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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 redView to my back gate - a burst of red[/one_half]

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

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

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

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

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

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

[one_third]The colour on NandinasWonderful colour on the Nandinas[/one_third]

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

[one_third]Rain drenched Murraya exoticaRain drenched Murraya exotica[/one_third]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[one_half_last]Look! All the new buds on the JasmineLook! 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

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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.

February foliage follow up

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.

February foliage follow up

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.

February foliage follow up
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 …

February foliage follow up

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.

February foliage follow up

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.

February foliage follow up

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

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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 CampanulaCarex and ....[/one_half]

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

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

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

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

[one_half_last]Plectranthus madagascariens and DurantaPlectranthus madagascariens and Duranta[/one_half_last]

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

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

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

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

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

[one_half_last]The new Carex ‘frosted curls’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

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Christine's garden Gardening Home page features Perenniels

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 & LamiumFoliage Follow Up[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Surrounding the HydrangeaMoving in on the Hydrangea[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Chondropetalum tectorum & NandinaChondropetalum tectorum & Nandina[/one_half]

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

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

[one_half_last]Duranta and Festuca scoparisDuranta and Festuca scoparis[/one_half_last]

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

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

[one_half]Agapanthus and Carex evergoldAgapanthus and Carex evergold[/one_half]

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

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

[one_half_last]New: Miscanthus variegatus and ?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 plantArtichoke plant[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Helichrysum petiolareHelichrysum 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.

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Christine's garden Design Gardening Home page features Perenniels

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 LamiumFestuca Glauca, Acorus and Lamium[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Festuca Scoparia and DurantaFestuca Glauca, Acorus and Lamium[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Chondropetalum tectorum and NandinaCape Thatching Reed and Nandina pygmaea[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Pittosporum eugenioides & DietesPittosporum eugenioides ‘Variegata’ & Dietes[/one_half_last]

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

[one_half_last]Iris, Acorus gramineus and Catnip , i mean furIris, Acorus and Cat nip ... er, cat 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