Athens Select

As was the case last year, I am evaluating a few Athens Select plants this year. I was sent four and of these the Verbena ('Princess Dark Lavender') is wonderful. The two Pennisetums I received ('Princess Molly' and 'Princess Caroline') are doing O.K., and the fourth plant, a Pentas ('Stars and Stripes'), did not make it through even the first week. It arrived in very poor condition and could not be saved. Too bad for the Pentas, but I love the Verbena!

My Garden - a View

One of the favorite places in my garden is "the point", the 45-degree angle of my quarter-pie shaped property, where my SE border and my SW border come together. A Maple tree marks the spot, with a huge Rosemary on one side, a field of Yarrow underneath and a Rose of Sharon and several perennials on the other side. Both the bird feeder and the bird bath are very popular with avian visitors.

"I Know I'm Supposed to Know . . "

Every gardener, I am certain, has these plant encounters -- in a nursery, a friend's garden or a public garden: "I know I am supposed to know what this is, but what is it?"

I had such a moment yesterday, in one of my favorite nurseries, where I had gone to buy a few more Blue Sages for one of my borders. I saw this small group of black plants, with tiny purple flowers and even though I knew I had seen it before and knew what it was . . ., I could not come up with a name!

This morning, taking them out of their 4" pots and placing them in bigger ones, I knew: Capsicum, pepper! But is it 'black pearl'? Probably. Regardless, it's a beautiful plant and I'm glad I bought 3 of them. Together with the Blue Sages and a few other plants, a flat of 18 was $14. Well worth it, wouldn't you say?

Hemigraphis 'Blackberry Waffle'

This is a cute plant, sent to me by Hort Couture, but perhaps not very useful in North Georgia, as it is a tropical groundcover. Still, it may be useful as a houseplant. We'll f ind out . . .! I was sent three of them and this morning I noticed that one had little white buds in it. The foliage is the plant's most noticeable characteristic - attractive, rather glossy leaves.

Ice Plant (Lampranthus)

I love my Ice Plant! I know it's "an acquired taste", and I wouldn't have bunches of them in my garden, but one . . .? Yes, it belongs in my landscape.

Plants from Seeds

Growing plants from seeds is a relatively new experience for me. Until this year, I have mainly purchased what I wanted in my garden - at plant sales or at local nurseries - or been generously given by relatives, friends and colleagues.

From top to bottom, the California Poppy and Cat Mint seeds came from Renee's Garden, the Butterfly Weed seeds were purchased at a garden conference last January, from a local grower, and the Cilantro's seeds were collected in my garden last year.

A New Yarrow

Yesterday, when I was in Athens for a "Friends of the Garden" (State Botanical Garden of Georgia) event, I decided to make a quick stop at the UGA trial gardens, where I found this lovely new Yarrow - 'pomegranate'. I've already got the regular white Yarrow in my garden, and 'paprika', as well as a pink and a yellow, whose names I do not know, and at some point when it becomes available at one of my favorite nurseries, this one will join the party!

Rose Campion

Catherine, this one is for you! The first bloom of the Rose Campion you gave me last month (from your sister's garden); isn't this a fabulous color, on a terrific plant?

From Pennsylvania to Georgia

My friend and neighbor Catherine grew up in Pennsylvania, where her mother's green thumb was much in evidence. Now a Southerner, Catherine has planted gardens at all the houses where she and her husband have lived over the past 20+ years - often with cuttings, seeds or fully grown plants from her mother's garden. Her collection of Bearded Irises, many of which have their origins in Pennsylvania, including this one, is stunning and without equal in our neighborhood of some 700 homes.

Kitty needs a family . . .

This beautiful, lovely cat (1-2 years old, female, spayed) needs a new family. She was given to me last week - and I happily accepted her - before it was known that she has no clue as to the purpose of a litter box. My house cannot accommodate a cat that is not used to a litter box, and my county ordinances do not permit off-leash pets outdoors. How this sweet thing was ever an outdoor cat I cannot imagine, but obviously she was. So, if there's anybody out there, who can give Kitty a home, let me know. P.S. -- she is very affectionate, but also appears depressed, most of the time looking down, as she does in this picture.