Daily Dose Blogger Bios
Front Yard Blues
My front yard garden has arrived at a crisis point. It looks 'flabby'.
Front Yard Garden: "Are you calling me FAT?"
Germinatrix: "No, dear garden, I am not calling you fat, I'm just saying you've gone a little ... soft around the edges..."
FYG: "I can't believe you! Do you know how hard I try for you? Do you know how much water I had this week? One minute. That's all."
Germi: "Garden, it rained for three days straight over the weekend -"
FYG: "That's not my fault! I didn't make it rain!"
Germi: "All I'm saying is we need to work on you a little, you know, a little editing, a little-
FYG: "YOU HATE ME!"
Germi: "You're being silly..."
FYG: "Do you know how many cars still slow down to look at me? The other day a woman came by and took a cutting! Lots of people would LOVE me to be their garden!"
Germi: "Okay, I can't be around you when you're like this. I'll see you later."
FYG: "Don't walk away from me! You were weeding! You can't leave me like this!"
That garden of mine - sometimes she's quite a pain. Hyersensitive. The reality is that this planting is eight years old and in dire need of renovation. I've been putting it off, but I can't anymore. So I've been trying to formulate a new plan.
The thing I love about this garden is the blue story that has emerged. A decade ago, it was designed with a strict palette of bright greens, chartreuse, deep reds and purples. Now it's humming the blues, if not quite singing 'em. I'd like to pump up the volume and bring in bronzes and orangey reds to sharpen the blue tones, and silvery sages to blend and balance. I've also decided to bring in lots of verticals - I have so many stars and rosettes because of my Agave/Aloe fixation that the garden is looking a little ... bubble-ish, if you know what I mean.
I haven't decided what kind of vertical elements I'll bring in just yet - I'll happily take suggestions from gardeners and non-gardeners alike!
All those spiky plants are certainly giving it an attitude.
We just ordered some of these - http://tinyurl.com/2en3lk
I'm intrigued by the foliage color...
Susa you plant minx!
Berberis 'Helmond's Pillar' is beautiful! I hope you have more luck with it than I did!
During my FYG's first incarnation, I planted every Berberis with red, purple, or plum foliage I could find - 'Crimson Pygmy', 'Rose Glow', 'Cherry Bomb', ...the only Helmond's Pillars I could find were from Heronswood, and they were tiny!
The only one that ever did anything for me was "Rose Glow', which was really nice for about five years... and then poof - it was gone!
I might just try B. "Helmond's Pillar' again - it is so gorgeous... and talk about a sexy vertical! Thank you for reminding me about it -- every plant deserves a second, or third, chance.
Of course you'd come through with a good suggestion!
What is it about teenage gardens anyway?
Mine is 5 years old in people years, with part of it 25 (former owner/rental) and she's tired. The lawn looks like a home for wayward gophers,the 25 year old groundcovers need life support, the lavender is woody and dying, etc etc.
And garden club will be here in March. Lots to do!
sumcool
Hi there Sumcool! So the club's coming! I used to go into SUCH a competitive tizzy when The Germinators would meet in my garden. I swear, I have to write a book about that garden club. Nobody would believe how crazy a group of grown women can get over plants!
Ley's see - my 8 year old garden behaves like a 15-year-old girl who constantly threatens to run away ... if your garden is 5 ... I think you have a 13 year old girl on your hands! That's a hard one! Still cute, but she'll misbehave whenever she can... yes, hard cutbacks and plugging the groundcover with pony packs of this and that helps. One year all I did was throw handfuls of Linum rubrum seeds all over ...those willowy red blooms really did the trick as far as misdirection goes. Who's going to look at how woody the lavender hedge is when there is scarlet flax and fresh stipa blowing in the breeze?
keep us posted on the goings- on while you're getting ready for the garden club, okay?
Thank you for your lovely comments to my Jan 15 post. I assure you I will be posting regularly. Now it's about the madness in my garden, later there will much pride and cooing as they share their pretty little gifts with me. They love to surprise me, but never on schedule.
Here in Fresno all gardens are in a state of confusion. Even my cherry tomatoes which did nothing in summer or fall are giving me so many little green ones. They are doing this all the while they are drying up.
I have been losing succulents left and right even w/my bringing them indoors. They are by my patio glass doors(west exposure)it's all the window I have. I water them every other week and they still become limp and die even the echevarias. They do start out so pretty....
Right on! Another friend coming to the garden party! I love that - it's why blogging is so rewarding, you know? The community. That's you, SRoysner1...
The weather is weird EVERYWHERE this year, I think. I still have Cannas blooming! Huh? Those usually bite the big one as soon as there is the tiniest chill in the air!
Hmmm - I wonder what's up with your echeverias. Are they in the right potting medium? Echeverias need really sharp drainage - I actually add a little sand to cactus mix when I plant them in containers. And as long as it isn't below freezing, cool weather doesn't usually bother echeverias. In fact, their colors become more vibrant!
Do they look yellow and mushy before they die, or do they contract ... wither? It is nearly impossible to underwater these plants - so I would always err on the side of dry. When the plants are inside and don't have to deal with sun and heat, water them only if you see them start to contract. I NEVER water my succulents during the winter unless the temps go into the 80's.
I don't know if this was helpful, but if you give me more info, I might be able to narrow it down.
I'm crossing my fingers! I hate to hear about struggling succulents!
So a 5 year old garden is 13 in garden years? Does that my make my 1 year old garden 2 and a 1/2 in garden years? Makes sense. She's still pretty cute, except when I have to wipe her behind. Please do a post about the garden club. Sounds like fun!
Do you grow any of the South American fuchsias? Like Fuchsia boliviana 'Rubra'? They grow quite upright. LA is supposed to be great for fuchsias. The 'Rubra' is very florific, and quite red.
What about a Silver Tree? Leucadendron argenteum. It's a small tree, although it will/might get too big, depending on your situation. It's also quite upright, and not very wide. Sounds like it might go well with your color palette.
I was going to suggest Heteromeles arbutifolia, but I just remembered you blogged about it!
Guy and I just booked a May trip to LA. We're only going to be there one night, and we're staying at the Chateau Marmont--my idea--then a week-long drive back to San Francisco. I can't wait.
Wicked: Some gardens take longer than others to potty train! And then the breast feeding... oops - TMI?
My old garden club was such a crazy experience - I'll condense it into a short story and then post if for you. I hope the garden world is ready for the naked truth!!
Chuckb, my friend, I've never had luck with fucshias - even when I was being less of a hardcore drought tolerant maniac than I am now. I looked up the one you suggested, and it is lovely - but the Leaucandendron argenteum had me as soon as I read it in your comment. I LOVE that idea! I already have a silver banksia in the near vicintity - the two could play nicely with each other.
You have a sharp eye, you plantsman you...
...and I am TOTALLY jealous of the little trips that you and Guy take! How romantic is flying down for one night at the fabulous Chateau Marmont, and then a leisurely drive back? Stopping here and there? Sigh... have fun!