WiseAcre Gardens

Gone to flower the end is near. Blooming is the last hurrah for these Sempervivums. It’s a time of joy and sorrow when they reach upwards with a spike of beauty. Appreciate them while you can, soon the old hens will shrivel and dry because flowering is the final stage of their life.

There was no marker in life and there will be none after after they’ve passed away either. Their true identity was never known and were only called Hens and Chicks by those who seen them.

I was surprised to see this turn into a death bed two years in a row. Seeing Hens and Chicks flowering is not a common sight for me. In all the years I’ve gardened I believe I can count the times I’ve seen Sempervivums bloom on one hand. Why this group has flowered 2 years in a row is a mystery to me. Perhaps it’s the variety, maybe the location or even something in the air. Who knows. But the one thing I am certain of is I want to see this every year.

First let me say I always pay rapt attention to my wife when she delivers a train of thought monologue. She fanatically follows the economy, politics, pandemics, emergency pantry storage, alternative energy sources and a host of other subjects. At some point all that information has to escape before her head explodes and I’m supposed to listen to the leaks. And you know I’ll be quizzed at a later date.

Now, I don’t hear as well as I used to and I admit at times I only half listen. So at times I don’t realize I’ve mis-heard. When that happens the train derails.

A Bowl of Iris

Not quite – I heard it but it wasn’t said. During one of the ‘discussions’ on pandemics and plagues Ebola Virus was mentioned. I should know better than to ask questions when my attention drifts to the point of hearing things. Of course I don’t need to know how contagious a bowl of iris is.

Speaking of mis-hearing. There was a song I didn’t really like (by Alanis Morissette) but there was one line I loved to sing.

What if God ate on of us?

It took a while but someone finally informed me the real lyrics where What if God was one of us? I still prefer my lyrics. I believe you should be able to pick out God in a crowd.

Two plants are making a statement in this garden. I’m afraid the Woolly Thyme is a bit louder than the Speedwell and is grabbing all the attention of the passerbys that drive by. Those walking have a bit more time and get a chance to focus on both but you and I both can guess what is catching their eye first.

Woolly Thyme – Thymus pseudolanuginosus

Planted last year in the cracks between rocks this creepy little thyme has started to cover the rock. By the end of this season it should finish the job and become the green ‘water’ falls I invisioned. That is except when in bloom, during show time I don’t care what it appears to look like. The carpet of color will make it’s own statement.

Woolly Thyme is a tiny plant and only grows about a 1/4 inch high. I love using it to cover rock in sunny dry areas where moss is out of the question. The flowers are tiny too but it’s habit of forming a carpet of blooms is one more reason that makes this a very impressive addition to the garden.

I can’t help but to get in just a bit closer for a better look. I prefer to call this plant by it’s common name. When I try to say pseudolanuginosus people think I’m swearing.

Speedwell – Veronica chamaedrys

This low growing Veronica is a pretty plant with it’s blue flowers. It’s also pretty aggressive. Give it sun and well drained soil and it will take off for parts unknown. I once had a patch that must have covered 600 square feet. No kidding, the patch had to be at least 20 x 30 without exaggeration. Do I really have to say it makes a great ground cover in sunny dry areas?

The flowers are small but numerous enough to give the area where the plants are growing a blue haze. They are all to fleeting though.

I’m very pleased with the way this garden is turning out. Planted last year it has had a chance to become established and I’m looking forward to the progression of blooms. But I’m not done yet. The poor home owner hasn’t seen me come back from the perennial nursery yet this year. I say poor because I don’t think dropping a couple hundred bucks at a time in the garden is any big deal as long as the money comes from their tree.

I just love spending their kid’s inheritance so I can play in the dirt.