Garden Update: It's raining. Again.

 Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining, just shaking my head with wonder and disbelief! It's August and we've had more rain than I can remember ever having during a Middle Tennessee summer. The Joe-Pye weed, Cup plant and Susans are thrilled. So is the moisture loving Cardinal flower and the new Hibiscus coccineus (planted last year). Even the plants that are in deepest shade under the Oak and Hickory canopy are thriving.

I've nothing to complain about, last year in the midst of the drought the entire garden needed extra watering to survive. By August the drought and the extreme heat brought the summer garden season to an early end. It went out with a whimper (or was that me) of crispness.

This year the moisture loving plants like the Joes are in their element, but, I've lost Asclepias tuberosa and Echinacea pallida, both plants that have been in my garden for years. They're tap rooted plants that need well draining soil and they rotted from the clay that has been sopping wet all summer. Consequently, I've been doing the Central Basin what should I plant dance since I pulled them out of the garden.

Traditionally,  this is a dance that one does while standing in the middle of the nursery aisles surrounded by plants in full bloom and enticingly beautiful. You take two steps forward and one step back while singing, "Will these xeric plants survive this winter or will I have to water the moisture lovers all summer?" This summer, I had to add another verse to the song, "Baby, we never know what next summer will bring, let's be smart about it..." Cha-cha-cha!

I'm a fairly smart Central Basin gardener and generally stick to tried and true natives and native friendly exotics, but, that doesn't mean I don't fall for a plant that needs more coddling than my rough and tumble wildflowers usually require.

H coccineus, a marsh loving plant that I hope can survive our usually dry summer

Take the Scarlet rosemallow that was added last fall. It's a marsh resident in most of the Southeastern states (not a Tennessee native) that has thrived with our steady winter, spring and summer rains. I'm crossing my fingers that it gets well established and continues to be happy at Clay and Limestone. That rose flower has me smitten! Isn't is wonderful!

Usually, by this time of the summer my energy is spent and I am lounging around inside trying to keep cool and away from the skeeters. This year, the weather has not only been wetter, it's been cooler. We've had fewer than 5 days with temperatures above 90F. Gardening has been a treat and even the mosquitoes haven't been able to keep most of us out of the garden.

I know, it's amazing!

So when I say it's raining again, please know that I really am appreciative of this amazing gift after years of drought and plant loss.
 

xoxogail

PS   To read more about our feature flower, the Joe-Pye weed ~Wildflower Wednesday: The Joes
       To read more about Rough and Tumble wildflowers~ Rough and Tumble Wildflowers
       To read more about gardening in the Central Basin~The Central Basin
       To read more about planting in Middle Tennessee~Not The Climate For Xeric
       To read more about why I plant natives~Plant More Natives

Gail Eichelberger is a gardener and therapist in Middle Tennessee. She loves wildflowers and native plants and thoroughly enjoys writing about the ones she grows at Clay and Limestone. She reminds all that the words and images are the property of the author and cannot be used without written permission.

Wildflower Wednesday: The Joes

I'm talking about the Joe-Pye-Weeds, aka as Eupatorium dubium, E. fistulosum, E. maculatum, E. purpureum and E dubium (aka Eutrochium). 

E dubium 'Little Joe'

I can't tell you when E fistulosum came to live in my garden but, I've loved it dearly from the first time I saw it in bloom in a wilderness area dozens of years ago. It's a tall drink of water that tops out at about 10 feet in my garden, but, can be even taller in the wild.  I think of it as one of my rough and tumble wildflowers.

E fistulosum with Silvery Checkerspot

What all the Joe-Pyes have in common are great big mauve/lavender-pink flower heads that bloom almost all summer and into the fall. They are also magnets for butterflies, Bumbles and other pollinators.  The flower heads are perfect feeding and perching stations for the many butterflies that seek out its nectar.

E maculatum 'Gateway'

I strongly recommend it for every wildflower, butterfly and ornamental garden. This one plant has a lot going on~ color, texture, beauty and wildlife value.

You're right, it's not perfect! It needs to be well established to handle a hot, dry summer and even then it might need a big gulp of water once a week. I admit, the straight species is tall and can fall over in a heavy rain and the foliage is often described as coarse; but, tall plants like Vernonias and Joe-Pye-Weeds can be cut back to keep them bushy and the leaves and deep colored stems offer contrast and texture that gardens often need. Having said all that, it still goes on my list of highly recommended wildflowers.

Trust when I tell you that you don't have to worry about taming your species Joes. They've already been tamed! There are marvelous cultivars that will fit in any garden. Try the cultivar 'Baby Joe', for your smaller garden, at under three feet it's just right; 'Gateway' or 'Little Joe', will stay under 6 feet, you'll get presence without the super height; or, if you have the space and want drama, go for the straight species.  

E dubium 'Little Joe'

Perhaps, you'll find yourself thinking as I do, "...so many Joe-Pyes and not nearly enough garden space."...

xxoogail

Just the facts:

Family: Asteracea
Genus: Eutrochium (formerly Eupatorium)
Species: purpureum, maculatum, fistulosa, dubium
Cultivars: 'Little Joe', 'Baby Joe', 'Gateway', 'Purpureum'
Color(s): purple, rose flowers
Soil: Fertile, moist, clay, loam, silt
Sun Exposure: Full sun/partial sun/morning shade/evening sun
Water Needs: Water well first year, does not like drought
Average Height: 3 ft. - 7 ft.
Average Spread: 1 ft. -3 ft.
Attracts: Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone: 2 - 9


Welcome to Clay and Limestone's Wildflower Wednesday celebration. WW is about sharing and celebrating wildflowers from all over this great big, beautiful world. Join us on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Remember, it doesn't matter if they are in bloom or not; and, it doesn't matter if we all share the same plants. It's all about celebrating wildflowers. Please leave a comment when you add your url to Mr Linky.


Gail Eichelberger is a gardener and therapist in Middle Tennessee. She loves wildflowers and native plants and thoroughly enjoys writing about the ones she grows at Clay and Limestone." She reminds all that the words and images are the property of the author and cannot be used without written permission.