Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Foliage Follow-up, contrasts. Small soft leaves and gigantic coarse ones…

I wish there was a way to share texture over the Internet. You would not believe how soft the new growth on a Callistemon is, think puppy ears…that’s exactly what they feel like. Even better when you discover that soft new growth is covering dozens of little buds ready to burst open with a bottlebrush-like floral display, which I did taking a couple of these photos.

Callistemon viridiflorus…

Callistemon pallidus 'Blue Foliage’

Callistemon sieberi (I think, I bought a pair of these unlabeled)

Callistemon ‘Clemson’

A second Callistemon viridiflorus

Callistemon sieberi (for sure this time)

Callistemon ‘Woodlander's Hardy Red’

And the wonderful little nodules left behind after the bloom fades…

So that’s the small soft leaves…now how about the complete opposite? Never EVER has my Gunnera looked like this in May…

It’s amazing. This is often what it looks like at the end of July! Huge leaves…

With tough coarse texture…

Even on the stems.

Pam (Digging) is the host for Foliage Follow-up...be sure to visit her blog for links to the fabulous foliage found in other garden bloggers gardens.

23 comments:

  1. What contrast! I so wish I could grow gunneras here. I saw gigantic ones in Brookings, OR last summer. Here it's too hot and dry. But yours will be phenomenal this year.

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    1. Last year I didn't have to water it, not even once. I think this year I might be hauling the hose out there often...

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  2. great callistemon collection! It is hard to find all those around here. I will have to keep a closer eye out for them. The gunnera is beautiful and for May that is amazing!

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    1. Keep an eye out...and/or make that Portland trip!

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  3. Seems you did a fine job of capturing texture. I am now sadder than ever that the Gunnera disappeared (gradually...warning me, no doubt, that it wished to be moved). That shot of the new leaf emerging is priceless.

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    1. It's never to late to get another...

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    2. First the stock tank, then the new Gunnera. Thanks for the words of encouragement.

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  4. Thanks for sharing those shots of your Callistemon coming into growth. I have never seen that before. They look cool!

    Whilst you are well ahead of yourself the cold and wet conditions prevail over here in the UK. We even had gales on Sunday night which kind of made me glad that there wasn't any new soft growth around to be blown to bits. I think we are about a month behind normal here :(

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    1. Oh gosh Adam, I know exactly what you're feeling since that's where we were last year and the year before. Things have to change ...eventually ...

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  5. Wow, that gunnera does have an Audrey-like demeanor, doesn't it? "Feed me, Seymore!" Watch out for that one. I prefer puppy-dog ears myself. :-) Thanks for joining in for Foliage Follow-Up!

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    1. Speaking of puppy dogs I saw Lila wandering near the Gunnera...where is she!?!

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  6. Since I grew up in LA I never had the appreciation for Callistemon that I have now. They were so very common ! All the same plant too, no interesting hybrids to be found. I like to see them now. My next door neighbor has a couple of Little John's right along our property line and the hummingbirds are mad for them.

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    1. So which one is the common one? The tall red flowered tree that I saw in Berkeley? I do love Little John!

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  7. The gunnera is superb. I'm looking for something to make an impact in a contemporary section of my garden. However, I don't think it's meet my maintenance regime.

    Show me more...

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    1. What maintenance? I do nothing other than throw some water on it occasionally and cut it back in the fall. A water-tight container keeps it happy most of the time. Of course I don't know where you garden...guess I need to go spend some time on your blog!

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  8. Oh good, oh good, oh good: My C. viridiflorus looks just like yours so that means blooms this year? I so want to find more room for Calistemons - I love them so. Yours are wonderful!

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    1. It's only the "tips" that look like the one in my second photo that are going to bloom. You can see the little buds in between the leaves. I'd say I've got about 5 like that on my older plant. Didn't see any on the one planted last spring. Hope you've got some too!

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  9. Wow! Your Gunnera is looking really good! It is so gnarly, isn't it? I didn't realize Callistemon had soft new growth, I'll have to watch for that on the one I just got. Thanks for posting this study of contrasts.

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    1. Even when I'm walking through a nursery I have to touch the Callistemons...

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  10. Wonderful post!
    Happy Foliage Day!
    Lea
    Lea's Menagerie

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  11. Yowza...your Gunnera looks freaking amazing right now!!!

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    1. And I see rain back in the forecast just in time, I was afraid I was going to have to start watering it.

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