You know me, I love foxgloves (and love to show them off on my blog: Foxglove ). I don't know if that love is mutual. I want to believe it is. Why would they come back every year if they didn't like my garden? They selfseed, and their tiny seeds, which remind me of poppy seeds, find space for them to grow. Naturally, seedlings appear close to places where the parent plants have grown. It is always a surprise to find them far away, in unexpected places, sometimes on the opposite side of the yard. My first 2010 blooming foxgloves are a good example. These plants are tucked in between the garage wall and the driveway. A small piece of unamended sandy soil and a couple of hours of morning sun - not much of a luxury, but look what I have:
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Last year, there was one plant, also a volunteer, growing there, but now I have several of them, both purple and white. Oh, I know the secret: look who is fiddling for them. This fiddler is a kind soul - earlier this season, he was playing serenades to my potted tulips. The tulips are gone now and the pot has been moved behind the garage, but the cat found new listeners!
Foxgloves began teasing me in early March as I found them everywhere we took a trip. During our spring break, in Las Vegas' Bellagio casino:
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Last year, there was one plant, also a volunteer, growing there, but now I have several of them, both purple and white. Oh, I know the secret: look who is fiddling for them. This fiddler is a kind soul - earlier this season, he was playing serenades to my potted tulips. The tulips are gone now and the pot has been moved behind the garage, but the cat found new listeners!
Foxgloves began teasing me in early March as I found them everywhere we took a trip. During our spring break, in Las Vegas' Bellagio casino:
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in the Governor's Palace garden in historic Williamsburg:
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in Williamsburg's Colonial Nursery:
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In Monticello:
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and in Mount Vernon:
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Most of my foxgloves grow behind the house, and some of them will bloom soon. I hope they will do as good a job for my garden as they did last year ( It's Foxglove Time!) .
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Did you see a new Digitalis 'Serendipity'? Hermes posted a picture of it and a link http://www.rhs.org.uk/Shows-Events/RHS-Chelsea-Flower-Show/2010/Plants/Plant-features/Top-10-plants.
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This is what is said about a new foxglove in the post "Matt Biggs' top 10 new plants":
"Digitalis ‘Serendipity’ – I’m not normally one for flouncy flowers but happily make an exception with this one. Produced by Master plant breeder and selector Alan Postill, this is one of the most extraordinary Foxglove’s, ever! The split tubular flowers with gently undulating petals, give it a soft, ruffled appearance."
The following is the description of 'Serendipity" from http://gardenshop.telegraph.co.uk/ :
"A new and exciting foxglove, which produces a robust rosette of foliage from which an upright flowerspike emerges in summer. It grows to 1.2m tall and is clothed with curious, wavy-lipped flowers, which look more like orchids than foxgloves. A hybrid of Digitalis 'Saltwood Summer'. this is a stunning plant that is bound to become a talking point in your garden. These plants are mainly biennial, although they will produce plenty of new sideshoots and self-seed relatively freely".
Sounds exciting, doesn't it?
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Copyright 2010 TatyanaS
I look forward to seeing more of your foxgloves.
ReplyDeleteI still remember Foxglove, the beautiful, and have just clicked through to that post again.
Love 'em!
Gorgeous! Such unique blooms, and that new 'Serendipity' is spectacular!
ReplyDeleteMy foxgloves have disappeared on me ! One of my very favorite flowers if not my favorite, plus hollyhocks. I am going to be in search for them in my garden again, thanks ! Gina
ReplyDeleteThe foxgloves look perfect where they are by the cat. I'm having a good foxglove year here, although they've just barely started to bloom. Last year for some reason I only had a couple. I've only had luck with the ones that self seed, although 'Serendipity' sure looks like it would be worth a try.
ReplyDeleteSuch pretty pictures. I love foxgloves! Carla
ReplyDeletehttp://threedogsinagarden.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteI am jealous! Foxgloves are magnificent, but I have never had any luck with them. I have always bought plants, but perhaps I should try growing them from seeds this time around.
Jennifer
P.S. Love the cat with the fiddle!
I love foxgloves just as much as you do, Tatyana, and you have some beauties. We just got a new one yesterday, well ten of them actually called D. obscura 'Sunset' with narrow leaves and yellow/orange small flowers. I look forward to seeing all you have, just can't get enough of them! :-)
ReplyDeleteFrances
Your foxgloves are beautiful! & I always find new varieties very exciting.
ReplyDeleteThey are beautiful and what a selection! Thank you very much for sharing
ReplyDeleteI love Foxgloves -- so elegant and cottagey at the same time. It's obvious from your beautiful pictures that you love them and looking at your garden it's obvious they love you too!
ReplyDeleteI love Foxgloves too.Our new garden has five plants taken from the old garden.They have been growing over the winter and have flower spikes forming now.They are a mixture of traditional pinks and some white Foxgloves.The anticipation is high now.I am glad I found a Foxglove lover..That one from Chelsea looked really nice.A plant on my wishlist.
ReplyDeleteYes they are such lovely plants and the top photo is the best of the lot so strategically placed in the corner with the foil of the cypruss behind you couldn't have planned it better if you had tried isn't nature clever.
ReplyDeleteI clicked your link to last year's fowlove. It is so pretty with that bright purple color and the vertical effect! It is more a northern plant, and I don't think I can grow in my south Florida garden. But this is ok, I will come back to enjoy more of this from your blog :)
ReplyDeleteFoxgloves are so pretty--and thanks for sharing the info about 'Serendipity'! I'll have to look for her to add to my garden.
ReplyDeleteAnd the kitty with the violin, so cute! I have a similar one, with an accordion (to honor my dad).
Happy gardening!
Beautiful photos ... I can see why you love them so much. I just love the way some popped up unexpectedly in that spot behind the garage wall ... looks like it was planned that way!
ReplyDeleteI share your love of Foxgloves. This new one you have is very beautiful. Mine are all volunteers. No idea where they come from, but it seems every other year I get them popping up where ever they want. They're always welcome.
ReplyDeleteMost of my foxgloves have finished blooming, but I cut them back and now a few are re-blooming! I think foxgloves are really special. Yours are beautiful and obviously love the fiddle playing cat!
ReplyDeleteHi Tatyana~~ There is something about your brick walls, statue and evergreens [both coniferous and broadleaf] that really bring out the beauty of your foxgloves. Of course your picture-taking prowess definitely is used to best advantage.
ReplyDeleteI'm amazed at how far the seed will spread. My neighbors had several plants a few years ago then I started noticing baby plants in my yard. I pull most of them before they set seed but somehow I'm still getting a few. Mine are just beginning to bloom too.
You sure have a good eye for spotting them during your travels--definitely a popular plant.
Foxglove is a popular plant for good reason. They are beautiful! I miss these from my old Zone 7 garden. Here in Central Florida, they are grown only as winter/spring annuals, and therefore a luxury, which is really too bad for me.
ReplyDeleteWow on 'Serendipity' Tatyana! This is the first I've seen on her. What I wouldn't do to have a few in my garden. I'm a BIG fan of foxgloves too but unfortunately, it's not mutual. I struggle and struggle to get them to return. I do remember how incredible they are in your garden tho. Can't wait to see them again.
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