Father’s Day in Teza’s Garden

The ‘kids’ and I have been reacquainting ourselves with one another this past week. Seems like I have an ever so brief moment to nod on the way out the door in the morning, and I admit to being diligent to doing a quick walkabout when I get home nine or so odd hours later…. As Sunday was Father’s Day I had absolutely no excuse! And as usual, the children rewarded me ten fold with their undeniable beauty!

I was rather severe with the secateurs last fall where Deutzia x Magicien was concerned, but it would appear that he hasn’t held any grudges. The branches are smothered in wonderful pink buds that are this very evening beginning to open! I had a wonderful conversation with a client yesterday, choosing a few new staple shrubs for her property, and as I reached for the pot containing a blooming ‘Magicien’ she asked me if I carried D. gracilus ‘Chardonnay Pearls.’ I explained that ‘Magicien’ was worth a thousand Pearls in my eyes. She was ‘tickled pink’ and took two! Three down, two to go!

Roscoe P. Coltraine [ did I just age myself people?] better known as Roscoea cautleoides ‘Kew Beauty’ continues to bloom, letting me know that even though I hastened its emergence and bloom, its more than happy to reward me with its orchid- like beauty for close to a month straight!

Both yellow flowering Aconitum remain amongst my favourites within the genus, with Aconitum lycoctanum blooming almost a month earlier than A. kyrlovii. I love their ‘smurf cap’ shaped whipped buttery yellow flowers on tall spires atop fabulously large palmate foliage. One of the most requested plants when people visit the garden. I haven’t the heart to disturb either clump, knowing that they have long tap roots and resent disturbance or movement.

This secluded section of the Shaded Walk has been renamed ‘Viper’s Alley’ for no other reason than two of my favourite Arisaema species have settled in and are reproducing at an alarming rate. The bold trifoliate foliage of Arisaema triphyllum seems to be supporting the dazzling whorled leaflet of Arisaema consanguinium. While A. triphyllum has finished ‘blooming’ for the season, I noticed that there is a ‘cobra’ lurking just beneath the starburst foliage. Stay tuned for his unveiling!

…and NO, this isn’t a thistle on steroids! It so happens to be Morina longifolia, a delightful spiky leafed plant from the Himilaya and Afghanistan said to prefer sun, but quite happy in partial shade. It’s 1m spires of slightly fragrant white flowers which age to pink are absolutely delightful, but so far, I have only had foliage. Of course, this is the year of unexpected pleasant surprises and it does look as though there is a vertical growth…. so maybe I will be graced with this:

Everyone was on their best behavior, including the typically lackadaisical Clematis recta ‘Purpurea’ who has a habit of leaning on her siblings if given the chance. Even with an obelisk, she risks blooming somewhat horizontally again this year! One of the more obtuse of the children….. she must take after her Father!

  Feed us Papa, we’re growing children after all!