Wednesday 19 June 2013

I missed bloom day and the foliage frenzy ... but here it is late!

I missed posting on June bloom day and on the June foliage follow-up (or foliage frenzy) as my heart refers to it as. But I thought I would share some of my June happiness a little late in a combined post!

As most of my garden meandering starts in this spot, I thought I would share it first. This is where I go in my garden. The pindo palm was planted almost immediately after my grandfathers death and so it has always meant something special to me. It just so happens to be one of the most sheltered and warm spots in the garden. So I find myself here quite often.

And when the sun shines through this area magic happens. I have my shadow rock in behind the agave and yucca and the beautiful scent of lemon thyme.

And because I promised some bloom in my post...

This "hot tamale" rose is much welcomed. I love the hot colours of red, orange, yellow and pink all on one plant!

Picking up the same colour tones are the blooms on echeveria glauca! I can't get enough of the gorgeous blue rosettes!

In the soon to be blooming and epic foliage category comes my arbequina olive. This thing is loaded with buds!

And just in case you thought I didn't plant any flowers, this side angle of a patio pot shows some nice 'piƱa colada' lantana and lavender.

And of course palms! This potted canary island date palm is getting big quick!

The trachys are loving this spring. We have had a unique combination of much rain and much sun. I recently hacked back the leccino olive. It was going gangbusters and needed some shaping. The lower branches were so full and heavy that they were drooping down and resting on the earth beneath them.

The schefflera taiwaniana 'yuan shan' is looking really happy right now. I was a bit concerned as throughout spring I had some yellowing to the lower leaves. But It sent out a healthy flush of new growth and seems to be happy as can be. It's even about to flower!


Here you can see the spent flower stalks of this chamaerops humilis.

Moving around to a different angle shows just how big this palm is getting. I always feel conflicted as to whether or not I want to trim back some of the lower fronds and show the trunk off, or if I should let it look full and wild! (Obviously I always side with the full and wild)

This summer is going to be a good one for these bananas. They are huge!!!

The tasmanian tree fern is having a good year! I love seeing the beautiful new foliage emerge. (If you look closely you can see a new frond opening on the right)

My largest phormium is looking particularly happy this year. This one remains potted and probably always will be. It can be moved around and provides a nice screen on the patio. They are idea plants for privacy screens if needed!

And this is a foliage combination I'm quite pleased with... bamboo and loquat! After realizing how quickly my "small" loquat was turning into a loquat tree, I decided to plant it out. The spot has slightly more shade than I would normally plant it in, but the spot is ideal in terms of shelter and space.

Finally, on the subject of foliage, one of my favourite sights is and always will be an illuminated palm frond. I hope you enjoyed my June blooms and foliage! Have an epic Wednesday!!

15 comments:

  1. I'm always amazed at the range of plants you grow so far north. The shadows of the foliage are quite striking.

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    1. Thanks so much, Shirley. I love shadows on sunny days!

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  2. I enjoyed this look at the foliage and some of the flowers in your garden. I really need to jump on the Schefflera bandwagon. Maybe I'll buy a Phormium while I'm at it!

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    1. Do it! I almost bought a jumbo phormium yesterday and am thinking about it again today. Maybe we are sending each other the same brain waves!

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  3. Epic palms and other great plants Louis! Your newish Russelia looks really stunning where you have it placed!

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    1. Thanks! the russelia keeps on trying to move and then always ends up back there. Its meant to be.

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  4. Like the outlaw my eyes went right to your russelia too, gorgeous! And the palms...oh so beautiful...

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    1. Thanks, Danger! The palms are really happy this year :)

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  5. Your garden looks very happy, Louis. It really is a foliage frenzy!

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    1. Thanks, Kris. It is a foliage first garden. I don't think I intentionally plan that, but it just kind of happens.

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  6. This is more stunning than ever. I don't know where to start, except I'm glad you posted. The effect you are creating seems like you are no longer settling for a year of summer, but a century of summer...and in BC! Both olives are coming along well, too.

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    1. High praise! Thanks so much, David. A century of summer sounds wonderful!!! The one olive might have to move. I didn't realize how much it would grow and am starting to wonder how those olives roots are growing.

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  7. I like that bamboo and loquat combo too, Louis -- very tropical but with a nice contrast in leaf size. Your garden is looking great.

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    1. Thanks, Pam. They bamboo and loquat seem to make a happy pair.

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  8. Palms are looking wonderful basking in the sun! I love all your new spiky additions...hey, where are ya gonna put that firecracker fern?????

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