I love Salvia greggii varieties, and this one is new to my garden this year. As I learned from the Digging Dog Nursery website, this is a “hummingbird-initiated cross” between Salvia greggii and Salvia lycioides. I love that! It’s also deer and rabbit resistant, which has become important in my garden these days.
I planted clumps of Tradescantia about 8 years ago, and they still come up and bloom for 4-6 weeks every spring. They’re so graceful, opening overnight and then slowly closing up as the day goes on. Their common name is Spiderwort! Take a look at this great essay on the awful name. (“Wort” is an old word that was applied to plants with herbal or medicinal properties. It’s still in use in the brewing industry.)
I didn’t even know Mr. Tradescant was a person. Fascinating! I learn so many new things every day.
Few flowers are as stunning as peonies. And when I see them I want to make tissue paper flowers! Many are blooming around the DC area already. If yours (like mine) are only in part sun, they are probably still in buds.
Don’t forget to pick them and enjoy them in a bouquet if you have them in your garden!
I’ve always wanted an Aesculus pavia, aka Red Buckeye. Why don’t I have one? They are small, very full, with these wonderfully exotic leaves and great red flowers right now. They’re also native to our DC area and make a great hiding place for birds! I really must get one for my back garden.
I’ve posted pictures of this Euphorbia (Wood Spurge) before, but since it’s flowering right now, I ran out after a rain shower and took another photo. This is such a great groundcover. It’s evergreen and it spreads to cover more area, but it’s very easy to pull out if you think it’s getting unruly. Check out this article from Fine Gardening to see some commonly available varieties.
Daffodils are a perfect choice for the DC Metro Area. They will naturalize (come back year after year, often forming clumps), squirrels don’t dig up the bulbs, the deer don’t eat them, they’re affordable, and they require very little effort. Best of all, they bring incredible cheer all spring long. Love!
My very favorite source for bulbs is Colorblends. Check them out and order early in the fall- they do sell out!
Hellebores are a wonderful plant for the DC area! They provide green foliage year-round, beautiful blooms in winter and early spring, and the deer don’t seem to touch them!
Need a dose of the tropics? Head over to the US Botanical Garden! I just went for the first time in several years to catch the end of the Christmas displays. It’s a great place to warm up and dream of spring.
It’s been such a mild fall that the hydrangeas and roses are re-blooming here in the Metro DC area- lovely! [Photos taken November 17, 2015, Potomac, MD]
Trick question! You can’t have too many Japanese Anemones! These look like Anemone hupehensis var. japonica ‘Bressingham Glow’. Photo taken 16 October 2015 in Arlington, VA.