I've spent most of my time in the garden the last few weeks pruning overgrown shrubs, cutting back ornamental grasses, spreading mulch, cleaning up after raccoon mayhem, and performing similar tasks that, although beneficial to the garden in the larger sense, don't offer much in the way of immediate gratification. On Monday, as evening fell, I was down on the back slope pulling up the ivy that creeps over from the neighbor's property, continuously threatening to engulf everything in its path. Yesterday afternoon, I went to work on a backyard bed that declined over the winter months. It was hard to believe that, back in August, it was one of my favorite sections of the garden.
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| This is what it looked like then, when the bed was filled with blooming Ageratum, Anigozanthos, Lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum), Gaillardia, Lantana, and Nierembergia |
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| Here's what it looks like now, almost bare following my clean-up |
The plastic flats are in place to deter the raccoons from digging up the creeping thyme I planted to replace the established thyme they tore up in late fall. The variegated
Lantana didn't respond well to winter conditions and I've cut it back almost to the ground in the vague hope of regenerating it. I pulled most of the flowering plants, leaving only a few of the stragglers still in good condition.
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| Agave lopantha 'Quadricolor' had been almost covered by an Aeonium avalanche. I cut the latter back to give the Agaves more breathing room but this photo indicates I still have more work to do. |
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| Other Aeoniums tried to swallow up this Anigozanthos until I also cut it free |
I plan to replant the entire area within the next month, assuming I can find something to inspire me in the local garden centers. Dare I hope to see any Lisianthus in the garden centers in March?
In the meantime, I took a little time to put together another succulent pot in a pot. This one is intended for a friend.
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| I may swap out the orange and red succulents here (Graptosedum 'California Sunset' and a noID Crassula) for more Echeveria 'Violet Queen' before it goes to my friend |
Okay, that was it for the pretty stuff. It's back to work!
All material © 2012-2019 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
