Some of you may know David Barnett from his posts on these pages, or The Big Garden Forum elsewhere, or from the many Texan Plant Swaps he attends, or even from his many works for the Arlington Organic Gardening Club. But my favorite of his roles is that of Mr. Raffle, that he does so well at the plant swaps in my garden. (THANKS for agreeing to do it again Dave!)
His lastest article at the AOGC site is on a lovely shade plant, that I lifted off a him at one of our past swaps.
Tovara virginiana 'Painters Palette'
(Angie said I could link to the AOGC site as much as I wanted to David - Teehee)
Gee, Just when I thought is was SAFE here!!!!
See what happens to those who visit without posting for ages ;-)
I have tried Tovara virginiana a couple of times but it up and died on me so I gave up. I think my soil is just too heavy and it did not get any sun whatsoever.
Mine are still young, but in a rather heavy soil - I'd better move them! David has sandy rich soil, grrr. Susan J had a tremendous one in her garden. How's it doing Susan?
I had the same problem with it Nicola, it looks so strong, but it gave up after a few months, can you believe this is a knotweed?
Susan, do you still have that pic of your huge Tovara?
Our 'Painter's Palette' is not doing too well. I've found occasional seedlings and have transplanted them to what I thought would be better spots. The one I transplanted this spring is still alive. All earlier transplants died in their second year. We have the green tovara with bronzy chevrons, and it's doing quite well. Seedling plants come up and grow happily in shady parts of the back yard.
This page has a picture of our 'Painter's Palette' (taken last year) and a link to the much nicer photo of Dan Hinkley's beautiful big tovara. Tovara
Terry, There is a knotweed that looks a lot like 'Painter's Palette.' We almost bought it this June. I can't remember the name that was on the label. It was some genus that has been renamed Polygonum.
If we see it again, I'm going to try it! Using root barrier, if necessary.
They are now Persicaria, Susan, I grow P. campanulata, it is a bit untidy, but good for shade and the leaves have very distinctive white veins, and it's easy to control.
Tovaria virginiana Painter's Palette, became, Polygonum virginiana Painter's Palette, and is now, Persicaria virginiana Painter's Palette. Wish they wouldn't keep doing this to us poor gardeners. I still can't grow it no matter what name they give to it.
Oops, sorry David we're hogging your space. One thing I have to ask. Is that a bear you have there? J He looks as though he could be a supreme champion at Crufts dog show.
O.K. guys now you have made me POST again!!
Susan thanks for the wonderful picture it makes mine look like..... Well you know the word! I have to say it was not the best time of the year for the picture, with all the heat we had this year. I do like more white in the plants leaves and most of the ones I sold and traded this year had a lot more white in the leaves, than the "Survivor" I have pictuted.(And all of ya'll thought that it was a TV show by that name, it was really my back yard)
Terry thanks for noticing my ChowChow..He is a Champion and we do take him to Dog Shows and show him. The best he has ever done was at the ChowChow National in Denver, Co. in '99. There were 45 Chows in the running and we made it the final 15.....We did not win any thing then but we beat some good Chows to get to the final 15....The Chow that had won at Westminster that year and the #1 Chow at that time and Martha Stewarts Chows too....Now that was FUN!!!!
Whatever that word is David, the forum police prob won't let us use it ;-)
Don't know if T and N know of US 'Survivor' show, but that was a great line D ! The network devised it from the original Brit show called 'Castaways'. Get this - the Brit group lived on a frigid deserted island for an entire year - no competition (cept survival), no cash reward or prizes.
I have met that cuddly mass of a dog, but had no idea what a champ he was otherwise. That's so cool! Now I realize why Becky's bear looked so familiar.
Somehow I had missed this chocolate plant article of Dave's and wanted to make sure you guys didn't.
Pseuderanthemum alatum
I want it!
Why the chocolate name David?