With the fourth annual Spring Plant Swap behind us, it may be a good time for an evaluation of the swapees that followed me home in past years. First, we must remember the departed that never made it after finding my yard a garden of doom: - The First Nandina - This was planted after a fall plant swap. It went into dormancy and stayed that way. A second Nandina obtained a year later is alive and well.
- Shasta Daisy - This was also planted after a fall plant swap. It grew well into the spring, began budding, then, well, began pushing up daisies.
- Rudbeckia - seeds were planted after a fall plant swap and grew nothing but dirt in the spring
- Coneflower - again with the seeds. After planting in the fall AND spring, they at least provided some organic matter to the soil.
- Lily - an unknown peach Asian lily was planted after two separate swaps. They hit a home run, thriving and multiplying in their home yard, but struck out in my yard. A third lily was obtained last fall (the donor cannot give them away fast enough) and is now growing this spring!
- Mahogany Iris - these did not come with a name, and after an exhaustive search of the internet, are still nameless. Growing well.
- Dwarf Coreopsis - ('Nana') this was picked up last spring with two blossoms. Today, there are dozens - very happy in its location.
- St. John's Wort - ('Brigadoon') picked up last spring. This lights up a shady spot with chartreuse green, but to date hasn't grown much.
- Dwarf Hosta - again, no name is associated with these 3-year old donations.
- Purple Iris - (no name again) a handful of small rhizomes from last fall produced one flower stalk this spring. However, I was expecting a Japanese iris from the gardener's description last year.
- Spiderwort - these took off upon planting last spring. Today they are a blooming, healthy, happy bunch.
- New England Asters - I donate some purple ones every year, but picked
up some magenta. You can't kill 'em if you tried. - Gooseneck Loostrife - [22.6.2008] after two years, this ground cover is covering a lot of ground, requiring spring cleaning.
| Garden Calendar: • Blooming: dutch iris, bearded iris, rose, spiderwort, coreopsis, salvia |  |
I just participated in my first plant exchange today. I'll have to keep track and do the same thing. Lots of my were edibles, but it was so fun! They were all "PLEASE take MORE!" People were donating more than they were taking :)
ReplyDeleteYep. That happens at our plant swap too. We all end up acting like carnival barkers, "Somebody, please take my extra plants! Please take some more home!" We don't want to take the plants we brought back home with us.
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