Planting Plants

Now that cooler weather has arrived (at least for the weekend), spent some time putting plants in the ground or transplanting them to new locations.

Added two more Pittosporum Creme De Mint (Pittosporum tobira 'Shima') along my backyard path.  Have actually had these since late spring and have been babying them in their pots over the summer - glad to finally get them in the ground (before & after shots).

 

Transplanted my Red Billbergia (though bought under this name, I'm beginning to think it's actually Cryptbergia 'Red Burst) from where it was getting buried by a nearby Rattlesnake Agave (Manfreda maculosa) to a more prominent location where its bright red coloration will get more noticed.  Also moved several Friendship Plants (Billbergia nutans) from a front bed back here into the tier behind the Red Billbergia.

Moved several Soap Aloes (Aloe maculata) pups into the top tier of my Three Tiers Garden.  Presently have one blooming and at least three others in the process of sending up bloom stalks - which will be their best showing ever.

Foliage Follow-up: March 2011

Digging hosts Foliage Follow-up on the sixteenth of every month so that the foliar aspects of our garden have their chance to shine.  For this posting, I decided to concentrate on some of the more recent additions to my garden.

Planted last fall, this will be the first spring for the Oakleaf Hydrangea 'Alice' (Hydrangea quercifolia 'Alice').  It never completely lost all of its leaves, but is certainly putting out plenty of new growth.

Crimson Queen Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum var. dissectum 'Crimson Queen') is the first Maple I have ever tried planting directly into the ground.  Its unfolding red leaves are very nice; I hope it establishes itself.

When purchased, this Manfreda didn't have a species name.  It died back completely in winter, but is now emerging with nicely spotted foliage.  Suspect it might be a Rattlesnake Agave (Manfreda maculosa), but I think it may grow a little larger than is the norm for that variety (if anyone can identify, please let me know).  

The foliage of the Coral Bells 'Caramel' (Heuchera villosa 'Caramel') has a wide range of shades - from green to red.  The new growth has the redder colors whereas the older leaves stay green.  Very impressive coloration.

Have always enjoyed the strongly-patterned initial leaf coloration of the Lyreleaf Sage (Salvia lyrata).  It eventually tends to fade back towards a solid green, but that first production of leaves is very nice.

With a diminutive bloom at its center, the Red Billbergia's (Billbergia sp. 'Red') foliage is the primary reason to add it to one's garden.

Be sure to visit Digging to see other Foliage Follow-up postings.

Flower Power: GBBD March 2011

On the fifteenth of every month, May Dream Gardens sponsors Garden Blogger's Bloom Day where we get to document which plants are blooming in our gardens.  Though I have several pictures, in reality the flowers are just beginning to appear - and to see the majority of them, you have to get up close & personal with the plant.  But it certainly holds promise for the coming month.

Established Plants

Missouri Violet (Viola missouriensis) has started to produce a few tiny blossoms.

Lenten Rose (Helleborus orientalis) has a few buds, but only one flower has opened.

Pink Shamrock (Oxalis crassipes 'Rosea') has just begun to show a few blooms.

Chocolate Chip Ajuga (Ajuga reptans 'Valfredda') flowers spikes are just beginning to rise, presently most are under a half inch in height.

With only a couple of bloom stalks rising up, the Catlin's Giant Ajuga (Ajuga reptans 'Catlin's Giant') is at its very initial bloom stages.

Reifler's Dwarf Viburnum (Viburnum obovatum 'Reifler Dwarf') only has a couple of florets - I'm hoping more are coming, but I am unable to locate any.

The blooms of the Dwarf Buford Holly (Ilex cornuta 'Burfordii Nana') are inconspicuous (though not to bees!), but hold the promise of red berries for the next winter.

Though damaged by our extreme winter, the surviving Friendship Plants (Billbergia nutans) have produced a few flowers.

New Plants in the Garden

Purchased and planted already in bloom, the Gopher Plant (Euphorbia rigida) shows off its bright  yellow colors.

Potted Plants

Pulled out from winter storage, the Ox Tongue (Gasteria liliputana) surprised me by already being in bloom.

The one Ground Orchid (Spathoglottis plicata) that started blooming prior to the winter and was brought inside for protection, has kept its flowers throughout.

Covered in flower buds, the Formosa Red Azalea (Azalea indica 'Formosa Red') only has a couple of blooms presently open - but it holds the promise for quite a show in the not-so-distant future.

Indoor Plants

Almost all of my Moth Orchids (Phalaenopsis sp.) are either in bloom or producing bloom stalks.

Flower Wannabes

Beloved by Mockingbirds, the Mahonia (Mahonia aquifolium) berries are slowly ripening.

Berries of the Nandina (Nandina domestica) seem to last forever, their vibrant red colors brightening the garden.

Almost hidden from view, the black berries of the Liriope (Liriope spicata) shimmer when the sunlight reaches them.

As the leaves of the Possumhaw (Ilex decidua) begin to sprout and grow, its berries are slowly getting hidden away amongst the foliage - though the birds will certainly be hunting them.

Dwarf Chinese Holly (Ilex cornuta 'Rotunda') berries have started to fade, but a few still decorate the spiny leaves.

Tardies

Lady Tulips (Tulipa clusiana) flower buds have begun to rise from the ground, but none of mine have opened.

My Texas Betony (Stachys coccinea) have several flower buds at their branch tips, but none have produced their bright red flowers yet.

The recently added 'Mrs. Pollock' Geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum 'Mrs. Pollock') has yet to open a flower, though a few bloom stalks have risen.

Looking like some brightly-colored horror picture monster, the Texas Gold Columbine (Aquilegia chrysantha var. hinckleyana) has several flowers that have not quite opened.

This will be the first spring for my Mexican Buckeye (Ungnadia speciosa) - so I'm hoping the hint of reddish color on the stems is the beginning of its beautiful bloom cycle.

After being severely trimmed back, the old-fashioned Rose (species unknown) has responded by putting out a lot of growth - most new shoots ending in an unopened flower bud.

Be sure to visit May Dream Gardens to see what is blooming in gardens around the world.

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

We Have Discovered Life

One thing about viewing the cold-crisped, brown landscape from my window, one only sees the wider view.  But with time and warmer weather permitting, I've been able to get out in the garden and start trimming away some of the winter damage.  And this closer view allowed for the discovery of new green growth.

Spanish Bluebells (Hyacinthoides hispanica) have been popping out the ground and growing fast.  Hope they set some blooms this year.

Lady Tulips (Tulipa clusiana) did well last year and this year the number of sprouts has increased (I really like their blue-green color).  Hope I have even more of their lovely flowers,

Toad Lily (Tricyrtis lasiocarpa) have begun to emerge.  The potted one has added over a foot of growth already, but the ground-bound plants are just now emerging.

Missouri Violet (Viola missouriensis) got seriously beat up by tree trimmers and their subsequent brush removal.  But new tiny leaves are appearing.

Texas Gold Columbine (Aquilegia chrysantha var. hinckleyana) came through the long freeze fairly well, and now its even putting out plenty of new leaves.

Southern Wood Fern (Dryopteris normalis) is relatively new to my garden.  As expected, the fronds got freeze-dried.  But tiny (only about a quarter inch) fiddleheads are sprouting from the leaf litter.

Sparkler Sedge (Carex phyllocephala 'Sparkler') is another plant that handled the winter quite well.  It too is already putting out new growth.

Even though in a fairly shady area, the Anthony Waterer Spirea (Spiraea x bumalda 'Anthony Waterer') is already putting out new leaves.  Just three feet away and receiving more sunlight, the Goldmound Spirea (Spiraea japonica 'Goldmound') has yet to make a showing.

Though the entire pond was covered with a sheet of ice for several days, it didn't take the Aztec Arrowhead (Sagittaria montevidensis) long to send up its first leaf.

Several of my scattered Amaryllis (Hippeastrum sp.) have already sprouted the beginnings of their strap-like foliage.

Two of the three Friendship Plants (Billbergia nutans) were left uncovered and may be a loss.  But one, due to its location near some Aloes, got some cover.  Though also damaged, it is rewarding this extra attention by already starting to produce some bloom stalks.

Though still early, hints of spring are certainly in the air...and in the plants.