Tuesday 12 July 2011

The Meadow Garden at Lovegrass Farm on P.E.I.

Hordeum Jubatum (Foxtail barley)
Our Meadow Garden needs some weeding out of hay and more aggressive grasses so we can see the plugs planted last year.  Not getting around to it has made for some pretty surprises.  Hordeum jubatum (foxtail barley) showed up in the meadow about two feet tall in lovely full plants.  It is native but I've only seen it before along the roadside as individual plants about 8 inches tall.(20 cm.)  They are Very Soft-a tickle you under the chin plant for kids-of all ages!  Researching the plant, I've seen it in a photo of Scott Ogden and Lauren Springer Ogdens' meadow garden in Colorado.  They are spoken of as being exceptional plant persons and designers both. It was located beside their seating around a fire pit where you could  just reach out and touch.  It is promoted as doing well on salt-laden coastal sands so may be one we'll grow for seaside plantings.
Koleria macrantha (June grass)
Koleria macrantha or June Grass is aptly named for it makes a nice showing in June and early July .  It prefers sandy and well-drained soils and it gets that with us in spades.  It only grows 1 to 2 ft. (30- 60 cm.) tall so we'll be able to mix in some wildflowers like Echinacea pallida (which I found in some trays overwintered from last years seeding! :)
Butterflies
Butterflies and Humming birds and Bees are everywhere in the Garden these days!  It Pays Off not to use any Herbicides or Pesticides and to have a great diversity of plantings!

1 comment:

  1. I adore Hordeum...grew wild in Nebraska where I grew up...not really perennial for us (seeded a bit) so I could never guarantee where it'd pop up...but loved those pink-tinged awns...so lovely!

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