Foliage Follow-up: January 2011

Foliage Follow-up is sponsored by the Digging garden blog on the sixteenth of every month, where we get to celebrate the leafy aspects of our gardens.  On this dreary, drippy day, I decided to concentrate on the few plants I have that tend to disappear in our summer's heat but make a return in the coolness of winter.

Though only starting to peak out from the leaf litter, the Sweet Kate Spiderwort (Tradescantia x andersoniana 'Sweet Kate') has begun to produce some green amongst the brown.  It will primarily shine during the spring, but will fade once things get hot and dry.

Considered by many to be invasive, I threw caution to the wind this past spring and added White Shamrock (Oxalis crassipes 'Alba') to my garden.  It completely disappeared in the summer, but has been coming back strong this winter.

Back in mid-September, from the bare ground, up shot my first Red Spider Lily (Lycoris radiata) bloom.  I'm hoping for plenty more blossoms next fall as the bulbs are producing good foliage this winter.

After almost completely disappearing over the summer, Bear's Breech (Acanthus 'Summer Beauty') always comes on strong once the temperatures start dropping.  Its huge leaves make an impressive show (though recent low temperatures have wilted the plant a little).

Another plant that is completely lacking vegetation in the summer, the Oxblood Lily (Rhodophiala bifida) is once again making its presence known.  Planted only last March, I have yet to get any blooms but hope some will make an appearance this fall.

Wasn't sure if my spring-planted Heartleaf Skullcap (Scutellaria ovata) had made it through the summer heat.  Winter and early spring should be its time to shine, but I'm not completely confident with it yet.

Though present year-round, the Burgundy Glow Ajuga (Ajuga reptans 'Burgundy Glow') does add quite a bit to the winter color.  The burgundy coloration intensifies and spreads during the colder temperatures and makes it quite eye-catching. 

Be sure to visit Digging to see the foliage that other gardeners are sharing from their winter gardens.

Planting Plants

Spent most of the morning plant shopping, then returned home to digging holes, breaking up & removing rocks, adding sand & peat moss, and sticking plants into the ground.  Planted the following: three Marilyn's Choice Abutilon (two 4" plus a one gallon), two 4" Mexican Honeysuckle (Justicia spicigera), a Salvia splendens 'Van Houttei', three 4" Heartleaf Skullcap (Scutellaria ovata) and a Black Knight Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii 'Black Knight').  Kept finding myself sitting on the deck, listening to the birdsong, my eyes closed as I soaked in the sunshine.

With the filtered light coming through the trees, its always a gamble trying to get anything to actually produce flowers.  I sometimes get fooled at this time of the year into thinking I have more sunshine than I really do because the Red Oaks & Black Cherry Tree presently lack leaves.  I see all that sunshine making it to the ground and think I have found an ideal spot for a plant ("Look at all that glorious sunshine!  This plant will be covered in blooms.") - only to have the plant produce foliage but not flowers.  I have started trying to make sure that I like the plant's leaves and structure; then if I happen to get a few blooms, I feel like I got a bonus!