Cutting out of my usual route home (to avoid a rush-hour back-up) I came across this in-progress garden installation...
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Of course the landscape fabric is what first caught my eye, it stood out like beacon. White, like ice, or snow, in a block of green lawns. Then my eye saw spikes, I pulled over.
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I think this sad creature is a Dyckia 'Naked Lady', which should be hardy to 20F, a temperature that we've thankfully not reached this winter (not even close). Of course winter wet may be the culprit.
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Agave parrasana 'Meat Claw', I believe.
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Agave 'Sharkskin'
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I wonder if they plan to extend the plantings to the far corner? Maybe they hit hold on the project for the winter months? I also wonder about the slate pieces...
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The title of the post, "this feels familiar..." refers to both the planting out of new plants in a wide open/empty front yard (something I did in 2006 and again in 2011) and the fact they appear to be keeping (at least for now) the old foundation shrubs like Pieris and Camellia (also a choice I debated). Thankfully I avoided the landscape cloth trap.
On the other side of the sidewalk...
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That Manzanita looks to have a few huge leaves, I wonder which one it is?
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Agave ovatifolia, perhaps 'Vanzie'
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Yucca rostrata, I believe...
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A perfect Agave parryi...
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And turning to the hellstrip...I wonder if there is landscape cloth under the gravel, I didn't see any of the usual tell-tail bits exposed. I also wonder if they plan to use the same gravel on the rest of the project?
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I did notice a Cistus tag stuck in the ground next to the Dasylirion.
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Poor Agave! I wonder if this is the straight A. americana 'Variegata', or one of the forms (like 'Opal') that is thought to be a little hardier? Although, as I noted earlier, any issues thus far this season are more of a winter-wet problem than cold tolerance.
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Agave lophantha
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Another Yucca, perhaps Y. aloifolia?
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And a fig, which I noticed they planted at the north end of the strip, where it won't grow to shadow the Agaves and Yucca...smart!
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Finally, King Kong, poor guy, he looks a little tired.
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There's a history of people attaching tiny horses to the antique horse rings throughout the city of Portland (more info), but this is the first gorilla I've seen.
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I'll definitely be back to check on this one in the spring, after-all I used the phrase "I wonder" six times in this post. I've got a lot of questions that need to be answered!
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Weather Diary, Jan 17: Hi 54, Low 40/ Precip .01"
All material © 2009-2019 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
Of course the landscape fabric is what first caught my eye, it stood out like beacon. White, like ice, or snow, in a block of green lawns. Then my eye saw spikes, I pulled over.
I think this sad creature is a Dyckia 'Naked Lady', which should be hardy to 20F, a temperature that we've thankfully not reached this winter (not even close). Of course winter wet may be the culprit.
Agave parrasana 'Meat Claw', I believe.
I wonder if they plan to extend the plantings to the far corner? Maybe they hit hold on the project for the winter months? I also wonder about the slate pieces...
The title of the post, "this feels familiar..." refers to both the planting out of new plants in a wide open/empty front yard (something I did in 2006 and again in 2011) and the fact they appear to be keeping (at least for now) the old foundation shrubs like Pieris and Camellia (also a choice I debated). Thankfully I avoided the landscape cloth trap.
On the other side of the sidewalk...
That Manzanita looks to have a few huge leaves, I wonder which one it is?
Agave ovatifolia, perhaps 'Vanzie'
Yucca rostrata, I believe...
And turning to the hellstrip...I wonder if there is landscape cloth under the gravel, I didn't see any of the usual tell-tail bits exposed. I also wonder if they plan to use the same gravel on the rest of the project?
I did notice a Cistus tag stuck in the ground next to the Dasylirion.
Poor Agave! I wonder if this is the straight A. americana 'Variegata', or one of the forms (like 'Opal') that is thought to be a little hardier? Although, as I noted earlier, any issues thus far this season are more of a winter-wet problem than cold tolerance.
Agave lophantha
Another Yucca, perhaps Y. aloifolia?
And a fig, which I noticed they planted at the north end of the strip, where it won't grow to shadow the Agaves and Yucca...smart!
Finally, King Kong, poor guy, he looks a little tired.
There's a history of people attaching tiny horses to the antique horse rings throughout the city of Portland (more info), but this is the first gorilla I've seen.
I'll definitely be back to check on this one in the spring, after-all I used the phrase "I wonder" six times in this post. I've got a lot of questions that need to be answered!
Weather Diary, Jan 17: Hi 54, Low 40/ Precip .01"
All material © 2009-2019 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.