A realization today.
I don’t like the combo of the Obedient Plant (Physostegia) ‘Vivid’ and Amsonia hubrichtii, as seen below.
I despise the look of the bright purple against the yellow/gold fall color. It’s garish. It’s wrong. And now I have to use this off season to figure out what I’m going to do here. Most likely the Amsonia stays and the Physostegia gets relocated.
The struggle is real.
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.
Still in denial that autumn is right around the corner.
The Veronica ‘Royal Candles’ are on their third flush of bloom this summer. Even though they look toasted after each bloom period with browning branches and general ugliness, they always bounce back for me.
After years of trying to grow anemone of any sort, I can finally say I’ve had some success. There are a ton of blooms originating from the one plant added here and there’s been massive spread in only a year’s time.
The deer did chow them down along the way this spring/summer so the bloom height is much shorter than expected.
But I’m not complaining.
… plant the Hydrangea in a container and hide it on your elevated deck.
This is ‘Little Lime’ hydrangea and I’m hoping I can keep her in this container year over year because those blooms are killer. I especially dig them right now as the pink hues emerge.
You’ve heard me say it many times before, but it’s worth repeating.
Obedient plant (this one is ‘Vivid’) can easily fill in an empty area in the garden in no time and prevent weeds from seeing the light of day. Yes, they are aggressive, but I find them easy to pull out where needed.
They are rapidly transforming into bloom as we speak.
Your weekly dose of ornamental grasses stealing the spotlight.
Here is a shot nearing dusk with the Miscanthus ‘Variegatus’ adding a nice pop of light and bright (don’t steal that phrase, I’m trademarking it).
And Panicum ‘Rots’ happily providing a happy background for Joey Pye.
This Panicum may have outgrown its spot but I’m in no rush to move it.
Not that I’m getting actual cash for my garden labor, but your feedback is really all the currency I need.
Did you just spit out your sweet tea? Too corny?
Regardless, it’s true.
Anyway, I continue to attack the garden with reckless abandon and fervor as I clean up the weeds, move things around and prune/tweak/deadhead here and there. This little clean-up below resulted in me going through three shirts, two pairs of shorts and about 49 mosquito bites.
Heat and humidity be damned.
It will be worth it if I can fill it in quickly and avoid the same weed issues heading into next year.
Same goes with the photo below.
While I’ve created a new path to traverse in the garden, that wasn’t the intention. I now need to find as many 3 to 4 foot in height perennials as I can so I can finish this section and finally move on.
Putting apple cider vinegar directly on your mosquito bites stops the itch better than any other topical option out on the market. I may smell vinegary in bed at night, but my wife is spared me waking up multiple times feverishly scratching my legs and moaning.
You’re welcome.
It takes this deep into the season for the front bed to truly shine as the grasses emerge, fall foliage color subtly appears and late summer blooms arrive.
A step back from the same scene …
… and another step back.
This mass started as only 7 small plants over a year ago. It has filled in at an insane level. I like.
I love me all different shades of green. I find this section of the garden soothing. Who’s with me?
I have stared at this scene for weeks now. I like it but I don’t. While it’s full and a good mix of flowers, foliage, texture, etc, something is amiss. I’m close to figuring it out but would appreciate your input.
This section of the garden is going to be the best in a few years. You can’t see it now but trust me, there is a lot going on here and it’s all awesome. I can’t wait to share it when it explodes in awesomeness.
The seed heads on the Baptisia transformed to dark black this week. I like.
This combo hasn’t been touched for three years now. That must be a record for me.
Panicum and Amsonia. But you knew that already because I talk about it every week.
Here is why Andropogon (Big Bluestem) is also known as turkeyfoot. You’re welcome.
The berries on the Viburnum ‘Emerald Lustre’ continue to explode. More than I’ve had in ten years of its existence. I like.
Fine, I’ll admit it. I don’t know what this white blooming plant is. I just know that I never planted it. It has fleshy stems that multiple like mad from year to year. Help a gardener out won’t you?
There are a bunch of Northern Sea Oats growing underneath this Itea ‘Henry’s Garnet’. It has created this bizarre mash-up that looks even stranger as the Itea develops its fall color.
The Chelone lyonii (Turtlehead) ‘Hot Lips’ typically look like crap by now. All of the flowers turn black and become an eye sore. Not this year so far. I like.
For those of you who bought my book, I specifically pointed out that Lady’s Mantle requires some extra attention once the blooms stop and the weather turns hot and dry in summer. I should probably follow my own advice next year.
Today’s tour is less “Oh what a great combination” or “Wow, what a beautiful garden you’ve composed” or “I need to add that to my garden” and more “That’s a problem” or “Hmmm, interesting”.
Enjoy
If you recall, I complained in a recent post about the coloration of my Tsuga (Canadian hemlock) ‘Moon Frost’. The new growth was yellow and not bright white as advertised.
I should be smacked around for such a petty complaint and smacked around even more for my lack of patience. Check out ‘Moon Frost’ just a week and a half later.
That is what I’m talking about!
Lesson learned: Be patient and then be even more patient when it comes to plant development.
I’m totally enamored with the shrub Sorbaria sorbifolia ‘Sem’ (I’m such a pompous ass for calling it that, let’s go with False Spirea ‘Sem’). The foliage color and leaf shape gives it such a presence in my overly green garden.
I posted a similar photo on Instagram and a thoughtful “follower” warned me of its desire to sucker like a champ.
Wouldn’t you know it, it didn’t take very long to come to fruition.
I have two of these in an area where they can fill in to their heart’s content but I’ll have to see how it all looks once the suckering kicks into high gear.
I don’t know that I’ve ever referenced my Serviceberry ‘Autumn Brilliance’ in a blog post. That has been intentional since it has been a big disappointment ever since it was planted back in 2011.
Here it is today, very top heavy in terms of foliage.
A lot of bare branches …
And don’t get me started on the flowers (little impact), the berries (virtually none) and the fall color (leaves don’t last beyond September). It has been let down city.
But … there may be happiness on the horizon.
I just noticed today that it is producing new branches with actual leaves from its base. I don’t need this to look like a tree. I just want leaves and foliage.
For the past two years, I’ve seen major re-seeding of Penstemon ‘Husker Red’ in my garden. New plants are popping up everywhere in spring now that I’ve refrained from cutting off the flowers and allowing the seeds to spread. I found that the flowers took away from the real selling point of this perennial, the dark foliage, so I’d chop them off as soon as they emerged. I’ve since changed my mind realizing the bees love the flowers and who can deny bees pleasure.
Upon closer inspection, it’s clear that the new seedlings do not match up perfectly in terms of size, color and leaf shape with the parent ‘Husker Red’.
Below, the plant on the left is a new seedling and the one on the right is the original plant.
The seedling is taller, not as dark in color and the leaves are larger.
The “original” ‘Husker Red’.
Hmmm, interesting.
Oh shit.
I’ll need some time to research which rust this is, but the color terrifies me already. My apple trees are still juvenile but I don’t want to see them fail so soon.
Exactly one year ago, I divided a bunch of Physostegia (Obedient plant) ‘Vivid’ and used it to fill in a bare area of the garden.
Mission accomplished quickly, check out the front of this bed.
If at first you succeed, do that same thing again.
This hurts. How did we get here?
I was shocked to find this one Astilbe alive and well. I planted three of them last summer and allowed them to burn to a crisp. I gave up hope this spring only to discover this gift this morning.
Light bulb moment: since there is only this one Astilbe and I have room in this newly developing shade container. Hmm.
One theme of my garden planning this spring has been massing plants where I can. With a large garden, massing is necessary to keep things in balance and to maximize impact. With that in mind, I bunched all of my Lady’s Mantle together and I’m thrilled with the results.
I’ve been cutting peony blooms at a rapid pace this past week so they can be enjoyed indoors and not droop to the ground with our excessive rain. I’ve supplied my wife with endless flowers that she is proudly displaying at her place of work. To say that her co-workers have … wait for it … wait for it … wait for it … peony envy is an understatement.
Unfortunately, that supply is dwindling.
Dividing an ornamental grass is no easy task, but it is time to do so with my Miscanthus ‘Morning Light’. The centers of all three grasses are empty …
… and they all look spent and in need of some rejuvenation.
Our insane dog gets loose at least once a week. When she does so she is gone for like 45 minutes and we have no chance of catching her. She eventually returns soaking wet, bleeding from her eyelids and covered in ticks. Fun.
We do our best to track her down to ensure she isn’t running in traffic or starting a brawl with the local coyotes.
Today I just want you all to know that I willingly ran over an ornamental grass in order to quickly initiate the hunt this past week via car.
I know my priorities.
She’ll bounce back.
The grass that is.
A few thoughts for today:
I cut back this one Agastache to the ground a few weeks back because it was dried to a crisp and did it ever put on nice new growth in no time. And then just this week this one bloom appeared. It feels so bittersweet since the real cold weather is just around the corner.
Valiant effort little guy.
True story: An unknown civilian called me over to their car in front of my home the other day. I assumed they were going to ask for directions but then realized, no one does that any more with Google and GPS right? I prepared for the worst and even prepared for an evil clown to emerge only to have them ask, “What is that bush over there? It is stunning.”
“Sir, that is Miscanthus purpurascens or Flame Grass for you common folk.”
Tremendous coloration, especially when back lit by the late afternoon sun.
It is better to be lucky than good.
Thank you and have a hell of a day.
Some observations from out in the garden:
This white bee balm is the only one to have survived last winter and while it is nice to see it blooming, it honestly doesn’t do much for me and the powdery mildew is real bad, worse than with all of the other bee balm. We don’t know until we try, right?
Right plant for the right location = happiness, as seen with the Physostegia (Obedient Plant) below. This first photo was taken back in May when I dug up and divided a massive batch of these and relocated them to my newly extended and very empty garden bed.
Two months later and they are thriving in a very wet and full sun location. I am very psyched for the massive pink display to arrive next month.
You’ve all seen all of my numerous pics of Veronica ‘Royal Candles’ and read my raving reviews of this perennial but in the spirit of my last post and with full disclosure, here is the reality of the “legs” on these right now.
Fortunately, I’ve shielded most of them with other low lying plants so the blooms remain the attraction.
I love how one ‘Karl Foerster’ grass (Calamagrostis) can break up a mass of perennials and not only lend a different height/uprightness, but a different texture as well.
I cleared this area of nasty Canada Thistle by cutting them all at soil level and not by attempting to pull out the roots like a dope which has failed me miserably for years now since it actually multiplies the number of weeds when pieces of root break off.
I will now finally track the results properly. Here is one example of the cutting.
And about one week later. I’m going to now cut it back again soon and will continue to do so until it kills itself by sapping all of the plant’s energy. Or so I hope. More to come.
I just purchased a few ‘Delft Lace’ Astilbes solely because I fell in love with the red stems and red tinged foliage. I’ll be sure to track this one for you and hopefully I don’t fry them since you know, they need constant moisture and it is the dead of summer. Smart.
My attempt at a path with a true destination worth visiting.
These purplish bee balm are incredible right now and are my favorite current place in the garden.Â
They are bringing in a ton of visitors.Â
Check out all of the action with this video.
A video posted by john markowski (@jmarkowski0) on
QOTD – Where do you purchase most of your plants? And I want specific names and locations please.
Thank you.
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. Â And now I look unprofessional. And my credibility is shot. And I just started three consecutive sentences with the word “and”. Pathetic:
