Thursday, July 17, 2014

Greenovia aurea ‘Gran Canaria Form’ is my favorite plant in the garden (this week)…

This is the first blog post I've written in ages. Everything that’s appeared over the last week and half was scheduled in advance because I knew life would be crazy with the Garden Bloggers Fling in Portland last weekend, I was not wrong. I’ve got over 300 unread blog posts in my reader, I’ve got blog comments that I’ve not replied to, and emails left unread. Slowly life is getting back to normal, yet I kind of wish it weren’t. What’s better than reading a new blog post from an online gardening friend? Having them next to you, shopping at your favorite nursery.

The next Fling event is in Toronto, June 4-7 2015. I will see many of you there and we’ll pick up like it’s been 11 minutes since we saw each other, not 11 months. Until then here we are, back to our online relationship…

This week’s favorite plant in my garden is a tiny one, easily missed. I present Greenovia aurea ‘Gran Canaria Form’ / aka “Mountain Roses"...

I spied this little guy on last year's Fling in San Francisco, at Annie's Annuals.

Up until that moment I'd never heard of Greenovia, and even though it's not hardy in my Zone (have I ever let that stop me?) I bought one...

Here it is shortly after being planted up last summer...

And now...

The reason it's my fav for the week is right there in the center of the rosette, the tight little rosebud. After resembling an aeonium for months it's finally looking deserving of it's common name "Mountain Rose"...

The stats:
  • in the family Crassulaceae and hardy in USDA Zones 9-10 (and perhaps 11)
  • yellow blooms in late spring/early summmer
  • drought-tolerant and can take light shade, especially in areas with hot afternoon sun (mine did not appreciate being in a black pot in sun filled corner of a concrete patio and is much happier in a slightly shadier location)

I'll leave you with a vignette just above my featured plant, which the sun had lit up ever so nicely as I was taking my photos. And of course I'll ask what's looking good in your garden this week?

All material © 2009-2014 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

22 comments:

  1. Nice! The foliage color echoes the color of the nearby pots too. My favorite this week seems to be enjoying our current muggy weather: http://krispgarden.blogspot.com/2014/07/my-favorite-plant-this-week.html.

    Thanks for hosting us again this week despite what I'm sure has been a hectic schedule!

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    1. Things are starting to calm down a bit and I'm realizing unlike the other bloggers I don't have scads of gardens to post about (I took very few photos during the Fling, too busy doing other things).

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  2. Grenovia, a new genus to me and just shows that one never stops learning new things! Life has just started to return to normal here but the jet lag headache is currently there. We had such a blast we're both feeling extra inspired!

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    1. I can't imagine the exhaustion you two must be feeling. There's the natural let-down when an event you've been looking forward to is over, then add in the jet lag and it just sounds horrible. Hopefully looking through all your photos will help.

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  3. Roses do find sneaky ways to squeeze into your garden, don't they? Here's my quirky fave:http://bannersbyricki.com/archives/3858
    Anna wrote the perfect 'Thank You' for all your brilliant Flinging, so I'll just say 'Me too!'

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  4. I love these, yours is looking so much better than mine. It gives me something to aim for.
    I'm also selecting an alpine this week, orostachys fimbriata. http://spikyobsession.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/orostachys-fimbriata-is-my-favourite.html

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    1. Mine was looking so bad a couple of weeks after bringing it home that I almost tossed in the yard waste bin. Glad I did not.

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  5. "We’ll pick up like it’s been 11 minutes since we saw each other, not 11 months." That's exactly how it is when we meet at the Fling each year. It was wonderful to see "your" Portland -- the gardens, the nurseries, the home gardens of the planners. Wow, what a trip! Thank you SO much for all you put into it. It was wonderful. And this re-glimpse of your garden when it's not jam-packed with people is nice too. ;-)

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    1. I need to get out there and take my annual garden tour photos while it's still "ship shape"...so glad to have had you here again!

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  6. I stand in front of this plant every time I go to Annies. I ponder and then walk away (so damn many choices there) I think I had it few years ago and lost it over winter. Zone 9 is a fickle zone. Since I am now jealous of yours, I am of course going to buy one the next time I'm there. Perfect container and grouping for yours!

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  7. I remember seeing these at Annie's and thinking that they were pretty swell! What a great fling! Thanks for all of your work! Connecting annually with our cyber friends is such a thrill. We're very lucky to live in a region where there is a large garden blogging community that is able to see each other live more than once a year! My fave this week can be found here: http://outlawgarden.blogspot.com/2014/07/x-didrangea-sandy-reed-is-my-favorite.html

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    1. We are lucky aren't we? I can't imagine living where some of our fellow "Flingers" do, being the only garden blogger in town.

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  8. That central rosette is pretty cool! I just picked up a couple of Echeverias that are a similar bluish color, but of course, they don't have that rosette. Here's my post about my favorite plant this week: http://bonneylassie.blogspot.com/2014/07/my-favorite-plant-in-garden-this-week_18.html

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    1. I wish I would have taken a photo of it earlier in the season. It had the most amazing pink blush around the edges.

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  9. There's always a - rose? What a cute little plant!
    Here's my post for the favorite plant meme this week: http://mulchmaid.blogspot.com/2014/07/selaginella-uncinata-is-my-favorite.html

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  10. Neat! I wonder if the tighter "rose bud" in the middle is the precursor to a flower stalk. Drat, I got distracted and forgot to write a favorite post again.

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    1. I hope not (blooming) I like it just the way it is...

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  11. Where do I find out more about this garden blogging group? I am new to garden blogging and would like to find some kindred spirits. :)

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    1. Lynn I left a comment on your blog, and added your blog to my reader so I can keep tabs on your agave obsession!

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