Yesterday we stopped at the gate, today we explore the back garden...
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A volunteer Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia, a hitch-hiker from my previous garden, on a plant which came from my mom) has been allowed to climb the Callistemon viridiflorus, mainly because when the Callistemon isn't in bloom it can look a little like a grey hole, and when the vine turns for autumn color — which it's actually doing right now — it's gorgeous. I pull all the Parthenocissus vines in early spring before they leaf out and let them start all over again next year.
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The Passiflora 'Snow Queen' has bloomed all summer...
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Hardy to Zone 8... I think it will be back next year, it's planted near the house foundation and a basement window, where a tiny bit of root from Passiflora 'Sunburst'— a Zone 10 plant — has reliably come back every year.
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Turning with my back to the Passiflora and heading towards the patio...
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The Nolina 'La Siberica' is finally taking on that tall, "swirling vase" shape I like so much.
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There was a light misty-rain earlier in the day, that's why the patio is so splotchy in color.
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I've written about this area fairly recently (here), but still wanted to include photos — for my annual record keeping.
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The Sarracenia had a good summer.
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And from this vantage point foliage has completely obliterated the house!
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Grevillea 'Ned Kelly' was a also great performer this year, the hummingbirds adored it.
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Passiflora 'Amethyst Jewel' is another reported hardy to Zone 8, but it's in a more exposed location, fingers crossed it will reappear come spring.
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Walking back towards the patio...
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That table was the location of many wonderful moments with friends this summer, hopefully there's a few more yet to come, even though the weather is turning.
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All the happy containers...
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Truth be told a lot of them have already been carried up that pathway and into the basement. It's not the temperatures but the rain. They're happier going into their winter "hunker down" not soaking wet.
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Plus they're lighter to carry when they're dry-ish.
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I never could have imagined our IKEA patio furniture would last this long, this was it's 11th summer! Of course it's stored in the garage every winter — so it's not subject to the winter wet — and I give it a nice rub down with an oil preservative every spring.
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Andrew's currently at work designing a new iteration of the shade pavilion greenhouse, although I still prefer this, it's summer look.
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The 2018 version of the Bromeliad towers were a huge success, trash can lids for the win!
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Another look at the Agave plantings next to the patio pathway.
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That little kick-out corner is getting way too shady and the lawn is barely growing. At the end of it, next to the house, is the Hibiscus syriacus 'Red Heart', which spawned a million seedlings last spring. I'm thinking that section of the garden is due for a change-up, I just haven't decided exactly what I'm going to do...yet.
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I'm more in love with the Trachycarpus fortunei now than ever, but the Grevillea miqueliana in front of it (hiding the palm trunk) may be living on borrowed time. We shall see how bloomy it is over the next few months. It may earn a stay of execution.
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Oh, and my heart still beats for the Albizia julibrissin 'Summer Chocolate' but my lord what a messy tree this is!
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I used to grow an Ensete maurelii in a pot every year, never bothering to try and overwinter them. This guy though! I bought it in a small 4" pot last spring and put it in the ground, it's exploded. It might be hard to let it freeze. I don't know, I haven't made up my mind yet what I'll do when the time comes. Oh and I must mention the Leonotis leonurus, super cool annuals in my climate which I will plant again next year.
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The less exuberant Canna flowers...
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Now my back is to the tall Trachycarpus, and I'm looking south towards the garage...
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And the Bromeliad/Tillandsia plantings which helped to take the sting off losing a mature Schefflera.
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This is a wrap for my 2018 back garden tour, well...
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Except for another attempt at a video. Lord help me I am not a professional!
Weather Diary, Oct 1: Hi 74, Low 58/ Precip 0
All material © 2009-2018 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
A volunteer Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia, a hitch-hiker from my previous garden, on a plant which came from my mom) has been allowed to climb the Callistemon viridiflorus, mainly because when the Callistemon isn't in bloom it can look a little like a grey hole, and when the vine turns for autumn color — which it's actually doing right now — it's gorgeous. I pull all the Parthenocissus vines in early spring before they leaf out and let them start all over again next year.
The Passiflora 'Snow Queen' has bloomed all summer...
Hardy to Zone 8... I think it will be back next year, it's planted near the house foundation and a basement window, where a tiny bit of root from Passiflora 'Sunburst'— a Zone 10 plant — has reliably come back every year.
Turning with my back to the Passiflora and heading towards the patio...
The Nolina 'La Siberica' is finally taking on that tall, "swirling vase" shape I like so much.
There was a light misty-rain earlier in the day, that's why the patio is so splotchy in color.
I've written about this area fairly recently (here), but still wanted to include photos — for my annual record keeping.
The Sarracenia had a good summer.
And from this vantage point foliage has completely obliterated the house!
Grevillea 'Ned Kelly' was a also great performer this year, the hummingbirds adored it.
Passiflora 'Amethyst Jewel' is another reported hardy to Zone 8, but it's in a more exposed location, fingers crossed it will reappear come spring.
Walking back towards the patio...
That table was the location of many wonderful moments with friends this summer, hopefully there's a few more yet to come, even though the weather is turning.
All the happy containers...
Truth be told a lot of them have already been carried up that pathway and into the basement. It's not the temperatures but the rain. They're happier going into their winter "hunker down" not soaking wet.
Plus they're lighter to carry when they're dry-ish.
I never could have imagined our IKEA patio furniture would last this long, this was it's 11th summer! Of course it's stored in the garage every winter — so it's not subject to the winter wet — and I give it a nice rub down with an oil preservative every spring.
Andrew's currently at work designing a new iteration of the shade pavilion greenhouse, although I still prefer this, it's summer look.
The 2018 version of the Bromeliad towers were a huge success, trash can lids for the win!
Another look at the Agave plantings next to the patio pathway.
That little kick-out corner is getting way too shady and the lawn is barely growing. At the end of it, next to the house, is the Hibiscus syriacus 'Red Heart', which spawned a million seedlings last spring. I'm thinking that section of the garden is due for a change-up, I just haven't decided exactly what I'm going to do...yet.
I'm more in love with the Trachycarpus fortunei now than ever, but the Grevillea miqueliana in front of it (hiding the palm trunk) may be living on borrowed time. We shall see how bloomy it is over the next few months. It may earn a stay of execution.
Oh, and my heart still beats for the Albizia julibrissin 'Summer Chocolate' but my lord what a messy tree this is!
I used to grow an Ensete maurelii in a pot every year, never bothering to try and overwinter them. This guy though! I bought it in a small 4" pot last spring and put it in the ground, it's exploded. It might be hard to let it freeze. I don't know, I haven't made up my mind yet what I'll do when the time comes. Oh and I must mention the Leonotis leonurus, super cool annuals in my climate which I will plant again next year.
The less exuberant Canna flowers...
Now my back is to the tall Trachycarpus, and I'm looking south towards the garage...
And the Bromeliad/Tillandsia plantings which helped to take the sting off losing a mature Schefflera.
This is a wrap for my 2018 back garden tour, well...
Weather Diary, Oct 1: Hi 74, Low 58/ Precip 0
All material © 2009-2018 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.