Look Closer

My photo exhibit at the library, which I just took down, was aimed at getting people to take a closer look at plants, either in their gardens or out in the wild, to become closer to nature and re-ignite childlike wonder. While the photos in the exhibition were whimsical fantasies, real life in the garden can be just as compelling. Take, for example, what happened yesterday.

I was out in the garden checking on the progress of Asclepias purpurascens (purple milkweed), which is just about to start blooming, when I noticed something under the rosy buds (top image). A closer inspection revealed this little fellow.

This caterpillar is less than an inch long.

It's a monarch butterfly caterpillar. This is the first time I've seen one on purple milkweed, and the first time I've ever seen one amongst the buds, instead of on one of the leaves.

Monarch butterflies lay their eggs only on milkweed (Asclepias species). The foliage of milkweeds provides what these insects need to grow into toxic butterflies. These toxins protect the species from predators, as the predators quickly learn that butterflies with the distinctive monarch markings mean poison, and not good eating. This butterfly can't exist without the milkweed, and the milkweed can't exist without a place to grow. With the destruction of the prairies, it's up to gardeners to provide a home for the milkweeds, and in turn, the butterflies. It's a quiet little drama, but no less important because of that.


Had I been in a hurry and merely glanced at the Asclepias, I would have missed out. I'll keep monitoring this caterpillar, hoping to see it form a chrysalis. Maybe I can even get a shot of it.

Slow down, looker closer; you never know what you might find.

Shot of the Week: Wisteria

Huzzah, Wisteria macrostachya 'Blue Moon' is in full bloom here at Squirrelhaven. After undergoing a severe whacking back last year, it has responded with more bloom racemes than ever. The bees and I are very happy. Have a great weekend!

MMD

Glimpse of Biltmore

The gardens of Biltmore, including the Italian Garden, have remained fairly unchanged for over 100 years.

Time being perennially in short supply in May, I decided to post just a few of the many images I shot at Biltmore during the fifth Garden Bloggers' Fling in Asheville, from which I just returned. I have long wanted to visit the grounds of Biltmore, which were laid out by Fredrick Law Olmstead, the designer of Central Park in New York.  Biltmore was the country house castle of the family of George Vanderbilt.

No expense was spared in the construction of the estate. When one could find a quiet corner, viewing the gardens of Biltmore was like stepping into a time machine back to the Gilded Age.

view down the esplanade looking back from the house with the statue of Diana on the hill

The gardens were laid out with the mountain views in mind.

There's a reason they're called the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Unintentional camel topiary Wisteria?

While the formal gardens were impressive, I was drawn to the informal paths among the trees.

Curves in the paths beckoned to a view beyond.

Geranium hybrid

While I had intended to post about my Cladrastis kentukea for Wildflower Wednesday, this post can do double duty instead, as I fell in love at first sight with the native mountain laurel, Kalmia latifolia.

Who needs cherry trees or azaleas?

What a delight to walk amongst mature, perfectly sited, well-maintained woody plants.

Kudos to the Biltmore gardening staff (all 60 of you), not a mulch volcano in sight. Thanks for graciously welcoming Fling.

May '12 Bloom Day

Cornus alternifolia

Happy Bloom Day, everyone! I almost didn't get this post done on time. I had been so busy putting together the presentation for the talk I gave last night at the library about the art of garden photography. In any event, here's a sample of what's happening at Squirrelhaven. A lot of the same plants that were blooming for April Bloom Day are still blooming. The cool weather helped to get the plants back on schedule.

For the first time ever, the Smilacina racemosa a/k/a Maianthemum racemosum or Solomon's plume is in full bloom for Bloom Day.

Usually it blooms after the 15th.

The wonderful little Phlox pilosa 'Eco Happy Traveler' is in full bloom

at the feet of Baptisia 'Purple Smoke' in the Nanoprairie. Across the walk, the yellowwood tree, Cladrastis kentukea, is in glorious bloom.

Never before has it looked so good, with so many fragrant blossoms. Between this and the phlox, it's an olfactory delight to walk down my front walk.

At the opposite end of the Nanoprairie, the Geum triflorum are just beginning to "smoke."

The seedheads always appear to me like someone having a very bad hair day.

A very welcome bloom is Aquilegia canadensis.

There were three plants, now there is only one, and it hasn't bloomed in a couple of years because the wild ginger (Asarum canadensis) was over-running it. Last summer, I yanked out a bunch of the ginger, and the little columbine has rewarded me for my efforts.

There is something that all of the above photos have in common. They are all of native plants. But native plants have to share the spotlight with well-behaved exotics in May, such as peonies

Paeonia 'Fen Yu Nu'

and Clematis.

The native Geranium maculatum shares a space with Clematis Bonanza.

Clematis season is in full swing, with nearly all of the early-flowered hybrids in bloom, including the weak-stemmed but huge flowered 'Henryi',

the always dependable 'Silver Moon',

and 'Crystal Fountain', seen here blooming with Calycanthus floridus 'Athens'.

At their feet are columbines in full bloom. All the Squirrelhaven columbines are doing their thing now, but I thought I should show one that usually gets over-looked.

These are seedlings from Aquilegia vulgaris  'Woodside Strain', with the same chartreuse and green variegated foliage as the parent and soft blue blooms.

This plant has been MIA from Bloom Day for a couple of years.

Heucherella 'Sunspot'

It wasn't happy where it was and with the squirrels digging it up constantly. Last fall I moved it, and it spent the winter under a wire basket.

I'm pleased with this new pairing of Narcissus 'Baby Moon' with Phlox divaricata 'Lemon Slice'.

I'll need to divide the phlox in the fall and put the division on the other side of the daffodils.

Here are a couple of random images of other things in bloom now.

Thalictrum 'Thundercloud'

Corydalis 'ex Dufu Temple'

Finally, it wouldn't be May without mayapples.

the native Podophyllum peltatum

If you haven't already, please visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens for all this month's Bloom Day posts.

Also blooming:
Allium 'Purple Sensation'
Anemonella thalictroides a/k/a Thalictrum thalictroides
Anemonella thalictroides a/k/a Thalictrum thalictroides 'Cameo'
Anemonella thalictroides a/k/a Thalictrum thalictroides 'Oscar Shoaf'
Anemonella thalictroides a/k/a Thalictrum thalictroides var rosea
Aquilegia 'Leprechaun Gold'
Aquilegia 'Sunburst Ruby'
Astrantia 'Roma'
Baptisia 'Twilight Prairieblues'
Brunnera 'Diane's Gold'
Brunnera 'Hadspen Cream'
Brunnera 'Looking Glass'
Campanula persicifolia 'Telham Blue'
Clematis 'Asao'
Clematis 'Betty Corning'
Clematis 'Natascha'
Clematis 'Rhapsody'
Cornus kousa 'Beni-fuji'
Corydalis 'Blackberry Wine'
Dianthus 'Cranberry Ice'
Dicentra 'Bountiful'
Dicentra 'King of Hearts'
Dodecatheon media
Geranium macrorhyzum
Helleborus x hybridus
Heuchera 'Fire Chief'
Heuchera 'Vesuvius'
Heucherella 'Burnished Bronze'
Iris sibirica
various bearded Iris
Phlox divaricata 'Clouds of Perfume'
Phlox divaricata 'Plum Perfect'
Phuopsis
Polemium reptans 'Stairway to Heaven'
Rosa 'Carefree Beauty'
Tiarella 'Iron Butterfly'
Tiarella 'Pink Brushes'
Tiarella wherryi
Violas
Wisteria macrostachys 'Blue Moon'

Wordless Wednesday: Abstract in Blue

A Clematis Correction/Caveat

Dear gardening friends and readers, I got a lovely email yesterday from Edith Malek the Clematis Queen informing me that Clematis 'Asao' isn't supposed to have chartreuse foliage and that there's probably something wrong with mine. So, all that stuff I said about the color of the foliage, forget about it. However, 'Asao' is still a lovely Clematis, one definitely worth growing, especially if it is paired with another early large-flowered hybrid which blooms longer and reblooms well.

Even if my plant is defective, I'm keeping it. It clearly appears very happy, there is no wilt or other problems evident, so I'll just fertilize it and sterilize the pruners after deadheading and trimming it.

Please check out Edith Malek's site if you want to know more about Clematis. She's the former head of the American Clematis Society and has literally written the book on Clematis (or at least one of them). There's also lots of advice about growing Clematis. Now let's get out there and buy more Clematis!

Plant Shopping: Clematis 'Asao'

On her way out the door to school, my daughter stopped by the dining table where I was still having breakfast. She pointed to a Clematis bloom in the vase and asked, "What's that flower, I really like it." I replied that I wasn't surprised she liked Clematis 'Asao' because it's a Japanese variety which would appeal to her Anime-loving heart. It got me thinking how, ordinarily, I wouldn't grow such a Clematis. 'Asao' is an early large-flowered hybrid, but it blooms only once, and for not that long. I generally seek out the late blooming Clematis that bloom on new wood, or the early large-flowered hybrids that rebloom in fall.
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edited 6/6/12 The following information is incorrect. My plant is weird, so please disregard the rest of this post and just enjoy the pictures. Click here for the explanation.
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You must be wondering, then, why I bought this plant, and why I continue to grow it. It's not just for its pretty face; there are many lovely pink Clematis. It could be because 'Asao' is the earliest of the large-flowered hybrids to bloom. But even that would not be enough. The answer is simple. It has sublime foliage.

The foliage isn't green, it's wavy and chartreuse. I know of no Clematis with foliage like it. The green foliage in the above photo is from Clematis 'Henryii', which is growing on the same trellis. The combination of bright pink blooms and electric foliage makes my heart sing, and the couple of weeks it's in bloom grant it a permanent place in the garden.

Clematis 'Asao' blooms on the trellis behind the sculpture, while the tree peony blooms by the arch.

Besides, that great foliage makes an excellent foil for a later blooming Clematis. I don't think 'Henryii' deserves that honor, and I'll probably replace it with something better to prolong the Clematis magic.

So while you're out shopping for plants, don't hesitate to pick up Clematis 'Asao'. It's a garden standout.