Garden Tour, 2014

There are times I am certain this blog is more for me than it is for my readers. Being able to look back at a visual record of my garden over the last 5 and a half years is priceless. Last year I did a comprehensive garden tour and I've referred back to those photos many times, so with that in mind I was determined to do a "tour 2014." However every time I went to take photos the light was horrible, I'd snap a few photos and then give up. So you'll notice this post is a collection of photos taken over a week's time. You'll see blue skies, and cloudy skies, but hopefully end up with a snapshot of my garden as it is Summer 2014. Yes this is going to be a lengthy, photo-heavy, post...

Editing these photos also drove home just what a discontented year this has been for me. The front garden is not looking as put together this year, due to the "glue" plants (Grevillea juniperina 'Molonglo') dying last winter. Replacements (Juniperus conferta 'Blue Pacific') have been planted but are not yet of size. They'll eventually knit everything together, at least that's the plan.

Here is the north side of the house (on the right side of the opening image, photo taken while standing in the neighbors driveway). Things over here have grown in nicely.

Imperata cylindrica 'Rubra'

Mystery sedum on the chimney (this one's for you Alan). I have no idea how it got there and I never, ever, water it.

Mahonia fortunei 'Curlyque'

The clematis growing in our back garden (behind that bamboo, on the other side of the neighbors garage) was reaching around, toward the light. I started trimming it back but then learned they were actually excited to train it up over the top of the door. It didn't take long to fill in.

Back at the northeast corner of our house now, looking south across the top of the garden. You can see just a slice of the sidewalk to the front door.

And the front of the house, it was just last year that all of these plants went in...when the giant rhododendron came out and before that the Pieris japonica. They've all grown a lot!

A garden can never have enough sempervivum.

Soft and delicate meets sharp and sturdy.

I love the view out my front door. Usually there's a creature, or five, buzzing and flying around out there.

Cotinus ‘Royal Purple'

Now standing in our driveway looking back towards the house...

Yucca rostrata, Eryngium agavifolium and Agave americana planted at the corner of the drive and the public sidewalk.

Eryngium maritimum

Looking back toward the street as I walk around to the south side of the house...

Where the veggie garden is. I've already blogged about removing the cucumber, but the basil and tomatoes are still going strong.

Have you grown Sungold? If not you really should. They are the tastiest...

This is another view that makes me want to hide my eyes, the entrance into our back garden. Yes I'm still happy that we removed the privet but I really REALLY don't like the openness of this view (even with the offending garage color blocking cropped out).

And this angle suffers from the loss of the loquat I moved to the lower garden (and then gave to the neighbor). Those big leaves really broke up all that fine foliage.

The former hydrangea area, being overtaken by a happy clematis.

The growing Nothopanax delavayi makes me very happy (those 3 tall shoots slightly right of center).

It's new foliage is wonderful.

Towards the shade pavilion...

And turning back around to look northeast. That lighter brown structure is the neighbors garage.

I still love my hibiscus (H. syriacus 'Red Heart') as much as the day I bought it. I just wish the Begonia luxurians I planted at it's base (a gift from the Outlaw) were hardy, the combination is a good one.

The palm is growing...

And the Melianthus major 'Antonow's Blue' has certainly recovered from freezing to the ground.

I've got big plans for this loquat (Eriobotrya japonica), it's gonna help hide the new view.

The Senecio mandraliscae have enjoyed their summer vacation outside in the ground.

Okay now were down on the patio (I neglected to take the important "approaching the patio" shot). Southwest corner...

Southeast corner...

Under the shade pavilion...

And now I'm under the shade pavilion and looking north.

I've intended to feature this aloe, A. marlothii, as a weekly favorite. Poor guy keeps getting passed over.

Banksia blechnifolia got the "fav" treatment last May.

Looking back towards our garage and my circle pot.

And a new view! Standing in the graveled, planted, area north of the patio where the privet (and ivy and vinca) used to be, looking south.

And in the very northwestest corner of our lot looking out...

A wider view.

I'm still thrilled I managed to track down this variegated daphniphyllum.

Persicaria 'Brushstrokes'...light on the brushstrokes.

The stock tank pond.

Which has been blessed with water lilly blooms practically nonstop.

Top to bottom: Clifford (our Magnolia macrophylla), Papyrus, Sammy (Yucca rostrata) and Acacia baileyana 'Purpurea'.

My most successful castor bean...

And finally I'll end this tour with my favorite early morning, coffee on the patio, shot. For a look back at previous years: Garden Tour 2013, A Comparison between 2005 and 2012, and for a different 2012 tour a post on Apartment Therapy.

All material © 2009-2014 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.