I really like this bit of planting, and a lot of that has to do with the contributions of Euphorbia ‘Copton Ash,’ the dark eucomis, and the tawny leaves of the Arctostaphylos pajaroensis hybrid. The flowers of Euphorbia ‘Miner’s Merlot,’ just seen on the left above, carry the same russet tones as the manzanita, as does Carex testacea. ‘Copton Ash’ reminds me of a miniature Euphorbia certatocarpa, seen recently and fawned over at Cistus. There are similar types like ‘Dean’s Hybrid’ and ‘Blue Haze’ which haven’t succeeded for me, and that might be on me. These euphorbias are not rubbery-leaved like characias but more willowy in habit. Billowy even. ‘Copton Ash’ doesn’t self-sow, thank goodness.
As a side note, on the subject of reseeding, I’m getting some light reseeding from supposedly sterile Eryngium ‘Big Blue,’ a cross of alpinum and bourgatii, which is totally fine.
The circular silver drum was some kind of farm feeder, its bottom drilled and handle removed to make a home for an agave. (I’m no stranger to salvage, but in this case finding a large, cheap container was the primary consideration.) A local nursery was carrying gallons of Agave ovatifolia ‘Vanzie,’ a rare offering for the coast. I passed it up a few times but ultimately couldn’t let it go. Such treasures do not normally make their way to the coast. It seemed inevitable, meant to be. Returning for ‘Vanzie’ I noticed nearby Yucca ‘Silver Anniversary,’ a cross by Plant Delights of filamentosa and pallida. Intriguing! Not really wanting a potentially gigantic whale’s tongue agave in my small garden, I left with the yucca. What were these plants doing at my local hanging-basket-petunia-calibrachoa nursery? I posed that question to its owner, and she laughed, “These are my plants — I’m from Arizona.”
More soon, AGO
You were meant to have an agave. So happy you found one. ‘Vanzie’ is my favorite form of ovatifolia.
You have quite an assortment of (to me) rare euphorbias. And Brachyglottis greyi — I’ve tried and failed several times. What a beauty.