WiseAcre Gardens

I’m trying out this Bee Balm for the first time. The catalog stated:

‘Dwarf cultivar with large heads of red flowers. 16 inch tall’

Bee balm – Fireball — Phlox – Purple Flame
Coreopsis – Zagreb — Sedum – k. Ellcombinianum

Calling this bee balm a dwarf is a stretch. The ones I planted this spring were topping out at 3 feet. Even the short Phlox – ‘Purple Flame’ grew a good foot over the stated 16 inch height. The Coreopsis – ‘Zagreb’ gained a good 6 inches over what the catalog stated but that was no surprise. I usually expect it to grow 1 and a half to 2 feet high.

Sometimes a mistake turns out to be a well planed design. Next year the Zagreb will probably gain another 6 inches in height. Good thing the bee balm and phlox growing behind it ate their Wheaties.

The Fireball flowers were right on, the big red blooms turned out nicer than expected.

Monarda – ‘Fireball’

I figure if the Fireball over-winters in this spot it’s going to be winter hardy just about anywhere I might use it. A deep freeze is going to settle in behind that stone wall.

…and now for something completely different.

I’ve heard about the ‘Birds and the Bees’ and always thought they were a bit more discrete than this. The way this Coreopsis ‘Zagreb’ flower is being mounted makes me think this might be some sort of ill mannered fly wearing a bee overcoat.

…in the order of my devotion. There’s a lot to love about Iris including the varieties available, their range of habitat, the huge selection of flower colors, the ease of care and even the sword shaped leaves. I know I’ve missed other qualities but I think you get the point by now, Iris have a lot going for them. But there is one attribute that nearly makes all the nice things you can say about them moot. The flowers don’t last long enough. Any blooming love affair is over before you know it. You’re lucky to get a weekend fling.

That’s one reason this Iris is on the top of my favorites list. I swear this Iris blooms a minimum of 2 weeks. It just doesn’t seem to quit. Another big reason I like it so much is the fact I found a single specimen over 30 years ago at an abandoned farm. When I say that single plant multiplied into 100s I believe I’m as accurate as the Census counting the homeless. The number could very well be in the 1000s by now since most have gone on to other gardeners and you know what they’re like.

My 2 favorite Iris thrived on my neglect. So did the weeds. This year is time to divide again.

Number 2 is a nice color but is really a plain jane looker when it comes to Iris. What gets me is the fragrance. It smells like bubblegum, more specifically Bazooka Joe bubblegum, you know the one with the inside comic wrapper. This one my wife brought home from somewhere about 20 years ago. If we ever knew the name it’s long forgotten. I just call it the Bubblegum Iris. This too has gone to many other gardens. I have to admit a big reason I spread it around so much was that I could tell even more people where they should stick their nose.

Number 3 is a better looker and has been around longer than any other. It was my first Iris. The name is long forgotten but we’re familiar enough for me to get away with calling it Old Purple.

For the next on my favorites list I have to wave the Yellow Flag. I’ll let the photos explain why I like it.

Yellow Flag Iris – Iris pseudacorus

That’s not all but I just don’t get that worked up over my other Iris. I like them all but I won’t write home about them.

I’ve always thought females with dimples were cute. And like most females this one got upset by my advances and started waving her arms at me.

Goldenrod Crab Spider – Misumena vatia

No wildflowers today. Instead I’m posting a few photos from my gardens.

OK, a couple of wild things are showing. The wild Ginger is fully leafed out and there’s some jewelweed seedlings in the lower corner.

The Vinca flowers have come and gone and a couple purple violets are still hanging in there. The blooms are Phlox. To the best of my knowledge – stolonifera, I swear that’s what I remembered the tag saying. (rely on my memory and you can get in big trouble, I do all the time)

A close up look at one of the Phlox flowers. A pretty phlox either way you look at it.

A peek at my pond garden. The white flowers are Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum). Cool how it worked it’s way into the stone wall and a reminder how invasive it can be. The photo doesn’t give you a clue how invasive the Ligularia is so let me just say all those (and more) came from one plant. They’re great self seeders but nothing compared to the Jewelweed. Yep, all that low growing stuff in the cracks are Jewelweed seedlings. I love that ‘weed’ too.

Stewy’s favorite spot. He’s become a frog stalker that can’t figure out how they disappear.

Back in the woods the ground is covered by Lily of the Valley

This is my favorite Lilac because of the deep purple blooms. I forgot to get a shot of the whole shrub. I had my face plastered in the flower clusters and I think I hyperventilated.

You didn’t think I’d let you leave without sticking your nose in it?