For this Foliage Follow-up, the monthly celebration of foliage sponsored by Pam at
Digging, I thought I'd focus on some of own favorite foliage combinations. In time, I hope the foliage in the front garden will top my list but planting in that area is still incomplete and the plants currently in place need time to mature. Planted in the fall of 2013, the garden bed situated along the side yard patio is closer to realizing my original vision for it.
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| Bed photographed looking east toward the harbor |
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| Bed photographed from the other direction, looking west toward the arbor entrance to the front garden |
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| Plant detail, clockwise from top left: Agonis flexuosa 'Nana'; Alternanthera tenella mingling with creeping thyme; x Graptoveria 'Fred Ives' and Graptosedum 'California Sunset'; and Aeonium 'Kiwi' with thyme |
Other areas where my foliage selections are making a difference include these:
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| The area across from the side patio bed, dominated here by Arthropodium cirratum and Acanthus mollis, both beautiful even without blooms |
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| The area surrounding the pathway leading down into my "glen," bordered on each side by Pelargonium tomentosum and punctuated by Coprosma repens 'Plum Hussey' on the left and Prostanthera ovalifolia and Aeonium (no ID) on the right |
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| The bed running along the lower side of the slope |
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| Some of the plants along the slope include (clockwise from upper left): Agave attenuata mingling with weed-like Geranium incanum and Euphorbia 'Dean's Hybrid'; Pelargonium 'White Lady' mingling with Euphorbia; a Centranthus ruber seedling implanted in the wall adjoining the steps (with weeds I didn't see when the photo was taken); and moss with ivy |
While I was taking these photos, I made a sad discovery.
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| This Monarch butterfly was alive when I found it near the side patio this morning |
Despite a torn wing, I'd hoped the butterfly would recover. It did shift position but, as it hasn't moved since this morning, it appears it isn't going to fly away. Then, after I'd returned to the house, I heard something strike the living room window and found a tiny hummingbird on the ground. Birds occasionally hit those windows but most recover so I left it alone. Happily, in this case, the bird recovered.
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| Seconds after I snapped this photo, before I could try to get another, this little bird flew off |
Visit
Pam at Digging to check out her foliage picks this month and to find links to other gardeners' foliage highlights.
All material
© 2012-2015 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
