Saturday, May 4, 2019

Possible Solution for the Hydrangea Bed

Things are really starting to 'green up' around the mountain top, and the real planting season isn't very far away at this point....which means I am SOOOO excited to get my garden gloves on and get out there and DIG!! 

I have been studying my Hydrangea bed from every angle, and I definitely need to do something to improve it this season, or I might just go bonkers. 

Yeah, I'm a little nutty like that. 

I'm still drawn to Hostas, but I think I want to mix them with some Cranesbill to keep the effect a little less formal. 

I read somewhere a while back about an amazing variety called Max Frei Bloody Cranesbill - it has vibrant pink flowers and the foliage is supposed to be spectacular in fall. 

Via
The pricing I'm seeing on the web varies but it all seems to work out to at least $20 per plant once you add in shipping. 

Are you kidding me? That's not happening!!  Remember, I'm a gardener on a tight budget. 

So I started looking at other options - and I found this collection from Brecks - Everblooming Hardy Geranium Collection - 10 plants for $29.99. 

Now that's more like it!! 

Sign up for emails, get free shipping on a $50 order. 

I'll take it!

Via
Here's what their site says about the collection (2 of each of the following):

Biokovo Geranium

Biokovo: Eye-catching hot pink sepals highlight starry white blooms on this award-winning variety. Glossy green foliage takes on an attractive reddish hue in the fall. Height: 10-12" Geranium cantabrigiense

Tiny Monster Geranium
Tiny Monster: One of the longest-flowering geraniums to date! Hot pink, bowl-shaped blooms with darker veining will pop against the rich green foliage. Height: 6-8" Geranium sanguineum

Splish Splash Geranium
Splish Splash: Exceptionally beautiful and rare bicolour variety. The delicate, 1¼" white cups are heavily splashed and banded with rich mauve-blue. Strong growing with a tidy form. Height: 18-24" Geranium pratense striatum

Ballerina Geranium
Ballerina: Award-winning Ballerina bears icy pink, ¾" flowers highlighted by dark maroon veining and centres. Small, deeply divided, slightly tufted, grey-green foliage. Height: 5-7" Geranium cinereum

Johnson's Blue Geranium
Johnson's Blue: Large, 1¼", saucer-shaped flowers of deep lavenderblue are tinged pink at the centres. Handsome, finely cut foliage turns orange and red in fall. Height: 12-18" Geranium himalayense x pretense

I'm not sure all of these will go into the Hydrangea bed, but I wanted to add some Cranesbill to other gardens this year, so this is a perfect chance. 
While I was on their site, I searched their Hosta catalogue for a reasonably priced variety to add to the mix. 

Wide Brim Hosta
I found this lovely variety, Wide Brim Hosta, for only $5.99 per plant, a far cry from some of the others that go all the way up to $40 per plant - what??? 

The site says this is on sale, normally $19.99 per plant....I'm not sure if that's true, but at $5.99 per plant that's a great price for a substantial Hosta like this. Our local nursery charges ridiculous prices for Hostas, and as much as I'd like to support them, my budget always wins. 

So, the plan is a mix of Hostas and Cranesbill. Hopefully they will spread, keep the weeds under control, and satisfy my urge to tidy up the hydrangea bed and bring some continuity to it. 

What do you think?

16 comments:

  1. Those all look good. I have Johnson's blue. They are beautiful but can get a bit leggy later in the season, so feel free to cut them back. Just a thought, but if you lived close by, I'd give you divisions of my plants. Perennial gardeners are always looking for people to give plants to. Do you know anyone who is also a gardener? They would likely be glad to dig out a few shovel-fuls of hostas or cranesbill, since each is so prolific. -Jenn

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    1. My mom is an avid gardener, she gives me bits of her plants....my previous garden was full of pieces from her garden! I spent some time yesterday moving pieces here and there....you know how it is! A piece of Hosta moved over there....some Bee Balm stuck here and there...hopefully with all this rain it will all take!

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  2. I think you've got a solid plan there that will look beautiful. You are a far better bargain finder than I. I think it's my lack of patience.

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    1. Ha ha and for me it's my lack of budget that forces me to have patience!!

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  3. Good thing you looks into everything. Plants can be so expensive especially periennels. You are going to have such beauty with everything you picked out. I cannot wait to see them all blooming and circling your pretty hydrangea plants.
    Hugs,
    Kris

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    1. You and me both, Kris - that Hydrangea bed is giving me serious agita these days!!

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  4. Those are some great prices and I love the plants you have chosen.

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    1. Our local nursery is wonderful but crazy expensive, Penny - I have to bargain shop when I can!!

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  5. What a wonderful geranium collection! Happy planting ~ FlowerLady

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    1. I think I need an assistant, Lorraine - any volunteers?

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  6. I've never tried growing Cranesbill. Sure has pretty flowers. Be interesting to see how it turns out!
    Brenda

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    1. It would probably be nice in your big blue bed, Brenda - it's a great plant and long blooming.

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  7. I like your solution! Those cranesbills look lovely!

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    1. I love Cranesbill, Carole - I have a great one that I just moved from another garden where it was too tall into the perennial bed....can't wait to see how it does there this year!

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  8. I think all of this is going to be gorgeous!! I can't wait to see it. And you are right, some of those prices are totally ridiculous!! Love and hugs!

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    1. Ridiculous is right, Benita! I'd need to be a billionaire to afford some of those Hostas!! :)

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