Choosing Voluntary Simplicity » Plants in my Gardens

Cobweb Houseleek (Sempervivum arachnoideum)

Shirley — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:25:58 +0000

These are cobweb houseleeks (sempervivum arachnoideum). The rosettes appear to have small spiderwebs on them, but the "webs" are actually a naturally growing part of these amazing little plants.

The Same Celery Plants, Year After Year

Shirley — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 12:40:43 +0000

Our extremely short summers and a celery plant's need for a lengthy growing season are not a good match. Perhaps that is why it is impossible to find celery seedlings or even celery seeds in this area in any of the usual places where seeds or plants are sold. One store owner even told me that "nobody wants to grow celery anymore." Perhaps not... but I do!

Alpine Columbine (Aquilegia alpina)

Shirley — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 12:17:18 +0000

My alpine columbines have mostly double flowers... something I find interesting because all the plants I have now originated from one alpine columbine plant that had single flowers. Each year as the columbines have self-seeded, more and more of the new seedlings have shown the larger double flowers. I wonder if future seedlings will ever revert back to mostly single flowers.

Oddity With Tubes or Oddity With Blades?

Shirley — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 11:25:05 +0000

Recently several readers have written to me because the tubes of their Oddity are no longer tubes, and they suddenly have a sempervivum with broad flat leaves. They are concerned that their Oddity is reverting back to a non-tubular form. I think their plants might just be adjusting to the colder temperatures.

Our Garden Paths

Shirley — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 13:48:28 +0000

We've worked on a number of big projects over the last several years, but my favorites are the gardens and paths that we have created throughout our property. We have done all the work ourselves by hand using only the natural materials that were already here, so the only actual cost has been our time and lots and lots of hard physical work.

Hosta ‘Lancifolia’

Shirley — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 20:28:15 +0000

Hosta Lancifolia is an old and very common hosta. Some sources say it was the first hosta ever grown in this country. The medium green, lance-shaped leaves arch to form dense mounds of foliage, and for me the shape of the mound is this hosta's most attractive feature. Although Lancifolia is an extremely easy hosta to grow, the leaves are thin and slugs can be a huge problem. This is one hosta that seems to thrive in almost any growing condition, although I have noticed that the leaves become a darker green in shade. All of my Lancifolias are several years old and average around 44 inches in diameter... these older plants are much larger than the size standard for this hosta.

Common Sage (Salvia officinalis)

Shirley — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 13:47:49 +0000

Common sage (Salvia officinalis) is a hardy perennial and an easy herb to start from seed, but the seed must be fresh or the germination rate will be very low. Seedlings should be spaced at least twenty inches apart because each seedling will grow into a large bushy plant. Sage started from seed takes about two years to reach its mature size. If you want quicker results, sage can also be propagated by dividing mature plants or by taking cuttings from the outer new growth of mature plants in the fall... or by layering. Sage plants must be pruned severely each spring. It looks drastic, but don't be afraid to cut the plant back, because this pruning will stimulate new and bushier growth. The usual recommendation is to replace sage plants every three years, but with pruning and good growing conditions, the plants will keep thriving and producing much longer than that. I have common sage plants in my garden that are over five years old, and they are still going strong.

Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)

Shirley — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 14:08:11 +0000

Wild ginger (Asarum canadense) is a member of the birthwort family. It prefers moist, well-drained soil and is usually found in shady, wooded areas. The leaves are large... from three to six inches across... and are thick and fuzzy and have prominent veins. Leaves are heart-shaped and grow on long stalks that start at the base of the plant. Usually the top of the leaf is a deep green and the underside is a somewhat lighter color, but leaf color can vary depending on soil and growing conditions.

Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)

Shirley — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 12:22:47 +0000

Black-Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta) are probably one of the best known coneflowers because they grow so abundantly in open and sunny areas in almost any kind of soil. They grow quickly and are sometimes called "pioneer plants" because they are some of the first plants to grow in newly-cleared fields or burned-out areas.

Sweet Cicely (Myrrhis odorata)

Shirley — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 14:19:34 +0000

Sweet cicely (Myrrhis odorata) is a hardy perennial herb that blooms in spring (usually in May here). Supposedly it prefers moist, well-drained soil that is full of humus and thrives in partial shade, but I have found that here it will grow anywhere and everywhere and can be quite invasive. After a couple of years sweet cicely can reach a height of three feet, and individual plants grow closely together to form a dense clump of fern-like leaves and small white flowers.