Early Spring Shopping 3

Here we have Iris pallida 'Aureo Variegata' (Variegated Sweet Iris Gold Form) - top and Cornus canadensis (Bunchberry). Bunchberry is a native North American woodland plant related to the popular dogwood trees, with creamy-white flowers, and this strain of Iris, as you can see, has beautiful gold-striped foliage and light-lavender fragrant flowers.

Early Spring Shopping 2

This is Hosta 'Medium Variegata', a truly striking foliage plant for the shady border.

Early Spring Shopping 1

This weekend I am doing some early spring perennial shopping. In my area most gardeners consider it a sin to buy anything before the Victoria Day long weekend at the end of the month because the weather is so unpredictable up to that point but people don't realize how hardy most perennials really are and I daresay are ridiculously scared and even anal-retentive about the whole thing; the truth is that unless you have something rated hardy to 2 zones above yours or more (plants that you dig up in the fall), it is possible to harden them off and plant them right after last frost (May 7 here). And I have proof: I've done this the past 3 years and not one of these plants has died or suffered injury. Anyway, this first plant is a HUGE white bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis var. alba) which I am going to use as an edger in a shady border.

Gentiana acaulis

The trumpet or stemless gentian is my favorite gentian for its gorgeous sky-blue flowers rivaled only by the blue Himalayan poppy, Meconopsis grandis, and a couple other Gentiana species. It is my favorite gentian not only for its flowers but also its hardiness and low, spreading growth habit; as well, it is one of the easier gentians to grow.

New Style!

Today I decided to change the style (template) of this blog for a fresh new look. It seems to go with the blog's purpose more as well.

Pulsatilla vulgaris var. rubra

Pasqueflower is an awesome spring flower and rock garden plant; they come in a few different colors and this is the red variety. These small plants have fuzzy, ferny foliage and they bloom before it matures, so you have the appearance of a small plant about 2" tall and 3" wide with large 2" blooms! A species native to cold areas similar to where I live is Pulsatilla patens or prairie crocus, which blooms with lavender flowers before the snow melts. I plan to add that plant to my rock garden this year. In addition to the plant pictured here I have Pulsatilla vulgaris which has deep purple to maroon flowers; it appears that it will bloom this week.