Itoh Peonies, Beet Soup, and Bold Colored Gardens.

The supplier's catalogue labeled this color Lavender Pink. It looks darker and richer in my garden. My eyes tell me that it's Purple.In my quest for knowledge about Japanese peonies, I planted several introductory-sized varieties in my test garden to see how they would perform; I wanted to determine if they might be suitable for my clients. One variety that disappointed me was Itoh peony Morning Lilac; it flowered in the color of beet soup instead of the lavender-pink tones depicted in the supplier’s catalogue.

A trade photo similar to the one in my supplier's catalogue.The saturation of its color was too deep. No perennial growing nearby is that vivid or rich; a situation that made the new plant stand out for its boldness. Allowing it to remain in my garden would disturb the color theme that I labored for so many years to develop.

However, on the day set aside to dig it out for discard, the flower opened fully. That is when noticed how dramatically its rich, gold stamens contrasted with the petal coloration. At that moment, I cancelled my plans to administer capital punishment. This peony didn’t deserve the compost heap; all it needed was an appropriate home. I have a colleague who likes rich colors and I am certain that she will appreciate this plant more than I do.

Don’t be deceived by the color of the twin peonies in the photo immediately above this paragraph. The camera captured a shade of purple, just a little bit closer to the soft tones depicted in the catalogue, but unlike the deep bold tones I actually saw in my garden in blazing sunlight. Sometimes cameras produce images that are unreal. So do suppliers' catalogues! Next season, I intend to order Itoh peony First Arrival. Perhaps that one will produce a more accurate  lavender-pink flower.

Regal colors can work well in a flowerbed when they are combined with others of similar saturation. That will create a balance appreciated by all, even if the bold colors themselves are not.

Readers will find a relevant and passionate discussion about hot colored flowers written by Sarah Raven, in The Bold and Beautiful Garden. Find my review of this well-received publication here and look for the book in the far right column, at the top of this blog page, under the heading Book You Need: 12 favorites.

Allium Alert: About Those Tall Purple Balls.

Allium Purple Sensation http://www.plantparadise.ca/Allium_Purple_Sensation.html

 Price sticker shock is what happens when unsuspecting gardeners attempt to purchase the impressive Allium bulbs known as Gigantium or Globemaster. The cost per bulb is high. Now, there is an antidote for this trauma. It is the Allium bulb Purple Sensation, a better-priced, better-valued option.

Allium Purple Sensation in my garden I planted it in my flowerbeds last autumn and the effect in spring, when it came into bloom, was dazzling.

Purple Allium, of any size, flower in shades that are ideal for English-style flower gardens; they will also add depth and richness to hot colored flowerbeds, as one can see above on the cover of Sara Raven's book, The Bold and Brilliant Garden.

http://www.gardenersworld.com/plant-detail/PL30000068/4787/ornamental-onionThe circumference of A. Purple Sensation's flowering sphere [about the size of a tennis ball] is half the size of the larger varieties and its height of three feet places it mid way between A. Gigantium and A. Globemaster. With those technical specs, why pay about $8 to $14 for one giant bulb when 10 Purple Sensation bulbs cost only $10 and give the gardener equally exciting visuals? [Plant Purple Sensation in repeating groups of three or five, or in a serpentine row of five or seven bulbs]. When it flowers, its stately posture and long blooming globes are just as eye catching as their giant cousins.

This affordable variety combines elegant, vertical structure with substantial, rounded forms that, together with its rich coloration, bring exciting novelty to traditional flowerbeds.

http://www.gapphotos.com/featuredetails.asp?featureref=298Furthermore, after the flowering ball has gone to seed, [image above] it continues to add interesting textural form to the garden until mid-summer, when it begins to look scraggly [an appropriate time to cut it down]. Planting Purple Sensation is akin to thinking outside the proverbial box.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/may/09/planting-alliums-combination-dan-pearsonI am not the only gardener that has stumbled across this marvelous substitute. In an attempt to purchase more Purple Sensation for my clients - because they are all clamoring for those purple balls - I discovered that two of the more prominent bulb sellers in Canada, Veseys and Botanus are now sold-out of this popular bulb. In addition, three significant nurseries in the greater Montreal area, as well as three major big box garden centers, are inventory-depleted of this Allium variety. Clearly, more gardeners - than anyone might have guessed - are discovering this very impressive bargain bulb.

Image: bellewoodgardens.com http://www.bellewood-gardens.com/BelleWood%20in%20Bloom/BelleWood%20in%20Bloom_2006.htmlFortunately, by patiently scrolling through Google, I was able to find another online source here in Canada, called Campbell River Garden Centre, located on the west coast, in British Columbia. They are relatively new to online marketing and I contacted them by phone only because of a technical glitch at check - out. Nevertheless, they had the stock I needed and sent it by mail, only minutes after I called in my order. I am delighted that my three-day, anxious hunt for Purple Sensation has finally ended. I am even more relieved that I can now fill my clients flowerbeds with those tall purple balls at a price that will make them happy.

Delicious Purpleicious

A new variety of Veronica began to bloom in my garden during the third week of June. It started out as a one gallon potted perennial that I received in a shipment from my supplier last season. It was not on my original shopping list. However, the freight charges were so high for the inventory needed, that I decided to increase the size of my order to amortize delivery cost.

By paging through the supplier’s catalogue, I was able to identify plants that appeared to have potential in designing flower gardens. As usual, I looked for height, color saturation, or prolonged bloom period. Finding a perennial with all three attributes would have been a pleasant surprise.

That season, I had become sensitive to purple when I contracted to design a flower garden for a client who loves any shade or tone in that family. Veronica Purpleicious, a new introduction, piqued my interest for its color, a vivid purple-mauve, and its declared bloom period, June to August. Some sellers say it will bloom until September. I suppose that applies to those who garden in warmer climates.

http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/39471-product.htmlSimilar to most perennials delivered directly from growers and nurseries, Purpleicious had been pumped with plant food to ensure impressive flowering. I did not pay attention to that attribute. Experience had taught me that plant steroids, as I call them, enhance both the height and volume of a newly delivered flowering perennial to an extent that the gardener might be disappointed the following season, when the plant reverts to its genetically predetermined performance level.

That is why I am pleased that Purpleicious is as spectacular in year two as it was when it first arrived. The greatest surprise is not that it repeats last season’s stellar performance, but that it has already doubled in volume in a very dignified manner. Some perennials become problematic when they begin to sprawl or invade. However, regal color, neat mound, and disciplined upright posture of flowering spikes make this plant’s exponential growth welcome.

http://www.staudenring.de/fachhandel/veronica.shtmlThe supplier’s catalogue informed that this plant will spread to a width of only 18 inches. Now, that’s what I call a neat plant!  I suspect that mine has already reached that potential and I am pleased. In rounded volume of its clump and plush textural quality of floral spikes, this perennial adds substantial architectural presence to the flowerbed. The intenseness of its unique medium-light purple is also welcome as it enhances and complements the traditional colors that define English-inspired gardens.

Veronica Purpleicious may reach 2 feet in height depending on growing conditions. No matter!  What it lacks in stature it compensates for in saturation, texture, volume, and overall presence. The best news to garden designers is that growers declare it will bloom for most of the summer. However, that fact still requires corroboration. If it lives up to that promise, attractive flowerbeds couldn’t get better than that! Following that, if long-term sustainability in the garden can be determined, this plant will go from exciting to spectacular.