Flower Power: April 2014

 Sponsored by May Dream Gardens

Established Plants

Catlin's Giant Ajuga (Ajuga reptans 'Catlin's Giant')

Texas Gold Columbine (Aquilegia chrysantha var. hinckleyana)

Chocolate Chip Ajuga (Ajuga reptans 'Valfredda')

Cedar Sage (Salvia roemeriana)

Gulf Coast Penstemon (Penstemon tenuis)

 

Potted Plants

Formosa Red Azalea (Azalea indica 'Formosa Red')

Spider Aloe (Aloe x spinosissima)

Ox Tongue (Gasteria glomerata)

Ox Tongue (Gasteria liliputana)

Indoor Plants

Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis sp.)

Flower Wannabes

Dwarf Buford Holly (Ilex cornuta 'Burfordii Nana')

Mahonia (Mahonia aquifolium)

Tardies

Rattlesnake Agave (Manfreda maculosa)

Amaryllis (Hippeastrum sp.)

Flower Power: GBBD April 2013

 Sponsored by May Dream Gardens

Established Plants

Ghost Plant (Graptopetalum paraguayense)

 Cedar Sage (Salvia roemeriana)

 Chinese Indigo (Indigofera kirilowii)

 Chocolate Chip Ajuga (Ajuga reptans 'Valfredda')

 Texas Gold Columbine (Aquilegia chrysantha var. hinckleyana)

 Jerusalem Sage (Phlomis fruticosa)

 Banana Shrub (Michelia figo)

 Texas Betony (Stachys coccinea)

 Soap Aloe (Aloe maculata)

 Gulf Coast Penstemon (Penstemon tenuis)

 White Shamrock (Oxalis crassipes 'Alba')

Pink Shamrock (Oxalis crassipes 'Rosea')

 Purple Oxalis (Oxalis triangularis subsp. papilionaceae 'Atropurpurea')

Mexican Honeysuckle (Justicia spicigera)

New Plants in the Garden

Shrimp Plant (Justicia brandegeeana)

Pam's Pink Turk's Cap (Malvaviscus drummondii 'Pam Puryear')

Annuals

Viola cornuta 'Babyface Ruby and Gold'

Pansies (Viola tricolor)

 

Potted Plants

Star Begonia (Begonia heracleifolia)

Aloe 'Doran Black'

Haworthia coarctata

Indoor Plants

Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis sp.)

 

 

 

Tardies

Rattlesnake Agave (Manfreda maculosa)

 Amaryllis (Hippeastrum sp.)

 Oakleaf Hydrangea 'Alice' (Hydrangea quercifolia 'Alice')

 Little White Soldiers (Drimiopsis maculata)

Odontocidium Wild Willie 'Pacific Bingo'

Planting Plants

I was able to get a few of my recently purchased plants into the ground.

I have always envisioned having one or two Maidenhair Ferns near my pond's waterfall.  After doing some minor rock work, I was able to enlarge a small pocket so that it could hold a plant.  A single Mairis's Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum x mairisii) fit nicely and will hopefully fill in the spot.

My single Jerusalem Sage (Phlomis fruticosa) has done so well that I decided to add two more nearby.

I have always enjoyed variegated plants, so I recently grabbed two variegated Abutilons (sp. unknown) and added them to a narrow, shady bed.

Nearby, I decided to try a Shrimp Plant (Justicia brandegeeana).  Once it's grown a bit, maybe it will add some color to this shady area.

Lastly, in a small area near a path, I decided to add three additional Chocolate Chip Ajugas (Ajuga reptans 'Valfredda') to the small existing patch that has been doing well.

I continue to prepare beds either by mixing copious amounts of compost in already planted beds or by digging out areas, removing rocks, mixing the heavy soil with twice as much compost and then returning it to it's original bed.  It takes a lot of time and effort, but hopefully it will make subsequent planting easier.