And for more verticals, some foxgloves








Trouble with foxgloves is that they're biennial, but self-sow quite easily. So they appear all over the place where they want to be rather than where I would like them. I guess I like a plant with attitude.

My foxgloves are well past their peak. Leaves are browning, as they always do by now.

Karen

irisarian said:Remember, one of the seasons is winter with snow.

Some of us have (at least) 3 seasons with snow...

Such gorgeous blooms!!

Neal, I realized I failed to report my raid on Palatine Roses... we joined my parents for a week of fishing north of Toronto, then planned a couple of days in Niagara Falls afterward (neither Joyanna nor Jim had seen the Falls -- we had a blast!). Once I realized our return route took us right by Niagara on the Lake (home to Palatine), I started plotting and planning...

I got a phyto certificate for 18 roses, although I was pretty sure 12 would be the max I could fit with all our vacation gear. But I packed for the return trip, and I stuffed laundry into crannies, packed one side of the back up to the ceiling, and had nearly half the back of the minivan available. So, yep, I got 18 roses, including 3 for friends (one for my best friend & gardening neighbor across the street, and two extra 'Outta the Blue' purple fragrant roses, on for Aspenhill (Terri) and one for Chantell (fragrant gardener extrordinaire). I hired Martina's boys to help get them in the ground, and we've got 14 planted... still trying to find just the right spot for a moss rose of Palatine's own breeding, where it can ramble.

I don't know which are Kordes roses, although the name sounds very familiar, so some must be. All are rebloomers except the Palatine hybrid, and all are fragrant. Our noses had a wonderful time browsing!

This actually started with Joyanna's request for climbing roses on her arch where grapes didn't work out (died back to sour seed rootstock, what a disappointment!). So on either side of the arch are:

'Jasmina' (her favorite princess is Jasmine)
'Laguna' (this one is in front of Eva's own front door)

Behind her arch is a table, sort of a "clubhouse" area. Behind that is
'Cinderella' (pale pink arching shrub) and a little beyondiin the orchard area where a couple of trees have been taken out, we put
'1912 Rose' (deep red)
'Lichtkonigen Lucia' (pale yellow)
(pink)
(pink)

Behind my bench in another new area that went in last year, I have trellis panels with
'Stormy Weather' (single/double purple with a distinct yellow center)
'Julia Child' (a raffle win last year, yellow with a citrus fragrance)

Nearby (and behind my 3 David Austin roses) are two reds,
'Scentimental' (red/white, upright)
'Toscella Vigorosa' (magenta-red landscape rose, in front of Scentimental with room to sprawl)

and another miniature pink rose went in front of the established perennial bed,
'Pink Martini'

In front of the deck where I can smell them are:
'Ebb Tide' (already reblooming!)
'Outta the Blue'
' (a hybrid tea that Eva said I'd be able to grow, a really tough one)
'Radox Bouquet'

I'll snap photos like crazy when they start blooming in their new locations! The garden has now significantly expanded into what was the "home orchard," and so far it's mostly roses adn irises!

Judging by this summer's acquisitions, my 5 favorite perennials must be roses, irises, waterlilies, plumerias, and heucheras!

(will edit after I find the missing names)

Mine are;
Allium sicilum...............


Iris foetidissima (the trick is to let them self seed and keep the best colours)............






Diplarrena morea...........




Salvia forsskaolii..............


Fuchsia Hawkshead............

Wow, the only one I've even heard of (and grown, although I don't have it at present) is the salvia! Fun to have some new favorites to learn about...

critterologist said:Wow, the only one I've even heard of (and grown, although I don't have it at present) is the salvia! Fun to have some new favorites to learn about... :-)

Well, here's the rest of my ten!
Abutilon megapoticum............


Dicentra alba.............


Brimeura amethystina.............


Uvularia grandiflora............


And finally, Fritlliaria persica..........

Great images!

...and good tip about the Iris foetidissima!

Do you happen to have some good tricks or tips for the F. persicas too? Mine tend to fade after a couple of years and they are hideously expensive to replace where I live, but I have fallen in love with them so any advice would be greatly appreciated.

IrisLilli said:Great images!

Thank you.

IrisLilli said:...and good tip about the Iris foetidissima!

They are often overlooked for being a bit dull/boring/invasive but allow them to grow to maturity and some gems can be found. Rubbish ones are easily removed.

IrisLilli said:Do you happen to have some good tricks or tips for the F. persicas too? Mine tend to fade after a couple of years and they are hideously expensive to replace where I live, but I have fallen in love with them so any advice would be greatly appreciated.

The only advice that I can offer is to plant in very free draining soil and plant them on their side. If your soil is not free draining improve the soil around and under the bulb for a few feet but replace the top soil unmodified (this stops so much moisture getting through). That's the best that I can offer. Remember, in it's natural habitat it grows in the poor sandy soils of the middle east but they are not unused to the cold winters of that area.
There is a train of thought that suggests that the commercially sold bulbs may be virused.

I think I did take all of that into consideration, but somehow it has not worked out for me. I will try again though!

gemini_sage said:What are your top 5 perennials for the Cottage Garden?

Mine are:
Daffodils
Irises
Tall Phlox
Lilies
Peonies

Plants for Cottage Gardens -
Aquilegia varieties
Heuchera varieties
Leucanthemum varieties
Bellflower
Hydrangea

Hmmm, I have so many I wouldn't know what to pick... But Aquilegia and Heuchera would probably be on the list. Irises and roses too. But there are too many others that I love for me to pick that last one!

My favorites:

Beautiful flowers!

Karen

It reminded me that I love lilies too! And peonies! And...

If you know the name of that lily in the first image, you should add it to the database. It is great!

Lilli: These lily bulbs were a rescue from Home Depot's rotting plant shelf, so I don't have a name. They have been doubling their number each season, another plus. But, still a favorite pix, I think they look like they are laughing joyously.

Thank you Karen.

longk, so many unique beauties you grow! I'm particularly intrigued by Brimeura amethystina, love that soft blue!

gemini_sage said:longk, so many unique beauties you grow! I'm particularly intrigued by Brimeura amethystina, love that soft blue!

Having a slightly sarcastic streak in me I sometimes call them a "Bluebell with class"!
On a serious note though I have plenty of seed and would like to try and arrange a seed swap across the Atlantic in the autumn so I'll put a few aside if you want?

Oh yes, I love that idea!