Elephant ears, caladiums and such

Well it has been a while but I was busy in plays again -I had the lead in Noel Coward's Hay Fever in April followed by Agatha Christie's The Hollow and now I am rehearsing for Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit!! -Well I do have to grab the chance for a major role in a Brit play when it comes along!!!
Anyway the weeds are getting away with me -must find some time to tame them a little but the Elephant Ears came back really well after the harsh winter - cold for SC anyway -and the caladiums are really looking good, so here are  a couple of pictures

I also have this one -colocasia easculenta Mojito in the wine garden surrounded by caladium Brandywine!

And while we are on the subject of the 'alcoholic' garden this one is Canna Moonshine

and now here is the new caladium Frog in a Blender -sorry about the name -I tried to suggest Creamed Spinach but it was rejected -oh well -it is a great new caladium

Just got back from the SNA trade show in Atlanta -still quite a smallish show -about 110 booths I think, but plenty of interest shown so it seems to have been well worthwhile.

 

 

spectacular spring

What a gorgeous time of year -here is a selection of pictures taken a couple of days ago.  It is such a wonderful time of year when we go from the drab of winter to spring cheer

The hosta garden areas seem to have benefited from the colder winter

see how well hostas adapt to pots -they don't have to compete with all the tree roots and they do get a little colder in the winter in the south

and another view.

Next is the rock garden -I adore those mini daffodils and the species tulips are perfect little jewels at this time of year.  This is the fifth year they have returned -species tulips make great perennials and the gregeii tulips also come back really well -mmm need to take a picture of those too -will do that later!

not a great picture -sorry you can't see the vibrancy of these beauties

The lily bed is full of species crocus first then tulips and scilla siberica -the dying leaves will be totally obscured by the growing lilies

More tulips -mmm -the color didn't cone out too well here either -it has to be the blog!

Wine garden

Wine garden, cocktail garden, 5 o'clock garden or, as my husband calls it -my acoholic garden!!!
Well, a garden should be a place to have fun and indulge in fancies.  Right?  I have a series of gardens in our one acre site and I have been asked quite a lot about my alcoholic garden. So here it is.

It is a corner of the garden where all the plants have the name of alcohol.  A great setting for a cocktail party don't you think?  The plant on the left is Atropurpurea 'Burgundy Glow' while out of site is an old apple tree with a wine bottle humming bird feeder and a parrot (5 o' clock somewhere and there is a sign with that on also!!) A red and a white grape grow over the home made arch and the wine bottles serve as edges as you can see.  Anyone know of any easy way to get rid of those wine labels??  The small berberis is Berberis thungbergii "Royal Burgundy" The lilies coming up  are Muscadet . I also have  Lilium Grand Cru in there.  Those gladioli are "Wine n Roses" and there is a Clematis Pink Champagne on the side fence with the Iceburg Rose (well it is stretching it a bit but you do need ice!) and another grape. The elephant ear Colocasia esculenta  "Mojito" obviously has a place there with tulips Burgundy Lace and T. Tequila Sunrise. The bright green little bush is Deutzia Chardonnay Pearl  and behind that is Viburnum Brandywine.  We also have Weigela Midnight Wine and W. Summer Wine.  Later we plant Caladium Brandywine en masse too with Tomato Brandywine. There are alcoholic day lilies and Heuchera, Ajuga, Bearded Iris, Canna etc etc.  I do need Narcissus Mint Julep though.  does anyone have any to swap?? Oh I now have Camellia 'Tama Vino' in there  too. The stepping stone -another of my fancies -each area has its quote- this one says
"......and wish to all
Flowers in the garden, meat in the hall,
A bin of wine, a spice of wit,
A house with lawns enclosing it" ! Robert Louis Stevenson
On a wooden table hidden in the background I wrote 'Eat Drink and be merry -for tomorrow we die" Ecclesiastes

With theme areas it is a fun to look for plants and it is amazing how lots of friends and colleagues join in the hunt. I am always being asked for updates at trade shows too.  So for all of you who have swapped acoholic plants for bulbs a big thank you and here you can see some of those treasures.  It is a great talking point.  From a gardening point of view it helps to break up the chore of weeding as you only have to concentrate one one area at a time and not get overwhelmed by the whole garden.
Last summer was the first of our now to be annual English Garden Parties .  I was born a Brit after all.  Hats are obligatory by the way!!!! Everyone loved dressing up and we had lots of requests to make it an annual event. So hats and croquet it is.