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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.

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Bloom Day Leftovers, Foliage Follow-Up, and a Question

On Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, I skipped showing a couple of blooms out in the front garden that have been making me smile all summer.

The first is Salvia 'Amistad.' While the plant itself has not been extremely vigorous this year, the fact that it made it through the winter and returned this spring is what makes me happy about it.  The color is lovely and reminds me of when I first saw the plant at Sunset Magazine's former test garden in Menlo Park, CA.


Next up is Alstroemeria isabellana, a plant with which I'd had less than stellar success in the past.  A couple of years ago, I decided to try again.  Last year there were a couple of bloom spikes but this year the plant has really taken off, spread out quite a bit, and has produced these interesting blooms for at least a month now.

From the Far Reaches Farm description: "A hybrid by noted California breeder Fred Meyer between the vining Bomarea and the non-vining Alstroemeria. We have sold it in the past as Alstroemeria x Bomarea 'Fred Meyer' and more recently as Bomarea 'Fred Meyer."   And all this time I thought it had something to do with the plant being discovered as some sort of mutant at a  Fred Meyer store.

Equally interesting is the fun seed pods the plant makes. 

The monster brugmansia in the greenhouse has overcome a two year battle with spider mites and for a short time is filling the space with fragrance. This was in the GBBD post but since the blooms are so short-lived, I couldn't resist sharing a couple more shots.


Although Pam at Digging ceased hosting Foliage Follow-Up on the day after bloom day, I'm still featuring some foliage that's bringing me joy at the moment.   Last summer, the weedy sod in this bed at the intersection of the sidewalks out front was covered with cardboard and manure and a few plants put in.  There is a fire hydrant to the right of the picture so plantings had to be low and be able to withstand some foot traffic should the hydrant need to be used or tested.  Because the main plants are Carex testacea and Acaena inermis ‘Purpurea,'  I call this the New Zealand bed. (Both plants are native to that country.)  It's filling in nicely and the orange and purple evergreen combination is a delight.  Please ignore the weeds.  The Romneya coulteri has sent roots under the sidewalk and wants to take conquer New Zealand.

One last look at this year's Danger Gardette before the annual autumn migration begins. 

This cloud-pruned topiary, looking very shaggy at the moment, (definitely ready for it's autumn haircut!)  has been a structural focal point of the back garden for many years.  It's grown very large for the space, some of the "clouds" are getting a bit scraggly, helped by squirrel traffic and the foliage from the surrounding beds leans in to take advantage of the little sunlight in the space making the paths around the sides a bit tight.  There are several options:  1) Remove the topiary completely and replace it with a non-organic structural element or with a huge pot containing a structural plant (both of these already exist in other parts of the garden where they're not fully visible) 2) Cut back a lot of the surrounding foliage and let the topiary have more space. 3) Severely cut back the topiary which would sulk and look really ugly for a year or two but would eventually recover.  What would you do?

15 comments:

  1. I'm definitely in the cut back surrounding foliage camp Peter. At the very least , try if for a season and see if it turns out the way you would like-I think it would be a shame to remove something that mature and dramatic. Unless you are tired of it of course !

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    1. I love the topiary but not so much giving it a haircut three times a year. It'll most likely stay as that's the easier route and I'm fairly lazy.

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  2. I love the shot of the Brug flowering so profusely up in the rafters of the greenhouse. I cannot get those big Salvias to overwinter outside in the ground.

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    1. I can get them to overwinter but they take a long time to emerge and then the growth isn't particularly lush. Probably better to think of them as annuals here.

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  3. The flowers you missed in your GBBD post certainly deserved their own, Peter. As I'm not a fan of topiary, I'd go with the pot containing another structural plant but then I haven't bonded with the topiary over years of careful pruning.

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  4. The Brugmansia is gorgeous blooming up in the rafters like that. Angels trumpets from the rafters. Makes me laugh. That description of Alstroemeria isabellana is an old one. Here's what Far Reaches says about it now: "We got this from Maggie at Western Hills some years ago and finally can offer this goody. She said this was a hybrid by noted California breeder Fred Meyer between the vining Bomarea and the non-vining Alstroemeria and we have sold it in the past as Alstroemeria x Bomarea 'Fred Meyer' and more recently as Bomarea "Fred Meyer". The great thing about putting a plant on the internet is that all sorts of smart people read about it and very nicely suggest the correct name. This is a surprisingly hardy Brazilian species and Fred Meyer collected in Brazil quite extensively. Good cut flower with long clean stems. We've had this growing happily outside for years and going through single digits in winter with mulch."

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  5. I think I would trim up the topiary and then cut back the plants that want to invade it's space. It is such a pretty thing I sure wouldn't take it out. I bet you appreciate it even more during winter.
    The Danger Gardette is looking good. Too bad you have to take it all in.
    I really like the combo of the Carex T and Acaenea. Great colors together.
    Your Brug looks like it will outgrow the greenhouse in no time.

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    1. You're right, that topiary is especially appreciated in the winter. It most likely will stay and, once I get around to giving it a haircut, I'll feel better about it.

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  6. Tom just mentioned today that he is thinking of starting the migration into the greenhouse of our little patio collection. It's one of my faorite things in the garden and I will miss seeing it from my kitchen window, but wet and chill nights are not friendly to desert and tropical plants.
    I have no advice for you on the topiary. I am always reluctant to give advice on other people's gardens. You will decide what you like best.

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    1. It's sad to see so many fun plants have to move inside during the fall plant migration. I don't see my succulent/cactus collection from the house and don't often go out there during the coldest months so the sting of the move is not noticed as much in my garden as in yours.

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  7. I truly didn't notice the weeds in the New Zealand bed--that area is impressive! 'Amistad' really is gorgeous, isn't it? and it looks really breathtaking with the golden plant behind it!

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    1. How nice of you to say that you didn't notice the weeds. we're always our own worst critics.

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  8. I’m jealous of your Alstroemeria isabellana blooms, not a single one on my plant this year! Leave the topiary!!!

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  9. Love your New Zealand bed. The color of the Carex is fantastic!

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