Mangaves

xHansara 'Jumping Jacks' with baby, newly split

 

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Here's a new one for even the most seasoned plant nerds. xHansara, named after our friend and mangave breeder Hans Hansen, is the first ever released tri-generic hybrid between Agave, Manfreda, and Polianthes (tuberose). xHansara 'Jumping Jacks' combines the genes of Agave gypsophila ssp. pablocarrilloi, Agave macroacantha, Manfreda maculosa, Polianthes tuberosa, and Polianthes howardii...whew, just thinking about all that sex makes me tired. xHansara 'Jumping Jacks' forms a 14" tall x 27" wide clump of narrow, succulent, grey-green foliage, sparsely spotted purple. When mature, which should take 2-3 years, expect a 6' tall, highly branched flower spike of lovely yellow flowers, but with an insignificant fragrance. Be sure to check both your state regulations and HOA covenants to make sure an outdoor menage-a-trois is permissible.

Well, I got a free plant at Walter's Gardens a few years ago.

And speaking of sex, my 'Jumping Jacks' had a baby. I separated them. Anybody want the baby? I have no more room for plants that need to winter indoors.

Hinoki Cypress

 

I learn something about my plants every year and every day.

As I adjusted the Christmas lights on my little (dwarf) hinoki cypress the first week of December I spotted little brown growths. I have shaken off the dead growth of hinoki in PVB's yard and in my daughter's yard. I have been up close and personal to this evergreen. I have never seen any tiny cones!

Of course, an evergreen produces cones. That is how it reproduces! Does it need a partner?

I haven't been able to find out much about the tiny cones yet, but the female specimen apparently produces green cones which develop into a reddish brown. 

So cute!

November Surprise

Limelight hydrangea, salvia and brunnera

We know what an October surprise is in an election year. Sometimes we have some late season surprises in the garden as well.  When something survives the first frost and re-blooms--that's a happy surprise.

Yesterday, on the first day of November, I took a photo of a forgotten patch in the backyard of my uncle's place, where nature has performed without any human assistance except a little recent weeding.

I was a little distressed when early last spring I found that the two large limelight hydrangea "trees" had been chopped down to the ground. Now they have regrown and produced late white blooms. A few mums have also survived here to bloom and one lone salvia has returned. A few basic brunnera grow here, too. Nothing was done to this patch--not a drop of extra water either. The maple in full glory provides a brilliant backdrop for this little fall vignette.

This was taken on a cloudy late afternoon (check out the grey sky between the leaves)--and yet, so bright and beautiful!

The Promise of a Plant

A special daylily

Many years ago--it might have been 5 or 6 (time flies when you are old!)--a former professor at my college promised me a slip of a daylily which he had purchased and been allowed to name by a hybridizer. It was maroon and gold, the colors of the college. And so he named it after the college. It was a unique cultivar (among the tens of thousands of others), and now I have a piece of it, growing in two different spots in my yard. And so does O.

I can't believe it took me so long, but I remembered, and he remembered, too. It had to be late summer, after the daylily had finished blooming. Year after year passed and I was worried he might pass on (he is in great shape and will probably live longer than I!) before I came to claim my unique specimen.

But on August 22 we found him home and happy to share.

I also found out that he cultivates 24 amaryllis bulbs (Amaryllis belladonna) according to a strict schedule which he had learned from someone who grew them in their native habitat in South Africa, including four distinct seasons, with 6 bulbs at any given time in the blooming phase, 6 of them are set outside for new summer growth, six of them are put in cold dormancy and six of them grow in a sunny window: bloom, grow and feed, dormancy, and new growth. His dormancy period is in their house refrigerator. He said his wife is very patient with him.

I am proud of my success with one amaryllis. A corner of my cement basement floor serves as my "fridge" in the winter months, but I don't follow a feed and growth regimen after flowering, so I will try to do better with that phase. A previous post this year shows the new baby amaryllis bulb which is likely still attached and feeding off the mother, having bloomed sequentially last spring.

Anyway, I quickly found two spots for my new small rhizome clumps (we left him plenty) which get a modest amount of sun in my shady yard.

Today as the sun came out after a good and welcome 2-inch rain, I took a photo of how one of the two has sprouted new growth since August.

Yes, these little things bring me joy, my new way to reflect about choices I make. The new thought (from daughter M.) is supposed to be a conscious way of thinking about getting rid of things that no longer bring joy--like most of the things in my basement. But so far, it has been applied more to food and flowers than to all the foolishness that is my basement!

Variegated Porcelain Berry Vine

It is very hard to capture the late summer beauty of this vine that I allow to grow (more than a little out of control) on my property and at Uncle J's. I even let it invade the rosa glauca where it entwines the branches with its variegated leaves and tiny flowers which the bees love--but alas the bee population is totally diminished in the area.

This enlarged and enhanced photo gives some notion of the range of colors of the berries that adorn this vine today--all the way to a peacocky turquoise. (Yes, peacocky is a word, at least on Words with Friends!)

And so I let this invasive vine have its way in my yard, ripping it down after frost or in the spring. And every berry that is not eaten potentially creates a new plant the next year (which pulls out easily).

My Tall and Proud Amaryllis

I can't resist one more post/pic of my amaryllis bulb in bloom, which I think is in its 8th year now under my care. And of course, I am the one with all the pride.

These are the last two blooms on the original bulb's stalk. One year it produced four blooms. But last year it had a baby. I found a larger pot for it this spring and the baby produced three blooms, earlier. Having a baby always takes a little out of you! However, the mother stalk grew a little taller than the upstart sidekick.

I am still experimenting a little with the new camera on my S9 Samsung phone, and the new photo editor. I applied an edit here which was called cozy. I like that. It just warms it up a tad.

My side yard (in view) is still a little undeveloped, but many hostas are yet to fill it in. Notice the tulip patch, which began to open up just yesterday. Now the blooms are closed due to last night's rain and cooler morning weather.

A Spring-clean Dump and a Naked Burger

Yard waste "dump" cleared - with a  fresh layer of gravel added

When you have several properties and gardens that you are in charge of, it is never too early to get started with spring cleanup! And unless you have a "back 40" composting area, you need to find a place for all that debris.

With the cold and very dry weather, the city decided to open up the Butterworth yard waste facility yesterday, March 23, a little early--a place we affectionately refer to as THE DUMP. City street pickup will begin April 2, so I happily took my bags away, rather than wait--and/or pay.

I am glad  to have a free facility available. Eventually all the debris gets chipped up for mulch. City brown bags are $2.50. I would guess we had a $35 load. And when you go with a friend, it becomes a pleasant activity. Especially with such a clean space (see above) and no smell. (It is not like that in July, with all the steaming lawn grass piled high).

And then the reward of a little lunch or treat.

Actually, that is how I bribed friend O. to pick me and my bags up, in her very large SUV.

We found that the yard waste facility was not only spring-clean and cleared, it was devoid of any other dumpers when we arrived around noon. I referenced that it was like a ghost (town?) dump, although there were 3 city workers on hand. A women made sure we were residents and two men helped us unload and shake out the dozen or so brown paper and contractor size plastic bags. I guess they were bored, with nothing else to do there--but I never before in all these years have had any help with a car load of bags. One guy noticed one of O's tires was a little low...

Yes, I bribed O. with the promise of a naked burger. At the usual nearby Mc Donalds. She had a triple cheeseburger with no bun--that's the naked part! She is eating low-carb. I am trying to get on that wagon as well, although I indulged with two topless burgers--with just one exposed bun-top, turned upside down, lol.

Spring 2018

Crocus popping through the euonymus ground cover

Looking for blooming signs of spring in the yard on the afternoon of the Spring Equinox, I found very little color, a little green, and lots of brown. It was sunny and chilly on this first day of Spring.

About to sprout blooms are the petasites japonica (butterbur), little patches of light green that precede the emergence of the giant dark green leaves which appear much later. These slightly invasive plants do well pond-side, but have managed to survive in my dry side yard under the trees. Sometimes on hot July days they lay down flat on the ground, perking up again after a shower.

Butterbur

The Lenten rose only needs a few more warm days before beginning to bloom. I planted it last fall, digging it out from Joanne's yard. I don't know whether it will start to bloom before Easter.

Lenten Rose

That's about it for blooms. No daffodils yet. No Kaufmanniana tulips. The other tulips are about 3-4 inches high.

Orientals - Lilies, that is

Opening day for Lillium 'Casa Blanca' 

Late July is when the Lillium 'Casa Blanca' finally blooms with its intoxicating scent. It is an old favorite of gardeners and was an old favorite of Frank, who planted it in the church garden many years ago. I have already shared shots of this lily everywhere I could.

The backdrop for the lilies includes annual blue salvia and red dragon wing begonias, but just outside of this photo frame, patches of bright yellow tall African marigolds are adding a bright note to the garden. So even though pink predominates in much of the garden, we have the primary colors well represented as well.

There are four main lilliums, the easter lily, the asiatic, the trumpet and the oriental, although a recent hybrid is becoming more popular, the orienpet.

I remember Frank bragging about the height and high bud count of the Casa Blanca lily at his condo. I hope he would be pleased that the Casa Blanca lilies have survived for years here at the church gardens that he dreamed up--and dreamed about all winter!

Right next to the Casa Blanca is a pink lily with a name unknown to me and not nearly as stunning. I photographed it after the sprinklers had spread the stain of its pollen. I was a day late and even though these flowers last a few days (unlike DAYlilies), it is ideal to photograph them at their peak--when they first open.

Another oriental beauty

A Patch of Daylilies

This evening on the way out of Uncle J.'s place, I snapped a shot of this gorgeous daylily on my phone, zoning in on it with selective focus.

The daylilies are the stars of the July garden. Last year deer jumped a back fence and dined on every single bud in the patch of daylilies pictured below. The bud counts are high and the stalks are about half spent now. I removed some of the collapsed "mushmummies" to tidy the appearance a bit. A few weeds remain in the mix, but these daylilies were certainly dominating the scene in gorgeous style today!

Turning an Endless Summer Hydrangea Blue

At the church where I am in charge of the flower gardens once again this year there are 10 Endless Summer hydrangeas that bloom in various shades of pink. There are three shrubs in the lower level shadier garden and I decided to try to turn them blue this year. I made sure I got the right stuff (purchased Espoma Organic Soil Acidifier in a blue bag) but I didn't apply it until early May. The instructions are to re-apply in 60 days or until desired shade is reached. Well, it might be too late for this year, because they are breaking into bloom this week, after a week of highs in the low 90's.

The above photo was taken today. One of the three hydrangeas is trending bluish! There is one blossom that is actually trending purple. 

Another established hydrangea which gets more sunshine is loaded with blooms, but nary a blue one yet--even though I treated them with similar amounts of the sulfur acidifier (otherwise known as aluminum sulfate).

Endless Summer Hydrangea loaded and ready to bloom big.

I have also planted (white) diamond frost euphorbia, white Sun (New Guinea) impatiens, white (the new hybrid) Bounce impatiens and blue/white lobelia, with the hope of a complete blue and white theme.

Oh well. Maybe next year I will achieve an all-blue look ...  if I remember to apply the sulfur!

But I think that the confused, multi-colored look is looking plenty gorgeous!

A Bouquet of Roses

Mother's Day flowers

For three days in Maitland, Florida I awoke to this fragrant bouquet of pink roses. I hope a few roses are still looking okay, one week later. I just couldn't take them with me on the plane. Anyway, I was allowed only one item, which required me to stuff my purse into my backpack and sort of shove it under my seat.

This bouquet looked so great in the clean all-white guest bathroom!

 By posting it here, a few more people can appreciate it.

Thanks so much, my favorite and best first-born daughter!

Liquid Fence and Tulips (with their heads chopped off)

Tulip head nipped in the bud

This morning I took a walk around the yard, the morning after a great spring rain, and found this tulip bloom snipped off and tossed aside into the sweet woodruff patch.

I got out the Liquid Fence and sprayed the tulips once again, and hit the emerging lilies as well.

I also decided to count the tulips in bloom (including a few bitten off heads) and those still with a viable bud.

I got to 96, with at least 6 blooms nipped in the bud, probably by squirrels. I have seen very little bunny damage this spring. I think they know my yard is stinky. Can squirrels smell?

I used to have over 150. I will have to start planting fall tulips again. My numbers are dwindling!

My patch (16) in the front lawn, at least 25 years old now, is blooming happily under my constant watch!

Cherry Trees are Blooming in the New Japanese Garden!

Cherry Tree Promenade - entry to Japanese Garden

Last year the new Japanese Garden at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park opened after the cherry trees had already bloomed, so this was the first year to experience the Promenade of Cherry Trees at the main entrance to the Japanese Gardens. The trees are young and still modest, but they were in full bloom when I visited the gardens midweek. They seemed unharmed by the snow and cold we experienced in early April. The day was overcast and the colors are muted, but I was happy to have the opportunity to walk the grounds and avoid any crowds of visitors

Another view close to the enormous rock

A contorted variety

Three Okame cherry trees were planted in 2012 near the entry to the garden.

Cherry Promenade from across the pond

Weeping cherry

A loaded branch

Two favorite rocks

Pine "leaning in"

Closeup of budding branch

A favorite secluded bench

The immaculate Zen garden 

The Japanese Garden is a remarkable place, a great place for a stroll, or a place to sit and meditate--if you have the time! Even when it is not yet all fully budded and bloomed, the garden has great beauty of design, gorgeous rocks, calming waterfalls--and today, all those pretty cherry trees!

Return of the Amaryllis

March 11, 2016

Yes, my one amaryllis bloomed again in early March, long before Easter this year. I even set it outside for a day in the sunshine. Two side shoots are forming. Will they bloom, too?

Summer Storm Returns

Hibiscus 'Summer Storm'

Today this bug-riddled Hibiscus returned in full glory, with four full unblemished blooms. I don't know what is eating it but I will find the insecticidal soap and hit it tomorrow.

Virginia Bluebells Return

Virginia bluebells return, blooming under the magnolia.

A Canna Blooming in my Sun Room

The daffs, a few Lenten Roses, pulmonaria and some early Kaufmanniana tulips--that's about it for color so far this Spring, but the cannas which I retrieved from M's yard waste can last November have come back to bloom again, a happy bit of yellow which I am anxious to get in the ground or a larger pot soon. But freezing night temps are predicted again this week and patience must prevail.

Amaryllis Blooms Again

Once again, the Amaryllis bloomed in April, blooming with one stalk, in triplicate. I did repot it last winter with a slightly larger pot. The first bloom happened while I was in NYC, first seen on April 6. This photo was taken on April 12. No second stalk evident so far, but again the bloom was very tall and striking.

Photo of the Day - Ornamental Kale

Here in zone 5 (5B or even 6A) this ornamental kale returned for a second year, becoming quite monstrous. We had heavy snow cover here in Michigan most of the winter, but I have never seen this kind of regrowth before. I am always pleased to see these kinds of anomalies in the garden. It keeps things interesting!

A second kale also returned (bottom right), out of the three that had been planted the previous fall here in client P's front yard, but remained more modest in size.

Photo of the Day - Pink Hibiscus Hedge

On a street near where I live my eye caught a whole lot of pink blooms today. I turned my car around to take a photo. It was a whole hedge of hibiscus. Wow.

Photo of the Day - Asiatic Lily after the rain

Photo of the Day - Juneberry aka Serviceberry or Amelanchier

Lupine in the Church Garden

Planted in May of 2013, the three lupine plants in the church garden came into their full glory in early June this year. Like over-sized exclamation points, they demand notice. Blooming simultaneously with the iris, they dominated the small annuals, planted the previous week and struggling to establish in the hot sun. The spectacular flowers of the lupines (or lupins) are not to be ignored, but sadly, they soon fade like most perennials. Their foliage usually remains interesting. I hope they survive the heat of summer in this sunny location and return another day.

The Perfect Pink Peony