Those of you who have visited in person, or pay close attention to my photos, may have noticed our house only has two windows that look out on the back garden, and those are in the very corners of the house. When deciding whether or not to make an offer on the property that fact was almost a deal breaker for me, so much so we discussed putting in french doors off the bedroom. That hasn't yet happened (nor has the dishwasher installation) so in order to see the back garden I have to go into the very corner of the house and peer out the window. I do this every morning while I'm making the bed. This Asarum maximum 'Ling Ling' is one of the first things I see as my eyes sweep from left to right. Only recently has it bulked up enough to make me pause to appreciate it.
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I have another, but this is what it currently looks like...
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There was no cute little panda face flower this spring, but that's okay...maybe next year (if you've never seen the flower there are photos here). Meanwhile I am appreciative of the lovely green on green foliage.
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Asarum maximum 'Ling Ling' is hardy in USDA Zones 7-9 and will eventually spread to a patch about a foot wide. It prefers a shady location with even moisture.
I previously wrote about how thrilled I was to have Canna 'Cleopatra' in my garden. Well it's since taken things up a notch by putting up a bloomspike, a striped bloomspike...
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And the stripes continue right on up to the flowers, I can't wait to see what they look like!
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Canna 'Cleopatra' is hardy in Zones 7-10, but of course the tubers can be dug and overwintered indoors in cooler climates. In my experience all Canna do best in full sun and with regular water. They'll grow in part shade and with a lax watering schedule, but not as robustly.
Morina longifolia was given to me last fall by Allison (aka Bonney Lassie). Although it has pink flowers Allison cleverly talked me into taking this plant by playing up the fact those leaves are very spiky.
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And she's right, I went to pull a yellowing leaf for these photos (sans gloves) and let loose a nasty four letter word. I should know better!
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My plant hasn't flowered yet (see Allison's Bloomday post from July 2014 for a photo, about halfway down the page) which I don't mind...after all it is all about the foliage!
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Morina longifolia is hardy in Zones 6-9 and prefers sun and regular water, eventually reaching 24"-36" tall (bloom included I'm assuming) and 18" wide. Dancing Oaks Nursery claims the foliage is aromatic but I'm not rubbing it to find out.
I've shared this Agave ovatifolia 'Frosty Blue' before, as part of a favorite combination, but it's time it got it's own moment of praise. Check that thing out!
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It's hard to tell just how big it's gotten so here's my iPhone for scale. It measures 31" from tip to painful tip. I think the mailman (who walks by it everyday) is going to have to change his route soon.
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I love the delicate black outline on each leaf, as well as that powdery blue color which is the hallmark of the 'Frosty Blue' selction (a Cistus Nursery introduction).
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For comparison here is the "plain old" Agave ovatifolia. Still fabulous, but not blue.
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Agave ovatifolia 'Frosty Blue' is hardy in Zones 7-11 (as long as kept dry = great drainage) and loves sun, heat and regular water to grow big — but only in the summertime. Reports are it can reach 6-8 feet wide, I would have scoffed that being possible in my climate but it does appear to be on its way.
Since we're on the subject of Agaves I thought this worth sharing. Check out my furthest reaching pup from an Agave parryi 'J.C. Raulston' (previously fav'd here)...
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No not that one up at the top of the frame, that's another plant. I mean that little baby the arrow is pointing at below. It's two feet from one plant and two and a half from the other. For some reason that makes me really happy. Agaves be a travelin!
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Finally I'll wrap up this month-end look at my favorites with a photo of my Trachycarpus fortunei, because I now know it's a girl! One, or both (?!) of the neighbor's two trees are the proud fathers of my first batch of palm seeds.
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So now it's your turn, what's looking amazing in your garden this July?
All material © 2009-2016 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
I have another, but this is what it currently looks like...
There was no cute little panda face flower this spring, but that's okay...maybe next year (if you've never seen the flower there are photos here). Meanwhile I am appreciative of the lovely green on green foliage.
Asarum maximum 'Ling Ling' is hardy in USDA Zones 7-9 and will eventually spread to a patch about a foot wide. It prefers a shady location with even moisture.
I previously wrote about how thrilled I was to have Canna 'Cleopatra' in my garden. Well it's since taken things up a notch by putting up a bloomspike, a striped bloomspike...
And the stripes continue right on up to the flowers, I can't wait to see what they look like!
Canna 'Cleopatra' is hardy in Zones 7-10, but of course the tubers can be dug and overwintered indoors in cooler climates. In my experience all Canna do best in full sun and with regular water. They'll grow in part shade and with a lax watering schedule, but not as robustly.
Morina longifolia was given to me last fall by Allison (aka Bonney Lassie). Although it has pink flowers Allison cleverly talked me into taking this plant by playing up the fact those leaves are very spiky.
And she's right, I went to pull a yellowing leaf for these photos (sans gloves) and let loose a nasty four letter word. I should know better!
My plant hasn't flowered yet (see Allison's Bloomday post from July 2014 for a photo, about halfway down the page) which I don't mind...after all it is all about the foliage!
Morina longifolia is hardy in Zones 6-9 and prefers sun and regular water, eventually reaching 24"-36" tall (bloom included I'm assuming) and 18" wide. Dancing Oaks Nursery claims the foliage is aromatic but I'm not rubbing it to find out.
I've shared this Agave ovatifolia 'Frosty Blue' before, as part of a favorite combination, but it's time it got it's own moment of praise. Check that thing out!
It's hard to tell just how big it's gotten so here's my iPhone for scale. It measures 31" from tip to painful tip. I think the mailman (who walks by it everyday) is going to have to change his route soon.
I love the delicate black outline on each leaf, as well as that powdery blue color which is the hallmark of the 'Frosty Blue' selction (a Cistus Nursery introduction).
For comparison here is the "plain old" Agave ovatifolia. Still fabulous, but not blue.
Agave ovatifolia 'Frosty Blue' is hardy in Zones 7-11 (as long as kept dry = great drainage) and loves sun, heat and regular water to grow big — but only in the summertime. Reports are it can reach 6-8 feet wide, I would have scoffed that being possible in my climate but it does appear to be on its way.
Since we're on the subject of Agaves I thought this worth sharing. Check out my furthest reaching pup from an Agave parryi 'J.C. Raulston' (previously fav'd here)...
No not that one up at the top of the frame, that's another plant. I mean that little baby the arrow is pointing at below. It's two feet from one plant and two and a half from the other. For some reason that makes me really happy. Agaves be a travelin!
Finally I'll wrap up this month-end look at my favorites with a photo of my Trachycarpus fortunei, because I now know it's a girl! One, or both (?!) of the neighbor's two trees are the proud fathers of my first batch of palm seeds.
So now it's your turn, what's looking amazing in your garden this July?
All material © 2009-2016 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.