Saturday, March 19, 2011

The Pity Party is Over, & Yes, Short Toothed Mountain Mint is a Spreader

I had too many photos for one post for Foliage Follow-up, so I saved the grooming of the short toothed mountain mint for another day.  It's a good looking plant in all seasons.


I don't know if the birds eat the seeds, but I like the look of them dried.


This is either the 3rd or 4th spring for this plant.  Each spring, there have been attempts at spreading.  I used to think these were stems that had fallen down and taken root, but, I'm thinking they may be actual roots that sprouted on the surface.  I am hoping to continue my diligence in the spring of pulling them up.  It doesn't seem to do that later in the season.  (Added 4/20/11:  I just did some online research, and found out these are rhizomes, which are stems that grow on or under the ground, that have structures so roots can form to make new plants.  That means they are both of my theories at the same time.)


The plants are growing along the roots or stems, whatever they are.



They have a pretty good root system.


Here's the pile of roots/stems I pulled up.  We need to be taking the plants out of this egress window soon.  Once again, I forgot to water them, but if they get a drink soon, they should be OK. 



This clump was growing along the frame for the egress window.  I sure need to keep on top of that!


This was taken after I cut the whole plant back, getting it ready for a new growing season.

 

Yes, my pity party is over.  It's spring, and the new discoveries have started.

A few of the hellebores are blooming, and the others have new growth.  I think this is an 'Orientalis' one.
 

I love to take photos from under the blooms.


This is the 'Yellow Lady'.  Can you see the two buds at the base of the bloom?


The tag showed red splotches on the blooms.  I hope the other blooms on this plant do.


The crocus plants go from invisible under the leaves to full bloom!  This clump by the curb greeted me when I got home from work yesterday.


The hyacinths have greened up and formed flower buds now that the leaves are off of them, and they are getting some sun.


I can't remember what came out of my mouth when I discovered that my lisianthus plants survived the winter, but I greeted them very excitedly, as I have a few other plants when I came across them.  They are grown as annuals here in my zone 5b area.  Now, I'm trying to remember if there have been other years I didn't pull them up before spring.  Maybe they would have overwintered then, too.  I know the snapdragons do most years.
 

I will have to cut back the parts of some of the plants that did not survive.


The first planting of lettuce and such is coming up.


A radish seedling:


Spinach:


Garlic:


A few bachelor button volunteers have come up.


Larkspur:


I am thankful for the freedom to enjoy my gardening and worship as God leads me.  I am following the things going on in other parts of the world, and praying for those involved.

17 comments:

  1. Durable is a good word for mint. Some things are aggressive but worth a little time to keep them in check. I like your flower close ups from below. Makes me feel like a garden fairy in the leaves. Have a great weekend. I'm hoping to plant peas and onions today!

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  2. I'd love to have a mint like that. I don't have good luck with mints.

    Happy Gardening and Happy Spring.

    FlowerLady

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  3. Hi Sherlock Gardener and FlowerLady,
    I wasn't finished with my post yet when you two read it. I don't know if I accidentally published it, or if my daughter-in-law did when she got on the computer. I had gone out to take photos in my veggie garden. I went ahead and added them. I have lettuce, spinach, and radishes coming up. The volunteer bachelor buttons and larkspur are coming up, too.

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  4. I came back. I see your sprouts. The radishes I planted last week are sprouting too. You're doing good finding the self seeded bachelor buttons and such.

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  5. Zdecydowanie wolę te zdjęcia, na których coś zielonego i kolorowego wychodzi z ziemi, niż te jesienne. Pozdrawiam

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  6. I love those hellebores, and your crocus is so sunny. What a nice way to be greeted.

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  7. You have lots of great stuff coming up! Radish seedlings are so cute! I've never grown Lisianthus before, but from pictures it looks like it has very pretty flowers. I hope you post pictures of yours when it blooms!

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  8. It is great to see all the little sprouts and seedlings this time of year. I can feel the excitement across the blogging garden world!

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  9. looks like you're making discoveries daily. So exciting to see green things emerging again.

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  10. Hoo-boy, Sue! I am so leary of anything that bears the name "mint." (Except catmint-nepata). I don't envy you, but it looks as though you have a handle on things! Love your Spring photos. We've been out-of-town these past few days, so I'm truly looking forward to seeing the progress when we get home Monday! :-)

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  11. Looks like your garden is going at the same speed as mine.
    You sure do have a big collection of plants.
    Everything is looking good.

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  12. Every Spring Day holds new joys and great surprises.

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  13. Sue
    I join you in prayers for Japan, and in love of gardening. Thank God for it.

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  14. Good evening! Things are really starting to look like spring!

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  15. Hellebores are pretty, I must grow them one day. I like your new blog background. Crocuses are the best!

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  16. Your excitement in your emerging spring garden is tangible all the way over here!!! As far as I know, all mints grow from runners? They are all spreaders and hence invasive, so I've always been cautioned to plant them in pots. They all like to be kept damp as well, so it's good to have the pot positioned beneath a drippy tap ;)

    Oh, I LOVE lisianthus, Sue!!! I've never grown them, but think I should next Spring! We pay a lot for them as cut flowers, but they last for ages! You're so lucky to have them growing in your garden! Interestingly, I bought my daughter a bunch of purple lisianthus and a bunch of multicoloured orange roses just yesterday to leave with her when we dropped off her puppy, Romeo after his visit here. They are my daughter's favourite flowers.

    Your bright yellow crocuses are ever so pretty and what a welcoming sight they must be when you arrive home! To have photographed your hellebore so beautifully must have been quite an acrobatic feat! Did you lie down flat on your back to get that superb shot???

    I'm eagerly following the new growth season with you, Sue (we are in our autumnal phase, now!). HAVE FUN GARDENING!!!!

    PS What news of the tree?

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  17. Sue be warned. I had two plants that got completely out of control:
    Chocolate Mint and oregano!. I am wary now and will only put them in pots.

    This is a fun time of year when we go around and see what is coming back for us and get happy surprises.

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I welcome comments and questions from anyone, including those who do it anonymously. Some people find my posts by doing searches, and I like hearing from them. I guess spammers won't even read this message, but I will delete spam as soon as I see it.