Thoughts on Vining and Draping

It's a busy time in the garden lately, with frosts and freezes behind us, and planting and adjustments in full swing. In the midst of the busyness, I've been encouraging myself to pause just a bit to contemplate the garden and nature. I've been thinking about the beauty of plants that climb and vine and drape. They inspire art, design, and many other aspects of life.

One example (above) is the draping beauty of Bleeding Heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis), with its nodding, hanging blooms favored by hummingbirds.



The vining activity of Thicket Creeper (Parthenocissus inserta) helps to compete with nonnative invasives, filling crevices of planting beds at the base of shrubs and tall plants. And its foliage is beautiful from spring through October.



Clematis 'Nelly Moser' is another plant that was here when we moved in; I've maintained and encouraged it over the years. The flowers this time of year are exquisite, and its vines climb two trellises at the corners of our sunroom.



During a recent hike, we noticed this gigantic Riverbank Grape vine (Vitis riparia), forming an "S" around an Elm tree (Ulmus americana). This is not a cultivated grouping, but it is beautiful in its natural form.



The Climbing Prairie Rose (Rosa setigera) I planted as a small seedling several years ago is now up and over its arbor, and draping down the other side. Soon it will be covered in blooms!



Fuchsias of various species and varieties have been mainstays in my shady garden over the decades. This one, 'Dark Eyes,' has trailing buds and blooms that grace hanging baskets along the front porch. It's another favorite of hummingbirds.



While I've transplanted some Ostrich Ferns (Matteuccia struthiopteris), I've never had to purchase them. They occur naturally in our back garden and provide draping beauty to frame the central planting bed.



Another plant that occurs naturally here: Mayapples (Podophyllum peltatum). I find the arching habit of the foliage over the blooms and later the fruit to be magical and artful. My previous post shows our hillside from above, covered in Mayapple plants.

This Shamrock plant (Oxalis vulcanicola 'Zinfandel') has been a potted mainstay in the garden during summer, and in the sunroom in winter. Its burgundy, draping stems and foliage, and yellow flowers, add color to our shady back lot.

These are just a few examples of the artful vining, draping, and trailing habits of garden plants. They inspire creativity, and support pollinators and people. Here's to a great growing season ahead!

Woodland Wildflowers for Six on Saturday

Our woodland is alive with wildflowers. Once again, I'm including only native plants for this Six on Saturday post, because this is the most active time for wildflowers—before the trees fully leaf out. Trilliums are the stars of the show, including Great White Trillium (T. grandiflorum), in the photo above.



Red Trillium (T. erectum) is another thriller, and its naturally occurring patch (planted by nature) appears to be spreading.



It's said that when Mayapples' (Podophyllum peltatum) umbrella foliage flattens out, Morel mushrooms are nearby. I've never found the mushrooms in our woodland, though the Mayapples certainly form a colony on the hill.



The Mayapples aren't blooming yet, but the buds are about to break.



Next, I'm cheating and including a mix of Violets (Viola spp.) as one of my "six," since there are so many colors and several species on the property. I believe the purple and white ones shown here are V. sororia and the yellow is V. eriocarpa.



Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) is another reliable return visitor every year. Its unique form always fascinates me.



Most Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) range from pink to lavender to bright blue. But there's a patch of the less-common white ones in our woods, which I think are as beautiful as the others.

How about you? What's blooming in your garden and on your property? For more examples from around the world, visit Garden Ruminations.

Wordless "Ooops!"

Shopping Finds for 'Six on Saturday'

It's that happy time of year when the overnight frosts are ending, and it's time to plant up annuals in pots and in the potager/cutting garden. While I plan to purchase a few more plants, including a few edibles, my haul a couple of days ago is colorful and fun.

Since I'm posting for "Six on Saturday," I'll focus on a half dozen...



This is AngelDance 'Violet Bicolor' Angelonia (A. angustifolia). I've been planting Angelonias as spikes in a couple of my pots for several years now. There's something magical about the form and the shape of this plant.

Next, let's celebrate Lantanas (L. camara)! This is Bandolero 'Guava Imp.' I purchased a couple other varieties, too. I regularly plant Lantanas for the pollinators, and because I like them. They cheer me up.



Sweet Potato vine (Ipomoea batatas) is a great side element in pots. The two varieties here are  'Sidekick Lime Improved' and 'Sidekick Heart Bronze.'



The mounding form of these hybrid Impatiens (I. x hybrida) works well in large pots. And the color of SunPatiens 'Compact Purple Candy' will work well with the other elements I plan to plant with them.



Caladiums (C. hortulanum) are always a joy to view. Their large, draping foliage is fascinating to observe throughout the growing season. Unfortunately, I purchased a plant with no tag, but with research, I believe  this is Heart to Heart 'Raspberry Moon.'

Finally, another joy with its bright, warm coloring is this Dahlia hybrid, Dahlinova 'Hypnotica Rose Bicolor.' Within minutes of planting it, bees and other pollinators were enthusiastically visiting. It's perfect for a view right outside my sunroom windows.

Check out other "Six on Saturday" posts at Garden Ruminations!

Six Favorite Native Plants

We've had a bit of warmth, and the garden is popping. I'm cheating a little: I decided to include only native plants for this Six on Saturday post, and I'll also join in with Wildflower Wednesday.



Not many native plants are blooming on our property, but a few are starting, including Spring Beauties (Claytonia virginica). They're tiny flowers, about the size of my thumbnail, and they grow in clumps. The pink pollen and hardiness make this plant a unique and graceful, but tough, little bloomer. Another bonus: Rabbits don't eat it.



Virginia Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum) isn't blooming yet, but its foliage is as interesting as its flowers. It's a great, naturally occurring woodland rambler that dots the forest floor.

I don't recall seeing Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) in our little woodland before, although I've seen it many times during hikes in the area. (See the photo at the beginning of this post.) I hope this little clump will continue to thrive.



Though Climbing Prairie Rose (Rosa setigera), technically, isn't native in my exact location, it's native two counties to my south. And with the warming climate, it's commonly found in my area now. I planted this vine a few years ago--it's now growing up and over the arbor. Yay. I'll share more photos when it's blooming later in the summer.



I was surprised to see that Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)--a long-time, naturally occurring plant on my property--is blooming. I'd seen the foliage previously this spring, but now most of the plants have flowers, too. They're unique in many ways, including their shape, appearance, and downward-facing blooms.

For number six, let's celebrate Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica). I planted seeds for several patches of these a few years ago, and promptly discovered that rabbits eat them. Ugh. The next year, I placed caging around them, and the rabbits haven't caused much damage since. Last spring, I happily discovered they're now abundant throughout the woodland; uncaged! Are there too many for the rabbits to destroy? I don't know, but I think the buds are even prettier than the flowers.

For more examples of gardening fun around the world, visit Garden Ruminations for Six on Saturday. On Wednesday, head on over to Clay and Limestone for Wildflower Wednesday.

Happy Easter!

Fresh From the ‘Fridge’ in a Vase on Monday

While “warm” spring weather seems to be finally making an appearance in the Upper Midwest, we've had cold (but not frigid) highs and lows for the past several weeks. Some flowers in my vase this week have been budding and blooming since mid- to late March. They've had refrigerator-like conditions during that time; uncomfortable for humans, but excellent for maintaining blooms.

The Hellebore stems (Helleborus orientalis) I cut for the vase were lovely for a day, but I forgot it's best to cut them for arrangements after the pollen is dried or dropped. They were droopy too soon and, sadly, had to be removed from the arrangement. I'll add more. (Another good way to display Hellebores is face up in a bowl.)

I also included some Hellebore buds and foliage.





The Daffodil cultivars (Narcissus spp.) were the bright, sunny stars in the arrangement.



Daffodil foliage and...



Cuttings from Yews (Taxus cuspidata) provided framing.



Finally, I added a few stems from the Dwarf Forsythia. I believe it's Forsythia ‘Courtasol,’ but it was here when we moved in and there's no marker.



A simple, but bright, little grouping. Head on over to Cathy's Rambling in the Garden blog to celebrate “In a Vase on Monday.”

Springtime Six: Flowers and Foliage

Spring isn't speedy this year in my part of the world, but it's slowly and methodically moving forward. Every year is different, and I'm trying to enjoy the labored unrolling of warmth and little bits of beauty. I'm joining in Garden Ruminations' Six on Saturday meme to share this week's highlights.

First, we have the Daffodils (Narcissus spp.), shown above, beginning to show their stuff. The collection I have combines a mix of varieties from Colorblends and other beauties added over the years. One of my favorite things about Daffodils is that rabbits don't eat them.



Second, the Tulips are getting ready to bloom. These are 'Red Riding Hood' Tulips (Tulipa greigii). Unfortunately, rabbits DO eat these beauties, so I've had to place them behind fencing, or mix them in with rabbit-repellent powder and/or Alliums or other plants the little hoppers don't like.



Third, speaking of Alliums, the 'Summer Beauty' Alliums (A. tanguticum) have emerged around the mailbox. I have some new Tulips planted among them...fingers crossed the rabbits will leave them alone.



Fourth, I have a tiny grouping of Winter Aconites (Eranthis hyemalis) tucked in a small corner of a shady bed. They bloom later than most others in the area. And in my garden, they seem to be the only Aconites that survive from year to year. Maybe I need to try an entirely different spot, with more sun for an earlier display.

Fifth, the Hellebores (Helleborus orientalis) are about to pop, which is definitely a favorite event for me in the spring garden. :)



Sixth, the larger Dutch Crocuses (Crocus vernus) are joining the tiny Tommies (C. tommasinianus), and all their colors are bright and cheery.

It's a colorful, happening time in the garden. For horticultural highlights from around the world, head on over to Garden Ruminations for "Six on Saturday."

Six Saturday Buds and Blooms

I was thrilled to see many pollinators enjoying the flowers during yesterday's warm weather (high of 76F/24.4C). I'm joining in Garden Ruminations' Six on Saturday meme to share some of the garden highlights. Many plants are emerging, but today I'm only including things that were blooming yesterday or just about to bloom. The biggest hits with pollinators were the pollen-rich Tommies (Crocus tommasinianus) shown above.



I have several types of Snowdrops in the garden, and while the plant labels are long gone, I think these are Galanthus woronowii (left) and G. nivalis 'Flore Pleno' (right).



Some of the Mini-Daffodils (Narcissus 'Tete-a-Tete') are about to pop.



As are the various Hellebores (Helleborus orientalis).



This particular Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis) always has just a tiny bloom every year; I'm not sure why, but it's cute. It will break bud soon, too.



Finally, the Siberian Squills (Scilla siberica) weren't open in the morning, but they began to bloom after the bright, warm day, and they'll continue their show in the days ahead.

Head on over to Garden Ruminations for garden highlights from all around the world.