GARDENS
>
DEMONSTRATION GARDEN
>
HCMG MEMBERS' GARDENS
> Area
Public Gardens
>
TEXAS BOTANICAL GARDENS
>
GARDENS OF AMERICA |
| |
|
Carolyn's Garden of
Native Grasses
|
|
Three years ago, when I moved
to Kerrville, I discovered
ornamental grasses . . .
I now have 37 ornamental
grasses.
I found one nursery that
had an amazing selection
of grasses, some of
which I have not seen
again anywhere. I bought
at least three of
everything I could to
add to my collection of
flax, carex, lirope, and
mondo grass. |
|
Center, a white pampas
grass
Cortaderia selloana
Right is dwarf
maiden grass
Miscanthus
sinensis 'Adagio'.
This grass will grow to
about 3'x3'.
|
 |
|
I got the white pampas
grass from the neighbor next
door in 2007 when she
dug it up. It is flanked
by two hardy pampas
grasses Saccharum
ravennae which came
from a gallon pot that I
bought and divided. Each
plant originally had
only three blades of
grass, so you can see
how rapidly the
ravennae
grass grows. Ravennna
grass will grow in areas
that are too cold for
pampas grass. Thus the
name "hardy pampas
grass". These grasses
were planted to provide
privacy and to fill up
space. |
|
Seen through the red yucca
is a group of
maiden grass
Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus'.
If I could have only one
ornamental, grass this
would be my choice. It
comes back quickly after
being cut back in the
spring and is a
beautiful fresh green.
Oleanders fill the space
behind the maiden grass
and give additional
height and privacy. |
|
The photo above left was
taken after the grasses
had begun to fill in.
Switch grass Panicum
virgatum 'Prarie Sky'
which is the bluest
of the switch grasses is
in the front.
After cutting the
grasses to the ground in
February, I covered the
area with a new layer of
free mulch from
Kerrville Schreiner
Park. |
Unfortunately
switch grass tends to
flop after a hard rain.
I did not get the
supports in on time with
the 'Prairie Sky' so I
put them in early for
the Panicum virgatum
'Shenandoah' which I
planted this spring
2009.
|
|
Here are my Miscanthus
sinensis 'Varigatus',
which is green and white
striped, 'Huron
Sunrise' which is
solid green, and 'Cosmopolitan'
which is yellow and
green and is the largest
of my collection. Along
the path are
Miscanthus s. 'Purplesence'
and dwarf fountain
grass Pennisetum
alopecuroides 'Hamelin'.
In the center is
Miscanthus s. 'Morning
Light'. In the back
are switch grass and
Lindheimer muhly. There
is a nice variety of
colors and sizes, and
the infloresence (seed
heads) of the grasses
are beautiful when the
sun is low in the sky. |
|
|
|
Back
to Our Gardens
Next page,
Back Yard Pathways |
|
Photos by C Nall |
