Oudolf's Stachys Spires (The Battery Gardens-Part 2)

Spires of pink-purple Stachys monieri 'Hummelo' (Alpine betony).
Gardens of Remembrance at The Battery, New York, NY. June 2011

I know it, I grow it. But, exponentially increase the number of plants and the result is jaw-dropping!  Stachys monieri 'Hummelo' inspires as a major player in the mass planting at the Gardens of Remembrance within The Battery in New York City. The design is by Dutch designer Piet Outdolf.

'Hummelo' is not your ordinary stachys. The crinkled green foliage is lush and in my zone 7b garden, it never dies back completely in the winter. Like many perennials, you'll know to divide it when a shallow pit (not quite a donut hole) appears in the middle. Suitable for zones 4-9, I find this perennial likes rich, well-drained soil and mostly sun. When it needs water, the plump mounds look totally deflated. Just add water to the base. A nice size of around 18 inches high (in bloom) and 15 inches wide, makes this a suitable plant for small spaces.  Rabbits and deer have never bothered my 'Hummelo'. It make take a year or two for the perennial to begin producing the lovely purple spires.

Designer Piet Oudolf used an incredibly thick and wide mass planting of 'Hummelo' in his design. I can't begin to estimate the number of plants used in his vignette, but I think it's safe to say more than thirty!

Echinacea (coneflowers) and two colors of monarda (bee balm) are used as companions en masse to add to the breadth and depth of the garden island vignette.  Nepeta racemosa 'Walker's Low' is added for the grey foliage and lacy, hazy blue flowers. I have experience with this nepeta. Another variety in my garden, Nepeta faassenii 'Six Hills Giant' is a possible substitution. In fact, I have that nepeta grouped with my 'Hummelo', ice plant and monarda 'Blue Stocking'. But, I digress. Let's get back to The Battery Gardens.

Nepeta racemosa 'Walker's Low' provides lacy blue blooms
that fall onto the coneflowers, backed by stachys 'Hummelo'.

Two colors of monarda (bee balm) rise behind the
shorter stachys 'Hummelo'.

The big picture of the perennial vignette
with Stachys monieri 'Hummelo' at the core.

There are six echinacea (coneflower) varieties used in the Gardens of Remembrance, but select a variety that grows well in your zone to achieve a similar effect. There were no plant markers that I could locate, so I cannot say with certainty which varieties are used in the designs.

The purpurea varieties in the gardens include 'Rubinstern' (a favorite in my garden), 'Leuchstern' and the native purple coneflower. Echinacea pallida (pale coneflower) and echinacea tennesseenis are two North American natives also in use in different locations.

Of the monarda, there are seven varieties listed in The Battery Plant Database. The red one in the photos is most likely monarda didyma, perhaps a 'Jacob Cline' though it is not included in the database. I grow 'Jacob Cline' and it is a stellar performer, growing over 4 feet, but needing more moisture than the wine-red 'Raspberry Wine'.

The pale pink bee balm looks lighter than the varieties listed by the Conservancy. Perhaps it is the 'Marshall's Delight' based upon the color description.

What I like, other than the scale and simplicity of the design, is that the plant choices are easy to maintain and fairly easy to find. Stachys monieri 'Hummelo' may be the most difficult to locate, though here are some online sources (at the time of this story):

Digging Dogs Nursery(California)
High Country Gardens (New Mexico)
Bluestone Perennials(Ohio)
LazySSFarm(Virginia)

Other aspects of the gardens that I find to be positive for home gardeners—the bee balm spreads quickly to fill in large space; the purple coneflowers can be grown from seeds; the stachys and nepeta can be easily divided—making the design achievable on a small budget.

Finally, this design is attractive to humans while attracting beneficial pollinators. That's a lot of positive reasons to create your own design—inspired by Piet Oudolf.

Oudolf's Stellar Perennials (Part 3)

Words and photos by Freda Cameron, Defining Your Home, Garden and Travel. Deer and rabbit resistance varies based upon the animal population and availability of food. All company or product or patented names mentioned are registered trademarks, copyrights, or patents owned by those respective companies or persons.

Piet Oudolf's Design at The Battery, New York City (Part 1)

Millions of tourists rush to the ports in New York City to catch a ferry to visit landmarks such as The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. In the dash for the line, they seem unaware of a peaceful park. By the ferry port, by the water, at the tip of Manhattan, there are gardens overlooking the New York harbor. Paths and benches invite visitors to stroll and pause—but the paths and benches are mostly empty, except for a few who either stop to rest or photograph the flowers.

Introduction to The Battery Conservancy Gardens

I'm a fan of the Dutch garden designer, Piet Oudolf. A few years ago I started making a list of his gardens and bookmarked The Battery Conservancy. The gardens did not surprise me as I had studied the plant lists and viewed photographs. However, the gardens did inspire me—the scale of the plantings and the combinations of color and texture.

Tourists in line for the ferry seem unaware of
the gardens. I arrived just in time to be greeted by
a Monarch butterfly on the milkweed (asclepias incarnata).

There are two primary gardens to visit, The Gardens of Remembrance and The Battery Bosque.

Along the harbor walkway, 10,000 square feet are planted as The Gardens of Remembrance as a tribute to the victims of 9/11. Piet Oudolf's phase one plan includes 114 varieties of perennials and native plants. Most of these plants are laid to deep rows along the paved walks and waterfront.

Set back in the shade of 140 London Plane trees, The Battery Bosque, Oudolf's phase two, is planted with 34,000 perennials to create a cool, lush garden. Gravel paths, circles and a spiral fountain invite visitors to linger on one of the many garden benches.

There are too many combinations to show in any detail in one post. Over the next few posts, I'll show you close up photographs of the plantings that I found most inspiring—providing you with plant identification, growing information and other attributes of the perennials. Please follow along on this garden tour.

The Gardens of Remembrance, dedicated to the victims of 9/11.
Piet Oudolf's phase one garden plan.

The Battery Bosque.
Piet Oudolf's phase two garden plan.

Oudolf's Stachys Spires (Part 2)
Oudolf's Stellar Perennials (Part 3)

Words and photos by Freda Cameron, Defining Your Home, Garden and Travel. All company or product or patented names mentioned are registered trademarks, copyrights, or patents owned by those respective companies or persons.

Silver Foliage—A Perfect Foil (Part II)

Villain or hero? Is it possible for a simple silver plant to serve as a perfect foil—a contrast to highlight the finer points of primary plants in the garden?

We pick up the story, Silver Foliage—A Perfect Foil for Purple, where I left it in June 2010. The silver-haired character of this story is Dusty Miller.

Dusty Miller cools off his hot orange and yellow companions.
Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild gardens, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France.
May 2008

Dusty Miller has more aliases than a secret agent. He registers under many names—Senecio cineraria, Senecio candicans, Ceneraria maritima, Centaurea maritima—so you must look carefully at his photo identification to make sure no other seedy characters are impersonating Dusty.

An annual visitor to many regions of the world, Dusty puts down permanent roots to establish himself at his many homes in zones 8a-10b.

Dusty's short stature of 6-12 inches allows him to travel incognito among the throngs until the time he chooses to shine his bright, white spotlight behind a primary plant character.

Dusty Miller is incognito in a crowd.
Luxembourg Gardens, Paris, France. May 2009

Look behind the most beautiful wallflower in the crowd to see
Dusty Miller shining bright.
Luxembourg Gardens, Paris, France. May 2009

Dusty Miller contrasts with Salvia greggii 'Ultraviolet'.
My garden. June 2011

Dusty Miller doesn't clash with
the ground huggers sedum and purple heart.
My garden. June 2011

Dusty Miller dons his bright yellow blooms to attract pollinators.
My garden. June 2011

But, don't be fooled by the handsome Dusty Miller. When he dons his bright yellow hat, his charisma escalates and he'll court every pollinator in town. Be careful how you touch him, hold him and coddle him. He's lethal. He's toxic. All parts are poisonous.

Words and photos by Freda Cameron, Defining Your Home, Garden and Travel. Deer and rabbit resistance varies based upon the animal population and availability of food. All company or product or patented names mentioned are registered trademarks, copyrights, or patents owned by those respective companies or persons.

Whisper Words of Wisdom—Let It Bee

Keep the bees alive. Don't use insecticide.

Let's give 'em something to buzz about. A variety of flowers attracts pollinators.
Agastache, butterfly bush, cleome,liatris, rose campion,
coneflowers, Russian sage and bee balm in bloom. June 2011.

In our busy bee lives, we sometimes miss important announcements. A special thanks to Gail at Clay and Limestone for publicizing National Pollinator Week (June 20-26 20110).

Pollinating is not just for bees. Ants, birds, butterflies, moths, wasps—and even wind and water are pollinators. Keeping chemicals out of the garden not only helps the insects but helps prevent pollution of our natural water sources and the air we breathe.

Everyone loves hummingbirds and growing monarda (bee balm) and salvia is a great way to attract the little sippers to your garden. Other hummingbird favorites include rose campion, cleome, agastache and zinnias.

The clearwing hummingbird moth (click link for my best picture) is one of the most fascinating pollinators to me. In the evenings, these moths are easily spotted in my garden.

A hummingbird and monarda (bee balm) 'Jacob Cline'.
The oakleaf hollies in the background are covered by honeybees during early spring bloom.

A clearwing hummingbird moth returns for an encore performance.
Butterfly bushes are great food sources for all flying pollinators.
Hemaris thysbe on a buddleia. June 2011.

Of course, everyone loves to watch beautiful butterflies and I grow Three Wonderful Weeds to attract, feed and host butterflies in my garden. What Butterflies Want is Joe Pye Weed, so I added more of that favorite to my garden this year.

Gardeners—spread the word! Tell non-gardening friends, family and neighbors about the importance of pollinators.

Butterflies want Joe Pye Weed! Summer 2010.

Words and photos by Freda Cameron, Defining Your Home, Garden and Travel.All company or product or patented names mentioned are registered trademarks, copyrights, or patents owned by those respective companies or persons.

Hemaris thysbe and the Liatris ligulistylis

Hemaris thysbe (clearwing hummingbird moth)
visits the Liatris ligulistylis (Rocky Mountain blazing star). June 17, 2011.
(If this photo is too large for your browser, click on it to view in a separate window.)

There's a Hemaris thysbe on the Liatris ligulistylis. I can't say that three times unless I've had three cups of coffee. It also helps to be wide awake so I can tell the difference between a hummingbird and a hummingbird moth.

Hemaris thysbe is better known as a clearwing hummingbird moth. Liatris ligulistylis is better known as Rocky Mountain or meadow blazing star. Both are natives, though the blazing star is typically found west of Missouri.

Host plants for the moth include honeysuckle (lonicera), hawthorn, cherry and plum (prunus) trees. The moth enjoys the nectar of blazing star and other garden favorites such as bee balm and phlox. Just like a butterfly, this moth starts as a caterpillar and undergoes metamorphosis.

Blazing star grows 4-6 feet in cultivated gardens. I provide supplemental water, but it survived the 2010 summer of 90 days over 90°F like a trooper. This blazing star can be grown from seeds and is suitable for zones 4a-9b. I have good, strong blooms this year, so I hope to gather seeds before the Goldfinch.

Blazing star is not rabbit resistant. I have to spray the base of this plant with repellent to keep the lumberjacks from chopping it down. This is the second year for my plant and the bunnies munched it quite a bit when it was first planted. It grows rapidly if you can keep the rabbits away during the growth spurt in spring.

I cannot say for sure if the liatris is deer resistant. If the rabbits eat it, then there is a possibility that the deer will go for it when other food is scarce (or, when they are particularly lazy about finding food in the wild).

What about companion flowers?

Monarch butterflies are particularly fond of this nectar plant, so I have it growing just up the slope behind the swamp milkweed (asclepias incarnata).

Monarda 'Raspberry Wine' and 'Blue Stockings' and Echinacea 'Ruby Star' are the companions in bloom right now. I just cut back the rose campion as the blooms on that one were fading and it was time to collect seeds. The garden surrounds this plant, so I also have a chocolate joe-pye (dark leaves, will bloom white), milkweed and bog sage on the lower side. Russian sage is starting to bloom up on the same level beside the coneflowers. In other words, I grow about anything I want with this versatile perennial wildflower.

No matter how difficult to spell, type and pronounce and protect from rabbits, liatris ligulistylis has a permanent home in my garden.

Left front: liatris ligulstylis (meadow blazing star).
Right front: echinacea 'Ruby Star' (coneflower).
Back: monarda 'Raspberry Wine' (bee balm).

Words and photos by Freda Cameron, Defining Your Home, Garden and Travel. Deer and rabbit resistance varies based upon the animal population and availability of food. All company or product or patented names mentioned are registered trademarks, copyrights, or patents owned by those respective companies or persons.

The Best Hummingbird Feeder

With lightning speed and buzzing whoosh, the hummingbirds battle and dive bomb around the bright red hummingbird feeder. Territorial and jockeying for the best position at the feeder, one smart hummingbird sits back on a willow tree branch while three others whiz up into the air to do battle. The little one gets to sip first.

Round and round the garden they go; where they stop—do you want to know?

Monarda 'Jacob Cline' in full bloom with
wide leaves of crocosmia 'Lucifer' not yet blooming.

As I write, I watch three hummingbirds buzz by the window on their way to lay claim to two large patches of the red bee balm, monarda 'Jacob Cline' (sometimes listed as 'Jacob Kline').

Jacob is a tall, strong bee balm, easily growing taller than 3 feet if receiving ample moisture before the blooms. This is the third year for this variety. The 2010 summer heat and drought were especially tough for this bee balm, but it bounced back, tripling in width this spring!

The hardy perennial is suitable for zones 3-8, making it a wonderful choice for many of you who want to garden for the hummingbirds.

Planted with the bee balm is another hummingbird favorite, crocosmia 'Lucifer'. Although the red of Lucifer is a bit orange for the red of Jacob, I put the two together for the hummingbirds—sometimes garden style is for the birds, not me!

I sowed seeds of white shasta daisy 'Alaska' up the slope behind the red/orange group. Now in the second year, the daisies are blooming for the first time. I want the white daisies to provide a contrast for the red blooms of the bee balm and crocosmia.

To really thrill the hummingbirds, I divided my salvia guaranitica 'Black & Blue' and also added it with the shasta daisies. Hopefully, there will be a thick swatch of white daisies and blue salvia behind the red Jacob Cline monarda for summer 2012.

By the way, I allow the tall, purple verbena bonariensis to sow and grow just about everywhere in this area of my garden as that plant is the favorite feeder of Goldfinch. There are more than just hummingbirds in the garden, after all!

There are other colors/varieties of bee balm in my garden, too. 'Raspberry Wine' and 'Blue Stocking' are also hummingbird feeders—Jacob Cline blooms first; then Raspberry Wine; immediately followed by the Blue Stocking. All three colors overlap and extend the bloom season for monarda.

Monarda is an economical plant to grow since it spreads rapidly with rich, moist soil. That said, I find that 'Raspberry Wine' tolerates drier soil than the other varieties and I grow it in more locations for that reason. Deer have never done more damage than sample a bloom or two. Rabbits tend to avoid monarda altogether. I've not had trouble with mildew, but I watch the lower leaves. If I see any droopy leaves in the morning, I know they need to be watered (at the base of the plant).

Once our temperatures are over 90°F, I worry that the sugar water in our manufactured hummingbird feeders gets too hot, so I take those down and let the flower garden provide fresh nectar for our buzzing friends. It seems to be working well!

Monarda 'Jacob Cline' (Hummingbird feeder) is backed by
purple verbena bonariensis (Goldfinch feeder).

Words and photos by Freda Cameron, Defining Your Home, Garden and Travel. Deer and rabbit resistance varies based upon the animal population and availability of food. All company or product or patented names mentioned are registered trademarks, copyrights, or patents owned by those respective companies or persons.

Garden Inspiration: Does This Container Garden Float Your Boat?

Boat planters in Martigues, France. April 2011. Is there a hole in the bottom of your fishing boat? Well, don't despair—dry dock that vessel! Plant it up with your favorite flowers or veggies. The display of three boats planted with colorful annuals was spotted during a lunch stop in the French village of Martigues, located thirty minutes southwest from the Marseille Airport. Martigues is on the Canal de Caronte, a waterway that connects the Etang de Berre with the Golfe de Fos and the Mediterranean Sea. Martigues is made up of three villages, Jonquières, L'Isle, and Ferrières, that merged into one community around 400 years ago. Each boat bears the name of one of those villages. Context of the setting on Canal de Caronte: The bronze statues of a fisherman and his wife (repairing nets) are beside the boat planters. The three boats reside on a canal waterfront as part of a municipal display. A gardener living on a lake, river or pond might easily translate the boat planter inspiration into their setting. The turquoise paint on the boats reflects the hue of the sparkling canal waters, but could be color-coodinated with a house or flowers. Could this be an idea for a Fathers' Day surprise—from a gardener to her fisherman/gardener dad or husband? Words and photos by Freda Cameron, Defining Your Home, Garden and Travel. All company or product or patented names mentioned are registered trademarks, copyrights, or patents owned by those respective companies or persons.

Garden Inspiration: The Bane of Rabbits?

Could this be doronicum orientale?
Found in a Paris park (Champs-Élysées); April 2011

Early mornings and late evenings in my meadow, the cottontails outnumber the whitetails. It is no longer the whitetail deer that have me running to look for chewed plants—it is the rabbits.

While in Paris in April 2011, strolling in a park off the Champs-Élysées, I was drawn to a mound of yellow flowers. Beautiful, perfect blooms glowed in mass planting in partial shade.

Researching the web, I decided this flower must be Leopards Bane (doronicum orientale). The perennial, being a native of Europe and Asia, supposedly acquired its name as a repellent of wild animals. In particular, rabbits! Could it be true?


I'm sure there's some catch—perhaps the plant can't handle the humidity of the South? I've never seen this sunny flower around here, though it is said to be suitable for zones 4a-8a. Even without rabbit repelling qualities, the flowers are stunning!

Do you think they run the rabbits out of Paris parks?
Non, pas possible—they were far too nice (flirting).
Bonjour and smiles.

Or, could it be that Leopards Bane keeps the rabbits away?

Do you grow this pretty yellow daisy? If so, please let me know. I'd love to hear about your experience with Leopards Bane and rabbits.

Words and photos by Freda Cameron, Defining Your Home, Garden and Travel. Deer and rabbit resistance varies based upon the animal population and availability of food. All company or product or patented names mentioned are registered trademarks, copyrights, or patents owned by those respective companies or persons.

Rose Campion Chased by Celebrity Flower Stalkers

Rose Campion poses in front
of tall, dark and purple larkspur.

Why is Rose Campion so alluring? Rose is such a simple garden flower, but she's so enormously popular that readers overwhelm my blog in their search for candid photos and juicy details. Could it be her scandalous reputation has leaked to the media?

Rose Campion is not as virtuous as she seems. She reproduces prolifically throughout the garden. But, the offspring are so identical, adorable, lovable and deserving of support. That said, if she continues at this rate of reproduction, I may have to ask some of you to adopt seeds to raise the young in your gardens.

Rose Campion and her children attempt to blend in
with the garden crowd of cleome and larkspur.

With Rose's silver foliage, slender arms and perfect upright posture—she is indeed quite glamorous. No companion distracts from her eye candy beauty, though she generously makes everyone else in the photos look good, too.

Rose has no pesky enemies, loves the sun, but has a fear of too much water.

My blog is not a tabloid, but I suppose I can give Rose Campion a dedicated keyword to make your search easier. I know you want to see her in person, but all of you celebrity flower stalkers cannot trample my garden in your rush to take her photos, caress her blooms and stroke her luxurious, soft foliage.

Rose Campion takes center stage. 

Words and photos by Freda Cameron, Defining Your Home, Garden and Travel. Deer and rabbit resistance varies based upon the animal population and availability of food. All company or product or patented names mentioned are registered trademarks, copyrights, or patents owned by those respective companies or persons.