Daily Garden Photo – Blue Winged Wasp

Posted on September 5, 2023 by jmarkowski Posted in Critters .

I did it.

I made it to day two.

Rejoice.

Your pic of the day:

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.

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.
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.

Stages of decay

Posted on October 23, 2018 by jmarkowski Posted in Fall color .

Verbena bonariensis still holding on well into October. Here’s hoping they all reseed like mad for next year.

Appalachian mountain mint has been a solid addition with the blooms only recently showing signs of decline.

It’s worth keeping the Astilbe blooms even after the blooms are spent.

Hoary mountain mint foliage still shining even if the blooms have seen better days.

Turtlehead foliage in what I like to call the golden hue phase.

Those last stubborn flowers remind us of what was. I’d actually like that time back if it’s an option?

Fall color on Fothergilla ‘Mt. Airy’.

Scarlet autumn color on the aptly named Itea ‘Henry’s Garnet’.

“Coneflower down”. I repeat coneflower down“.

The end is near for John’s garden 2018.

Tour of the garden – 10/26/17

Posted on October 26, 2017 by jmarkowski Posted in My garden, Ornamental grass .

Ego boost of the week

After my daughter’s recent field hockey game, my parents returned to our house with us to watch the New York Giants football game. They live in Pennsylvania and don’t get the New York CBS feed. We fortunately get the CBS feed from both New York and Philadelphia.

Irrelevant info but I gave it to you any way.

As my mom got out of the car, it was approximately 4:21 PM EST. That is when the sun illuminates so many of my ornamental grasses.

Even she, non-grass aficionado, had to comment on the Indian Grass that greets you at the end of my driveway.

I won the day.

Panicum ‘Northwind’

Fun fact #1 – this native grass won Perennial Plant of the Year in 2014 by the Perennial Plant Association (PPA).

Fun fact #2 – the name “Northwind” is based on Northwind Perennial Farm, where its owner, Roy Diblik, discovered the grass after collecting its seed near a railroad track in Illinois in 1982.

Fun fact #3 – the fall color is friggin underrated.

More autumn grass love

This hydrangea sucks all year

‘Lady in Red’ hydrangea has been a disappointment ever since I added it to my garden back in 2007.

Virtually no blooms and the advertised darker foliage has yet to emerge.

This is it at what I’ll sarcastically call its “peak”.

The view

This is what I see when I immediately look right after walking out my front door.

Ninebark ‘Diablo’ basking in the autumn sun with a gold-soaked Panicum in the background.

I like it. A lot.

Amsonia, yet again

Another week, another Amsonia money shot. These were planted only two years ago and they’re already making an impact. This one is Amsonia hubrictii.

Amsonia ‘Blue Ice’, more of a groundcover, is just starting to strut its autumn hues.

Boring

But I like it.

I see dead flowers

I added Hypericum ‘Blue Velvet’ this spring because I love the blue foliage. The yellow flowers are OK but I look at it as a foliage plant.

Call me odd, but I really dig the dark brown seed heads that have recently emerged.

Speaking of dying plants

The slow death of the Mountain Mint is kind of … attractive in its own way. Very seasonally appropriate may be a more accurate description.

Grass reviews

This is Molinia ‘Cordoba’. The straw-colored panicles are way impressive even if the grass itself is kind of drab. I know I can improve upon its location in the garden and will be studying it all winter. Most likely I’ll look to hide the foliage behind taller plants so only the panicles are visible.

This is Pennisetum ‘Burgundy Bunny’. I’ve got 5 planted along a walkway and while the foliage color is fantastic, the blooms have been sporadic and they are taking some time to get established.

More wait and see for next year.

Don’t judge. I think this is Calamagrostis brachythricha which I know I ordered online a year or so ago but can’t account for its location. I have high hopes for this one based on its universal love from other grass enthusiasts.

If this is a different grass, this photo will be deleted and you shall never speak of it again.

The first tour of my garden in 2017

Posted on April 12, 2017 by jmarkowski Posted in Spring .

Daffodils in bloom

Some of the Narcissus (Daffodils) are in bloom now, no doubt pushed by the 80 degree temps we had here in New Jersey yesterday.

Flowers soon to arrive

Viburnum carlesii.

The tiny Muscari.

Golden ragwort (Packera aurea).

Daffodils that will hide the recently cut down ornamental grass.

More daffodils, ‘Kokopelli’, on the way.

New foliage growth, almost as exciting as the flowers

This is Sorbaria sorbifolia ‘Sem’ or False Spirea. Say that 5 times fast.

I get a lot of anxiety in early spring, fearful of what plants didn’t survive the winter. While this pic of Hydrangea ‘Little Lime’ may mean little to you, it means the world to me. I’m so thankful to have her back for another year considering I recklessly moved her around three times last summer.

This is the plant I’m most excited to watch progress this year. It’s Filipendula rubra (Queen of the Prairie). This will be its third year in my garden and I hope it can reach upwards of 6 feet in height with plenty of pale pink flowers in summer.

This is Diervilla sessilifolia (Southern Bush Honeysuckle) with its variegated foliage emerging over a mass of Bee Balm rosettes. This combo should be killer by early summer.

Photos that make me think

Baptisia is here, yeah. So are the weeds, boo.

I like to sing the praises of Bee Balm (Monarda) and its agressive nature, but this spring they have marched into enemy territory. Enemy territory being other perennials. Here it is challenging Heuchera (Coral Bells). I think we know who will win.

I am way excited to see that tulips have, knock on wood, survived the winter and appear ready to bloom. Even better is the fact that this small ornamental grass will strategically cover the decaying tulip foliage as it gets larger with the warmer temps. Hopefully by allowing the tulip foliage to decay, it will energize the bulbs and provide a repeat display of flowering next spring.

I’m totally cool with the Leucojum aestivum (Summer Snowflake) expanding its colony even if it’s underneath this evergreen shrub. I say “evergreen shrub” because I can’t recall the name even after a search through my garden archives.

Finally, and I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but I can’t bring myself to cut down this pairing. I’ve loved it all fall and winter and can’t end it quite yet. It is Little Bluestem grass, with its stellar orange hue, and Mountain Mint with its still upright seed heads.

I’m going to enjoy it for a few more days before cutting them both to the ground.

In and around the November garden

Posted on November 22, 2016 by jmarkowski Posted in Bulbs, Fall color, My garden, Ornamental grass, Plant shopping .

What have I been up to of late?

Glad you asked.

I finally got around to installing my Screech Owl house. Fine, I didn’t physically install it so much as I was an active gofer for my handy brother-in-law who fortunately lives two houses away.

You all know me too well.

The owl house was installed during the day on Saturday at a temperature close to 70 degrees and got its first test that night when we had gusting winds and almost 2 inches of snow.

Yay, November.

Who can resist a good late season plant sale? How about this monster bargain:

50 cents x 3 is so worth the risk of getting these through the winter. They are all Carex buchananii ‘Red Rooster’.

I consider it research for my ornamental grasses book.

A tax write-off.

Wish me luck.

Some times you just have a feeling.

Some times your gut tells you to just do it.

Some times you need it.

As silly as that all sounds, it all added up to me attempting to grow tulips successfully for the first time ever (not including in containers).

There is a deeper meaning at play here and one I’ll never talk about.

I need this to work and I’m confident that it will.

Tulips don’t dig the wet winter soil and that has been my problem for decades.

Until 2017 that is.

We now wait until spring where my blind faith will hopefully pay huge dividends.

Beyond all that, I’ve been doing my best to soak in what is left in terms of color out in the garden.

Spirea nipponica ‘Snowmound’

Heuchera

Rhamnus frangula ‘Fine Line’

Pycnanthemum incanum (Hoary mountain mint)

And you know, ornamental grasses.

Deer resistant perennials for wet soil

Posted on January 11, 2015 by jmarkowski Posted in Deer, How-to, Perennials .

A friend in town, who only recently became aware of this life changing blog, asked me for some plant recommendations. Oh shit. Typically I am not a fan of doling out plant advice because the pressure can become crippling.

If the recommended plant doesn’t survive, I’m scorned at the next basketball game.

If the suggested choice can’t be found at the local nursery, I’m no longer trusted and the kids aren’t invited to any more birthday parties.

But I’m putting it all on the line today.

Without fear.

I am that confident with the choices I’m about to offer up. The following perennials (staying away from grasses for now; he’ll have to buy me lunch first) are very specific to the conditions we have here in zone 6B New Jersey. Throw in deer and rabbits galore. And a high water table which leads to very poor draining soil.

So my local homey, here are the top 7 perennials that I can vouch for based on my personal experience. Each has thrived for at least 5 years running and all show no signs of slowing down.

Click on the hyperlink for each plant name for additional info where applicable.

You are welcome in advance.

#1 – Joe Pye Weed – close to 6 feet tall, blooms are long lasting, attracts numerous critters and looks good all the way into the fall.

#2 – Amsonia – the deer have never touched it, great bluish blooms in spring followed by fine textured foliage all summer. But Fall is when it shines with unbelievable colors ranging from yellow to orange.

#3 – Astilbe – no critter has ever touched it, appreciates oodles of moisture, blooms in white and pink and red in late spring and the fern like foliage separates itself from others.

#4 – Bee Balm – the scent keeps the deer at bay, the bees flock to it and the blooms last all summer and even into fall. I personally love the taller options which make their presence known in the garden.

#5 – Purple Coneflower – yes they are everywhere but it is still an oldie but goodie. Multiplies like mad so there is a full supply year to year. Consistent blooms without a care in the world.

#6 – Lobelia – cherishes the waterlogged soil and provides late summer blooms.

#7 – Mountain Mint – not the showiest, but what a critter magnet. I could stand over these in bloom all day.

We’ll talk again in spring dude but start doing your homework now if you want to continue to hang with me.

Assessing the blooms

Posted on June 26, 2013 by jmarkowski Posted in Blooms .

It is a shock to see actual healthy looking blooms out in the yard this time of year. Even a blind squirrel …

OK, enough of the false modesty, here is what I am seeing in good old rural New Jersey this early summer 2013:

Yes, they are everywhere, but I still love the combo of purple coneflowers and russian sage, especially when the coneflowers actively re-seed, giving it all a much more natural look:

Monarda (Bee Balm) ‘Colrain Red’ in front of a soon to be blooming Clethra ‘Hummingbird’:

The first signs of bloom on ‘Baby Joe’ Joe Pye Weed. I am so psyched to have located these dwarf versions of the original:

Plant name, no idea; it is everywhere in the wild growth around my property and some snuck into my man-made garden. Pretty cool:

Asclepias incarnata (Swamp Milkweed) emerging (in front of Panicum ‘Northwind’):

Mountain Mint is so understated but that is why I love it … that and all the bugs it attracts:

I have no idea which phlox this is; got three for $1.99 and I couldn’t resist, powdery mildew be damned:

The Obsessive Neurotic Gardener

Tag Archives: mountain mint