Each Little World

Another gorgeous peony

I ordered this 'Coral Sunset' peony from Klehm's Song Sparrow Nursery last fall. Amazingly I had a flower this very first year, opening on May 18. And though it was only one bloom, it was spectacular. The bud started opening a lipstick coral and it only got brighter as it unfurled. Then it aged through an array of pinks. Three very hot, sunny days after opening it still looked good but by then was a delectable baby pink moving towards white! I can hardly imagine how gorgeous this plant will be in a few years.

The catalog described it perfectly: "Intense coral blossoms with overtones of rose and accented by full, deep yellow stamen centers. Outstanding plant habit. Roy's (Klehm) favorite coral. Slightly fragrant. American Peony Society Gold Medal Selection." Worth every penny! And so bright you can spot it across the garden peeking out from behind a group of yew spheres (top).

If you love peonies, stop by the West Madison Ag Reseach Station at 8502 Mineral Point Rd. When I was there on Friday (5/18) to help set up the WHPS sale, there were two peonies blooming right outside the office at the end of the parking lot. They were identified as "Coral N' Gold", which had an amazing gold center, and 'Abalone Pearl' which was pink fading to white. Both were outstanding in flower shape, color and the plants were huge and holding up the flowers very well. It's a great chance to see unusual cultivars in full bloom.

I picked 'Coral Sunset' to contrast with a weeping purple beech tree that is its neighbor (above). Here it is in the early moring light four days after it first opened (below). This group of pictures gives you a sense of what a mature plant of this variety might look like as the flowers come and go.

Even though time of day and the light can make colors look different depending on when a photo is taken, these pictures are all untouched 'Coral Sunset' peony.

Seneca Hill rockii type peony

Two years ago I ordered a rockii type peony seedling from the late great Seneca Hill Perennials in upstate New York. Here's how the catalog described it (and yes, I actually copied it down on my plant i.d. index card for future reference needs just like this):

" Just for fun . . . these are robust seedlings of a gorgeous plant that we raised from seed over a decade ago, and that utterly floored us by growing into a fine shrub laden with huge lazily-ruffled bright pink flowers with deep maroon basal blotches. Who knew? The only seedling of this plant that we've bloomed is pink like its mom, but with much more strongly ruffled petals. No guarantees, but there's no reason these seedlings shouldn't all make good plants. $14.99"

Two years later I've got a plant that is so stunning Mark and I both photographed it. However, it is not pink. It's snow white which I actually prefer. But no basal blotches on these first two blooms. Maybe some of the future flowers will sport blotches which I would love.

On the other hand, after only two years it is a huge shrub and, as you can see for yourself, the flowers are breathtaking. I was literally running out to the garden every fifteen minutes watching the first bud unfurl. The big flower held up surprising well to the wind and rain that followed the sun and warmth that made the it open so quickly. 

Since it is an unnamed seedling, I am christening mine in honor of the nursery, "Seneca Hill Snowstorm." If anyone reading this is growing one of these seedlings, I'd love to hear about your experience.

For those who are interested, you will note I have a Seneca Hill Perennials catagory on the blog where you can find posts about all the plants I grow that I purchased at that nursery.

My Rhodie blooms at last

This Rhododendron — R. yakushimanum 'Yaku Angel' — is nine years old. I bought it from the late Roslyn Nursery where I also got my other Rhodie, R. yedoense poukhanense 'Alba.' They are growing next to each other in more shade than they probably would like as well as in soil that is more alkaline than acidic. 'Alba' has always flowered and now is easily covered with 70 blossoms.

'Yaku Angel' has never done anything but slowly grow. Michael Dirr says it should be 3' x 3' after 20 years; it's currently about 24" high x 30" wide.  I love it for its thick leaves whose undersides are covered with fuzzy brown indumentum, so I've never minded that it hadn't flowered. But last fall it clearly set what looked like a couple of buds on the tips that get the most sun (above). 

I freaked a bit when I first saw the buds coloring up hot pink this spring. I am definitely not a fan of the typical pink and purple PJM Rhododendrons that I most often see in gardens. But my notes from the Roslyn catalog said "pink buds opening to white flowers," and sure enough that's what's happening.

'Alba' blooms with pairs of white flowers while 'Yaku Angel' opens up with a whole handful of blossoms. It's certainly been worth the wait. And if it never happens again, I don't know that I'll be heartbroken since I'll always have the gorgeous leaves to enjoy. 

Both white rhododendrons are located in my mini "white garden" in the Birch Grove. In addition to the rhodies there's a white bleeding heart, a white Trillium grandiflorum, Pulmonaria 'Sissinghurst White," ferns and Vancouveria which gets a small white flower a bit later in the season. 

Sweet Hepatica

The name Hepatica always reminds me of one of those women's names from colonial New England, names like Hepzibah. I picture her as someone who can stand up to whatever the elements send her way. She's not a show-off but has a certain quiet winsome charm. The same can be said of Hepaticas. I currently have three on order from Plant Delights Nursery. I also planted three unusual ones from Hillside nursery last year but none has yet appeared this Spring. This little charmer below is just one of the nameless seedlings in my garden, but she's a delicate lilac rather than the bright blue-violet of my largest and oldest clump. 

A Valentine flower for your favorite gardener

Dicentra spectabilis 'Valentine' is high on my wish list of new plants for the garden. This version of the old garden classic Bleeding Heart has cherry red heart-shaped flowers that "dangle from arching, dark red stems in spring. This newcomer offers a different color than the typical pink form, but keeps the same tall, graceful habit of the old fashioned Bleeding Heart," according to the Klehm on-line catalog. In the photo from the Klehm catalog directly below you can easily see the color is as described. 

Tony Avent, in the on-line catalog of Plant Delights, notes that the flower color actually was as good — if not better — in person than in the photos he'd seen, having initially been concerned that the red coloration was more Photoshop than reality. He also points out that the grey-green lobed foliage emerges with a reddish tint. I've included the Plant Delights catalog photo below because I think it provides a better view of the foliage than the Klehm image. Even though the new flower color is the selling point, it is the foliage that we will live with for most of the season.

Though Dicentra spectabilis is often listed as a partial to full shade plant, in my experience it can take a fair amount of sun as long as it has enough moisture. It is hardy in Zones 3-9, and will grow to about 2' x 2'. Klehm's Song Sparrow Nursery is offering Dicentra spectabilis 'Valentine' for $18.95 for a 2.06 qt. container, 3 for $53.00. Plant Delights is offering it for $16.00.

Locally the Flower Factory also lists it in their 2012 catalog for only $9.00. I am going to take a chance that it will be available at FF and plan to get there early on opening day, April 21. Their plants are always good size and, at that price, if I thought it was too small I could always buy two and still come out ahead of mail order shipping costs. 

Peonies — and more — from PDN

Though I always turn to Klehm first when I am thinking of peonies, this year Plant Delights Nursery is offering three of my favorites that are not always easy to find. I'm talking about woodland peonies, which I've had growing in my garden for a number of years. They are very early bloomers and seem to be able to withstand April snowstorms when they are in bud as well as bloom — assuming it's light snow and disappears quickly. There's nothing quite like a peony to say "Spring," especially when it blooms long before the more traditional big blowzy beauties.

The other great thing about woodland peonies should be obvious from their name: they can take a bit of shade. Mine are growing at the edge of the canopy of a Washington hawthorne, near striped maples and old Austrian pines — and not far from my two neighbors' black walnut trees. These are not easy to find and most catalogs seem to only offer them sporadically, so finding all three in the PDN catalog is a real boon. They are not cheap but I think they are worth the price. Now that I have them I can't imagine the garden without them.

The other plants that I want from PDN are all things that they were able to acquire when plantswoman Ellen Hornig closed her wonderful nursery, Seneca Hill Perennials, in 2011. Some of my favorite plants came from Seneca Hill and I was sad to see it close, especially knowing it was due to the ill health of Hornig's spouse. Last summer she sent out a notice that the house and the noteworthy display gardens that surrounded it were for sale. For a brief moment, I fantasized about moving back to New York and living amidst her glorious garden. 

That dream can't come true, but I can order a few things in memory of Hornig and Seneca Hill. So my PDN order will include three Hepaticas from Hornig: 'European Pink,' 'Lithuanian Blue' and one with speckled leaves from the Spanish Pyrenees. I'm also getting Primula sieboldii 'Drag Queen,' a 2010 release from Seneca Hill (shown directly above). I've had great luck with both Hepaticas and Primulas and always intended to order more from Seneca Hill, so I appreciate knowing that not all of Seneca Hill's great plants will disappear with the closing of the nursery. And that positive give and take with other gardeners is another reason why I patronize independent mail-order nurseries like PDN. So, keep up the great work PDN — and the great catalog covers. This year's was a particularly effective coupling of plants and politics.

All images from the PDN 2012 catalog.

A passion for peonies

The paper catalog from Plant Delights Nursery came in the mail earlier this week and I sat down with it yesterday to see what looked irresistable. I was trying to be strong and restrained but I know PDN; there is always something irresistable. That new bleeding heart with really red flowers ('Valentine') looks good and I turned down a couple of pages marking possible ferns and Epimediums. But what really stopped me were the peony selections. 

But I have to be honest. I would never order a peony without first checking to see if Klehm's Song Sparrow Farm and Nursery carries it. The Klehm family have been hybridizing and growing peonies since 1900. I've heard Roy Klehm speak numerous times and I've been to the nursery and seen the peony fields in bloom here in southern Wisconsin. I grow woodland, intersectional and traditional garden peonies from Klehm and love them all.

Last fall I planted 'Coral Sunset,' one of Roy's favorites according to the catalog. It's early blooming, semi-double flowered (pictured directly below) and under 30 inches tall — all the requirements I was looking for in a new peony to add to the garden. I put it near our weeping purple beech tree whose early leaves are bronzed. I'm hoping the pairing will prove to be as pretty as I'm picturing it.

If you love peonies, you must check out Klehm's 2012 offerings. When I went on-line to see what was new, this beauty — 'Golden Angel' (below) — greeted me. Not only does this peony have a pale yellow flower (still a rarity among garden peonies), it sports yellow new growth! This peony was hybridzed by Roy G. Klehm and is described on-line thusly: "Beautiful, striking intense gold foliage in early spring that gradually changes to soft yellow, and then mellows to a lighter green-yellow in mid July. Single soft cream-yellow blossoms." 

This looks like a knockout new plant but, like all new introductions, it has a knockout price: $125.00. Still, I don't think that is an unrealistic amount given how long it takes to hybridize a new peony and get it to market. 

If that's beyond your budget (or you don't like yellow flowers), get a look at this beauty,"Spumoni Whisper." It also is an early bloomer, 30 inches high, has single-petaled flowers, and was hybridized by Roy. The catalog describes it as an "unusual blend of very soft, creamy cherry pink with a hint of pistachio at the petal base. The slightly serrated edges of the guard petals add extra interest to the blooms." This one's a steal at $45.00. It almost looks like an old rose. The photo of it makes me go weak in the knees. And yes, it does make me think of ice cream in the summertime; proving it's aptly named. 

As it happens, I'm only going to order one peony from Klehm this spring, but it's the one that sold out before I got my order in last fall. (If you've never planted these kind of peonies, they arrive as bare root plants in the fall, which is when you plant them). My choice is 'Squirt,' a rock garden peony (pictured below) which means it is very small in stature: only 16 inches high. That also means that you probably have room somewhere in your garden to squeeze one in. It's an early bloomer and, again, single flowers. (Can you see a pattern here?). By the time this arrives next fall, I will know which of the tentative locations I am considering will work best as its home. 

This link will take you to the listing of Klehm's garden peonies, but be sure to also check out their rock garden, Itoh/Iintersectional and tree peonies as well. And, yes, I am still ordering a peony as well as some other plants from PDN. More on that later.

All photos from Klehm's on-line 2012 catalog.

Ferns that aren't feathery

. . . and that look good until the snow arrives is another way of describing Hart's Tongue ferns. I grow two versions of this fern. The top image shows the straight species (Asplenium scolopendrium) while the lower picture is the ruffled version (A. scolopendrium Angustifolium). The increased ruffling on the later plant is quite obvious.

My garden has any number of ferns that look good until they get buried by the first snowfall. And then there are Hellebores, Epimediums, Hepaticas and Arum italicum — plants that arrive early, stay late, and always look good. I never thought too much about them in terms of their evergreen qualities. Living in Wisconsin, you get used to thinking that nothing is evergreen except for conifers and boxwoods and the like.

But I suddenly made that evergreen connection with my ferns and assorted hardy perennials as I was reading Carolyn's Shade Gardens blog. She'd been doing a series of posts on flowers, groundcovers and Hostas that look good in fall, proving you can have a beautiful garden at this season without mums! She really made me really think about my fall garden. I actually went out and looked at which Hostas were still looking good late in the season and which ones should be replaced by a more serviceable variety. And I noted her many versions of the Italian Arum. Mine is doing well, but is in the back corner of the garden while Carolyn planted hers by her front door. So I need to see if there's a spot for one of these beauties where I can enjoy it at this time of year without trekking out to the back forty! Check out her blog for some great fall plants, along with excellent gardening info.  

Garden discoveries

Only a couple of our big trees have shed their leaves. Fall clean up and preparing the garden for winter is a long process here. The last job is cleaning the pond and we don't do that until all the leaves are down which is typically mid-November. So far we've been cleaning up the first leaves, cutting back plants, putting down Olbrich mulch, bringing in all the ceramic pots for winter storage. I'm sure you have similar lists of fall chores. I find that it's easy to get so focused on the jobs that need to be done that it's easy to miss changes in areas of the garden that don't need attention. 

These toad lilies — Tyicyrtis macrantha — have put on the best show this year since they were planted in 2004. I've written about them before because they have such a wonderful structure; "king of the toad lilies" the catalog says and it's not far off. This year the rabbits left them undisturbed, so I am enjoying an amazing display of yellow flowers. This variety is actually known as the yellow bell toad lily.

The flowers are large, lush and very dramatic. But I discovered that they are even more lovely if you tip them up and look inside. The insides are beautifully patterned with tiny dots of purplish brown — a delightful surprise. My plants came from Munchkin Nursery in Indiana, which sells plants via on-line mail order but I did not notice this particular toad lily in the current catalog. Perhaps it will be on the spring list.

Across the path from the toad lily is the bed in the "Birch Island" that is home to a number of small shrubs. Among them is this Rhododendron degronianum ssp yakushimanum 'Yaku Angel.' I bought it about eight years ago from the late Roslyn Nursery. I love it for its thick leaves whose undersides are covered with fuzzy brown indumentum. Each spring it puts out what look like flower buds but turn out to be another layer of leaves. Now, suddenly this fall, I've noticed what may actually be flower buds. I know the flower trusses are borne on the ends of the branches, so I'm hoping for the best but won't know what I've got till next spring. It's going to be a long wait to see the results of this garden discovery!

Repeat, please!

Last week was about as perfect as it gets in early fall in Wisconsin and this week should be even better with sun and temps in the 70s forecast. Out to the garden as soon as I finish my second cup of coffee. And then I will spend my days repeating last week's activities:

MULCHING: Cutting back plants, getting ready to overwinter those geraniums and mulching everywhere with that gorgeous black gold from Olbrich.

SMELLING THE FLOWERS: We continue to enjoy asters and Japanese anemones and the first toad lily. Tricyrtis 'Tojen' is the only one of half a dozen varieities I grow that's currently in full flower.

LAST PLANTINGS OF THE SEASON: I ordered some exciting varieties of Epimediums from Garden Visions in Massachusetts and got them all planted. They don't really have a good Web site, so order the catalog to see all the available varieties and read about them. You can do it via email: epimediums@earthlink.net. I also got one of the few other plants they sell, an Iris gracilipes. I'm currently growing this grassy little woodland iris and ordered 'Cobblewood Charm,' the first new introduction in 60 years!

GARDEN RECORDS: This week I will continue to take photos of all the changes I've made to the beds so I can remember this winter what I've planted, what I've moved — and whether I really need to order any more plants!

FROST WATCH: We made it through last night's temperature dip with the toad lilies intact. So I am anticipating blooms any day — if I can keep the bunnies away. They love this plant and most years the blooms get munched before they open.

LEAF WATCH: From here on out it will be a pleasure to watch the leaves turn color — and an almost daily effort to keep up with them as they fall. They're filling up the pond, the gutters and every available spot of bare ground as well as the coming into the house every time we go in and out. 

MORE MULCH: This week's scoop of Olbrich mulch is awaiting me as I write. I'm guessing I will still want one more load next Saturday to deal with all the bare areas.

NIGHT WATCH: When the sun goes down, it's time to sit in front of the fire and catch up on all the books we had no time for during the long summer days. Mark is deep into photo books, practicing with new lenses and ordering a big fancy printer. Stay tuned.