ajuga – Page 5 – variegatagal

Spring garden in bloom

For most of last week and this current week, I am pleased to report on the many salvias in bloom in the garden. The Thalia daffodils are continuing to putting on a robust multi-flowered show in S1 and B3, suffering only minor bruising due to repeated canine incursions. The Accent daffodils finished their run just as the Thalia daffodils started their display. The muscari armeniacum are starting to wind down. The white muscari however are popping up here and there, mostly in B3 in the shadows of the Thalias, reminding me again of their late-blooming nature. I wish I could produce a denser stand of these white muscari, but it just seems like this particular cultivar isn’t as aggressive. Another disappointment are the dutch and bearded irises, which have failed to show–they are usually evident about this time in the season.

I finally got the ajuga planted in S1, after cleaning up the remains of 2 more hapless victims of the vicious plant destroyer (an ajuga and a newly purchased purple salvia greggii). The ajuga that I purchased from Sooner are in full bloom, displaying intense blue flower spikes under 6 inches tall. Another happy sight: the first leaf shoots from the Fire and Ice Hosta are popping out of the ground.

I still need to purchase more bags of regular garden soil to level the beds in S1 and B5. I’m also searching the local nurseries for 2 specimens of white salvia to plant in S1 and B2.

Early spring gardening

After our meal at New San Dor on Sunday, hubby was persuaded to do some lawn work. We stopped by Lowe’s to pick up a bag of weed-and-feed to treat the henbit weed infestation that has covered most of our front lawn. To my surprise, he fired up the lawn mower (which started on the first pull) and proceeded to scalp the lawn. Meanwhile, I busied myself on getting the plants that had been hardening off on the porch into the flower beds.

I am looking forward to purchasing another flat of dianthus; the 18-count flat that I got from Cristina’s are filling the front borders of B4 and B5. I had 2 or 3 leftovers that I proceeded to locate in B1 and B2…but there are still many more holes left to fill. I also grabbed the 3 Lowe’s ajuga and set them in B3, along with one of the Sooner ajugas. I’m concerned that the Chocolate Chip ajugas look dissimilar: the Lowe’s-purchased ajuga are darker and smaller-leafed, while the Sooner ajuga have longer, bronze leaves. Both were flowering blue however.

I situated the Oriental Limelight artemisia in B2 and B4, both centered in the bed…I noticed these specimens were busting out of their pots. I wonder how invasive they will be. Do they pose a threat to my lilies and daylilies? We’ll see as summer draws near.

Finally, I got the Hosta sunk into the ground next to the Hot Lips salvia in S1. I also planted the heuchera next to it. I’m hoping the newly pruned salvia will branch out and offer some shade to its new neighbors when the summer heat arrives.

Feels like spring

I spent my lunch hour today visiting Cristina’s and Lowe’s. I walked out with an 18-count flat of dianthus (Telstar mix) from Cristina’s. At Lowe’s, I scooped up a 6 pack of white tulips that were going for 50% off and bought 3 3.5″ pots of Chocolate Chip Ajuga. Dad told me I should’ve waited out the local chain home improvement stores for the plants I wanted. 🙁 But of course there weren’t any Salvia greggiis that caught my eye (was hoping for white greggii).

So…for homework, I’m looking to propagate the following plants over the weekend: rosemary, salvia, and gaura. Not sure how the Crimson Brandy gaura that’s thriving in B2 will take to a disturbance, but this plant has intrigued me to the point of experimentation. As for rosemary, I’m inclined to believe that our yard is ready for a hedge of them, if only to alleviate the dog smell wafting from our yard. Dad says that 5 days in water will persuade it to root, and I’m thinking that unruly specimen in B5 is in dire need of a whacking. As for the salvia, the one remaining white salvia in B4 looks to be resurrecting itself in the warm weather. I’ll be inspecting it regularly for cuttings. And I’m going to keep trying to propagate more of the Hot Lips for sharing–I’m amazed that the 3 cuttings I took last year and sank into the ground before winter are still there, if a tad bit to puny. Hopefully I can also harvest some cuttings of the new Salvia chamaedryoides in B3.

Orders in-house

A large box of plants awaited me when I arrived from work last night. I eagerly unpacked my Sooner order to check the condition of my plants. Next to my Lazy S’S order last year, this was one of the best packaging jobs I had seen. Sooner gets an A+ for some custom packing; nothing could have shifted or slid around in the carton during shipment. Judging from the condition of the plants, everything seemed to have survived their trip in excellent condition. (Good notification process by Sooner as well, I had ship notices in my email earlier in the week.) Just as a recap, I had 6 3.5in pots of Ajuga, 1 3qt Heuchera Obsidian, 1 3qt Hosta Fire & Ice, and 2 3qt Artemisia Limelight. Of all the new arrivals, only the Hosta had no foliage, presumably because it is dormant.

I’m looking forward to planting the so-called thuggish Artemisia Oriental Limelight. A review of its characteristics at Dave’s Garden reveals that this plant will grow up to 4-6ft. Many of the comments remarked on its invasive nature. Frankly, I’m curious to see how it fares in the inhospitable rear beds especially during the dry summer months. I will plan to put a specimen each in B2 and B4 and keep tabs on them throughout the year. At its supposed height, I just need to remember to plant it in or near the back. It’s herbaceous though, so no evergreen colors during winter…a shame since it’s such a variegated beauty.

First order of spring

After spending some time perusing their entire online catalog, I couldn’t help but place my first plant order with Sooner Plant Farm. Their professional site answered all the questions I had, and I’m looking forward to receiving my plants the first week of March (actually I requested that the plants ship the prior week).

1	Hosta PLANTAIN LILY ‘FIRE & ICE’: Premium Potted 1 Gallon (3 Quart)	$19.95	$19.95
1	Heuchera CORAL BELLS ‘OBSIDIAN’: Premium Potted 1 Gallon (3 Quart)	$12.95	$12.95
2	Ajuga AJUGA ‘CHOCOLATE CHIP’: 3 potted plants (3.5inch pots)	$11.65	$23.30
2	Artemesia WORMWOOD ‘ORIENTAL LIMELIGHT’: Premium Potted 1 Gallon (3 Quart)	$11.65	$23.30