The Obsessive Neurotic Gardener

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.

Panicum ‘Cloud Nine’ – DGP

Willow-Leaved Sunflower – DGP

Posted on by Posted in Perennials .

No plant in my garden is more fun than the Willow-Leaved Sunflower (Helianthus salicifolius):

Willow-Leaved Sunflower

In certain spots, it’s close to 8 feet tall. In others, it’s tangled in a war with its neighbor. Or it’s bent at a 90 degree angle like the pic above. It’s multiplied like mad over the years and I allow it. Wherever it shows up is acceptable. It’s too dynamic to not let it do its thing.

In spring, the emerging foliage is twisty and dainty and frilly and airy and fascinating and I’m constantly asked about it. To get that level of interest in spring/early summer and then the mass of yellow blooms in mid to late summer is almost too good to be true.

As you probably know about me by now, I long for “wild” but desire and long for “order”. It’s a hell of a tightrope walk to strike the proper balance. I’m getting better at it, but it still keeps me up at night. It’s dumb, but also 100% true.

Willow-Leaved Sunflower tickles the devil over my left shoulder.

And pisses off the other holy dude over my right.

I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Daily Garden Photo – Obedient plant

Posted on by Posted in Perennials .

Quick note: for those of you who get notified of my new posts via email, I just found out I’m limited in the number of emails I can send per week so you won’t be seeing the email notifications until I can work something out. Or pay up to allow the vendor to send more.

More to come. My apologies for the mix-up.

For today, I give you a mass of Obedient plant or Physostegia virginiana ‘Vivid’.

I came to acquire these through “what the hell, I’ll try it” and ordered three online. A decade later and I think I’ve cornered the market in the Northeast U.S. They spread underground through rhizomes and fill an empty spot so, so quickly. I’ve spent many a fall evening ripping out a few by hand, relocating them to where they can fill another void.

Rinse and repeat.

I’ve had no issues controlling them. If they wander where I don’t want them to wander, I pull them out with ease. And your factoid for the day: They are referred to as “obedient” since you can bend their stems in any way your heart desires and they’ll remain that way.

Yes, I do it on the regular. For fun.

My only issue to date: I use them as a groundcover in the front of the garden beds but their legs aren’t always so handsome. Then can yellow a bit as you can see in the pic above. Because of that, my mind has determined that I need a shorter groundcover in front of this groundcover to hide the discoloring. But it has to be tall enough to actually do just that.

The design game never ends.

And we’d never have it any other way.

Daily Garden Photo – Magic

Posted on by Posted in Garden Design .

Day 3. I like this. We’re .008% of the way there (check my math, I believe 2024 is a Leap Year).

For today, a current pic of a coneflower that appears to be in the process of being devoured by a surrounding Baptisia (False Indigo).

This has been an interesting development from spring to summer. Here is that same pic, months earlier (and yes I’m breaking my one photo per day rule but I need it to prove my point so for the love of God, don’t hold this against me):

A beautifully blooming Baptisia but little did I know that there was a coneflower slowly emerging from within it. Once the Baptisia stopped blooming, I made the difficult decision to cut it to the ground as it began to flop. But I was rewarded with the benefit of exposing the coneflower in its wake. The photo below is again, the same section of garden, post Baptisia removal.

So what’s my point? I loved how this whole thing played out.

The Baptisia looked beautiful until it didn’t.

The coneflower was then there, happy to take the lead role.

As time progressed, the Baptisia returned and created the cool mash-up you saw in the original pic.

I couldn’t have created or planned this any better. And that’s what I love so much about gardening: the surprises. We plan, plan, plan and so often it fails, fails, fails. The harder we try, the worse off we are. This is a lesson in sitting back and enjoying the process. Enjoying that we don’t always have control.

Enjoying the magic.

Daily Garden Photo – Blue Winged Wasp

Posted on by Posted in Critters .

I did it.

I made it to day two.

Rejoice.

Your pic of the day:

Blue winged wasp

My daughter was volunteering at a half marathon (she’s so good) and I, ahem, volunteered to bring her and hang around for three hours until she was done. Beyond seeing her to her destination and ensuring her safety, my visit served two additional purposes.

  1. To eat at a restaurant that I hadn’t been to in years, specifically to gouge on their killer buffalo chicken pizza. And to also reminisce while there as my wife and I had partied on the roof of the restaurant while in college (don’t ask). I clearly recall saying to my wife during one party, while still in the courting phase, “Well at least if the roof collapses below us, we can make dinner for everyone.” She should’ve known what she was in for then.
  2. To scout nearby nurseries for plants.

Mission was more than accomplished.

With a full belly, I shopped and ended up picking up eight new perennials and one grass. We’ll get to that gem of a grass on another day. And just so you know, the eight perennials were made up of five of one type and three of another type. So while the total was an even number, the sum was all about odd numbers.

Always odd.

At checkout, the dude ringing me up saw my five mountain mint plants and congratulated me on such a fine purchase. He proceeded to share his experience with mountain mint and how cool it was to see all the …

I cut him off before he could say any more.

My response: “Let me guess, the blue winged wasp?” He smiled a big ass smile and we shared a moment. It took all my strength not to give him a bear hug.

I love the blue winged wasp, more formally known as Scolia dubia. They fly from mountain mint to mountain mint and while it’s a struggle to capture them with a camera, I enjoy the challenge and I enjoy hanging out with them.

I’ve since bought six more of these Pycnanthemum muticum and patiently wait for them to eagerly spread in the garden.

Daily Garden Photo – Ironweed

Posted on by Posted in Perennials .

I’m going to attempt something new. It will more than likely fail. But who cares? It seems like a good idea at this exact moment so I’m going to run with it.

The premise: post one photo of my garden each day with a corresponding blurb. Maybe it will be as simple as “I like it” or “How bad does this look?” or maybe I’ll share the background on when I first planted it or what inspired me to try it in the first place. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll shake your head in awe at my my magical abilities or you’ll shake your head in disgust, questioning my sanity. Maybe even a combination of all four. Fun, right?

And here’s the kicker: I’m going to attempt to do it for 365 days straight. One year. Straight. Never missing a day. This is where you guffaw and say, “Sure, John. I’m sure that will happen.” Doubt me, I dare you.

So here’s day 1, September 4th, 2023. Enjoy.

What you are looking at below, the tall purple-blooming perennials, are Vernonia noveboracensis or New York Ironweed.

Ironweed

My inspiration to purchase it: After a tour of the High Line in New York City, I vowed to find taller perennials I could add throughout my garden. This plant looked awesome growing out of the abandoned railroad tracks. Wild and weedy, in a good way. And also super tall. Striking and a focal point.

My biggest design complaint/obsession in my own garden was a lack of much needed height to break up similar heights on so many of my other perennials and shrubs. And I wanted something natural that fit my aesthetic and would thrive in my conditions. Translation: something native. Translation: NY Ironweed.

I planted three of these, four years ago and it wasn’t until year three that they popped, reaching a height of close to seven feet. My biggest concern is mistakenly pulling the newly emerging plants in spring when I’m ferociously weeding. But I studied what they look like in that state to prevent such a tragedy and made sure to not pull them where they reseeded in other areas of the garden. Will they become unruly with all of the reseeding? Bring it on, I can handle it.

Here’s to day one of the Daily Garden Photo initiative, even if it only lasts one day.

Lessons learned

Posted on by Posted in Garden problems, How-to, Summer, Uncategorized .

It’s taken close to two decades, but I now feel comfortable sharing the following sentiment:

I’m in a mutha f’n groove in my garden.

Yeah, you heard me. I’m oozing and dripping (gross, sorry) with confidence after reaping the rewards of failing miserably the last 18 years and 8 months and 6 days and 4 hours and 32 minutes and 37 seconds. The answers have always been there but I was too blind from the sweat and poison ivy to ever see them:

  1. Stay patient and allow plants the time they need to establish themselves.
  2. Don’t force plants into your garden that you know will not thrive there.
  3. Stop the obsession of buying new plants; instead, divide what you already have. Those are free plants dummy.

I’ve dabbled in following these three garden tenets over the years but never fully dedicated myself to them until this year. And you know what? I’ve never enjoyed the garden more. I’m still working my ass off to the point of nearly passing out but I’m, get this, working SMARTER. Maybe it took reaching 50 years old to finally see the light. I’m well on my way to becoming a wise old sage.

Here’s the section of the garden that inspired today’s post.

I added the Carex and the Rudbeckia this spring/summer to finally fill in the front but, the greatest development, is the always increasing supply of Sneezeweed at the back.

I purchased three of these perennials (checks notes) back in 2011 and planted them in a spot where they never had a chance. Once in bloom, they easily toppled over.

Which in turn toppled me over.

Frustrated and pained, I dug them up and (checks notes) have no idea what I did next. I assume I transplanted one or two to where they are now, but honestly don’t recall doing it.

(Checks notes and old photos). OK, got something here. Back in 2014, I took this photo which is the spot where they all reside currently.

They’re about 50% of the height they are now and about 20% of the volume. The funny thing is I don’t remember seeing them much since then. They started to make their presence two years ago and I was giddy that they persevered. It took a lot of intestinal fortitude, but I left them alone.

There’s tenet #1. Patience.

Yay me.

And now they’re kicking ass, gaining the required support from the nearby grasses.

Let’s go back to the first photo on this post again as reference.

Remember tenet #2, grow what your conditions allow you to grow, or something like that? This vignette is loaded with plants that fit that mold. We’ve got the ubiquitous Joe Pye Weed, Miscanthus ‘Morning Light’ (back center), Pennisetum ‘Hameln’ in bloom (smack dab in the middle) and a bunch of yet to bloom Chelone ‘Hot Lips’ (middle right). All have thrived since the day they were first planted and I’ve continued to add them all in other spots in the garden.

For tenet #3, here are examples of plants I’ve divided and replanted with big time success.

Mountain Mint. It’s everywhere in my garden.

Bee balm. One division relocated soon becomes, like a lot as it spreads through rhizomes underground.

Lady’s Mantle. Last fall, I dug up 5 plants as they struggled in blazing full sun and moved them to this spot where they get some late afternoon relief. 5 became 12 and they’ve all grown in with vigor. I’d show you that vigor, but they’re a bit messy right now and my point won’t be proven so why would I do that?

And last but surely not least, we have Joseph Pye. While I’ve divided some, truthfully, it’s been more of an art of managing the reseeding. If it pops up where I like, it stays. If not, I move it to a location that makes it “look” like it naturally found its way there. Takes a little bit of babying initially, but once established, we good for years.

So there’s your lesson for the day.

You are so welcome.

Garden tour – 7/20/23

Posted on by Posted in Blooms, Ornamental grass, Perennials, Summer .

The purple coneflowers continue to multiply year over year and filled in this spot so swimmingly. In front of them are Allium that I like to think keep the critters away with their pungency and all. I also recently added a Little Bluestem ‘Standing Ovation’ here because, why not.

This vignette personifies what’s blooming all over my garden right now. Loads of bee balm, mountain mint and ‘Karl Foerster’ feather reed grass. All have remained full proof over the years. Well that’s a bit inaccurate. The bee balm does suffer from powdery mildew, but I just cut it down and it’s like it never happened.

More Bee Balm next to a recently reseeded Ironweed. I so love reseeding perennials that I like and hate it for those I hate. Deep stuff.

More Mountain Mint that I don’t recall planting in this location. See, gardening is easy.

And all the creatures that visit here thank me.

I share pics of the Verbena every post on this blog but I can’t get enough of them. They are the gift that keeps on giving with all of the reseeding year over year. That is cash saved and that is good.

And OMG do the butterflies, bees and moths spend a lot of time here. I couldn’t get a photo without the moths getting in the way …

… while I tried to snap this …

… and this …

… and this.

I have more Joe Pye Weed than I do any other plant in my garden. And they’re all on the precipice of blooming which transforms my garden as we head into the heart of summer.

Speaking of precipices, the Button Bush just recently displayed a host of those glorious buttons. Will be kicking ass in no time.

Triple the precipice pleasure as the Ironweed are about to bloom. I went nuts planting this after seeing it on the High Line in New York City. It’s getting out of control in an awesome way …

… where it will soon light up this section of garden.

Another little bluestem fronted by ‘Sweet Kate’ Spiderwort.

Let’s take a closer look at the beautiful color on this grass. Can’t get enough.

Just one more, sorry.

For the third year in a row now, one black-eyed Susan has bloomed within this Switch Grass. It makes me happy and I cherish the symbolism. Just not sure what that symbolism is quite yet.

Eradication

Posted on by Posted in Comedy, Garden problems .

I’ve been at war with poison ivy for close to two decades now and I’d like to think I’m winning. I’ve managed to keep it in check without my skin suffering and without it taking out any of my precious plants.

But this has been staring me in the face for some time now.

This poor Catmint has had the life sucked out of it and is real close to throwing in the towel. I’ve made half-hearted attempts to yank out the poison ivy vines from the base but it’s only been cosmetic. A brief interlude of what appears to be eradication but it’s only been fighting off the inevitable. Within days, it’s back and with a vengeance.

So while it may have been 94 degrees Fahrenheit, accompanied with a blistering and blinding sun yesterday afternoon, I set out to give my Nepeta well earned relief.

And ended up with a crime scene.

What a tangled mess. The poison ivy had wound itself around the base of the Catmint like a pissed off cobra. There was little I could do to salvage anything amongst the carnage.

But I did.

She lives to see another day.

Not much but it’s something. I’ll nurse her back to health and will employ a 24/7 watch on any mutha f’ers that try to get near her.

And if I’m being fully transparent, I had to keep something alive in the front bed. Otherwise I’d be left with four Catmint plants and I can’t be having an even number like that.

One works.

Three works.

Five works.

Six works because it’s 3 + 3.

Four never works.

A brief intermission or intermezzo, if you will, before we move on to more carnage.

Two photos of bees.

Enjoy.

Do you grow Dwarf Alberta Spruce?

Has it been successful?

Has the shape remained palatable all these years later?

My goal is to get all of my DAS to look like Grimace.

And that hasn’t happened.

I removed one a few weeks ago as mentioned on this here blog. A spur of the moment chainsaw moment. I didn’t capture any photos and vowed to correct that with the next one.

And here is the next one.

Baby got back, right?

Take a closer look at how abnormal this has grown.

From certain angles it could suffice.

But it was time to move on.

So off with its head, so I could start removing branch by branch, irritated wrists and forearms be damned.

And then the chainsaw chain got jammed and shut itself down. No worries, it’s an electric chainsaw, I’m not that rugged.

I spent a good hour attempting to fix it while sitting in the grass, frying my arse off. I tried a few You Tube videos without any luck. It’s still not fixed a day later and this is what I’m stuck with, a jacked up bonsai.

I moved and divided some Ajuga instead. And then it rained. Which was ideal.

To be continued.