Summer here in Southern California takes its toll. At this time of year, most of my plants are looking a little worse for the wear. That's especially true this year as we're in a severe drought and, like many people, I've reduced my supplemental irrigation in response to pleas to conserve water. 2013 was our driest year on record and 2014 isn't shaping up to be much better. Under these conditions, it's the perfect time to celebrate succulents, which generally get by with very little water or attention. So, for this month's foliage follow-up, an event posted by Pam at Digging, I'm focusing on a few of my ever-expanding succulent collections.
I had very few succulents at my former house - all I can recall is a scattered planting of Aeonium 'Kiwi' and Calandrinia grandiflora (aka Cistanthe grandiflora) along the driveway. Now I have succulents in pots large and small, as well as borders.
I put this first planter together 2 years ago this month, using a container that formerly functioned as a friend's fountain, and it remains one of my favorites to this day:
This next pot, which sits on the same patio, was planted in March of this year:
Another, assembled that same month, sits along a path on the other side of the house:
My biggest succulent planting effort yet is a long street-side border. It's still a work in progress - there's a lot of blank space yet to fill. I'll provide an update soon but I thought I'd highlight one recent addition, an Agave desmettiana 'Variegata,' acquired at a very reasonable price of $20 complete with 11 usable pups! In these parts, that's what we call a bargain.
My thanks to Pam for hosting this celebration of foliage plants. Visit her blog page to see what foliage is grabbing her attention right now and to find links to other gardeners' foliage picks.
All material © 2012-2014 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
I had very few succulents at my former house - all I can recall is a scattered planting of Aeonium 'Kiwi' and Calandrinia grandiflora (aka Cistanthe grandiflora) along the driveway. Now I have succulents in pots large and small, as well as borders.
I put this first planter together 2 years ago this month, using a container that formerly functioned as a friend's fountain, and it remains one of my favorites to this day:
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| This planter contains Aeonium haworthii 'Kiwi,' Aloe 'Delta Delight,' Crassula 'Ivory Pagoda,' Dyckia 'Burgundy Ice,' Echeveria 'Violet Queen,' Graptoveria 'Fred Ives,' and Senecio radicans glauca |
This next pot, which sits on the same patio, was planted in March of this year:
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| It contains Aloe deltoidonta, Cotyledon orbiculata (aka Pig's Ear), Senecio vitalis and 2 other succulents for which I have no record |
Another, assembled that same month, sits along a path on the other side of the house:
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| This pot, and its twin on the other side of the path, contains Euphorbia 'Dean's Hybrid' (not a succulent), Graptoveria 'Fred Ives,' Portulacaria afra, and Rhipsalis ewaldiana |
My biggest succulent planting effort yet is a long street-side border. It's still a work in progress - there's a lot of blank space yet to fill. I'll provide an update soon but I thought I'd highlight one recent addition, an Agave desmettiana 'Variegata,' acquired at a very reasonable price of $20 complete with 11 usable pups! In these parts, that's what we call a bargain.
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| The mother plant is surrounded on the left and right sides by 2 of her pups |
My thanks to Pam for hosting this celebration of foliage plants. Visit her blog page to see what foliage is grabbing her attention right now and to find links to other gardeners' foliage picks.
All material © 2012-2014 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party