Monday, September 3, 2012

Nice together…

Today’s post I’ll keep short and sweet, after all its Labor Day (for my readers here in the U.S.), you should be outside enjoying your garden…not inside looking at a computer screen. Here are a couple of nice combinations I spotted on a recent walk. Maybe they'll spark a little inspiration for you…

Once upon a time I knew the name of this tree with the heart-shaped leaves, naturally it escapes me now. I love the combination of the large dark leaves with the bright periwinkle of the hydrangea blossoms.

An odd combination to catch my eye but the way that the purple clematis flowers draw out the cool blues of the conifer needles works well...

Not often that you see a cardoon flower next to a persicaria leaf but they look great together.

Mother Nature makes nice combinations too.

Here's the same purple ground cover (Acaena inermis purpurea) with two different plants. Which combo do you prefer?

The barberry is my fav...

If a palm has to go into a container there's none quite as nice as a big cement urn.

No doubt all the rest of the gardening world knows what that red flower is. I just appreciated the way they were framing the sword shaped echium leaves.

And what better background for twisting black stems than a neutral stucco wall?

Happy Labor Day! Sun, warmth, and a day away from work…that’s a nice combination, I hope you’re enjoying the day!

(and remember, September is the new August!)

20 comments:

  1. Some great companion plantings. I think that tree in your first pic is one of the ones I'm considering for my front bed -- 'Forest Pansy' redbud. Hope you're having a nice Labor Day weekend.

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    1. And it looks like your correct, thanks Alison!

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  2. Hi,
    the dark heart shaped leaves looks like Cercidiphyllum japonicum 'Rotfuchs'.
    Great combination !

    Gregory Tissot

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    1. I had to look up Cercidiphyllum japonicum 'Rotfuchs' as I am not familiar with that one (and who am I kidding, I'm pretty tree stupid!). I can see why you'd think it might be but I think Alison (above) got this one right.

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    2. I did go a little far with Cercidiphyllum, the tree was 3 syllables shorter !

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  3. That's a great way to welcome the holiday. I plan to enjoy a friend's back garden at a last-minute barbeque today. There'll be lots of lovely combinations there, both plant and people based. Happy Labor Day!

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    1. Sounds like the perfect way to celebrate the day Jane! This is one of those holidays where I really miss being in the same city as my family. There should be a big salmon on my dad's bbq and slices of his amazing tomatoes ready to enjoy on the side. My niece and nephews running around the lawn and dreading the fact that school starts Wednesday...(of course all that is happening, just without me)

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  4. I love your stems and your legs are good too

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  5. As always, your pictures are inspiring. Just wanted to chime in with what I think the purple-leaf plant is. I always appreciate people helping me with ID.--it can get very tricky. I'm pretty sure it is a Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy'. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. That's it! Thank you Brian, chime in anytime.

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    2. Yep, I'm thinking Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy' too!

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  6. Happy labour day to you!!! We too have labour day too only ours has a "u" in it. But of course people need coffee to nurse their weekend hang overs and I'm working away. But celebrating in spirit.... ie:being as lazy as possible! Hooray!

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    1. I'm guilty of putting "u" in all sorts of words here where it doesn't belong (catalogue being a common one) so I should adopt your labour day spelling too!

      I don't think you've ever mentioned your coffee related employment, I hope the hangover'd masses are good to you today and appreciate your labouring on their behalf!

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  7. Neato combinations! I think the orange flowers might be Zauschneria californica or California fuchsia. It doesn't matter how common they are in these parts, a Mahonia in full berry always thrills me!

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    1. Me too! I wish the berries on my Mahonia had lasted longer this year. (and thanks for the flower i.d.!)

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  8. Happy Labour Day Loree! Nice little blog post, and interesting too that most of those nice combinations seems accidental. Just shows how beautiful unplanned planting combinations can be :)

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    1. Hey do you guys have Labour Day too? I really need to become more worldly knowledgeable. I think your right too, about the accidental. I know all the good combinations in my garden have all been on accident!

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  9. What a good camera walk neighborhood you live in Loree ! My block is replete with numbing sameness,lawn, bon bon shrubs,and more lawn.Sigh.

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    1. And you should know, after all everyone of those pictures was taken on the same route we took to lunch the day of your visit! Of course as you also might remember I could fill a post with dandelions, golden lawns and weed filled parking strips.

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