The late spring show
On this rainy, thunder-rolling day, I’m staying inside. But I have a few photos from earlier this week to share. While today all these plants are droopy with rain, they’ll soon perk back up again. This is one of my spring favorites, ‘Peter’s Purple’ bee balm (Monarda fistulosa).
Powering through a winter that lacked a hard freeze, Indian mallow (Abutilon palmeri) is blooming again.
Native heartleaf skullcap (Scutellaria ovata), a beautiful winter-through-early-summer groundcover, is in full flower under the dwarf Texas palmettos (Sabal minor).
Loving all the extra rain this year, the shade garden under the Japanese maple is lush and green with river fern (Thelypteris kunthii), ‘Sparkler’ sedge (Carex phyllocephala), Chinese mahonia (Mahonia fortunei), and variegated flax lily (Dianella tasmanica ‘Variegata’).
And from my mom’s garden — and originally from mine, as this was my passalong to her — ‘Tropicanna’ canna is bold and bright. And see the tiny spider hiding in the center? I didn’t even notice it until I got home and looked at the image online. Worlds within worlds.
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Digging Deeper: News and Upcoming Events
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That Monarda is gorgeous. I’ve failed with Monardas before but High Country Gardens claims that ‘Peter’s Purple’ can grow in zone 10 so now it’s on my wish list. (HCG currently has none in stock.)
I hope you just get some gentle rain, Pam.
It grows well in our heat, Kris, so I bet it would do well for you too. I’ll send you some seeds, if you like. As for the rain, no, it was a gullywasher — 3 inches in just a couple of hours this morning! —Pam
I have my own ‘sparkler sedge’ – must follow your example and give it a proper place to shine in.
It’s a beautiful plant, and I’m always happy to find a pretty plant that thrives in dry shade. —Pam
Peter’s Purple Mondarda is just one of many plants I discovered through Digging. It’s become a favorite each spring with striking blooms that fill in quickly.
Yes, it certainly fills in quickly. Doesn’t ask for much either. I really like it. —Pam
Love that shade garden.
Thanks, Lisa. It’s happier this year than I’ve ever seen it. All that rain! —Pam
Love that cute little spider! Imagine if we could live in rooms that looked like that.
Wouldn’t that be amazing? Although I wouldn’t want such rooms to be populated with lurking spiders. 😉 —Pam
Lovely images especially the area where the Japanese maple, a serene looking place!
Thanks, M&G! I have to admit that the neighbor’s new fence has made this area shine in a way it never did before, when the view was of the side of their house where trash bins were stored. Thank you, neighbors! —Pam
I get people’s want for privacy, but I’d take that borrowed view anyday. Instead of wasting the side yard, if I was your neighbor I would’ve hidden my trash cans, then placed a little bistro set to enjoy your garden. 🙂
Hah! Well, they have a lovely back yard of their own, and I’m as glad of the fence as they probably are for hidden storage. 😉 —Pam
PS: That “Peter’s Purple” is so pretty, I’ll be keeping an eye out for it locally.
The area under the maple is luscious. Thanks for introducing me to ‘sparkler sedge’!
It’s one of my shade faves, Cathy. —Pam
Some of my favorite plants…the rain has everything looking so lush, especially after a mild winter. I love the Bee Balm photo…I need to try that here!
Laurin, would you like me to send you a packet of seeds? I’m happy to do it. They’re prolific. —Pam
I particularly like the setting against your neighbors new fence. It really sets of the deep green planting.
Yes, a new fence is a beautiful thing. —Pam