notes and musings from a perennial gardener
A Pennsylvania gardener
Ballerina, you say?
Yes, because Japanese anemones will enchant you with joyful choruses of exuberant round buds on tall, graceful stems. Upon opening, their pert “tutus” of petals bob and dance as if on tiptoe in the slightest breeze. Hence their common name, windflower.
We’ve all seen a praying mantis, or mantid, at one time or another. It’s usually in late summer or early fall when the mature adults are most noticeably on the hunt. Whether perched on the side of your house or scrambling across a plant, these intrepid 3- to 5-inch long insects never fail to elicit a pause when we come across one.
Ornamental grasses are one of those plant families that you either like a great deal or you don’t. (By ornamental, I mean the taller clumping varieties, not turf or groundcovers like carex and liriope.) One reason these grasses are under-utilized is a lack of imagination in using them effectively. The more you know how to play up their best features, the more there is to like.
I wasn’t always a grass fan. But after experimenting with several cultivars over the years I’ve come to truly appreciate their texture, drama and heft. Most are super-easy to grow and nearly disease-proof. They come in varying heights and habits too, so you’re sure to find one that works in your landscape.