The flowers are unusual and I'm so happy it's bloomed...
But it's the foliage that I really love.
But what's this!? Look at the purple variegation on that leaf...
Wow! These little leaves appear on stalks that continue on to the flower. Has anyone else seen this on their blooming Melianthus? Imagine those colors on a whole plant!
As it does my attention wandered to the other plants in this corner. New growth on Acacia pravissima (this one is in a container).
Speaking of containers I stuffed a few more plants in my circle pot (from Potted*) this year.
And still haven't freed any of the poor plants mashed in this one!
They look okay though, considering their poor treatment.
Rodgersia podophylla 'Rotlaub'...
Slug alert! This is why you should be careful when photographing your garden in bare feet, thankfully I did not step on it.
The corner as it fits into the overall garden...
Since I was alsready distracted why not shoot some more random photos? Callistemon viridiflorus in bloom.
I wish you could feel how soft these are.
Another day during an afternoon sun-break I captured a few things in the front garden. This is another Callistemon viridiflorus lit by the evening sun.
Ceanothus impressus Victoria has more blooms this year than ever before.
Opuntia x rutila with lots of new growth!
Parahebe perfoliata with Callistemon sieberi foliage, I wasn't sure I would like the blooms on this plant but I really do.
And so ends another couple of rambling walks around the garden. What do non-gardeners do without plants to gawk at all the time?
*Speaking of that circle pot from Potted have you heard they're running another "That's So Potted" contest? All the details are here: http://www.pottedstore.com/post/thats-so-potted-contest-2013-facebook-edition/ and just to warn you I'm entering this year and so is Andrew (remember Squid, Sardine and Coconut Jam?) so I'm going to be begging for your vote (or rather Facebook "like") in the upcoming weeks. The winner gets a $500 shopping spree at Potted. I think that's worth begging for!
All material © 2009-2013 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Hahaha...the same thing happens to me...I start doing one thing and before I know it, I've been taking photos for an hour and am late for my bus! The Melianthus almost looks like it might be a virus...but what do I know!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear I'm in good company.
DeleteI'm so happy your Melianthus bloomed this year. So far my two plants have not. By the end of last year they both got so leggy and rangy after the bloom that I had to do some pruning. This year the foliage is full and lush, but no sign of a bud yet.
ReplyDeleteThat's weird that yours haven't bloomed! I know what you mean about leggy though, mine are only kind of upright because I used a little twine and a support. I think I might go back to cutting at least a few stalks back in the spring (assuming winter doesn't do it for me).
DeleteI have a feeling that we are looking at bloom-time every other year here in Portland - if the winter allows it.
DeleteI don't know what non-gardeners do with their time but it can't be as fun as gawking at plants. The Melianthus variegation is new to me. Maybe a whole new variety...M. 'Bohl's Variegated' M. 'Loree's lost her marble(d.)' So many possibilities! Fun plant tour!
ReplyDeleteI'll be famous and rich! Hahaha...does anyone ever get famous and rich in the plant world?
DeleteAs far as I know non-gardeners watch TV or videos on youtube as I gawk at plants all the time. But I think our option is way much better, hahaha.
ReplyDeleteYou're probably right and I agree!
DeleteThat Melianthus foliage is so cool. I don't know enough about what causes variegation, so I have no clue, but yeah, imagine what it would look like on a whole plant! I love my Parahebe flowers too. And I totally understand the whole distraction thing.
ReplyDeleteBeing easily distracted is the sign of a creative mind right? (yes I totally made that up)
DeleteThat Melianthus is a very nice plant (amongst other very nice plants in your garden). I haven't seen a Melianthus with that marking before, I wonder if you take that bit as a cutting and able to root it? Just imagine if you could and it carries on marked as it is then you've got a very pretty and rare thing on your hand.
ReplyDeleteLove your pots, you are a woman of fine taste!
It's only on the stems that are blooming, not any of the "real" leaves so I don't know if it would root but I guess it's worth trying! And thank you... do appreciate the compliment.
DeleteOh and good luck with the competition! Will keep an eye on it this coming Friday :)
ReplyDeleteYay! Thanks guys.
DeleteI love it. I think we all get distracted from time to time when setting out to do something in the garden and our attention is called to something or other and the next thing you know the day is done and you never did the first thing you were planning to do. I lose more garden tools that way. I've lost two pair of Felco pruners in the last ten years, not to mention gloves, trowels etc. Sometimes I find myself standing in the middle of the back garden staring into space trying to remember what it was I was going to do, but boy that fuchsia I find myself looking at (or whatever it is) is really looking great. LOL
ReplyDeleteLove the Melianthus, great foliage and the flowers on that Parahebe are such a gorgeous color.
I've found that brightly colored handles are a god send when it comes to trying to figure out where I left a tool, good to know I'm not alone there. Do you think our neighbors ever see us staring into space like you describe?
DeleteAre your parahebe flowers as true blue as they look? Mine are lavender--your color is so much better. And you have my vote for the Potted contest!
ReplyDeleteYes I would describe the color as a true blue. Did you get my "other" plant that I brought to one of our plant exchanges? (and thanks for the vote!)
DeleteThat Melianthus foliage anomaly is intriguing and cool to see. And seeing yours, I'm wondering why my Callistemon viridiflorus is showing absolutely no sign of flowering yet.
ReplyDeleteThis is the second year that the Callistemon viridiflorus in the back garden has flowered, and finally there are a few small blooms on the one out front. How old is your plant Jane?
DeleteThis could be your big break Loree..The Danger Garden Collection at Monrovia, featuring Melianthus 'Loree'. Can I have your autograph ? And by the way, a WALAT is a time honored tradition with my friends and I (Walking Around Looking At Things)...
ReplyDeleteWALAT, I like it.
DeleteWell I can certainly see why that would distract you. I scored a small M. major this spring to grow in one of my combo pots. Wish they were hardy here but c'est la vie. Brave of you to walk around in bare feet in such a dangerous garden :).
ReplyDeleteI know, you'd think I would have learned my lesson with that whole cactus spine in the food episode. I guess not.
DeleteI keep going back to that first shot of the corner to admire the way the circle pot planting picks up the color of the Melianthus foliage, while the flowers round out the family of oranges in your many pots. It's a splendid composition.
ReplyDeletePhew,that Melianthus is gorgeous. Thanks for posting process photos of your edging project too. I love the rectilinear shape of lawn and how everything is composed (as always).
ReplyDeleteYour whole garden (well, except for those slugs) is looking terrific but I'm really enamored of that Melianthus. I don't see these much in this area and I don't believe I've ever seen one in bloom. Wow!
ReplyDelete