Chilopsis linearis (Desert Willow - a California native)

   Desert Willow is a deciduous large shrub to a small multi-trunk tree with long, narrow, willow-like leaves and scented, pink to lavender, purplish, burgundy, or sometimes white trumpet-shaped flowers in Spring and Summer. (Markham Nursery's specimens are burgundy). They are attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies. Long, cylindrical seed pods persist on bare branches through Winter. It needs full sun, good drainage, and infrequent deep watering. Chilopsis tolerates cold and prefers heat, even reflected heat and does best inland.
   I was surprised and happy to see how much our Desert Willows had grown and filled out and some are even blooming -- the flowers are very attractive. Last year they were just sticks. Our Chilopsis were propagated by Mary Ann (a former volunteer) who was a fearless propagater. She did cuttings and potted plants we didn't even think about propagating.
   Chilopsis are difficult to find for sale. They are usually available only at native plant nurseries or special mail order nurseries like High Country Gardens. We have one in a bed, planted by a group of Eagle Scouts, that showcases some of the plants available at Markham.

What Looks Good in My Garden Right Now
Aster chilensis 'Point Saint George' (a California native)
   This Aster has nice shiny green foliage and small bluish lavender daisy-like flowers and is blooming right now. What makes it an interesting plant is that is pops up in unexpected places and in unexpected combinations with other plants. The caution about this plant is that it grows aggressively. I am using it where the garden meets the street and where the driveway meets the garden and a few other places where nothing else thrives. This would be a great plant for a contained area or hard to plant hillsides or slopes. It needs very little, if any water. Aster chilensis is attractive planted in combination with Salvia 'Bees Bliss' which is a trailing/mounding California native Sage. The Aster comes peeking through the low growing Salvia branches. this is an extremely tough plant which needs to be sited carefully.

FYI
Fast-growing
   Fast-growing plants are those that get off to a fast start and reach maturity quickly. However, fast-growing may mean short-lived, so be sure to include slower-growing, longer-lived plants in your landscape. Fast-growing, short-lived plants are good temporary fillers while slower-growing plants are taking shape.
   Fast-growing may also mean rampant or aggressively spreading, requiring frequent pruning or cutting back to keep plants from overtaking paths, structures, or nearby plants.

Polka-Dot Parade
by Michael J. Rosen

Bumble bees on lawns of clover
Look! The birdbaths spilling over!
A watermelon's seedy grin
The juicy drops drip down your chin.

Fresh sweet corn and just plucked berries,
Sunflower blooms and sun-warmed cherries,
Picnic ants and ladybug's speckles
Sprinklers, sparklers, stars and freckles.

The dandelions glowing yellows,
A branch with toasty-warm marshmallows,
In lemonade, the ice cubes tinkle,
Twilight fireflies first twinkle.

In day-bright sun and dappled shade,
Summer's a polka-dot parade.

From "Highlights High Five - A Children's Magazine"

Miscellaneous
   The Nursery could use black 1 gallon plastic pots as we are running low due to significant potting up. If you have some to spare, you can leave them at the Nursery, or if we are closed, at the locked gates of the Markham Garden Center. Thanks in advance.
   We did send a Nursery email last week but due to server problems on our end and possibly server problems on your end, the email may or may not have got through. If you didn't get an email last week and still wish to see and/or read it, click here. Our apologies if you didn't get it.

The Plant Lady, Barb, and Steve