My
May Bloom Day post was a little over the top, even for me. I took my camera outside to seek out foliage stars that could compete with all the flowers currently dominating my garden. While it was difficult to snap photos without flowers photo-bombing the shots, I captured a number of foliage shots worthy of recognition.
Acacia 'Cousin Itt' frequently features in my foliage focused posts but on this occasion it's the contrast between its feathery texture and the smooth leaves of succulents I want to highlight.
![]() |
| Acacia cognata 'Cousin Itt' mingles here with Aeonium arboreum and Aeonium haworthii 'Kiwi' |
![]() |
| 'Cousin Itt' is cozying up to Agave ovatifolia 'Vanzie'here |
Japanese maples aren't easy to grow in my windy location with its searing hot summer temperatures but I've got three specimens in protected locations that are doing relatively well, at least so far.
![]() |
| Acer palmatum 'Mikawa Yatsubusa', a dwarf variety, still small although I've had it for more than 5 years |
![]() |
| Acer shirasawanum 'Aureum', acquired earlier this year, is showing why it's called the Golden Full Moon Maple |
![]() |
| Acer palmatum 'Sango Kaku', my oldest specimen, purchased as a small stick 8 years ago |
Some of my best foliage shots are anchored by succulents.
![]() |
| These 3 Agave desmettiana 'Variegata' were planted several years ago as pups of one of the 2 plants currently in flower in my street-side succulent bed |
![]() |
| Mangave 'Kaleidoscope' with more Aeoniums, as well as Crassula pubescens, which is preparing to bloom |
Some foliage is showing off with red new growth.
![]() |
| Agonis flexuosa 'Nana' |
![]() |
| Calliandra haematocephala, which I appreciate more for its foliage than the powder puff red flowers it's know for |
Grasses and grass-like plants are also prominent features of my garden.
![]() |
| I've used grass-like Lomandra longifolia 'Breeze' in areas throughout my garden. Here it's accented by the variegated foliage of Abelia grandiflora 'Kaleidoscope' (and, yes, some photo-bombing flowers). |
![]() |
| I've used Seslaria 'Greenlee's Hybrid' as an edging material here and elsewhere in my garden |
![]() |
| Stipa tenuissima (aka Mexican feather grass) is another grass I've used extensively. It gets very fluffy when it's full of seed heads. I'm in the process of combing them out before the seedlings take over but I haven't gotten to these plants yet. |
Those are some of the foliage highlights in my garden this May. They're not as flashy as the flowers perhaps but they're just as important.
Best wishes for a pleasant weekend. We've got a good chance of rain on Sunday here, which is utterly remarkable, especially as we also had rain earlier this week. Fingers are crossed that you get whatever weather you're hoping for too.
All material © 2012-2019 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
