Look what I found: Chrysanthemums (?)

These are still pictures from a couple of weeks ago.  The mums are fully in bloom now, but I like the way the new buds looked.

I  put a question mark next to the name in the title because I'm not totally sure these are still called chrysanthemums.  It looks like the botanical nomenclature for them may have changed to dendranthema...and possibly changed back again.  I've always just called them mums and I had never even heard of 'dendranthema' until I started today's post.*

I'm a huge fan of mums.  I enjoy seeing them this time of year and something about them just screams "Fall is here" to me, even more than pansies, decorative cabbages, or even pumpkins.  My wedding anniversary is on November 1st, so I've adopted white chrysanthemums as our official flower.  It works out quite well - they're cheap, plentiful, and not carnations. 

I'm not crazy about the colors of the mums we have...I would have chosen white, cream, or maroon.  We have three total (all orange-yellow) and two of them are poking up in the weirdest places: under an evergreen shrub and halfway in-between a bed and a lawn.  I'm not sure if they were quickly put in the ground one year or if the garden beds look drastically different from when they were originally planted.  They'll probably end up being moved next spring.

Lately, I've been reading about asters as a sort of mum-substitute.  Like mums, they provide late-season blooms, but are hardier, are native plants, and don't require extra pruning.  Have you ever grown asters?  Do you prefer them to mums?



*I take it back - it looks like Carol at May Dreams Gardens wrote about this, so I must have heard of dendranthema before.  However, since her post is over 5(!) years ago, I guess it slipped my mind.

Look what I found: Sedum

Sedum is one of those plants recommended to beginning gardeners.  It's impossible to kill, you don't have to worry about watering it, and most forms spread easily without being invasive.

It blooms in the late summer and the flower heads last into the Fall.  Some people even leave the stalks/flower heads on over the entire winter for interest.  I think because sedum is so easy and is used everywhere, more seasoned gardeners can be a little snobbish about it.

I'm not one of those gardeners.  I love sedum, in all of its forms and was excited to find this variety in the bed out front.  The flowers are so pink and dainty - not the red I usually associate with sedum.  I can't wait to see how the blooms develop as the season goes on.

Sedum, showing a little damage from deer and other pests

This area has been chomped on by deer repeatedly over the summer.  The sedum recovered fairly well, although it's much shorter than it would have been if it hadn't been bothered.  I was so encouraged by the way it rebounded from the damage, I ended up getting some more from Home Depot for the fence border in the backyard. 

Yes, I broke my solemn vow not to shop at big box stores, but they were selling large perennials 3 for 10 dollars.  What can I say, my will power is fairly non-existent...

Old Pictures

We survived the hurricane with minimal damage:  no trees down, but several big limbs.  Also, the arbor into the woodland path is probably a goner.


I haven't taken any new pictures, but here are some I found on my camera.  I believe they're from June.

A plant I fancy: Origanum 'Kent Beauty'

Scientific name: Origanum 'Kent Beauty'
Common name(s): Oregano, marjoram (?)
Height x Width: 6-12" x 9-12"
Growth rate: Grows well, but not invasive
Hardiness: Zones 6-9, may not winter over in cooler zones
Soil: Prefers well-drained soil, do not over water
Light: Full sun to partial shade



Courtesy Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder



This ornamental oregano is a hybrid of O. rotundifolium x O. scabrum.  It is not suitable for culinary use, rather it is grown for its cascading foliage and long-lasting bracts which change from green to lavender to pink.

 

Reasons I like it:

• I love the trailing habit of this plant
• It's fairly unique - the bracts are different and I haven't seen it all over the place
• It should be deer resistant...that's becoming more of a necessity

Where would I put it?

• On the deck in a planter or hanging basket
• In the mailbox or driveway bed
• (My options for sun are pretty limited)

I've had my eye on 'Kent Beauty' for a couple of years now.  I should have gotten it while I lived at the old house -- the yard there was much better suited for a plant that needs full sun and well drained soil.

I guess I've had my fill of shade plants for now, because I've decided to give this plant a try.  Some of the reviews online claimed it did not do well in areas with high humidity and others claimed it did not overwinter in cooler climates.  I look forward to trying it out and reporting back.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Look what I found: Iris germanica 'Dover Beach' (?)

I have a feeling that all of my plant identifications from here on out will include question marks.  For the most part, I can tell the family and species of plants, but once you get down to varieties, I'm lost.





Bloom detail

 I knew this was an Iris germanica, also known as a bearded iris.  Other than weeds and vines, there were two plants growing in the backyard of the old house when we moved in: a clump of struggling purple bearded iris and a wild red rose.  I began a program of dividing and thinning the iris and before I knew it, they were thriving everywhere.  I started trading with some friends and neighbors, and soon I had six different types.  I've grown to love bearded iris.  They're not native, they're ridiculously gaudy and they have a limited bloom period, but for some reason, they hold a special place in my heart.


Habit

I hadn't tried to identify bearded iris before, I just called them by the color of their bloom.  I didn't even know the correct terminology for the parts of the flower.  The three upright petals are called standards and the three drooping petals are called falls.  The fuzzy thing that resembles a chenille pipe cleaner is the beard.

For some reason, I always thought the largest "fall" was the beard.  I guess you learn something new everyday, huh?

I did a search for a iris that had the following characteristics:

• Early bloomer
• Tall
• Fragrant
• Ruffled
• White Standards
• Blue/Purple Falls
• White Beard

The only result that looked anything like my iris was 'Dover Beach'.  I'm not especially convinced -- mine seems to have more ruffles and might be a little more blue.  Like the many other plants I'm on the fence about, I guess I'll have to keep my eyes open.

Do you have a favorite bearded iris?

Look what I found: Salvia nemerosa 'Carradonna' (?)

I found two possible Salvia nemerosa plants in the mailbox bed.  Now that the azaleas are losing their flowers, the tall purple spikes of flowers are very welcome.  The plants are about 18 inches tall with a 12 inch spread.

I thought they might be 'May Night' since it started blooming pretty early for a salvia, but the leaves seem different.  The stems on my plants are a very noticeable purple, which pointed me in the direction of 'Carradonna'.  However, 'Carradonna' isn't supposed to bloom until June.  I guess I'll learn more about it as the summer goes on -- if it reblooms, then I have more evidence for 'Carradonna'.  If it doesn't flop during our typical humid summer, that could be evidence against 'Carradonna'.  Stay tuned!  (I can tell you're on the edge of your seats).

What do you think?  Does this salvia look familiar to you?