June 24, 2006

Thalictrum whatever

The best laid plans of mice and gardeners... It's enough to make you throw up your hands in despair!

Yellow meadow rueI had ordered Lavender Mist. Thalictrum rochebrunianum, if it matters to you. Clouds of little purple blossoms in late summer when my garden is sorely lacking in bloom. Better yet, it's a tall, elegant meadow rue that doesn't need staking and has a narrow footprint. Seeing as it didn't bloom its first year in the ground, my anticipation this year was all the more intense.

I started getting nervous when the buds started appearing in June. My nervousness wasn't helped by the fact that the meadow rue was flopping all over the place and refused to straighten out once staked. But I was willing to cover a multitude of transgressions, all for the sake of those lavender blooms.

Well, you've seen the photo. I got Thalictrum flavum, a nice enough yellow meadow rue, but not what I ordered. If I phone up the company I ordered it from, they will very nicely offer me a credit (but I don't want to order from them again) or a replacement, which will have to wait till next year of course. So I would be able to put it in the ground next spring and it would bloom a good year after I've moved away.

At least the bees are happy.

4 comments:

Annie in Austin said...

All I can offer is sympathy, and empathy, too, since this kind of nursery error has happened to me on occasion. I grew Thalictrum rochebrunianum in Illinois, and loved it in the center of a large border with blue-purples, yellows and silvers. It stood up reasonably well for me, but still took up a very large area.

Annie

Anonymous said...

Oh no!
I was looking so forward to seeing it as well...not as much as you I'll bet though. That really stinks :(

Sigruns German Garden said...

Ohhh, it is a nice plant, do not put it away!

Sigrun

Janet said...

Thanks for all the sympathy. I'm sure I'll get over it, and Sigrun, I might even let it stay. It's pretty floppy right now after last nights rain.

I answered this yesterday, but for some reason, my comments have disappeared. Weird.