Why I Oughta...

In 2023, I planted two Shredded Umbrella Plants in amongst some epimedium in the understory garden on the north side .  They're foliage plants that have a pretty unique leaf to them and I've admired them ever since they went in the ground.  This is now their third growing season and for the first time...they flowered.  See below for the current state of these unique foliage plants: I figured that in service of 'repetition' in the garden, why not add a few more.  The last time I was up at Northwind Perennial Farm, I picked up three more Shredded Umbrella plants and decided to put them in opposite the current batch - along the southside.   Here, below, are the three nursery container plants pre-planting:  I opted to put them in amongst the Autumn Ferns, in-front-of the water bubbler in the wine barrel.  With a couple of carex in the back, this is becoming a Roy Diblik-inspired cluster of perennials.   These little pop of foliage are someth...

I have a couple Shredded Umbrella plants in our shade garden in the backyard. That's their trade name, but their scientific name is Synelesis aconitifolia and they're prized for their upright foliage that resembles - as you might have guessed - a 'shredded umbrella' in the garden. I bought them up at Northwind Perennial Farm in Wisconsin from Roy Diblik after fellow garden designer Austin Eischeid gave a talk at Northwind about his shade garden and included the Shredded Umbrella Plant. I tucked two of them in amongst some Epimedium.  That first season, they went dormant early.  I assumed they didn't make it.  But, they came back last year.  Same thing:  early dormancy.  I figured the worst. So, imagine my delight when I see this unique foliage (below) peeking out of the soil this Spring: I'll post an update after this leaf's out later this Spring.  I'll include it on my shopping list the next time I head to Northwind.  

Tucked into the little cluster of epimedium (Amber Queen and Spine Tingler) were a pair of Shredded Umbrella plants that I picked up at Northwind Perennial Farm last Summer .  I was influenced by a YouTube video and brought them home without much thought.  The scientific name of these Shredded Umbrella plants is Synelesis aconitifolia  and they're prized for their upright foliage that resembles - as you might have guessed - a 'shredded umbrella' in the garden.  You can see the pair of these interplanted in the photo below:  These didn't last long in their first season in the garden - going dormant well before anything else - so I'm somewhat surprised that they came back for their first Spring.   I figured that I didn't give them enough water and the summer heat took them before they could establish themselves.  Perhaps that's their foliage cycle?  Dying back by late Summer?  I'll be watching this year to see how they do - with hopes they...

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 ...