Another random foliage post of whatever caught my eye. After a couple of years this sweet ivy is finally filling in it's hanging pot. It might grow faster if I didn't leave it outside all winter but the reason to have it is to replace a tender hanging basket that comes in for the winter.
After the sweet autumn blooms, Cyclamen hederifolium maks this glorious foliage which will stay green all winter and fade away once warmer days return.
Solanum quitoense is looking forward to moving into the greenhouse soon! It's not at all fond of cold.
Speaking of near death, last year I decided to chop down my Albizia julibrissin 'Summer Chocolate.' It decided, despite stout support, to grow sideways and was getting awfully big for the space. I tried pruning off lots of the branches on the heavy side, and a few other things to make it an upright character but for naught. So, out came the saw and down it came. However, this year, it sent out lots of lovely growth from the trunk which I never got around to digging out. It's a lovely foliage plant and I intend to use it as just that!
Finally some characters from the Danger Gardenette before most of them get dragged inside during Sunday afternoon's big migration.
Lovly large Kalanchoe luciae
I know that this plant has a name but I don't know it. I got it during the Portland Garden Bloggers' Fling at Westwind Farm Studio for a very low price! I was so happy that I was driving home as this probably wouldn't have fit into my carry on luggage.
A side view of part of the Danger Gardenette. The view head on is still blocked by stuff that needs to go back into the garage once the electrician is finished. Hang in there little xeric friends, we'll get you out of this wet weather soon!
That view of Danger Gardenette, succulents en masse like that, wow, dramatic! And nice selection of foliage too, unique and different from each other but all gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI have always liked succulents but Loree pushed me over the edge to agave love with her enthusiasm for them! We are lucky to live in such a temperate climate that allows us to grow so much gorgeous foliage!
DeleteSo many beauties! I really love the variegated ivy and love your collection of succulents. I so wish I could grow Albezia. My friends Sue and Monique both have it in their gardens and I get plant lust every time I see their specimens.
ReplyDeleteI feel fortunate to have so many lovely plants. Unfortunately, not everything gets the attention that it needs so sometimes my individual plants aren't as happy as they could be. Albezia is a beautiful thing but messy after it blooms. Hard to believe that it's a weedy thing in the south.
DeleteThe solanum leaf is mesmerizing. The succulent collection is vast: what a great display. A few are still in bloom. Didn't you tell them it's almost winter-time?
ReplyDeleteI love that solanum's purple fuzzy leaves and am hoping that both of mine will be happy in the greenhouse this winter. I've usually brought them inside the house and they've done better there than in the mostly unheated glass room. They grow fairly easily from seed and Cistus often has them in the spring/summer. Those plants never listen to me warning them about winter. I just noticed that a Yucca gloriosa that's been in my garden for years is just now sending up a flower spike. Weird.
DeleteTotem pole cactus, Lophocereus schottii f. monstrosus? Maybe my favorite cactus -- it's certainly one of the most easy to hug. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's it! What a cool plant! Thanks for the I.D. I'll go out and hug it right now!
DeleteYour Abizia story is similar to what is going on with my Sambucus nigra 'Eva'. Love those surprising rebounds. I've seen 'Summer Chocolate' become a monster dominating an entire back yard, so your way of taming it makes perfect sense.
ReplyDeleteI thought that it was supposed to be a miniature version of Albezia but it certainly didn't act like it! I remember when these were first introduced and Monrovia did the each nursery only gets two or three marketing technique. The price for a one gallon plant was $175.00. Now they're available at box stores for 30 - 50 dollars for five gallon sizes.
DeleteAh that last photo is just dreamy. Reminds me of this garden: http://dangergarden.blogspot.com/2014/10/811-know-whats-below-call-before-you-dig.html
ReplyDeleteThat's quite a compliment as I swooned over that garden when you posted about it! I can't thank you enough for helping me appreciate the beauty of agaves. Don't know how I missed it all these years.
DeleteOh, boo to Alan for giving you a name for that plant that sounds like it might be accurate. I was just going to call it the lumpy, bumpy penis plant. I see from your placement of those two round rocks at its base that you might agree with me. Danger stole my comment about that wonderful last photo, it reminds me of that California garden that she posted about recently too.
ReplyDeleteDo you remember the STD informational fliers that they used to give us in school (maybe still do?) in Junior high with drawings of severe cases of infections of various sorts? This plant reminds me of those. This, children, is why you shouldn't have intimate relations until after marriage! Those are actually coconut halves. I got some nice shiny blue spheres to imitate what I saw at Floramagoria but the coconuts looked better I thought.
DeleteI laughed at the story of the Albizia's return from the dead. I don't believe they can be killed. Like zombies, they're on a mission to take over.
ReplyDeleteI've seen them die so it must be possible. I'm actually happy that it came back and that I can cut it back every couple of years and keep it as a nice open shrub.
DeleteHow embarrassing, Peter, that I've recently killed both that sonchus and that albizia, in a zone where it should be a no-brainer to grow them. You make it look easy! Can't wait to see the photo of the dangerettes all lined up and kicking like the rockettes in the new greenhouse!
ReplyDeleteYour heat and drought, no doubt, were responsible for the demise of your plants! Gardening in our climate is comparatively easy (except for the agaves and succulents that really would prefer the drier feet your climate would provide!
DeleteThe last photo is amazing! So many lovely plants with stunning foliage, do they all have to be brought in for the winter? I will look forward to seeing them in their new home.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Pauline. Most of the plants in the photo must come in for the winter but there are a few that get to stay outside. That spot will look empty soon.
DeleteWow! The Danger Gardenette has become quite the collection!
ReplyDeleteIt's crazy! You repot an agave and you suddenly have many, succulent leaves drops on soil and you've got a babies all over the place.
DeleteJust found your post, Peter, and WOW, that's a lot of succulent pots to move! I know you'll be excited to have your greenhouse finished to house them in. The Summer Chocolate survivor is making a good show of it -- hoping not to be rooted out, I imagine.
ReplyDelete