Ornamental Grasses

Thanks to Shirl of Shirl's Gardenwatch for including me in the grass weekend. She and Layanee are leading the way. Okay, I know it's not still the weekend, but, hey, you do the best you can.

This was a good exercise for me because I have to admit, I take the grasses for granted. A few years back, I wasn't particularly excited by grasses, but, like a lot of things, they grew on me (ha...no pun intended). I think the first one to catch my attention was a little blue one, Elijah Blue.

Festuca ovina var glauca 'Elijah Blue'

Cute, isn't it? I had always planned on having at least three (that odd number thing) but the rest refuse to hang around (I've tried twice), so this one is it. Besides, the catmint is moving in and that's okay with me. (More catmint, less weeds...yes?)

From there, I bought a couple of Miscanthus Morning Light.

Miscanthus sinensis 'Morning Light'

This one dances in the wind and has wonderful fall color (who knew grasses had fall color...I hadn't really paid attention until this one). It also reflects light in a most interesting way, something I notice in the fall more. You did notice I said I had purchased a couple? Well, one is barely hanging on after exceedingly rough treatment by the fence repairman. He thought it was, apparently, a good place to lay a section of the fence...for a week. That it survived at all is testament to its toughness, but it clearly has not forgotten nor forgiven its treatment. It's also in more shade.

I saw this cool (I thought) display of Japanese Blood Grass making a ribbon in the landscape. I thought that was neat idea...and since I never got around to buying more than one, thought I would just divide that one.

Japanese Blood Grass Imperata cynlindrica 'Rubra'

Not such a neat idea...it still hasn't gotten over that and so I have these teeny tiny patches (except for one)...maybe in ten years or so, I will see that ribbon.

I love the yellow of this grass.

Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola' Golden Variegated Hakone Grass

Both of these came to me through a mail order purchase, one much larger than the other (same price, though). The smaller one continues to remain smaller. But, I like the way they light up the garden...or the way the larger one lights up its space.

These fun little guys I brought back from Seattle where I saw them in the famed Heronswood display garden. They were bright orange that October, such a startling color that I just had to have some.

Carex testacea Orange New Zealand Sedge

Hmmm. Maybe they're not too happy here...you think?

Carex or Sedge (no edge, so much be a carex...thanks to H. the Horticulturist for the 'sedges have edges')? I will have to find the tag for this one. Tiny thing when I bought it, it is getting bigger and bigger. Like those stripes, though.




These guys were planted to solve a garden problem (grasses can be good for that). This areas slopes down and every time it rained, half the garden would slide down the slope. Very discouraging. In desperation, I bought two Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grasses

Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster'


(a neighbor down the street grew them and I thought they were striking). Small things, but look at them now! And, I might add..no more erosion.

My favorite little grass, although it doesn't stay here too long (for reasons I'll reveal in a moment) is Stipa, Ponytail grass.

Stipa tenuissima 'Pony Tails'

It does feel like a ponytail, smooth and fun to touch. One of my cats, Sam, loves it. I had one planted in the backyard and he would lie back there for hours cradling (or wrestling) this grass. Very cute. The grass, however, took exception and gave it up. Poor Sam, no more grass to love. I found a couple this spring and thought I would plant them in a different area (and see how long it took Sam to find them)....well, like a lot of things this year, they're still waiting to be planted...and none too happy. I think they're still hanging on, but barely.

I like these, Black Mondo Grass, although, as I think I have written before, they are more difficult to place than you might think. It's hard to get the black to really show...



Unless I think of another one, that's it for now. This is a great example, for me, of how tastes change. So, never say never. (Disclaimer: I did this rather quickly....)