KUSA - I grow many unusual plants. I like diversity.
One of my favorites is giant cow parsnip. Growing to six feet or more, it graces mountain meadows with its showy white flowers that look like Queen Anne's lace on steroids. You'll see a lot of hysterical nonsense about this plant on the internet. If you get the sap on your skin and don't wash it off, it will cause a phototoxic reaction and burn your skin. So don't get the sap on your skin.
Another giant in the garden is giant sea kale. The leaves look like rhubarb and the white flowers resemble big baby's breath. After flowering, cut back the stalks, chop them and compost them.
Tall yellow meadow rue has leaves that resemble those of columbines. It sends up six-foot tall plumes of pale yellow flowers. It's a favorite of bees.
Verbascum bombyciferum 'Arctic Summer' is a big name for an unusual plant. It's related to the weedy mullein that you don't want in your garden but is distinguished by silver-gray leaves that look like felt and pretty yellow flowers on tall spikes. The bees also love them. This biennial makes a great punctuation mark in a planting.
The true lilies are just starting to bloom. The Chinese coral lily is among the first and is just finishing its show. Its tiny pendant orange flowers look like they're made of wax. There are many, many more lilies to come, both in pots and in the ground.
They will likely be in bloom for the Proctor's Garden Tour to benefit Dumb Friends League on July 28 and 29. Please mark your calendars.
