Cinderella Dressed in Caladium

There are a few new faces in my garden this summer.

As caladium varieties show up, newly emerged from planted bulbs in June, I'm getting to know them a little better.

Meet Cinderella. She is a fancy leaf variety that does well in the shade. She is tucked into the shady tropical pathway as part of the edging in between flax lily and spathiphylum with irises and ground orchids behind her.

And oh, has she made some heads turn! Not since Miss Muffett have I been struck so positively by the pleasing characteristics of a favorite caladium.

So very stunning in her perfectly matched blushing pink with deep green edging and white veins.

Dr. Bob Hartman of Classic Caladiums recently introduced Cinderella into caladium production. I think I've said in an earlier post how I like everything about her. She truly is lovely and her tightly clumping habit and medium height are added attractions.

I will plant more of her next year.

Enjoy your weekend.
Meems

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Disclosure ***Dr. Bob Hartman and Mike Woods of Classic Caladiums generously gave me Cinderella bulbs during my tour (which you can read about here) of their facility in February. They did not require anything in return. I believe in what they are doing to improve the caladium industry and I LOVE caladiums so much I am honored if I have any small part in promoting the industry and specifically Classic Caladiums. It isn't too late to plant caladium bulbs. If you want to place an order Classic Caladiums still has a few specials being offered at great values and prices.

Please Don't 'Walk' on the Impatiens

Impatiens are a hardy and colorful plant for shady to partial-shady areas of the garden. Considered an annual yet they are very prolific in returning after being frosted back in winter. None have been purposely planted in this garden in many years.

They readily seed themselves into container gardens, in between perennials, they pop up in convenenient locations and some not-so-convenient places. Just like weeds. Albeit pretty weeds.

Frequent readers might recall when I posted this entry a little over a month ago. A month ago it appeared as if the chairs were growing out of the flowers. That's when I belabored my lack of diligence from the spring for pulling out starter seedlings as they sprouted in my tropical pathway.

Here we are just a few weeks later, with some good rainfall on the record books, and the passageway is barely useable. Barely.
I'm sure I've mentioned this tiny little fact already but this area is one of my favorite places in the back yard gardens.

It is the coolness of the shade and the quiet sense of surrounding nature that brings peace and calm as I traverse these paths daily.

It is also the main route to the compost piles and the way-back parts of the garden. So when I initially created it I was sure to leave it WIDE enough for my wheelbarrow.
That's not to say I can't still scoot past the burgeoning impatiens on foot. And when pushing the wheelbarrow there ARE alternate routes to the compost piles. But taking the long way around is the not-so-convenient element about where the impatiens have decided to thrive.

Now that I've taken you the length of the tropical pathway (click here to see how to create) let's turn around and go back out together.

On the way back we should pause together to pay attention to a new Caladium planted this summer. 'Cinderella' is a delicate-looking, almost translucent leaf that is happy in the shade. She's going on my "must-purchase-more-of-these list" for next year. I love everything about her.

Above and behind her there's 'Moonlight' glowing so brightly in the daylight that draws my attention as well. It is good for the soul to pause. In the midst of sweaty tasks of summer pausing to admire inspires me onward.

The return trip back towards the circle garden better portrays how the footpath narrows to nearly impassable due to the growth of those volunteer impatiens.

My question for you ... The impatiens are easily plucked as their root system is shallow. What would you do?
Should they stay or should they go?