If you know me — or have read this blog for any length of time — you know I love summer and have a hard time leaving it behind. If life could continue on in perpetual summer I would be a very happy camper. However since the writing is on the wall, I'm trying to come to terms with reality. Trying.
Thinking about which plants to feature today I'm struck by a few that are forging ahead, winter be damned. Like the ever optimistic Tetrapanax papyrifer, once again it's starting to push out bud clusters and begin the race against Mother Nature to get those flowers open before a freeze zaps them limp.
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Will this be the year?
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And check out the Pineapple Guava (Feijoa sellowiana)...that I wrote about on Tuesday.
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After blooming earlier in the summer it's finally forming fruit (at least I think that is what's going on here, there is another plant, which also bloomed, just a few feet away).
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They look to have a long way to go before they're edible, kinda risky in late September. Ticktock ticktock...
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This Euphorbia was an unrooted cutting when given to me. Now it's putting out new growth...
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If you know what it is I'd love an ID...
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The point where the older, blue/grey, growth meets the new bright green growth is terribly cool. I've enjoyed watching this develop.
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There is even a little side nubbin!
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My Stapelia has two huge buds...
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Problem is I had to move it from where it was hanging on the front of garage and in the course of doing so there was an accident. This whole section, now tucked into the to of another container, was broken off the mother plant.
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This bud was prematurely popped open in the fall.
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Two sections of plant were snapped off. This large piece and another smaller one, which I'll be giving to a friend.
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I hope there's enough energy stored up in there to open the buds as they would have done if still attached. We shall see.
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In "non-blooming" favorites I really liked the way the Passiflora 'Sunburst' has worked it's way around the wire loops I hung in the Albizia julibrissin ‘Summer Chocolate’ — so much so I'm (almost) forgiving it for not sending out any of those fabulous orange flowers.
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Lots a leaves...
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Some of them quite large.
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Hey! Maybe I'll get a few flowers after all...
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After finding those little buds I searched this tropical Passiflora — P. rovirosa'Purple Tiger'— for any signs of pending bloom. I got nothin! Since I have to dig it to overwinter indoors, it better hurry up and do something, or else it risks getting left out to freeze...
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Below the Passiflora is Echium candicans 'Death Star', also not hardy and there will be no attempt to overwinter it...
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I enjoyed that fabulous foliage for the summer and something else will take its place next year.
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Only a couple of branches revered to solid green. If it was going to live I would have removed them.
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This is fun! My Nolina Microcarpa bloomed last spring (photos here) and the first few leaves that emerged post bloom ended up squiggled.
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Imagine if the whole plant was squiggly! Okay that might be a bit much.
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These are very cool though...
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Wrapping up this rambling post is a pair of Tillandsia I picked up at the Farwest Show in August. If my photos/memory are correct that's a Straminea thickleaf on the left and Capitata guzmanioides n the right.
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I've enjoyed the bit of Lotusland they've brought to Clifford (the Magnolia macrophylla in which they're hanging out)...it's nearing time to take them indoors though...![]()
Okay so this hasn't been much of a "favorites" post, more of a "what's going on in the garden" kinda thing. I guess my mood is showing. After all my favorite is still summer.
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All material © 2009-2016 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
Thinking about which plants to feature today I'm struck by a few that are forging ahead, winter be damned. Like the ever optimistic Tetrapanax papyrifer, once again it's starting to push out bud clusters and begin the race against Mother Nature to get those flowers open before a freeze zaps them limp.
Will this be the year?
And check out the Pineapple Guava (Feijoa sellowiana)...that I wrote about on Tuesday.
After blooming earlier in the summer it's finally forming fruit (at least I think that is what's going on here, there is another plant, which also bloomed, just a few feet away).
They look to have a long way to go before they're edible, kinda risky in late September. Ticktock ticktock...
This Euphorbia was an unrooted cutting when given to me. Now it's putting out new growth...
If you know what it is I'd love an ID...
The point where the older, blue/grey, growth meets the new bright green growth is terribly cool. I've enjoyed watching this develop.
There is even a little side nubbin!
My Stapelia has two huge buds...
Problem is I had to move it from where it was hanging on the front of garage and in the course of doing so there was an accident. This whole section, now tucked into the to of another container, was broken off the mother plant.
This bud was prematurely popped open in the fall.
Two sections of plant were snapped off. This large piece and another smaller one, which I'll be giving to a friend.
I hope there's enough energy stored up in there to open the buds as they would have done if still attached. We shall see.
In "non-blooming" favorites I really liked the way the Passiflora 'Sunburst' has worked it's way around the wire loops I hung in the Albizia julibrissin ‘Summer Chocolate’ — so much so I'm (almost) forgiving it for not sending out any of those fabulous orange flowers.
Lots a leaves...
Some of them quite large.
Hey! Maybe I'll get a few flowers after all...
After finding those little buds I searched this tropical Passiflora — P. rovirosa'Purple Tiger'— for any signs of pending bloom. I got nothin! Since I have to dig it to overwinter indoors, it better hurry up and do something, or else it risks getting left out to freeze...
Below the Passiflora is Echium candicans 'Death Star', also not hardy and there will be no attempt to overwinter it...
I enjoyed that fabulous foliage for the summer and something else will take its place next year.
Only a couple of branches revered to solid green. If it was going to live I would have removed them.
This is fun! My Nolina Microcarpa bloomed last spring (photos here) and the first few leaves that emerged post bloom ended up squiggled.
Imagine if the whole plant was squiggly! Okay that might be a bit much.
These are very cool though...
Wrapping up this rambling post is a pair of Tillandsia I picked up at the Farwest Show in August. If my photos/memory are correct that's a Straminea thickleaf on the left and Capitata guzmanioides n the right.
I've enjoyed the bit of Lotusland they've brought to Clifford (the Magnolia macrophylla in which they're hanging out)...it's nearing time to take them indoors though...
Okay so this hasn't been much of a "favorites" post, more of a "what's going on in the garden" kinda thing. I guess my mood is showing. After all my favorite is still summer.
All material © 2009-2016 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.