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Showing posts with the label Amber queen

Wider View of Epimedium Colony and Shredded Umbrella Plant - February 2024

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Yesterday, I posted an update about the trio of Spine Tingler Epimedium that are planted near the large Catalpa tree in our backyard .  Those three are planted amongst some of the other Epimedium (Amber Queen) that we have had planted for a number of years. At one time, I had five (5) Amber Queen Barrenwort/Epimedium - Here's a look in May 2021, when I planted two new ones to bring the total to five .   By the time I planted the Spine Tinglers last May (2023), there were just four Amber Queens left.   And that's what we're looking at today:  Four Amber Queen Epimedium and Three Spine Tingler Epimedium.   Below is a wider view of this colony showing all eight plants: I've amended some parts of the front and back beds with biosolids last Fall.  Looking at this section, I'm thinking that these could use a slow-release feeding via some biosolid topdressing and/or mulch. I didn't manage to post about these, but I also added a pair of Shredded Umbrella Plants in among

Spine Tingler Epimedium Late Winter - February 2024

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This past May (2023), I planted three Spine Tingler Epimedium that I brought home from the Morton Arboretum Arbor Day Plant Sale and stuck them in amongst the other epimedium that have survived - Amber Queen.  These are planted under a large Catalpa tree in the backyard, along the north side bed.   Below is a photo showing the current state of these three (along with one Amber Queen on the far right of the image): My experience with epimedium is that they are VERY slow to get established.  They aren't in a state of growing, but also not so much a state of dying.  More like...just a state of 'being.   I've looked back at the photos of when these went in and I'm not sure they've actually grown.  But, I'm also not sure they've shrunk at all.  I'd love NOTHING MORE than to see these spiny-filled barrenwort/epimedium to naturalize this whole area to make a large colony of groundcover.  

Two More Amber Queen Barrenwort - May 2021

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 Last year, I bought three Amber Queen Barrenwort plants from the Morton Arboretum Fall Plant Sale.  I ended up planting them around one of the Catalpa trees in the north bed.  They tolerate shade, so that seemed like a good spot.  At this Spring's plant sale at the Morton Arboretum, I tried to buy even MORE of the same stuff that I bought last year.  On these Amber Queen Barrenworts, I was successful.  I bought TWO more - and planted them in the same area.  The drift is now five.  Fall plantings are the three on the left.  The new ones are the two on the right.  They'll get mulched in soon. I mulched these in last Fall using arborist wood chips from the Downers Grove 'mulch pit'.  Interesting to note the decomposition that has taken place over the past six or so months.