Spiderwort, Last Picture, I Promise

I do love spiderworts this year, but wanted to point out to others that it is definitely a morning flower. As the sun comes up, it opens its flowers and is quite nice for a good part of the day.

However, once the sun heats up in the afternoon, the flowers close up and by evening you have a plant that looks like this.

But come morning, the flowers will all open again. This is definitely not a flower for an evening or night garden.

Spiderwort - a range of colors

Here are 4 different spiderworts (Tradescantia) currently blooming in my garden.

Mock Orange

This is mock orange, Philadelphus x 'Buckley's Quill' The first picture is a close up of the flowers, which are very white and fragrant. Pretty, aren't they? They are in full bloom right now in the garden. The second picture shows how it looks in the garden and shows it's growing habit. Kind of a mess, isn't it? That's the problem with mock orange, it provides about two weeks of interest while it is flowering. The rest of the year it is a somewhat awkward shrub with big tall branches coming up out of it. I don't think it helps that I put three shrubs in a space that maybe should have only 1 or 2 shrubs.

Spiderwort - A better picture

A much better picture of the Spiderwort from the previous post. It's really starting to bloom now. I think it will keep this up for most of the summer. It's a keeper! (Tradescantia 'Blue and Gold') I think I will see if there is a variegated spiderwort.

More Spiderwort

This is Tradescantia "Blue and Gold", it's primary feature is the yellow foliage. I like it because it shows up brightly in the garden, even without the bluish flowers, which aren't all that showy.

It also reminds me of my "blue and gold" team, the Indiana Pacers!

As with all spiderworts, it is easy to grow in a wide variety of conditions.

More Columbine

This is another type of columbine (Aquilegia) growing in my garden. The white flower in the back ground is 'snow-in-summer'. There are many varieties of columbine, and I think it is worthwhile to find a spot or two for it, even though it only blooms once in the spring. It is sure adding some bright spots in my garden right now!

Spiderwort

Here's an easy to grow, old-fashioned perennial worthy of a spot in the garden. This is spiderwort, Tradescantia virginiana, variety unknown. It does self-sow, but not to the point that you would not want it in your garden, but just enough that you have a few extra plants to share with others. It tends to bloom more in the morning, but blooms all summer long.

Columbine

I have several double columbines blooming in the garden. The one on the left is Aquilegia vulgaris 'Blue Tower'. The one on the right is Aquilegia vulgaris 'Pink Tower'. And the one in the middle is probably Aquilegia vulgaris 'Black Barlow'. The pink and blue columbine I know I started from seed in 2001. I'm not sure where I got the 'Black Barlow', but it is one of the darkest flowers in my garden. Starting perennials from seed can be economical, but does take some patience. It may be several years before the seedling gets to a size that blooms.

Purple Flowers

Purple seems to be all over the garden now. From the top: chives, Meyer Lilac (just starting to bloom), columbine, and irises. Also blooming, but not pictured are catmint, kerria, daisies, viburnums, and snow-in-summer (that's the little white flowers pictured with the columbine).