Nigella Jungle

The memory of rainfall has been rekindled. Once upon a time there was ample watering of the plants from above. Fungi would sprout from sunny stones.Moss would grow rampantly along walkways, even Scotch moss, Sagina subulata ‘Aurea’.The regular, nearly constant sound of pitter patter on metal roofing has turned a garden into a jungle. The blue flowers of Campanula persicifolia are beaten down day after day only to upright themselves when the sun returns, usually.Luxuriant lushness abounds. Featured above is dappled willow, Salix integra ‘Hakuro Nishiki’ showing white splashed new growth.Feathery plants like Nasella tenuissima hold droplets of moisture that sparkle like frost in the morning light.Misty love mimics atmospheric conditions.Maniacal self seed sowing produces mass quantities of plants too numerous to be counted.Nigella damascena, Love in a mist, is joined in the self propagaion by lamb’s ear, Stachys byzantina in the center driveway bed.Maybe a better name would be lamb in a mist.The uncensored view from the street shows the rampant growth of the handsome brute of a rose Thorny, Rosa ‘Grootendorst Supreme’ backed by dark green Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Wells Special’ surrounded by the foliage gone wild.So wild in fact that there are plants growing directly from the asphalt of the street. Along with the weed seeds that cannot be avoided, the desirables have decided to plant themselves in what might be considered unhospitable conditions.Including the sky blue flowering Nigella. When this property was purchased in 1996 for the offspring Chickenpoet and Semi to occupy while attending college, the propensity for plant growth was noticed in this soil and climate. Hardy shrubs, trees and perennials were planted to pretty it up along the front. Stachys and Nigella were among the plantings, brought from our gardens in Northeast Tennessee. They remain among the plantings to this day, with no help from the gardener. But plenty of help from the weather gods in the way of ample rainfall. And we are thankful for every drop.
Frances
~~~
One of our early posts titled creatively “Nigella” may be viewed by clicking here.
F

About these ads

~ by fairegarden on May 17, 2009.