Haemanthus humilis ssp. humilis
Let me lead off with this lovely South African native that I featured in my last post. Â It is still fully flowering following our recent travels and you can see how lovely it is. Â Like many of the South African bulbs it is growing in our greenhouse (probably would go to zone 8, but that’s not us). Â It’s well worth the wait to finally see this in flower.
Haemanthus humilis ssp. humilis
Outside we have many flowers in bloom right now, as do most gardens I suspect. Â The staggering fragrance of lilies calls for first attention.
Lilium ‘Anastastia’
Every year the lilies seem to come back and dominate the summer. Â Anastastia is a particularly tall and strong Oriental/Trumpet hybrid.
Lily Oriental-Trumpet ‘Anastasia’
Another reliable Orienpet is ‘Scherezade’.
Lilium Oriental/Trumpet Scheherazade
It makes for a spectacular display in the house.
Lilium ‘Scheherezade’ arrangment
Other lilies of note follow
Orienpet Lily ‘Pretty Woman’
Lilium ‘Casablanca’
And then there are the daylilies, a different genus but similar in many ways.
Red Daylily
Outrageously golden daylily
And let us not forget the iris family. Â Several types of Crocosmia are in bloom right now too.
Crocosmia – x crocosmiiflora ‘George Davison’
And our winter was gentle enough that the gladiolas that I failed to dig last year all came back in abundance. Â It’s the best crop of glads we have ever had. Â They’ve been blooming for a month now.
Glads in abundance, including ‘Margaret Rose’ and ‘Jester’
The Echinacea in the front bed are putting on a fine show right now.
Echinacea in the front bed
And the sunflowers are abundantly flowering in the vegetable garden in many sizes and colors.
Sunflower
Burnt-colored Sunflower
In the alpine bed the first flowers are showing on the Gentian paradoxa, and this earlier than I ever remember seeing them in bloom.
Gentian paradoxa
Altogether it’s a fine showing for Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day, as evident by Beth’s flower vase arrangement.
Some of Beth’s flower pickings for today in the late afternoon sunlight
Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day May 2017
Horned Poppy (Glaucium flavum)
Wow, a very busy day yesterday in gardenland.  I discovered the horned poppy shown above had returned after a year’s absence in flowering as I was catching up with the vegetable garden on an absolutely gorgeous spring day here in Maryland.  My cup runneth over with chores at this time of year, but the weather has been most cooperative (at last!).  I tilled the garden, finished weeding the strawberries, planted out the veggies started in the basement, seeded much of the rest of the garden, put in more glads and dahlias, and meanwhile Beth and Josh were weeding and pruning like mad.
Getting the garden planted
As usual on Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day I will share some of the flowers of interest blooming around the yard. Â It’s worthwhile to step back from my close-up images to see the wide array of flowering plants right now.
Front Garden Circle
I’ve noticed that some folks tend to think of ‘garden’ as the larger scale perspective, whereas I often get caught up with the specific flowers. Â This little blossom on the Kalmiopsis leachiana, for example, is almost hidden amidst the surrounding Daphne.
Kalmiopsis leachiana amid daphne spent flowers
Another small distinctive flower that first bloomed last fall and is repeating already is this little Delphinium.
Delphinium cashmerianum
A constant volunteer for us is this little pink columbine that we inherited from Beth’s mother.
Aquilegia light pink
In the garden leading to the greenhouse gateway, there is a floriferous Callirhoe variant.
Callirhoe involucrata var. lineariloba ‘Logan Calhoun’
A quite distinctive plant is this allium which is just finished blooming and looks like it has little onions for seed pods.
Allium (nectaroscordum) tripedale
The very fragrant Rhododendron ‘Viscosepala’ is also just at the end of its blooming.
Rhododendron ‘Viscosepala’
By the back porch there is a lovely Bougainvillea that has overwintered in the greenhouse.
Bougainvillea pink and white
Of course, it’s hard not to miss the peonies in May.
Paonia ‘Sweet Shelly’
We also have yellow flowered peony that has been with us for thirty years.
Yellow Shrub Peony
The name has long since disappeared.
And the old stalwart, Festiva Maxima.
Paonia ‘Festiva Maxima’
We brought this one with us from Alexandria in 1975 and have planted it in many places around the property. Â It thrives everywhere, even in the pasture with no real care. Â The fragrance is wonderful and they make great cut flowers.
Paonia ‘Festiva Maxima’
Another plant that thrives on neglect is Baptisia.
Baptisia x variicolor ‘Twilite Prairieblues’
These grow right by the pasture with no assistance whatsoever.
The various iris species also have a celebration time in May.
Bearded Iris pink cultivar
Iris tectorum
At the back of the garage we have very large Black Lace Elderberry that is fully in flower right now.
Black Lace Elderberry (Sambucus nigra)
One of my favorite alpine plants is the Edrianthus pumilo which grows in a nicely formed cushion in the Large Trough by the greenhouse.
Edrianthus pumilo
Let me leave you with a couple of the birds which have shown up recently in the yard. Â First a bluebird which is probably nested nearby.
Bluebird salute
And a Yellow-rumped warbler which is more likely just passing through but is the first instance I’ve seen on our hillside.
Yellow -rumped Warbler
Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day March 2017
Pulsatilla grandis
We’ve just had messy snowfall that has undone a lot of the progress that we had made toward Springtime. Â However, I will share a some of the flowers as they were before the snow, including the above lovely Pasque Flower which is about to show its purple flower in the new alpine bed.
Next to the Pulsatilla is this cute little Ornithogalum that flowers completely flat to the surface of the ground.
Ornithogalum fimbriatum
Ornithogalum fimbriatum
Also in the alpine bed is a new Corydalis
Corydalis shanginii ssp, ainae compact form
The hepaticas have continued to appear. Â Small little jewels.
Hepatica nobilis v. pyrenaica
Hepatica nobilis pink
Hepatica americana
Hepatica japonica red/white
Meanwhile the Adonis is still providing interest.
Adonis amurensis ‘Sandanzaki’ backside
And we planted the wonderful Primula vulgaris after visiting England in 2008. Â They are prospering in various parts of the yard.
Primula vulgaris under the apple tree
Meanwhile the first of the Glory of the Snow is starting to flower.
Glory of the Snow (Chionodoxa)
These are happily growing in the yard and the pasture.
Finally in the yard and the woods the scilla are growing now.
Scilla siberica ‘Spring Beauty’
The stamens are a wonderful shade of blue.
It’s hard to ignore some of the lovely things happening in the greenhouse as well. Â In particular the ferrarias are now starting to flower.
Ferraria crispa
And some of the other south africans
Babiana rubrocyanea
Freesia ‘Red River’
Gladiolus sp.?
Sparaxis in a basket
Sparaxis hadeco hybrid pink
Spring is happening both outside and in the greenhouse. Â What can you contribute to Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day.
Catching up
Adonis amurensis Chichibu Beni
We returned from traveling last week to find that the plants had been growing without us. Â I need to do just a little catch up on what we found on our return because some of the plants are truly special. Â The Adonis shown above is one of the best special varieties that you can buy for only a second mortgage on your garage. Â Some of the others might require selling your garage. Â This is the first year when it is clear that the clump is establishing itself and flourishing.
Adonis amurensis ‘Chichibu Beni’
It is truly spectacular.
Meanwhile the Adonis fujukaki is easily the most vigorous and visible of the Adonis clan. Â At least around here.
Adonis ‘Fukujukai’
Meanwhile another that I have been calling garden variety Adonis amurensis has impressed me once again with the brilliant shiny petals.
Adonis ‘Shiny Petal’
I’m not sure that it is the standard species at all. Â Note how it does not possess a normal number of stamens. Â I’ve got a couple of seedlings coming along and I think they were from this plant. Â We’ll see what happens.
Of course the one Adonis that originally caught my eye was Adonis amurensis ‘Sandanzaki’ which has this incredible lion’s mane of green feathers around the third series of petals. Â Totally unique.
Adonis amurensis ‘Sandansaki’
Lest I am accused of Adonis mania, I will also note that we have a Jeffersonia that blooms well in advance of its colleagues. Â And it is a standard Jeffersonia dubia with the violet petals, yellow stamens, and green ovary.
Jeffersonia dubia
But last year, my son gave me a special new Jeffersonia from Garden Visions that Darryl Probst brought back from Korea.  It has dark stamens and a purple ovary.
Jeffersonia dubia ‘Dark Centers’
It’s quite different and seems to be lasting quite well.
Another plant that is early for its kinfolk is the Hepatica nobilis pink. Â Note the cute little stamens on these guys as well.
Hepatica nobilis pink
A pretty plant that shows up this time of year but never quite fulfills its potential is Helleborus thibetanus
Helleborus thibetanus
I have yet to get it to fully open to the camera.
Next to the greenhouse in a trough is a pretty little clump of Draba acaulis that seem to have suffered from last summer’s dryness.
Draba acaulis
And inside the greenhouse is another plant with remarkable colored stamens.
Scilla cilicica
Scilla cilicica stamens
These should be hardy outside and I need to give them a trial.
I had also promised more Moraeas and this is one.
Moraea vegeta
I also have an image to share of the fully open Enkianthus quinqueflorus.
Einkianthus quinqueflorus
Finally in the Alpine bed there was beautiful Fritillaria that was a distinctive showpiece.
Fritillaria stenanthera ‘Karatau’
Fritillaria stenanthera ‘Karatau’
Collecting Rocks
Pink Marble Rock showing lots of white
One thing that a rock garden needs is rocks, so I am always in the market for interesting rocks. Â When the local chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society said it was planning a trip to a local quarry to harvest rocks, I was all for it. Â Especially on Inauguration Day when I wanted some productive distraction.
It was a rainy overcast day which didn’t help the aspect of driving into the quarry which is almost canyon-like after years of harvesting rock. Â Despite the mud and wet, cold weather it’s actually a very beautiful place which you would never see unless you were part of a similar expedition.
Entering the Quarry
The slope was steep enough that having my wheelbarrow was less use than I expected, unless you are accustomed to pushing up 30 degree slopes.
Lot’s of Rocks but on a steep hill for getting them out
The most desirable rock was (of course) at the bottom of the hill.
The beautiful pink marble was near the bottom of the hill
By the time I got each individual rock up to the truck I was huffing and puffing like a steam engine. Â Nonetheless they were worth the effort.
Pink Marble Rock
I had two concerns that limited my collecting efforts.  One, the sheer physical difficulty, and then two, the fact that the truck was parked on a steep muddy hill and whether I would be able to get it out again.
Cars were parked at the bottom of a muddy road.
Truck wishing it was 4-wheel drive
Turn-around spot was a mud-hole
However, I did manage to get out with only a mild amount of wheel spinning.
Some of the rocks had beautiful crystalline structure.
Rock showing lots of calcite crystals
And one very special rock up at the office illustrated what limestone can do.
Complex limestone formation
In the end I only brought home about a dozen rocks but they are beautiful and I’m sure they will find a place in our gardens.
Rock harvest
If the club runs a similar field trip in the future I am ready to sign up for a repeat visit.
Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day November 2016
Daphne collina x cneorum
It seems appropriate for this Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day to give due credit to this little dwarf Daphne which has bloomed on and off in the Alpine bed since April. Â The flowers (like most Daphnes) are very fragrant and the plant has prospered in the Alpine bed despite my placing it in a spot between two rocks where it seemed to me most appropriate to its small size. Â And it’s much bigger now, though still very pleasing.
Even the Winter Daphne which I moved into the sunshine this year after torturing it in the deep shade for several years seems to be enjoying its exposure to the elements.
Winter Daphne (Daphne odora)
It’s out by the front fence in some of the poorest soil on our hillside. Â We shall see how it survives. Â The Edgeworthia, its new neighbor, has put out some fat buds so maybe it’s not as bad a location as I imagined.
Our weather has flirted with frost but we haven’t really had a hard, killing frost yet. Â That has let some of the hardier plants continue to flower. Â Here are just a few of them.
Snapdragons
Chrysanthemum
Pineapple Sage
A few remaining Fall Crocus
Lantana
The Lantana is one of the feature plants that will tell me when it has gotten really cold, and I should take the citrus to the basement.
As we go back to the Alpine bed, another plant that has bloomed for a long time (essentially nine months) is the Erodium chrysanthum.
Erodium chrysanthum
It’s close relative, the alpine geranium, is also fond of flowering every day.
Alpine Geranium (Erodium reichardii ‘Roseum’)
What has been particularly surprising this fall is the Delphinium cashmerianum.
Delphinium cashmerianum
Delphinium cashmerianum full plant
Retreating finally into the greenhouse (which will be my refuge before long) I want to share the bright red flowers of the a little Aptenia that I grew from a cutting (thank you Marianne!)
Aptenia cordifolia ‘Red Apple’
And the tiny little flowers of Polyxena ensifolia which looks much bigger on the web.
Polyxena ensifolia
Perhaps mine will grow up some day…
Besides myriad Oxalis, there is also a pot of Cyclamen worthy of note.
Cyclamen hederifolium ‘Perlenteppich’
These are pure white with lovely leaves.
Finally I will finish up with the first Camellia of this season. Â Beth picked it before I could photograph it in place, but it’s another reminder of what an extended Fall season we have had.
Camellia japonica
Post-Election
Gaillardia in Tears
I awoke this morning to find that the world around me was in tears.  In no way could I imagine that the U.S. could elect an ignorant charlatan to the highest office in the land.  I am profoundly ashamed of the system that takes two years of campaigning at enormous expense to arrive at this terrible state of affairs.  I’ll take a parliamentary system any day as a more effective representative government.  I have no idea how to fix the cultural divide between those who think that knowledge is a flexible thing to be bent to one’s whims and those who respect education and the country’s historic values.
I can think of nothing more appropriate to the moment than to quote a letter from E.B. White that appears on the wonderful Letters of Note website
North Brooklin, Maine
30 March 1973
Dear Mr. Nadeau:
As long as there is one upright man, as long as there is one compassionate woman, the contagion may spread and the scene is not desolate. Hope is the thing that is left to us, in a bad time. I shall get up Sunday morning and wind the clock, as a contribution to order and steadfastness.
Sailors have an expression about the weather: they say, the weather is a great bluffer. I guess the same is true of our human society—things can look dark, then a break shows in the clouds, and all is changed, sometimes rather suddenly. It is quite obvious that the human race has made a queer mess of life on this planet. But as a people we probably harbor seeds of goodness that have lain for a long time waiting to sprout when the conditions are right. Man’s curiosity, his relentlessness, his inventiveness, his ingenuity have led him into deep trouble. We can only hope that these same traits will enable him to claw his way out.
Hang on to your hat. Hang on to your hope. And wind the clock, for tomorrow is another day.
Sincerely,Â
(Signed, ‘E. B. White’)
Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day September 2016
Nasturtium
It has been a generally hot and dry (read depressing) summer for our garden).  In early August we awoke to find that we had drawn down the well with watering and so had to forego our normal watering plan.  So my looks around the garden prior to Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day were fewer than they might otherwise have been.  We did still water Beth’s new raised bed and the Nasturtiums and Calendulas have responded by blooming all summer long and into the Fall.
Calendula
Many of the other flowers in bloom are a testament to how well some species can survive in adversity.
Alstroemeria ‘Sweet Laura’
Garlic Chives (Allium tuberosum)
Venturing out onto our ultra-dry hillside which never gets watered at all anymore, I found several champions of the survival school.
Buddleia
Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
Crepe Myrtle
Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’
Notice the spider on the Lemon Queen and it’s very adaptive coloration.
Spider on Lemon Queen
The butterflies are also very attracted to Lemon Queen.
butterfly on Lemon Queen
I also saw a lovely Monarch Butterfly on the Tithonia in the vegetable garden.
Monarch on Tithonia
One very noteworthy Fall-blooming flower is the Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’.  I’m becoming more of a fan every year and it’s a good thing because it keeps spreading of its own volition.
Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’
Another fall bloomer was a bit of a surprise. Â This Sweet Autumn Clematis was something I pulled out three years ago and I was surprised to see it return in two separate places this year.
Sweet Autumn Clematis (Clematis terniflora)
It’s a lovely flower but can get too aggressive if left to its own devices. Â I will probably try to transplant it to the woods.
In the alpine beds I have two erodiums that are returning to bloom right now.
Erodium chrysantha
Erodium
In the greenhouse I have just finished restarting all the oxalis. Â At the same time the Bulbine has come back into flower.
Bulbine frutescens
And one of the cyclamens has taken on a very distinctive flowering by simply spilling over the edge of the pot with a great many flowers and no leaves at all.
Cyclamen graecum
Lastly just to note that man (or woman) does not live by flowers alone. Â The raspberries are joining the apples as delectable fruits to be harvested this month.
raspberries ready for harvest again