Thursday, May 26, 2016

Knocking On St. Joseph's Door

This is Hippeastrum x johnsonii, St. Joseph's Lily, a cold hardy amaryllis growing across the street from a garden I tend in Waynesville. You know I covet some to see if they will grow on the mountain top.  I looked for loose bulbs. They were tightly encased in industrial strength landscape fabric. One day I will just have to knock on the door.





















Back on the mountain top, one of the Black Iris is in bloom. It looks like I will be getting only one bloom stalk on mine this year.



























When I spotted this iris blooming in one of Bulbarella's former, I give up iris beds, I moved it to two more secure locations. I have since spread it further, down to a place in the Great Lawn and a well loved garden in West Asheville.





















Behold. The Black Iris.





















One might think that having access to and being the assistant gardener in a garden like this, there would be no reason for me to be covetous of a lily I don't have. Where would I put it? That's not how it works though.





















Ku'ulei A'ina, the equally lovely garden next door should be enough to overcome wanton plant lust. That's not how it works though.

Great gardens often come from a great lust. With a living and forever changing canvas, adjustments can always be made to fit in one more. Next time I see someone home, I am going to knock on St. Joseph's door.


3 comments:

Lisa at Greenbow said...

I didn't know there was such a thing as a hardy amaryllis. That must be a southern thing. I didn't know about hardy begonias until I was over in your area either. I bought a plant and brought it home. They are hardy here. This made me very happy. :) I think of the Asheville trip every time they pop up in the spring.

Sallysmom said...

Go knock on that door. I have St. Joseph's that my mom passed to me. It didn't do well this year but I think it is because of all the rain we had the last 2 months. My husband dug it up and reset it so next year we will see.

Carol McKenzie said...

I have a beautiful yellow iris that started out in a congested bed belonging to a neighbor. I offered to dig and divide and rejuvenate as they were selling the house. Many bits followed me home, and I left behind some daylilies and hosta.

It is a beautiful flower. I, too, am learning about plants that are hardy here in Kentucky that wouldn't have stood a chance in Wisconsin. And the flip side; plants that took full sun up north that wilt down here. It's a bit confusing sometimes, but I'm learning.