I jokingly state that there is one of everything in the garden, and of course this is not remotely true, but why should the truth get in the way of a good exaggeration? In fact, there are many plants not found in the garden, but there are a lot, small collections and one-ofs. I don’t believe that the variety detracts from the feel of the garden, but who am I to judge? I like it, and mostly that’s what matters.
Today is catch up day, with photos of whatever hasn’t fit into whatever I was talking about in the past week.
Baptisia ‘Lemon Meringue’ (above and below) is not only beautiful in flower, but a vigorously growing perennial that grows to the size of a small shrub very quickly. It seems more vigorous than the native, but this could be where it’s planted. The native purple flowered baptisia is foolproof for sunny areas, but it grows to the size of a small shrub.Autumn Encore Twist is a dependable rebloomer in the mid-Atlantic. Flowers range from pure purple to varying combinations of white with purple stripes. ‘Little Honey’ hydrangea is not a particular favorite, and in more sun I disliked it. After transplanting the hydrangea to a shadier spot its brightly colored foliage is more of an attribute, so here it is growing on me. Flowers of deciduous azaleas (above and below) are often more brightly colored, and typically fragrant. Several planted twenty years ago now rise to fifteen feet tall.Green And Gold (Chrysogonum virginianum) spreads slowly in very thin soil with shallow roots. After flowering it is pleasant enough, but when nothing else will grow it is far better than looking at bare soil.As all climbing hydrangeas, ‘Miranda’ (Hydrangea anomala petiolaris ‘Miranda’) is slow to start after planting, but it will pick up in a few years.The Japanese climbing hydrangea (Schizophragma hydrangeoides ‘Moonlight’) barely clings to an aluminum pergola, but once it made it to the top it is secure. It has not flowered yet. ‘Celestial Shadow’ dogwood is a vigorous hybrid with variegated foliage. While one planted earlier perished in damp soil, the hybrid dogwoods are much more disease resistant than our native. ‘Celestial Shadow’ and ‘Stellar Pink’ (below) flower two weeks later than the native eastern dogwoods. There are several cold hardy, terrestrial orchids (above and below) that grow vigorously in the garden. Bletilla striata (below) expands each year so that I’ve been able to share divisions with our gardening sons. Variegated Solomon’s Seal is a rugged perennial grown as much for its foliage as flowers.The yellow leafed Chardonnay Pearls deutzia is attractive in leaf and flower.The Chinese Snowball viburnum grows well over our library windows. We now walk under the shrubs spring blooms.Maresi viburnum has spread to cover considerable ground with branches rooting at the forest’s edge.
Great photos! I saw Little Honey hydrangeas for the first time a couple of weeks ago and they literally stopped me in my tracks. They were in a semi-shaded woodland garden, so maybe that brought out their color. I thought they were very pretty. Love that Lemon Meringue baptisia!
Often, yellow foliage is brightest in sun and faded in shade, but Little Honey burned in half sun, and headed into its second summer in the shade this seems its best positioning. I do not see any flowers developing, but that is later in the shade so nothing to worry about at this point.
Bletilla striata is one that I have not seen in a long time. It was disdained as an invasive weed only a few years after it became available. Now, it is very rare. Well, so much for being invasive. I will eventually find it again, and might even get a white one to go with it.
In our climate bletilla is vigorous but certainly not invasive. It is rarely found in garden centers, so the initial purchase seems a bit expensive, but it multiplies quickly enough to be a good value.
Ramblin' through Dave's Garden 
Great photos! I saw Little Honey hydrangeas for the first time a couple of weeks ago and they literally stopped me in my tracks. They were in a semi-shaded woodland garden, so maybe that brought out their color. I thought they were very pretty. Love that Lemon Meringue baptisia!
Often, yellow foliage is brightest in sun and faded in shade, but Little Honey burned in half sun, and headed into its second summer in the shade this seems its best positioning. I do not see any flowers developing, but that is later in the shade so nothing to worry about at this point.
Bletilla striata is one that I have not seen in a long time. It was disdained as an invasive weed only a few years after it became available. Now, it is very rare. Well, so much for being invasive. I will eventually find it again, and might even get a white one to go with it.
In our climate bletilla is vigorous but certainly not invasive. It is rarely found in garden centers, so the initial purchase seems a bit expensive, but it multiplies quickly enough to be a good value.
It is an even better value if I find it in a neighbor’s garden.