Last week our temperatures veered into the mid-80sF (29C), making it feel not only that winter was over but that we were skipping over spring into summer. However, the morning marine layer returned on Monday and the daytime temperatures have drifted back down into the 70sF, comfortable and definitely spring-like. With flowers popping up everywhere, it's easy to overlook the surrounding foliage but not all of the foliage in my garden has willingly accepted an understudy role. In scanning my garden, my eye was repeatedly drawn to bronze tones.
The
Xylosma congestum hedges are a case in point. Trimmed back a few weeks ago, they're now wearing shiny new foliage in a delicious bronze shade.
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| Xylosma hedge shown against a backdrop of a neighbor's pine trees in the distance |
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| The bronze foliage is even more evident when viewed next to the deep bluish-green of the Ceanothus hedge planted alongside it |
My normally green
Aeonium have also turned a beautiful shade of bronze.
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| This clump of Aeonium is just touched with bronze at the edges |
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| This clump, only a few feet away and part of the same bunch gifted to me by a friend when we moved into the house, has turned a deeper bronze |
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| And, these 2, planted along the driveway where they get very little water, are bronzer still |
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| And, finally, these sitting on the backyard patio table exposed to sun all day, are moving from bronze to burgundy |
And the
Calliandra haematocephala is sporting bronze foliage as fancy as its powder-puff red flowers.
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| This shrub outside the living room window has been allowed to leaf out more than usual |
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| It will have to be cut back soon as it's reaching out into the pathway |
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| I'd love to use its stems in a vase but the leaves close up in the dimmer light of the house |
Pretty as any flowers, wouldn't you say? These bronze beauties are my contribution to the monthly foliage follow-up meme sponsored by Pam at
Digging. Visit Pam to
find her foliage highlights and links to other foliage-centric posts.
All material
© 2012-2015 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
