Friday, October 16, 2020

Maybe too much of a good thing?

Back in early September I shared my excitement over increased sunshine the back-garden which resulted from the removal of a couple of trees in my neighbor's backyard (here). I'm still thrilled about that.

And from certain angles the borrowed "tree-view" is great.

But from other angles I'm left feeling a little exposed, like I need a few tall plants, not anything massive, just something to create a feeling of enclosure. I do love enclosure. 

Ideally it would be something that hides this view. One shouldn't be left looking at awkward meet-ups between a garage and a fence, with gutter downspouts and a neighbor's security light playing supporting roles (security light left-over from previous occupants of the house next door, it doesn't seem to be the style of the new owners).

Of course nothing changed on my side of the fence, the ugly, bare, meet-ups have always been there, they were just harder to see in the dark conditions created by the conifer cover. Now that it's all bright and open they're harder to ignore.

Years ago I planted a couple of things back in the corner, hoping they'd grow.

Hoping is the word to pay attention to there, cause they haven't. Or at least not much.

There are a couple of Mahonia fortunei 'Curlyque'.

And an Aucuba japonica ‘Longifolia’.

There's also an empty container back there. It had something borderline hardy in it years ago, when that died I just left the container, you can't see it and getting it out of there would have been a nightmare. I wonder if the bottom has rotted out? I'm eyeing that container for something to go in it next spring. Something that will grow fast, maybe a big castor bean? How do they do in containers?

When I bought this Comptonia peregrina I was flirting with putting it in the container, but now I think It will go over in the area where the ceanothus is coming out, at the north end of the patio. We'll see.

While I was back in the corner I shot a few photos of the garden from this "never before seen" angle. Here's looking west along the fence that is at the south property line.

A little more to the north...

More...

And finally looking due north along the back of the garage...

So, back to the topic of this post. Do you have any suggestions for something that will grow fast and provide a little green (or darker, in the case of the castor bean) in an otherwise bare corner? It needs to be at least 5 feet tall (or more), preferably it would be happy in a container, and get only dappled sun at it's base, more as it rises up along the fence. (you know as I typed those words I thought VINE! I do love a vine...but of course it couldn't grow in the garage, that would freak out my husband...). An annual or temperennial would be fine, as I don't need wintertime interest. Any ideas? 

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Weather Diary, Oct 15: Hi 64, Low 42/ Precip 0 

 All material © 2009-2020 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

21 comments:

  1. Instant coverage makes me think of bamboo in a large container. I do love castor bean, but have not idea how it perform in a container.
    You don't need wintertime interest?

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    1. I've done bamboo in a container and that's a short-sighted mistake I will never repeat. As for not needing winter interest it's a corner that you only see in the winter when heading into, or out of, the shade pavilion greenhouse.

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  2. Castor bean plants love sun and I've be concerned about whether it would get enough in that corner. A passionflower vine might appreciate a fence like that to climb on and I know they do well for you - there has to be one that you don't have yet! My first thought was crossvine (Bignonia capreolata) but, which is extremely fast growing. It's super-aggressive when planted in the ground but MIGHT (emphasis required) be manageable when constrained by a pot. My Sunset Western Garden Book says it'll grow in Portland's zone.

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    1. Oh I love that vine, but it kind of scares me. There's one growing on a neighbor's trellis up the street and I remember wanting to take clippers on walks with Lila so I could pass by un attacked. Beautiful though...

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  3. Well, I typed in tons of suggestions and then my comment disappeared because I don't have a Google Account. Anyway, as the English would say, "I'll give it a go."

    coral honeysuckle, non-invasive and evergreen, I have 3. Beautiful.
    sago palm
    evergreen wisteria reputed to be non-invasive
    Mexican flame vine (Plan to try this myself next year.)
    Decumaria, Climbing Hydrangea, Woodvamp (I've got one and it's slow growing)

    I realize you lust more for spiky plants, but one of these might fill the niche.

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    1. Oh! Lots to think about here, thank you. I'll be Googling...

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  4. An Acuba japonica of some sort?

    An interesting, artful wooden structure such as a free standing tuteur, to coordinate with your shade pavilion, would offer a vine support as well as provide some year-round screening, if the vine was winter dormant or was a warm season annual. Andrew might be prevailed upon to build one? It would keep the vine off the garage... :)

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    1. Hmm.... interesting idea that structure. I feel a few sketches coming on.

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  5. How about hoja santa, also known as rootbeer plant? It would be lighter green than the castor bean, but if it's happy, it grows fast, and I think it would be hardy for you. And you can cook with it!

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    1. Oh those big leaves!!! Looks like it would be an annual most years here, but if it grows fast enough...

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  6. No better plant suggestions, but a pot without a bottom is perfect for getting a plant started in difficult areas. I've successfully used that method on rock hard ground under ancient rhodies that are now full of clematis.

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    1. Thanks for the positive feedback on the pot. It's a horrible spot to get something established due to all the roots from the trees next door (the trees are gone...it's gonna take awhile for the roots).

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  7. A big leaved Rhododendron would do well there and it could stay in a large pot for a good while.

    I have a Rhododendron macabeanum that has been growing in a pot for about 9 years now. Obviously the growth is not as vigourous as if it had been in the ground, but it has been growing well. In fact, I think that this year it has actually developed a flower bud and will hopefully flower for the first time next year :)

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  8. I'm not sure what kind of trees grow in your area but something rather slender with light and airy branches just to break the patch of blue but not to completely fill in the area. Aspen or birch type.

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    1. Hmmm... a tree sounds a little large and permanent to me.

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  9. I don't know about the planting, but I empathize regarding that old security light. Our neighbors two down have a similar one mounted right over their ranch house. Basically they can't see it but everyone else can. Like a full moon every night in our much taller house's windows, not in a good way....until it burned out a year ago. Of course, they do not even know it burned out. Miracles happen.
    Just love that really small covered space you built with the orange paint.

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    1. Thanks! My husband designed and built the structure, I love it.

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  10. Hm. Manettia cordifolia and Eccremocarpus were the first 2 to come to mind. They die down in winter so shouldn't threaten the garage. I wonder if they'd grow tall or dense enough, though. I don't have much experience with vines.

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  11. If you want to try a chunk of Canna musafolia, let me know. They do well in pots and grow fast and are easy to remove once you figure out your forever plant.

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