The Big Dipper Farm News-ette is an occasional gardening e-newsletter for discussing new plant introductions, gardening tips, quotes, poems, ‘things-to-do-in-the-garden-now’, seminar reminders and much more.  It’s free, kept private, spam-less and fun!     Share it with a friend.     Happy Gardening!    

-Deidre Finley, Big Dipper Farm

Gardening is about enjoying the smell of things growing in the soil, getting dirty without feeling guilty,
and generally taking the time to soak up a little peace and serenity.

-Lindley Karstens

In the quest for the unique…
What could possibly be more exciting to a plant collector than finding something brand new? Something they’ve never grown or even seen before?  Well for some of you, that’s nearly impossible, but for others, one of these may be your find of the year!
 

Chinese Wax Shrub  -  Sinocalycanthus chinensis

Virtually unknown in the West, this promising new Chinese shrub is worth checking out. The Chinese Wax Shrub is a quite rare Chinese native with beautiful, large, glossy, dark green leaves.  Large 4'' saucer-shaped flowers with yellow centers and white, turning pink, petals fading to cream toward the center. The blooms appear continuously from May to July. This is spectacular when in flower and is one of the best recent shrub introductions. Deciduous, with yellow fall foliage. Also called: Chinese Sweetshrub  Zones 5-8   See Chinese Wax Shrub

 False Red Agave  -  Beschorneria 'Ding Dong'

Fabulous 3-foot clump of thick lance-shaped leaves, which forms the background for the 7-FOOT flower stalk. Multitudes of red/green bell-shaped flowers bloom for weeks in mid-spring. Very dramatic, architectural plant from Mexico and nothing cooler for that tropical look. For full sun in moist soil. Zones 7-10

See False Red Agave

 Chilean Fire Bush  -  Embothrium coccineum lanceolatum

This tall slender semi-evergreen tree puts on an amazing display of brilliant scarlet-orange flowerheads in May-June making it appear as if it really were on fire. This suckering tree or shrub will buzz with Hummingbird activity! There are two keys to success with this plant, good drainage and lime free soil. Much sought after but hard to find. Zones 8-10        See Chilean Fire Bush  

 Bear Grass  -  Xerophyllum tenax

A beautiful, unusual, perennial Native American, that grows to a towering 3-6’. A lily that grows in the Pacific NW with grass-like leaves and stunning, tall wands of large, white flowers. The roots are a favorite food of bears, especially as they emerge from hibernation, hence the name.  A popular material for basket making by early Americans.       See Bear Grass

  

It is always a great pleasure, and surprise,
when you happen on just the perfect place in which to plant some special treasure.

-Margery Fish

 We are still shipping and most of the catalog is still in stock! Have one more hole in the perennial bed to fill? There’s still time to work on your fall color display.

Catalog Page Here

 Love the plants received in my first order!
They are in great condition and I couldn't be happier!
Really looking forward to receiving this order and I feel confident
 that I will receive healthy large plants again! Thank you!!
Kathleen G, - Newport, North Carolina

  

Sea Holly – Eryngium 

A prickly pleasure of true blue.

This stunning and unique plant is invaluable in the perennial bed for color and texture. Some are white rather than blue but for any variety, think sunny, hot and dry when placing. Some use it as a rose companion for that reason and the steel blue colors really compliment most rose colors.

Well known by those that work with dried flowers as it holds its beautiful blue when dry. For the best dried results the flowers should be cut and gathered before they're fully open. An excellent, long blooming, fresh cut flower as well. Not picky about soil, pest free, very tough and very hardy! Being drought tolerant it has a deep taproot so if you plan to move one, dig deep.

At the end of summer, all flowering stems may be cut down to the basal growth which will remain evergreen through winter.

Blue varieties are striking when paired with gold foliage plants like Sambucus 'Sutherland Gold' or silver-whites like Stachys 'silver carpet’ or Artemisia 'Silver Mound'     Sea Holly Photos

 

Eryngium amethystinum

Metallic blue, thistle-like flowers over spiny leathery foliage in dramatic profusion through summer on a 2' plant. This may be one of the most cold hardy varieties. Nice filler plant.

Eryngium planum 'Blue Cap'

Intense blue flowers on wiry stems on this robust perennial, up to 2’ or 3' in flower. It has broad, thick, deep green leaves. The many dark blue flower cones are surrounded by a wide circle of silvery blue bracts. 

Eryngium alpinum

One of bluest of the genus both flowers and stem. Extremely hardy. Vigorous growth of spiny-toothed foliage. The entire plant has a silver metallic sheen.  Excellent cut flowers, fresh or dried.

Eryngium a. 'Blue Star'

A stunning form of the species that is very blue in both flower and stem with abundant deep-blue spiky, complicated flowerheads. Vigorous growth of spiny-toothed foliage. The entire plant has a silver metallic sheen.  Excellent cut flowers, fresh or dried.

Eryngium planum 'Blue Ribbon'

A curiosity that would appeal to lovers of the unusual. This cultivar is a prolific bloomer of blue thistle-like flowers with a yellow edge, in a ‘hen-and-chickens’ manner. Excellent cut flowers, fresh or dried.  Very interesting foliage.

Eryngium yuccifolium  -  Rattlesnake-Master

Exciting Native American to 4-5', glaucous yucca-like bristly-edged, sword-shaped, medium 3' green leaves. 1 inch, globe shaped greenish-white flowers. Common name is derived from an old belief that the roots could be used to heal rattlesnake bites. Excellent cut flowers, fresh or dried and easy to grow.

Your mind is a Garden, your thoughts are the seeds, the harvest can be either Flowers or Weeds.   
-author unknown

 

Hello, I just received the plants I ordered on 5/30/05.
I wanted to say thank you and tell you that the plants arrived in EXCELLENT condition! 
I have ordered live plants from several places over the years
and this is the first time I have received such healthy well packed plants.
I will definitely be buying plants from you again!
Thank you again for taking such care in shipping you plants.
Mechelle K. -Albany, OH

 

Polemonium ‘Stairway to Heaven’ – Creeping Jacob's Ladder

“If there's a bustle in your hedgerow, Don't be alarmed now, It's just a spring clean for the May Queen” Though this isn’t the May Queen that Page and Plant wrote about, it is absolute royalty in the garden.

An outstanding and colorful new cultivar sporting green leaves with white leaf margins that are tinged with pink. Above the fabulous foliage, pale lavender blue, 3/4-inch bell-shaped flowers with white stamens are produced from early through mid summer. This selection has a looser habit than other forms. Some claim this is the best Jacob’s Ladder ever introduced.

After flowering, pruning back may result in a light rebloom by the end of summer. Cut back to the basal growth for the winter.       Zones 3-8 Prefers part-shade.

See Stairway to Heaven

 There is always music amongst the trees in the garden,
but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it.
-Minnie Aumonier

 

The Pineapple Lily  -  Eucomis

This is an outstanding year for our Eucomis. We have four this year and they are the nicest crop we’ve ever grown. This is a beautiful bulb from Africa that sends up a dramatic flower stalk reminiscent of a pineapple. The broad strappy foliage is tropical looking and eye-catching and the flowers are extremely long lasting even when cut. Plant between 4 and 6 inches deep and mulch a couple inches in winter. Only needs division every 5 years or so. A little on the tender side so colder zones can enjoy the Pineapple lily as wonderful container plants and bring them in for the winter.       Pineapple Lily Photos

Eucomis comosa 'Oakhurst'

Found growing in a San Diego nursery, this deep-purple leaved novelty has been thriving in blazing sun for 20 years. Brilliant burgundy foliage and purple pineapple-like flowers. Great container plant. The cut flowers stalk has a 6-week vase life!

Eucomis comosa 'Innocence'

The two-foot tall flower spikes are made up of over a hundred tiny individual soft pink flowers. From the Greek word Eukomos, meaning 'Beautifully Haired'. The cut flower stalks have an extraordinary vase life! Flowers are followed by attractive seedpods, extending the show.

Eucomis comosa 'Toffee'

Lovely rose pink flower stalk. The cut flower stalks have an extraordinary vase life! A very interesting container plant.

Eucomis zambesiaca

This little-known smaller more compact variety of pineapple lily has proven to be one of the most gardenworthy. Almost two-foot wide clump of strappy, fleshy green leaves, topped with a one-foot tall pineapple-like flower stalk of brilliant white stars. One of the most stunning flowers of the species. Less hardy making it an excellent container subject to bring in for winter. 

Flowers and plants are silent presences; They nourish every sense except the ear.
 -May Sarton

Big Dipper Farm 
360-886-8133
www.BigDipperFarm.com