The Garden Awakens
Anise 'Woodland Red' ( Illicium floridanum ) A few weeks ago, I thought spring would never arrive, but now the change is astonishing. The nights are still cold (40s and sometimes even 30s) so planting tender annuals and vegetables is unwise although I have already succumbed, but covering and uncovering things gets old quickly. Someone made a wise comment last week and I must agree with them - "Don't plant anything tender until after May 1". Several plants are blooming like never before. One is the Anise shrub (above and below). I don't know if the recent tree pruning, which is allowing more sun into the woodland path, is affecting it or perhaps it is just age, but I've never seen so many blooms. Michael refers to this as "the stinky fish shrub" and I have to admit to smell of the flowers is quite unpleasant. It is so beautiful that I can overlook that. The old pink dogwood tree, which was already here, shades our woodland path and it too is prett
Hi Phillip,
ReplyDeleteCool plant. I have never tried to grow it but may give it a chance now.
I meant to comment on your shots of the Nashville Garden Show. I thought you did great with the camera and it was nice you got to meet a Gardening guru. You probably felt the same way I did when I met Christopher Lloyd.
Today was the first day I cleaned some leaves away from my Hellebores and Arum Italicum. I can tell you that it's not super vigorous here on Long Island (east of New York city) but it certainly is hardy. In fact I wish I had enough to share with others but I do have it in a fairly dry location. It's a wonderful plant to do a feature on.
ReplyDeleteHi Phillip, Enjoyed your post on Arum Italicum. For some unknown reason, my clump of it did not return this year, and I miss it. Perhaps the drought last year and/or some greedy timber bamboo roots did mine in. Nice shots of your garden covered with snow!
ReplyDeleteJon in Vicksburg, Miss.
Phillip, thanks for posting on this wonderful plant. We have it and it is far from invasive here in TN. It was good to find out that it can be divided now, in leaf. It was a passalong plant and I was afraid it would be killed if divided. I want to spread it around as it has such great winter interest.
ReplyDeleteFrances at Faire Garden
Is there a way to rid my flower beds of Arum? It is becoming a ground cover in places where I don't want it.
ReplyDeleteWe are in zone 6 and it is horribly invasive. Unless all you want is this plant.
ReplyDelete