Now there’s three flower spikes. I guess the triple digit temperatures agree with this plant. But the big question is “Why do the three spikes lean west?”
What? Another One?
Landscape & Gardening
Yay! A Second Flower Spike!
This Yellow flower false yucca has proven to be the perfect choice for my garden’s focal point. According to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, its bloom time in Texas is March through July. Meaning I shouldn’t expect any more flower spikes this year. That’s okay. I’m just glad I haven’t accidentally killed the plant.
Remember My Bald Patch?
Pink Preference Autumn Sage (Salvia greggi ‘Pink Preference’). Remember this bald patch? It had become obvious that the Texas betony was not going to thrive, and my landscape architect Michael Parkey started to think about what would be a good replacement. We had also hoped to do the switch in the autumn, but timing wasn’t on our side. Last week he called me with his choice, and in trying to locate this cultivar, I discovered that it’s hard to come by. It’s one of the more vigorous autumn sages and with its complimentary coloring was the perfect replacement. Nicholson-Hardie was able to find one grower located near Oklahoma, who had gallon pots of which I needed nine. But since Nichoson-Hardie would have no shipments from this grower until the fall and there was a chance they might sell out before then, the grower suggested that he could bring them with him in a few days when he came to Dallas for an Arboretum event.
After picking them up, planting needed to happen ASAP. Waiting for September was not an option, because plants have a better chance of surviving our summers planted in the ground. They might look anemic right now, but next summer they should be about two feet wide by three feet tall. I forgot to mention that Autumn Sage is another native Texan that will attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
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Stromanthe sanguinea ‘Tricolor’ (Triostar) has been a popular summer annual for me. (For past posts and photos go here, here, and here.) Originating in Brazil, Honduras and Costa Rica, this plant is a member of the Marantaceae (Maranta) family, and like all of its cousins, craves high humidity. In the past, I have planted it in my shade garden, but with the new design the portions allotted to annuals have too much sun exposure and the Stromanthe’s leaves might get a bit crispy around the edges. Besides its root system is so deep and vigorous, removing it on my own has required many sharp tools, savage brutality, and multiple cuss words. And if you’re wondering why I just don’t leave it in hopes of it returning the following summer, it’s because it won’t. But as a container summer annual, it can’t be more perfect.
What’s Blooming Now
Texas Spider Lily (Hymenocallis liriosme [Raf.] Shinners). I’ve always had really good luck with these beauties as a container plant. They have now also been planted in my newly designed front garden. We felt that their vertical spiky foliage would be a good replacement for the Louisiana iris that didn’t perform well outside of two spring months. Eventually these original six plants will multiply and should provide a spectacular show in about three years. If you’re interested in growing these, I recommend purchasing them from The Southern Bulb Company.
What’s Blooming Now
Yellow flower false yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora). Although the red version is more commonly found in Texas’s xeriscape landscapes, I chose the smaller yellow version for the ornamental container used as my sun garden’s focal point. The false yucca is native to the Chihuahuan desert of west Texas and with its low maintenance qualities I’m depending on it to survive our climate extremes.
Bald Patch Blight
Yes, that’s right, my back garden has some issues. This Texas betony is less than perfect and refuses to perform as advertised. After all it is a Texas native. Some of you may have heard it referred to as Scarlet betony or Scarlet hedgenettle. From what I have read this plant does not like having continually wet feet and prefers dappled shade. Unfortunately, our past spring has been extremely wet. But since it does like heat, it may recover this summer. Besides the surrounding plants have the same drainage requirements and are thriving despite our wet spring. As for the lack of dappled shade in this spot, my landscape architect doesn’t see this as a problem. If by fall, this area has not shown any improvement, then a substitute will definitely be needed. Originally, Michael had specified Salvia darcyi for this location, but it’s a Holy Grail kind of plant, the kind that requires a quest to find.
What’s Blooming Now
Black and Blue Sage (Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’), an herbaceous perennial that will bloom consistently April through the first frost, has been a big attraction for bees and butterflies. I have read that it’s also a hummingbird favorite, though I have yet to see any. The leaves and stems when crushed or broken have a wonderful scent. Now if I can only train my dogs not to charge through it on their way to check out noisy attractions in the alley.
Backyard Jumble
Texas Lilac Vitex. Sometimes called the Chaste Tree, this specimen is really a shrub and not a tree, but over time it can be pruned into a tree-like form and be quite spectacular when in bloom. I’ve been told to allow a few more years of growth to happen before breaking out the clippers. Though the Vitex isn’t native to North America, it has naturalized and thrives in our hot and dry Texan environment.
Surrounding the Vitex are wands of white to pink flowers called White Gaura or Whirling Butterflies, and the silver gray foliage belongs to the Powis castle artemisia. Currently the artemisia is trying to swallow up the Gaura, and I’m continually cutting it back to allow the Gaura more breathing room.
What’s Blooming Now
Society Garlic. The Society Garlic (the variegated cultivar known as Tulbaghia violate ‘Silver Lace’) that you see in the foreground of the above photo is not actually a garlic, but is a “cousin” of true garlic and is more closely related to the narcissus flower. Despite its garlic smell and name, it’s not recommended for consumption. Although usually said to be edible, it needs to be treated with care or it could cause stomach problems. I recently learned not to deadhead these plants with my bare hands. Doing so gave me stinky hands for two weeks, and frequent washing and scrubbing did nothing to help.
Stringy Stonecrop (Sedum sarmentosum). After the yellow blooms fade in a few weeks, this sedum will send out long runners. Eventually, the places where these clumps have been planted will have become solid carpets of chartreuse.