When I realized this was the last Friday of the month I briefly considered calling an end to the “Fav’s of the Month” meme. It’s been a nice long ride but perhaps it was time to put it to bed. Then I went out for an early morning walk around the garden.
Wow, have to share that!
Oh the foliage…
Oh the color…
And so here are my favorite plants in the garden right now, on this, the last Friday of September. Each of these plants are looking especially grand at this moment in time...
Poncirus trifoliata in the background with Amsonia hubrichtii in the foreground.
We're concentrating on the Poncirus today because it's foliage is such a bright golden yellow that I can hardly stand it.
Add in a streak of pink at the base, and the always-present long green thorns, and WOW! This plant is screaming for attention.
Mine's been in the ground since the spring of 2011, I bought it with a strange bend to it's trunk which it's almost overcome (meaning I hardly notice it anymore). Hardy down to USDA Zone 5a this shrub/small tree is credited with a significant size difference in it's potential size: 8-29 ft tall, 6-15 ft wide. It prefers full sun and flowers in the spring. Mine had a couple of delicate white flowers this year but no fruit...
I'm not completely sure this Stapelia is getting monthly fav status, it is however fixing to put on another stinky (fabulous) bloom which is interesting. Especially because with the weather conditions ever-changing it might just open indoors. Yuck.
It's purple coloration has definitely gotten stronger as the nights have gotten cooler.
Oh Grevillea 'Ivanhoe' how beautiful you are, why can't you be perfectly hardy?
I happened upon several in 4" containers at a great price and I bought three. This was the week before my garden was open for a fund-raiser, so I thought they would make plants to squeeze in here and there as filler.
That's exactly what I've used them for, but I've also grown attached.
A local nursery is selling them as hardy in USDA Zone 8 but I'm not buying the idea.
Ian at The Desert Northwest wrote a long essay about cold hardy Grevillea in the Pacific NW, read it all here. This is what he had to say about G. 'Ivanhoe': "And finally, here are a few not to bother with, which I'll mention just because I used to be hopeful that they were hardier, and you may chance across one in a nursery. In the past I had suggested Grevillea aspleniifolia as a possibility for really sheltered gardens. I can't recommend it though because it just doesn't have what it takes to endure temperatures below about 22 - 24°F. Grevillea 'Ivanhoe' seems inclined to croak at about the same point."
So, while I love the foliage...
I'm not married to the idea they'll be here in the spring.
Okay, just one more...Euphorbia tirucalli 'Sticks on Fire'...
I have several of this plant but this is the only one on fire, so to speak.
It's only hardy to USDA Zone 10 so it comes inside for the winter. Sun and water stress adds to the color.
These plants, plus the Bocconia frutescens I wrote about earlier in the month, are all standouts in my garden for September. What's looking especially fabulous in your garden right now?
