Wordless Wednesday seed heads – ornamental grasses in November

Chelone lyonii, Pink turtle head – A lovely native species offering autumn blooms

The beautiful Chelone lyonii ‘Hot Lips’ also goes by the common name of pink turtlehead. It blooms from July straight through to October, so it’s a terrific addition to any garden.

Chelone comes from the Greek word meaning tortoise because each blossom obviously resembles, without too much imagination, a turtle’s head.

A great perennial for late summer colour that doesn’t much like excessive heat, it will tolerate full sun if its feet are kept cool. The flowers are primarily pollinated by bees, but the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds will often visit them as well. The foliage of this plant is known to be bitter so it’s avoided by Deer and other herbivores. In my own experience the deer have yet to touch the Chelone, so this species is something to cheer about by any rural gardener!

Lucky to have this plant in my garden due to a lovely share from another local gardener, in the six or so years since it’s established, the plant has multiplied from one single flowering stem into more than a dozen. With its strong stems, the clump doesn’t flop over after a rainstorm.

It’s worth noting that there’s a white flowering species called Chelone glabra that I’d like to get my hands on! A host plant for the endangered Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly, and like their pink cousin they too will thrive in damp locations and shady glades.

It’s my hope to collect many seeds this year. I’ll be able to offer them online at my Etsy shop. The pollinators did their jobs well, seed heads are forming, and with a little luck the mild weather we’re currently experiencing means they’ll ripen before the first hard frost. Then I can get my hands on some! Culture/Info:

Foliage: Herbaceous smooth-textured.
Requires consistently moist soil.
Propagation Methods: By dividing the root-ball or from seed.
Direct sow outdoors in fall or early spring.
Stratify seeds if sowing indoors.
Seed Collecting: Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds.
Non-patented native perennial
Height: 24-36 in. (60-90 cm)

Thanks for visiting. Happy Autumn! : )

Happy Easter, Ēostre or Ostara – #WordlessWednesday

Spring is in the air…!

A big welcome back, spring… you’re my favourite season of them all. You’re full of potential and a new start to another year in the garden. I can hardly wait!

Yes I know.. we’re supposed to enjoy each season as it arrives and at first I really do try. But as the weeks drag on and while the snow piles up, admittedly the only thing that gets me through winter is looking at beautiful landscaping pictures on Pinterest. That, and planning what changes and additions I can make in my own garden.

The photos I’m sharing here are actually crocus pictures from last April. We still have much snow on the ground in my neck of the woods, but with the equinox on our doorstep there is light at the end of the tunnel!

So, like many other like-minded itchy green-fingered people living in a northern climate, I shall celebrate the official beginning of spring by sowing and starting some seeds indoors.

Happy Spring!

Borage – Borago officinalis – A true blue addition to any garden

Borage flowers offer a lovely shade of true blue in the garden.

This herb and its star-shaped flowers are not only beautiful, but extremely useful! I’ve always felt this plant was underrated in our gardens, unlike the past where its qualities were highly valued.

Admiring them as one would any species with a historical pedigree, as an heirloom, cultivated since at least the 1440s, the folklore they encompass states just how much borage was valued. It was said to bring courage to one’s heart. “Borage for courage” as the saying goes. Ancient Celtic people believed borage offered courage in the face of enemies on the battle field. How extraordinary!

Back to our modern times, it’s a courageous companion plant, known for repelling hornworms on tomatoes, offering this plant a serious, if not fashionable comeback.

Borage may be considered an annual herb where I live, but it self seeds easily and appreciates any extra warmth offered by the raised beds in our yard. They’ve settled in quite happily!

The dainty flowers are edible, offering a slight cucumber-like flavour. Use them in soups, salads, sandwiches, or as a substitute for spinach (stuffed into traditional pasta), or as a pretty garnish on the plate. A friend of mine uses them to flavour her pickles, while another makes teas and assorted iced drinks with them.

Thankfully Borage is not a fussy plant and grows well in most soils. I’m happy to report that deer avoid Borage like the plague, likely due to its fuzzy leaves. A real plus in many a gardener’s mind!

If you like to save and share, Borage seeds are easily harvested. Ore, leave them to self sow and every year you can look forward to them gracing the garden once again.

Those showy little blue star-shaped flowers attract bees, butterflies, and all sorts of good pollinators. They’re a wonderful addition to anyone’s garden!

Note:

When planting Borage seeds, the best time to do this is in spring, after any remaining chance of frost. Soak the seeds first in wet paper towel overnight, and then sow them directly into the garden, but not too deep, as half an inch will suffice. Borage will grow to a height of 2- 3 feet.
The oil from Borage seeds is highly valued and plants are now commercially cultivated for skin care products and other items. It’s one of my favourite go-to ingredients for use in my own products.
If you see some of your flowers are pink, then there is likely a deficiency in your soil. Below is a photo from a couple of years ago. I’ve since discovered this is a common site if Borage is growing in dry, gravelly soil. To fix this, simply add some triple-mix or compost. The pink is actually quite pretty, and Borage may even offer white flowers from time to time.

Happy Gardening!