Years ago I had a three foot wide clump of Turtle Head (
Chelone obliqua). It was gorgeous when it flowered in mid-September. The rest of the time it was a mass of boring leaves taking up precious garden space. So on a whim, I yanked it all out for something more worthy.
Because I'm a bit weird, last year I planted a little four-inch pot of Turtle Head. Have I changed my mind? Do I like it now? I guess so. This past April, not remembering where I had planted it, I thought it might have been dead because I couldn't find it anywhere. Eventually I figured out that the little insignificant-leaved plant that had popped up between a vast clump of Miscanthus sinensis'Morning Light' and a generous spread of 'David' Phlox (P. paniculata) was indeed my little Turtle Head. Gold star for plant placement, I mumbled to myself. The thing almost died from lack of water in July and finally a few weeks ago, pink blossoms appeared! Not very many but enough to tell me it's a survivor.
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| Chelone obliqua |
There are other plants that behave the same way. Sedum spectable, Asters (are we still calling them "Asters"?) and Japanese Anemones come to mind--green until bloom time. I've gotten over it. In fact, I kind of like it. The idea that something fresh and lovely takes its time getting here. Gives me something to look forward to.
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| Sedum spectable 'Autumn Joy' |
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| Sedum 'Autumn Charm' |
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| Aster novi-belgii'Coombe Margaret' riding on a wisp of Miscanthus. |
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| Aster novae-angliae'Alma Potschke' |
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| Aster novi-belgii'Bahamas' |
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| Aster novi-belgii 'Wood's Purple' |
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| And its nice that the bees love them. |
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| Anemone japonica'September Charm' |
I've got a few re-blooming Clematis to charm the September garden:
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| Clematis texensis 'Pagoda' |
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| Clematis viticella'Confetti' |
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| Alstroemeria x 'Tri-Color' is also re-blooming! |
I hope you're enjoying your gardens!
