Where were we? I’ve been working at the day job like a navvy, trying to clear some time for spring garden visits, shows and whatnot. But the garden in March initiates a measured sequence of distractions, which can really mess with the most resolute work ethic. (I think “resolute” was a one-word self-description used by one of the Republican primary candidates but now can’t remember which. Romney? Strange how none of them used the one-word descriptors that are always at the tip of my tongue for them.)
Back to the much more important business of gardens. I’ve recently discovered that a good part of the front gravel garden has been planted almost exclusively in blues, greys, and yellows. Yes, at one time I apparently mustered some self-restraint.
It’s mostly succulents, grasses, and small evergreen shrubs, very few perennials except the self-sowing Spanish poppies. The orange blooms will get a fantastic backdrop here. I don’t remember consciously planning this blue/yellow-only business. I’ll have to search the back pages of the blog.
March’s Garden Design features an interview with landscape architect Andrea Cochran. The interview was emphatically not plant-driven, since landscape architecture, not horticulture, was under discussion, but this quote was a compadre thrill:
“I’m a sucker for anything in the blue-gray family…If you go blue-gray with chartreuse: home run.” To have anything in common with Ms. Cochran’s taste I count as a personal home run.
More chartreuse from Agave attenuata ‘Kara’s Stripes.’
The gravel garden now has some of the nicest looking agaves, including ‘Blue Glow’ in the first photo and a powder-blue A. potatorum below. The attenuatas can really look beat up, but ‘Kara’s Stripes’ has if anything improved over the winter.
The opposite end of the gravel garden by the driveway doesn’t continue the blue/yellow-only theme. There’s lots of breakage and damage at this end, and ad hoc replacements are made on the fly.
Recent death of a large agave provided an opportunity to try out Sideritis syriaca* here. I haven’t been this smitten with a plant since my first ballota.
Very easy on the eyes, this blue/yellow/green.
*Reddish stems on this one makes it more likely Sideritis cypria.
Blue and yellow is as good as it gets..one of the reasons I will never give up my Delphiniums, in spite of the Pentagon-level stategy I must employ against snails and slugs.
Yes indeed, that’s a fine color combination, one that I’m enjoying here and there in my own garden right now. How nice to have an entire garden given over to it, as you do.
Kathy, you are a brave woman to persist with delphs. No risk, no gain!
Pam, it’s really just a small patch, but I’m surprised I left out the peachy echeverias, dark red aeoniums, the fire sticks, etc. Just kind of interesting to see the unconscious mind at work in the garden.
If only I had some of your discipline. My silver/blue/yellow slope ended up as silver/blue/yellow/orange/purple/magenta…
It’s so funny how those sort of things sometimes happen without our planning. Love that first shot especially, so wonderful! As sad as the passing of a loved plant can be, you’re so right, sometimes it really opens up new possibilities and a chance to try something new š
Hoov, discipline had nothing to do with it really. Did you get my email? I think it’s to an old yahoo acct.
Scott, I’m all for opening up new ground!