Tag Archives: Penstemon ‘Husker Red’

Finding The Path

Meditation Circle

A grand thunderstorm overnight Tuesday brought much-needed rain. It also left the pathway stones in the meditation circle a bit wet and muddy. The circle was still in shadow early this morning when I took these pictures, but I wanted to document what feels to me like major progress.

It’s been several years since the meditation circle has been completely weeded, with the paths clear of obstacles so I could actually walk the labyrinth. Over this past week I have been removing various grasses and zillions of dandelions, along with other inappropriate interlopers, replacing them with colorful annual flowers as I went along. Sunday I finished both weeding and planting.

Meditation Circle – The circle looks distorted here. Was trying a new panorama. technique.

Native perennial Penstemon ‘Husker’s Red’ was planted into the meditation circle during its first year. Later Verbena bonariensis and Cleome were introduced. All have multiplied readily, spilling themselves into the walking paths.

At first it was welcomed, petals or foliage softening the hard edges of the stone blocks. Starry-eyed when those flowers started blooming, I would leave them to do their thing.

Through the years I have moved many of the excess elsewhere and passed along many to friends—still they continued to overrun their space making the labyrinth unusable most of the summer.

This year I decided to reclaim the circle for its intended purpose.

Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red’ (Beardtongue) In The Meditation Circle

There still are plenty of penstemon, beckoning hummingbirds as they come into flower. It’s the stem and leaves that are red, not the flowers. I probably thought otherwise when I bought them.

Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red’ (Beardtongue) In The Meditation Circle

Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red’ (Beardtongue) In The Meditation Circle

Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red’ (Beardtongue) In The Meditation Circle

Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red’ (Beardtongue) In The Meditation Circle

Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red’ (Beardtongue) In The Meditation Circle

Meditation Circle – Some years the various thymes in the center of the circle are happy and this is one of those years.

Meditation Circle – (Keeping the cerinthe in the lower corner for now.)

Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red’ (Beardtongue) In The Meditation Circle

On a whim at the garden center last week I chose two trays of Salvia splendens? (Scarlet Sage) to serve as the labyrinth’s walls along the stone paths.

Vista Mix Scarlet Sage

Vista Mix Scarlet Sage –  from a few days ago, partially planted.

Vista Mix Scarlet Sage

I used to grow this salvia every year. In my experience the red plants are more reliable but I couldn’t resist this color mixture. The purple ones play off the foliage color of the penstemon while the other colors brighten the scheme.

Meditation Circle – The purple salvias play off the foliage of the penstemon.

I dropped cerinthe seeds in lots of places in the garden. For some reason one place it liked best was the meditation circle. Although the plants are perilously near the path, today their bluish bracts  made me very happy.

‘Pride of Gibraltar’ Hummingbird Cerinthe

Can I be ruthless? Will I keep my meditation circle weeded and walkable all summer?  Sure hope so. Stay tuned.

Meditation Circle

In A Vase On Monday – Oakleaf And Verbena

In A Vase On Monday – Oakleaf And Verbena

Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share an arrangement using materials collected from our gardens.

As the garden transitions toward summer Verbena bonariensis orchestrates the views, diverting the gaze away from peonies past their prime, directing attention to newly unfolding scenes in the borders.

Verbena bonariensis (Tall Verbena)

In today’s vase the verbena appears to leap above everything else, demanding attention. The intended focus of today’s arrangement, Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Ruby Slippers,’ needs more time to develop before it can fully command the vase.

Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Ruby Slippers’ (Lil’ Ruby dwarf Oakleaf Hydrangea)

Husker Red penstemon is in the early stages of bloom in many spots around the garden.

Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red’ (Beardtongue)

Pink achillea, gaura and a sprig of lavender foliage fill out the design.

Materials

Achillea filipendulina (Fern-leaf Yarrow)
Gaura lindheimeri ‘Passionate Blush’ (Butterfly Gaura)
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Ruby Slippers’ (Lil’ Ruby dwarf Oakleaf Hydrangea)
Lavandula x intermedia ‘Dutch’ (Dutch Lavender)
Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red’ (Beardtongue)
Verbena bonariensis (Tall Verbena)

Vase
Hand painted Fenton Glass Vase – USA

In A Vase On Monday – Oakleaf And Verbena

Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting and giving us a chance to express our flower arranging passion. Visit her to discover what she and others found this week in their gardens to place In A Vase On Monday.

In A Vase On Monday—Red Tower

In A Vase On Monday - Red Tower

In A Vase On Monday – Red Tower

Each Monday brings the chance to join Cathy’s In A Vase On Monday to share an arrangement using materials gathered from the garden.

It has been a busy Monday but wanted to prepare a quick vase. Actually I made one last night but could not get decent photographs in the rainy evening light and in the end I was not satisfied with the design.

Floral choices are limited this week so I have to default to another week of red camellias.

Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’ is contentedly blooming in the early days of December. Some recent evenings have been down into the 30s F. but not below freezing, so the flowers have remained fresh.

Camellia sasanqua 'Yuletide'

Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’

Camellia sasanqua 'Yuletide'

Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’

I cut larger branches today and quickly assembled a tall pyramid. The container is a new ceramic ikebana piece from my sister-in-law, who has been visiting for a few days. The vase has 3 integrated ceramic tubes, built-in stem holders which are quite a convenience. Water is added to the base and it flows into each stem for easy watering.

In A Vase On Monday - Red Tower

In A Vase On Monday – Red Tower

Here is a peek at my earlier attempt. I conditioned the materials in a glass and never had time to move them into an actual vase. The surprise in this one is hard to see but toward the back is a single Rudbeckia laciniata (Green-Headed Coneflower), complemented with a  couple of stems of Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’. Husker Red Penstemon picks up the red Antirrhinum majus (Snapdragon). Iris leaves are the final touch, folded over and tucked to create movement.

Antirrhinum majus (Snapdragon), Penstemon 'Husker Red',Rudbeckia laciniata (Green-Headed Coneflower), Iris leaves, Black and Blue salvia

Antirrhinum majus (Snapdragon), Penstemon ‘Husker Red’,Rudbeckia laciniata (Green-Headed Coneflower), Iris leaves, Black and Blue salvia

Thanks to Cathy for hosting this weekly chance to express our flower arranging passion. Visit her at Rambling In The Garden to discover what she and others from around the globe are placing In A Vase On Monday.