until the beginning of August. That is when the super aggressive Purple Loosestrife appears. And it appears every-friggin-where:

It looks great from a distance with the waves of purple weaving in and out and then in and out again. Of course I also realize what a thug this non-native perennial is and just how invasive it can be. Read this piece on the invasiveness of Purple Loosestrife.

I’ve accepted there is nothing I can do about it other than pulling it when it comes to visit my garden from time to time. It is just too pervasive and it would be an overwhelming task to try and eradicate it.

I will admit though, it does bring in massive amounts of creatures and my daughter and I like to check out who comes to visit (some, more welcome than others):

Phase 2 of the backyard wild growth display is when the Goldenrod blooms. My wife is a severe allergy sufferer and when we first moved into this house, I thought for sure we were inundated with the dreaded ragweed. I was in a complete panic until I investigated closer and realized it was truly Solidago. Thank the good lord. If you ever wanted to know the difference between the two, read here. Goldenrod is also a thug, but it does not contribute to allergies.

The Goldenrod literally started blooming this weekend and the activity on the blooms is intense:

Ailanthus Webworm Moth

Within a few weeks, it will be the annual purple/yellow explosion of two aggressive bastards.

But we also had a third entrant into the display earlier this summer and this one was more than wanted. Out of the blue, we had at least 25 Milkweed plants appear:

Super cool and a chance to educate the children on the plight of the Monarch butterfly. We have seen little action on these plants to date, but will remain patient.

I’ve also just started to see Swamp Milkweed popping up in a few places along the back of my property so the few plants I added myself last year are apparently spreading the wealth:

As always, nature is way more interesting than the man-made garden.

Newly blooming this week

Posted on August 4, 2014 by jmarkowski Posted in Blooms .

Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed):

Allium ‘Mt. Sinai’:

Lobelia gerardii ‘Vedrariensis’:

Lobelia siphilitica:

Rose of Sharon:

And my only hydrangea that bloomed at all this year:

The others look OK foliage wise, but not a bloom to be found:

Wordless Wednesday – A mid-summer garden

Posted on July 23, 2014 by jmarkowski Posted in Blooms .

Random musings

Posted on July 18, 2014 by jmarkowski Posted in Blooms, Ornamental grass, Shrubs .

Some thoughts as we head into the weekend:

I am now realizing the ornamental interest with Baptisia seed pods:

The grasses are starting to make their presence known:

Miscanthus ‘Variegatus’:

Panicum ‘Northwind’:

From left to right – Miscanthus ‘Gracillimus’, Miscanthus ‘Purpurascens’ and Calamagrostis ‘Eldorado’:

Panicum ‘Rotstrahlbusch’:

I planted Veronica ‘Royal Candles’ in mass this spring and the color blast is most welcomed right now:

Daylily ‘Little Grapette’ is still chugging away and I am enjoying the blooms for the first time in three years as the deer have stayed away. Like I’ve always said, daylillies are the greatest:

And finally, Salix ‘Hakuro Nishiki’ is kind of liking its space. Looking at a severe pruning next winter:

Have a great one.

Newly emerging

Posted on July 16, 2014 by jmarkowski Posted in Blooms .

Veronica (cultivar unknown):

White coneflower ‘Fragrant Angel’:

Monarda ‘Raspberry Wine’:

Allium ‘Mt Sinai’:

Asclepias curassavica ‘Silky Gold’:

Berries on Viburnum plicatum ‘Shoshoni’:

Blue Lake beans:

Eupatorium (Joe Pye Weed) ‘Gateway’:

A little bit of everything

Posted on June 4, 2014 by jmarkowski Posted in Blooms, My garden, Spring .

We are at an interesting time out in the garden right now. OK, all times are interesting in the garden but I needed a solid introduction and thought the preceding sentence would cover it.

Moving on.

As the weather has warmed up significantly this past week, so have many of the plants made significant strides forward.

Like these peony blooms:

With plenty to bring indoors as well:

The first blooms have emerged on many of the plants.

Ninebark ‘Diablo’:

Geranium ‘Brookside’:

Iris ‘Ruffled Velvet’:

An unknown Lilac I have virtually no memory of planting last Autumn:

Veronica ‘Royal Candles’:

Spirea ‘Snowmound’:

Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’:

And there are some others that are holding on to their fading blooms for dear life.

Amsonia ‘Blue Ice’:

Amsonia tabernaemontana:

Iris versiclor:

And others who are just about ready to strut their horticultural stuff.

Astilbe ‘Amethyst’:

Astilbe ‘Deutschland’:

Itea ‘Henry’s Garnet’:

Or foliage putting on good amounts of growth.

Cimicifuga ‘Pink Spire’:

Eupatorium ‘Gateway’:

And yes my friends, the ornamental grasses are making an impact.

Panicum ‘Rotstrahlbusch’:

Miscanthus ‘Variegatus’:

However, with the more extreme temps, we are now starting to see some flaws in what was originally our wonderful fresh and clean spring growth. It is inevitable but that doesn’t mean I have to like it and accept it.

Dwarf Russian Sage not so happy: