Saponaria ocymoides "Rock Soapwort"

Saponaria ocymoides or as it is more commonly known the Rock soapwort is a tough little perennial plant. This native to southern Europe and south west Asia is most closely related to the Lychnis and Silene. It is very similar in appearance to creeping phlox. Like the creeping phlox it has a low, trailing, growing habit getting no higher than one foot with a three foot wide spread. It is used mostly in rock gardens or as a ground cover. It looks especially lovely trailing over a garden wall or stuck in little pockets on a succulent or herb covered stone wall.

This little guy is new and a rescue plant. Didn't really have a place for it but a friend needed a spot where it would not die so I took it.  I think I'll plan on putting it on the edge of my butterfly garden so it trails over the wall.


This was taken 5/16/2010  - and it just started to bloom for the first time.

Rock Soapwort gets it's name from the fact that when rubbed vigorously with water it produces suds just like soap.

Nice link to more Rock Soapwort

Rockery as of 05/12/2010

Standing on a chair looking out from above - our rockery and what's in it.

#1 - three Variegated European Dogwood
#2 - Veronica Oltensis "Dainty" or "Mini- Speedwell"
#3 - Thymus Praecox "Red Creeping Thyme"
#4 - Phlox Subulata "Emerald Blue
#5 - Phlox Subulata "Emerald Blue - also called Little Brian
#6 - Veronica Spicata? - you bought it
#7 - Sedum Selskianum Variegatum
#8 - Veronica Peduncularis "Georgia Blue (creeping speedwell)
#9 - Dianthus Ed's Best - also called Big Woolly
#10 - 'Jolly Bee' Hardy Geranium
#12 - Saxifraga
#13 - Thymus Glabrescens
#14 -best guess is Dianthus Alpinus
#15 - three Upright Red Chokeberry
#16 - common weeds
#17 - Dianthus "Artic Fire"
#18 - Lamium Maculatum "Beacon Silver" not seen in photo
#19 - Vinca minor Periwinkle
#20 - Galium Odoratum "Sweet Woodruff" not in photo - behind Chokeberries

Dragons Blood Sedium as of 04/20/2010

From Greenwood Nursery

"Sedum 'Dragons Blood Red' is a fast-growing ground cover with brilliant red flowers in late summer. Sedum 'Dragons Blood Red' is a succulent with needle-like leaves turn vibrant orange-red in fall. The more sun Sedum 'Dragons Blood Red' gets, the more intense both the flowers and foliage become. Sedum 'Dragons Blood Red' forms a dense mat 3-8" tall and spreads quickly.

These plants are exceptionally tolerant of heat and drought and also tolerate cold and humidity. Sedum 'Dragons Blood Red 'will tolerate being planted in poor dry soil. Low growing Sedum is used for containers borders, edging and as a dense spreading groundcover. "Dragon's Blood" offers burgundy foliage. "

This year 2 for Dragon and we have been aggressively cutting and planting the loose ends with success - I'll have more photos of this in a week or so. 

Veronica Iiwanensis as of 4/30/2010 Erosion control

My friend Brien piked up some Turkish Veronica (Veronica Iiwanensis) but then found he could not use them - so I adopted them and we decided to put them in an area that has a small erosion problem.  Not thr pretties yet but we shall see what happens.

One review says "This low-growing Veronica is a great groundcover: it grows relatively quickly, but does not take over its neighbors; it is covered in sky blue blooms for weeks in spring; its foliage is evergreen (even in Zone 5); it does not require much water; it does not require any maintenance to look great (other than perhaps combing debris like fallen leaves out if it with your fingers); and, it does not appear to be picky about soil."

Closer view

Veronica Peduncularis "Georgia Blue as of 4/29/2010

'Georgia Blue' forms beautiful mats of purple-tinged leaves. In spring, this free-flowering groundcover boasts abundant iridescent blue flowers. It grows to about 9 inches high and a foot wide. It is a vigorous and easy-to-grow cultivar.
Noteworthy characteristics: This mat-forming species is perfect for a rock garden, alpine house, or trough, and is also suitable for the edge of a mixed herbaceous border.

Care: Provide moderately fertile to poor, well-drained soil in full sun.
Propagation: Sow seeds in containers in a cold frame in autumn. Divide in autumn or spring.

Phlox Subulata "Emerald Blue as of 4/29/2010

Common names - Creeping Phlox, Flowering Moss, Moss Phlox

Cushion or mat-forming, creeping, evergreen perennial with small, bright green, needle-like foliage. Bears from late spring to early summer, showy, salverform flowers in shades of purple, red, pink or white. Great for rock gardens, borders or slopes. Nice effect cascading over walls. Soil should be fertile and well drained. 'Emerald Blue' bears light blue flowers.

USDA Hardiness Zone:

3 to 8

S Rock Wall - inside as of 4/27/2010

1. Dianthus Ed's Best

2 & 3 Saxifraga one of 440 known species commonly called saxifrages or stone-breakers. The Latin word Saxifraga means literally "stone-breaker". This refers to certain saxifrages' ability to settle in the cracks of rocks, which they may in fact wear down by bioerosion to the point of splitting.

Re-thinking the placement of those little babies all of a sudden LOL

4. Thymus Glabrescens - They grow in neutral or alkaline, dry, infertile soils, in sunny and protected sites. Pruning is required after flowering to restore their dense shape. Plant in rock gardens and flowerpots.

5. ??? best guess is Dianthus Alpinus

The tip of the S Rock Wall as of 4/27/2010

Not the best photo so I'll have to get a better one with more true color.

South Rock Wall but it faces East actually.

1. Lamium Maculatum "Beacon Silver" (also known as spotted white deadnettle and purple dragon

2. Phlox Subulata "Emerald Blue (also known as Moss Phlox, Moss Pink, Mountain Phlox) creeper growing to a height of 6 inches and covering a 20 inch wide area. According to one news story, the plants give off an odor that can supposedly be mistaken for marijuana. This has been known to cause altercations between gardeners and law enforcement personnel or criminals.

3. Sedum Selskianum Variegatum - I'll have a closer up photos of this beauty!

4. Veronica Peduncularis "Georgia Blue (creeping speedwell).

5. Dianthus  Ed's Best We call him Big Wooly

Clay Garden as of 7/25/2009

My first real garden.  it's had some problems with floods and I dug a canal through it (the Coropsis  canal) which channels water which on hard rains cascades down the hill and funnels into the garden.  The dirt is rich heavy worm enhanced clay.  Use to be a corn field I guess.

Yes - that is loosestrife in the back - GET RID OF LOOSESTRIFE!

This garden is in it's 3rd year!

2010 Current Tasks

My friend and I have been working on a rock wall the past couple years. The first task is to add dirt to all of the cracks and crevices and this year we are planting.

I'll have more on what plants are going where at a later date. This being the first post in the blog I thought I would just type something to see what happens LOL.

This wall faces almost due east and is on the south side of the house