Thursday, March 11, 2010

Who's That?

I'd like to introduce you to some of my favorite friends in the garden.

Magnolia 'Caerhayes Belle' is the color of bubble gum and the bud is as big as a grapefruit.


Veratrum californicum is a magnificent architectural plant for the shade.


Epipactis gigantea 'Serpentine Night' is a terrestrial orchid also called a stream orchid. The species of this plant spreads quite rapidly in moist soil, but this one is better behaved.


Bletilla striata is another terrestrial orchid. I killed this twice before I found a good spot for it where it florishes now.


Bletilla striata 'Alba' is the white form of the above.


My favorite hydrangea is 'Ayesha', also called 'Silver Slippers'. The cupped petals look like a lilac, don't they.


The primroses are all blooming here now and my favorites are auriculas. I babied these in pots in the greenhouse for years until I read an old gardening book that stated they were hardy in my zone (USDA zone 8). So I tried one outside and it was very happy. Now they all grow outside and I don't do anything with them except throw a little compost at their feet.


Another Primula aricula in deep purple-blue. Sometimes you get a beautiful powdery bloom on the leaves, but if you want to keep it, they are better in pots as the irrigation washes it off.


I love Primula 'Dorothy' because her flowers are so delicate and petite.


Primula 'Linda Pope' is an unusual primrose with powdery, serrated leaves and soft purple flowers.


Meet Trillium rivale 'Purple Heart'. The whole plant is tiny, but prolific. After it blooms, the blooms turn upside down and rest themselves on the surrounding soil where they drop their seeds.


Coming out of the shade. The Tigridia pavonia is a striking flower in orange, yellow or pink. Also called Mexican Shell Flower.


Polygonum orientale is also called Kiss-Me-Over-The-Garden-Gate. This is just an annual and seeds itself nicely. It grows a towering 6-8 feet in one season. Not aggresive like other knotweeds. You can tell what it is in the spring by it's little red stems.


Nicandra is also called Shoo-Fly since flies don't care for it, although I'm not sure why since there is no fragrance to it at all. It has lovely blackish buds and the seed pods look similar. This grows about 3-4 feet and self seeds.


Erythroniums are near and dear to my heart. This is our native variety (oregonum) that grows everywhere in our woods.


Erythronium revolutum is a bit fancier.


Camellias are such versatile plants and I have many sasanqua and japonica varieties. This is 'Nuccio's Pearl'.


I love the fimbriated petals of 'Fred Sanders'


Agave parryi is striking, but not very friendly.

My blog of the week is We Three, Ginger Cat Tales. It isn't really a gardening blog, but the most wonderful blog for anyone who likes cats. Check it out here.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear Cindee, What a fun, horticultural 'Who's Who'.Will the names be revealed in a future posting so that we can check our answers?

Darla said...

Very pretty blooms.

Darla said...

I guess I commented before all of the photos were published...just gorgeous!

danger garden said...

So that Veratrum californicum what does it look like as summer wears on? I first fell in love with it a year ago at Gossler Farms. It was growing in their gardens and they had none for sale. I just finally found it last week here in Portland and I managed to not buy it. Looking at yours the desire is there all over again. Please tell me more about how it performs year round!

Moonstone Gardens said...

Dear danger,
Mine gets about 3 feet tall and looks good for almost all of the summer. It starts getting a little beat up from irrigation, wind, etc after about September. Don't place it under trashy tress (like I did). The big leaves hold all that debris and it's hard to keep them looking clean. I think every shady garden should have one. Another great architectural plant is Darmera.
Cindee

*Ulrike* said...

All of those are so pretty, but I really like that camelia, magnolia (we have several white ones growing here)primroses, wish mine had come back from last year, and a big favorite the hydrangea! I will have to see if I can find that variety. You did a great job on all of the photos!

Kyna said...

I love that 'Caerhayes Belle'! I'm a sucker for magnolias :D

Laurrie said...

That first picture of the bubblegum colored magnolia is a stunner. Does the whole tree look so bright pink in bloom? It's a beauty.

Roses and Lilacs said...

I really enjoy seeing your plants. You have a wonderful variety. The veratrum californicum is very striking and the camellias are beautiful.

I often visit the ginger cat site. A wonderful place for cat lovers.
Marnie

Moonstone Gardens said...

Laurrie, Yes, the bubblegum colored blossoms light up the whole tree in bright pink. It's spectacular and can be seen from quite far away.

Ulrike, You should have no problem finding the 'Ayesha' hydrangea, It's not a rare variety.

Cindee

Barry said...

Cindee:

What a wonderful selection of beauties! I have Veratrum nigrum, which has deep purple-red flower stalks [apparently it can take up to seven years to flower- mine did in year two!] Their foliage is what I wanted it for..... stunnning!

Erythronium revolutum..... how beautiful is that? I am trying E. hendersonii this year. Will send you photos if it makes an appearance for me! I am surrounded by the native yellow one, but prefer the pink and the white.

Epipactis is absolutely stunning! Is it hardy for Zone 5? Bletilla is wonderful, and a wonderful foil to the Veratrum. I have the pink one and have ordered one that is supposed to be blue!

I have said it before, but I am amazed that we share such a similar taste. Trillium rivale is one of my favourites as well!

Hope you are enjoying the spring garden - you are leaps and vounds ahead of me! We have had gorgeous weather and I actually spotted my first Galanthus this morning on the way to work. Off for the weekend so I will be out on hands and knees seeing what is popping up!

Thank you for providing me with a much needed dose of familiar [ and some new introductions ] plants!

Unknown said...

OOOOOh, so many lovely plants, some of which I'll see in my garden, others of which I'll only get to enjoy via blogs like yours. Thank you too for the link to the Ginger cat blog. Just what I needed, more great reading!

joey said...

You keep great company, Cindee, and have beautiful friends!

Rosie Nixon Fluerty said...

wow - such little beauties here Cindee - I'm lost for words again - I cannot believe that you have all this in flower just now and such a variety of plants too. See that Veratrum - I'm kicking myself now about that - I had the chance to buy that years ago and didn't and regretted my decision. I suppose I could buy it mail order but I don't like doing that plus postage is so expensive. Does yours flower?

Moonstone Gardens said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Moonstone Gardens said...

Hi All,
Thanks for your kind comments. I do want to make clear that not all of these are blooming just now. The Primroses, Camellias and Erythroniums are blooming now, but the Hydrangea won't bloom until August and the Polygonum isn't great until September.
Cindee