Niagara Parks' Botanical Gardens, July

Here's a set from several dates during the month of July.

The following are several pics of the very cool Ensete, commonly called the False Banana, although it is closely related to the true Banana (Musa sp.). While the fruit is not edible, the root is an important food crop in parts of Africa. In any case, it makes a dramatic and very tropical statement in the garden. The Niagara Parks Commission is using more tropicals each year in their gardens, and doing so quite effectively.























































































Most of the Daylilies were at their peak during the second half of this month. The first is 'Fairy Tale Pink', an older diploid bred by Pierce and registered in 1980. It has however, won several awards, including the Silver Stout Medal (the American Hemerocallis Society's highest honour) in 1990, and remains an outstanding pink-flowered variety.























This was a nice but unidentified red.


















Here's Stamile's 1989 introduction, the tetraploid and aptly-named 'Strawberry Candy'. It is also a multiple award-winner, including the Silver Stout Medal in 1998.


















This is a close-up of the older (1967 introduction by Fay) of 'Mary Todd', another award-winner, including the Silver Stout Medal in 1978.


















This is the classic Liatris spicata 'Kobold', or Dwarf Blazing Star (the "kobold" is a goblin-like creature from German folklore). Unfortunately, most nurseries are propagating this plant by seed these days, the result of which is the usual variability, and therefore some not-so-dwarf plants. I have seen however, some offering a plant called 'Kobold Original', which should grow to only 40cm (16").


















This combination caught my eye for the designer's principle of the use of "semi-transparent" plants, in this case, the white flowers of Artemisia lactiflora 'Guizhou', through which one can see the hot flowers of a Helenium.























A close-up of an Echinops (Globe Thistle) flower.























This is a good example of the effectiveness of a mass-planting, in this case, Stachys monieri 'Hummelo' in front of a gold-leaved Cedar.


















There's certainly been plenty of attention paid to the genus Echinacea in recent years, in particular regarding all the new hybrids and selections. Below however, is the species E. pallida or Pale Coneflower, native to Ontario and most of the eastern U.S. I like it for its drooping petals, and although it is usually relatively pale in colouration, some darker forms exist as well.









































The flowers of Salvia sclarea or Clary Sage, are unique to those used to the typical purple-blues of S. nemerosa, and are also a good plant to learn about the details of the parts of a flower, as it is the larger bracts that surround the actual flower that provide the ornamental value.























For most of the spring and summer, I have a hard time resisting taking yet another picture of Hosta 'Sun Power'. This one has some interesting lighting showing off the texture and colours of the beautiful golden-yellow leaves.























Finally, I'm not a big fan of Astilbe, simply because they require too much water to grow well and look nice here. This year however, with all the rain we've had, they are simply beautiful. This unidentified pink-flowered variety caught my eye with its darker pink stems.














































Summer is moving quickly -- enjoy the long weekend, and here's to dirt under your nails.

MPD, the coolplantsguy

Spring at Niagara Parks' Botanical Gardens, June 7th

Here's another set of shots I took recently...

Despite the wonderful attributes of the now very popular Geranium 'Rozanne' and its very similar cousin 'Jolly Bee', I still like many others, including this one, G. × magnificum (a sterile hybrid from G. ibericum × platypetalum). I like the two or even three-tone flowers and their relative abundance. This plant is a good example of the principle of "hybrid vigour" for this child easily out-performs both of its parents. In any case, it's a great plant for a partially shaded location.


















Also at its peak was Campanula 'Samantha', a likely C. carpatica hybrid that has very pleasant upward facing bellflowers, and a somewhat longer bloom-time due to its sterility.























Here's a great, and a not-so-great plant in a colourful combination. The gold-leaved Sedum reflexum 'Angelina' is a superb plant for its drought-resistant and vigorous nature, and obviously, its colourful foliage. The dark one in the middle however, is S. 'Black Jack', a sport of the deservedly popular 'Matrona', that was once promoted as possibly the best of the dark-leaved Sedums. Black Jack was a major disappointment for most, being rather prone to mildew and genetic instability. The two plants do here make a pleasant combination, but I'd hate to see how 'Black Jack' looks in a few weeks.


















This is Dianthus gratianopolitanus 'Tiny Rubies', a cute dwarf, and floriferous Pink that is ideal for the rock garden or little alpine planters. It's been around for years, and oftentimes puts most of the new hybrids to shame due to its hardiness and durability.























Here's the old Campanula 'Birch Hybrid' (C. portenschlagiana × C. poscharskyana) in all its glory -- just covered with beautiful purple-blue, star-shaped bellflowers.


















This is the rare but beautiful Sedum sieboldii 'Mediovarigatum' -- relatively rare for a Sedum due to its instability, which makes it difficult to propagate; beautiful for its multi-coloured leaves and stems.























This is one of my favourite Hostas, especially for a variety that is non-variegated, or has a solid-coloured leaf. In any case, H. 'Sun Power' is a great plant for its vigour and size, and its beautiful yellow-green leaves. As its name indicates, it is also relatively sun-tolereant.


















The Perennial Sages are certainly in the Top 10 Perennials by Genus, likely on the coattails of popular varieties like 'May Night' (Mainacht) and 'East Friesland' (Ostfriesland). Below is the more recent variety 'Caradonna', one that I like for the contrast between the purple flowers and the dark stems. It is from Zillmer Nursery in Germany, and was discovered as a seedling of S. 'Wesuwe'.


















Here's a pleasant combination in the butterfly garden, of Nepeta 'Walker's Low', a Weigelia, and Geranium × cantabrigiense 'Biokovo'.


















A Dogwood of some sort, Cornus kousa would be my guess -- what a beautiful plant.


















This is a very cool small tree called Old Man's Beard (Chionanthus virginicus), native to most of the eastern U.S. It is also known as White Fringetree.























We've enjoyed a lengthy Spring-season here this year.

Here's to dirt under your nails.

MPD, the coolplantsguy