Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Color up for Foliage Follow-up!

It’s that time of the year, when the foliage all around us starts to take on burnished golden and fiery hues.

What you were expecting colorful tree leaves? Nah! The Aloes are putting on a show just as good, Aloe dorotheae…

Aloe arborescens variegata has gained more contrast to its stripes as the temperature has dipped.

Aloe marlothii

Aloe reitzii

Aloe vaotsanda x divaricata ('Fire Ranch')

The Bromeliads don’t shy away from a little color either, Bromeliad Neoregelia hybrid.

And another...

Vriesea imperialis or Imperial Bromeliad

A couple of NOID Bromeliads...

Araeococeus flagellifolius an unusual bromeliad that looks more like a grass.

These small Aeoniums ('sunburst' I believe) 'Kiwi' (thanks Gerhard) have added a touch of yellow with a nice pink edge.

New vs. old foliage on the Dioon edule.

Dyckia Burgundy Ice

And an unknown Dyckia hybrid.

Some of the Opuntia have also taken it up a notch with the fall color. Opuntia basilaris ‘Sara’s Compact’…

Opuntia macrocentra

Opuntia santa-rita, with a stripe of purple, joined by a Aloe haworthioides about to bloom and the thin colorful leaves of Agave geminiflora.

The brown edges on Sedum nussbaumeriannum have become even more distinct.

And the Sedum rubrotinctum is positively glowing.

Even the colorful veins on the Sarracenia seem more pronounced lately.

Finally, for the foliage traditionalist here are a few images of more typical fall foliage, Mahonia fortunei 'Curlyque'…

Poncirus trifoliata

Amsonia hubrichtii

And maybe my most favorite (and unlikely) combo, Echium wildpretii and Virginia creeper…

In case you don’t know Foliage Follow-up is the monthly counter to yesterday’s abundance of blooms, on Bloomday. It’s the brainchild of Pam over at Digging, visit her blog for the round up of all those participating.

28 comments:

  1. A perfect antidote to all those blooms you featured earlier!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Just to add, you asked us about Opuntias before (we only have one left at the moment), and funny enough the two you just featured now are actually on my very short wishlist of Opuntias (including the microdasys). Nice to see them featured :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad to hear you guys are in the market for a couple additional Opuntia! As soon as mine bulk up a bit I'd be happy to send an pad or three your way!

      Delete
  3. Seriously, that defines epic. You just made my day which is gearing up to be pure insanity sooo incredibly happy!!! Thank you!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. very colorful great shots.....pleas put the common names too!!!thank you

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad you enjoyed Sharon, and whenever I know a common name I do list it. As a friend pointed out yesterday since I don't live in a climate where these plants are commonly grown the common name is not something I generally have heard. Also many of them are fairly unusual and may not even have a common name.

      Delete
  5. Wow, those Aloes are just gorgeous, such opulent color on that purple Opuntia too. That's a great shot of the Echium with the Virginia creeper too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Alison. The Virginia creeper is starting to loose it's leaves now, I captured that one just in time!

      Delete
  6. Beautiful foliage! I especially like your aloes and that Amsonia hubrichtii against your brown house is stunning. The last picture is a great contrast in foliar color and shape!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Amsonia is going in the ground today, and unfortunately moving away from the brown siding. I'm sad about this as I too loved that look!

      Delete
  7. Love it! One small correction: Your Aeonium 'Sunburst' is actually 'Kiwi'.

    Has your Aloe 'Fire Ranch' ever bloomed? I've had one in the ground for 3+ years and while it's at least 3 ft tall, it hasn't bloomed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for the correction Gerhard, please never hesitate to share when I've got something wrong!

      My 'Fire Ranch' has not bloomed...I've actually got 3 of them now, and no blooms on any!

      Delete
  8. So jealous of your Amsonia...mine isn't even hinting at changing color yet...nor are my Partneocissus :-(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wonder if my Amsonia is feeling the temperature more drastically because I still haven't gotten them in the ground? Or of course there is the fact that I'm so much cooler than you up here near the Columbia. Damn.

      Delete
  9. Great color on that opuntia 'Sara's Compact.' Love seeing opuntia in other people's gardens...too scary a concept to let them loose here. I already get too many complaints from all the spikes and thorns. Aloe reitzii, on the other hand, I think I could find a spot for..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh ya! I'm certain you could find a spot...and while you're at it maybe just one more Opuntia?

      Delete
  10. Great pictures all those succulents are putting on a real display for you. I never understand how people can say a succulent garden lacks colour.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Really? Well they're wrong aren't they!?

      Delete
  11. I love when the plants begin to do this! Very nice:) Succulents not only have great form and shape....they also have nice color tones as well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Agreed! Of course our lack of rain for months has certainly helped them "color up"...

      Delete
  12. This is a gorgeous Foliage Follow-up post! I can tell I brought my Aloe dorothea in too soon: I was afraid of rain, but it's reverting to green immediately! Dare I put it out in the cold (and wet!) again?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mine are inside now too Jane, just to much wet in the forecast for me to risk leaving them outside...

      Delete
  13. That photo of the echium.. What incredible contrast! Your collection is staggering, I'm particularly partial to your bromeliads. This foliage update is just as inspiring as your bloom post, nicely done!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad you enjoyed that one Nat...and coming from you the use of the word "staggering" is almost scary!

      Delete
  14. Your vast array of plants never ceases to amaze me.. and all with IDs I have a A marlothii but it has never flowered yet. has yours?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No mine has not. I've only had a couple of Aloes flower, I just think our climate doesn't make them happy enough to want to get on with flowering. My marlothii has grown a lot though (for a containerized plant), I was just looking at a picture of when I got it a couple years ago.

      Delete
  15. Fall brings such great color to the garden, and I'm not talking sugar maples! I love that Aloe marlothii and esp. the purple stripe on your Santa Rita opuntia.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to comment. Comment moderation is on (because you know: spam), I will approve and post your comment as soon as possible!