Two (More) Stachys 'Hummelo' Planted IB2DW - Fall Planting - October 2024

I managed to plant a couple more things this weekend after finding these at The Growing Place end-of-the-season sale.  There are now two Stachys monnieri 'Hummelo' planted right at the feet of the Ginkgo tree that is growing IB2DWs.   I have a pair of these same Stachys Hummelos already in the front yard that I planted last Fall (Fall Planting, ftw).  

This was their first season and they put on a nice colorful show this Summer - which reinforced why I wanted them in our garden.  As I mentioned in the original post, these are on Roy Diblik's 'appropriate plant list', so you can't go wrong with having a few of these in your beds.  

I've posted a few times about repetition and mass plantings and how I've grown to appreciate (and be drawn to) those concepts.  I've swapped out a few things in my backyard (via Garden Edits) to bring some of that repetition and mass planting to life.   One of the postings - about mass plantings - was back in January when I was dreaming of front yard conifers.  In this post, I showed some inspiration showing a cluster of three upright blue-needled conifers surrounded by a mass planting of Stachy's 'Hummelo.   There might be nine-or-ten Stachys in that bed.  Love it. 

I had two, now I have four.  Like most perennials, Stachys can be divided (in the Fall, I think), so perhaps next Fall, I'll divide the two original and get my collection up to six.  And, then move them out to the main yard with a new conifer bed.  Perhaps around the Austrian Pine that I just planted - expanding that bed out.  

For now, they're IB2DWs - right at the feet of the Ginkgo tree that went in as a tiny thing back in 2021. It has grown a bit since then by putting out some new limbs and getting just a little bit taller.  It is NOT growing as fast as the Bald Cypress that is over IB2DWs, but it is doing pretty good for a tiny tree in this hard-to-grow area.

Here's a couple photos showing these two new Stachys Hummelo.  First, the plant tag - these were in quart-sized nursery pots.    

And, here below, is a look at the two plants dug into the ground. I amended this soil with compost and biosolids and then have watered them in a little bit.  

Fall Planting in 2024 has been MUCH slower than last year, but the list is starting to grow a bit.  

This gave me a +2 plants via new plants.

Running my total up to 16 'new plants' for 2024.

Here's my math: +2 trees, +2 John Greelee Grasses, +6 Ajuga + 2 Stachys = +12 planted. And...+1 red swtichgrass, +1 mystery grass and now + 2 Autumn Moor Grasses = +4 by division.

16 total 'new plants' in Fall 2024.

Fall Planting 2024 List

• A semi-dwaf, mostly upright conifer tree - the Oregon Green Austrian Pine - planted in the front yard along the south property line.  #ConifersShouldComeFirst
• The Skylands Spruce - container grown from Conifer Kingdom.  Planted in the back of the Island Bed in the front yard.  #HideAndReveal
• Two new and one transplanted John Greenlee Moor Grass (Seslaria) in the island bed in front of the Northern Glow Korean Maple.  
• Six Ajuga 'Chocolate Chip' groundcover plugs planted in the Island Bed in the front yard. 
• While not a 'planting' or 'dividing' project, I extended the front porch beds out a foot-or-so.  
• Dividing an existing Red Switchgrass down IB2DWs near the sidewalk.  From one grass to two - hoping to rejuvenate the crown of this ornamental grass and get it going a little bit. 
• I dug up, divided and transplanted into two clumps a 'mystery' blue-green sesleria/or ornamental grass from the front porch bed down to IB2DWs along the sidewalk.
• Two Stachys 'Hummelo' planted IB2DWs as small quart-sized nursery pot.