Tag Archives: flowerbeds

Take 3: Blackfoot Daisy

Included in my recent plant haul from shades of green Frisco were two Blackfoot daisies, melampodium leucanthemum.

I’ve grown Blackfoot daisies in my backyard garden for at least 2 years that I’ve counted. I know they have been in my front yard garden in its early days.

Talk about prolific bloomer. The blackfoot daisies put out a massive display of blooms during the summer heat, when other plants are faltering.

It makes an excellent border plant simply because of this display as it waterfalls over the garden edging.

My biggest challenge is getting it to return in the spring. I have bought and planted as many as four specimens in my big flower bed and it never seems to come back.

This year I am amending the soil to add perlite, sand and gravel in hopes of coaxing it back to life the following spring. Wishing me luck for these new specimens.

Another Salvia

I’m a very devoted fan of all types of salvia. But when I spotted this “new-to-my-garden” salvia at Painted Flower Farm, I knew it was going into my garden. Now I just find a spot for them.

The brilliant red blooms of salvia blepharophylla are eye-catching.

Plant Haul Rundown

From Painted Flower Farm:

  • Echinacea purpurea
  • Echinacea paradoxa var neglecta
  • Monarda Jacob Cline
  • Salvia blepharophylla

From Etsy Gingersgreenhouse:

  • African Blue Basil
  • Variegated African Blue Basil
  • Variegated Peppermint
  • Pepper Marusha Variegated
  • Pepper Candy Cane Red
  • Lemon Verbena
  • Foxley thyme
  • Nepeta Chartreuse on the Loose
  • Buddleia Butterfly Gold
  • Golden Pineapple Sage

From Etsy Upperplacegardens:

  • Variegated Turks Cap

From Shades of Green Celina:

  • Creeping Germander
  • Oregano Kent Beauty

Variegated Turks Caps

My wishlist item has arrived, one of several purchases I recently ordered off Etsy.

Colors are stunning. I’m excited to place these variegated Turks Caps somewhere soon. I’m considering training them into tree form.

Packed well for shipping
Variegated Turks Cap already budded

The challenge now is determining if I should pot these or squeezing them into a flower beds, if I have room.

Hostas on Display

Spring hostas are in their broadleafed prime now mid-May, with some sending out buds and blooms.

Dancing Darling is of course a beast, overflowing the shade bed.

Monstrous Dancing Darling
Dancing Darling Bloom

Color Glory is a step down in size but no less robust.

Color Glory
Color Glory Budst

Island Breeze is a nice glowing addition to the shade bed.

Island Breeze

Hans is always an eye catcher, but the creamy white leaves will start frying from the occasional sun.

Creamy leaves margined with blue green
Hans showing some scorching

The only failed start this year is Fire and Ice, which appeared to be the breakfast of champions. Not sure if it was slugs or insects but it got eaten to the ground. Hoping it’ll come back stronger and sooner.

Fire and Ice delicate…
…and delicacy

The shade bed still receives a blast of morning sun which tends to dry the hostas. Still developing a solution to this

Shade bed, mid afternoon sun during May