Grape Hyacinths (Muscari) take their name from the grape-like clusters of flowers borne in spring on 3"-6" stems. Blooming in spring and then disappearing into summer dormancy, these bulbs have the unusual characteristic of having their foliage re-emerge in fall. Gardeners can make use of this trait by including a single Grape Hyacinth bulb in each group of bulbs planted. Then, in autumn, when digging in the garden to add more bulbs these solitary Muscari will mark the spots where bulbs are already planted.
Yesterday morning there were dozens (perhaps hundreds) of these butterflies on my early spring bulbs in the garden (I couldn't get a photo of them en masse as they flew away every time I went out there to try to get a photo). I wondered if they were migrating and.....yes (!), they were. Apparently they are Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) and my garden was a stop on their spring northward migration. So exciting!
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) migratory butterfly
What could be better than having blooming plants in your home in mid-winter? I love these because they are so easy that anyone can succeed with bringing them into bloom in the house. A great project for children, or young people developing an interest in horticulture.
The bulbs are usually offered for sale around the Christmas holidays. Simply plant the bulbs in a quality potting soil in a decorative pot and about 6 weeks later you'll be rewarded with clusters of pure white, fragrant flowers.
Note: Many people find the powerful fragrance of the older varieties of Paperwhites to be overwhelming. 'Inbal' has been specifically selected for a much lighter fragrance.
Borage (Borago officinalis) flower. I let it seed around the vegetable garden as I love its sky-blue, nodding flowers.
It is considered an herb, although it has few practical uses.
According to Wikipedia: The flowers have a sweet, honey-like taste and can be used to decorate desserts and cocktails, sometimes frozen in ice cubes. Young Borage leaves have a cucumber-like taste and can be added to salads or used as a garnish.
I think I'll just continue to grow it for the pretty flowers.
Paeonia x 'Bartzella'. Bartzella is one of the earliest of the intersectional or Itoh Peonies to come on the market some 10-15 years ago (it was introduced in 1986 but didn't become readily available until much later). The intersectional Paeonies are a cross between herbaceous peonies and tree peonies. They offer the hardiness, vigor, and ease of care of herbaceous peonies while also offering the tremendous range of colors available in the tree peonies. Intersectional Paeonies can be found in every shade and color ranging from rich orange/yellow through deep purple - colors that were formerly unavailable in herbaceous peonies. They also have exceptional form and structure, with strong stems that hold the flowers upright.
When they first came on the market these intersectional/Itoh peonies were hard to find and prohibitively expensive, but each year makes them more accessible to the everyday gardener.
These are tremendous plants that I believe deserve a spot in every sunny garden.
Big Root Perennial Geranium (Geranium macrorrhizum). A fine taller groundcover for sun or shade. Pink flowers in early summer over tidy mounded foliage. Aromatic foliage is avoided by deer and rabbits. Increases rapidly but not aggressively. Orange/red/burgundy fall color. One of the few plants that will thrive in dry shade. As its name suggests, it spreads via thick surface roots and can be very easily removed if it spreads into areas where it is not desired.
Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris). A native Wisconsin woodland species with distinctive large green fronds that resemble Ostrich feathers (thus the common name). Tender spring "fiddleheads" are edible and, sautéed in butter, considered a culinary delicacy.
Foliage remains lush and green as long as ample moisture is available, but will recede into summer dormancy if soil conditions become dry.
When introducing Ostrich Fern into the landscape be aware that it is an aggressive colonizer and will readily form large colonies, easily outcompeting its neighbors.
I have a designated area in my shaded garden, enclosed by structures and walkways, that has been given over to this stately plant. When it escapes its confines I dig the young plants in spring and pop them into decorative containers, where they make lovely seasonal additions to our shaded patio.
Mediterranean Bells (Allium bulgaricum/Nectaroscordum siculum var. bulgaricum). One of my all-time favorite hardy bulbs! Pendant, chandelier-like flowers on tall stems in shades of chartreuse and burgundy. Exquisitely odd!
