-

-
Although this could very well be a picture of me finding a new treasure at a favorite nursery, it's actually an illustration by David Catrow for a children's book called Plantzilla.

Friday, January 16, 2015

Foliage Follow-Up January 2015


Each month on the day after Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, the inspirational Pam Penick from Digging hosts Foliage follow up to rmind us of th important role foliage plays in our gardens.  Here are a few random leaves from my garden:

Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Tom Thumb'  is this delicious color year round and in the spring, it's chartreuse new foliage is shockingly gorgeous against the dark foliage!

Common but gorgeous Bergenia takes on lovely burgundy tones in the winter. 


One from the greenhouse - I've temporarily misplaced the tag of this foliage plant with golden tomentum that came from one of my visits to Windcliff this summer. I'm amazed that it not only lived but is thriving in it's nursery pot.  

Back outside is the darling Acorus minimus aureus.  It's so tiny that it's cute!  Also featured is self seeded Cardamine hirsuta (shot weed.) Thank you for noticing.


Euphorbia wulfenii  appears shy as it gets ready to bloom.  We know better.

Lomatia tinctoria (Guitar Plant) not covered with rain.  How did that happen?

The promise of foliage to come.  Inherited Galanthus poking up through the litter that someone should clear away or cover with a light layer of mulch. The foliage of most spring bulbs looks a bit tatty after the flowers fade and the foliage ripens but not the snowdrops!  They make sweet tufts that resemble drifts of ornamental grass then suddenly, they disappear.
What foliage is catching your eye in your garden?   Happy weekend all!  And remember that the Northwest Flower and Garden Show is coming up soon (Feb 11 - 15.)  You won't want to miss the show gardens, the free (FREE) lectures and workshops, an incredible lineup of vendors, and more. Check out their website here. Hope to see you there!

24 comments:

  1. Your Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Tom Thumb' looks delicious! Have you pruned it to keep it so nicely shaped? Mine (which might be 'Tom'...but is definitely dark) is sort of unruly. Your Lomatia tinctoria is also fabulously lush!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 'Tom Thumb' grew that way all by itself. Lomatia looks lovely but mine has never bloomed , maybe because it doesn't get enough sun where it is.

      Delete
  2. I have a few tiny snowdrops nosing their way above the soil too. And plenty of shotweed too. I'm so excited about the flower show this year!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. New plant growth, the flower and garden show...spring is almost here!

      Delete
  3. Your Tom Thumb is looking mighty fine at the moment!

    ReplyDelete
  4. From the Pittosporum to the Acorum, I'm seeing plants I didn't know about and will research online. I'm looking to revamp my front garden, and there are good choices here.
    I can't wait to see the result of you mass bulb planting last fall!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I got kind of frustrated with the lack of time to plant bulbs and dug holes everywhere there was space with no thought about bloom times, colors, etc. Let's hope for the best.

      Delete
  5. I just went out to the garden and picked a foliage bouquet, and included some sarcococoa. Smells great!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wouldn't ya know that the plant I fell for is the one with no name? It's OK...my list is already way too long.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll look for that tag. It may just be pushed down in the pot. It's a beautiful thing!

      Delete
  7. I love the Acorus. I sometimes think foliage is more beautiful than flowers, especially in the fall when the leaves are turning and the plants are drying out. You have some very pretty foliage! Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Flowers are fleeting but foliage is forever. Always fun to go outside, poke around and see what's happening. Glad you enjoyed it.

      Delete
  8. I didn't know there was a Pittosporum with burgundy foliage. I must hunt it down!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh yes, do! It's worth finding! I can just hear Elmer Fudd - Be vewy, vewy quiet, we'wr hunting for Pittosporum...

      Delete
  9. I have Pittosporum tenuifolium'purpureum' which looks very similar. It got hit very badly the first year I planted it a few years ago , in one of the BAD winters. Looking better now, a bit uneven in growth though!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've tried this one several times and this last one finally survived and grew beautifully. It has been enjoying our mild temperatures lately!

      Delete
  10. Interesting foliage! Everything looks bedraggled here since it is so cold in Virginia. The snow has just about melted for now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry that it's so cold for you right now but spring is very near!

      Delete
  11. I love Tom Thumb. I shall look out for him. Shot weed? We call it bittercress. But what ever you call it , it is a pain. Still, it is easy to pull out.

    ReplyDelete
  12. The Tom Thumb foliage is rich and gorgeous, all right. I'm intrigued by the guitar plant too -- cool foliage, and where did it get its common name?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It gets it's common name from the fact that the white flowers resemble the shape of a guitar a bit.

      Delete

Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! I love to hear your thoughts.