New Additions in 2010

There were a lot of new things added to my garden this season.  This list includes bulbs, seeds, perennials, trees, shrubs and native plants.  Here is my list and an update on their progress thus far:

1. Rosa ‘Morning Magic’ – this was a must have for the arbor garden arch.  The first one did so well in its’ first season, I added another one.
2. Cup Plant – a native plant purchase that I think succumbed to our hot & dry summer.  Hope it comes back though.
3. ‘Coral Bark’  Japanese Maple tree seedling – It has doubled in size since May. Will stay in pot  for another year or two I think.
4. Vitex agnus-castus tree seedling – tripled in size since May and bloomed this summer. Hope to get it planted this month in the ground.
5. Evening Primrose ‘Twilight’ – moved to another spot this fall since it wasn’t doing much in the initial place. New growth appearing.
6. Delphinium ‘Delfix Blue’ – unfortunately I think I lost this plant to the summer heat. 
7. Penstemon ‘Red Riding Hood’ – another casualty from this summer
8. Abelia grandiflora x ‘Little Richard’ – doing great in it’s new spot and putting out new growth
9. Korean Lilac – has lost some foliage but is holding on I think
10. Catmint ‘Walkers Low’ – bloomed pretty well this summer and is still full of green foliage
11. Ladies Tresses – native orchid that bloomed this fall and is doing good so far
12. Carolina Bushpea – planted this fall and is putting out new growth
13. Ironweed – planted this fall but seems a bit stagnant so far
14. Marginal Woodfern – happy in its’ current spot under the Limelight Hydrangea and appears to be evergreen
15. Daffodils ‘Ice Follies’ – planted last month in the Hydrangea Bed – waiting till spring to see the results
16. Alliums ‘Raspberry & Creme mix’ – planted in new garden last month and no signs of foliage yet
17. Dutch Iris ‘Lion King’ – planted in new garden last month and no signs of foliage yet
18. Hardy Glads ‘Nymph’ – planted in new garden last month and no signs of foliage yet
19. Asiatic Lillies (Chianti, Grand Paradiso, Roma, Dreamland, Salsa and Agrippa) – planted last month/no signs of foliage yet
20. Burgundy Poppy Anemone – Planted in new garden last month and no signs of foliage yet
21. Allium ‘Pink Jewel’ – Planted in new garden last month and no signs of foliage yet
22. Fall sown seeds – False Queen Anne’s Lace, Larkspur ‘Sublime Bright Carmine’, Lychnis coronaria ‘Dancing Ladies’ and Nigella (Love in a Mist) – planted this week and hoping they do well come spring.

This was a small list of additions compared to previous seasons but I’m happy with my choices even though some didn’t work out.  Every gardener experiences losses, it’s a given.  Here’s hoping for a wonderful spring come 2011! 

Plant Grotto

(From L-R: Gaura 'Pink Fountain', Catmint 'Walker's Low', Butterfly Weed and Annual Vincas)

 Here’s my little plant grotto on the back patio.  Most of these plants will be waiting until next month to be planted when the temps cool down a bit.  Other than some annuals which I intend to tuck into a pot that is looking a bit ragged with some Snaps that overwintered and bloomed this past spring.  Okay I couldn’t help myself  earlier this  week when I was out running errands, but to stop by Lowe’s and “look” at their plant selection.  I know,  looking and buying are two different things.  lol   But they did just get a shipment of perennials in the day before so I loaded up the cart with a few.  This Gaura ‘Pink Fountain’ was a must since I purchased one last fall and it has done great inspite of the heat and drought this summer.  It will be added to the Arbor Garden in a bare spot I noticed the other day.  I’m hoping that these Butterfly Weeds do as well as the existing one has in my New Garden.  They will be added to another spot in the same garden to accent the abundance of purple blooms already there.  The Catmint was a must since since I don’t have one currently.  Shame on me!  I think it might be going out back so the cat doesn’t have a field day with it.     Then the last but not least finds were these pretty little rosey Vincas with the white eyes.  They are going in a container to brighten up a bare spot in my Arbor Garden.  I love these annuals because they will thrive in sun or shade and don’t mind the heat.  Sometimes they reseed a bit much, but are easily removed.  This was my first real splurge this summer other than a few plants here and there earlier in the season.  Behind the newbies are the Korean Lilac and Abelia I bought earlier this summer.   Oh and Spaz is back there being nosy and getting in the shot again… lol     Have a nice weekend everyone!!!

New Additions

Vitex agnus-castus or Chase Tree

Here’s an update on a couple of the new additions in my garden this year.  Earlier this summer I picked up a small seedling of a Chase Tree or Vitex agnus-castus.  It has taken off like a rocket this summer and will probably have to be transplanted from it’s large container into the garden this fall.  And look what I found forming, flower buds! 

Acer palmatum 'Sango Kaku' or Coral Bark Japanese Maple

My Coral Bark Japanese Maple was purchased at the same time as the Vitex and is doing well too.  It hasn’t  grown as quickly, but I’m pleased with the progress.  This one probably won’t be ready for the garden for a few years still.

Syringa Meyeri or Korean Lilac

I picked this new addition up just the other day at Lowe’s.  They were marking a bunch of their shrubs  50-75% off. And I couldn’t resist when they told me this would be marked down to $2.98 (originally $8.98).   What a bargain don’t you think?  Now I think I’ll wait until September to plant it.  I’m thinking of just the perfect place. 

Oakleaf Hydrangea ‘Little Honey’

My newest Hydrangea is this dwarf Oakleaf variety called ‘Little Honey’.  I know I did a post about this earlier in the season, but I’m just so pleased with the progress this plant has made this year.  Last year after the first plant I ordered died, my first impression was not good to say the least.  But the mail order company replaced it free of charge and the second plant did okay and survived the winter.  This spring it started growing and has tripled in size.  You can see I planted it as a companion to the mophead hydrangea ‘Nikko Blue’ and I think they complement each other nicely.  Another asset I’ve discovered about this new addition is that the heat and lack of rain hasn’t bothered it in the least.  This is great considering ‘Nikko Blue’ and my unknown lacecap are really struggling this summer with weeks of temps over 90 and dry conditions.  Another shot I got was to show you the size of the leaves on ‘Little Honey’, that is my hand behind one to give you a true idea of the dimensions.  My hand from wrist to the tip of my middle finger is about 6 1/2 inches.  Here’s some more info on one of my favorite new additions to the garden:

• foliage turns a nice shade of red in fall
• white blossoms from summer thru fall
• overall dimensions of 4′ x 4′
• prefers partial shade/water as necessary
• prefers well drained soil
• sport of ‘Pee Wee’
• cultivated by Brigg’s Nursery in Washington
• US Plant Patent, PP# 15,477
• may have to mail order
• propogate from softwood cuttings
• flower heads are sterile (doesn’t set seed)
• hardy in zones 5a-9b

note: all photos were taken at the end of June-beginning of July.  Nikko Blue’s flowers are fading from that pretty blue tone to a creamy color that will eventually turn to a rose hue in the fall.  I love to leave the flowers on to age naturally in the garden and add interest from early summer through the winter months.

Bloomin Tuesday

 

This week for Bloomin’ Tuesday I thought I would share a couple of new things starting to blossom in the garden. 

David's Lavender Phlox

This new perennial was added to the garden last fall.  I’ve grown the white one in the past but it died. Hopefully this one will survive and keep getting better.   Its’ companion plant is Lantana ‘Miss Huff’ which is pink, orange & yellow.

Hydrangea 'White Swan'

I absolutely adore Hydrangeas, and the Paniculatas have to be my favorites.  ‘White Swan’ was added last fall and didn’t look like much to be honest, just a twig with a couple of leaves.  However it has it really taken off this year and showing signs of being a great shrub.  

Eucomis comosa or Pineapple Lily

 The third and final new addition is this Pineapple Lily.  Last summer it was added to the garden and gave me one pretty bloom, this year I hope to get more.  To see what’s blooming in other gardens all over the country or to join in this week, please visit our gracious host Jean at  Ms Greenthumb.