Garden Bloggers Bloom Day: 10.15.08

Two inches of rain last week, followed by sun and 83 degrees on Sunday (tied the record high). Perfect weather for washing windows, putting down a pick-up-truck-load of leaf mulch and capturing the following images from my mid-October garden for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day. You'll notice it's winding down and I'm a bit fixated on toadlilies.

Toad lilies in the driveway border (detail shots and identification below).

Tricyrtis formosana

Tricyrtis hirta

Cimicifuga racemosa Atropurpurea

Tricyrtis hirta ‘Lightning Strike’ is about 2 ft. tall with marvelously striated leaves.

Tricyrtis hirta ‘Miyazaki,’ a strongly arching form, extends over the stream that feeds our pond.

A clump of Tricyrtis hirta ‘Tojen’ that's the size of a hydrangea bush.

A hedge of Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’ turning from green to soft yellow.

Eupatorium rugosum ‘Chocolate,’ only about 3 feet tall and well-behaved.

A lone Ladies' Tresses orchid (Spiranthes cernua var, odorata).

Comments

[joco]

Hiya Linda,

Nice meeting you.

Good to see a MovType blog for a change.
I thought there was an accomplished edge to the comment on my page ;-) Thanks. I am becoming a connoisseur of comments. Quite an art-form.

I like the accessories in your garden, with a touch of Japan. Wouldn't demean the top one by saying that it reminds me of the Tudor chimney piece on our neighbour's house. Very sought-after, Tudor chimneys. Where did you say you live :-)

Tricyrtis is new to me. Very delicate, almost too delicate to be roughing it in woodland.

My windows need washing, as you must have noticed.

Lovely post with all those subtle flowers.

[Katarina]

I've seen a lot of photos of Toad Lilies lately, nd I'm beginning to wish I had some. And I must confess that I envy you for having both a stream and a pond in your garden! Lucky you!
/Katarina

[EACH LITTLE WORLD]

Joco and Katarina — thank you for your comments. Yes, that is an English 19th century chimney pot in the front border. The lantern in the other shot is contemporary Chinese.

Joco — if you look at my post from Sept. 11 you can see a bit of the Japanese sensibility. I live in Madison, Wisconsin which is the upper Midwest — about a 3 hour drive west of Chicago.

Katarina — I have to laugh. You are envying my pond and I'm envying your roses!

And toad lilies are wonderful. No pests, easy to grow. The only problem is they flower so late they can get killed by frost.

[Dee/reddirtramblings]

Very nice blog header. I'm impressed by all the vegetables and fruits in the window. Your shady nook has lots of beautiful flowers still, and 'Annabelle' is one of my favorites.~~Dee

[EACH LITTLE WORLD]

Dee - thanks for the comment on the blog header. It is the view out the kitchen window above the sink. I'm waiting for the leaves to change color to take another picture and am thinking that perhaps I'll do seasonal headers. (We'll see if actually get around to it!)

[gail]

You have beautiful Toad Lilies! Toad Lily! What an odd name, but it is surely a very different looking flower. I was telling a friend, that it is almost wax like, but attractive with all it's spots and splotches! I couldn't help but notice that we have a very similar Plant catalog system...mine are in colorful cups!

Thanks for stopping by to visit over at clay and limestone! Let's visit again!

Gail

[EACH LITTLE WORLD]

Hi Gail!

I always tell people that toad lilies look like miniature orchids — the butterfly type with many small flowers on long stems.

[Nan Ondra]

Splendid photos, and a beautiful garden! It's easy to see why you love tricyrtis; clearly they thrive with your nurturing. Thanks for sharing them, and your other beauties too, for Bloom Day!

[arythrina]

What an amazing assortment of toad lilies! And very cool to see the plants get so big. Each flower is so little that they sort of need to be en masse to have any impact.

[EACH LITTLE WORLD]

Nan —

Thanks for stopping by. My husband — and fellow gardener — takes the photos, so he will be pleased to get a little attention!

[EACH LITTLE WORLD]

Arythrina:

The variety 'Tojen' turned into a big clump very fast (3 years) but the other ones all took a few more years to bulk up.

[ricki]

I just bought one of the 'Ladies' Tresses'. The tag said they are rare and endangered...so we can pat ourselves on the back as we enjoy them in our woodlands.

[Mr. McGregor's Daughter]

Oooh, those Toad Lilies are all so wonderful! I especially like 'Lightning Strike.' (Note to self, find that one.) Don't you just love the size & sturdiness of 'Tojen'? I swear mine's 4 feet tall. How cool you have Lady's Tresses! That's one woodland plant I'm afraid to try. My soil is the polar opposite of moist.

[Mr. McGregor's Daughter]

Oooh, those Toad Lilies are all so wonderful! I especially like 'Lightning Strike.' (Note to self, find that one.) Don't you just love the size & sturdiness of 'Tojen'? I swear mine's 4 feet tall. How cool you have Lady's Tresses! That's one woodland plant I'm afraid to try. My soil is the polar opposite of moist.

[EACH LITTLE WORLD]

ricki — we will have to compare notes next year and see if our Lady's Tresses return. This is the first time I've tried them.

[EACH LITTLE WORLD]

Mr. McGregor's Daughter — you have one of the best blog names. I loved it the minute I first saw it.

And yes Tojen is fabulous. Wish all plants were that sturdy and floriforous!