Friday, May 14, 2021

A May Bloomday prequel...

I had every intention of posting today for Garden Bloggers Bloomday (which is actually tomorrow), but dammit... SO MANY BLOOMS! Seriously, I couldn't pare down and edit my flower photos in the time I'd allotted so...you get two posts. Today... the echium. Echium wildpretii that is...

These are supposed to be biennial—first year foliage, second year blooms. In my experience it rarely happens that fast here in Portland. This beauty has been hanging out for four years now—which is really not a problem, because I love the foliage even more than the flowers. However, since these aren't reliably hardy here, when it takes four years to bloom there's even a better chance that it won't happen (because=winter). 

When they do live to bloom it's a spectacle! 

There are two oldies blooming in my garden this spring, here's the second.

Speaking of "second"—this is the second year in a row I've had blooming Echium wildpretii in my garden. I could definitely get used to this. Oh and I've got plenty of next generation plants in waiting: one that's going on it's thrid year, two that are heading into their second and four that I just planted earlier this spring. Yes, I do love this plant.

Weather Diary, May 12: Hi 78, Low 52/ Precip 0 

All material © 2009-2021 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

6 comments:

  1. I have to try Echium wildpretii again. I loved the foliage but the plant quickly gave up the ghost here once summer hit, which was a surprise as other Echiums do so well here.

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    1. I cannot imagine why summer would be an issue Kris, these plants are tough!

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  2. Such pretty florets - love the color and those pincushion stamens. How tall is that bloom? Does it produce viable seed?

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    1. Oh! I should have measure them. The first one (next to the lawn) is taller than me, I'd say probably nearing 6ft. The second is probably around 5 and a half feet. They do produce viable seed, sending up babies where the seed falls—in other people's gardens. Rarely in mine. I do wonder if I won't have a crop in the lawn though... that will be something to see!

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  3. AnonymousMay 17, 2021

    Did you cover them during our snow and ice storm? It lasted 4-5 days, and I’m impressed they survived. Jim N.
    Tabor.

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    1. Yes I did, I was determined to keep them alive!

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