Hosta of the Day - 'Little Sunspot'

Hosta 'Little Sunspot' 2012

Hosta 'Little Sunspot' is a small hosta that packs a lot of punch.  The leaves have a dark green margin with a vivid gold center.  It has been a fast growing hosta in my garden, and it is great for brightening up a dark border.  It blooms in early spring, and has been known to bloom again in late fall.  Pair this hosta with green, blue, or white variegated hostas.

Hosta 'Little Sunspot' 2009

Shade Plant of the Week - Dicentra or Bleeding Heart

I can remember as child looking forward to our neighbor's bleeding hearts blooming.  It was a little miracle to me that a plant could actually flower hearts.  In fact, I still think it is miracle.  There are many different varieties of Dicentra.  The old fashioned bleeding heart (dicentra spectabilis) blooms in spring, and then depending on the light and water in your yard can die off in July to return the following spring.  I have never had mine die off, and it's even on a pretty sunny corner.  However, the one I had in my previous yard would die off in mid-summer.  The fringed bleeding heart blooms intermittently from spring through fall.  Whereas the old fashioned format is tall (12-30"), the fringed bleeding heart grows to only 12-18" with light feathery foliage.  

DICENTRA spectabilis - BLEEDING HEARTS

Dicentra spectabilis 'Gold Heart'

Dicentra eximia Fringed Bleeding Hearts

Hosta of the Day - 'Lemon Lime'

This cute little hosta is a very vigorous in my garden.  I swear every year I divide this one in half, and by fall it's back to it's spring size.  That's unusual for a miniature hosta, since they are usually not the most hardy of the hosta family.  Another unusual feature of this hosta, is that it tends to bloom more then once a year!  It has wavy, lance shaped chartreuse leaves that hold their color all season.  It's a great hosta for the front of the border, especially a shady border that you want to brighten up!  It would also work great in a container or miniature garden.

Hosta 'Lemon Lime' 2009

Hosta 'Lemon Lime' 2011

Pictures from April 15, 2012

Spring has come early here in Wisconsin.  Here are my pictures from April, 15, 2012.

Hosta of the Day - 'Love Pat'

If you don't have room for the hosta 'Abiqua Drinking Gourd' which can get quite large, but love the large blue cupped leaves....then a slightly smaller look-a-like hosta would be 'Love Pat'.  It has blue chalky leaves that form upright cupped leaves.  The leaves are very thick and corrugated, which makes them more slug resistant.  Pair this hosta with gold or green hostas to bring out it's beautiful blue color.

Cheesehead Travels: Gardens of Casa/Casita Del Rio & Exotic Cactus Ranch

Large hot springs tub of Casa Del Rio overlooking Rio Grande river and Turtleback Mountains

This will be the last post on my travels to New Mexico.  I promise tomorrow to feature a hosta for you!  I just enjoyed my stay in New Mexico so much that I wanted to share it.  I don't think New Mexico is usually on the top of everyone's travel list.  There are natural hot springs that run throughout the town of Truth or Consequences.  Our house featured a hot spring tub, which was where we spent the majority of our vacation.

Everyone was so nice in Truth or Consequences.  Even though it was a small town and everyone knew everyone they never made visitors feel unwelcome.  It was not uncommon to walk into a store or restaurant and people would just start talking to you, asking about your day, like you were one of the local towns people.  Here are the last of some of the pictures of gardens and such of the house we rented while there, and of the nursery I visited there called Exotic Cactus Ranch:

Another hot spring tub of Casita Del Rio house

Casa Del Rio

Spaceport America is not far, and they launched a rocket during our stay. 

Overlooking Rio Grand and Turtleback Mountains

Love this metal garden sculpture

Heron on Rio Grande

Loved these hooks they had placed all over the gardens and fences.

Visiting Exotic Cactus Ranch

Cactus in bloom

Another Cactus bloom

Large display cactus

Sign for Exotic Cactus Ranch

Shade Plant of the Week - Astilboides tabularis

I obviously have an obsession with foliage, how else could you explain my hosta obsession?  So when I saw this plant in a catalog many years ago I was automatically drawn to it's very large circular shaped leaves, almost like green umbrellas.  I didn't even care if it bloomed, I knew it would make a great addition to my shade garden.  The leaves can measure 24 inches across, and the plant itself can grow 3-4 feet tall.  In mid summer, it also has white plume like flowers (much like and Astilbe).  If you decide to add this plant to your garden, make sure to give it lots of room!

Not the best pictures, but it's the very large circle leaf plant