Saturday, May 26, 2012

Pulpit Plants

Long before I aspired to be a preacher, I loved Jack-in-the-Pulpit.  One of the first plants I collected from a narby streamside and planted at home was this.  I see I still have some in my garden at the Cottage.  I think I actually brought this clump from my parent's house a few years ago, so it might be part of those first plants I dug when I was about twelve.
Arisaema triphyllum
In recent years, I have discovered there are many species of Arisaema.  A few years ago I ordered this one (below) in the mail, and as I recall, it was not supposed to like this zone very well, so I intended to dig it up each winter.  I never have.  It still lives... and blooms!
Arisaema griffithii?
I enjoy this exotic critter, so I ordered some seeds this year for other "Jack-in-the-Pulpits":  Arisaema consanguineum, A. ciliatum liubaense, and A. flavum.  The seeds are planted; wish me luck in raising them to adulthood!  
    A. griffithii is dwarfed by a healthy clump of Lords and Ladies.  See A. g. at the bottom of the photo below?  Lords and Ladies (Arum italicum) is another Aroid, Ariods being members of the Araceae  family of plants.  These are know for their interesting floral structures: a spathe (like a leafy petal) surrounding a spadix (a rod with the little flowers on it).

No blooms yet on the Lords and Ladies.  (I'll watch for them, you can be sure.)  And at it's feet is another Aroid: a wee patch of Mouse Plant leafing out.  No sign of blooms yet, which will be cute little mousey things, even with tails.

Arisarum proboscideum
These are my 'pulpit plants,' a little Aroid collection, which I hope will keep growing and prospering.  
     Now, I can't resist a few extra shots, a little coda to today's post...
Cypripedium reginae - Showy Lady's Slipper
Geranium phaeum
The first rose of 'summer' - Rosa 'Therese Bugnet'

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Wordless Wednesday: Lilac Season





Trillium luteum? 
Trillium grandiflorum

Junebugs galore!

Centaurea montana 'Amethyst in Snow'

Allium ___

Scilla hispanica, Spanish Bluebells

Giant Water Bug

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - May '12

Primula and Veronica umbrosa (and Lamium, if you look hard enough)
What a difference a month makes.  GBBD in May in Nova Scotia is certainly diverse, compared with April.  Here is a gallery of the latest bloomers.
Anemone blanda - Windflower
Vaccinium corymbosum - High Bush Blueberry
Lamium galeobdolon - Yellow Archangel
Alchemilla mollis - Lady's Mantle

Ccaenomeles speciosa - Flowering Quince and Viola tricolor - Johnny-jump-up

Trillium erectum
My Cottage garden borders the Minas Basin, a salt water bay.  There, I find things are a week later blooming and progressing than just just five kms inland, or deeper into the Annapolis Valley.  The Flowering Crab Apple below, for instance, barely has a couple blossoms opened.  At our house, in Hants County, such flowers are fully out now.  

Malus hybrid - Crabapple
Ribes aureum - Golden Currant
Pulmonaria officinalis - Mary & Joseph

Rhododendron hybrid
Viola sororia 'Freckles'
Asarum europaeum - European Ginger
There are a few other things in bloom just now at the Cottage that are not pictured here:  the Magnolia, a perennial Geranium, Japanese Barberry, Grape Hyacinths, and the last fading bits of Forsythia.  

     O Yes... and don't forget that it is Dandelion season!  Some hate them in the lawn; I only attack them in the flower beds.

Taraxacum officinale
May all your weeds be weak, and your perennials profuse!