Planting Plants: 5/23-5/29

Over the last week, the spiders have been busy weaving their webs (more power to them - may their nets capture all the yard's mosquitoes).  I, too, found time to get a few plants into the ground or into pots.

 

Blue Anise Sage (Salvia guaranitica)  failed me once before, but several recent garden blogs had me itching to try again.  Then I received two plants at the recent Design A Go Go plant swap.  Thanks to Pam from Digging and an unknown contributor (appreciation to both of y'all), I'm getting to try them again.

Pam also remembered me admiring the Blue Elf Aloe posted on her site, and she thoughtfully provided me with one to grow.  It may look a little lonely in its present pot, but I have faith it will eventually fill it in (or perhaps I may have to provide company).

At a recent school plant sale, I got three White Crinum Lilies (planted about the yard), plus some herbs: a couple of Variegated Oregano and a Lemon Thyme.  Using the canopy opening created by the fallen tree, I got the herbs into a pot and placed it in the sunshine.

Another of my Perilla 'Magilla' cuttings went into the front yard, behind the Autumn Ferns (Dryopteris erythrosora) and in front of the Nandina (Nandina domestica).  Should provide some color as it grows.

Decided it was time to put my White Queen Caladium bulbs into the ground.  Seven went into the empty space created by the removal of the fading Lamb's Ear (Stachys byzantina) - think the soil mixture didn't drain adequately, coupled with not enough sunshine - and seven others went into the hole left by the winter loss of my Bulbine (Bulbine frutescens).  I like using Caladiums to fill in the the voids created by dearly departed plants.

I'm attempting to root some cuttings from trimmings of Cedar Sage (Salvia roemeriana) & Jerusalem Sage (Phlomis fruticosa).  Both had gotten a little leggy.

And five flavors of Zinnia went into a narrow strip in the sunny spot (near the potted dill, tomato & herbs).  Hoping for some cut flowers (however, even though this is my "sunny" spot, not sure if it will be sufficient for Zinnias - but they are worth a roll of the dice).

Emptied my pots of Ribbon Grass (Phalaris arundinacea) and Spanish Bluebells (Hyacinthoides hispanica).  I could not seem to keep the first wet enough, and the latter dry enough (though I can see why the Bluebells may be considered invasive; even struggling, its bulbs had tripled in number!).

Texas Bear Grass, Ribbon Grass

Planted Texas Bear Grass (Nolina texana) & Ribbon Grass (Phalaris arundinacea) into separate pots. Used the Bear Grass because it was a terracotta pot that I wanted to always remain outside (hate lugging about the larger heavy pots), so I wanted a plant that could stay out through winter low temperatures. Put the Ribbon Grass into a pot because I've read that it is quite invasive.

I typically use pots for plants that need more water (plastic pots), more sunlight (my deck has areas that get part sun,) can't take low temperatures (mostly succulents) or tend to be invasive (trap the little buggers).

Covered up many of my newly planted plants & aloes with sheets/blankets because of the threat of freezing precipitation - with lows only going to be right at freezing, I might not have covered much of anything if not for the chance of snow (don't think my aloes want a layer of snow or ice - even if short-lived).

Yesterday saw a pair of chickadees going in and out of my Birds Unlimited birdhouse. Never saw them carrying nesting materials or food (seems way too early for young - but what do I know). Could have popped open the roof to check - but still a little scared to do that (always thought birds would abandon a nest if bothered; and someone ripping off my roof and sticking their giant nose into my house would bother me!)

Spotted a sprout of Toad Lily (Tricyrtis lasiocarpa) popping up from where I had originally planted (had dug up and transplanted, but guess I left some behind). Will have to see how that turns out...

Both the Soap Aloe (Aloe maculata) in the front yard bed and the potted Orange Kaffir Lily (Clivia miniata) appear to be preparing flower stalks. Seems a little early but I like their enthusiasm!