ABC Wednesday - L is Ligularia

Several years ago, Jim, of Pat and Jim's Gardening Adventures , sent me some Ligularia dentata seeds (I believe, 'Othello').  I stratified them over the winter in homemade greenhouses made from gallon milk jugs (click for the post).

During year number one, they were tiny seedlings needing nurturing.  After the past two years' DROUGHT-filled summers, this year's rainfall has been a blessing! They loved the extra moisture and they all grew beautifully and bloomed!

 As evidenced below.

As the flowers began to emerge, they looked like this!

And finally, like this!!

Just beautiful, don't you think?

However, I've been warned... and I see evidence... that they re-seed Very Easily.

Want some seeds?  Send me an e-mail with your address!

Below we have Ligularia 'The Rocket'

This fellow really struggled last year... as ligularia desire good, rich Moist soil.  This year, he did okay and did flower, but it wasn't the show seen in the photo above (taken in 2011).

Two weeks ago, I planted Ligularia 'Bottle Rocket.'  He desires a little more sunlight, which he will get.  He is supposed to grow 28-34" tall - photo of the plant below.  We were gone last week.  We didn't get the rain predicted, so the plant was pretty "sad looking" when I peeked at it this morning.  A good watering and little rainfall improved its outlook.  :-)

One more "L" photo - representing two more "L" words!  

Leaf Litter!  

It is now October 1, and Autumn leaves are beginning to fall!  Hmmmm.

FYI:  If you would like to enjoy ABC Wednesday posts by others, please follow This Link.

 

If these leaves continue to fall, it won't be Shady around here much longer!  ;-)
SG

Ligularia

Jim Groble shared ligularia seeds with me about 3 or even 4 years ago.  After babying several plants through two years (and now a third) of drought, they have finally begun to bloom!!  ;-)

 

This is a smaller plant, but these flowers show better.  I was gone for a week... drought conditions here again.

 

 

 

Happy!

SG

Another Party in the Backyard?

Yes, indeed.

There was a party!

Party #2 -
WOO-HOO!

... and again, it was the three of us:
Me, myself and I!

Doing another tap dance in the backyard!
:-)

Here's the story from Last Spring


Perhaps you'd appreciate a bit of an explanation?

Four years ago, I planted a Ligularia - 'The Rocket' - in one of my backyard shady beds, but it wasn't damp enough.

'The Rocket' fizzled.
Disappeared.
Never to return.

I was SO disappointed!

In the Spring of 2007, I tried again.
I planted it at the "head" of the "Woodland Walk."

Because our home is in the middle of a fairly steep slope, we experience a great amount of run-off when it rains! Some of that run-off has been tamed by underground channels.

However, a LOT of rain runs down our driveway, through the front yard towards the Raised Bed Gardens, and veers off towards the Woodland Walk. I've been creating limestone rock and sidewalk-chunk paths and retaining walls to not only control the water but hold onto the soil!

So, Mr. Ligularia receives a good amount of water
and seems to love his new home!
Yea!

Now you know why the three of us enjoyed our party!
Actually, it was the 4 of us:
Me, myself, and I and "Mr. Ligularia,"
who not only returned again,
but is
Now in Bloom!

Nothing "Shady" here!

And I'm headed for more sidewalk chunks next week! ;-)

There was a Party in the Backyard?

Why???

There was a party -
A one-person party!

A tap-dancin'
(not romancin')
Whoooo-doggie
soft shoe!

All because a
Ligularia

(say what?)

A Ligularia
("The Rocket!")

had sprouted in the backyard!
(shouted?)
No, sprouted!

There was a whoop -
And a delighted yelp!

A hand-clapping,
foot-stomping,
face-smiling,
happy feeling
party going on!

And it was by me, myself and I!

All because I'd found the perfect home for a Ligularia!

;-)