Studiology

Summer!!!

July has been a month of transitions. With two recent rains at one inch each, the terrible drought is easing up. Perfectly timed for my trip to the Cullowhee Native Plant Conference in North Carolina, an event that is a must for all who love native plants. This year the attendance reached an all-time high of 516 people with many new, young faces. The event actually sold out of fieldtrips and meal tickets in record time, which says a lot about the direction of horticulture. All of the speakers were spectacular as we learned about the need for fire to preserve natural landscapes that are quickly disappearing (Heather Holm), saving grasslands of the Southeast with Dwayne Estes, and possibly my favorite, "Fungal Dynamics" by Tradd Cotter. The fieldtrips onto the Blue Ridge Parkway just intensified the experience with so many specialized habitats found nowhere else in the world with their own plant rarities. 

I have so many photographs that I will just include a few. As usual if you scroll over the photograph, it will reveal the botanical name. We were at high elevations for most of the Blue Ridge Parkway which meant it was cool with a breeze that felt like air conditioning. Some of the plants, trees and perennials are also found in Canada. In fact, this little run of mountains offers refuge for some migratory birds that would usually only be found much further north. We saw and heard juncos and winter wrens, which would normally spend their time in Canada for the summer months.

I first saw this asclepias at Dolly Sods in West Virginia and noted how it grew at the forest edge. I now have it in my garden here where it grows in partial shade, which is unusual for a milkweed.

These are from a vertical bog and a specialized habitat. Water dripped down the rocks continually where you could find sundews by the hundreds as well as a few salamanders. 

Once home I took a few more photographs in my garden. It's only been 2 years, but things are looking good.

Tammy Winters-Schmitt shared some seedlings of annuals which included a range of colors in scabiosa, one of my favorite plants! The butterflies love them too.

And all of this proves that there is no shortage of flowers for summer. 

 

A Romp Through the Garden

We hit 100 degrees the day before we received 1" of rain. With the state of Virginia in a drought, that rain was delightful. The big front meadow looks a bit crispy and how plants have survived, I don't know. The 45 solidago I planted have stayed alive despite that fact that they went in on a rainy day and never saw rain again for over a month (and basically lived in an oven). The wet meadow is supplemented, and the center of activity with pollinators. So here are a few highlights from the gardens:

Of the 50 plugs of filipendula, this single plant was far richer in color. I have isolated it for seed collection.

The birdbath is just over 4' tall. The most frequent visitors are honeybees, wasps, and house finches.

I was hoping to mix a couple of daylilies with echinacea or cone flower, and this one is a winner. From Woodhenge Gardens.

Gloriosa lilies are indeed glorious! I plan on leaving these in the ground to see if they survive the winter. Fine tendrils are used at the tip of each leaf to climb. I've noticed that the tendril will unfurl and curl around something else as the days go by. Fascinating plants.

In due course I will have lots of summer vegetables, the tomato plants have never looked this good! Honeydew melons, watermelons, corn, and zucchini are just around the corner. Despite the current drought situation, days that are long with the occasional temperatures in the 80's are superb!

Some Like it Hot, Some Don't

The lettuce is bolting and the bitterness makes it inedible. But it was a great run, one of the best salad greens stretch ever! Root crops are also finishing, the beets will be the last to open space to plant something else. The best greens came from the All Star Gourmet mix which had butter heads and romaine. Very leafy, it gives a long run with early harvest and a good run in early heat. The first to turn bitter for me were Alboreto baby leaf (clearly labeled for early small leaf harvests), and Lollo (heirloom variety). 

The question comes up a lot, what do you put in the space that cool crops leave as they finish? Sweet potatoes, bush beans, a second crop of corn, or flowers; zinnias, sunflowers, annual scabiosa, even eucalyptus (surprisingly easy from seed). These guys all like it hot, just be ready to water. 

The mini wet meadow is incredible. There has been no appreciable rain for a month, so I have had to supplement. Planted only 2 years ago, I am in awe of how it has matured. I have set a chair next to it for entertainment, always in motion, even the sound is amazing as a constant buzzing.

Sadly, I have only seen 2 monarch butterflies despite the fact that I have plenty for them to eat and nectar on. My very large front meadow is for dry, upland plants and it's oh so dry. I dribble water on new plants and am amazed how they are even alive since many were put in and then the rain stopped.  Certainly not for wussy plants, time will reveal who can take it!

Lastly, I have purchased a pass for Monticello which is only a few minutes' drive from my house. This allows me to go as often as I like. Between the vegetable garden and flower beds around the house, it's a real treat! So here's just a few photographs from my last visit, there will be many more.

Heirloom blue peas.

and my trail cam took a picture of me strolling the gardens in my PJs.

Send rain.

 

 

If the Shoe Fits

In Mary Jane style shoes, I finished an art piece. The shoes were fabric, so there was a bit of uncertainty as to how the paint would cover and hold. After a few coats of gesso, all worked out well, really well. Like so many recent projects, I have a head which is usually something I fabricated from wire, clay and aluminum foil, and the right head guides the direction for scale. The shoes were adorable, but tight in the toe box - as shoe people say. My direction was loose, my thoughts were only on building until it was done and then I would think of a name or theme. In the end she became a young Lady that Lived in a Shoe, Alone. The title hinting to one of the oldest of nursery rhymes about an old lady that lived in a shoe with 12 children (and that had to be a tight fit!). 

Next up was a shoe with a whale coming out of it. To really do it right I decided to work with a humpback whale, the largest and most gentle of sea creatures. Their accordion like underside or chin can expand to collect large amounts of sea water which is then filtered through fibrous plates which take the place of teeth. To make it a bit more interesting, a baby humpback was added to ride on the side.

The third of my most recent builds was not a shoe. Maybe one of the weirdest things I have ever created, just a zombie and his pet dog. The title is "Even a Zombie Needs a Pet". 

Of course I do spend some time thinking "who would ever buy this?". Well applications are not too farfetched, the lady in the shoe would be great for a funky hotel lobby and the zombie would be perfect in an animal shelter. Perfect!

New Work

Studio time has been spent making smaller pieces. My quota for weirdness may be rising, it was around 30% before but has escalated, and new work is wonderfully strange. I can't wait to share. This one is finished, only about 8" tall. Built from a plastic dinosaur head and various metal parts. She is available at C'Ville Arts in Charlottsville, Virginia. 

The theme for May at McGuffey Art Center was Myth, so I build this winged lion. His wings are gold leaf, something I haven't worked with in a while. A large piece, about 2 feet tall. An antique clock case is the foundation.

More new pieces coming soon. 

It's Hard to Get Out of the Garden

This glorious day just delivered a short series of rain squalls, just enough to water in the multitude of new plants and seeds just planted. Behind the rain came a clear and coolish day, enough to add an extra layer to be comfortable. Prior to the rain I spent some quality time with my salad greens, harvesting and experimenting with texture and taste. After many years of planting various blends of lettuce and small head types, it has come down to a few favorites that are relatively resistant to heat and turning bitter. Here is a rundown of varieties I've come to like for various reasons, especially how they look when combined into one big salad.

From left to right: Red Butter (also considered bibb lettuce), Alboreto baby leaf, Lollo (an heirloom loose leaf), and All Star Gourmet. The latter is truly outstanding as it produces various leaf types with an early harvest and great taste. 

From left to right: Ruby Red Orach (a spinach substitute), Truchas Romaine (mini heads), and Salanova's Green Incised which is so frizzled, it's beautiful all by itself.

In our climate we have to look at varieties with an early harvest to beat the heat, and all of these do. The Romaine (Truchas) makes mini heads, so it's ready to harvest in as little as 45 days. Spinach that has overwintered is going to flower now, but still tastes good with a nutty flavor. It's feast time for these wonderful salad greens which can be combined with baby carrots, radishes, and nasturtium flowers. 

In the flower gardens there have been many surprises, one of which is this orchid that traveled from my old garden in a clump of hakone grass, overwintered in a pot and then produced this wonderful flower. 

I bought a handful of varieties from Carol Allen many years ago and lost them all, or so I thought. It would be nice if someone would give me a clue as to which variety it might be. I also bought some Clematis viorna at the Cullowhee Plant Conference and they are in flower. The scope of this species is gigantic with lots of variation. It's an adorable little vine that needs to be more popular.

My wet mini meadow is swelling everyday. My forecast for full bloom is early July. Some native perennials were not happy with the moisture and moved to higher ground, like Monarda bradburiana, which is beautiful right now.

A few others that are looking spectacular are Gillenia trifoliata or Bowman's Root (a native) and Epimedium x 'Pink Champagne', which is still going strong!

Finding time for art projects has been difficult, although I have 5 started and 2 recently delivered. I'll leave that for another day. A rainy day. 

 

The Whir of April

A month with 30 days, April was full of changes both in the gardens and with rotating visitors. I learned many things about Charlottsville, Virginia; music scenes, culture, gardens and restaurants.

Monticello is very close and the gentleman that represents Thomas Jefferson is outstanding. I recommend joining him for a chat on the lawn which incorporates questions from the audience. Our days questions included topics from banned books to woman's rights and voting restrictions of the day. He is always in character! As much as he was the highlight of the day, the gardens and house tour make it well worth a visit.

The Paramount Theater offered a documentary about John Singer Sargent, the American painter, best known for his portraits of wealthy socialites. To see his work on the big screen and understand the scale of his work and skill was incredible. If history and art are of interest to you, catch this if it comes your way.

A small private tour of Morven Farm was also part of April. Home to the University of Virginia's Sustainability Lab, it is used for teaching and research. Many of the gardens are set up with boxwood hedges or rooms which are typical of Virginia gardens at the turn of the century.

My own gardens, only in their second spring, made me smile every day. Here are photographs that span all of April.

The only thing lacking was rain and I feel it fitting to complain publicly, that is often the cure. We are abnormally dry as are parts of North Carolina, and I hope that changes soon.

On a positive note, I did find this beautiful orchid on a recent walk. It was a very special moment.

Glorious April

Just a quick romp through the shade garden. The deer haven't been back, but then I have sprayed and fenced a few things and continue to play a radio every night. The gardens are in their 2nd spring, many of the perennials moved from my old garden. As the tree's leaf out, the scenery in these mountains are phenomenal, especially when backlit. Yellow finch feed on the dandelion seeds in my yard and flutter up all at once when disturbed, which is magical. There is also a resident mockingbird who is very vocal as he (probably a young male) runs down the local inventory of birds. He spends most of his time in a tree by my bedroom, and his library of bird calls is large.

Epimedium 'Pink Champagne' has speckled foliage , possibly the reason for the name, like tiny bubbles.

Epimedium 'Starlet' has red edged foliage, perhaps like feather boas on a starlet?

Incredible foliage on Epimedium versicolor, mine are in more sun than they want, which might be the reason for this intense leaf color. 

 

The flowers on Primula sieboldii are typically snowflake shaped. This is an odd one in the genus of primrose with a summer dormancy, it literally disappears for summer. A wonderful groundcovering plant with rhizomes that spread. Best planted under leafy perennials to fill the empty space as this one sleeps.

Yellowroot (a native) would not be planted for its brown flowers but more for its ability to grow in dry shade. Even so, I find the flowers curious.

I have never seen bluets or Quaker Ladies grow as abundantly as here. This native must like acidic soil and can be found in great drifts looking more like creeping phlox. Occasionally there is a white flowering plant.

Disporum flavens is a slow growing perennial which takes many years to clump into a good size. I am always happy to see it flower, for me a very worthwhile wait.

The shocking thing about Daffodil 'Kokopelli' is the fragrance. A late flowering variety that is a seedling of Daffodil 'Sundial' which is an old tazetta and the reason for the heady fragrance. Impossible to miss as the perfume fills the air around it.

I fell in love with Daffodil 'Delnashaugh' at Oak Hill. A very late variety with super double blooms. Here with Zenobia or honeycup, a shrub of coastal Virginia with eucalyptus-like leaves.

Last spring I planted a number of native azaleas, hoping for flowers from spring to fall. The first to open will be the Pinxterbloom or Rhododendron periclymenoides which also grows wild all over Virginia and can be seen along shady roads and highways. The buds are already showing a bit of color and another show is beginning; so it goes in spring. 

 

Company in the Garden

Things seemed odd, witch hazel and quince with disappearing flowers, pear trees denuded, filipendula chewed to the ground - that can mean only 1 thing, deer! So as the conflict begins, I will share some photographs of things that have been left undamaged.

This is an adorable dwarf daffodil species, Narcissus canaliculatus. 

Primula sibthorpii from Dan Hinkley and Heronswood Nursery (way back in the day). I have always thought his selection had the best color.

 
The small pink puffs are the female flowers on comptonia or sweet fern, the male catkins or pollen source, are the male.

Stylophorum or wood poppy is a native that oozes an orange sap that is toxic, so I know I'm safe with this native.

Epimedium x versicolor 'Sulphureum' is sister to the following E. versicolor 'Versicolor'.

Daffodil 'Pistachio' is a strong contender for replacing my favorite D. 'Lemon Glow'. Both have that soft yellow color that goes with everything.

The male carpenter bee has the black dot centered in the yellow fur on his back, the female is completely black. The male has no stinger and is also known as Xylocopa virginica, indicating that it is native to Virginia. His tactic of intimidation is flying near or at you, but he is incapable of stinging. Also known as long tongue bees, they are able to access pollen and nectar from tubular flowers, although they will also steal nectar by making a slit on top of the flower and stealing nectar, particularly when they don't fit in the opening. 

For now I have built loose branch domes over plants I want to protect until I figure something out. Russian olive branches have been perfect because they bend and can be speared into the ground. Plus I enjoy cutting them down, as we should all be doing. The deer don't like the smell of the new leaves and stem, so that's another plus. We are very close to a large hunt club property which about to be converted into solar panels, so my deer problems may have just begun, I had zero deer last year. For the first time I put out a radio, just last night, tuned to a boring talk show; they ignored it. My trail camera shows 2 who seem very familiar with my garden space, tonight I might sleep in the garden.

 

 

Sweet March

With just a week to go before April, March was not bad, mostly sweet on the pulse of weather, no blizzards or severe freezes (at least here in central Virginia).

My new gardens have now reached their one-year anniversary and the daily garden review requires regular walks to see what's coming up. Poking and prodding are part and parcel of March. Thank goodness we think, winter is done. 

Last March was my first visit to the Virginia Daffodil Show at Lewis Ginter Gardens where many notes were taken, orders placed. Any daffodils that were rescued from my old nursery site went to my daughter's house, so this new space was completely void of any sort of bulb.  That was remedied with photographs and notes from the show and a few fall deliveries. 

As the Daffodil Show was scheduled for March of this year, my oldest granddaughter decided to compete with a few stems of those that had been transplanted, she brought a total of 3 and did her homework. In the bustle of labeling, she was expecting to exhibit in the youth division, she was placed in the adult category, which can only mean stiff competition. We were told that it was a good year (dates and weather), and over 1800 stems were entered for judging. There were 2 large rooms full of cut daffodils, it was incredible!

We all arrived for the show to learn that she placed second in her division with another Honorable Mention. The second place was for Daffodil 'Lemon Glow' (my favorite) and honorable with D. 'Delnashaugh', a fragrant double pink and white bloom. She was the day's daffodil rock star with no previous experience!

and her entry looking back at her

Of course, more notes and photographs were taken. There was interest in the orange petal with orange trumpet (like last year), but also the dwarf varieties that fit into nooks and crannies of March but also clean-up well. Here follow some of our favorites, just scroll over the photograph to reveal the name:

This little 'Itsy Bitsy Splitsy' is a seedling of the above - 'Equation'

It's been decided that we will both compete next year and a first for me to try my hand at daffodils on the competition stage. And it takes a few since the date might mean early or late daffodils, depending on the season. Hopefully it will be another sweet March.