Stachys Hummelo. Lamb's Ear.
Lamb’s Ear.
I love them in the garden. Those gray, fuzzy leaves that feel so soft and captivate children who love to rub them, pretending they are real lamb’s ears. They also have a cool appearance and texture that shows up nicely late in the day, making their companions look even nicer.
I don’t care much for their flowers, however, and snip them off.
When I saw Stachys Hummelo in a garden a few years ago with their lovely purple blooms en masse, I knew I had to some.
Stachys Hummelo is a delightful variety of lamb’s ear with slender, ridged leaves and tall stems with purple flowers.
Two years after planting, we needed to divide them. They like it here, it seems, and I had placed them too close together for comfort. We put some in another location, not as sunny, to see what would happen. I’m pleased to say they are performing just as well in both locations and have rather enjoyed having more room to wiggle their toes.
This year, they are just divine.
Late in the afternoon I went out on my daily walk-about in the garden and discovered them hosting a swarm of bumblebees.
Each floral clump had five or six bees buzzing around, weighing the stems down with their sated heaviness.
Happy hour on the cutoff!
The bee’s knees!
Now, if only I could get the chipmunks to behave!
Do you think she knows that we dug up the impatients?
