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Planting Autumn Crocus (Colchicum)

I don't believe I have ever grown autumn crocus ( colchicum - I love to say that word) -  although we did inherit one when we moved into this house. I moved it, and apparently it did not like that because I never saw it again. I have always wanted to grow it, but I always think about it at the wrong time of year. Plus, I never see it at nurseries (not even at Yard N' Garden Land). When a friend offered me some, I said YES. She gave me one special one called "Waterlily" and several that I guess we would call the  "average one".  'Waterlily' The question then was where on earth would I would plant them. I read that they are nice in grassy areas so I then decided to plant them along the grassy pathway in front. (This pathway is about to become a gravel pathway as I am refusing to water it daily. Michael wins this battle and gets to do the "told you so" dance .) I decided to tuck the primo one at the corner of the path next to this pot. Diggin...
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June Blooms


After a hot weekend, more pleasant weather has settled in and the long-term forecast shows consistent temperatures in the 70s. That is music to my ears, I just hope it lasts. We have been busy with the usual garden chores. Michael has been more adventurous than I and he created a small set of steps leading up to our shady path. He said he had been wanting to do that for a long time but didn't because of it making it difficult to move the lawnmower up to the top level. Well, we now have a battery-powered mower, a very lightweight, tiny thing which makes both of us happy.

The steps are almost finished, just some more gravel needed to top them -



Our new battery-powered lawnmower looks like a toy -



In the garden -

Autumn Fern (Dryopteris erythrosora) is just spectacular right now. My favorite fern.


Aruncus 'Horatio' has doubled in size this year and threatens to overshadow the shade garden. 

Baptisia 'Solar Flare' blooms after 'Purple Smoke' 

Jasmine 'Fiona Sunrise' should be happier now that we removed half of the ornamental grape that was threatening to take over.

And it is blooming!

Direvilla 'Firefly' - I replaced a flowering quince with this shrub last year and I absolutely love it. And so do the bees. That is what attracted me to it in the first place - it was covered with bee activity as the nursery.

Clematis 'Josephine' wins the prize for longest blooming clematis. It is still going strong.

Clematis 'Samritan Jo'

The hydrangeas are just beginning. 'Twist-n-Shout' is one of the first to bloom


Creeping Honeysuckle (Lonicera crassifolia) - Why did it take me so long to discover this plant? I have to thank my friend Linda Rectanus for sharing this with me.


Rose 'Red Eden' has never looked this good. Of course it would as it has been threatened with eviction. This is a smaller sized climber and I wish I had known that when I planted it on the arbor over our garbage bins. I wish for something larger but this is difficult to ignore.

Rose 'Swany' is huge. I will get a photo of the entire thing later. 


Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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  1. Kris PetersonJune 13, 2025 at 9:39 AM

    I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one celebrating Bloom Day early ;) Clematis 'Josephine' is the fluffiest member of the genus I've ever seen. The little fox sitting on your new steps also brought a smile this morning - I have what looks to be the very same sculpture in my own garden, faded but too sweet to scrap. (I've considered adding a little paint to him.)

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  2. Ardith FergusonJune 15, 2025 at 10:28 AM

    The steps look great! Please tell Michael congratulations. That can't be an easy job, but it does look very nice. Your photos of the recent plants and blooms are so beautiful, especially Clematis 'Josephine'.

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