Smitten with Borage

I was completely smitten with borage while at my sister's house last year. It had lovely blue star-shaped flowers and was covered in hairs. I had visions of the local herd of deer munching along and getting a mouthful of icky hairy leaves. Take that, you eating machine. But I can't find it anywhere in any of the local nurseries. I'm now going to try and grow it from seed. If I can find the seed.

Ornamental Grasses in Fall

One of the beauties of fall is the seed heads of the ornamental grasses. I grow a lot of grasses because the marauding herds of deer do not eat them and I love how they sway and shift in the slightest breeze. Most of my grasses are planted out by the road to capture this effect. Grasses are also tolerant of the salt and grit that is thrown on the roads in bad winter weather.

I selected my grasses not only for their shape or height or leaf but also for their seed heads. Let me introduce you to Moudry, the Black Fountain Grass. Most grasses have a beige or tan seed heed so I was thrilled when I found Moudry tucked away in a corner of the nursery. It is reliable, reproduces well yet is not one of those wild crazy beach grasses that go everywhere. It has long blades and a lovely shape. And I love the soft black bristles of the heads. I stroke them every time I walk by. Perhaps that is why I have seedlings everywhere in Spring.

Spring must be on the way.

I adore daffodils because the deer won't eat them and they are cheerful after a gray season. Up here on the mountain, we have a SERIOUS problem with the deer eating everything. Over the years, I have stopped planting anything that they might find toothsome. And daffodils they will not eat. Well... every spring they seem to forget how nasty daffodils are and there are a few nibbles. But they don't even swallow, but spit out the mouthful of greens.

Right after I moved in, I went crazy and planted early, middle and late season varieties. There are yellow ones, and pink ones, and white ones. There are tiny ones and the huge King Alfreds. There are split coronas and classic narcissus. With 2000 bulbs of various kinds in the ground, I eagerly await daffodil weekend. Hang in there, you'll see.