variadm – Page 95 – variegatagal

May Saturday flower run

I was so stoked to visit my first Arboretum plant sale only to be disappointed when I got there. Many tables sat bare, and I perused a predictable selection of plants, from impatiens to pentas. I left with a couple of sweet potato vines, Illusion Emerald Lace and Illusion Midnight Lace. These were unusual in that the foliage was very fine and elongated unlike the palmate leaves of a typical sweet potato vine. I haven’t yet decided where to plant them but it’s most likely they will end up in a pot.

From there I headed out to Walton’s Garden Center and picked up 2 Dixie Chip ajugas. They’re the only place I’ve found in Dallas to carry them, and I was glad they still had them in stock on this repeat visit.

Then down on Gaston I stopped by Ruibal’s. I had spotted this garden center on the way home from a previous Arboretum visit. Turns out Ruibal’s is a small-scale Christina’s Flowers. They specialize in bedding and planter color; their flats of bright coleus, impatiens, snapdragons and pentas drew me in from the main street in the first place. They also had a small space on the side dedicated to some surefire perennials such as salvia and daylilies, and a surprising number of japanese maples in the rear. I picked up a couple of Regatta Midnight Blue Lobelias and 2 Confetti Lantanas ($1 each) during my visit.

I proceeded to Covington’s, while hitting a Lowes on the way. Still no luck finding my Tropical Breeze Purple White Verbena, but by sheer luck, I found Lanai Purple Star verbena at Covington’s. The lone specimen I found in their retail space rewarded me with a golf cart ride to their back lot where their greenhouses a big surprise: several flats of Purple Star. Giddy with excitement, I ended up purchasing a flat of 20 ($45 total).

I was mighty pleased with my haul, but now I have to add Lanai Purple Mosaic to my verbena wishlist.

The Rose Gardens at Farmers Branch part one

Banks upon banks of roses await you at this trial garden sharing a space with Gussie Field Watterworth Park. The roses here are grown without any special treatment so you can observe how they are traditionally cultivated (with a minimum of mulching and driplines), as close to your backyard setting as possible. What’s remarkable is that the garden borders a relatively busy street (Valley View Lane) and sits exposed to the elements 24/7. Therefore all of the cultivars you find here are guaranteed to endure the worst Texas weather. From miniatures to landscaping shrubs to climbers, you’ll find all manner of roses. The blooms in spring are guaranteed to be spectacular, but these roses bloom nearly year round–so you’ll always be met with beautiful swathes of colors and wonderful fragrances.

Because the garden sits adjacent to Gussie Field, there are plenty of benches and tables around, in case you want to bring a picnic lunch. Great for families too, since the park is kid-friendly (lots of slides and gyms) and shaded by a canopy of trees. Remember that the Rawhide Drive entrance is one way, and you can easily exit the park via William Dodson Pkwy on the other end of the park.

This is the northernmost of 4 rose gardens in Farmers Branch, all within walking distance of each other. The best part is that the garden is free and open to the public during normal park hours.

Salvia surprise

I went plant hunting at the Frisco Lowes and made an exciting find from my salvia wishlist: Sierra San Antonio! This was the salvia I hunted at NHG for…what amazing colors. The first bloom showed off a dark purple throat behind a pale gold tongue. The habit is strangely-tropical looking: the lanceate leaves are glossy and have veining similar to a microphylla. It’s actually a cross between greggii and microphylla, and the taxonomical name given is Salvia x jamensis. This specimen has a short woody trunk, but all the new stem growth is shiny like the leaves. I hope that it will endure the summer heat.

Surprise blooms!

The first lily of the year just made its appearance. My sweet cheeks spotted this Lollipop lily making a grand entrance in the lily bed–luckily he had his new camera phone to capture the moment.

Other blooms seen in profusion include the Oertel’s rose yarrow and the late blooming dianthus. The pansies are still growing strong, and the Hot Lips salvia is just now beginning to put out blooms, after a slow start.

The variegated society garlic have dropped their flowers, though the catnip is daring to bloom immediately, after having been relocated between the rosemary and lavender. There are yet plenty of peppers to put into the ground, but with this last taste of cool weather (May 1st lows of 48 degrees), I am hoping that warmer weather will permit the basils and peppers to flourish.

I also moved most of the Flame Callas to the salvia bed, in hopes that they will take to their new home soon. I know there is still a calla positioned under one of the oxalis plants in the lily bed, but I’m unsure what color it is or where to put it (except in a pot). Hopefully this next weekend I will have time to replant it.

Botanic Gardens at Heritage Park in Grapevine

Secluded enough for intimate events, picturesque enough to be memorable. My man and I came across this botanical garden unexpectedly–and what a pleasant surprise it was. However, much of the botanical side of the park is still undergoing development, so it will be interesting to see how these gardens mature.

Of special interest here are the selections of native plants as well as the water features and koi ponds. Off the beaten path, you can check out the historic tree and its marker certifying its age just under 200 years old. This garden sits adjacent to Heritage Park and is very family-friendly. After a stroll through the gardens, take the kids over to the play area for some fun time.

On our current visit, many families had descended upon the gardens to take advantage of the spring color show. They had come to photograph their prom-dressed teens against the beautiful backdrop. The gardens also has several spaces to host outdoor parties or weddings, if you’re planning for a small celebration.