Wednesday, June 23, 2021

A new focal point...

Walking through the gate and into our back garden is a bit of a sensory experience, as plants brush up against you and the jungle greets. Once you're in and look up—straight ahead—you see three pavers set into the NW corner of the lawn. I usually have a small group of containers here, as a focal point, but hadn't changed things up for a few years. It was time, here's the new group... 

... and here's what had been my go to long enough to have gotten boring. Plus the agave in the tallest container found a new home this year (photo from last year).

The new grouping includes a green birdbath I'd had for awhile, purchased at JJ De Sousa's shop Digs when it was on nearby Alberta Street and she had her crazy 50% off sales—it was an impulse buy. 

I never did find a good spot for it, the green was just slightly off from my usual chartreuse. Then this winter I had the brilliant idea to break it up! Use the base to support a trashcan lid full of sarracenia and use a metal tube to support the green bowl. Suddenly the green wasn't so overwhelming. Rocks went into the birdbath water in order to make it insect friendly. 

This grouping has been out for a couple of months now, but I hadn't seen anybody dipping into the water. Granted with my currently limited mobility I'm not exactly watching it like a hawk, but still, it was odd. 

However as you can see the water has a few bits of who-knows-what in it. I took this shot at around 5:30 in the evening. Then Tiffany @quickanddirtygardens posted a video (here) she took earlier the same day... and the water is clean! Proof somebody it using it!

Who is this @quickanddirtygardens you might be wondering? An angel. She's coming by one day a week while I am forbidden to walk (broken ankle) and whipping the garden into shape. I am so thankful she had the time in her schedule and we can afford her! If you didn't click on the video link above, well here's another chance, this time as it was posted on Facebook. It's good! (I suck at making videos, Tiffany does not suck)

Anyway... I bought this colorful sarracenia at Rare Plant Research in early May, with this very project in mind. It works perfectly.

This grouping however, it's a mashup of different things from around the garden.

And it looks like the pitchers are attracting visitors.

They're all loving the recent rain combined with our current heat...

Change is good... 

All material © 2009-2021 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

19 comments:

  1. I love this! The color scheme is perfect. And you've nudged to me to the point where I'm thinking of getting some pitcher plants of my own. AARGH, do I need another obsession?

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  2. AnonymousJune 23, 2021

    That looks terrific. I would love to have this grouping in my garden. Exchanging the base for birdbath top and the garbage can lid bottom really shakes it up....Question: Where did you find the metal tube? Did you buy it at the metal reclamation center or ? Here, in Texas, the poor lowly individual is no longer allowed to purchase scrap metal from the scrap metal dealers because they all have exclusive contracts to sell their metal to China. Boo-hiss! (I looked for a metal culvert tube online, and it was $$$.)

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    1. I bought it at a scrap yard, owned and operated by a larger steel manufacturer. I hadn't even thought about the possibility of them closing to the public, that would be a tragedy.

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  3. Bravo on your carnivorous plants ("Carnie") - they are beautiful!

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  4. Wonderful color scheme. I love the sarracenia over the black rocks. I love black rocks with everything really...
    I put a pretty water dish in a semi secluded areas where birds could feel safe to use it. I was frustrated with all the bits that fell in almost immediately. I kind of gave up, but I should renew my effort to put out water, if nothing else then for this scorcher of a weekend that's coming up.

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    1. I know that crows like to wash/dip their food, so I'm wondering if that might be what's "dirtying" up my bowl.

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  5. That is a brilliant way to break up the heavy green of the birdbath. I've been hosing off the tetrapanax every morning to keep the leaves cleaner/healthier, and was stunned to watch dozens of finches (?) descend on it to have a morning bath in what little water the leaves could hold. Made me dig out a dish to hang for another bird bath -- they really need them!

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    1. I've had a similar experience of birds swooping in to enjoy the water, they're fun to watch aren't they?

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  6. A fabulous trio, Loree. I love the black stones against the bright green and how the sarracenia picks up that green. Nice!

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  7. This post solves problems for me. I just impluse bought some sarrecenia, and other pitcher plants. But I hadn't solve where to plant them.... so they are still in their ugly plastic pots.

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  8. Great idea to split the birdbath, splits the colour evenly in the area and complements the sarracenia too.

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  9. I like the new look. Breaking up the birdbath into two pieces was inspired. You certainly have a way with Sarracenias. I find birds don't really like the slippery surface of certain baths which may be why you are having few visitors. Rain today. Yeah!

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    1. Interesting, it's definitely slippery.

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  10. Great combo of planters. I love them as much as the plants. I am thinking I need to add some rocks to my bird baths as they are a little deep. The birds always hung out in the pebbly area between the stepping stones by our upper pool.

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