Some observations from out in the garden:
This white bee balm is the only one to have survived last winter and while it is nice to see it blooming, it honestly doesn’t do much for me and the powdery mildew is real bad, worse than with all of the other bee balm. We don’t know until we try, right?
Right plant for the right location = happiness, as seen with the Physostegia (Obedient Plant) below. This first photo was taken back in May when I dug up and divided a massive batch of these and relocated them to my newly extended and very empty garden bed.
Two months later and they are thriving in a very wet and full sun location. I am very psyched for the massive pink display to arrive next month.
You’ve all seen all of my numerous pics of Veronica ‘Royal Candles’ and read my raving reviews of this perennial but in the spirit of my last post and with full disclosure, here is the reality of the “legs” on these right now.
Fortunately, I’ve shielded most of them with other low lying plants so the blooms remain the attraction.
I love how one ‘Karl Foerster’ grass (Calamagrostis) can break up a mass of perennials and not only lend a different height/uprightness, but a different texture as well.
I cleared this area of nasty Canada Thistle by cutting them all at soil level and not by attempting to pull out the roots like a dope which has failed me miserably for years now since it actually multiplies the number of weeds when pieces of root break off.
I will now finally track the results properly. Here is one example of the cutting.
And about one week later. I’m going to now cut it back again soon and will continue to do so until it kills itself by sapping all of the plant’s energy. Or so I hope. More to come.
I just purchased a few ‘Delft Lace’ Astilbes solely because I fell in love with the red stems and red tinged foliage. I’ll be sure to track this one for you and hopefully I don’t fry them since you know, they need constant moisture and it is the dead of summer. Smart.
My attempt at a path with a true destination worth visiting.
These purplish bee balm are incredible right now and are my favorite current place in the garden.
They are bringing in a ton of visitors.
Check out all of the action with this video.
A video posted by john markowski (@jmarkowski0) on
QOTD – Where do you purchase most of your plants? And I want specific names and locations please.
Thank you.
I buy my plants (and way more than I should) from Santa Rosa Gardens–my favorite mail order nursery. I found them by reading your blogs on grasses.
Nancy – I love it. They have never done me wrong and you cannot beat the prices, especially when ordered off season. Thanks.
Thanks for the behind the scenes look at your ‘Royal Candles’ at this point. Good to know ahead of time that it helps them to have a skirt in place so their knobby knees don’t show.
I buy a fair number of plants from Lowe’s and from a couple local nurseries whose names wouldn’t mean anything to you. I have a buying relationship with a small wholesaler who gets in starter plugs and grows things in her greenhouses until they are large enough to go to the local retail market. She has her tried and true money makers (annuals like New Guinea Impatiens and petunias) but she also likes to try new plants in the perennial and bush realm. I start haunting her greenhouses in early March and joke that my arrival is like seeing the first robin in spring. I’ve pretty much stopped doing mail order because of what I can buy at her place.
Thanks Michaele! The relationship you have with that wholesaler is what makes it all worth it. That interaction and two people sharing a passion. I love it and reminds me I need to cultivate more of those relationships myself.
I order from Izel Plants for American natives. Their website has an easy to use search bar so you can search by soil description, bloom time, light requirements, native state, height, and more, all at the same time. Your plants are shipped from the nursery closest to you. They package the plants very securely, too.
Thanks Jane! I just ordered from Izel a few weeks ago for the first time and already love it. The packaging was tremendous but more importantly, the selections were top notch and I could easily buy in bulk. I’ll be a customer from this point forward.
hi — santa rosa, bluestone (not far from where i live, so i go there to get my plants, instead of mail-order) and hallson gardens in lower michigan (also go there once a year or so, instead of mail-order). great customer service with all three. but i-heart-plant-shopping and day trips, so over the years, i’ve found a dozen or so other broad-based or specialty growers (who don’t mail-order) all around ohio or western pennsylvania that i like to hit every year. and i watch for sales at lowe’s, too. still on the bucket list: plant delights nursery in north carolina. –suz in ohio
Suz – Santa Rosa/Bluestone – a huge fan of both. Nice. And I need more day trips to nurseries, great call!
I garden in southeastern Massachusetts.
For daylilies and iris I love Tranquil Lake Nursery in Seekonk where they specialize in those plants. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. They do lots of educational events, too.
My other fav is Briggs Nursery in North Attleboro MA. Both places are family run businesses that know their stuff!!
Check out their websites!!
Jmart – I am on it and thank you! I love reading about people’s favorite place to buy plants even if I’m nowhere near them.