What’s Coming Up In The Garden, 45: hoary skullcap

This is another plant I’ve put into the shady bed. It’s come up nicely and I’m looking forward to seeing flowers!

More info:

Cressler, Alan 

Scutellaria incana

Scutellaria incana Biehler

Hoary Skullcap, Downy Skullcap

Lamiaceae (Mint Family)

Synonym(s): 

USDA Symbol: SCIN

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

 

From the Image Gallery

24 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Size Notes: Normally 1.5 to 3.5 feet
Flower: Flowers in 6 inch spikes
Fruit: Dark
Size Class: 1-3 ft. 

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Blue , Purple , Violet
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep 

What’s Coming Up In The Garden, 44: native wild ginger

Last spring in a native plant studies class we did some work with propagation and I came home with some tiny sprigs of native wild ginger. I tended them until they rooted and then planted them in the fall. I wasn’t sure these tiny bits would live through the winter, but they did - there are now three in the shade bed and they should multiply until there’s a much larger “patch.”

The leaves are lovely and so are the blooms (not sure I’ll see that this year, we’ll see).

More info:

Asarum 

Common Name(s):

• Wild Ginger

Phonetic Spelling

ah-SAIR-um

Description

The beauty of wild ginger lies in its heart-shaped leaves, which in some species are dark green, shiny and mottled with cream. The flowers are small, jug-shaped, lie on the ground and are pollinated by ants and ground beetles.  Prefers moist, rich soils and does well in shade.  They struggle a bit in the hot humid weather of the south.  Divide plants in the spring.  Leaves and roots smell like ginger when crushed but this plant is unrelated to culinary ginger.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems.  Slugs and snails can damage foliage.  Rust can sometimes cause isssues.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms! (And a photo walk on November Hill)

I hope all the moms are being celebrated today, and that you’re celebrating yourselves. Walk with me around November Hill.

What’s Coming Up In The Garden, 43: pawpaw tree

This native NC tree produces a fruit that tastes like a banana crossed with mango. They don’t ship well, so aren’t generally known outside of people who have the trees and can eat the fruit as it ripens. I planted two of these several years ago and they both grew through a full year, then one simply disappeared last winter. I’m not sure what happened to it, and I need to find another one, but for now, this one is doing really well.

More info:

Asimina triloba

Pawpaw

Scientific Name:	Asimina triloba
Genus:	Asimina
Species Epithet:	triloba
Common Name:	Pawpaw
Plant Type	Tree
Plant Family	Annonaceae (Custard-Apple Family)
Native/Alien:	NC Native
Size:	12-36 ft.
Bloom Color(s):	Purple, Brown
Light:	Sun - 6 or more hours of sun per day, Part Shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day
Soil Moisture:	Moist
Bloom Time:	May, June
Growing Area:	Sandhills
Habitat Description:	Alluvial forests, other moist, nutrient-rich forests.
Leaf Arrangement:	Alternate
Leaf Retention:	Deciduous
Leaf Type:	Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like
Leaf Form:	Simple
Wildlife Value:	Important for Wildlife
Landscape Value:	Recommended and Available
Bloom Martha Baskin May 09

Meet Hegemone, the new hive on November Hill

This is the new (third) hive and I’ve named her Hegemone, after the Greek goddess of blooming plants, particularly in the autumn season. She was known for making plants bloom, a perfect match for the hive that will be living in the potager. That she has a connection to autumn pairs her perfectly with November Hill.

I got word today that our two new nucs will be arriving on May 23rd, so one of them will move in here and we’ll see how that goes.

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