THIS LITTLE-KNOWN SPECIES (apparently first discovered and named by famed British plant explorer Andre Jordan) reminds me of all the plants I used to bid on at rare-plant auctions. The thinking always seemed to be that the harder it was to grow, the more valuable it was–and up went the bids, sky-high. The older I get, the less I feel that way, preferring willing subjects to finicky ones. You? Any Punius insipidus types in your yard?
THE LECTURE that he’s been giving for a number of years is not-so-subtly called “Kill Your Lawn.” Ecological horticulturist Dan Jaffe Wilder knows that starting over and creating an entire native habitat instead of a lawn isn’t for everyone. But Dan just wants to grab our attention and get us to start to make some changes at least in the way we care for the turfgrass we do want in our landscapes. And maybe give up a little square footage of it to some other kind of more diverse planting, too, like the wild strawberries (Fragaria virginiana, inset). Alternative, more eco-focused styles of lawn care, along with some lawn alternatives is what he and I talked about on the podcast. Dan is Director of Applied Ecology at Norcross Wildlife Foundation in Wales, Massachusetts, and its 8,000-acre sanctuary. He’s also co-author with Mark Richardson of the book “Native Plants for New England Gardens.”
(Stream it below, read the illustrated transcript or subscribe free.)
I spent last weekend in Indianapolis. My sister’s neighborhood is full of beautiful gardens, many of them tipping their hats to the period 1900-1920, when the area was developed. As I walked and looked I thought “these plans are run-of-the-mill, but the gardens are so well thought out and established that they’re just gorgeous.”
Not a Punius insipidus among them!
I was reminded that you can sometimes do much better buying the less expensive, “boring” varieties and focusing on the installation.
That being said, Andre’s tree looks something like Pseudotsuga menziesii “Charlie Brown”!
our tree (as drawn accurately in the doodle above) bloomed. It had maybe 20 buds then the rain and wind came and they have all fallen off.
I think that was all we will get from it for another year.
The plant that I like the look of but personally find hard to grow are the thin-leaf buckthorns. I have a ‘cutleaf’ variety that is on the list to be dug out (should have happened last year) and two ‘fineline’ varieties that have not grown an inch in the last six years. I was hoping they would grow to about 5 feet tall but remain short and sparse.
P.S. The podcast / radio show is GREAT!
Welcome, Eric, and thanks for the nice words on the podcast. :) Ah, my list of uncooperative plants is so long…where to begin? Hope to see you soon again.
I’m not sure if I have this exact variety but many “punius” for sure. Thanks for the laugh today Andre.
yes, yes, yes……..the older I get, the more I appreciate the “easier” plants to grow and the less I am interested in the rare……every time I pass my $100.00 daylily, purchased many years ago as a birthday present from me to me, I laugh!
more shrubs in the borders too……
by the way, I am a huge fan and this is my first time ever writing to a website
many thanks for all your shared, wonderful knowledge
Welcome, Patti. Glad it’s not just me. “More shrubs in the borders too” is EXACTLY my attitude right now. I am so glad you (a kindred spirit) made this your first comment ever on a website. Thank you. Don’t let it be your last. :)
Will wait for the price of the prunia inspidis to come down. If it is worth planting it is worth the wait.
Janet fro Jersey