Thursday, September 4, 2008

What's Happening with the Toad Lilies these days?

This little sketch shows the locations of my
Tricyrtis Hirta plants (little green dots).


This really is Tricyrtis hirta, "Blue Wonder" in the front yard bed.
There are two plants here.
(An earlier photo showed more red... must have been the light.)

This is Tricyrtis hirta, "Matzukaze"
Three poor plants that got very dry during those first
2 1/2 weeks of August while I was gone.
I see some new growth, though.
Hopefully they pull through.
(There are flower buds, too. We'll see.)

This is Tricyrtis, "Lightening Strikes."
It really is much brighter than this photo shows...
Again, it's all about the light and the time of day.

This is Tricyrtis hirta, "Gilt Edge"
This Tricyrtis hirta is "Shining Light."
(two plants)

This Tricyrtis hirta is called "Seiryu."
It's in a pretty shady area, the north edge of the
under-the-trees, shady east side of the house.
(close-up)
There are three plants, here .
This is the shady back of the house (faces east, under the trees).
These, too, are Tricyrtis hirta, "Matsukaze"
Tricyrtis hirta, "Variegata" has been here 4 years.
Doesn't seem to get any larger, but it is
propagating!

I had purchased two Tricyrtis three or four years ago. Those were the "Variegata" and "Lightening Strikes" varieties. I was very tempted by all the new varieties this past Winter... hence, the new plantings. Aren't they great, though?

Just thought you'd like a peek at where the shade is around here. :-_)

18 comments:

Linus said...

Mom-- Have you ever thought of blowing up some of your beautiful photos to put in your house?

C

Shady Gardener said...

Wow! I'm complimented. However, to be quite honest... I have! ;-)

Anonymous said...

Your toad lilies are all nice. I've never had them in my garden but I'm thinking that should change...

Kylee Baumle said...

Did you HAVE to do that to me? I wasn't aware of any new varieties and now I have to research them. I've got five different varieties right now and totally love them.

Iowa Victory Gardener said...

Hi Shady,
Our 'Gilt Edge' says hi to yours from up our way! I hope the Monarda is doing well for you ... just pamper it a bit until frost and you should be amply rewarded next year!

Our Toad Lilies are really revved up and ready to go for September! I've got a teaser shot up at my place (for a future post soon), along with the latest on the Monarch Chrysalis. It hasn't emerged yet, but we're watching!

Anonymous said...

Quite a collection - one of my favorite fall-blooming genera. Deb

Shady Gardener said...

Wow! Someone was up late last night! (or early this a.m., however you want to look at it!) ;-)

Kathleen, They're a wonderful shade-lover... most of them are directly under trees and never receive direct sunlight. Some get more "brightness" than others. Much of the foliage has been distinctive and the flowers are too, upon close examination. :-) (But the flowers are a "treat!")

Hi, Kylee! :-) Will you post yours??

IVG, I've taken pictures of both the Monarda and Rue, but haven't had time to post, yet. They're both looking great. And have received a nice rain, too! :-)
I keep wondering about your Monarch chrysalis!

Deb, Unless something really striking appears, I can probably "cool it" on the trycertae (?) ;-)
for awhile. There are other things I must look at, now. You were up early this a.m.!!

Gail said...

Hi Shady, So many of these unique plants! They are lovely. After gentle prodding from IVG, I did buy one! It is lovely and blooming.... "Empress". The nursery owner said this one was better equipped to handle dry shade. Hah! We will water it regularly. The freckles are too cute.

Have a good weekend!

gail

Mr. McGregor's Daughter said...

Oh, do stop tempting me! I must resist buying more Toad Lilies...but that foliage of 'Shining Light' is so great! And 'Blue Wonder' really does look blue! And I love these plants! Help!

Kylee Baumle said...

If the blooms on mine are good, I'll post them. In the past, I've liked 'Tojen' the best. I think I posted a picture of it last year, when it bloomed early.

Shady Gardener said...

Hi Gail, Hope you post a photo of Empress! The plants and blossoms are so varied... that's part of their uniqueness! We're off to a wedding this weekend (NE Iowa) and then to SE MN to do a little bike riding. Home sometime Monday. :-)

MMD, At least there are things to think about this Winter. ;-)

Kylee, Do you have a link to Tojen? I'll come take a look. Have a great weekend.

Kylee Baumle said...

Here is Tojen!

Unknown said...

Way cool! I have 'Lightning Strike' but I really love that 'Shining Light' and the cool variegation it has. I'm adding that to my (yes, rather long) wishlist. :)

By the way, one of my newer toad lily varieties died back to the ground this summer, too, in the midst of heat and drought. That yours has some new sprouts is giving me hope...

Rosemary said...

great pics

IBOY said...

Shady... looks like your getting a pretty nice toady collection! i'll second Kylee's vote for Tojen (or Togen, depending on your mood).

Don

Shady Gardener said...

Thanks, Kylee! I really LIKE it! (I also like your new site header!!) That goes on my wish list... I know, I said I wasn't going to... ;-)

BSG, I hope things work out for both of us - with regard to our toadies! :-)

Hi Rosemary! :-)

Don, It's fun to have a few "collections" going! :-) Do you have Tojen/Togen?

Mr. McGregor's Daughter said...

I have 2 'Tojens.' One is stunted, the other is massive - over 3 feet high & wide.

Shady Gardener said...

MMD, I've seen Gail's and iowa boy's post on their Tojens. They're beautiful. I believe it's making my "Wish List." Don't you wonder what makes the difference in your plants??

My Matzukase plants have "the virus." I'm positive, after having read the reports and seen the photos. Guess I'll be pulling them out!! :-( I'll be alerting the place I ordered them from. (I hadn't really ordered them. They were a replacement for what I'd ordered.)