Maybe it’s time to make it interesting. Why not add something weird, wonderful or totally unusual to your garden this year. When people think of fun plants, the happy Helianthus (Sunflowers) comes to mind. Their Planting the same plants year after year can take the fun out of gardening. sunny cheerfulness brightens everyone’s day. You can grow the small ‘Sunny Smile’ or the tall ‘Russian Giant’. Give them lots of water to get them going but make sure they have good drainage and lots of sun. Sunflowers can be grown along a fence or tucked in amongst your flowers or vegetables. Make sure to leave the flower heads on, at the end of the season to let the birds feed on the seeds.
The Passiflora incarnate ‘Lavender Lady’ (Passion Vine) has flowers that look like something from outer space. It can be tender in our climate, so you will have to cut it back in the fall and heavily mulch the roots if you want it to survive the winter. It is a fast grower of up to 20’ long and has unique show stopping fragrant lavender flowers that will attract Hummingbirds, bees and butterflies to your garden. They are definitely worth a
little effort.
For the rock garden or inside the sun room try Aeonium arboreum 'Atropurpeum' Succulents always look cool but these guys take it to a whole new level, especially as they mature. This branching succulent shrub has amazing deep red-purple leaves and small yellow star-shaped flowers in late spring. At the end of each branch is a thick fleshy purple rosette. It loves sandy soil and good drainage. As it is a zone 10, it will need to overwinter indoors.
If you have a pond or a boggy area, try the Scirpus cernuus (Fiber optic plant). It is an interesting perennial that only grows 6-12”. It has slender green grass like stems ending with tiny pearls that look like fiber optics. It requires consistently moist soil and can be planted beside the pond or emerged up to 10cm in the pond and will act as an oxygenator. It is hardy to zone 8 and will tolerate sun or shade - a great conversation piece.
Another lovely addition to the garden is Eucomis (Pineapple lily). This South African native grows 1-3 feet and can make a marvelous cut flower. It looks exotic with its huge pineapple blossom is easy to grow and
flowers late summer. We have several varieties: ‘Tugela Ruby’ has deep purple red foliage and rose pink blooms that become darker with age; ‘ Sparkling Burgundy’ has dark burgundy leaves that slowly change to olive green and then dramatically revert back as flowers fade. The blooms can be smokey pink, purple or lavender. ‘Tugela Jade’ has greenish white flowers and the ‘Bicolour’ has maroon speckled steams and green/white flowers . All of them look fabulous in the landscape. Remember it is a bulb, so give it good drainage and protect it with a 4”layer of mulch or bring it indoors for the winter and store in frost free place. Zone 6-7
How about something small to put in a pot on the deck? Try Pleione lumprichtii (Hardy Chinese Orchid). This award winning sweetheart is only 6” tall and has darling deep pink flowers with rose red spotted lips. It is great in a rockery in part shade or in a well-drained container. Zone 7
Some plants are fun for kids such as Antirrhinum (Snapdragons) because they look like dragon heads and if you pinch their heads just right you can make the dragon’s mouth open and close. Many snapdragons are faintly scented but the ‘Peach Dragon’ smells like bubble gum, in particular: double bubble.
Some plants are steeped in folklore and as the weather warms, you can spend more evenings in your garden and tell stories. For instance, the well-known Dicentra ( Bleeding Heart) is surrounded with Irish folklore .
“The flowers hold clues to a tragic tale of unrequited love. To begin narration of the story, hold a heart blossom in the palm of your hand.
Long ago there lived a noble prince who tried in vain to win the heart of a very beautiful princess. The prince had brought the princess wonderful gifts from his travels far and wide. Yet she had taken no notice of him. One day the prince returned from a long journey with very special gifts to surely win the love of the princess. First he presented her with two magical pink bunnies. Peel off the two outer petals and set them on their sides to display two little pink bunnies.
The princess only sighed and barely looked at the little bunnies. The hopeful prince had one more gift saved for last - he presented a pair of beautiful enchanted earrings. Remove the two long white petals and hold them next to your ears.
Again, the princess hardly noticed the prince's gift. Now the poor prince was utterly heartbroken. He could try no more to win the heart of the princess. He rose up, pulled a dagger from his sheath and stabbed himself in the heart. Remaining in the flower is a heart shape with the stamen, appearing as a dark green line down the center. Hold the heart up, carefully remove the dagger-like line, and plunge the dagger through the heart.
The princess was overcome by the dedication of the dying prince and his unending love for her. She realized too late that she loved him also. "Alas," she cried out. "I have done wrong, my own heart is broken also. I shall bleed for my prince forever more!" And her heart bleeds to this very day.”
Given the shape of the blooms, it was almost inevitable that this plant has come to represent romantic sorrow.
(Folklore and the Bleeding Heart Flower, posted by Cyndy Irvine)
Not everyone likes hearts and roses: some people prefer dragons and sharks. So here are a few plants for the ‘dark side’: the carnivorous plants.
The Sauromatum venosum (Voodoo Lily) bloom has the signature scent of ‘rot and decay’. Flies and other insects are drawn to the horrific smell and the plant feeds off them. It has an unusual leaf and is very beautiful in its own very odd way. It is definitely intriguing. The Sarracenia (Pitcher Plant) is another carnivorous plant with a very different lure. They attract bugs in their tube shaped leaves. The insects are drawn in by sweet nectar and visual clues. The tube is too slippery for the insect to climb out and they fall into the pool of water where they are digested by enzymes or bacteria. 76 different species. (Watch on YouTube the poisonous pitcher plant by David Attenborough.)
Kids are also fascinated with Dionaea muscipula (Venus Fly Trap) which eats insects by trapping them in their leaves. They usually inhabit bogs and wet savannahs and will grow well on the west coast due to our mild wet winters . Supply them with peaty soil. They are not a tropical plant and can tolerate mild winters.
Plants that do not go through a period of winter dormancy will weaken and die after a period of time.
Perhaps that is too dark for some people and you may only want to spice up the baskets and containers this year. Instead of using the traditional Dracaenas in the center of your containers try some new items on the
market. The exciting new introduction Zea mays ‘Field of Dreams’ (Ornamental Corn) has gorgeous variegated green and white leaves with touches of rose pink. This plant adds color and structure to large combination pots or use as an accent in the landscape. It is an easy fast growing plant that will reach at least 2-3 feet. Not only will it be a conversation piece during the Summer but in the fall it produces ears of dark kernelled corn that can be popped.
For a dramatic look, plant the Pennisetum ‘purple majesty ‘which grows 4-5 ft. tall creating a dramatic backdrop of deep purple foliage with purple plumes or its new cousin Pennisetum glaucum ‘Jester’ ( Ornamental millet) which only gets 3ft tall. The birds are also attracted to the plant and they will eat the seed heads.
Just a few suggestions to keep your garden interesting, your summer filled with wonder and allow you to tell stories in the evening around the fire.
Happy Gardening!
The Passiflora incarnate ‘Lavender Lady’ (Passion Vine) has flowers that look like something from outer space. It can be tender in our climate, so you will have to cut it back in the fall and heavily mulch the roots if you want it to survive the winter. It is a fast grower of up to 20’ long and has unique show stopping fragrant lavender flowers that will attract Hummingbirds, bees and butterflies to your garden. They are definitely worth a
little effort.
For the rock garden or inside the sun room try Aeonium arboreum 'Atropurpeum' Succulents always look cool but these guys take it to a whole new level, especially as they mature. This branching succulent shrub has amazing deep red-purple leaves and small yellow star-shaped flowers in late spring. At the end of each branch is a thick fleshy purple rosette. It loves sandy soil and good drainage. As it is a zone 10, it will need to overwinter indoors.
If you have a pond or a boggy area, try the Scirpus cernuus (Fiber optic plant). It is an interesting perennial that only grows 6-12”. It has slender green grass like stems ending with tiny pearls that look like fiber optics. It requires consistently moist soil and can be planted beside the pond or emerged up to 10cm in the pond and will act as an oxygenator. It is hardy to zone 8 and will tolerate sun or shade - a great conversation piece.
Another lovely addition to the garden is Eucomis (Pineapple lily). This South African native grows 1-3 feet and can make a marvelous cut flower. It looks exotic with its huge pineapple blossom is easy to grow and
flowers late summer. We have several varieties: ‘Tugela Ruby’ has deep purple red foliage and rose pink blooms that become darker with age; ‘ Sparkling Burgundy’ has dark burgundy leaves that slowly change to olive green and then dramatically revert back as flowers fade. The blooms can be smokey pink, purple or lavender. ‘Tugela Jade’ has greenish white flowers and the ‘Bicolour’ has maroon speckled steams and green/white flowers . All of them look fabulous in the landscape. Remember it is a bulb, so give it good drainage and protect it with a 4”layer of mulch or bring it indoors for the winter and store in frost free place. Zone 6-7
How about something small to put in a pot on the deck? Try Pleione lumprichtii (Hardy Chinese Orchid). This award winning sweetheart is only 6” tall and has darling deep pink flowers with rose red spotted lips. It is great in a rockery in part shade or in a well-drained container. Zone 7
Some plants are fun for kids such as Antirrhinum (Snapdragons) because they look like dragon heads and if you pinch their heads just right you can make the dragon’s mouth open and close. Many snapdragons are faintly scented but the ‘Peach Dragon’ smells like bubble gum, in particular: double bubble.
Some plants are steeped in folklore and as the weather warms, you can spend more evenings in your garden and tell stories. For instance, the well-known Dicentra ( Bleeding Heart) is surrounded with Irish folklore .
“The flowers hold clues to a tragic tale of unrequited love. To begin narration of the story, hold a heart blossom in the palm of your hand.
Long ago there lived a noble prince who tried in vain to win the heart of a very beautiful princess. The prince had brought the princess wonderful gifts from his travels far and wide. Yet she had taken no notice of him. One day the prince returned from a long journey with very special gifts to surely win the love of the princess. First he presented her with two magical pink bunnies. Peel off the two outer petals and set them on their sides to display two little pink bunnies.
The princess only sighed and barely looked at the little bunnies. The hopeful prince had one more gift saved for last - he presented a pair of beautiful enchanted earrings. Remove the two long white petals and hold them next to your ears.
Again, the princess hardly noticed the prince's gift. Now the poor prince was utterly heartbroken. He could try no more to win the heart of the princess. He rose up, pulled a dagger from his sheath and stabbed himself in the heart. Remaining in the flower is a heart shape with the stamen, appearing as a dark green line down the center. Hold the heart up, carefully remove the dagger-like line, and plunge the dagger through the heart.
The princess was overcome by the dedication of the dying prince and his unending love for her. She realized too late that she loved him also. "Alas," she cried out. "I have done wrong, my own heart is broken also. I shall bleed for my prince forever more!" And her heart bleeds to this very day.”
Given the shape of the blooms, it was almost inevitable that this plant has come to represent romantic sorrow.
(Folklore and the Bleeding Heart Flower, posted by Cyndy Irvine)
Not everyone likes hearts and roses: some people prefer dragons and sharks. So here are a few plants for the ‘dark side’: the carnivorous plants.
The Sauromatum venosum (Voodoo Lily) bloom has the signature scent of ‘rot and decay’. Flies and other insects are drawn to the horrific smell and the plant feeds off them. It has an unusual leaf and is very beautiful in its own very odd way. It is definitely intriguing. The Sarracenia (Pitcher Plant) is another carnivorous plant with a very different lure. They attract bugs in their tube shaped leaves. The insects are drawn in by sweet nectar and visual clues. The tube is too slippery for the insect to climb out and they fall into the pool of water where they are digested by enzymes or bacteria. 76 different species. (Watch on YouTube the poisonous pitcher plant by David Attenborough.)
Kids are also fascinated with Dionaea muscipula (Venus Fly Trap) which eats insects by trapping them in their leaves. They usually inhabit bogs and wet savannahs and will grow well on the west coast due to our mild wet winters . Supply them with peaty soil. They are not a tropical plant and can tolerate mild winters.
Plants that do not go through a period of winter dormancy will weaken and die after a period of time.
Perhaps that is too dark for some people and you may only want to spice up the baskets and containers this year. Instead of using the traditional Dracaenas in the center of your containers try some new items on the
market. The exciting new introduction Zea mays ‘Field of Dreams’ (Ornamental Corn) has gorgeous variegated green and white leaves with touches of rose pink. This plant adds color and structure to large combination pots or use as an accent in the landscape. It is an easy fast growing plant that will reach at least 2-3 feet. Not only will it be a conversation piece during the Summer but in the fall it produces ears of dark kernelled corn that can be popped.
For a dramatic look, plant the Pennisetum ‘purple majesty ‘which grows 4-5 ft. tall creating a dramatic backdrop of deep purple foliage with purple plumes or its new cousin Pennisetum glaucum ‘Jester’ ( Ornamental millet) which only gets 3ft tall. The birds are also attracted to the plant and they will eat the seed heads.
Just a few suggestions to keep your garden interesting, your summer filled with wonder and allow you to tell stories in the evening around the fire.
Happy Gardening!
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