Landscape Height

ere are some pics I took late yesterday evening. They are all tall and skinny, except for one. This time of the spring ladybells, Adenophora lilifolia, plays the leading roll in the border landscape. It adds height to the landscape, and creates a stunning backdrop for the shorter players. It is also known as deer’s foot, because of its leaf pattern. Ladybells is a near relative of the genus Campanula, but is far better suited to hot, humid summers than its northern cousins. It is a bit of a runner, so moderate caution should be exercised.

Other players include yellow iris (of some sort), red hot poker, Veronica spicata, and columbine. Click each image to enlarge it. Enjoy.

The amaryllis is from our eldest daughter, who after enjoying the blossoms indoors one Christmas, many years ago—her college days—gave it to us the following spring, and on a whim, we planted it outside. It lived! Oddly enough, we purchased a supposedly “hardy” outdoor amaryllis, which lasted only a few years. The two pinkish interlopers on the right, and the greyish foliage peeking in here and there is rose campion, Lychnis coronaria, a biennial. It comes up here one year, there the next. This year a plant came up near and around the amaryllis. Spread by seed, it is not very hard to keep in bounds. The seed was given to us some years back by a dear old friend from Texas.

Things are starting to happen out in the vegetable garden, so have a fruitful weekend, and a blessed Lord’s day.