Category Archives: Plant Portraits
Sky’s The Limit
It was recently calculated (but not by me) that my little back garden is all of 882 square feet. After 20 years of gardening here, methodically covering every inch of that 882 square feet, with moisture and light now robbed … Continue reading
Posted in design, Plant Portraits
Tagged Antigonon leptosus, asarina, Clematis cirrhosa, Cobaea scandens, Dicentra scandens, Dolichos lablab, Eccremocarpus scaber, Manettia cordifolia, Passiflora sanguinolenta, Pole beans Trionfo Violetto, Thunbergia alata, vines, Vitis vinifera 'Purpurea'
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Nerine sarniensis
(Followup to Nerinomania.)
Salvia ‘Limelight’
I certainly don’t have a garden large enough to include a 6×6 fall-bloomer like Salvia mexicana ‘Limelight.’ And I don’t think there’s an affordable pot in existence roomy enough for a mature plant, except maybe the humble trash can. (On … Continue reading
Dishing with the Girlfriends
You didn’t really expect we’d be discussing the latest Manolo Blahniks, did you? Below is the transcribed conversation of a group of cyber garden pals on the topic of various approaches to overwintering tropicals. All but me garden in a … Continue reading
Posted in Plant Portraits
Tagged alocasia, colocasia, overwintering tropicals, xanthosoma
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Ironweed
Autumn is a time to dream of American prairies, shoulder high with the blooms of plants bearing the names of forgotten explorers. Right alongside the list of places I’ve yet to visit is the list of plants I’ve yet to … Continue reading
Of Elephants and Mobile Homes
If one morning I was presented with a list of the garden tasks I would ultimately end up accomplishing that day, I would probably consider it an absurd amount of work and pitch the list in the trash. That’s the … Continue reading
Under A Big Tent
If I named my home at this moment, something I’ve been mulling over for a while, Hotel Chaotica would be a good fit. The big tent is coming next week under which death will be dealt to the termites chewing … Continue reading
Fail Better (Summer Recap)
I admit it’s a little early for a summer recap, but there is a penultimate feel to the garden today. By this time, whatever plans I’ve laid have either happened or failed to happen. It’s time to admit this is … Continue reading
Posted in agaves, woody lilies, Plant Portraits
Tagged Allium senescens, Coreopsis 'Full Moon', Manihot grahamii, Musa 'Siam Ruby', Papaver rupifragum, Polygonum orientale, Prostanthera ovalifolia, Rose 'Bouquet d'Or', Salvia 'Limelight', Solanum rantonnetii, Tibouchina heteromalla, Xanthosoma 'Lime Zinger'
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Stolen Garden Kisses
The one-foot tall agave and the giant Polygonum orientale, Kiss Me Over The Garden Gate, would seem fated never to meet, to exist in separate physical planes, forever divided by height and differing moisture needs. But meet they do, and … Continue reading
Euphorbia Love
Euphorbia, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. Perennial, shrub and tree. You give a frost-free garden dappled shade and ruby tints high overhead. Euphorbia cotinifolia, about 15 feet, max. I’ve been entertained by the sound of … Continue reading