Sunday, June 7, 2009

Help...Master Gardener Needed!!

This weekend I've been busy in the gardens trying to get the last minute pretties planted. Here in Michigan our growing season is not very long so we have to hurry and get things out when we can between the storms.

We have several old horticultural wonders that I did not plant, but were residents when we moved here. I don't know what they are. Perhaps you can help me?

CLICK ON ANY PHOTO TO ENLARGE.

Plant #1....This plant grows outside our back door. This is only one plant mixed in with the trumpet vine. This is about 40 inches high, blooms three times a year with the foliage dying back to the ground after each bloom. It grows very fast.


The little flowers. The hummingbirds love them.



Here are the leaves. They are very hairy and filled with water if you pinch them.
UPDATE: Identified as a Beardtongue by Katie. Thanks, Kates!!

Plant #2......I know this is a clematis..


But, what kind gets blossoms this BIG?


Plant #3......This vine was "planted" by the birds about three years ago. I put the trellis here for the trumpet vine, but this took over. This is the side that I trimmed about three weeks ago.


This is the side I didn't get trimmed yet. It is a prolific grower to say the least. Last year I hacked off all of the runners, believe it or not. It winds around itself and has no tendrils or sticky feet. Where it has nowhere to go up, it just grows across the ground until it reaches something to climb on. The stems are very woody, almost like a tree.


Right now it has these tiny little flowers. They are followed by some really hard little berries that the birds love...especially Cedar Waxwings.


The leaves look very like a pear tree. Thick and waxy. Could it be a relative?


Plant #4......Someone told me this was a Porcelain Vine. It has tiny yellow flowers in late June followed by a white berry that turns purple in the fall. The birds also like this. It winds itself around everything and grows about a foot a week over the summer. It has a sticky, hairy stem. I have to hack this a lot, too.



Now, keep in mind that I don't do ANYTHING to these plants to make them grow. I don't even water them. They all are growing in the sunlight except the clematis and it is under the pine tree and NEVER gets any sun.

I have searched several gardening books and have tried to find these on the internet, but to no avail. So, all of you wonderful gardeners out there, can you help me?

11 comments:

Connie said...

Bertie, they are all lush and beautiful though. I planted some hostas this past weekend. I love them under my office window. Then a woman is coming to put more things right wednesday. Yeaaaaaaaa, can't wait, sugar.
xoxo,
Connie

Connie said...

Oooops, I wish I could help you, Bertie, but I am just no good at identifying plants. They are lovely though. I wish we could find some fast growing ones around here for the desert soil and we have only 2 clematis' out of 9! One is doing pretty good and the other one is struggling but 7 others died. I was heartbroken. I wanted them all over. Sorry, chickee......
xoxo,
Connie

Katie said...

Bertie, I think pic no. 1 may be penstemon. Google it under the "Images" tab.

The others I can't help with!

vickie said...

Bertie, I don't know what they are, but beautiful!

Shirl said...

Hello Bertie, I don't know what that plant is, but I say if it grows with no care from you then let it grow! LOL. Your hummingbird vine is beautiful and that porcelin vine looks alot like my hops vine, which is really pretty. I have to move mine when we start building the florida room. Your plants are so lush and beautiful! I love anything that grows fast like that!
Bless you, Shirl
Shirls Rose Cottage

{Bellamere Cottage} said...

Wow!...and you don't even care for those vines! YIKES! Now, those are the kind of plants I need! I love the one that goes over the arbor.....so pretty. It looks like you have some amazingly fertile ground where you live....can you ship some to me?

Blessings,
Spencer

Celestina Marie said...

Hi Bertie, Just gorgeous vines you have. I am not sure of the name of those, but they are truly wonderful and seem to be self growers in Michigan. Just lovely!
WOW your Clematis is a big bloomer.
My mother's in Michigan grew like that. Here is Texas they are smaller at least my new plantings are so far. You must have a green thumb.
Have a great rest of the week.
Hugs, Celestina Marie

The Victorian Parlor said...

Bertie,

Thanks for the invitation to visit your lovely blog! Wow-we really do have a great deal in common! I look forward to visiting again soon:).

Blessings,

Kim

Reflections from the Stone Nest said...

I wish I could help, Bertie, but I'm clueless. But, I love them all. Especially the little hummingbird flower. Your garden looks lovely. Have a good week,

Kitty

Stephanie ~ Angelic Accents said...

Hi Bertie! Wow, what a garden of Eden you have there! Beautiful. Also love the slideshow you added of your new items ~ great idea to showcase your pretties!

Love you,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents

The Stylish House said...

Bertie,
These are gorgeous, but sorry I haven’t clue what variety.
Cathy