PATIENCE, PERSISTENCE, & PRAGMATISM

I've learned over the years there are certain necessary qualities a gardener must have in order to be successful. Patience (not at all), persistence (absolutely) and pragmatism (absolutely not). While in some circles 1 out of 3 ain't bad, in this instance my lack of the majority of these essential attributes has caused pain, heartbreak, wasted money, and most importantly wasted time.

Given my continuing struggle to at least have some fleeting glimmer of the 2 qualities I lack, I feel I can credibly say that I can relate to the average home gardener's need for immediacy. I've been there, done that, and paid the price. So, given that I'm leaning on the side of brevity as of late as I am spending most (ok, pretty much all) of my free time in the garden these days I'm just going to dive right into the plants... Only three this week! (again with the brevity) My selections this week were strategic relative to the lessons they taught me.

PATIENCE

Dictamnus albus - Gas Plant
Zones 3-8
There's a good reason why this resolute, tough as nails, long lived (non-native) perennial beauty isn't as popular as it ought to be... well make that 2 very not good reasons: 1. It pretty much always looks sad and pathetic in pot and 2. It takes at least a couple years to settle in before it really begins to put on a show. And if you were wondering about the name take a look (apparently this doesn't actually harm the plant, so they say...).
Purchase from:

PERSISTENCE

Sporobolus heterolepis - Prairie Dropseed
Zones 3-9
For several years I debated ripping out this grass due to its overall underwhelmingness, but I managed to restrain myself. I weeded diligently, despite the fact that I wasn't sure it was worth it, but did my best to give the plants the time they needed to come into their own. And so glad they (and I) did! This ones definitely a keeper :)
Purchase from:

PRAGMATISM

Sisyrinchium angustifolium - Narrowleaf Blue-eyed Grass
Zones 4-9
This plant conjures up overwhelming feelings of guilt. For years I have dutifully collected the seedlings that popped up here and there around the property where I garden and transplanted them to (what I thought) was a much more amiable spot, but year after year I would come to find them gone without a trace the following spring. In their "natural environment" they often grow in the company of grasses which I imagine makes the tiny rhizome they grow from fairly difficult to access, but when grown on open soil not so much. I've concluded the rhizome must taste like candy to whatever kept eating it, given the size of the plant you wouldn't expect it to be worth the trouble. So now I leave the plants where I find them, and just appreciate them as is.
Purchase from:

DISCLAIMER: THIS ENTRY WAS WRITTEN HASTILY A FEW HOURS BEFORE MIDNIGHT AFTER A SOLID 4 DAYS OF STRAIGHT GARDENING.... NEEDLESS TO SAY THIS WAS NOT MY BEST ENTRY. :( BACK TO NORMAL NEXT MONTH! :)

OUT GARDENING.... BACK NEXT MONTH (I HOPE)

So I'm going to be in full on crazy plant mode for the next month or so, so no time for blogging at the moment. I mean, I partially do this blog as an exercise in self restraint to make sure my decaying corpse isn't discovered in my apartment several month after my death, buried in a collapsed tower of seed flats, but sometimes you gotta treat yourself so no blog this month. But, to give everyone a bit of clarity during this crazy time I thought I'd give you some insight into the world of scientific plant names and why lately everything seems to be reshuffled and renamed and regrouped to the point where you don't know your Asters from your Asters, or would that be Symphyotrichum, or Eurybia... hmmmm.

Anyway both of these articles (one which I will include directly below, since I can't find it online and the other you can read here), have been written by the amazing Joseph Tychonievich. So just be thankful that at least someone has at least some idea what's going on because this renaming business kinda seems like a massive cluster f***ck. But (while everything points to the contrary) there is, in fact, some logic behind it. Happy reading! :)


ALL OF THE BELOW APPEARED UNDER THE TITLE "My new favorite website: Encyclopedia of Life" ON GREENSPARROW GARDENS, JULY 30, 2014 AND WAS NOT WRITTEN BY ME!!!!

I'm pretty much head over heels in love with this website: Encyclopedia of Life. It is a massive effort to create one huge database for information about all of life. I'd stumbled on the website once or twice before, I think, but it must have been early in the stages of development, because I came away unimpressed. But recently I was contacted be the director of operations to see if I could give some feedback on the project (and when someone's contact information includes the words "Smithsonian Institution" you don't say no) and I am BLOWN away. Such an incredible resource for plant lovers!

The site is great to find good information on incredibly obscure plants... for example, my friend Kelly Norris recently has been gloating on facebook about his Silphium albiflorum. It is a lovely plant I know basically nothing about...

Type that name into eol, and I get tons of great stuff:

- Pictures, ranging from herbarium sheets to the whole plant habit to close ups of the flowers!
- Maps, showing where exactly this has been observed in herbarium records, giving an approximation of the range of the plant:

No, you aren't going blind... there are just TWO tiny spots there in texas. Not a big range on this thing.

These maps a really useful when I'm trying to figure out how hardy something might be. For example, I'm all gaga for Ononis right now, but most of the things I'm growing are basically not in cultivation, so it is hard to get information on how hardy they are.

Type Ononis spinosa into EOL, and...

Those yellow spots go PRETTY far North... don't think winter cold is going to be a problem.

Ononis cenisia (syn, O. cristata) on the other hand...

Doesn't look to promising. We'll see. But I'll be sure to give it some extra protection just in case.

EOL also rocks because it is just for organisms... So you can search for plant names without getting a lot of other clutter.

For example, a Google search for Fabiana gives me this:

Um... NOT quite what I was looking for...

But EOL gives me this:

MUCH better.

The other thing I love about this is getting the proper names for plants. As I learned in my podcast about the naming of plants, there is no organization that decides on one official scientific name for a plant. Rather, if a scientist thinks as name should change, they publish a paper saying so and why, and if other scientists think that makes sense, they start using the new name, and if they don't, they don't. Official names are arrived at by slow consensus... which makes it confusing for the poor gardener who just wants to know what the dang name is.

So... if I want to know about, say, bleeding heart, I type Dicentra spectabilis into EOL, go to the names tab, and I see this:

Three different sources, all listing the possible names of this plant, with the name they prefer marked with a green spot. So, I can see that one has switched to the new Lamprocapnos, but the other two are sticking with Dicentra, which makes me feel fine about staying with Dicentra as well, even though the only reason I don't want it to change is because I can't SPELL Lampro-whateveritis.

But when I do the same thing with Anemonella... turns out they all agree it is Thalictrum now. Guess I'm going to have to get used to that one...

Other cool things to do with EOL:

Find pictures that drive my ever growing obsession with Gladiolus into even wilder frenzy:

And browse randomly to discover useful facts like that a Koala weighs 0.36 grams at birth, or discover that raccoons first appeared between 1.8 and 4.9 million years ago, and there are TWO references which say that raccoons feed on american alligators! That is has got to be a bad ass raccoon.

In short, it is a delightful rabbit hole of delightful information! I'm thoroughly entranced.

GARDENERS ANONYMOUS (ALSO COOL SEDGES)

Across america, there is a growing and insidious epidemic. Often hidden in plain sight, sometimes even those who are most afflicted are totally unaware. It could be your neighbor, your son, maybe your mother, and even grandma. Scratch that, ESPECIALLY grandma. Yes, there is no denying it, gardeners are everywhere, and they need your help. As a recovering gardener myself, I speak from first hand experience when I say that it can get downright nasty. Old poop. Plant sex. Life purpose. Disgusting, unspeakable things. Back in the day, for the right packet of seeds I would do anything. ANYTHING. I'm talkin back alley, bathroom stall, weird ass sh****t. And in a completely unrelated topic, does anyone have any pre-stratified Thalictrum-dasycarpum seed? I'm asking for a... uuuum, a friend. Yes, that's it, a friend. Cause I'm totally rehabilitated... Completely.

Anyway this devastating disease is often at its peak during this time of the year and the symptoms are usually fairly easy to spot: obsessive seed sowing, attraction to bright colors, spending bill and food money on plants of all types, etc.. Unfortunately, many of these sad individuals will never be free of the disease and are doomed to live a life full of self renewing happiness, fulfillment, and wonder. So while the addiction itself my be utterly hopeless, I urge the family members of gardeners to encourage at least a modicum of self restraint during the spring season. To aid in the prevention of short sighted binging on luscious, colorful, but ephemeral spring blooms that will just leave gaping holes in the garden and the soul once spring is through, I've put together a list of plants that may help to calm the florally obsessed mind. After all, gardeners must be continually reminded (especially once the snow begins to melt) that there are more to plants than just flowers, and there is no better way to do that than focusing in on our least flowery of genus's (geni?), Carex.

Carex is a BIG cosmopolitan genus of grassy plants found on every continent except Antarctica, often thriving in places that are too extreme (by means of too much moisture, too much shade, or excessive sterility) for other species to properly grow. Rather than attempt to list all representative in eastern North America, I've limited my list to the more refined, finer species of the east coast, focusing primarily on foliage. If I missed any of the more garden worthy individuals please scold me thoroughly. I've grouped some species by similar habit, appearance, and growing conditions. Provided the cultural requirements are met, most of the species below are also great candidates for no mow lawns. Garden Rant did a great summary of sedge based lawn alternative plantings at the Scott Arboretum. Check it out.



GARDEN WORTHY CAREX SPECIES OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA



Carex appalachia - Appalachian Sedge
Zones 3-8
Appropriate that this guy comes first alphabetically, as it is one of our finest. Clumper. Won't tolerate wet soils.
Purchase from: Amanda's Garden, Niche Gardens, Sooner Plant Farm, Toadshade Wildflower Farm, Plant Delights Nursery, Sunshine Farm and Gardens



Carex albicans - White-tinged Sedge
Zones 4-8
I had never heard of this species till I came across it online as one of the "best performers" in the Scott Arboretum's lawn alternative plantings. Adapatable clumping species that reseeds when happy. Performs admirably in dry shade.
Purchase from: New Moon Nursery, Green Light Plants



Carex cherokeensis - Cherokee Sedge
Zones 6-9
If you want to grow C. pensylvanica but your soils are a bit too heavy and your summers a bit too hot try Cherokee Sedge for a larger, slightly messier version.
Purchase from: Niche Gardens, Plant Delights Nursery, New Moon Nursery, Hoffman Nursery



Carex crinita - Fringed Sedge
Zones 3-9
This might just be the nostalgia talking but I feel like this guy is one of the most under-appreciated of our native sedges. This plant was all over the place around the little brook where we played in as kids and despite growing in the shadiest and muckiest of places always seemed to catch the light just right so it was perpetually glowing.
Purchase from: Prairie Moon, New Moon Nursery, New Moon Nursery, Ohio Prairie Nursery, Hoffman Nursery, Possibility Place Nursery, Agrecol Native Nursery, New England Wetland Plants



Carex eburnea - Bristle-leaf Sedge (Pictured Above)
Zones 2-8
Carex retroflexa - Reflexed sedge
?Zones 5-9? - No consistent listing on this
These 2 clumpers, while not closely related, have a similar habbit and tolerance of drier soils. C. eburnea is the stronger tighter clumper of the 2 to the extent it is sometimes described as a "half burried green porcupine."
C. eburnea - Purchase from: Prairie Nursery, Prairie Moon, Plant Delights Nursery, Broken Arrow Nursery, Kelly Nursery, Morning Sky Greenery, Native Plants in Claremont, New England Wetland Plants
C. retroflexa - Purchase from: Plant Delights Nursery, Blooming Nursery, Wholesale Nursery



Carex glaucodea syn. flaccosperma - Blue Sedge
Zones (4)-8
Carex laxiculmus - Spreading Sedge (Pictured Above)
Zones 5-8
Carex amphibola - Creek Sedge
Zones 3-8
These guys are as close to a native liriope as your gonna get, with C. amphibola being pretty much a dead ringer for the ubiquitous groundcover (also of the group, probably the most adaptable).
C. glaucodea (syn. flaccosperma) - Purchase from: Fiddlehead Creek, Dropseed, Chesapeake Natives, Behnke, Wholesale Nursery, North Creek, New Moon, Bluestone, Plant Delights, Lazyss Farm, Kiefer Nursery, Niche Gardens, Bohn's Farms, Hoffman Nursery.
C. laxiculmus - Purchase from: North Creek, Plant Delights, New Moon, Hoffman, Sunlight Gardens, Santa Rosa Gardens, Classy Groundcovers, Rarefind Nursery, Pleasant Run Nursery, Emerald Coast Growers, Midwest Groundcovers, Saunders Brothers, Green Leaf, Gardens of Blueridge
C. amphibola - Purchase from: North Creek, Hoffman Nursery, New Moon, Prairie Moon, Wholesale Nursery, Bohn's Farm. Fiddlehead Creek, Gardens of Blueridge



Carex lasiocarpa - Wooly-fruited Sedge
Zones 3-7
A graceful, billowy, and robust sedge of northern marshes and lakeshores.
Purchase from: Prairie Moon, Fourth Corner Nurseries



Carex muskingumensis - Palm Sedge
Zone: 4-8
An awesome textural, adaptable, and multipurpose plant that somehow I've totally overlooked. Soon to be found in my garden.... as soon as I find some room :-/ A handful of cultivars available in the trade including the dwarf 'Little Midge' and the golden stripped 'Oehme.'
Purchase Fronm: Amanda's Garden, Forest Farm, Lazyss Farm, Prairie Nursery, Prairie Moon, New Moon, North Creek, Hoffman Nursery, Digging Dog, Possibility Place, Bluestem Nursery, Pleasant Run Nursery, Kelly Nursery, Forrest Keeling, Wholesale Nursery, Connon Nurseries, Hoffie



Carex pensylvanica - Pennsylvania Sedge, Oak Sedge (Pictured Above)
Zone: (3)4-7
Carex texensis - Texas or Catlin Sedge
Zone: 5-9, although I've seen a several 7-10
As far as groundcovers go these 2 compliment one another pretty well. If you're dealing with sandy acidic sterile soils and live in the northern half of the country (except the extreme north) C. pensylvanica is where its at. If you have a heavier (provided it is not wet) soil and live in the southern half of the country (except the extreme south) give C. texensis a try. I've used a not so flattering, rather sparse looking image of C. pensylvanica as a not so subtle reminder that even though sedges are tough plants, in order to get them to look lush and thriving as shown in many of the images used to market them (especially C. pensylvanica), you often need to plant them in conditions that are at least sightly better than what you would find in the wild.
C. pensylvanica - Purchase from: Classy Groundcovers, Everwilde Farms, Greenwood Nursery, Morning Sky Greenery, Prairie Nursery, Prairie Moon Nursery, Santa Rosa Gardens, Shooting Star Nursery, Yellow Springs Farm, Bluestem Nursery, Droopseed Nursery
C. texensis - Purchase from: Plant Delights, Niche Gardens, Hoffman, New Moon, San Marcos, Wholesale Nursery



Carex plantaginea - Plantain-leaved or Seersucker Sedge (Pictured Above)
Zone: 4-8
Carex platyphylla - Silver Sedge
Zone: 4-8
The widest leaves of any of our native sedges, and while other sedges are shade tolerant, these 2 species need shade to truly thrive. Basically a green (C. plantaginea) and blue (C. platyphylla) variation of one another. Both are evergreen to semi-evergreen depending on the climate.
C. plantaginea - Purchase from: Lazyss Farm, Prairie Nursery, Rarefind, Pleasant Run, North Creek, New Moon, Hoffman, Fiddlehead Creek
C. platyphylla - Purchase from: Dropseed, Sunlight Gardens, Plant Delights, Klehm's Song Sparrow, Lazy S'S Farm, Dropseed, Van Berkum, North Creek, New Moon, Pleasant Run, Fiddlehead Creek, Stonehouse Nursery, Broken Arrow



Carex radiata - Eastern Star Sedge
Zone: 3-8
Carex rosea - Curly-Styled Wood or Rosy Sedge (Pictured Above)
Zone: 3-8
Even the experts apparently have difficulty telling these 2 apart; both fine textured clumpers, both adaptle to a range of soil types, with C. rosea being a bit more tolerant of excessive moisture.
Carex radiata - Purchase from: Prairie Nursery, Prairie Moon, Plant Delights, Possibility PLace, North Creek, New Moon
Carex rosea - Purchase from: Prairie Moon, Prairie Nursery, Bluestem Nursery, Morningsky Greenery, Toadshade, New Moon, Hoffman Nursery, Possibility Place



Carex socialis - Low Woodland or Social Sedge (Pictured Above)
Zone: (5)6-9
Carex leavenworthii - Leavenworth's Sedge
Zone: (5)6-9
Carex woodii - Pretty Sedge
Zone: 4-6
Let me start out by saying that the image above is different than the one before it, and despite looking extremely similar supposedly it is a different species. The truth is the information on these 3 was sparse at best, and while a few sources referred to them as clumping, most had them listed as having a running habit. Overall though they seemed like they would make great, adaptable alternatives to C. pensylvanica if your dealing with a heavier soil. I'd like to list them up with C. pensylvanica as well, but until I find more information I'll relegate them to this little band of misfits. Of the 3, there is the least amount of information on C. woodii, so if you come across a good source let me know!
Carex socialis - Purchase from: Plant Delights, New Moon
Carex leavenworthii - Purchase from: Plant Delights, New Moon, Bluestem Nursery, San Marcos Growers
Carex woodii - Purchase from: New Moon, Izel Plants



Carex sprengelii - Long Beaked or Sprengel's Sedge
Zone: 3-9
I keep find references of this being a beautiful ornamental sedge, although the pictures I've come across haven't been particularly overwhelming. Maybe its one of those plants that can't really be captured in photographs. Anyway have yet to grow or come across it in the wild so I'll wait till I see it first hand before passing judgement.
Purchase from: Ion Exchange, Morningsky Greenery, Prairie Moon, Prairie Nursery, Agrecol, New Moon, Outback Nursery



Carex stricta - Tussock or Upright Sedge (Pictured Above)
Zone: 3-8
Carex bromoides - Brome Hummock Sedge
Zone: 3-8
C. stricta will always be lodged in my memory from my winter explorations of the frozen swamp in my backyard when I was a kid. The little goupings of the plant always reminded me a bit of a horde of cousin its rising from the swamp. The tussocks were just the right size for an 8 year old to sit on (hopefully I didn't damage them too badly), As much as I can gather C. bromoides is a closely related species with a more northern distribution.
C. stricta - Purchase from: New England Wetland Plants, Ion Exchange, Agrecol, Morning Sky Greenery, Prairie Moon, North Creek, New Moon, Hoffman Nursery, Pinelands Nursery, Possibility Place, Forest Keeling, Catskill Native Nursery, Hoffie Nursery, High Ranch Nursery, Long Island Natives
C. bromoides - Purchase from: Agrecol, Natural Garden Natives, Spence Nursery, Izel Native Plants, Wholesale Nursery


IMAGES SOURCES: C. appalachia, C. albicans, C. cherokeensis, C. crinita, C. eburnea, C. laxiculmus, C. lasiocarpa, C. muskingumensis, C. pennsylvanica, C. plantaginea, C. rosea, C. socialis, C. sprengelii, C. stricta