And Lonicera sempervirens Coral Honeysuckle- I was looking for some of the berries on the honeysuckle but couldn't find any. Some birds have been enjoying them I suppose. It is fun to watch the hummingbirds on this flower!
I shared Aralia spinosa Devil's Walking Stick with you in my last post.... today I was able to get a closer picture of the blooms. For those who don't know this plant, it gets quite tall-- 10 -15 feet and the single stem is riddled with big thorns. A plant to admire from a distance!
In the lower part of our yard I have four Clethra alnifolia 'Vanilla Spice' shrubs. This shrub flowers through out the month of July and into August. The fragrance carries on the breezes, a feast for the senses. If you don't have one in your garden, get one!!
A new plant in the wet part of the yard, in the garden bed that the tree from the last post missed as it fell, is Lobelia speciosa 'Cardinal Flower'. It is my hope this bold red beauty will spread, reseed, and multiple!!
Just about to open is the Swamp Milkweed that I started in milk cartons over the winter...Winter Sowing! Asclepias incarnata will be putting on a show later this month and into August. Stay tuned!
I wanted to share this little violet I got this summer, Viola walteri 'Silver Gem'. Surprisingly this is a native to the Appalachian Piedmont. What a cute tiny little plant. I have it at the base of my deck steps so I can see and appreciate it.
©Copyright 2012 Janet. All rights reserved. Content created by Janet for The Queen of Seaford.
words and photos by Janet,The Queen of Seaford.
Lots of goodies to share today! I love the Helenium 'Mardi Gras'! We're just a bit too dry these days to have Helenium, but I sure love yours.
ReplyDeleteI've thought about trying Devil's Walking Stick (Aralia) but haven't found one locally yet. Another that may need more water than we get (especially recently).
And that violet is darling. I'm looking forward to seeding more photos of it.
Gaia, I do have some nice ones blooming now. Helenium is a great blooming native. I would think twice about an Aralia, besides the thorns, they spread by rhizomes and can be considered invasive in a small area.
DeleteJanet,
ReplyDeleteWinter sowing Swamp Milkweed and blooming already, great job! I joined huluplus to see the second season of Downton Abby, Meg and I had seen season one.
Randy, I am pretty excited about the Swamp Milkweed! Shared some with my neighbor and his are about to bloom as well. May try this winter sowing again.
DeleteDid you get Downton Abbey watched in the free trial week?
Love the Helenium! Every year I say I'm going to add some to my garden, but I never seem to get around to it. It would be nice to add another long-bloomer to the garden. I hope you'll show more of the 'Vanilla Spice'; you may not remember, but that is the clethra I wanted but had to settle for 'Ruby Spice' because that was all I could find. Still waiting for mine to bloom.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet little violet!
Rose, You DO need Helenium!!! Let me know if your Ruby Spice is fragrant. Vanilla Spice sure it!
DeleteHi Janet, Your Clethra alnifolia 'Vanilla Spice' sounds wonderful. I would love a shrub that fragrant. Lobelia speciosa 'Cardinal Flower' is a plant that I always admire, but it is so dry here that I have not been able to get one established. There is also a pretty blue native that I saw in a local garden. Maybe 'Cardinal Flower' is something I should try again.
ReplyDeleteJennifer, Clethra is a great shrub. Not sure how far north it can go... I have the blue Lobeliaa in my garden as well, as a volunteer! Yes, try the Cardinal Flower again!
DeleteHi Janet. I love your Spice bushes. It sounds like one that would be wonderful for later blooms in the garden. And with the wonderful fragrance it gives off it sounds like a winner.I will have to remember that one.Of course I love the Red Lobelia. The Hummers will love those blooms.
ReplyDeleteLona, It is a wonderful small shrub, with fragrance!! The hummers have found the lobelia and are enjoying it.
DeleteJanet I adore wildflowers and so many of yours. My helenium are just starting but my beloved lobelia wer headed for death until it rained. They will definitely seed and fill in...I love them. My honeysuckles have gone to berries due to the drought, but now maybe the flowers will be happy and appear again...more rain on the way!
ReplyDeleteDonna @GEV, I look forward to the lobelia reseeding, thanks for the good news on that! I know I had some berries on the honeysuckle earlier this month, but they were nowhere to be found. Hope you get the additional rain.
Delete'Mardi Gras' shines! A party for sure. I am happy to hear about swamp milkweed. I bought one in Asheville and it cooked in my car but has come back happily. If they don't bloom until next month maybe there is hope it will bloom. Can't wait to see your bloom!
ReplyDeleteTina, I am glad your milkweed bounced back after the baking it got. Hope it continues to grow, if not, let me know and I can send you some seeds.
DeleteWhat a great selection of natives! I love that you did winter sowing in milk jugs...It reminds me to do that this winter again! I have those little violets growing naturally in my garden too. I love their dainty blooms!
ReplyDeleteKarin, thanks!! Winter sowing did fairly well this winter. I need to try it with some more seeds this coming winter. We didn't have much of a winter last year, did we? You have those violets growing naturally??? How wonderful!
DeleteWonderful plants you've shared. I have only recently heard of clethra and received some seeds as a gift this spring. Tried starting them and even had a couple germinate but lost my seedlings when I put them in hot sun. Will try again next season and remember to give them lots of shade next time. It sounds like such a great plant to have in the garden.
ReplyDeleteMarguerite, thanks! I hope your clethra seeds do better next year. They are an edge of the woods kind of shrub in the wild. Extra water and they can have a little more sun.
DeleteI love see the insects that the wildflowers attract. We got the Ailanthus Webworm the first time two years ago. Now they are everywhere. Mardi Gras is really a pretty flower and photograph.
ReplyDeleteDonna@GWGT, I like the various insects too. Think the Ailanthus Webworm looks like it is wearing a plaid suit.
DeleteMardi Gras is a super plant, just love it.
Janet, that Mardi Gras makes me want to have a party! So gorgeous -- of course all your photos are stunning.
ReplyDeleteLynn, hahah you are funny. It is a festive bloom.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete'Mardi Gras' is a star! We have Devil's Walking Stick and wild Clethra here and the fragrance of the Clethra is lovely. Your violet is charming.
ReplyDeleteSweetbay, it is a star for sure! Love the fragrance of the Clethra and oh, the activity on the Aralia! wow.
DeleteWhat a teeny violet! I love your lobelia. I have one in my frog pond that I'm moving to a sunnier spot this fall. My 'Mardi Gras' didn't make it. It was great for a year, then it got a little weird, and finally a mass of ants made a nest in its roots. I ended up pulling it just to put it out of its misery. Yours are beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteTammy, it is a teeny tiny violet, so sweet. I wonder if your Mardi Gras got Aster Yellows. One of mine did and had to pull it out. Hope you try it again!!
DeleteI wonder where I could put a Clethra??!! Ha I might be out of room ~ maybe next garden?? It looks beautiful tho & if it smells good too, I'm in! I always love lobelia ~ this one is a beauty. I struggle keeping them going here but I've had luck near the pond (where it's wetter)
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen many boat photos this summer?? Still going out a lot?? or too hot?
Kathleen, I bet you could find a place for the Clethra!! It smells heavenly!! We have gone out on the boat....think last week there were some tubing pictures on FB. It is REALLY hot though and afternoon thunderstorms. Not a good time to be on the water with all that lightening.
DeleteHi Janet! Your viola reminds me of my Labrador violet. I am wondering if it spreads as fast as mine. I don't mind it. I'd rather have it spreading in my yard than some weeds.
ReplyDeleteTatyana, I hope my little violet will spread some. Yes, sure beats weeds!!
DeleteI could have sworn I commented, but apparently not. Wonderful wildflowers Janet! Could you please tell me the secret to getting A incarnata to bloom~I just get aphids! The lobelia looks gorgeous~ours is a bit stunted from the drought. gail
ReplyDeleteGail, I am glad you checked back. I am not sure how the A. incarnata doesn't have a ton of aphids on it...they are all over the garden (aphids that is). Lots of sun I guess. The lower part of our yard is semi wet since everything drains downhill. I also have Queen Victoria Lobelia in that bed...had to move it to the wet bed. Hoping it does as well as the Cardinal.
Delete