north of the adirondacks – wildflowers & perennials that survive winters colder than my wife's feet


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Perennial Flower Wallpapers

Posted by WiseAcre on Jul 30th, 2009
2009
Jul 30

My garden flowers must get more attention from those driving by than from myself. I seem to go weeks at a time without noticing them. I blame it on the ’shoemaker syndrome’, spending all my time in others gardens leave me disinterested when I get home. When I do stop to ’smell the flowers’ it’s usually out in the wild somewhere when I stop to check out various areas as I haul materials to some project.

This week has been different. I’ve had plenty of time since throwing out my back. After the first couple of days I managed to get back on my feet and take some walks in the woods nearby. With all the rain we’ve had lately it was a good time to go mushroom hunting. Yesterday I finally got around to the yard.

First in the floral lineup is a Day Lily I’ve had over 10 years. The name is long forgotten but not the reason I brought it home. I love the color, orange for me is ‘the’ color of day lilies.

Daylily

Besides my ‘Ditch Lilies’ these are the only day lilies I have left. Growing next to the house foundation they have escaped the notice of the deer. All the other varieties have been transplanted to gardens in the village where they are not in harms way.

Daylily

Next in line are my Globe Thistles

Globe Thistles

They’ve proven to be good self-seeder and have managed to thrive and spread in a neglected and weed infested section of a ‘garden’.

Globe Thistle Flower

Now this Japanese Iris (Light at Dawn) is one unlucky plant. I knew better than to plant it in my sweet soil. It wants an acidic home but it hangs on with stunted growth yet it still makes the effort to please me by blooming.

Japanese Iris - Light at Dawn

Talk about ignored. These phlox are still in their pots from my last trip to the nursery at the beginning of the month. I had to set them in my pond until I can get them planted since I came home one day and had a nasty reminder they needed to be watered regularly.

Phlox - Peppermint twist

They revived nicely and to show their appreciation for placing them in water they bloomed profusely.

Phlox - Peppermint Twist flowers

Another favorite is a Phlox that’s been in my gardens for nearly 30 years. It came from my mother-in-laws garden and the bright purple blooms are always welcomed. Here they make a background for a hot pink mystery phlox that grew out of nowhere.

Garden Phlox

Now here’s a perennial that while beautiful is a hazard. Gooseneck Loosestrife is very aggressive and will take over any garden it finds to its liking. It really likes moist areas but even fairly dry soil won’t stop it. I’ve taken advantage of its nature and planted some in a ‘wild’ area and gave it permission to spread.

Gooseneck Loosestrife

Last but not least is a meadow-rue. I’m not sure but I think this one is Thalictrum rochebrunnianum. Growing 6 to 8 feet tall it towers over the weed bed it finds itself in. The flowers are tiny so you need to get up close and personal to really see them. This flower was actually over my head.

Meadow Rue flower

Most of these photos are linked to a larger size (1024 x 768) for a closer look and / or to use as desktop wallpaper if you so desire. They’re not the best wallpapers around but I redecorate my desktop so often I need some backups.

Double Decker Bee Balm

Posted by WiseAcre on Jul 11th, 2009
2009
Jul 11

It’s not unusual to see an established bed of red Bee Balm sport a few double decker blooms.

Monarda didyma

Double Decker Bee BalmAvailable as desktop background (1024 x 768)

Back at our old home site some red bee balm still persists in the abandoned garden and seems to have far more than the usual odd sport. In fact the single simple blooms are now out numbered by the double deckers.

Bee Balm - double deckerAvailable as desktop wallpaper (1024 x 768)

I love the odd blooms when they are a freak of nature. Not so much when plant breeders take and develop new varieties from them just to have ‘New and Improved on the plant tag or catalog.

Red Bee Balm - double decker

I’m sure you would feel the same way if I was cloned. I might be a pleasant distraction but more than one of me definitely would not be ‘New and Improved’.

Dianthus – Neon Star

Posted by WiseAcre on Jul 10th, 2009
2009
Jul 10

This bright flowered perennial caught my attention at the local garden center the other day. The tag clearly stated it was a zone 5 – 9 plant but I bought 3 of them anyway. Seeing minus 30 F. is no surprise around here in the winter so I am certainly taking my chances even though I’m hedging my bet by using them in the village where the ‘climate’ is a little better.

Dianthus - Neon Star

I haven’t finished the stonework yet but here I am planting. I’ll probably end up moving these later but for now they have a home.

Dianthus - Neon Star flowers

Neon Star Dianthus

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