Yes that's Right! Snow as in Snowbank.
Boltonia asteroides 'Snowbank'
Isn't that a great combination. Boltonia asteroides 'snowbank', Miscanthus sinensis 'variegatus', Salvia guaranitica 'black and blue', and Rosa 'flower carpet red'.
This combination should really pop when the foreground asters begin to bloom. The hollyhocks on the left finally succumbed to the dreaded rust miester curse.
When I first read a description of snowbank, about their daisy flowers and late summer blooming period it peaked my interest. I was in the process of designing a new perennial bed. Snowbank's size and growing conditions met the requirements needed. So I ordered a kit garden from a mail order nursery as this was a way to add quantity and save money. And so the story begins.
Before: January 2010 New Perennial Bed - Mostly vinca minor and volunteer seedlings and of course loaded with nutgrass, the bad carex.
March 2010: Defining the Bed outline. Removing sod and moving it to raise grade in front of bed.(bottom of photo)
April 2010: Adding Flower Carpet Rose, underground drainage pipe with catch basin (below), and field stone border.
April 22 2010: Plants arrive one week after normal last frost. That's Boltonia bottom right.
May 2010: Perennials Planted, more field stone edging added and stone drainage feature added over drain grate.
June 2010: Good growth and removal of nutgrass.
July 2010: Our 1st year in our cottage anniversary. Perennials begin to push. Removal of nutgrass, arghhh.
Boltonia behind, near the house and behind the rose.
April 2011: a new spring. Boltonia is sleeping. No nutgrass yet.
May 2011: Additions to Perennial Bed, an Alaskan of all things. Why not?
This post is about snow.
Late May 2011: Roses are in their glory. Boltonia peeking from the top.
Late May 2011: Son of a Biscuit! What's that yellow grass appearing?
June 1 2011: taking shape. Notice the nice temporary perennial rye grass?
Middle June 2011: Above and Below
July 2011: Above and Below. Boltonia foliage to right.
July 2011
August 2011
Late August 2010: Snowbank in its' starring role as a backup or I should say backdrop.
No need to get the snow shovel out. Even though it's 63 this morning after 50 days of 100. Awesome!
