Husker Red Beardtongue has a gorgeous flower. Clean foliage. Easy to care for. Slow to spread. Attracts hummingbirds. Drought tolerant.
Husker Red Beardtongue may be the perfect perennial!
I don’t use Beardtongue as often as I should but every year when it comes into bloom I can’t figure out why.
It’s mid-June and Beardtongue is a little more than halfway through bloom here in zone 6a.
I planted these groupings of Beardtongue in a landscape with a crimson theme. You’re looking at Concorde Barberry (Berberis thunbergii ‘Concorde’) in the foreground and Forest Pansy Redbud (Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’ in the background with Husker Red Beardtongue sandwiched between.
Once the flowers fade cut the flower stalks down to the foliage and you’re done maintenance for the year. It’s that simple. Sometimes you get a second flush of blooms later in the summer.
No need to cut back the foliage in the fall, leave it alone. New growth grows through the previous years foliage.
The only time I ever had trouble with Beardtongue was when I planted it in a wet spot. Beardtongue does NOT like wet feet. It will linger and die under those conditions. The plants below did NOT make it.
Husker Red Beardtongue has a tendency to revert, go back to the straight species, often. When this happens simply dig up the clump, separate out the green foliage, and replant. The other option is to leave the green foliage and enjoy the show.
If you haven’t tried Husker Red Beardtongue yet and you have a sunny, dry spot give it a try.
Blue Flag Iris tolerates shallow standing water and has purplish-blue flowers in early-June here in Zone 6a.
But this post isn’t about the merits of Blue Flag Iris. It’s about what a cool spot that was for Blue Flag Iris.
Small Details Make a Big Difference
I get a thrill out of small details like the grouping of Blue Flag Iris. These are the details that make or break a landscape. Placing a boulder in the right spot, staggering bloom times, smooth flowing edges, a place to sit and enjoy the landscape.
Lately, I’ve been planting groups of perennials with one outlier, so it looks like the perennials are spreading into the landscape.
One of my favorite details of this landscape is a Rat Snake living along the stream bed. I’ve stumbled on it sunning in the water twice this season. I hope to get a picture of it before the end of the year.
All of these details, while seemingly small, add up to an exciting and cozy landscape.
I’m pleased with how the plants have been growing in my perennial border this spring. We’ve had a very wet spring making the plants green and lush.
The bed you’re looking at has been weeded three times and edged twice. Plants have been added, subtracted and transplanted.
Gardening takes work.
I’m not trying to dissuade you from gardening. I want you to know gardening isn’t a once and done thing. People with beautiful yards spend a lot of time keeping those yards looking that way and love every minute they spend out there. I know I do.
The pink flowers are some kind of Poppy. I wish I could tell you more but I can’t.
A little up and to the right of the pink flowers are Mountain Bluet (Centaurea montana). I lost all but one of my Mountain Bluet over the winter. I suspect the cause of death was wet soil in the Fall, Winter or Spring. I got replacements at the grocery store this spring. If they don’t make it this time I’ll try something different.
You’d be amazed by how different the bed looks through the season depending on what is in bloom.
If you look over the fence you can see my Weber grill. It’s been in that spot for 19 years and counting. I enjoy peeking over the fence while grilling hot dogs in the Summer.
Click on the picture below for a larger version.
A closeup of the Poppies is below. Lauren, see below in comments, thinks it’s Papaver Orientale. I agree!
First Shade Day is the first day you can see shade from the trees each spring. May 5 was First Shade Day this year; though it was raining when I made the observation.
First Shade Day signifies the unofficial beginning of spring. I know the cold, damp gloomy days are over.
John Holden
Below are some observations of the yard on First Shade Day 2019.
Shade Garden Ideas
Below is the Hosta Garden leafing out. This garden has a lot of significance for a couple of reasons.
First, the root flare of the Sugar Maple to the left that’s 100 to 125 years old.
Second, when we bought our house this area was half moss and half weeds. It was a mess! Over the years I placed the stepping stones, spread compost, and planted the Hosta to get it to where it is today.
Sulphureum Barrenwort (Epimedium × versicolor ‘Sulphureum’) in full bloom growing in dry shade and looking great! Barrenwort dies back to the ground in the fall but reliably returns each spring. It’s a very slow spreader that works better as a grouping than as a ground cover.
Japanese Crabapple in full bloom. When we moved into the house 20 years ago the tree was a stick 6 to 8 feet tall.
Over the coming weeks, the petals will litter the plantings and lawn beneath the tree. Following that leaves will slowly drop through the summer. When the leaves drop in the fall they are thick and leathery and don’t ‘grind up’ with the lawnmower easily.
While I’m not a fan of Japanese Crabapples; few trees can compete with their beauty in full bloom. Here’s a great list of Japanese Crabapple Cultivars .
If you can identify the cultivar of Japanese Crabapple from the flowers please let me know.
Square Foot Gardening
Last year I started a square foot garden. I planted lettuce seedlings a couple of weeks ago. I only covered the plants once to protect them from frost so far.
In my other bed I planted onion sets, broccoli and peas.
When I was a kid I visited a friend whose father was growing peas early in the season. I remember watching the peas growing in the muddy, cold soil and wondering why anyone would plant so early.
I’ve learned that peas like cold, muddy soil. These seedlings were planted mid-April and they’re thriving.
Seasonal Color Ideas
My wife came back from Target with this cool bucket. She poked holes in the bottom with a nail for drainage, filled the container with potting soil and planted some pansies from the local grocery store. Voila!
German or Bearded Iris
This picture is the bed of German Iris I made a video about years ago. In the video, I mention weeding around the iris. I decided to keep the leaves in the bed to shade the soil and see if it keeps the weeds down.
Here in Connecticut, USDA Hardiness Zone 6a, Cardinal Flower is in full bloom. You’ll spot it on the edge of streams where the soil is consistently moist. Cardinal Flower tolerates brief flooding. We’ve had so much rain this year it must tolerate brief flooding.
Cardinal Flower will not tolerate is dry soil. If Cardinal Flower dries out it’s going to disappear from your garden forever.
Today at Putnam Memorial State Park I spotted a grouping of Cardinal Flower on the edge of a pond. It was growing just off of the edge of the water. The grouping to the left is in the stream that feeds the pond.
I also found some growing on the edge of a culvert. Cardinal Flower is tough as nails when growing in its preferred moist place.
If you’re going to plant Cardinal Flower remember the Cardinal Rule:
Plant Cardinal Flower ONLY where the ground remains moist year round. Cardinal Flower loves to grow right on the edge of streams almost touching the water.
Last night I went for the best walk I’ve had in a while. We’ve had high heat, high humidity and a ton of rain the last couple weeks which hasn’t encouraged walks.
I started around 5:00 PM without much of an idea where I was headed.
At one corner left would take me home in half an hour or right in two hours. I went right.
I haven’t felt so calm and at peace in months as I did last night.
I enjoy getting lost in the details of houses and landscapes as I walk by. You never know what you’ll see.
The picture at the top of the post is an old mill-pond. There’s a guy on a canoe or kayak somewhere in there. The pond is on a seldom traveled dirt road where it’s always calm and quiet.
Walking through a different neighborhood I stumbled on a giant boulder or ledge. I’m not sure which. If I were standing in front of that rock my head would be in the shadow.
Near the rock a Caterpillar D5N sits waiting for work. It’s a BIG machine.
I stumbled on a Callicarpa closer to home.
This picture, taken in early August, shows Callicarpa blooms. Purple berries will be coming soon. If anyone knows the species please let me know.
The picture below was a surprise. I walked by a hidden stream and glanced over to see a Cardinal Flower in full bloom. Cardinal Flower is a native in Connecticut but I rarely see it in the wild. I don’t know if this plant grew on its own or planted/tossed in the stream.
We’ve had a lot of rain the last couple weeks and that stream is normally a trickle this time of the year.
This post reminded me of The Road Not Taken by Bruce Hornsby, on of my favorite musicians.
Thanks for joining me on my walk. I look forward to sharing more pictures with you soon.
Cornell Pink Rhododendron was in full bloom. Cornell Pink is a deciduous rhododendron and blooms before foliage emerges.
A close up of Cornell Pink Rhododendron flowers.
Winter Hazel (Corylopsis pauciflora)
Winter Hazel in full bloom. I’ve never planted it but I like the compact habit and bright yellow blooms in early-spring.
Winter Hazel flowers aren’t big but there’s enough of them to catch your eye.
Lenten Rose Sp. (Helleborus sp.)
The Lenten Rose was in full bloom. You can see last years foliage under the flowers. If you have Lenten Rose you can prune the foliage back in early winter once it goes dormant or early spring. There’s no harm if you don’t cut back last years foliage before bloom.
Star Magnololia (Magnolia Stellata)
Gorgeous! Absolutely gorgeous.
Because they flower so early Star Magnolia blooms are often damaged by frost. These blooms are as good as it gets for Star Magnolia.
Yesterday we had snow, then rain, then ice and then snow again. When I woke this morning it was a frigid 26 degrees.
You’d think I’d be used to spring snow. I’ve lived in southern New England all my life where the weather is anything but predictable.
I’m not.
Every time Jack Frost lays waste to the landscape I’m surprised. Yesterday Jack was having an exceedingly bad day.
While the pictures below show plants at their worst I assure you they’ll be fine. In a few day they’ll look as good as when it was in the sixties last week.
Hellebore (Helleborus sp.) thrives in weather like this. In a few days you won’t know the plant was under half an inch of ice and snow.
Can you can see the layer of ice on this Japanese Cornel Dogwood (Cornus officinalis)?
This pansy is in for a rough couple weeks. Most of the foliage will turn brown and die. Growth deep inside the plant will survive. It’s going to take time. I should have brought the plant inside BEFORE the cold weather arrived.
These poor Daffodils (Narcissus sp.) were laid out on the lawn. I can’t say the flowers will look as good as they did before the snow. However, they will right themselves and shine again in a few days.
Mr. Science Guy how does water run and freeze at the same time?
The first thing I did this morning was get wood to build a fire. The twine holding the tarp is surrounded by thick ice.
This morning as I waited for the school bus I noticed my daffodils emerging. It’s been a mild fall and they’re just poking through the soil.
New growth on Sedum called buttons.
Plants set bud in the fall so they’re ready to go when the warm weather arrives.
The old foliage on my Iris died back leaving miniature Iris plants. The new growth won’t look this good in the spring after repeated freeze thaw cycles.
Flower buds on my Lenten Rose (Helleboris sp.) are ready to go. Lenten Rose blooms in April often while snow is still on the ground.
Don’t think your plants are the only thing growing in the garden. There’s a class of weeds called winter annuals that germinate in the fall. Now is a great time to pull them.
Chickweed is one of the most ubiquitous winter annuals. Chickweed is remarkably easy to control if you get it while young.
If the weather stays mild take advantage and do some weeding. It’ll make a huge difference in the spring.
