The Awesome Scent of Zephirine Drouhin

I went by the Welcome Center garden this week to see how things looked and what spring cleaning needed to be done.  Before I had a chance to walk through the gate I was welcomed by the soft lemony scent of the rose on the trellis. My all time favorite climbing rose, Zephirine Drouhin, was in full bloom and the air was filled with its lovely fragrance.  This is the second year for the rose and it has finally taken off and is winding its way around that stately black trellis.  With a little more TLC and regular fertilizing I expect it to completely cover the area by next year.  

This is a spring bloomer but very often, if it is really happy, it will repeat bloom throughout the summer.  I'll keep my fingers crossed.

The individual blooms are almost like clusters of satin and I only wish there was some way to convey through the computer the delicious fragrance it gives off.  Guess you'll have to make a trip to the garden --- hurry though -- this won't last forever.

I don't want to slight my other favorite rose.  'Old Blush' is doing its thing right now also.  You might have to lean in to the bloom to get all of its glory since Zephirine is stealing the show right now, but it is worth the stop.

Both of these roses are old timey plants that have been in gardens for many years.  Isn't it nice that valued plants have withstood the battle of all the new cultivars.  New is good, but some times old feels even better....lots more memories for sure.

Rehmannia -- An Odd Little Plant

Every season I just have to try some new plants.  Some are absolute winners, some major flops; then there are those few plants that, while they make you smile, probably won't be back for an encore.  Rehmannia glutinosa falls into that last category.  Its common name is Chinese foxglove and that is what really enticed me to include it in a few containers.  The foliage is somewhat similar to the true foxglove (digitalis) but not quite -- this is more like something you would find in a weed patch.  It is officially considered an herb and used a lot in Chinese medicine.  But the flower does redeem the plant. All winter the plant just sat there in the container, lost under the shadow of the towering branches of its mates.  And just now it has decided to bloom -- and none too soon either.  I am about a week or two away from pulling out the tired winter plants and installing fresh faces.  But, here check it out and you decide yourself on its worthiness.

I have to admit that the flower does call attention to itself.  Not sure how long it will last on the stalk -- I'll let you know later.  

It is a large bloom -- will nearly cover the palm of my hand -- so that is a plus for it.

Because this is in a container with autumn ferns and a small handful of violas, I think I can leave it until the Rehmannia does its full cycle.  The ferns will only get bigger and can cover any potential ugly and the violas should hang in there until mid May and do its part to hide a mess.  I'll keep you posted on the progress of this valued herb and see how it does as a partner in pretty.

Over The Top Campsis Vine

I was out grooming the containers today. Well, mostly I was chopping back that darn 'Red Giant' Mustard.  And let me tell  you that when you cut one seed head out of the kale, three more pop up -- do the math on that one and you will understand why I am constantly grooming these days.  But that isn't what I wanted to share with you this time.  I was stopped in my tracks by the sight of the most awesome campsis radicans vine I have ever seen.  Drove all the way home to get my camera to capture this incredible vine......

For those who live in Madison, you have to go out of your way to see this vine.  It's hanging on the building where Madison Studios has an office (First and Jefferson).  Check out this closer view...

and this even closer view.....

Unfortunately I don't know the cultivar but I plan to contact the owner of the building and hopefully she knows.  Stay tuned and I'll be back soon with a name that we can ask for at the nursery.  

More Cool Stuff

Was out grooming the containers today.  Well, actually I was whacking back those wonderful 'Red Giant' mustards and cutting out the seed heads on the kales.  This warm weather is great for us humans but the cool weather plants think it is time to go to seed and take a long needed rest.  No can do, guys.  I need you to look good for another couple weeks.  While I was out there I took photos of a couple knock-out containers.  Take a look at the 'Starbor' kale in the big containers on Second and Washington.  

The center plant is Juniper 'Gold Cone' and the viola is Sorbet 'Sunny Royale'.  This is a 360 container so the plant run all the way around.  

If you look very closely you can see a pansy trying its hardest to show its face.  Delta 'Premium Pure Yellow' is a good grower but it can't compete with the aggressive kale and the hard working viola.

There are four black urns inside the Town Park.  They aren't very big and I had hoped the plants that were in them would make it through the winter.  While the asparagus ferns in other containers did well, these did not.  But some of the other plants did good and some did great.  Check out the pansy that is in two of them.

This pansy is aptly called Panola 'Fire'.  The colors range from a brilliant orange to a deep burnt orange.  They nicely filled the urns and covered the space where the ferns didn't do as well.

The other two urns did not get any color this time but the Euphorbia 'Ascot Rainbow' made up for that loss.  The flower heads are awesome.  Not sure how long they will last but I am hoping for a couple more weeks.

I know that I brag on my favorite viola all the time, and here I go again.  But take a look at Sorbet 'Lemon Chiffon' in this container.  

The snapdragons are trying their best to keep ahead of the violas and the poor autumn fern is going to have to wait until I change out the plants before it will get the sun light it needs.  Ah, but I'm not complaining....I love that viola.  

One last goodie to share with you.  I think I have mentioned the variegated erysimum before.  Well, here it is in bloom.  The foliage is interesting enough in the containers but that sweet little bloom is like icing on the cake.

There is is poking its head out among the viola Sorbet 'Delft Blue'.  Erysimum is a much under used plant.  Ask for it as your independent nursery now so they have it for you in the fall. 

If you are local to Madison, Georgia, be sure to walk around town and check out some of these neat plants.  They are at their peak.  Warm weather is here so they won't be as happy as they were in the cool weather of fall and winter.  

A New Worthy Plant To Consider

As I was walking through town with a friend, she stopped in her tracks by one of the containers.  "What is that neat plant" she asked.  Duh, I couldn't tell her and I'm the one who planted it.  I didn't know because it was new to me this year and it has a tough name to remember.  But I sure will remember it from now on....Cherianthus 'Gold Dust'.  At the time of planting it was just a little pile of forgettable leaves.  But I am a sucker for new plants so I decided to give it a try. And when the flowers came out in late winter I was rewarded for my decision.  

Does this not shout cheerful

In the container with 'Gold Dust' is the pansy Dynamite 'Blueberry Thrill', Liberty Yellow Snapdragon and Carex 'Ice Dance'.  If you look closely you can see that the flowers fall away from the bottom, leaving you with color at the top for a long time.  Not sure how long it will continue to bloom but I will definitely use 'Gold Dust' again, even if it only has a short bloom time.  The impact is well worth it.

Another new pansy for me is Ultima 'Purple Lace'....dark purple petals edged in silvery gray.   Talk about a class act.  It is paired with Euphorbia 'Rudolph' and Dusty Miller 'New Look'.  Check it out.....

'Purple Lace' has been blooming consistently through the season, spent heads just droop quietly, not calling attention to themselves.

The addition of the Dusty Miller really pulled out the silver on the leaves of the pansy, and the dark purple stems of the Euphorbia made the final connection.










For whatever reason Dusty Miller has been able to shoulder its way to the forefront of the containers this year.  In the past it was lost in the crowd.  I'm glad it was able to strut its stuff so that this combination could come together.

I'm off to groom again this weekend and get more pictures.  Be back soon.

The Containers Are Strutting Their Stuff

It is with great regret that I have been away so long.  In February I told you that I had a personal event that brought a curtain of sadness over me.  I thought I would be back on track sooner but unfortunately that didn't happen.  Well, here I am now and excited to show you how great the containers look.  The cool weather and regular rain has provided a recipe for success.  Check these out.

This container holds Sorbet Ruby & Gold Babyface Viola, Bull's Blood Beet, Erysimum variegated and Euphorbia Rudolph.  All of these grew so well together -- no one was a thug.  

This is a close up view of the erysimum.  I love the purple flowers that seem to just pop out of nowhere.











 Another euphorbia that is performing really well in the containers is 'Shorty'.  Where Rudolph has darker green leaves and burgundy stems, the leaves on Shorty are bright green with green stems and its height is several inches shorter.  But both put out neon yellow flowers that look like fireworks.  

The viola in this container is Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.  Why the name?  Not sure, maybe because the flowers range from white to light blue and to deep blue.  Anyway, it's a catchy name.  Tucked in between is Bull's Blood Beet.   It provides such a nice deep burgundy color and here it made for a good separation.

A close up of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow gives you an idea of how the colors change.

More photos to come soon.  I took photos of the containers in numerical order -- they all have tags on them.  This is just the beginning....so come back soon.