Anemones Now

Anemone blanda

Day 87

The Daily DuBrule

I got out of my car the other day at Natureworks and immediately went right back into the car and grabbed my camera. At my feet was a lovely stand of Anemone blanda, a white variety, that was planted at Natureworks no less than 15 years ago. It has established itself very well and has spread amongst the ferns and hydrangeas. 

These are just such a happy little bulbs. Wide open daisy faces only a few inches from the ground over fringed foliage greet you as soon as the sun hits them. Planting the bulbs is a true act of faith in the fall. They looks like tiny dried up deer droppings. Truly. Little dark brown, hard, irregular lumps of... well, they DON'T look like bulbs, that's for sure. You can soak them overnight in water to make them swell before planting and that makes them seem more alive. But usually, we just get to the job site and pop them in. They naturalize beautifully and everywhere I've planted them, they come back year after year.

Oddly enough, they are related to the fall blooming Japanese Anemones we all love and admire so much in September and October. 

Anemone japonica 'Whirlwind'

Anemone japonica 'Honorine Jobert'

These hardy herbaceous perennials grow 2-4' tall and have long stems topped by single or double flowers of white or pink. Their roots are wiry and long. They grow in sun or partial shade and spread quickly and easily in the garden. 

This genus is quite useful, with flowers in all different seasons. These are just two of the many Anemones I know, love, and plant.