I think that’s the best “issue” on June gardens I’ve seen in a long time.
Summer-blooming bulbs like crocosmia and eucomis stirring here in June.
Crocosmia and Teucrium hircanicum
Eucomis almost buried under a daisy with fennel-like leaves, Argyranthemum haouarytheum.
As with June Bloom Days past, white valerian seeding around at the edges. The seasons-spanning kangaroo paws, succulents and grasses.
I’ve been nibbling away at the bricks under the pergola, whose once-seamless perimeter is now as gap-toothed as a hockey player’s smile.
(how ’bout those Stanley Cup-winning LA Kings?!)
Latest brick removal was instigated by finding a source for Eryngium pandanifolium, the Giant Sea Holly.
I sowed seed last fall of a ‘Physic Purple’ variety but didn’t get any germination, and then it popped up a month ago on Plant Delights online offerings.
Sometimes you’ve just got to scratch that plant itch. Of course I had to squeeze some Ruby Grass in while the eryngo thickens up.
More brick removal yesterday to try out Pennisetum ‘Sky Rocket,’ a sterile hybrid from the same batch as ‘Fireworks.’
I’ve been on a destructive tear lately and have started hammering off the slippery tiles in the side patio too.
Onward and upward. This summer I’m training Passiflora sanguinolenta up the pergola. A rarity among passifloras, this one has proven to be a dainty, nonaggressive climber.
Sidling up to Aloe distans at ground level.
Not this Bloom Day but certainly by the next, I’ll finally get to see Lobelia tupa blooming in my garden. I think the trick was thinning out plants possibly crowding it.
(Gosh, there’s a surprise, overcrowding in my garden?)
First spikes appearing on Persicaria amplexicaulis. Salvia canariensis is more colored bracts than blooms now.
Verbena bonariensis ‘Lollipop’ in the iron tank. Eryngium tripartitum barely visible blooming here too.
One lone drumstick allium amidst eyebrow grass, Bouteloua gracilis.
I think the 29 other Allium sphaerocephalum may have been swamped by the burgeoning Mint Bush, Prostranthera ovalifolia ‘Variegata’
And since this post has wandered into Foliage Followup’s turf of the 16th of every month, hosted by Pam at Digging, I’ll close with a photo of a restio new to me.
Cannonmois virgata, identified by San Marcos Growers as more probably C. grandis.
SMG’s photo shows the beautiful culms.
I was considering this restio to replace the rose I removed from the patio room, whose tile is being demolished…wonder where I left my hammer and chisel?
Well, I guess things are really desperate when you start ripping up a brick patio !I envision a spot for one chair, completely surrounded by plants.Lovin the Restio!
Kathy, I used to keep a little table under the pergola but have decided it’s just a walk-through space. All the tables and chairs are on the east side, where that little courtyard is I’m busting up. 😉
I was so surprised to see those fabulous Kangaroo Paws growing in your garden. How lucky you are to be able to grow them. Here I am in Oz and haven’t got a chance of getting them to grow here in the tropical north. I’ve tried a couple of times now. I just love that Passiflora too. That is a great colour. I think we can all relate to the ‘plant itch’ that has to be scratched. I also think those remaining bricks should be worried!
I think it’s funny that you’re knocking out your patio, brick by brick, to squeeze more plants in. But yes, those plant itches must be scratched! I’ve never been too tempted by staghorn ferns, but yours looks quite pretty, like coral on a reef.
Denise, I need you to take me plant shopping. I have the opposite problem right now-too many spaces and no cool plants to fill them even as I replace lawn in front. The overcrowding certainly hasn’t compromised plant interest-everything looks great!
Overcrowding? Nah, everything looks just right to me! (Except, you may still have a few extra bricks… 😉 I loved everything from the crocosmia and teucrium right down to the restio. Fabulous post!
Great collection of plants!
Have a great week-end!
Lea
Lea’s Menagerie
As always, Denise, gorgeous post…and I love that you’re chipping away at your patio to make space for more plants! The curvy tapers on my Teucrium are just now beginning to color up…They’ve been green for over a week, and I worried that perhaps they were going to be duds…luckily, it seems they just needed patience (which I’m obviously short of)! I adore the Ruby Grass, and keep meaning to see if it’s hardy here…or even if not 😉
how much water does that Teucrium take?
@Bernieh, here in Los Angeles the kangaroo paws are getting quite common, usually as stand-alone plants, but I like them with grasses, libertia, agaves, succulents, since the water needs are synchronous. I love hearing that phrase like “the tropical north” — only in Oz!
@Pam, I should have mentioned that these are dry-laid bricks, not mortared in, which is why I attack them so often. And I’ve never been tempted by staghorn ferns either but I’m beginning to think my north-facing front porch needs some, like foliar deer antlers over the front door!
@Sue, just think of the plant shopping to come! How will we find the restraint?!
@Kim, you’re sweet for saying that — and such an enabler!
@Lea, it is a collection of plants in search of a garden. Happy weekend back at you.
@Scott, it’s been interesting to see this Bloom Day how timing of plants seems to be all over the place. I’ve tried the ruby grass before too. I think giving it more breathing room might be the answer (which is why I need to remove those bricks…)
@Dustin, it’s my first year with this teucrium, but I’m assuming it’s going to be fairly tough. I’ll carve off some for you to try. There’s a Teucrium betonicum in the front gravel garden that seems to want more water than it gets there, which is practically nil.
Everything gorgeous–as usual.
Beautiful flowers and, as usual, always ‘unusual’ and different varieties that I’m used to seeing. I like that.
That gorgeous Staghorn fern brings back bittersweet memories. I used to have one in the kitchen and all winter I’d watch it form a leaf ball, then put out a frond. It got so big I had to put it outside. Then Mr. Frost stopped by unannounced one day and took it to Fern Heaven.
I’ve never tried one again. Maybe I will now. Courage.
David/:0)
That is so heartbreaking, David. Time to try again. Yes, Courage!