Wednesday, July 17, 2013

I've Got A Sickness

WHAT I MEAN BY SICKNESS is a blissful addiction to plants. Of course you didn't know this, did you? And this isn't a "condition" you're familiar with, is it? 

Years ago, I heard a garden "celebrity" use the term "cram-scaping" to describe her gardening style. We're a lot alike, the celebrity-lady and me. In fact, I daresay I'm a stellar "cram-scaper." I have to be. It's the only way I can deal with (and justify) the multitude of plants I continually bring home because I can't resist them and they make me happy. See, a sickness. A blissful condition.  

Here is a sampling of my latest happy-makers: 

I found this sweet, vibrant Four-o'clock plant while in Lake Oswego a few weeks ago.
The camera doesn't do it justice. 



These aren't new plants but the combination is new because
I spent a good portion of my spring moving plants around. I think these two
(Galega and Phlox) are quite neighborly.

One of the perils of plant-addiction is having a huge pile of tags to sift through.
My efforts to locate the name of this tender succulent have failed. 

I'm sure one of you knows its idenity. About two weeks ago the buds appeared and then,
in the blink of an eye, voila, a bazillion little daisies! 

One of my first purchases this spring was this Gardenia 'Frost Proof.'
I wanted to get it in the ground stat so it could establish strong roots
making it more likely to survive the winter so, rather than buying a replacement
next year, I can spend my money buying some other plant. 

This is Clerodendrum 'bungei' freshly blooming. 

Remember me mentioning Impatiens glandulifera a few posts back?
Well, I've got a few nicely blooming plants now. So cool! 

In addition to buying plants, we sometimes have a gardening friend who shares.
This is exactly why I have these lovely cannas.
My generous friend Cate knows how I love pink! 

My Morina longifolia is also a newbie this year. And look!
It's blooming! 

My Rudbeckia 'Cherry Brandy' and seed-sown Bachelor Buttons
are growing together nicely. 

Visiting a local, out-of-the-way nursery last week, I spotted this Phlox.
I somehow convinced myself (with minimal effort) that I "needed" it. 

My Star Magnolia is putting out a few summer blossoms. 

Have you all been getting a lot of emails from companies wanting you to sample their products? I usually kindly decline their offers but this one for worm poo fertilizer had me at hello. Yesterday, I received both liquid-based and granular samples. I'll let you know in a few months if I see a difference in my plants. Have you heard of this product? Have you used it? If so, what do you think?  

Terracycle plant food. You can read more about it here


I had to post this photo. Years ago I dug out and gave away my Yucca 'Color Guard.'
Of course I soon regretted it. Look how karma has rewarded me! 

I was worried the my 'Tiger Eyes' Sumac (Rhus) didn't survive transplanting. Here it is, Joy.
Silly me! 

And finally, a few photos of my gardens: 









Happy gardening to you all. 



21 comments:

  1. I've heard about this condition.

    Flora grant me the serenity to accept every plant I can afford, Courage to save for the plants I cannot, and the wisdom to grow one of every plat in existence.

    Cram scaping?! OMG, I love it and am planning on stealing oops borrowing it!

    Your new green fixes are beautimous!

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  2. Your gardens are so beautiful So lush! I have the same disease! I just bought 5 more plants and we are going for MORE daylilies this weekend to add to the almost 50 we have already. I see you have some of the same plants we have...but you also have so many I would like to have. I don't think some of them would grow in our zone though. I love the look on people's faces when they see our gardens for the first time! Funny how the flowerbeds keep getting bigger! :)
    I had heard of worm poo. But haven't heard of anyone who has tried it. It will be interesting to see what you think of it. Intereting.

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  3. What a great post filled with wonderful bloomers and foliage in your lovely 'cram-scaped' gardens. I love it all.

    FlowerLady

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  4. Grace,
    your second and forth photos are wonderful! The daisies are so nice, light blue color and purple center. I love the paths in your garden: gravel, stones and fuchsia.

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  5. SO Gorgeous Grace! In your case, I'd call it a 'talent' rather than a 'sickness' though. Your combinations of plants and cram-scaping are inspiring!

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  6. I love your "Cramscape" ,I've been resisting it , but you've put me in the plant shopping mood.

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  7. I've never heard the term cram scaping, but I'll be using it from now on. It perfectly describes my gardening style. :)

    What is that galega?! I need to do some research, it's SO pretty!

    I LOVE your new pink and white phlox. I think I might "need" one, too. :O)

    Love that first picture looking down the path. So pretty.

    I have a wee bit of a sickness when it comes to old insulators and yours stuck in the ground jumped right out at me. My mom just brought me another one that still has the wooden peg in it and I stuck it in the ground as a hose guide. It's the little things like those that make me a happy gardener.

    Enjoy all this sunshine. As usual, I'm a slave to the hose around these parts.

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  8. You have a good addiction...do not seek any cures xoxo

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  9. This is one virus you can spread around freely with no complaints from your victims.

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  10. Your plants are blooming so beautifully, you must be fertilizing them already? I suppose the worm castings are very good fertilizer, I am a vegetable gardener and to enrich my soil I have been adding either glacial rock dust or volcanic basaltic lava dust to increase the minerals in my food. I have duck, chicken, and rabbit manure already.

    I realized my Phlox has been blooming without problems for 10 years so this year I bought 3 more, I will have to put your beautiful pink and white one on my list too. Why stop now?

    The Clerodendrum and Morina are so pretty and unusual. Your garden paths are so inviting. Thanks for sharing your photos. I could use an insulator for a hose guard too, great idea, very atttractive.

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  11. Grace, you always have such unusual plants! I don't blame you for wanting to try them out. That four-o-clock is stunning, have not seen anything like it around here.

    Eileen

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  12. Hi Grace,
    Your mystery plant may be an Ice plant. Your gardens are amazing!
    Sally

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  13. Well dang Gracie it all looks like perfection so if that's 'cram-scaping' then cool! but, I have never heard of a gardenia that could survive winter in Oregon. I love gardenias. This is a dangerous situation you've created here...

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  14. I'm a plant addict too. I don't expect I'll every enter recovery. I used to be a cram-scaper but, as I acquired a much bigger garden 2 years ago, I haven't had the need to cram (yet). However, coming up with the money to support my plant-buying habit is a problem.

    I think your mystery succulent is Oscularia deltoides. I have a few of them...

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  15. I can see why you have a sickness...I love the colors...i need time to move plants but have none and may not until next spring...oh well...never heard of that fertilizer.

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  16. Gracie girl thank you fort the mention under the Tiger Eyes : )
    Yours does look taller than mine .. I have to prune mine a little more creatively!
    My god is that the affliction I have too? cram-scraping !!!
    I finally have a name for it?
    I love your gardens .. I wish I could see them in person .. you have so many beautiful plants .. I am so jealous that you have the perfumed ones in your zone like that .. it must be so heavenly to smell them!
    What a gorgeous surprise to have that plant BLOOM like that .. and yes it would drive me batty trying to figure out what it was .. I have a gorgeous hydrangea with scent that I have no idea what it is .. I shaped it into a tree form to hide the AC unit and I love it to bits .. but I have no idea what it is .. must take a picture before all the flowers turn brownish from age.
    BEAUTIFUL gardens girl : )
    Joy

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  17. Hi Grace, You have the art of cramscaping down quite well! I love your gardens!

    I got that invitation to try the worm poop fertilizer too. I replied that I don't advertise on my blog, but since I have actually used their product before, I may reconsider. They replied to me, saying to let them know, and they would also see where I can get it in my area. I don't remember what I used it on, as it's been awhile. I do remember looking to find some more, though, and wondering why I couldn't find it.

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  18. Love that Morina longifolia - it reminds me a bit of Acanthus spinosa, but looks much less prickly. And like your legions above, I'm totally stealing "cram-scaping". The Mulch Man would completely agree on the use of that term for my plant mania!

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  19. I "need" so many plants! I'm a big believer in cram-scaping but I have to be careful since our high humidity can be a haven for many diseases if the plants don't get enough air circulation. LOVE your no-name succulent. Your garden looks incredible. :o)

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  20. "Cram-scaping," is a wonderful term. It describes me (and 90% of the people I know, who love gardening) quite well. Your gardens are beautiful Grace, thank you for sharing.

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  21. Your garden looks like an oasis of beauty and comfort. I'm particularly jealous of your Gardenia, as I can't grow them here.

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