Author Archives: D. Smith

Thrift in the Garden

A Gardener's Journal Posted on by

Thrift (Armeria maritima), also known as sea thrift or sea pink,  is a low-growing perennial for home gardens, best suited to the front of a bed or in a rockery.   Thrift develops grass-like mounds which stay tidy throughout the growing season.   It is a low-maintenance plant, adaptable to varying conditions.    Pink to white terminal clusters of flowers continue to flower all summer, especially if we deadhead the spent blooms.  

It is native to the seaside and we have encountered it while hiking headlands or paddling bays, usually growing in patches on rocky bluffs.      

Thrift is an excellent perennial for home gardens.

Mid-September in the Garden

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The flower gardens continue to flourish, but the gardening chores of deadheading, removing old stems, and removing self-seeded plants is a daily job.     At this time of year we have some new appearances from late-blooming varieties, some of which … Continue reading →

Cosmos in the Garden

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Cosmos are annual flowers usually grown from direct seeding in spring after the last frost.   They prefer sunny spots with well-drained soil.  They grow tall stems and flower in about two months in warm conditions.     They will continue to … Continue reading →

Lamium in the Garden

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Lamium consists of about 50 species in the mint family.    Lamium maculatum (deadnettle) are fast-growing, mat-forming evergreen herbaceous perennials.    They are commonly planted to fill in spaces in shaded areas.    The leaves are heart-tear shaped and are … Continue reading →

Mid-August in the Flower Gardens

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A hot summer with no rain and smoky days is not conducive to our home vegetable and flower gardens.    We had lots of pollinators at the start of summer, but by mid-summer smoky days may have been the reason … Continue reading →

Snapdragons in the Garden

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Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus) are colorful spike-like short-lived perennials often grown as annuals.    We have had them growing in our gardens, but we have only bought seed once, long ago.    They readily reseed or gardeners can easily collect seed … Continue reading →

Early August Garden Highlights

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In the heat and smoke of August, the garden continues thrive.     The vegetable garden is productive and the flower beds are colorful.    A few late summer varieties have emerged, a few are at their height, and many of … Continue reading →

Mid-Summer Flower Gardens

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Many of the flowers of spring have since disappeared.    We deadhead the perennials and allow the leaves and roots to build nutrients for winter and new growth in spring.   Some of the plants have a second wave of flowering.  … Continue reading →

Blanketflower in the Garden

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Blanketflower (Gaillardia sp.) is a showy perennial native to our area, but also planted into home gardens.    The native perennial is Brown-eyed Susan (Gaillardia aristata) which grows from a tap root, has several unbranched stems, lance-shaped leaves, and flowers … Continue reading →