I went down to the bog to photograph my original Carex ‘Everillo’ and almost couldn’t find it. Had to weed out a little sensitive fern, which seems to be overly enthusiastic. Sweet Bay magnolia and River Birches provide the canopy. Note the ivy that I ripped out just a couple of months ago Employing manifest destiny right back there again…
Plant of the Week:
Carex ‘Everillo’
Most plants come with a playbook: rules on how to treat them and grow them. We fall hard for the ones that can play a lot of roles in the garden, but it’s particularly fun when we accidentally find out that a plant can more than is advertised.
Here’s the REALLY sunny container, and sure, there is a bit of wash out in some of the foliage.
I felt confident about planting Everillo down in the bog.
Wet soil? Check.
Shade? Check.
But it surprised the heck out of me when it lasted all summer in these sunny planters. You can see a little bleaching on the one, but overall, a lovely and unexpected performance!
How did I make the discovery? By shoving them in place for a temporary solution to an empty pot problem. And there they stayed, all summer long!
But this guy is almost as much sun and look at that color! Winning!
Painting and Plant Pairing
from
Karen Blair
You heard me mention my friend Karen Blair on the pod this week. Karen is a Charlottesville based painter whose work I know you would love. She is known for her joyous use of color and for exuberant mark-making. Her own garden and those of friends inspire the flowers and trees also prevalent in her paintings.
I am so excited to start this partnership with Karen, and each week I will feature here one of her paintings with a corresponding garden photo! Follow this link to see more of her paintings.
GardenFit’s Madeline Hooper and Jeff Hughes
I first heard about this show on Margaret Roach’s podcast, and I thought it was a fantastic idea. From there, I think I got 3 recommendations from friends on it: '“Have you heard of this show? Don’t you want to have them on? Isn’t it a fabulous idea?”
Yes, yes, and yes!
I really enjoyed talking to both of them— we all know that gardeners are always the very nicest people, so Madeline was no surprise. Jeff was charming not just in personality, but also in how must he has taken in from being exposed to lots and lots horticulture.
Together they have made an amazingly fun and fresh gardening show that is good medicine for our weary bones and joints!
The ‘Arm Chair’— A way to save your lower back and knees. This pose helps you get down, get up, and get around!
The fix is in at this topiary garden. Jeff demonstrates.
It’s not all about the body— you get to explore lovely gardens in each episode!
You can find out all about GardenFit at their website,
And from there you can link to their social accounts on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
Here’s a link to the show with Lauren Springer which we mentioned several times.
Coffee Time!
Please consider supporting Into the Garden with Leslie by buying me a cup of coffee.
OR! Becoming a member of I’m into the Garden too!
I will send you some LH Gardens gear if you become a member!
The Play List
Here are a few of useful links that I mentioned in other parts of Episode 77
Richard Hawke’s Plant Trial Evaluations from the Chicago Botanic Garden
Heuchera ‘Wildberry’ on GreatGardenPlants.com
Motion Detector Sprinkler for pesky deer who are NOT supposed to come here or to your house.
Margaret Roach’s blog post on Andy Brand’s photography
My conversation with Andy Brand on Into the Garden with Leslie from last summer, Episode 25
Next Episode
Marian Boswall, author of ‘The Sustainable Garden’