Summer is Here, I Think!

Deschampsia cespitosa June 24, 2011 (Native to PE)

It's officially Summer but still pretty unseasonably cool.  Great weather for moving plants around and very few annoying insects!  We're still open for Business for field dug plants until next Sat. at midday and there are still several field dug grasses available.  We have a Wedding Celebration to go to that afternoon.  We have a number of Lavender plants potted up and several varieties of grasses, ferns & some perennials in grow bags for later sales into July.  We had very cold wet weather early in the week but most of the plants must have liked it for many of the grasses seemed to have grown a foot in a few days!  The Deschampsia looks so pretty now.  Everyone that comes by seems to want some for their gardens and luckily we have another variety 'Bronzescheiler' that hasn't bloomed yet so we are still able to dig that.  Photos don't really do Grasses justice so if anyone wants to come by just to see our Grasses in person send us an email and we can let you know when we're available!  The native Deschampsia will be for sale again in September along with the Blue Oat & others.

Lavandula angustifolia 'Krajova' June 24, 201

I feel sorry for the Lavender Plants; they are sending up flowers, right on time, but I'm not sure how the lack of sunshine and heat will affect the crop of lavender!  This photo is of our two year old Czech Lavender I grew from seed.

In Our Meadow on June 25, 2011

Our Meadow has been left pretty much to do what it will because we haven't had the time to weed it yet but hey that just means our native meadow plants will be filling it in and I'm looking forward to see what Mother Nature has in Store!  There is going to be loads of flowers blooming in a week or so and what I love the most about all of this abundance is the pleasure of something new every day we go out to work in the garden or just do a Walk About!  Happy Gardening Everyone & Enjoy the Summer!

There's Been A Few Changes Around Here at Lovegrass Farm

Our Farm on June 10

Those of you who visited our little Farm earlier this Spring would not recognize it now!  We've been busy dividing, transplanting, weeding, and spreading eel grass for mulch.  AND, we even mowed the grass!  So, if you're coming for a visit this weekend you shouldn't get your tootsies wet at all!  Plants are growing Fast and Furious and many are now too far along to be dug :(  (But there's always next year!)


Deschampsia cespitosa June 10

 The Deschampsia is looking So Pretty!  Remember, it will still be available in Sept. once the temps. start to cool down.  Deschampsia 'Bronzeschelier' hasn't bloomed yet so it is still available for sale.



Miscanthus Giganteus on June 10

LAST CALL for Miscanthus Giganteus and Miscanthus Purpurascens this weekend unless you want to trim them back when you plant them!  Miscanthus 'Sarabande', 'Gracillimus', and 'Variegatus' are at their height limits for transplanting as well.  We will have a few in grow bags; first come first served!


Panicum virgatum 'Heavy Metal'

The Panicums are perfect for transplanting now as are Big Bluestem & Little Bluestem, Indian grass, Sporobolus heterolepsis (northern dropseed), Blue Fescue, the Eragrostis'es (Lovegrasses) & Calamagrostis 'Overdam' because we moved them this Spring and that has slowed them down a bit.  There are still some Pennisetum 'Hameln' & 'Moudry' left.


Lavandula angustifolia 'Krajova' June 10

The Lavender Plants are now potted up for you convenience.  People are amazed that they are fragrant even before they bloom!  I've potted up a bunch for around our seating areas & for gifts!


Blue Oat grass June 10

Everyone that sees The Blue Oat these days wants one or two or more (Just remember they'll be for sale again in Sept. Folks!)  Our Gardens are Full of Bees these days; when the wind dies down again I'll try to capture some photos of them on the flowering Geraniums and Blueberries.  Thanks Mighty Pollinators! 



Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Hameln' Ornamental Grass at Lovegrass Farm in P.E.I.

Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Hameln'
Backlit by the Setting Sun in the Fall

Pennisetum (pen-niss-SEE-tum) alopecuroides (al-oh-pek-yur-OY-deez)  is commonly called Fountain Grass because the foliage arches near the tip giving the plant a graceful fountain shape. It is a Warm Season Grass; often late coming up in the Spring.   'Hameln' is a compact form reaching 2 - 3 ft. or (60 - 90 cm.) tall in flower.  Especially suited along a walkway where you can reach down and touch the bottle brush like inflorescences.  The creamy white flowers are shaped like a fox's tail and make superb cut material for bouquets.  The foliage turns amber gold in the fall.  It's leaves are only 1/4 " or (7 mm.) wide.  Hameln grows best with regular moisture but is drought-tolerant once established.  Make sure your soil is well-drained where you place it.  The most important factor to consider is placing it so that it can be back lit by the rising and setting sun.  It is at it's loveliest when covered with dew or frost and back lit by the sun!

Pennisetum 'Hameln' covered in frost at Sunrise

'Hameln' before bloom in early Summer

Busy Days at Lovegrass Farm

Blue Oat Grass, June 1, 2011



Our Native Deschampsia cespitosa, June 1, 2011

You'd never know it was a late & Cool Spring!  All our Ornamental Grasses are up and Growing Fast!  Blue Oat and the Native Deschampsia are already sending out their flowers.  They are going to look Gorgeous in about another week; Can't Wait!   Of course this means they shouldn't be moved again until Fall.  We've been busy dividing and transplanting and spreading compost and eel grass.  There are some new varieties of grasses growing in our hoop house; always Exciting to see what one can grow from seed!  

Deschampsia 'Bronzeschleier'

Miscanthus Giganteus, June 1, 2011

Miscanthus Purpurascens, June 1, 2011

Deschampsia 'Bronzeschleier' is later to come into bloom so is still okay to move.  It might not be much more than a week before Miscanthus Giganteus and Miscanthus Purpurascens are too tall to move so if you've been meaning to come for some of those best to come soon!  We still have some lovely big Lavender Plants left.  Pennisetum 'Hameln' & 'Moudry' are ready for sale.  Miscanthus sinensis "Gracillimus', 'Sarabande', & 'Variegatus' are growing very quickly.  We are sold out of 'Zebrinus' for this year.  The Panicums are up this week and ready for sale as are Big Bluestem & Little Bluestem, Indian grass, Northern dropseed, purple lovegrass, sand lovegrass, and a few more.

Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster' , June 1, 2011
Blowing in 60 km. winds today

We have a few varieties of warm season grasses planted in grow bags (only a small number of each) that we will sell after mid-June when it is too late to sell field dug bare root.  We also have a few varieties of perennials and hop vines in grow bags.   They will all cost a little more than bare root plants.  There are blooms on the fruit trees and the blueberries & strawberries.  The lilacs are showing color.  It seems every day brings on something new!  We've already had our fill of Rhubarb custard pie & Jam!  Now to just get time to get the vegetable garden in!