The Garden of Bogturtle

The Plumbago again. But this common name is used for several rather different species. Like the Siberian Squill, that blooms in Spring, this has close to cobalt blue flowers. Ceratostigma plumbaginoides is also called leadwort.  Like Butterfly Weed, one can depend upon this fine ground cover being rather late to show up, each Spring. From another year, but here is the 3-4 inch wide lemon yellow bloom of Opuntia humifusa, our native Prickly Pear Cactus.  An occasional in these piney woods. Strangely named meaning 'spotted' while clearly striped, the leaves are evergreen but the flowers are quite fleeting. The Spotted Wintergreen, Pipsissewa maculata, if I have that spelling correct. Flower are less than an inch wide.    After dealing with Woodchuck, Deer, Rabbits, bugs, with the clear understanding that some sorts might be bought in many a market, it is still immensely gratifying to see the vegetables thriving. As I may well have said, the Swiss Chard strangely failed...

  Opuntia humifusa is the only species of cactus one meets in the wild areas of S. Jersey. My only specimen spends all year in a pot on the top of the potting bench. Not at all attractive if allowed to become a patch on the ground. When in bloom it may get moved to the Irish pot where the little rockgarden meets the main perennial area.  Two different dwarfer clones of the Oakleaf Hydrangea are opposite each other on the exit drive from where we park the vehicles, and another sort of Hydrangea, with much smaller blooms is starting, also. This year I sprayed with Deer repellent faithfully. I just think they take a careless munch as they walk by, if not repulsed by the odor or taste, and individuals seems to learn.  A unique situation. The Southern native, Stokesia laevis, Stoke's Aster is one of the most successful perennials here. Super easy from seed, I believe I got the seed a lifetime ago from Park Seed, and think they don't offer such unique plants, now. Did not check...

As I repeat myself, all the time, Daylily 'Happy Returns' is much preferred by me over the color of 'Stella d'Oro'. That more widely used sort may rebloom even more than my 'Happy Returns' but I am not sure. What I call the 'curse of the Japanese Gardener' comes into play, here. Maybe it's my sandy soil, and other commercial places have underground irrigation, but my daylilys always get dried out tips. My wife notices things like this even more than I do.  Itea virginica 'Henry's Garnet' apparently turns a fine, dark red in Fall. Never here. Disappointed to hear that some person I don't know was turned off by the flowers. They said those look like worms. What a downer. If there is a fragrance, I have never noticed it. I may replace this with a brighter photo. Sun makes everything look better.  A female Box Turtle was making its way across the lawn. Probably to eat some kind of almost flavorless berry a sort of weedy strawberry rel...