Cypella coelestis closeup

We’ve just started a bracing bit of fall weather and it’s time to update on a few items that are happening on the hill.  About two weeks ago, before we left for a wonderfully relaxing week on Cape Cod, we had our first glimpse of the Cypella coelestis that I brought home from Plant Delights this spring.  This is another elegant member of the iris family that should be just barely hardy in our area.  I took several pictures the morning I saw it in bloom but by afternoon it had already faded.  This is truely one of those ephemeral garden treasures…

Cypella coelestis

Another treasure from Plant Delights is the little rain lily ‘Lily Pies’.  It lasts a little longer than the Coelestis but you had better pay attention while it is in bloom because it very much deserves looking at.

Zephyranthes ‘Lily Pies’

I mentioned earlier the brilliant blue gentian that I’ve added to the garden this year.  Here is a better shot of this colorful perennial.

Gentiana ‘True Blue’

Unfortunately the rabbits have taken to cutting the flowers off to spite me.  They don’t eat them — they just cut them off.

Nearby, the Prairie Sun have mostly managed to get to flowering height and they remind one of why they are well worth growing even if they are not reliably hardy here.  What a beautiful blend of yellow shades with that green at the center.

Rudbeckia ‘Prairie Sun’ detail

Lastly, the other important addition is the new greenhouse that is under construction.  After years of contemplating we are putting up a 10 x 14 greenhouse in the vegetable garden.  It’s a kit from BC greenhouses with aluminum frame and twinwall polycarbonate walls.  We’re putting it on a 30 inch kneewall to allow for a ceiling fan, hanging plants and lots of plant height.  In some sense it will be a little cathedral for plants.

Greenhouse trenching

Greenhouse trench

Greenhouse kneewall forms

Not only will the greenhouse allow us to carry over the citrus that currently survive in the basement over the winter, but we should be able to start plants for an earlier springtime planting.  This is going to be fun!