My garden was on the 2011 Wachiska Audubon Society Backyard Habitat Garden Tour, has been featured online at Fine Gardening and in print in the Omaha World Herald and Lincoln Journal Star, and was named a 2012 best outdoor space by Apartment Therapy.
Come visit me June 8, 2013 from 9am-1pm
on the Garden Club of Lincoln's annual (free) garden tour.
I began my garden (zone 5a) in July of 2007. The main back garden is roughly 1500 square feet on the southeast corner, with additional foundation beds along the back of the house, as well as the front (which is a shade, half shade, full sun conundrum). My soil ranges from dry clay against the back fence, to black clay in the middle, to really sticky tan clay everywhere else. The soil conditions mean I suffer from wet winters and springs, and soil-cracking summers. I'm an ardent / obsessive plant researcher -- the right perennial for the right spot means less maintenance and worrying on my part (this really does work!).
The plants are roughly 75% native to either the eastern tallgrass Great Plains (native species plant or a cultivar of such, which counts in my book). I like very tall plants, 4-12' herbaceous perennials. I use only an occasional topdressing of free city compost (LinGro) that I pick up in my car. I detest mowing, especially detest hearing / smelling my neighbors mow and blow, and vow to someday have 100 acres where I can create / maintain a prairie pothole for migrating birds and restore a proper prairie or meadow. And have a writing shed.
This garden is my mom's fault. Growing up, she'd drag me out of bed to trim shrubs and such in her vast beds. I'd often go along to nurseries with her partly to get out of the house, partly because of the silence those places provided. For her, gardens are a way to reconcile her past and present, the darkness and light, to work through good and bad, a place that has defined her since a child needing to escape her life (to read more about that, see my manuscript Morning Glory). When I moved into a townhome, my first place, she made sure we put in a small bed near the patio, and for years I tinkered, learning big things in that small world. Then with my first house, I went overboard, as you can see below, or read via my collection of essays Sleep, Creep, Leap.
Here's the evolution of my
Garden timelapse from July 2011 to November 2012
Below is a fairly complete list of my perennials, shrubs, trees, grasses, vines, and bulbs. I may be missing a few, though (added a bit in 2011 & 2012, but not much -- letting things self sow). Happy hunting!
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GARDEN PLANTS – 6/17/10
PERENNIALS
Achillea Anthea
Yellow Yarrow
Achillea 'Apricot'
Milfoil Yarrow
Actaea (cimicifuga) ramosa 'Pink Spike'
Bugbane
Acorus calamus
Sweet Flag
Acorus G 'Minimus Aureus'
Variegated Sweet Flag
Acorus gramineus ‘Varigatus’
Variegated Sweet Flag
Agastache cana 'Sinning' Sonoran Sunset
Agastache ‘Firebird’
A. coccinea x A. rupestris
Anise Hyssop
Agastache rugosa x foeniculum ‘Blue Fortune’
Allium thunbergii ‘Ozawa’
Fall Onion
Amsonia hubrictii
Blue Star
Anemone tomentosa
Grape Leaf Anemone
Angelica Gigas
Korean Angelica
Angelica archangelica
European Angelica
Aquilegia vulgaris ‘Black Barlow’
Columbine
Aruncus dioicus ‘Kneiffii’
Goat’s Beard
Asclepias exaltata
Poke Milkweed
Asclepias hirtella
Tall / Prairie Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
Red / Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata 'Ice Ballet'
White / Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias purpurascens
Purple Milkweed
Asclepias speciosa
Showy Milkweed
Ascelpias sullivantii
Sullivant’s Milkweed
Asclepias tuberosa
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa ‘Hello Yellow’
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias veridiflora
Green Milweed
Asclepias verticillata
Whorled Milkweed
Aster cordifolius ‘Wood’s Blue’
Aster divaricatus
White Woodland Aster
Aster laevis ‘Bluebird’
Aster lateriflorus
Calico Aster
Aster lateriflorus ‘Lady in Black’
(Symphyotrichum lateriflorum)
Aster macrophyllus
Big Lead Aster
Aster novae-amgliae ‘Purple Dome’
Aster novi-belgii ‘Puff’
Aster novi-belgii ‘Snowball’
Aster oblongifolius ‘October Skies’
Aster oblongifolius ‘Raydon’s Favorite’
Aster prenanthoides
Crooked Stem Aster
Aster puniceus ‘Eric’s Big Blue’
(Symphyotrichum)
Aster tataricus
Tatarian Aster
Aster tataricus ‘Jindai’
Dwarf Tatarian Aster
Aster x ‘Woods Light Blue’
Astilbe arendsii ‘Bridal Veil’
Astilbe arendsii ‘Fanal’
Astilbe x arendsii ‘Rhineland’
Astilbe x arendsii ‘Astdev’
Color Flash
Astilbe x rosea ‘Peach Blossom’
Baptisia alba
White Wild Indigo
Baptisia ‘Carolina Moonlight’
Yellow Wild Indigo
Baptisia minor
Dwarf Wild Indigo
Baptisia x ‘Twilight Prairieblues’
Bicolor Indigo
Boltonia asteroids ‘Snowbank’
Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’
Cacalia suaveolens
Sweet Indian Plaintain
Carex muskingumensis
Palm Sedge
Carex muskingumensis ‘Oehme’
Variegated Palm Sedge
Caryopteris x clandonensis ‘Longwood Blue’
Bluebeard / Blue Mist Spirea
Caryopteris incana ‘Sunshine Blue’ / ‘Jason’
Blue Mist Spiraea
Centaurea macrocephala
Basket Flower
Centaurea montana ‘Amethyst in Snow’
Mountain Bluet / Cornflower
Centaurea montana
Bachelor’s Button
Chelone glabra
White Turtlehead
Chelone glabra ‘Black Ace’
White Turtlehead
Chelone lyonii ‘Hot Lips’
Pink Turtlehead
Clematis heracleifolia ‘China Purple’
Tube Clematis
Clematis integrifolia ‘Caerulea’
Blue Bell Clematis
Coreopsis ‘Autumn Blush’
Coreopsis ‘Full Moon’
Coreopsis rosea ‘Heaven’s Gate’
Coreopsis tripteris
Tall Tickseed
Coreopsis verticillata ‘Golden Gain’
Coreopsis verticillata ‘Moonbeam’
Dalea candida
White Prairie Clover
Dalea purpurea
Purple Prairie Clover
Dalea purpurea ‘Stephanie’
Purple Prairie Clover
Dianthus gratianopolitanus ‘Greystone’
Dodecatheon meadia
Midland Shooting Star
Echinacea ‘Big Sky Sundown’
Coneflower
Echinacea ‘Big Sky Twilight’
Coneflower
Echinacea angustifolia
Narrow-Leaved Coneflower
Echinacea atrorubens
Reflexed Coneflower
Echinacea pallida
Pale Purple Coneflower
Echinacea pallida (variation)
White Pale Purple Coneflower
Echinacea paradoxa
Ozark Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea ‘Art’s Pride’
Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea ‘Cygnet White’
Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea ‘Harvest Moon’
Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea ‘Magnus’
Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea ‘Prairie Giant’
Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea ‘Ruby Giant’
Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea ‘Sunrise’
Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea ‘Sunset’
Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea ‘White Swan’
Coneflower
Echinacea simulata
Yellow Pollen Coneflower
Echinacea tennesseensis
TN Coneflower
Echinops spaerocephalus ‘Arctic Glow’
Globe Thistle
Eupatorium altissimum ‘Prairie Jewel’
Mistflower
Eupatorium coelestinum
Mist Flower
Eupatorium dubium ‘Baby Joe’
Joe Pye Weed
Eupatorium maculatum ‘Purple Bush’
Joe Pye Weed
Eupatorium perfoliatum
True Boneset
Eupatorium purpureum
Joe Pye Weed
Eupatorium rugosum ‘Chocolate’
Joe Pye Weed
Fallopia japonica ‘Variegata’
Knotweed
Filipendula ‘Kakome’
Dwarf Meadowsweet
Filipendula rubra ‘Venusta’
Queen of the Prairie
Filipendula ulmaria ‘Aurea’
Golden Queen of the Meadow
Filipendula ulmaria ‘Flora Plena’
Double Queen of the Meadow
Filipendula variegated
Foeniculum vulgare azoricum ‘Rubrum’
Bronze Fennel
Gentian andrewsii
Bottle Gentian
Geranium ‘Black Beauty’
Cranesbill
Geranium pretense ‘Victor Reiter Jr.’
Purple Meadow Cranesbill
Geum triflorum
Prairie Smoke
Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’
Sunflower
Helianthus angustifolius
Swamp Sunflower
Herniaria glabra 'Sea Foam'
Rupturewort
Heuchera x ‘Green Spice’
Coral Bells
Heuchera x ‘Peach Flambe’
Coral Bells
Heuchera x ‘Plum Pudding’
Coral Bells
Hosta ‘Dreamweaver’
Hosta ‘Journey’s End’
Hosta fortunei ‘Gold Standard’
Hosta seiboldiana ‘Elegans’
Iris chrysographes
Black Iris
Iris ensata
Japanese Iris
Iris ensata 'Variegata'
Iris fulva
Copper Iris
Iris Louisiana ‘Black Gamecock’
Iris sibirica ‘Butter and Sugar’
Siberian Iris
Iris sibirica ‘Caesar’s Brother’
Siberian Iris
Iris sibirica ‘Dance Ballerina Dance’
Siberian Iris
Iris sibirica ‘Dancing Nanou’
Siberian Iris
Iris sibirica ‘Lady Vanessa’
Siberian Iris
Iris sibirica ‘Silver Edge’
Siberian Iris
Iris sibirica ‘Steve’
Siberian Iris
Iris virginica shrevei
Blue Flag Iris
Knautia macedonica ‘Mars Midget’
Lavendula angustifolia “Hidcote Blue’
English Lavender
Lespedeza capita
Round-Headed Bush Clover
Liatris aspera
Button Blazingstar
Liatris cylindracea
Dwarf Blazingstar
Liatris ligulistylis
Rocky Mtn. / Meadow Blazingstar
Liatris punctata
Dotted Blazingstar
Liatris pycnostachya
Prairie Blazingstar
Liatris scariosa
Northern Blazingstar
Liatris spicata
Dense / Marsh Blazingstar
Liatris spicata ‘Floristan White’
Dense / Marsh Blazingstar
Liatris spicata ‘Kobold’
Dense / Marsh Blazingstar
Liatris spicata ‘Violet’
Dense / Marsh Blazingstar
Liatris squarrosa
Scaly Blazingstar
Lobelia cardinalis ‘Fan Scarlet’
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia siphilitica
Great Blue Lobelia
Lysimachia ciliata ‘Firecracker’
Fringed Loosestrife
Lysimachia punctata ‘Alexander’
Variegated Loosestrife
Monarda didyma ‘Gardenview Scarlet’
Bee Balm / Bergamot
Monarda didyma 'Jacob Cline'
Bee Balm
Monarda didyma ‘Marshall’s Delight’
Bee Balm / Bergamot
Monarda didyma ‘Petite Delight’
Bee Balm
Monarda fistula
Wild Bergamot
Nepeta x faassenii
Catmint
Pardancanda norrissii
Candy Lily
Parthenium integrifolium
Wild Quinine
Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red’
Beardtongue
Penstemon pinifolius
Pine Leaf Beardtongue
Penstemon x mexicalli ‘Red Rocks’
Beardtongue
Perovskia atriplicifolia
Russian Sage
Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Little Spire’
Dwarf Russian Sage
Petalostemum purpureum
Purple Prairie Clover
Platycodon grandiflorus
Balloon Flower
Platycodon grandiflorus ‘Zwerg’
Dwarf Balloon Flower
Polygonatum odoratum ‘Variegatum’
Variegated Solomon’s Seal
Potentilla arguta
Prairie Cinquefoil
Pulmonaria saccharata ‘Mrs. Moon’
Lungwort
Pulmonaria longifolia ‘Raspberry Splash’
Lungwort
Pulsatilla vulgaris
Fringed Petaled Pasque Flower
Pycnanthemum virginianum
Mountain Mint
Ratibida columnifera
Long-Headed Coneflower
Ratibida pinnata
Yellow Coneflower
Rudbeckia hirta 'Cherry Brandy'
Black Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia fulgida
Orange Coneflower
Rudbeckia goldsturm
Black Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia maxima
Cabbage Leaf Coneflower
Rudbeckia subtomentosa
Sweet Black Eyed Susan
Sagina subulata 'Aurea'
Corsican Pearlwort
Salvia azurea ‘Nekan’
Blue Sage
Salvia nemorosa ‘Marcus’
Salvia nemorosa ‘Plumosa’
Sanguisorba menziesii
Burnet
Sanguisorba menziesii ‘Dali Marble’
Variegated Burnet
Sanguisorba tenuifolia ‘Pink Elephant’
Giant Burnet
Sedum album ‘Baby Tears’
White Stonecrop
Sedum album ‘Coral Carpet’
Stonecrop
Sedum ‘Beka’
Autumn Delight Stonecrop
Sedum grisbachii
Stonecrop
Sedum kamtschaticum 'The Edge'
Stonecrop
Sedum spectabile ‘Pink Chablis’
Stonecrop-Showy
Sedum spurium 'Fuldaglut'
Glowing Fire Stonecrop
Sedum spurium 'Tricolor'
Stonecrop
Sedum ‘Abbeydore’
Stonecrop
Sedum ‘Autumn Fire’
Stonecrop
Sedum ‘Bertram Anderson’
Stonecrop
Sedum ‘Black Jack’
Stonecrop
Sedum ‘Matrona’
Stonecrop
Sedum ‘Herbstfreude’
Autumn Joy Stonecrop
Sempervivum braunii
Hen and Chicks
Solidago ‘Wichita Mountains’
Goldenrod
Solidago felxicaulis
Zigzag Goldenrod
Solidago rigida
Stiff Goldenrod
Stokesia laevis ‘Blue Danube’
Stoke’s Aster
Taenidia integerrima
Yellow Pimpernel
Tanacetum vulgare ‘Isla Gold’
Gold Leaf Tansy
Thalictrum ‘Black Stockings’
Meadow Rue
Thalictrum ‘Elin’
Meadow Rue
Thalictrum dioicum
Early Meadowrue
Thalictrum flavum ‘Illuminator’
Meadow Rue
Thalictrum glaucum
Yellow Meadow Rue
Tiarella ‘Neon Lights’
Foamflower
Tradescantia ‘Sweet Kate’
Spiderwort
Tricyrtis hirta ‘Miyazaki’
Toad Lily
Verbena hostata
Blue Vervain
Verbena Stricta
Hoary Vervain
Vernonia fasciculata
Prairie Ironweed
Vernonia missurica
Missouri Ironweed
Vernonia noveboracensis
New York Ironweed
Veronica spicata ‘Rotfuchs’
Red Fox Speedwell
Veronicastrum virginicum
Culver’s Root
Veronicastrum virginicum ‘Erica’
Culver’s Root
VINES
Clematis ‘Elsa Spath’
Clematis recta ‘Purpurea’
Ground Clematis
Clematis virginiana
Virgin’s Bower Clematis
Sweet Autumn Clematis
Ipomoea purpurea ‘Grandpa Ott’s’
Morning Glory
Ipomoea tricolor ‘Heavenly Blue’
Morning Glory
Lonicera flava
Yellow Honeysuckle
Lonicera x ‘Manadarin’
Honeysuckle
GRASSES
Andropogon gerardii
Big Bluestem
Bouteloua gracilis
Blue Grama Grass
Bouteloua grama
Sideoats Grama
Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Overdam’
Feather Reed Grass
Deschampsia cespitosa
Tufted Hair Grass
Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’
Japanese Forest Grass
Miscanthus sinensis ‘Nippon’
Dwarf Maiden Grass
Miscanthus sinensis ‘Strictus’
Porcupine Grass
Panicum virgatum ‘Dallas Blue’
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum ‘Prairie Fire’
Switchgrass
Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Blue Heaven’
Little Bluestem
Sorghastum nutans
Indian Grass
Sporobolus heterolepis
Prairie Dropseed
BULBS
Allium caeruleum
Allium globemaster
Allium moly
Allium sphaerocephalon
Crocus
Snow Crocus
Lilium ‘Landini’
Asiatic Lily
Lilium ‘Mrs. R.O. Backhouse’
Martagon Lily
Lilium ‘Netty’s Pride’
Asiatic Lily
Tulip ‘Queen of Night’
Tulip ‘White Triumphator’
SHRUBS
Amelanchier alnifolia ‘Regent’
Regent Saskatoon Serviceberry
Aronia arbutifolia 'Brilliantissima'
Red Chokeberry
Aronia arbutifolia 'Columnar'
Red Chokeberry
Aronia melanocarpa 'Autumn Magic'
Black Chokeberry
Betula pendula ‘Trost’s Dwarf’
Weeping Cutleaf Birch
Buddleia davidii ‘Alba’
Butterfly Bush
Buddleia davidii ‘Black Knight’
Butterfly Bush
Buddleia davidii ‘Nanho Blue’
Butterfly Bush
Buddleia davidii ‘Royal Red’
Butterfly Bush
Clethra alnifolia ‘Ruby Spice’
Summersweet
Cornus alba ‘Bailhalo’
Ivory Halo Red Twig Dogwood
Cornus sericea ‘Farrow’
Arctic Fire Red Twig Dogwood
Cornus sericea ‘Flaviramea’
Yellow Twig Dogwood
Cornus sericea ‘Hedgerow’s Gold’
Red Twig Dogwood
Cornus sericea ‘Isanti’
Red Twig Dogwood
Cornus sericea 'Sunshine'
Red Twig Dogwood
Cotinus coggygria ‘Ancot’
Golden Spirit Smokebush
Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’
Purple Smokebush
Fothergilla major ‘Blue Shadow’
Dwarf Fothergilla
Itea virginica ‘Henry’s Garnet’
Virginia Sweetspire
Itea virginica ‘Spricht’ Little Henry
Virginia Sweetspire
Microbiota decussata
Siberian Cypress
Picea glauca ‘Conica’
Dwarf Alberta Spruce
Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Dart’s Gold’
Ninebark Golden
Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Mindia’
Ninebark Coppertina
Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Summerwine’
Ninebark
Rhamnus frangula ‘Ron Williams’
Fine Line Buckthorn
Rhus aromatic ‘Gro-Low’
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus typhina
Tiger Eyes Sumac
Salix purpurea ‘Nana’
Dwarf Blue Leaf Arctic Willow
Sambucus nigra ‘Marginata’
Variegated Elderberry
Sambucus nigra ‘Eva’
Black Lace Elderberry
Sambucus racemosa ‘Sutherland Gold’
Red Elderberry
Spiraea japonica ‘Goldmound’
Spiraea thunbergii ‘Ogon’
Mellow Yellow
Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’
Emerald Green Arborvitae
Viburnum dentatum ‘Christom’
Blue Muffin
Viburnum dentatum ‘JN Select’
Red Feather Viburnum
Viburnum dilatatum ‘Henneke’
Cardinal Candy Viburnum
Viburnum nudum ‘Bulk’
Brandywine
Viburnum nudum ‘Winterthur’
Weigela f. ‘Verweig’
My Monet
TREES
Acer rubrum
Autumn Flame Maple
Acer pulmatum atropurpureum
Bloodgood Japanese Maple
Acer x freemanii
Autumn Blaze Maple
Amelanchier x grandiflora
Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry
Betula pendula ‘Youngii’
Young’s Weeping White Birch
Betula nigra ‘Cully’
Heritage River Birch
Malus ‘Coralcole’
Coralburst Crabapple
Malus ‘Prairiefire’
Prairiefire Crabapple
Malus ‘Red Jewel’
White Crabapple
Prunus virginiana ‘Schubert Select’
Chokecherry
Salix pentaphyllum
Prairie Cascade Willow
Taxodium distichum
Baldcypress
Taxodium distichum ‘Cascade Falls’
Weeping Bald Cypress
Thuja ‘Green Giant’
