Do you remember in 2009 when I gave up buying plants for Lent? This Lent, I decided to give up desserts instead. It’s a much more feasible choice. I’ll work outside and maybe lose a pound or two without sacrificing my sanity.
A closeup of the golden spring leaves of The Rising Sun™ redbud
As one friend said, this spring, I’ve been a plant buying fool. The buying frenzy started with Cercis canadensis The Rising Sun™. This small redbud which tops out at twelve feet blooms purple and has orange emerging foliage which later turns a pleasant light green. It debuted last spring, and I finally found it this year. It is a very special tree selected near Muskogee, Oklahoma at Greenleaf Nursery.
I also purchased my first Forsythia x intermedia ‘Linwood Gold.’ There is a rumor I don’t like forsythia, but I do. I just don’t like how people put them in the worst places, and then prune them within an inch of their little shrubby lives. Forsythias are not meant to be squares, or small rounded tufts, or crammed into a small flower bed (unless you get a small cultivar of course). They are meant to look slightly wild and unrestrained like the springtime of love. Give them some room and leave them in their natural shape, and I’ll love your forsythias too. Near the forsythia, I placed an apricot tree. Apricots bloom early so, due to late freezes, there will be several years where I don’t get fruit. However, I planted the apricot mostly for the blooms. Fruit is a bonus. It is on the other side of the fence from the three apple trees.
My neighbor's unbridled forsythia
Today, I also picked up Mahonia eurybracteata ‘Soft Caress’ and three small containers of Nandina domestica Obsession™. I’ve wanted this mahonia ever since I saw one like it in a Portland garden. As for the nandinas, what can I say? They are tough little plants which can be chopped on and thrive. Also, this new variety has foliage which is purple when new.
You can see how small Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Fernspray Gold' is because it isn't as tall as the concrete base of the garage.
A favorite tree this year is Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Fernspray Gold.’ I have a border which is against the garage wall. It faces east which is my all-time, favorite sun exposure. You get morning sun and afternoon shade. What could be better? I bought the smaller version of this plant so it will take years for it to mature. I may need to move a few things around to accommodate it, but I’m used to this because I am never satisfied.
Not a poetically pretty shot, but you can see the sidewalk and part of the garage border. The bottom of the garage needs to be painted so that it doesn't show up so much in photos I think.
After my son and I laid the brick sidewalk from the potager to the kitchen door, I began creating the border where there were the David Austins roses I trialed last summer reside. Today, I added a clumping bamboo from Monrovia, Fargesia rufa ‘Sunset Glow,’ so named because new growth has reddish sheaths. This is not an invasive bamboo. I placed it on the corner of the house because it is extremely cold tolerant and will grow to eight feet. I wanted the curve of the sidewalk to have a bit of mystery, and the bamboo is one aspect of this. It also sounds lovely rustling in the wind. Because of surrounding trees and being on the side of a hill, I get less wind than other parts of the state, but I wanted sound with the breeze.
The bottom stems of the blue willow are starting to sprout leaves again so it will soon be covered to the ground. Planted dianthus in front of it as a color echo with their blue foliage.
To add even more mystery, I also planted Salix purpurea, ‘Canyon Blue’ (Arctic blue leaf willow) around another bend. It can be trimmed to make it shorter, but I think I like the height. You know how we’re always told to place shorter plants in front and larger in back a la choir loft? With an airy plant like the blue willow, rules just beg to be broken. I also bought Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’, Eucomis ‘Comosa Pink’ (pineapple lily) and a white crinum, Crinum powelli ‘Alba.’ Bulbs aren’t just for fall planting you know.
I made a bit of extra money this year with my writing. I saved half of it, and decided to buy trees and shrubs with the rest. Like so many gardeners, I was seduced early in my gardening career by one particular plant, the rose. Then, I had daylily fever.
In the last few years, I decided I needed more structure, some of it evergreen, in the garden; and, with roses falling prey to rose rosette throughout Edmond and Guthrie, I think I need other trees and shrubs. Also, like I’ve said before, I’m not getting any younger.
When I am old, I want to gaze outside at mature trees and shrubs, so I’m starting now. Want to join me?
Man I do not miss that red dirt, even though I know it can be amended. I went to OSU and lived 13 years in Enid. Of course most of the red clay is south of Enid, but I did muck in the mud in sitllwater and okc(the city). ha. Enjoy your blog and today’s post. Haven’t seen those varieties. Will follow your posts more closely.
Thanks Greggo. I have mostly red sand for which I am grateful. I also have lots of raised beds. Glad you liked the post.
Dee – your choices look lovely. I am glad I planted, years ago, varieties of tall skinny Junipers. They work well for our dryer climate. I wish I had planted maybe one more. It is lovely to see green in the winter and the birds love the berries.
Oh honey, I loved strolling down your beautiful brick pathway. It was fun to revisit your gardens and Yes, some rules are made to be broken…like who gives the rules about where we passionate gardeners plant our babies.
Sending warm love across the miles. It feels good to be back in my own garden on this sunny day.
Love,
Sharon
So glad you’re back in your garden too. I’m so glad you took time to stop by though. Hugs from rainy and cool Oklahoma to you.~~Dee
I am currently engaged in a love affair with blue spruce. .primarily for the beautiful year-round appeal!! I have discovered that there are MANY types. .big and small. .but I go for the small. .cause I can have twice as many!! I will enjoy seeing what you choose to add to your bones!
Melanie, I’ve grown a few blue spruces in my time and killed a couple. Once you get them going though, they are so beautiful aren’t they?
I’d be glad to join you, Dee! I’m planning to plant more shrubs in my new garden bed this spring, too, especially after reading tips for aging gardeners–not that I am one yet, but I suppose I’ll get there some day:) I’m still waiting here for the nurseries to get their stock in. The new redbud looks beautiful, and kudos to you and your son on the new sidewalk–you did a great job! Those curves can’t be easy to do.
Thanks Rose. I am also thinking about gardening as I age. It’s important to do if you want to keep gardening as long as possible. The curves in the sidewalk were beastly.~~Dee
I’m heading to the nursery tomorrow! I, too, like nandinas, but they are invasive here. Have fun in your garden!
I wouldn’t say I like nandinas because they are so overused here. However, they do have a certain something and add structure. I’d heard from my friend, Cindy at My Corner of Katy that they were invasive in some parts of Texas at least. That’s too bad.
I’m trying to curb my plant-buying foolishness, because my garden is so ridiculously small, I really don’t have room to grow. But I’d be tempted by that golden redbud. Also saw a wonderful apricot redbud in Dallas that’s very tempting – but I’m easily tempted.
I am a good temptress Helen. Yes, I am. You stay strong now, you hear?
Unbridled is best when it comes to forsythias – I also like ’em in a mixed planting with other biggish shrubs, as I don’t find their form and foliage that exciting. Excellent decision on Lent – outside planting is a joyful place to be!
Cyndy, I’ll never do that for Lent again. That was just too hard.
You made some great choices here Dee. It will be fun watching your trees and shrubs grow. I have been planting a few things. Gotta wait for the soil to dry out a little again now. Your path looks great with the plantings by it. I can imagine wondering what is around the curve.
Hey Lisa, thanks. It won’t be long in your neck of the woods either. I’m glad the curve and plantings work.
Very nice! I like the soft color of the bricks in your sidewalk ~ they look a lot like the bricks we used for the foundation when we moved the house.
Thanks Sweetbay! I’m glad you like the color. They were recycled off of a paving job my husband had.
Dear Dee, your new plants, trees and shrubs are all wonderful. That brick sidewalk is especially nice, too! I believe you made the right choice in what to give up for lent. Your garden thanks you. 🙂
Thanks Frances. Can’t wait to read about your sea of blue.
Dear Plant Buying Fool,
Now I must have Cercis canadensis The Rising Sun™. You are a budget wrecker. Whenever I read your posts, I am consumed by the desire for these new-to-me plants.
Ha, ha Patsy, you are so funny.
I gave up giving up stuff and have instead worked on being a better person..that said, you deserve to buy what you want as a gardener..it is so wonderful for our souls and I could see the huge smile and joy you are feeling with planting all these wonderful plants right through this post….
Donna, I try to give up something and do some good. Sometimes, I’m more successful than others. I’ve had a lot of fun this spring.
Amen, sister – the balling and boxing of Forsythia must stop. I really like your new Chaemacyparis. They are so graceful.
Yes, MMD, I’m just sick of it. Crape Murder too. Ugh.
I too hate it when people prune their forsythias into boxes and weird shapes. They’re such lovely plants of cascading golden sprays when left as nature intended. I have seen one trained as a standard but with the top allowed to arch and flow and it is lovely, but that’s the only pruned one I’ve ever see.
I also find myself buying lots of plants this time of year. I’m putting in about 400 ft of hedge soon, so at least I get to buy a few plants for that, but planting them all – a nightmare I think!
Cheers, happy spring.
Ooh, sounds like a happy spring for you too. I hope you get it all accomplished, and I bet you do.