Xylem & Phloem

Amazingly, this is my first year to grow roses in my garden. Like many people, I believed that roses were fussy and demanding. In organic gardens, fussy and demanding plants are often eschewed in favor of plants that are naturally pest and disease resistant.

In spite of all my pre-conceived notions, I planted two rose bushes recently: Elie Beauvillain, a tea climber from Texas-based Antique Rose Emporium, and Tess of the d'Urbervilles, a red, double English rose from David Austin Roses.

Elie Beauvillain (Source: Antique Rose Emporium)

Tess of the D'Urbervilles (Source: David Austin Roses) 

Unfortunately, my Elie Beauvillian is already suffering a bit of blackspot after this week's torrential downpours, but both plants are moving along well. I look forward to sharing photos when the plants start to bloom.

ONLINE ROSE SOURCES

Antique Rose Emporium

David Austin Roses 

Chamblee Rose Nursery 

Jackson and Perkins

Posted by Callie at 03:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Photo courtesy of pallensmith.com 

Even P. Allen Smith has jumped on the birdhouse gourd bandwagon this summer. Adding to our previous discussion of birdhouse gourds, check out Smith's tips for creating a bird hideaway out of these beautiful and vigorous vines.

Posted by Callie at 09:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

My gourd vine is well on its way to world domination! Some people are afraid of aggressive vines, but I embrace them. It's almost as if they are alive -- grabbing onto things and lifting themselves up. The best part about this crazy vine is that if all goes well, I will eventually have a bounty of beautiful birdhouse gourds for drying and hanging.

Because this is my first time growing gourds, I did a little research and found some fantastic sites about this plant turned bird abode:

Amish Gourds
How to Dry and Cure Gourds
A Bird's Home

Posted by Callie at 02:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Are you a complete plant geek like me? Then you understand that feeling I get when I see a new plant that I just HAVE TO HAVE. (Just like little Abigail in the Shel Silverstein story: "If I don't get that pony, I'll just die!" And then she did... Great stuff.) Believe me, if I won the lottery tomorrow, I'd donate half of it to my favorite non-profits and the spend the rest on PLANTS! Here are some exotic plants that I've been ogling tonight at Plant Delights. Click on each photo for plant information.

Posted by Callie at 09:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

What could be more spectacular that a flower reaching heights over six feet?! Meet the Giant Coneflower, botanically known as Rudbeckia maxima. Yes, this plant is much like its smaller and more compact cousin, Rudbeckia hirta, but it packs a real punch in the height department.

I purchased my Giant Coneflower specimen at the the Heard Museum plant sale last year, and it has yet to fail me. When it isn't in bloom, the Giant Coneflower boasts big, beautiful paddle-shaped leaves that are enough to stop the show all on their own. But the real magic lies in the spectacular stems and flowers that literally stand head and shoulders above the rest of the garden. Flowering throughout summer, Rudbeckia maxima is a Texas native perennial that can be seen growing wild along Texas highways.

Growing Giant Coneflower is easy. It loves bright sun and is not demanding of water. I am thrilled with its performance in my mixed border at the front of the house.

Buy your own at Bluestone Perennials. 

Posted by Callie at 02:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Over the last year, I have developed a serious obsession with succulents. Not only do they require little to no care, they are magnificent examples of botanical architecture. Though not a purist, I do appreciate and utilize modern design principles in my landscaping and home decorating. Succulents are a great way to incorporate a bit of minimalism into any garden or patio.

Debra Lee Baldwin wrote about echevarias in an article in the Dallas Morning News this weekend. She also mentioned a new book that just came out about designing with succulents. I can't wait to check it out.  

Posted by Callie at 08:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I'm fairly certain that I have gushed about the Leopard Plant (Farfugium japonicum 'Aureomaculatum') before, but its recent re-emergence in my garden warrants another outpouring of love and affection. Situated in one of my shade gardens where it is protected from the elements and stays relatively moist, my Leopard Plant never fails. Early spring through early winter, this plant performs like a rock star with glossy spotted leaves and a show of bright yellow flowers in the fall that create real architectural interest through the winter.

Its success in my garden proves its hardiness in our North Texas climate, but literature suggests that it is hardy in Zones 7-10. Originating in China and Japan, the Leopard plant was formerly classified in the genus Ligularia, and has been known under many names, including Ligularia tussilaginea, L. kaempferi, L. japonica, Senecio kaempferi, Tussilago japonicum, and Farfugium grande. There are just two species classified in the genus Farfugium*.

Online sources for my favorite plant:

Plant Delights

*Source: Floridata 

Posted by Callie at 11:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Though I stick things in the ground with abandon outdoors, I'm a bit more timid with indoor plants, and my collection has been rather slow to accumulate. This week's Plant Obsession may be an all-year indoor plant in some climates, or an all-year outdoor plant in others, but here in Dallas 7b, the Paddle Plant loves the summer heat outdoors and then must be pulled inside over winter.

Kalanchoe thyrsiflora (also commonly known as "Flapjacks") was one of this summer's most exciting surprises for me, and one of the reasons that I have started to love succulents. Purchased in the spring from a home warehouse store (gasp!), my plant has nearly tripled in size and width over the summer with absolutely no care whatsoever aside from one repotting.

Once the cool weather arrived in our area, I pulled the plant inside and it is now displayed proudly in my kitchen. After researching growth habits, I've been pinching it to maintain bushiness, and I was surprised to watch how quickly the lateral buds developed.

Click here to see current photos of my Kalanchoe thyrsiflora. (Note: The leaves turn more red in full sun.)

Additional resources for information on Kalanchoe thyrsiflora "Paddle Plant":

Dave's Garden Plantfiles Kalanchoe thyrsiflora

Stoke's Tropicals  

Posted by Callie at 08:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)