On the last Friday of the month, Loree of
danger garden hosts a meme focusing on favorite plants. In preparation, I took photos of all sorts of plants but my attention kept coming back to one bed. I call it the "spa bed" because at one time it contained a "
snorkel spa" we inherited with the house. The spa was heated by firewood and very inconvenient to use so, after living with it for a few years and using it only a few times, we took it out and used the spa's top to build a patio table. (I'm using the royal "we" here as my husband really did all the work.) I planted the spa bed in March 2014 and have modified my plant choices several times since. I feel it's finally coming together now and, although the plants are still immature, I love the combination already so I'm featuring the occupants of this bed as my May favorites.
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| Wide shot of the bed formerly occupied by the snorkel spa |
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| Another view of the same bed |
The tree on the left, an
Arbutus 'Marina', was in place when we moved in, as was the clump of
Agapanthus on the right and the hedge behind. Everything else is a more recent introduction. After a
brief flirtation with some other plants, I took my color cues from the
Arbutus with its red trunk and its coral pink flowers. Here's a closer look at the present bed.
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| The bed echoes some of the colors in the dry garden beyond |
Melianthus major, Leucadendron 'Jester' and
Grevillea 'Ned Kelly' started the ball rolling.
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| A current photo showing the chandelier-like flowers of Arbutus 'Marina' dangling above Melianthus major, mirroring the colors of Leucadendron 'Jester' below and Grevillea 'Ned Kelly' on the right |
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| A broader view picks up the red of Pennisetum 'Fireworks', Lantana camara 'Irene' and Leucadendron 'Blush' |
Pennisetum 'Fireworks', Leucadendron salignum 'Blush', a yellow
Anigozanthos and a host of smaller plants were later introductions. Most recently, I've added A
gastache 'Kudos Mandarin', Leucadendron 'Jubilee Crown' and
Leucospermum 'Royal Hawaiian Brandi'. I love each of these plants individually but it's their synthesis that makes them my favorite selection this month.
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Top row, from left: Agastache 'Kudos Mandarin', noID yellow Anigozanthos, and Arbutus 'Marina'
Middle row: Grevillea 'Ned Kelly', Leucadendron 'Jester' and Leucadendron salignum 'Blush'
Bottom row: Pennisetum 'Fireworks', Origanum 'Monterey Bay', and the two newest additions, Leucadendron 'Jubilee Crown' and Leucospermum 'Brandi'(still babies) |
Visit Loree at danger garden to see the plants she and other gardeners are most excited about this month.
All material © 2012-2016 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
