Still Planting

Summer has arrived and temperatures are breaking into triple digits, but I'm still trying to get some plants into the ground and then hope to baby them through the remainder of the summer.

A couple of years back, I had planted several Autumn Ferns (Dryopteris erythrosora) between the Cast Iron Plants (Aspidistra elatior) and the bed's rock border, but the ongoing drought hammered them into submission.  So I decided to try planting five Wavy Scaly Cloakferns (Astrolepis sinuata) as they are rumored to handle low water conditions better.

Before

After

Then I transplanted four Soap Aloe (Aloe maculata) pups along the highest point of the top level of my Three Tiers Bed.  I had originally planned on placing a couple of Agaves here, but tree roots prevented me from replacing the original soil with enough good drainage for them.

Instead, I placed one of the Variegated Thread Leaf Agave (Agave schidigera 'Shira Ito No Ohi') into the front of the lowest level tier where one of my Agave 'Blue Glow' had died.  I have one Agave left and will likely place it into a pot.

More Planting

I wasn't planning on doing much planting as we are certainly into our hot summer months, but a 75% off sale convinced me otherwise.  Only got seven of the seventeen purchases into the ground today, so more is still on the schedule.

I added three Milky Way Cast Iron Plants (Aspidistra lurida 'Milky Way') around the base of a Mahonia (Mahonia aquifolium) to add some greenery amongst the rocks.

Another bare spot fit this Ascot Rainbow Euphorbia (Euphorbia martini 'Ascot Rainbow') perfectly.  Have not tried this species before, so I'm hoping this locale gets enough light for it to do well.

The three Echeveria setosa were added to my Three Tiers bed, bracketing the center Calamar Squid Agave (Agave bracteosa 'Calamar').  Several of the remaining purchases are planned for this bed also.

More Plants

Was able to get a few more plants into the garden soil this weekend.

Placed two additional Milky Way Cast Iron Plants (Aspidistra lurida 'Milky Way') into the second tier to the left of my pond.  Didn't get any before shots, but it ain't too hard to picture what it used to look like.  Already had some Milky Ways in front of the rock wall; they got hammered by some of our extreme cold a couple of winters back, but are recovering.

I've always liked their spotted foliage.  Mine have always stayed small, especially compared to the regular Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior).

Also got two Pam's Pink Turk's Cap (Malvaviscus drummondii 'Pam Puryear') to add to a bare spot near a potted Root Beer Plant (Piper auritum), a pass-along from Philip at East Side Patch.  Sadly, I have not been able to provide the Root Beer Plant with as much water as it desires - thus I have had to bid it farewell.

The two Pam's Pink Turk's Cap should fill in here and hopefully provide some needed summertime color.

 I've already decided I likely need to get at least one, possibly two, more to adequately fill the space.

Such nice weather for planting plants.  Though a predicted change in the weather for next weekend got me to go ahead and set up my pop-up greenhouse; it will remain empty for now, but at least I'm prepared.

Three Tiers

My Three Tiers bed has always been a bit of a challenge (its name is something of a play on Three Tears).  The top tier has done well with Cast Iron Plants (Aspidistra elatior) & Soap Aloes (Aloe maculata), but the lower two tiers have mainly been planted with annuals (though the shade makes winter annuals pretty iffy)

Last year I abandoned planting annuals in the bottom two levels, and opted for the tough Autumn Ferns (Dryopteris erythrosora) that have done well in other parts of the garden.  Then the Summer From Hell arrived, and coupled with a fallen tree that allowed additional late day sunshine to reach the bed, the ferns were toast (though the oak sprouts were still plentiful...grumble).

Thus I decided to go with more drought and heat tolerant specimens - ones that can still take some scattered shade for much of the day.  The first step was to dig out all the existing soil so it could be replaced with one more suited for xeriscape specimens.

This first step quickly turned into more work than anticipated.  The soil was so ridden with roots and oak sprouts that a regular shovel couldn't be used (it kept getting tangled and caught so that all the captured soil would spill out or the blade couldn't be lifted).  So I ended up using a trowel and my hands - a scoop at a time, the wheelbarrow loads rolled out.

The roots and sprouts were snipped and pulled until bedrock was reached.  Of course, there were also massive roots that simply had to be detoured around.

And irrigation pipes and television cables to be dodged and carefully left unbroken and uncut.

Then, in hopes of eliminating (or at least re-directing) the oak sprout return, the bottom was lined with weed barrier cloth (there should be plenty of soil above the fabric for drought-tolerant plants - I hope!).  Weaving this under the existing rock walls required some careful juggling.

Then the beds were refilled with two pickup truck loads of Thunder Dirt from Geo Growers.

Next, the excess cloth was trimmed away from the rock borders.

And finally, plants that had been patiently waiting for over a month were placed into the beds.  The middle tier received a Twin-flowered Agave (Agave geminiflora) and three Calamar Squid Agaves (Agave bracteosa 'Calamar').  I hope to eventually add some Soap Aloes (Aloe maculata) between them.  The lower tier received three Agave 'Blue Glow'.  Plans still include several 'Cherry Coke' Dyckias and, as time goes on, succulents will likely be added to help fill some of the empty spaces.

Most of the plants should eventually double in size.  So this is the new revised Three Tiers Bed.

Shady Happenings: Late February

I have been slowly removing and trimming back remnants of this winter's damage.   Cast Iron Plants (Aspidistra elatior) are tough, but there is always some damage even during milder winters.  But our unusually extreme cold snap seems to have hit the Milky Way Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra lurida 'Milky Way') even harder.  I had to trim away almost all its leaves, though it should grow back just fine.

One of the aspects that I enjoy about the Red Dragon Knotweed (Persicaria microcephala 'Red Dragon') is the coloration of its new growth when it emerges in spring.  The two-toned deep burgundy color is very attractive.

I overwintered two Gold Dust Plants (Aucuba japonica 'Variegata') in nursery pots as I have not yet determined exactly where I want them in the garden.  Both ended up doing something I had never seen before: they're blooming!  They have clusters of tiny green and reddish-brown flowers.

Another plant that I rarely see bloom, but is currently doing so, is the Wandering Jew (Tradescantia zebrina).  Kept in the pop-up greenhouse over the winter, its little lavender flowers make its relationship to the yard's  spiderworts quite obvious.

Have also been doing some planting of recent purchases.  Though likely it will want more sunshine than I can provide, I couldn't pass up the amazing foliage of the 'Mrs. Pollock' Geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum 'Mrs. Pollock').  Even if the plant, due to insufficient light, never produces any blooms, I'll be pleased if it just produces leaves!

Another new plant added to the garden is Red Billbergia (Billbergia sp. 'Red').  In the past, I have enjoyed my Friendship Plants (Billbergia nutans) though this past hard winter certainly caused them some serious damage.  But if this Billbergia, with its attractive reddish foliage, can do as well - then I'll be quite happy.

Planted in the Ground

• Rosemary 'Lockwood de Forest' (Rosmarinus officinalis 'Lockwood de Forest'): Planted in the utility side of the garden where a fallen tree opened the canopy; though wasn't enough sunshine for a Rose to make it there.  Here's hoping a Rosemary can.
• Seeds of Dill, Parsley & Thyme

Unprotected Results

I previously reported on the protected plants and the results of our prolonged freeze here in central Texas.  Now its time to examine the plants that received no protection which showed damage or which looked bad but appear to be recovering.

The Gold Dust Plants (Aucuba japonica 'Variegata') originally looked quite sad, but after a couple days of warmth, they have completely recovered.

The potted Bear's Breech (Acanthus 'Summer Beauty') initially looked sad, and now...well...sad doesn't even begin to describe its condition.  Will have to see if it recovers from the roots (presently, I am hopeful).

The Formosa Red Azalea (Azalea indica 'Formosa Red') has also bounced back looking no worse for the exposure.  I had though it should be able to handle the conditions, but its droopy look a couple of days ago had me worried.

No surprise here.  I had not anticipated the Palm Grass (Setaria palmifolia) foliage to make it through even our regular winter lows.  The plan was for it to return from roots - now I'll just have to wait and see.

The Coral Bells 'Caramel' (Heuchera villosa 'Caramel') looked a little tired, but is another that bounced back strong once the temperatures warmed up.  I had suspected that this plant should be able to handle the lows, but since it is new to my garden, there is always doubt.

Another new plant to the garden is the Butterfly Iris (Iris 'nada').  It has handled all previous freezes without showing any damage (even putting on some new growth during the warmer spells).  But it also was one that looked rather sad - but it has bounced back with only some minor damage.

The forgotten Gasteraloe 'Midnight' (meant to cover it - though I'm thinking it would not have made a difference) might look healthy in the picture, but every piece of green is soft and mushy.  I'm afraid it may be a complete loss.

I have never protected my Manfreda 'Macho Mocha' (Manfreda x Mangave 'Macho Mocha') (even during last year's 18 degree lows), but they certainly got hurt by the extreme length of this winter's cold exposure.  Much of the plant  is soft and mushy - can't yet tell if the center is still firm.  Time will tell.

The Variegated Flax Lilies (Dianella tasmanica 'Variegata'), another plant that can handle our typical Central Texas lows, has certainly been knocked back to its roots (much like last year).   But it should return.

Blooming just days prior to the serious freeze, the Variegated Abutilons (Abutilon pictum 'Thompsonii') & Marilyn's Choice Abutilon all have freeze-dried leaves (and blossoms).  As  this is my first winter with the Abutilons, I will have to wait and see if they return from the above-ground stems, the roots or even at all.

With day after day of below freezing temperatures, the Texas Gold Columbine (Aquilegia chrysantha var. hinckleyana) had finally laid flat on the ground.  But with warmer temperatures, it has begin to look much healthier.

Two of the garden's three Friendship Plants (Billbergia nutans) were left to fend for themselves without protection in the cold temperatures.  It is really difficult to tell the condition of the plant.  It isn't soft or mushy, nor has its color faded or darkened.  Will have to give it time to see the effects.

Of the two Foxtail Ferns (Asparagus densiflorus 'Meyersii'), one is potted and one is in the ground.  The protected potted one received minor damage whereas the unprotected soil-based one certainly has more of its stems showing the tell-tale brownish tint that likely will lead to that portion being lost.  But the plant should pull through.

Last year's 18 degree low hammered the Lily of the Nile (Agapanthus africanus) almost completely back to its roots.  So this years lengthy freeze (and 17 degree low) will certainly cause a repeat of last year's results.

Also a repeat low temperature victim is the Pink Rain Lilies (Zephyranthes rosea).  Their foliage typically withstand lows in the mid-20s, but temperatures in the teens lead it to lose everything above ground.  But spring should see it sprouting once again.

A couple of others that appeared a little upset with the cold, but have survived with only minimal damage include Joe Pye Shrub & Cast Iron Plants (Aspidistra elatior).

Of course, there are several other plants that did as expected.  Evergreens continued on in their foliar ways.  Deciduous plants had lost their leaves long ago.  The usual perennial culprits disappeared back into the ground, but will return with the spring.  Likely, some that presently appear undamaged will begin to show signs as the months progress, and others that looked to have received mortal blows will bounce back.

For now, its a waiting game.