A number of years ago, I planted a Texas Mountain Laurel (Sophora secundiflora) in my garden - one that I held on my lap during a flight from College Station, Texas to Charleston, South Carolina.
I think that then - and even now - it might be the only one in Charleston, except, perhaps, for the seedlings started by Pete and his Dad over a year ago from seed pods that I took them.
A few days ago, I was reading something, and read that the seeds of this tree were red. I felt silly, here I've had this tree in my garden for awhile, and I had not once peeled open a seed pod, to look at what was inside.
So - they are red. Now I know. For sure.
~~~~~
So here is my wishlist (just the flowers, and, to be honest, just the flowers from a few of the catalogs that I've looked at thus far...) - I've narrowed it down and this is where I am. I need to narrow it down even more. (I'm not good at that, as you might guess - I somehow thought that writing the list down and seeing how long it was might help me see that this is not manageable - but so far, nothing. Not a thing. I still want all of them. Damn. But...but...look at that Kaimon Dake Leopard Plant! And the Giraffe Foxglove! Oh, and the Tassel Flower! See what I mean???)
~~~~~
Seeds
- Night Jessamine (Cestrum nocturnium)
- Tobacco ‘Bella’ (Nicotiana alata x mutabilis)
- African Foxglove (Ceratotheca triloba)
- Cleome ‘Violet Queen’ (Cleome hassleriana ‘Violet Queen’)
- Kiss-Me-Over-the-Garden-Gate (Polygonium orientale)
- Fluttering Poppies Collection: Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas), Black Peony Poppy (Papaver paeoniflorum), Danish Flag Poppy (Papaver somniferum), Pink Peony Poppy (Papaver somniferum)
- Genetian Sage ‘Cambridge Blue’ (Salvia patens)
- Tassel Flower (Emilia javanica)
- Creeping Gloxinia ‘Joan Lorraine’ (Asarina scandens)
- Foxglove ‘Spanish Peaks’ (Digitalis thapsii)
- Rose Campion (Lychis coronaria)
Plants
- Phlox ‘David’s Lavender’ (Phlox paniculata ‘David’s Lavendar)
- Phlox ‘Delta Snow’ (Phlox paniculata ‘Delta Snow’)
- Clematis ‘Rubromarginata’ (Clematis x triternata)
Bulbs
- Abyssinian Gladiolus (Gladiolus callianthus)
- Iris ‘Faustine’ (Iris germanica)
- Iris ‘Quaker Lady’ (Iris germanica)
- Cobra Lily (Arisaema candidissimum)
- Black Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum ‘Black Jack’)
- Wayne’s World Redneck Lupine (Baptisia alba var. alba ‘Wayne’s World’)Purple Smoke Redneck Lupine (Baptisia ‘Purple Smoke’
- ‘Heron’s Pirouette’ (Begonia grandis ‘Heron’s Pirouette’)
- Hardy Calanthe Orchid (Calanthe kawakamiense)
- Serrate-leaf Cloranthus (Cloranthus serratus)
- Mexican Giant Cigar Plant (Cuphea micropetala)
- Kaimon Dake Leopard Plant (Farfugium japonicum ‘Kaimon Dake’)
- Hardy Ginger Lily (Hedychium ‘Daniel Weeks’)
- Oxblood Lily (Rhodophiala bifida)
- Eveline Sage (Salvia ‘Eveline’ PP 14,905
- Rhapsody in Blue Sage (Salvia ‘Rhapsody in Blue’)
- Nodding Ladies’ Tresses (Spiranthes cernua var. odorata)
- Underwood’s Trillium (Trillium underwoodii)
Swallowtail Garden Seeds (foxgloves can be seen here, these I've already ordered)
- Giraffe Foxglove (Digitalis laevigata)
- Café Crème Foxglove (Digitalis lanata)
- Apricot Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
- Milk Chocolate Foxglove (Digitalis parviflora)
"So - they are red. Now I know. For sure."
Ever the scientist. You can't take anything on faith, can you?
(Just joking, you know.)
I don't see any camellias on your list. Are you set on them, or have you just not yet gotten around to them?
Posted by: John B. | 21 January 2008 at 08:29 PM
The Texas mountain laurel's seeds are quite pretty, aren't they, though housed in those ugly, black pods that remind me of dog poop. (Sorry!) They are extremely toxic if ingested, as I'm sure you know. But just in case you don't, and your dogs might be tempted...
I think it's wonderful that you're growing this beautiful ornamental tree in South Carolina. It would never survive in the Piedmont, where I grew up, but I'm glad to know it's doing well for you along the coast.
Posted by: Pam/Digging | 22 January 2008 at 12:59 AM
I think you're gonna need a raise, Pam...
Posted by: Pat | 22 January 2008 at 07:34 AM
John B.: I've already got 13 camellias in my garden - and for my new camellia path (yes, the one that is only floating around in my head) I'll need some more (of course!) but I'll get those locally (which I prefer to do when I can).
Pam/Digging: I didn't know they were toxic - thanks for sharing that bit of information. As for the tree, mine has done great here - and it wouldn't surprise me in another 10 years or so if others weren't found here too. I think they'd really catch on (especially for smaller downtown gardens). Evergreen - with flowers! How nice is that?
Pat: No kidding. I've got to narrow the list down, focus on the seeds and not the plants. Or, as you mention, get a raise. A really BIG raise. It's a habit.
Posted by: Pam | 22 January 2008 at 07:55 AM
Neat plant, and great choices...just rub a little zonal envy into us poor sods shivering up here in the deep freeze of the north...glad I found your blog through Blotanical.
Posted by: jodi | 22 January 2008 at 01:13 PM
I grew that Kiss-Me-Over-the-Garden-Gate last year for the farmers market. People were either really intrigued, or really freaked out. I liked it. I had it in red AND green...they get really big and wierd, and just a tad creepy if you dont cut them. I can't wait to see photos of the rest. Where's my calendar???
Posted by: Kate | 22 January 2008 at 01:17 PM
I grew gentian sage last year for the first time, and while I liked the flowers, they were a bit sparse. But it wasn't really happy in the full sun and somewhat dry conditions where I planted it - it always looked like it wanted more shade and/or water.
I'm thinking of annual poppies this year too - seeing them on others' blogs last year convinced me I needed some.
Posted by: entangled | 22 January 2008 at 05:44 PM
Jodi: Thanks, and might I add that I've felt cold for a week now? I know, it's pathetic - and I've done cold, but now I'm a southerner and when it gets below 50F, it simply doesn't seem civilized!
Kate: I've never grown it - but was intrigued. It looks like it gets pretty big. Dang that calendar. You're about the 10th person who has asked. Oops. Haven't made them yet.
Entangled: The images of the genetian sage that I've seen did look a bit sparse, now that you mention it. Good to know about the shade-sun thing - that will help me decide where it should go. I grew annual poppies for a few years - planted them once, and they reseeded for several years and I just loved them. Slowly they died out, and I have just never gotten new seed. I'd really love to have them again in my garden.
Posted by: Pam | 23 January 2008 at 09:16 PM
Thank you very much for the information I really appreciate it!!
Posted by: Gardening Seeds | 04 March 2009 at 05:15 PM