Tag: Switchgrass ‘Northwind’
A Grass Undivided Cannot Stand
Of all garden chores, I think that dividing plants may be my least favorite. Even so, there comes a time when it cannot be avoided any longer.
Tall Grass in August
It’s been a hot summer with plenty of rain. The ornamental grasses in our garden remain an almost luminous green, and most seem taller than usual.
More Fall Color in the Garden
As we near the end of October, fall seems to be ambling rather than marching on. We have yet to see a frost, and the warm weather means colors have shifted only slowly. Seedheads of Northern Sea Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium) are no longer green, but seem to shimmer like hundreds of tiny goldfish. They look …
The Best Ornamental Grass in the Universe
Fall is the season of grasses. In my garden, my absolute favorite grass is ‘Northwind’ Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). Now is when ‘Northwind’ sends up it’s airy panicles of tiny flowers. I have two big clumps of this Switchgrass in the Driveway Border. This grass is native to the eastern and central parts of the USA …
A Monarda Moment
In mid-summer the Monardas take center stage in the Sidewalk Border. The blue and purple salvias retain a bit of color, but are mostly done. The ‘Husker Red’ Penstemon (Penstemon digitalis) and golden Alexander (Zizia aurea) have been cut back. Now come the Monardas in red, lavender, and purple (yes, purple). The Monarda that demands …
Spring is Sprung
This past weekend was the first to really feel like spring. Saturday started cold and cloudy, but improved when the sun came out. And Sunday was even – dare I say it? – nice. The snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis and G. elwesii) are blooming and it was warm enough for them to open up their little …
From the Land of the White Witch
After careful analysis, I have concluded that Chicago’s recent weather has been caused by the White Witch. You remember the White Witch, who froze the land of Narnia into a 100 year winter in C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Can you offer a more plausible explanation for the otherworldly 65+ inches …
Pausing For Breath
Gardening is something you do inside your head as much as out in your garden. Sometimes you need to look at an established bed and mentally rearrange the plants. You need to decide to pull the plug on an unsatisfactory performer. And you need to imagine potential replacements, newly planted and in a few seasons. …
First Frost
Well, maybe not the very first. But it was the first that was really noticeable around here. The nights have been abnormally mild so far this autumn, so there hasn’t been much in the way of frosty morns. Judy took these pictures with her phone before leaving for work Friday morning. This week we finally …
Perennials for Fall Color
We usually think of fall color in terms of trees and shrubs. But there are many herbaceous plants that also offer good color in autumn. Here are a few in my garden right now. Starry Solomon’s Plume (Smilacina stellata) has long-lasting golden yellow foliage. Deep red berries add contrast, though most of the berries are …
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