There’s so much to order and so little time. Every day it seems, a new plant pops into my obsessed little brain that I can not live without. Of course, the majority of these must be set aside due to the lack of available space in this over planted, thirty-seven year old garden, but today I must place my order for a batch of Surprise lilies (Lycoris spp.).
While I too often order with no clue where something will be planted, these will be planted in the area beside the circle patio that is enjoyed from the sunroom. Here, the planting is jammed with green and variegated foliage, and by several toad lilies (Tricyrtis spp.) with orchid-like flowers standing just above the nearly knee high carpet of foliage.
Placement of new lilies should be a breeze. Their foliage is short lived, here in the spring and then gone as perennial foliage increases its spread. The few bulbs of red lilies (Lycoris radiata) planted at the entrance to the front walk have increased considerably over an extended period, but I am likely to splurge on a few extras since I am not likely to have another decade or two to enjoy their spread.
The red surprise lilies are the standard, but with my colorblindness I enjoy them only close up, so I think that yellow flowered varieties are best to be viewed from my perch in the sunroom. As I write, I see two spots where they would stand out splendidly. I could plant dozens in an array of colors since they do not interfere with neighboring plants, but I should exercise a bit of restraint given the quantity of plants already on order.
I am slightly surprised by my appreciation of the tall, vigorously growing ‘Fireworks’ goldenrod (Solidago rugosa ‘Fireworks’), one planted where its stems arch to obstruct the path in the lower rear garden. Next year, I must chop it by half so its growth is a bit more rigid, but the long strands of small yellow blooms are precisely what is needed in the early autumn.
Over the past year, I’ve added a number of plants to the shallow drainage ditch in the lower rear garden. It is now approaching complete coverage so that weeds are a problem only in the gaps between path stones. The native soil is excellent in this area and the low area remains reliably damp, a perfect spot for the Obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana). For better or worse, the ideal conditions encourage its spread, so I must watch that its neighbors are not overwhelmed.
The Obedient plant will remain in flower until autumn frosts, and certainly, no additional plants will be needed in this area.
