Viewing comments posted by pirl

Propagation by division in spring.

Spreads at a nice rate. Never invasive or aggressive. Transplants easily. It always roams to the cooler soil, never to the sun. Blooms a very long time for what is considered to be a spring bloomer.

Edited to add bloom dates: The earliest photo I've taken was the end of May but it was in bloom before then. The latest photo was taken July 9th and it continued to bloom after that date.

Undoubtedly one of the worst possible trees to plant. It is so weak limbed, and it self-seeds more than anyone wants (except possibly a grower of these awful and dangerous trees). Possibly thought of as beautiful in bloom in spring, but hardly worth the worry and concern. On a windy day I'd never let my grandchildren near it, and now that the tree is history, thanks to a storm, I no longer garden with creaking limbs over my head, never knowing whether the EMS would have to be called to try to revive me.

Goes to seed very fast! I keep pinching, but it's a job to keep up with it.

Appears green with black in photos, but it's actually a dark wine, not black.

Not a strong grower for me, here in Zone 7. I wouldn't buy it again.

I've had this plant for years and never had trouble with the deer eating it until this year. So sad to see it eaten down to a foot tall!

This coleus never fails to please. It is strong and vigorous without being gangly or too huge, as some coleuses can be. It has strong stems that take very well to propagation. I've had it for many years and hope it will always be part of my collection. If I should ever lose it, I would happily buy it again.

If you could translate "the worst pain imaginable" to plant form, the name would be Houttuynia cordata 'Chameleon'. The most mortifying and embarrassing part of it is that I bought it and I planted it, thinking it would look lovely among the daylilies, and it did! Here, in full sun with watering by the irrigation system three times a week, it found its own private earthly paradise. It went left, right, backwards, and into the lawn. I'm only surprised that it didn't climb the trees! Eventually it covered 50' x 12', and many days of digging 8 hours a day only seemed to invigorate it. The most infinitesimal piece, left in the earth by accident, will begin the entire process again. Words fail me when trying to describe its energy and resiliency.

I sprayed with Roundup and it reacted as though I had fed it. I covered the entire area with black plastic, thanks to a friend's advice, and after eight months of that highly unattractive "garden," I removed the plastic and began spraying any new sprouts with full-strength Poison Ivy Killer. Now, just one sprig has me running for the killer.

I've gardened for over 50 years and this was the worst problem I've ever faced.

When we moved here, there were very few plants, and only a peony and hosta plantaginea were of any real value. I split the two plants into more than 150! You can imagine the size of the original clumps.

It makes its spring debut at the same time the asparagus do -- early April. It's a lovely soft green color, but it's the blossoms in August that had it being called "August Lily" by many. It is the mother of all fragrant hostas, and the aroma drifting into the living room during the early August evenings earned it the spot it enjoys.

The stalks can be used in flower arrangements and they steal the scene...and the fragrance award.

Asparagus is my favorite of all vegetables. It arrives in April to May and by mid-May it's the evening vegetable du jour every night until very late June. It's not uncommon for us to share 56 asparagus for dinner. Obviously, it doesn't cause gout, though those afflicted with it are told to refrain from asparagus and beer. I can't even take the smell of beer, but the aroma of asparagus, roasting in the oven with garlic, is one of life's greatest pleasures.

Self-layering. No human intervention is needed.

Grew very tall here and very wide. Allow sufficient room for its quick expansion.

Limelight is a winner. The huge heads, glowing light green early on in the blooming season, then changing to a very pleasant creamy off-white, are treasures. It is tall and gets tall fast from a very young plant - doesn't waste any time! Ours is now well over 6' tall. Originally planted in 2008, a gift from a very generous trader.

The heads dry beautifully in a vase without any water. No need to hang them upside down.

It happily layers itself from branches that touch the earth.

Very susceptible to drift from Round Up. I was almost certain our neighbor had killed this beauty when he went about spraying his weeds on his side of the post and rail fence. It's only luck that it has pulled through so far, but it hasn't yet regained its former beauty. It's two years since he sprayed! Entire branches died off right to the base.

A delightful and reliable plant - no self-seeding, just beauty for a long period of time: June to November here in zone 7 on Long Island, NY.

Aristocrat was lost during storm, Irene, in late August 2011, not 2010 as I stated previously.

No two photos of this plant look exactly the same.

The Duchess of Albany hardly needs cutting back since old stems just die off in fall and it won't bloom again on those old stems anyhow.

Nine falls on this JI. Should be staked as it does get quite tall.

Last fall I dug it up and potted it but never inserted a label. Over winter it just sat and did nothing and appeared to be a nameless plant without any growth or sign that it was alive. It got water only now and then. Two weeks ago it woke up for spring! I'll bring it outside next week (mid May).