Tag: foliage follow up

Foliage in my wet winter garden

Post author By Christine
Post date June 24, 2012
15 Comments on Foliage in my wet winter garden

After Barbie showed us her winter garden I thought it was about time I ventured out into the garden between downpours to take a few photographs so I too can show you my wet winter garden. This weekend it has rained pretty much non-stop here in the Newlands valley where I live. Its been cold and chilly and I have not been inspired to do any major garden projects. We’ve been staying indoors, keeping warm and reading the odd gardening book. On my walk-about today I realised that it’s all about the foliage at the moment – and the Camellias of course, but I’ve gone on and on about them in the last few weeks, so today I will focus on the foliage and the promise of things to come …

[one_half]View to my back gate – a burst of red[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Its wet, wet, wet everywhere[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Red foliage of the Nandina peeping through[/one_half]

[one_half_last]The Freesias are coming up in the back garden[/one_half_last]

[one_half]There is colour in the new grass garden[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Cape thatching reed looks wonderful[/one_half_last]

[one_third]Irises getting ready for Spring[/one_third]

[one_third]The colour on Nandinas[/one_third]

[one_third_last]The wet wintery Alley-way[/one_third_last]

[one_third]Rain drenched Murraya exotica[/one_third]

[one_third]Nandinas up against the wall[/one_third]

[one_third_last]Rain, rain, go away …[/one_third_last]

[one_half]Ixia bulbs coming up in the grass garden[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Ixias in a moveable pot for a sunny bed[/one_half_last]

[one_half]The Tulips are doing well in moveable pots[/one_half]

[one_half_last]I’m growing Dutch Irises for picking[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Sweet Babianas growing in a pot this year[/one_half]

[one_half_last]More new Irises are coming up[/one_half_last]

[one_half]More Tulips in pots for Spring[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Look! All the new buds on the Jasmine[/one_half_last]

I’m joining Christina for June Foliage Day who says her garden looks as if someone went crazy in it with a blow torch!

I hope you enjoyed the walk through my winter garden.
Happy Gardening
xxx

Tags foliage, foliage follow up, garden bloggers foliage day

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Foliage Follow-up – What happened?

Post author By Christine
Post date May 16, 2012
13 Comments on Foliage Follow-up – What happened?

It’s the 16th day of the month which means its time to join Pam at Diggings for Foliage Follow Up, the monthly gardening meme where garden bloggers showcase the beauty of foliage in their gardens. This month I’m looking for advice …

“Variegation is the appearance of differently coloured zones in the leaves, and sometimes the stems, of plants. This may be due to a number of causes. Some variegation is attractive and ornamental and gardeners tend to preserve these”.

Most gardeners love variegated foliage and I’m no exception. I love the contrast they provide and discovering how one can add interest in a garden with different colours, shapes and textures of foliage is what really got me interested in gardening. I can spend hours looking at different foliage types in a nursery and I have spent many, many hours pouring over books learning about different plants and their foliage and how to use them in a planting scheme.

One of my favourites has been the unassuming Acorus gramineus ‘Variegatus’ (Japanese sweetflag) that I use as a contrast in my back shade garden. I’ve really loved this easy plant and have used it in my big plant bed as a border at intervals, for repetition and colour. Its been a stellar performer up until very recently when I noticed one of the groupings starting to go ‘all green’, i.e. reverting to all one colour (‘reverting to type’ is what I believe it is called).

I thought I’d show a few photos of it … the way it was and how it looks now.

In my ‘brand new’ garden in February 2011 …

And then a few weeks later I planted some more in another spot …

Still more, I have this in groups of five in four differences places …

A closer view of the variegated foliage …

Here you can see what a wonderful contrast it provides to some of my foundation plants …

And now … just a few months later its ‘returning to type’ / going green. Sigh … what to do?

Is this something I should be expecting? Is this normal? It is not an expensive plant. In fact I can buy them very cheaply and am wondering whether I should just yank these out and replace them with fresh new plants, or will they change back again? I love this plant – It’s evergreen, has narrow, shiny erect, fine leaves that are about 12 – 18 inches long. According to my notes it likes Sun to light shade; prefers moist to wet organically enriched soil.

I’d really appreciate any opinions and advice on this. They don’t look attractive the way I’ve planted them if they are all just green like this as they just look like ordinary lawn that has been left to grow wild – which is not the look I was going for, or want right here. It looks exactly like overgrown lawn right now.

Happy gardening
xxx

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Foliage Follow Up in March

Post author By Christine
Post date March 16, 2012
11 Comments on Foliage Follow Up in March

Interesting contrast - close up of the leaf

It’s the 16th day of March which means its time to join Pam at Diggings for March Foliage Follow Up, the monthly gardening meme where garden bloggers showcase the beauty of foliage in their gardens.

At no time has it been more obvious to me than over the last few weeks, just how important foliage is in the garden. With no mass displays of gorgeous blooms my garden would have been a sorry sight without the colour, interest and lush growth all the different foliage has provided. With small areas of pretty blooms highlighting beautiful shades of greens, greys and blues, contrasting shapes, forms and textures … it’s been a wonderful few weeks of admiring the foliage.

Here are some of my favourite foliage plants and combinations I’m enjoying at the moment. In the third and fourth photos below, the coloured leaf from the Silver Birch tree (Betula pendula) has fallen into the Dusty Miller – I was amazed at how interesting and beautiful the colour contrast is – in nature. I’m not sure I’d put those colours together but when it happens naturally it is simply beautiful.

[one_half]Carex evergold and Duranta “Sheena’s gold”[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Ipomoea batatas and Osteopernum[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Carex, Dusty Miller and an autumn leaf[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Interesting contrast – close up of the leaf[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Artemesia Silver Mound and Cissus[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Artemesia schmidtiana ‘Silver Mound’[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Carex and Sutera – what do you think?[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Nandina pygmaea and Plectranthus[/one_half_last]

[one_half]I’m liking how all these work together[/one_half]

[one_half_last]and the start of Autumn leaves …[/one_half_last]

The Artemesia schmidtiana ‘Silver Mound’ is a brand new purchase. I really like it but I bought it on impulse and don’t have a plan for it. I’ve been hauling it around and placing it next to existing plants to see where it will look good – so far I’m not finding the perfect place, so it’ll have to live in the pot for a bit longer.

[note_box]PS: Please join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter – we’ll be so happy if you do![/note_box]

Happy gardening
xxx

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February Foliage Follow-Up

Post author By Christine
Post date February 19, 2012
11 Comments on February Foliage Follow-Up

Foliage has played a major role in providing interest and colour in my late summer garden here in sunny Cape Town. Its been a hot, dry month and although I’m sure we are not over the heat of summer just yet, I think our hottest days might be over. I didn’t plan very well for a flower show this summer – partly because I was distracted in October and November last year and partly because I was concentrating on adding foliage interest in the garden. How fortunate it is that I ‘fell in love with foliage’ as it is the different colours, shapes and textures being provided by all the foliage that make my Summer garden pop.

I’m a few days late in joining up with Pam at Diggings for February Foliage Follow Up, a monthly gardening meme where Pam and other garden bloggers showcase the beauty of foliage in their gardens. So let’s get right to it – Here are some of my favourite foliage plants and combinations right now.

Apart from the few Angelonias, this entire area is a mass of colour not from blooms but because of the different foliage used.

Another favourite foliage scene, my little “woodland”. As you can see there are a few lonely blooms but the area looks green and lush with interest provided by foliage.

A new acquisition this month is Carex testacea ‘Prairie fire’. These plants are small so the wonderful orange foliage is hardly visible at this stage but given the right growing conditions and care, these should look magnificent ’round about next year this time.

My new favourite foliage plant is Ipomoea batata – I love the colour – Chartreuse – (even saying it is cool!). I’ve tested this in small areas in my garden to see whether I can replace some of the now thuggy Lamium. I do like the Lamium and its extremely useful in deep dry shade – but I don’t want it to take over the entire garden so I’m hoping to lift a few area with the lovely colour of this lime green Ipomoea. Look how pretty replacing some Lamium here …

Another old favourite combo – the Duranta with Impatiens peeping through it. I realised today how much this shrub has grown. It had been left for dead after last years plumbing disaster – but has revived and is once again flourishing. So pleased about that. Again I love the colour which is a fabulous contrast in a foliage garden.

Another favourite combo. Actually, to be honest, here I am just showing off my blue Hydrangea. The first bloom of the season on this plant was pink. We fed and mulched and (it seems) did all the right things and now her blooms are the desired shade of blue. Just the way I love it.

If you know Pam or follow her blog, (if not, why not?), please join me in wishing her a Happy 6th Blogga-birtha-versary! She wrote a lovely post to celebrate her 6th year of blogging at “My 6th Blogiversary and I’m still Digging Gardens“. Congratulations Pam! 6 years is amazing. Here’s to the next 6!

Happy Gardening
xxx

Tags foliage, foliage follow up, garden bloggers foliage day

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January Foliage

As is customary at this time of the month, I’m joining Pam at Diggings for January Foliage Follow Up, a monthly gardening meme where Pam and other garden bloggers showcase the beauty of foliage in their gardens. Lots of casualties here in the scorching summer sun. I’m losing a few Agapanthus to something that seems to be devouring them from the inside out, one of the new Carex is wilting and succumbing to the heat of summer and some of the Mexican Feather grass is not happy in the full sun spot I allocated it. A few other casualties too, but let’s focus on the positive and have a look at the foliage combos I’m particularly attracted to this month …

I found a Persian Shield (Strobilanthes dyerianus) at my local nursery. Ever since I discovered this in one of my favourite gardening books, “Foliage”, by Nan Ondra, I’ve wanted one. And how marvellous that it requires partial shade – I have plenty of those spots in my back garden. I plan to plant it in an amongst the little field of white Impatiens I have got going on in the back. But then look at this … at the same time I bought the Persian Shield I bought another variegated Hydrangea and had them standing together. Look how beautiful these two look together …

I might have to plant these in close proximity to each other.

Here are my favourite foliage plants and foliage combinations this month.

[one_half]The wonderful Strobilanthes dyerianus[/one_half]

[one_half_last]The variegated Hydrangea[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Dusty Miller with Carex Evergold[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Dusty Miller with Carex ‘Frosted Curls’[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Trachelospernum jasminoides “Chameleon”[/one_half]

[one_half_last]P. madagascariens & Ipomoea batatas[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Wild Iris & Helychrisum petiolare[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Nandina and the Louisiana Irises[/one_half_last]

I’m finding Summer to be the most challenging in the garden so far. There is so much that needs taking care of and the heat doesn’t inspire me to get things done. Dare I say this? I’m looking forward to Autumn!

Happy Gardening
xxx

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Foliage Follow-up in December

Post author By Christine
Post date December 16, 2011
13 Comments on Foliage Follow-up in December

As is customary at this time of the month, I follow-up The gardening event of the month, Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, with a post highlighting the foliage that is flourishing in the garden. Pam at Diggings hosts the monthly Foliage Follow Up, a monthly gardening meme where Pam and other garden bloggers showcase the beauty of foliage in their gardens on the 16th of the month. As I have become quite passionate about foliage plants this is one of my favourite posts to do every month.

A new acquisition this month were a small variegated Hydrangea I bought (which was a half price bargain) which I’m planting in a very shaded corner that needs some ‘lifting ad Carex ‘frosted curls’ which I’m filling in a few blank spaces with where I want an evergreen “grass-like” look. I like Carex for its mounding habit (and because it is so easy and thrives in shade – perfect for my garden). I’ve included a photo of the foliage of my Tibouchina because I am marvelling at how beautiful it is. This was a plant I moved because it was not doing well at all. In fact I thought it was history. We moved it to the back garden into a shaded spot against a wall and it has done an about turn – growing huge, lush leaves that are quite lovely. Sadly, no flowers, but I love the plant so I don’t really mind. And perhaps it will flower again some time.

Here are my favourite foliage views this month …

[one_half]Carex and Campanula[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Duranta, Dietes and Zantadeschia[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Love the colour on the Nandina pygmaea[/one_half]

[one_half_last]New: Variegated Hydrangea for a shady spot[/one_half_last]

[one_half]I’m loving the Dusty Miller that’s growing fast[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Plectranthus madagascariens and Duranta[/one_half_last]

[one_half]I like this combo, strappy Irises and Ficus[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Accidental: Festuca glauca and Impatiens[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Agapanthus, Lamium, Duranta and Scoparia[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Foliage of the recovering Tibouchina[/one_half_last]

[one_half]I am surprised at the lovely foliage of Cleome![/one_half]

[one_half_last]The new Carex ‘frosted curls’[/one_half_last]

I’m quite amazed – looking back at my photos now, it’s quite fascinating how much colour and excitement carefully selected foliage brings to the garden. The biggest gardening lesson I learnt all year!

Happy Gardening
xxx

Tags foliage, foliage follow up, garden bloggers foliage day

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Foliage Follow Up in November

Post author By Christine
Post date November 16, 2011
16 Comments on Foliage Follow Up in November

The past few months I’ve become quite obsessed with the foliage in my garden. I’ve been concentrating on the look of plants and their foliage (rather than the blooms) and I’ve acquired a number of new plants bought purely for their lovely foliage or for the way they will look in the garden when combined with my existing plants. I think my favourite new acquisition is Festuca glauca which I first admired in my Gardening Mentors’ garden, Diana of Elephant’s Eye in Porterville. Diana has a real gift for beautiful combinations and the results are extraordinary!

Without any further waffle, here are my latest “combinations” that I am enjoying at the moment – experienced gardeners, please jump in and tell me if you see something that is not pleasing to the eye – I am learning and don’t always see when things don’t gel well together. I appreciate constructive criticism – it helps me to grow as a gardener.

[one_half]Festuca glauca, scoparis, Acorus & Lamium[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Surrounding the Hydrangea[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Chondropetalum tectorum & Nandina[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Acorus gramineus, Curry plant & Hypoestes[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Agapanthus, Plectranthus & Scoparis[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Duranta and Festuca scoparis[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Acorus gramineus – just love this[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Newly planted: Miscanthus sinesis “Zebrinus”[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Agapanthus and Carex evergold[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Dusty miller and Carex Evergold[/one_half_last]

[one_half]New: Duranta and Mexican feather grass[/one_half]

[one_half_last]New: Miscanthus variegatus and ?[/one_half_last]

I’ve forgotten the name of the very last grass – I think its Pennisetum “something-or-other”. The last two photographs are of brand new combination plantings, so they still need some time to grow to show off their potential. This month I need to concentrate on flowering plants again – this “foliage obsession” has resulted in very few blooms in my “November garden“, but the foliage is looking lush and great!

Below is a new combination I’ve just planted about a week ago. I planted the Artichoke a while back and because of its “upright” way of growing, its showing lots of bare ground below. So I’ve planted the silver-hued Helichrysum petiolare below it as a contrast (I saw this on someones blog, I forget which one) and I loved the combination. I planted the Helichrysum only last week so it will need a few weeks to spread and fill out before I can see how it actually looks. Hopefully I will be able to show it next month, and I hope it looks good. Here are the individual plants… What do you think – Good combo, or no? I’m thinking something “pretty” that flowers should join this combo, but not sure what yet. Any suggestions? The spot is quite sunny – sunny enough for the Artichoke to be growing at a furious pace.

[one_half]Artichoke plant[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Helichrysum petiolare[/one_half_last]

Happy Gardening
xxx

About Foliage Follow Up

Today I’m linking up with Pam at Diggings for Foliage Follow Up. “Foliage Follow Up” is a monthly gardening meme where Pam and other garden bloggers showcase the beauty of foliage in their gardens on the 16th of the month.

Tags foliage, foliage follow up, garden bloggers foliage day

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Garden Bloggers Foliage Day

Post author By Christine
Post date September 25, 2011
11 Comments on Garden Bloggers Foliage Day

Another post I’m late with – I’m joining Christina of Creating my own garden of the Hesperides in her new monthly Garden Bloggers Foliage Day which takes place on the 22nd of every month. As I also took part in Foliage Follow-up on the 15th, I found it a bit difficult to do another post about foliage so soon after, without being totally repetitive. That is, until I had the bright idea of showing my current favourite foliage combinations for this post.

Let me preface this post by reminding all that I am a very new gardener and am learning by reading, observation, trial and error. These combinations I am showing here are my own experimentation where I am playing around with colour, texture and form. They work for me … right now. Perhaps I will look back in a year and cringe, perhaps not, time will tell.

I have a few books I have found most beneficial when considering plant combinations and that have changed the way I garden. Two in particular … the first is “Foliage” by Nancy Ondra which I bought on the recommendation of Cathy & Steve of Our Garden Journal. The book opened my eyes to what can be accomplished in the garden without ever considering the flowering potential of a plant. I love this way of gardening as it creates a garden which always looks wonderful, regardless of the season. The second book, which I am absorbed in right now, is “Designing with Grasses” by Neil Lucas. I love ornamental grasses and am on a hunt for a few that will add more interest in my garden. I’m off to buy Miscanthus sinesis “Variegatum” next week. I can’t wait to add this to my garden and have the perfect place for it.

For today, these are my current favourite combinations (Click images to enlarge)

[one_half]Festuca Glauca, Acorus and Lamium[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Festuca Scoparia and Duranta[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Chondropetalum tectorum and Nandina[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Pittosporum eugenioides & Dietes[/one_half_last]

[one_half]A mix of foliage I love[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Iris, Acorus gramineus and Cat~~nip~~ , i mean fur[/one_half_last]

These are just a few select combinations I’ve been working on very recently. Im really loving the combination of photo 4 – the Pittosporum eugenioides ‘Variegata’ with the tall strappy Dietes in front of it and the Delphiniums peeping through … I can stare at it all day. I think the lovely bark of the tree right next to it all enhances the scene of course.

I have a long way to go and right now its all about finding the right plants – sometimes it means waiting for the plant to become available or driving way out of town to a specialist nursery to get it … but its so worth while when it all works.

Happy Gardening
xxx

Tags foliage, foliage follow up, garden bloggers foliage day

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September Foliage Follow up

Post author By Christine
Post date September 17, 2011
6 Comments on September Foliage Follow up

I took some time out today to take some photographs of the foliage in the garden to link up with Pam at Diggings for Foliage Follow Up. “Foliage Follow Up” is a monthly gardening meme where Pam and other garden bloggers showcase the beauty of foliage in their gardens on the 16th of the month. Please join Hercules and I as we stroll through the garden. It’s not just the flowers that smell good … according to Hercules!

[one_half]Welcome! Join us as we stroll the garden[/one_half]