Broken Heart - Mended

The Secret Heart Island bed needed some attention this year. The Panicum Virgatum 'Ruby Ribbons' grass plant that had occupied this area since before 2022 had thinned out and showed sings of distress. 

'Ruby Ribbons' (at right) 2022

Rabbits had been munching away at this plant for some time, so it was time to find a replacement. 

This time I opted for Flame Grass Miscanthus sinensis "Purpurascens.' This grass can grow up to 4-5' and 1-2' wide. I am hoping it fills in the area and compliments the First Flame Maple "Iseli Introduction" (Acer x pseudosieboldianum) nearby. I did rework the edging to help contain it to a more round shape rather than the large ova of the previous configuration. 

I also added a small Hosta to the corner that remained after the edging rework. It is a plant that had been damaged and rescued from elsewhere in the garden. The maple and grass should provide shade for the Hosta to thrive in this sunny location.

In time the grass should turn an orange then red-ish color, while mid-late summer should produce some magenta flower wands with white plumes. I'm hoping it proves interesting - only time will tell. 

While I wait, I constructed a critter-fence to keep rabbits away and covered the Hosta with a critter cage cover to ensure they survive the spring.