For me one of the best parts of gardening is watching the plants grow and mature over time. But planting little tiny newbies is hard, when you want the garden you see in your mind's eye, NOW.
Earlier this spring, in April, I had reason to look back at my "not so big reveal" of the front garden from 2011, when I replanted with many of the plants that are there now. This was the overall shot looking north, pretty underwhelming, eh? I left that Euphorbia simply because it was the only thing with any size to it.
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Roughly the same angle, photo taken May 25th. The Pieris japonica against the house were dug out in 2013 and replaced by a pair of Pineapple Guava (Acca sellowiana, detailed here). Of course you can't see them in this photo, since the Fatsia japonica (and my car) is hiding them. It (the Fatsia) was present in the 2011 photo, but disguised behind the Yucca.
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Looking south, 2011.
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And 2018. The Tetrapanax was in the 2011 photo, but only about a foot high. The Arctostaphylos densiflora ‘Harmony’ was too, it's a tiny blob to the left, lower, center (above) and now ruling the entire photo! Thankfully the Rhododendron in front of the living room window was replaced in 2013 (here) and the Bishop's Weed was eradicated in 2012 (here).
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Let's look at some close-ups! The pair of Yucca rostrata with a pair of Agave americana, 2011
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The Yucca rostrata are now trunking, and the Agave americana are gone. One of them turned to mush, the other was pulled (it looked so bad after winter 2016/17 and Sunset was coming for a photo shoot!) and lives on in a container. Agave ovatifolia and Agave protamericana 'Silver Surfer' have taken their place.
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The Juniperus conferta 'Blue Pacific', freshly planted.
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And now. The spread is said to be 4 to 6 ft. Word to the wise, that's not total, that's in every direction. In other words, 8 to 12 ft. Or more.
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Arctostaphylos x ‘Austin Griffiths', 2011
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Arctostaphylos x ‘Austin Griffiths', 2018
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Arctostaphylos densiflora ‘Harmony’ with Podocarpus alpinus ‘Orangeade’ in 2011
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And 2018
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Standing on our sidewalk looking southeast into the street, 2011
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Roughly the same view, 2018
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Out of focus Cotinus ‘Royal Purple' buds in 2011
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And foliage in 2018
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Thanks for humoring me through another "then and now" post. I never cease to be amazed at the things plants do...
Weather Diary, May 31: Hi 65, Low 51/ Precip .03" (first measurable rain in 3 weeks)
All material © 2009-2018 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
Earlier this spring, in April, I had reason to look back at my "not so big reveal" of the front garden from 2011, when I replanted with many of the plants that are there now. This was the overall shot looking north, pretty underwhelming, eh? I left that Euphorbia simply because it was the only thing with any size to it.
Roughly the same angle, photo taken May 25th. The Pieris japonica against the house were dug out in 2013 and replaced by a pair of Pineapple Guava (Acca sellowiana, detailed here). Of course you can't see them in this photo, since the Fatsia japonica (and my car) is hiding them. It (the Fatsia) was present in the 2011 photo, but disguised behind the Yucca.
Looking south, 2011.
And 2018. The Tetrapanax was in the 2011 photo, but only about a foot high. The Arctostaphylos densiflora ‘Harmony’ was too, it's a tiny blob to the left, lower, center (above) and now ruling the entire photo! Thankfully the Rhododendron in front of the living room window was replaced in 2013 (here) and the Bishop's Weed was eradicated in 2012 (here).
Let's look at some close-ups! The pair of Yucca rostrata with a pair of Agave americana, 2011
The Yucca rostrata are now trunking, and the Agave americana are gone. One of them turned to mush, the other was pulled (it looked so bad after winter 2016/17 and Sunset was coming for a photo shoot!) and lives on in a container. Agave ovatifolia and Agave protamericana 'Silver Surfer' have taken their place.
The Juniperus conferta 'Blue Pacific', freshly planted.
And now. The spread is said to be 4 to 6 ft. Word to the wise, that's not total, that's in every direction. In other words, 8 to 12 ft. Or more.
Arctostaphylos x ‘Austin Griffiths', 2011
Arctostaphylos x ‘Austin Griffiths', 2018
Arctostaphylos densiflora ‘Harmony’ with Podocarpus alpinus ‘Orangeade’ in 2011
And 2018
Standing on our sidewalk looking southeast into the street, 2011
Roughly the same view, 2018
Out of focus Cotinus ‘Royal Purple' buds in 2011
And foliage in 2018
Thanks for humoring me through another "then and now" post. I never cease to be amazed at the things plants do...
Weather Diary, May 31: Hi 65, Low 51/ Precip .03" (first measurable rain in 3 weeks)
All material © 2009-2018 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.