The Gardening Tutor

Some Peonies are Fragrant! This one smells like the prettiest perfumed powder. I don't remember the name but after having this one, I only want ones that are fragrant . . . because . . . I'm greedy!

Papaver 'Flamingo' .... Oooo, La, La.

Papaver somniferum 'Lauren's Grape' . . . Sigh . . .

When harvesting seeds from Ornamental Poppies, make sure that the pod is dry and brown and the little windows have opened just under the top of the pod. Store in paper envelopes not plastic.

Oh Rut Row . . . while I wasn't really paying attention to it the Lamium 'Silver Beacon' has taken over quite a bit of the Secret Garden. In some cases this would be a positive addition to a garden, such as under a redwood trees with all its surface roots but here this is a small Secret Garden and I'd like to space for other plants. Once established, Lamium can thrive in some dry shade but once it takes over like this it can be a job to remove it. I haven't seen 'Silver Beacon' in the nurseries much anymore but it performs the best of all the varieties I've seen.

Thoughtful Memorial Day . . .