| Image | Plant | Status | Notes | Events |
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Lisianthus (Eustoma russellianum 'Echo Pink Picotee') |
Prev Container Garden Cottage Garden Cutting garden Feature plant Lisianthus (Eustoma) and Roses |
Three inch ivory flowers edged in pink Lisianthus, aka Prairie Gentian. Fully double. Cut flowers last two weeks or longer. Plants grow 2-3 ft. tall, are early blooming - flower midsummer to frost. Glad to post that I had good success growing this lovely Lisianthus using a combo Winter Sowing and greenhouse technique in 2022. I had lovely blooms August - November in 6a SE Michigan. Check out my Winter Sowing blog post if you want to give it a try. Details: WS in Dec-January. Put into the greenhouse on heat mats in March. Place outside in May to grow into full size plants. | February 4, 2022: Seeds sown (WS in three red Solo cups in 2nd tote. Will use blended technique to grow in late March, April.) September 3, 2022: Bloomed (Woo-hoo, bloomed, grown from winter sown seed! ) |
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Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium) |
Have Cottage Garden Perennials Pollinators, Natives, Wildflowers |
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Fuchsia 'Dark Eyes' |
Have Cottage Garden Feature plant Perennials |
Overwintered successfully. Put in cold frame in March - April. Min. cold hardiness: Zone 9a -6.7 °C (20 °F) to -3.9 °C (25 °F) Leaves: Deciduous Flowers: Gorgeous deep purple and red-fuchsia combo |
April 3, 2021: Plant emerged (Overwintered in Michigan unheated garage successfully) |
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Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum) |
Have Spring Ephemeral Cottage Garden Perennials Pollinators, Natives, Wildflowers Shade Garden |
Has been growing in some shaded areas of our backyard for some time. Self-seeding. Now that we've lost two significant, large shade trees, I will keep an eye out of where it is self-seeding and growing with the installation of three replacement, but smaller trees. | |
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Geranium (Geranium pyrenaicum 'Summer Snow') |
Have Cottage Garden Ground Cover and Creeping, Trailing Plants New plants and seeds Perennials |
Delighted to get seed for this plant in a 2022 seed swap, especially after learning about hardy geraniums on the Fine Gardening sponsored podcast recently. Winter Sowing and planning to use in the backyard moonlight and front yard gardens for cover after bulbs have finished. Glad it self-seeds. | February 5, 2022: Seeds sown (Winter sown in two cups in a tote, as well as in half of a winter sowing jug for the 2022.) March 21, 2022: Seeds germinated (Showing green leaves in WS jug) May 14, 2022: Transplanted (Planted 8-10 plants from winter sown jug and red solo cup tote germinated plants. Good, robust size.) |
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Sneezeweed (Helenium amarum var. amarum) |
Have Cottage Garden New plants and seeds Perennials Prairie |
Obtained the seed in the 2022 Nov. DnD seed swap. It's hard to find Helenium varieties to grow. I will reach out to the man featured in the 2022 Gardener's World who maintains the national collection of Helenium there to see if he sells seed. From the Missouri Botanical Gardens: Uses in borders. Also effective in prairies, meadows, cottage gardens, rock gardens, wild gardens or disturbed areas. Impressive when massed. Common name of bitterweed is in reference to this plant containing a toxic substance which causes milk to taste bitter when cows graze on the foliage. Common name of sneezeweed is reportedly in reference to a former snuff-like use of the dried and powdered flowers of this plant by members of some native American Indian tribes for treatment of blocked sinuses. NOTE that the plant is poisonous to most mammals, and if eaten by cows will cause their milk to become bitter and unusable. Helenium amarum is classed as an invasive weed in the USA, where it has spread widely in its native range and now covers a substantial portion of the grazing land in Texas. Source: https://www.cabi.org/isc/datas... |
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Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale) |
Have Cottage Garden Perennials Pollinators, Natives, Wildflowers |
Seed from Swallowtail Gardens. Needs lots of sun. May grow from 3-5 feet tall. Make sure to water in the summer months, Do not let it get too dry. Is a star of the late summer garden. Divide clumps every 3-4 years to invigorate them. Using mulch to help retain moisture. Overwintered successfully in 2021-2022. Growing more from seed in 2023. | March 19, 2021: Seeds sown (Winter Sown. Seeds from Swallowtail Garden, 50 seeds. Very tiny and lightweight. Needs light to germinate.) April 23, 2021: Seeds germinated (Not a lot of plants, but enough germinated.) June 7, 2021: Transplanted (After a slow start, these plants took off. Seem to grow best staying moist. Transplanted in peach tree garden, full sun.) May 4, 2022: Plant emerged |
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Helenium autumnale 'Sahin's Early Flowerer' |
Have Cottage Garden Cutting garden New plants and seeds Perennials |
Received seed in seed swap. Appears to be a hybrid because of the notation, "Will not come true from seed"? Winter sowing for front yard, sun placement. Notes: Exceptional early, longer bloomer features chocolate brown centers covered with gold pollen. Opens orange-red. Fades to orange yellow. Attracts butterflies. Award of Garden Merit in 2001 by the Royal Horticultural Society in 2001 |
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Heliotrope (Heliotropium arborescens 'Marine') |
Have Annuals Cottage Garden New plants and seeds |
Bought seed for "Deep Marine" from Renee's Garden seeds. Will try starting in February with heat mats, lights & fan when they sprout. NOTE: They are heavy feeders that need to be fertilized regularly throughout their growing season in order to do well. |
February 26, 2023: Seeds sown (Sown in humidity dome. Placed in greenhouse. Note they are are highly frost-tender and need maintenance, regular pruning and pinching and deadheading to encourage blooms and a bushier, denser growth habit. ) |
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Coral Bells (Heuchera micrantha 'Palace Purple') |
Have Trade as seed Cottage Garden Perennials |
This is a freely seeding, but not invasive, heuchera that features a burgundy, purple coloring in it's leaves. It is quite striking in the shade garden with green pachysandra and creeping phlox in spring. | |
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Hybrid Hardy Hibiscus (Hibiscus 'Mars Madness') |
Have Cottage Garden Perennials |
WS in 2022 and grew successfully in the front yard large Southeast garden bed, but did not grow large enough to bloom in year one. Winter Sown again in 2023. Beautiful dark leaves on plant. The seeds are a cross between Mars Madness and Starry Starry Night. | February 1, 2023: Seeds sown (New sowing, WS in Dixie cups in tote, seeds sown from seed swap, hybrid of two types.) May 12, 2023: Plant emerged August 8, 2023: Bloomed (Big, beautiful red bloom. Winter hardy. Lovely dark foliage, tri-lobed leaf pattern. ) |
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Common Candytuft (Iberis umbellata) |
Have Annuals Cottage Garden Ground Cover and Creeping, Trailing Plants New plants and seeds |
Received seed in a seed swap. Not clear which candytuft it is. Will sow for 2023, winter sow. | |
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Morning Glory (Ipomoea purpurea 'Tickle Me Pink') |
Have Annuals Cottage Garden Vines & Creeping Shrubs |
Spreads with abundant seeds, so be aware. Remove seed heads if needed. | October 4, 2022: Harvested (Harvested seed.) |
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Dutch Iris (Iris x hollandica 'Blue Magic') |
Have Bulbs, corms, tubers (spring, summer) Cottage Garden |
Obtained in 2020. Bloomed well again in 2021. Transplanted to front mailbox garden with new grasses & coneflower in June 2021. | |
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Tricolor Chrysanthemum (Ismelia carinata) |
Have Annuals Cottage Garden Cutting garden New plants and seeds |
DnD Seed Swap seed. | |
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Bleeding Heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis 'Gold Heart') |
Have Cottage Garden Feature plant Foliage for Bouquets New plants and seeds Perennials Shade Garden |
Gorgeous leaf color. Emerges bright gold then turns gold with green. Brightens a dark corner. 2003 Great Plant Picks award winner | April 14, 2021: Obtained plant (Bought at local nursery, Turners.) April 15, 2021: Transplanted (Planted in Northeast shade corner of the rear garden, by the garden gate, in April.) May 9, 2022: Plant emerged (Small plant emerged. Added leaf mulch to protect it, and watered it. Will keep an eye on it to see if it needs a better spot with more moisture.) |
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Perennial Sweet Pea (Lathyrus latifolius) |
Have Cottage Garden Perennials Pollinators, Natives, Wildflowers Vines & Creeping Shrubs |
Obtained seed from DnD seed swap in 2020. New to me in 2021. Grew starts indoors in 2021 and successfully grew the plants which bloomed in June - August. Seeds sprouted successfully in 2021. Also planting a 2nd batch, seed from Livingston (Ace Barnes). Sprouting seeds in paper towels in 2022. Will plant all viable seeds after they sprout. |
March 16, 2021: Seeds sown (Soaked the seeds for 24 hours prior to sowing. Starting indoors.) March 24, 2021: Obtained plant (Sowing a second batch outdoors under cover in cold frame, but first soaking the seed today. Seed from Livingston.) March 15, 2022: Seeds sown (Sowed seeds in damp paper towels. Will plant all viable seeds after they sprout.) February 23, 2023: Seeds sown (Sowed in paper towels and will check in 3-4 days. Last year I waited too long and the seeds rotted. Variety grown this year is fresh seed, Heirloom Pastels Mix) February 26, 2023: Seeds germinated (Four of the batch germinated so far. Planted in a jug in the greenhouse. ) March 1, 2023: Plant emerged (Perennial sweet pea plants are emerging in the front yard flower bed. Covered with wire mesh covers. As of April, are growing fine while I interplant annual sweet pea nearby.) |
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Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus) |
Have Annuals Cottage Garden Cutting garden New plants and seeds |
NEW plant introduction from Renee's Seeds based on the Mammoth series. Sweet Pea Seed mix named "Heirloom Sweet Peas Mermaid's Dream" | February 4, 2022: Seeds sown (WInter Sown in red cups in a new 2nd tote and 1 WS jug.) April 28, 2022 - May 5, 2022: Seeds germinated (Aided by heat mats) April 7, 2024: Seeds sown (Germinated in moist paper towels in the guest bath 3 days ago (drawer near heat duct.) Germinated in two days! Now all planted in 6 pack cells and the like. Placed some on heat mats) |
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Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus 'April in Paris') |
Have Annuals Cottage Garden Cutting garden New plants and seeds Vines & Creeping Shrubs |
FEDCO seeds. (Not many in packet.) Cut For Bouquets: When half of the florets have opened. Cream with lavender edging color. Fragrant (also poisonous) organic sweet pea. Seeded into paper towel and put near a heat mat. Grows to 6' high x 8" w Full sun to partial shade in rich, moist, well-drained, neutral to alkaline pH From seed to blooms: 12 weeks Pinch once when 6" tall to increase branching. Deadhead or cut DAILY for bouquets, as any seed-setting will signal the plant to cease blooming. Spacing: 6" Sprout Time: 5-30 days |
March 5, 2023: Seeds sown (In paper towel on heat mat.) |
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Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus 'Cupani') |
Have Annuals Cottage Garden Cutting garden New plants and seeds |
Variety is "Old Spice" Cupani Sweet Pea. Several seeds are splitting their outer coat. Several developed tiny sprouts and are planted in red solo cups and are now in the greenhouse. All sweet peas are now in the cold frames. Cold weather coming this week (dropping to 28 degrees.) Will put a light bulb in the cold frames and cover them and will hope for the best. |
February 23, 2023: Seeds sown (Sowed in paper towels and will check in 3-4 days. Last year I waited too long and the seeds rotted.) February 28, 2023: Seeds germinated (8 Cupani seeds germinated via the warm paper towel method (heat mats) indoors. Planted in red solo cups and will move to greenhouse.) May 7, 2023: Transplanted (Moved outdoors May 1. Planted out in front yard sweet pea garden.) |
