Hi again, I see that picture is pictured in the blog linked below and it says that it is, "perhaps 'Gladiator' or 'Globemaster'? " To further maybe confuse things, you might look at Google images for allium gladiator seedhead and also Google images of allium Globemaster seedhead. If you hover cursor over each thumbnail picture, you will see a picture description. I'd say you can't go wrong by buying either one of them. Here is a link that might be useful: scroll down to see the exact picture.

Oh, for heaven's sake. Of course. I almost always mark my plantings -- why I didn't is anybody's guess. Can anyone tell me how long the foliage will stay healthy after the allium blooms and fades away? Does the foliage die back after the plant blooms?

DIRECTIONS TO COTTON-ARBO RETUM 597 Washington St. Winchester Ma. 01890 From the North: Take Rt 93 south (or from Rt. 128 to Rt 93 south, go 1 exit): Exit at Montvale Ave. /Stoneham. At end of ramp, turn right, turn left at Citgo Gas station (1st light) onto Washington St.. Look at your odometer. Go 0.6 miles, just past a strip of parkland on your left, and turn left onto Sunset Rd. and park. Walk back to Washington St., turn left and walk down 1st driveway on your left. This is the best entry to the Cotton-Arbo retum. **** PLEASE COME VISIT THE GARDENS **** **AT THE COTTON-ARBO RETUM IN WINCHESTER** The 21 year old Cotton-Arbo retum is located around a residential property in Winchester. Wishing to share the gardens with everyone,the owners have opened them permanently to the public 24/7 May through October of each year. The gardens are made up of a series of intensely planted garden rooms, linked by a series of sunken paths, ponds and waterfalls. Foliage guides the aesthetic, with great emphasis on Japanese maples, conifers, deciduous trees and shrubs. Herbaceous peonies and non-bearded iris have a strong presence in the perennials, accompanied by thousands of varieties of perennials, vines and ornamental grasses. There is a rustic shade hut and five waterfalls and ponds with sitting areas. With the changes in foliage and flowers, the gardens look quite different every two weeks or so. Peak bloom times are May, Mid June and September.The gardens were created to provide a beautiful quiet respite for everyone to enjoy. Feel free to bring a picnic lunch, or a book, or a dog (we love animals)!! We are often working in the gardens and are happy to answer questions. The Cotton-Arbo retum is open to the public, sunrise to sunset, daily, May through October. 597 Washington St. 01890 ***Remember: OPEN EVERY GATE!!! Nothing is private except the house.*** ~ The Way To Have What We Want Is To Share What We Have ~ PAST AND PRESENT IN THE COTTON-ARBO RETUM We moved to Winchester and began this garden 21 years ago. Aside from an evergreen hedge, and various mature maples, nothing that you now see - was here.There were no fences and the back of our property was a wild woodland of junk trees and scrub. We began our landscape design by laying out garden beds that were visible from key viewpoints in our house. After three years of intense garden development, our gardens were awarded the "Best in Show" prize in a competition sponsored by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society and Boston Magazine. For our prize, we were sent to Holland, where, at Trompenberg, we discovered the wonderful world of conifers. This life-changing experience took us out of our perennials focus and raised our vision, literally and figuratively, so that we began to emphasize the' bones' of our gardens- with conifers, shrubs and trees. Visually, we like to play flowers off their surrounding foliage, with an emphasis everywhere on the foliage itself. As we and the gardens have grown older, we have come to realize that perennial beds are the most labor intensive of gardening, and that , while a perennial's flowers often last only 2 weeks, the foliage of shrub, vine and tree- lasts the entire gardening year- 3 seasons.The differences in foliage are like the differences in a person's fingerprints- innumerable! Size, shape, color, texture, variegation, smell, light reflectiveness, movement- all contribute to our fascination with foliage! If this is your first visit, you will be surprised how different the gardens look from one week to the next. In the spring, perennials are short, there are many empty spots, and the gardens have a much more open feeling. You can see from one area to the next. In the summer, plants grow taller and fill in so that the various gardens become their own 'garden rooms'. Fences disappear and flowering vines ramble over railings, shrubs, obelisks and arbors. By September, the plants are at their tallest, highlighted by the many ornamental grasses. Design elements we hope you will notice: The repetetive use of purple, yellow, blue and variegated foliage in providing continuity and in keeping the view lively; The role of varying plant heights in a garden bed; The role of varying garden levels and sunken paths in providing a sense of intimacy and privacy;The role of hidden elements and glimpses of vistas - in drawing you into the various garden areas; The role of water elements; The roles of garden art and architecture. We are so glad you have come to share our gardens. Please bring friends and come back often. **And remember- When you see a gate, open it and explore!!** Every gate takes you to a new garden area. Nothing is private except the house. The Way To Have What We Want Is To Share What We Have

I doubt there is much of a concern. All spring flowering bulbs do perfectly well here in our naturally acidic soil and I have never known anyone locally to lime before planting. I never have. Also, you would need to add far more aluminum sulfate than is required to "blue up " the hydrangeas to have much of an impact on lowering soil pH - the application rate to lower pH a half point is 1.5# per 20 square feet. You only need to apply a couple of tablespoons to the hydrangeas.