Today is a focus on foliage, as it is Garden Bloggers Foliage Day (GBFD), hosted by Christina at Garden of the Hesperides.

Lychnis coronaria (Rose Campion) and Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ear) look fresh in the border along the southern side path. They will add some early spring blooms in a few weeks and silvery foliage all summer.

I have what I hope is a little wildflower I cannot identify and wondered if any of you recognize this plant? It defies the camera every time I try to photograph it but perhaps it is recognizable. I have planted several things in this location, but they do  not match up to the structure of the plant.

Of the many Dianthus barbatus (Sweet William) I planted last year only one or two made it.  In fact, many types of plants I purchased mail-order last year arrived too late to get a good start before the summer heat set in.  This year I bought Sweet William seeds to sow directly into the soil.

Another mail order selection from last year, these couple of Anemone coronaria ‘Governor’ (Governor Double Poppy Anemone) are the only survivors.  I planted them as bulbs after a good soaking, but again I think the weather became too hot before they established.

This native ground cover has been slow to take hold in my garden, but it seems to be improving and is just about to bloom. It is called Chrysogonum virginianum (Green and Gold).

Two other natives, Monarda didyma (Scarlet Beebalm) and Aquilegia canadensis (Eastern red columbine), display healthy fresh green growth.

I have not divided Meadow Sage ‘May Night’ before but think I will give it a try today. It seems to be short-lived in my garden. Does anyone have that experience?

I purchased two peonies last year, but see signs of neither so far. I think this is actually one scored from the neighborhood plant exchange last year.

The winter has been longer and deeper than in recent years. A 2012 grouping of five Gardenia jasminoides ‘August Beauty’ gives a hint. Two of the five shrubs are completely brown, although the woody stems still seem to be alive. I have not been impressed with this particular variety of gardenia, but I see they definitely are situated with too much winter exposure. I plan to prune them back, maybe relocate them, and they should recover.

If I ever go through all my saved tags perhaps I could verify these as Juniperus chinensis ‘Spartan’ (Spartan juniper). They lived in pots for several years along the front walk and showed a lot of promise when I first planted them out into the garden, but after the winter snows and ice they have me discouraged. One of my long-term goals is to fill in the hedges to provide screening but I am not progressing much in this direction.

I am heading out into the garden now. Have a great weekend.  Visit Christina at Garden of the Hesperides to see what foliage she is highlighting this month and find links to other participants.