Rejoice with me, fellow gardener friends! Please. Back in mid-spring, I blogged about visiting a local merchant who had this gargantuan, pitifully neglected hollyhock in the back of his property.
I asked the nice lady at the front desk if I could take seed. She was accommodating and waited until I left before rolling her eyes. When I got out there, what I discovered was even better than ripe seed, hundreds of baby plants scattered under their mum. With my heartfelt assurances that I would be an attentive caregiver, she didn't seem to object to my efforts.
Fast forward approximately six months. I admit that I was a little less than attentive at times and this is undoubtedly what caused the holdup. But no more. The first bloom burst forth on Friday.
This is the plant's silhouette about a week ago. Puffy buds were a plenty but I was beginning to think it was too late in the season to see any color.
This is Anemone japonica 'Pamina' a newbie this year thanks to garden pal Carol. It has far
exceeded my expectations.
Loropetalum chinensis rubrum 'Razzleberri.' In the shade, pink leaves mature to a mellow olive-green. Pink terminal flowers appear in spring and fall.
This is Loropetalum chinensis rubrum 'Pipa's Red.' The blossom's form and color are the same but the foliage is much darker. Loropetalum are usually smallish, compact, evergreen shrubs. Winter hardy to Zone 8. Sorry.
I took this photo today. I'm shocked that it turned out as well as it did.
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