Monday, October 28, 2013

What do you do when you're the project assistant and you're bored?

Andrew has come up with a new design for the annual shade pavilion to greenhouse conversion. Not that the old design was broken but, you know, when the creative mind thinks of something better it must be implemented.

So we’ve been working; which means I, as the assistant, spend a lot of time waiting to be told what’s next. Naturally my eyes start to wander, and I see things. Things I want to share with you. Like the fact my Acanthus sennii looks like it’s finally thinking about blooming.

I wonder what will happen first? Frost or bloom?

The big leaves of the Gunnera…

…and Tetrapanax are fabulously intricate when back lit but the sun.

And I’m happy anytime I can capture the hairs on the Leucadendron leaves.

Although it's better when you wait for just the right light.

A little golden, Fall color…

I love the grid pattern on the Opuntia microdasys (Bunny Ears)

And the tiny fruits just keep appearing on the Rubus lineatus.

More sun-play with big leaves, this one a colocasia (Colocasia antiquorum 'Illustris' I believe).

My Bocconia frutescens (Tree Poppy) seeds are finally opening.

Check them out! Crazy huh?

Finally I must admit to being rather captivated by the leaves of the Acacia baileyana 'Purpurea' as the sun moved around the tiny plant.

It's not terribly thrilled with life in a container so I think next spring it will be set free.

Perhaps to lend a brief exotic flare to the new planting area north of the patio, where the privet is coming out.

So beautiful...

All material © 2009-2013 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

25 comments:

  1. Loving your acacia! Your yard looks stunning. I woke up to what looks like the debris from a hurricane. down branches, douglas fir limbs, green leaves - not brown. It's quite something. So my day will entail working to clean up in the sunshine. not a bad thing in my books. But I think you have me convinced on the acacia department. I'm thinking a nice acacia dealbata. PS: thought of another tree for your new area that I'm sure you're aware of ... drimys winteri pewter pillar! I saw one and fell in love

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    1. Yikes! It's been windy here but not like that. Thank goodness you have sunshine to work by. Oh and thank you for the drimys tip, I hadn't thought of that but will check it out!!!

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  2. Oooh, how can you resist stroking that Opuntia? Something about those "fuzzy" dots just compels me against my better judgement to want to touch...

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    1. I can honestly say the thought never occurred to me! Ouch.

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  3. I considered planting an Acacia baileyana 'Purpurea' to replace our cherry plum because it is so unusual but the palo verde 'Desert Museum' won out. I still want to find room for an acacia though...

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    1. Wow, to think of actually being able to put one of those in the ground and have it be assured of living through the winter. Jealous.

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  4. That's the Acacia that we saw in the ground at Celestial Dream, right? I'll keep my fingers crossed that it does as well when you "set it free." Those tree poppy seeds are totally cool. Will you save them? You did manage to capture some lovely golden leaves.

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    1. Yes, it is. Hopefully I'll at least get a couple of years out of it! I doubt I'll do anything with the tree poppy seeds but I'd be happy to save some for you if you're interested.

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  5. So much fun stuff to look at while you're bored! Can't wait to see the new and improved shade pavilion winter coat.

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  6. fifi la fontaineOctober 28, 2013

    Ooh, Clifford still has some leaves on him! My m.m. is just a bare branch, but I did see some fuzzy shoots coming out.

    Is the schefflerra taiwaniana evergreen?

    Thanks for the post! Can't wait to see the new shade pavilion design!

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    1. Clifford has let go of some leaves (encouraged by the wind) but most of them are still hanging on. Yep...evergreen for the schefflera, which had me concerned when we got snow year before last, but it bounced back just fine.

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  7. Haha...that sounds all too familiar...every time we're working on an outdoor project, that isn't the garden, I tend to disappear on poor Norm :-)

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    1. They really should expect it by now right? Instead he continues to be amazed that I am distracted.

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  8. I think you made good use of your time while waiting to be summoned! I wish I could get my husband back in my side garden to help (even if it means following orders) but right now he's too preoccupied with his own projects.

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    1. "waiting to be summoned"...you phrased that perfectly. Good luck with yours!

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  9. We were doing that manager/assistant thing this morning, getting everything in clay pots in the ground or onto the porch. Our only problem is that we both think we're the chief and nobody wants to be the Indian. Oh, well...mission accomplished. I think I'll take a cue from you and agree to be the flunky just so I can spend the down time wandering around. You got some wonderful shots, and now I want one of those tree poppies.

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    1. Can I interest you in any seeds? (of the tree poppy)

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  10. Skylarking while playing the assistant? Check...
    (so what's the new plan for the shade pavilion anyway?)

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    1. This is exactly what I would have said, so I will just agree.

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    2. Hard sides, not the plastic sheeting. Pictures coming soon!

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  11. I do like these close up shots, makes you look at plants in a different way and notice nice things you haven't before. Looking forward to seeing the new look of shade pavilion for this coming winter!

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    1. The only problem with having a classier looking enclosure is that now my block and wood shelves look even more cheesy...

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  12. That acacia is g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s.

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