Garden Bed #5 - page 3

Arisaema triphyllum "Jack-in-the-Pulpit" have long held mysterious powers over me. I've marveled at their very existence ever since I was a little girl. I've always believed they would be a plant that would only grow in the wild with Mother Nature tending their every whim. I think my grandma must have told me enchanting stories about 'Jack-in-the-Pulpit'.

During a visit to the Dubuque Arboretum three years ago, I was awe-struck at the sight of a entire woodland hillside engulfed in a sea of green brunneras with giant 'Jack-in-the-Pulpits' towering amongst them. The sight took my breath away. There were so many jacks I couldn't believe my eyes. I took pictures in a vain attempt to preserve that precious moment. However my photographing expertise left much lacking.

And later that same day while visiting a garden friend in Epworth, IA - Larry Clemons of LaDon's Garden; I discovered more jacks growing there. I told him my arboretum hillside story. He quickly got his spade & dug up a great big jack just for me. Oh, I almost pee-ed my pants I was so excited. Larry said they were easy to grow. He gave me planting instructions, "Stick them in the ground & ignore them." How could that be? Surely such a majestic plant needed babied & fertilized & watered & pampered. Wrong! All it needs is a shady growing spot and semi-decent growing conditions.

I'm learning about 'Jack-in-the-Pulpit' all right! He / She has flourished in my shade garden under the walnut tree & multiplied & seeded itself all over the place. I can't believe how tall they get. The word - "weed" - might come to describe these jacks one day soon. Do you know anyone I could share with?

Listed below is information I've learned about the mysterious little preacher-plant.

Jack-in-the-Pulpit is bisexual - changing from male to female (trans-sexual)

Younger plants produce only male flowers. Older healthy, thriving plants that have stored up lots of energy produce female flowers - using the stored energy to bring the berries to ripeness. The berries are not poisonous.

Transplants by insects / birds / other wildlife. It is said they will start to bloom in three years.

Grows in woodlands / boggy - soggy areas

Surprised by it's height up to 26" tall

Leaves tower over the pulpit (spathe) green & white streaked with purple

Jack is the spadix inside the pulpit (preacher)

Shiny red / red orange berries

True perennial living 20 - 100 years

Arisaema triphyllum "Jack-in-the-Pulpit" has been known by many other names.
Indian Turnip
Indian Almond
Pepper Turnip
Marsh Pepper
Bog Onion
Priest's Pentle
Wood Pulpit
Little Pulpit
Cockup Flower
Starchwort
Memory Root
Devil's Ear
Dragonroot
Brown Dragon
Jill-in-the-Pulpit (female plant)

Learn more about Jack-in-the-Pulpit:

www.paghat.com/jackpulpit.html

2bnthewild.com/plants/H46.htm

Hosta 'Spilt Milk'

Is there any prettier sight, than the leaves of your hostas unfurling in spring-time?

Hosta 'Spilt Milk' is a stately fellow. Unique speckled,streaking of white on large, round, medium green/blue, very heavy substanced leaves, resemble spilled milk flowing across the leaf surface. (Originator Mildred Seaver 1999; Origin - unknown; M-Lg plant)

Relative to the classic hosta tokadama line Spilt Milk can be a stunning specimen in the shade garden. Its heritage makes it somewhat finicky and not the fastest grower. Patience will bestow a knockout fairly large plant in the garden. The beautiful,a pure white flowers produce a limited amount of questionably viable seed in my experience. It's a fairly stable plant, holding its streaking well. Occasionally an all green section will appear and should be divided off the original plant. The all green divisions are awesome in their own right. I have one right now that is very impressive. Remember, GREEN is a COLOR!

Hosta Library Description: Spilt Milk
15" tall. Part Sun to Light Shade.

Dark green with white streaking and speckles. Heart shaped leaves. White flowers. H. 'Spilt Milk' is generally recognized as one of the most unique hostas ever introduced. This H. 'Tokudama' hybrid makes a stunning clump of blue green cupped foliage. The foliage is highlighted by an unusual assortment of streaking and misting in the center of each leaf. This patterning is distinct from the typical unstable streaking found in variegated hostas. In late spring, the clumps are topped with attractive 20" spikes of pure white flowers. Green leaves with variable width white to greenish-white streaks, cupped.

One of the most unusual and sought after hostas available. Heavily substanced and puckered dark blue leaves with white streaking in the center. White flowers. Truly unique. White to greenish yellow streaks and splashes are splattered across the dark green leaves. The variegation is quite variable. Amazing coloration! White flowers.

Hosta 'On Stage'

"H. montana 'On Stage' = H. 'Cho Ko Nishiki' - Japan
14" tall / Part Sun to Light Shade.

Yellow primary leaf color with a two tone green margin streaking to the center. Leaves 8 x 5. Purple flowers. A large montana hybrid with yellow leaf, irregular green margins.

This is one of the most talked about hostas in any garden. The pointed, deeply veined leaves are green with a multi-tone gold center. It emerges very late in spring with a bright gold center that changes later to white, then to a light/dark green contrast late in the season. When planted in morning sun, it holds its color better through the summer. The 3' wide clumps are topped with light lavender flowers in early summer on 48" scapes.

Yellow leaves with irregular green margins, a rapid grower; lavender flowers. The reversed form of montana 'Aureo-marginata'. Leaves are yellow with irregular two-tone green margins. One of the most beautiful Hostas we have seen and certainly one of our favorites. Lavender flowers."

Comments / MyHosta Database / Hosta Library

There is little left unsaid about hosta 'On Stage'. I have two 'On Stage' plants in my gardens. Now that says allot about just how wonderful this particular hosta is. No hosta shade garden should be without it! IMHO

If you do include this plant in your garden, do not despair in spring thinking it did not survive winter. 'On Stage' true to its Montana heritage emerges really late from winter dormancy. Just about the time you decide it is dead for sure and never going to come up, 'On Stage' will make its grand entrance then perform its mystical magic showing. It is so awesome in early spring, you have to see it to believe it! On Stage always gets noticed and is a true star performer in the garden deserving rave reviews.

My daughter is hinting around about not having an 'On Stage' plant in her garden. I am considering being a good mom and giving one of mine to her, but only out of desperation due to severe lack of growing space in my gardens. My plants are getting bigger every year, requiring more growing space & sacrificing certain plants. I try to adopt out the ousted plants to good homes and retain visitation rights.

Hosta 'Golden Sculpture'

Another favorite in Marlys' Garden, vase shaped, good substance, nicely corrugated leaves, blooms beautifully - bright white flowers, sets tons of seed, near perfect specimen plant.

While visiting my friend, Jackie's garden a few years ago I fell in love with her hosta 'Golden Sculpture'. Jackie of course, wanted to share her plant with me but it was too perfect to disturb. I just couldn't take her up on her kind offer. I did beat it over to Holland Drive Garden & buy 'Golden Sculpture' from my neighbor, Trudy. It has grown very quickly. I am so anxious to see it again next year.

'Golden Sculpture' is not all that gold (yellow). To me, it is more of a limey-greenish-yellow. I really love its upright vase shape & form. A truly great plant.

following comments: MyHosta Database' / Hosta Library

"Hosta 'Golden Sculpture'

30" tall / Part Sun to Light Shade.
Alex J. Summers Distinguished Merit Hosta 1991 (Olive Bailey Langdon).
A large upright with round satiny yellow leaves.

A gigantic sturdy yellow of leathery proportions. Summer-burn resistant. One of the most striking gold hostas that I have ever seen! The upright vase shape forms a 3' wide" clump of wide brilliant golden foliage. The clump is topped with 30" scapes of lovely white flowers in late spring...WOW!

An upright, vase-shaped gold-leafed plant; very striking with white flwrs. One of the best of the newer golds. Forms a beautiful, large vase-shaped plant with pale gold leaves. Sun tolerant and slug resistant. White flowers.

Striking, vase-shaped mound of golden foliage, the leaves are heavily corrugated and thick-substanced. White flowers.

Large vase shaped mound of golden foliage; leaves heavily corrugated, thick substance. White flowers in June, outstanding in our garden."