Hollies

A few years ago I planted two different American Holly (Ilex opaca) cultivars. They couldn't be more different in form. I have of course lost the tags so can't tell for sure which is which.

One is growing very narrow and upright. It lost about a foot off the top in an ice storm last winter but seems to have developed a new central leader and will probably keep to a nice pyramidal form. I think it may be Dan Fenton.

From TTH200811

One lost its center to some insect damage and seems determined to grow into a shrub with no distinct leader. I don't know what it will look like when it gets big. I think this is Satyr Hill.

From TTH200811

Fothergilla

In all its autumn glory.

From TTH200811

I've fiddled around with this bed. It's planted with fothergilla, dwarf itea and clethra, and New Jersey tea. Each shrub has fuzzy white flowers, some of the fragrant and all of them attractive to nectaring insects. Something is in bloom here through most of the season. I let violets grow up under them which looked lovely while they were in bloom and like crap later on. I've weeded them all out again but that will probably be an ongoing task.

Zen cat

I usually spare my garden readers the cat pictures but here under the bird bath is a favorite basking spot for the cats.

From TTH200811

Sourwoods and Blueberries

This bed is anchored by two sourwood trees, both still very small. They do not transplant well after they get big so the best approach is to plant small and wait. It's filled in with Sunshine Blue blueberries, a southern highbush cultivar that is supposed to top out at about 4 feet. They are especially attractive with blue/green foliage, hot pink flowers, tasty fruit and great fall color.

Probably sometime in July

From TTH200811

And again in November

From TTH200811

Autumn Sunset Rose

This is the second year for Autumn Sunset.

From TTH200811

It is a sport, or genetic variation, of one of my favorite roses, Westerland.

From Roses 2007

Asparagus 2008

This was the third year for my asparagus bed and the first year for harvesting. The thing about asparagus is that it all comes in at once and for a few weeks you have to check it and cut daily and eat as much as you possibly can before it's gone. Friends are usually quite willing to absorb the surplus. I cut asparagus and put it in my trug and carried it all around the yard and felt quite like Gertrude Jekyll.

From TTH200811

Wildflower meadow - 2008

Here are some pictures of my new wildflower meadow as of July. The wretched looking red shed is now a thing of the past. I'll show you my nice new one in another post. Follow the label 'meadow' to see the history of this project.

I hadn't expected that I would see many blossoms this first year since I had read that a lot of prairie plants spend their first year growing roots. I was pleasantly surprised at the number and variety of blossoms. The meadow buzzed all summer and into September with honey bees, bumble bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.

From TTH200811

From TTH200811

From TTH200811

Wildflower meadow with heavily laden peach tree

From TTH200811

Stinkhorn

This stinkhorn fungus popped up in my side yard. I will refrain from comment.

From TTH200811