Those who rose to the OC&K Challenge...and a winner!

So here we are, the Ornamental Cabbage and Kale Challenge is complete. I received 11 entries total, thank you so much to everyone who took the time to put something together, photograph it and send in their photo(s). Some people sent more than one image, which I greatly appreciated, but since I'd asked for just one - and I want to keep the playing field even - all I'm sharing is one, as identified the sender. In alphabetical order here are what these creative people came up with, comments in quotes are from the judges. Oh and there was lots more said, quotes that is - but after a couple of glasses of wine I was doing good to write down these...

"Tropical paradise"... Michaele Anderson
In fact there was some discussion about where this person must live, to be able to take a croton outdoors this time of year and have coleus looking so good. So much color!

"Super classy"... Evan Bean, The Practical Plant Geek
Evan took the challenge in an entirely unexpected and exciting direction. You can see more of his entry here: Cabbage Tree on a Mountainside.

"So much attention to detail"... Bridget Davis, Mahonia Studio
If that name sounds familiar it's because Bridget used to be my neighbor and I've written about her garden and floral talents in the past. She's now creating beautiful scenes like this in Louisville, KY.

"Sculptural, an art installation" ... Ricki Grady, Sprig to Twig
Ricki detailed the making of her entry on her blog post "in a vase...well, sort of" and she expressed frustration that it didn't turn out entirely as expected, being a good sport she still sent in a photo.

"Mardi Gras" ... Peter Herpst, The Outlaw Gardener
I overheard one judge react with the "Mardi Gras" label, and I thought it fitting - this is a party and there is so much going on! Peter shared a few more photos on his blog post here.

"He's hiding his junk with a fern" ... Anna Kullgren, Flutter & Hum
Anna shared that she threw her creation together as she headed out the door to work one morning. One of our judges noticed Anna made sure the image got a PG rating, not the dreaded R.

"The gardener at work" ... Sam Sacharoff
There was some talk that perhaps Sam was intentionally making a statement about how a gardener's work was never done, with what looks like a process shot. Very au-courant Sam!

"Posh" ... Susan Soto, Flower Garage
Susan just wrapped up a gig designing dozens of centerpieces for a fundraiser, not missing a beat she turned around and did this much larger installation.

"The cover of the next Fine Gardening" ... Marian St.Clair, Hortitopia
I met Marian at the Toronto Garden Bloggers Fling, she gardens in Greenville, South Carolina, and might just have a second career lined up designing magazine covers!

"Most prominent use of OC&K" ... Tim Vojt
Tim's Ohio garden has been featured a few times on the blog of Michelle Gervais - Gardeny Goodness. My favorite post was on his gravel garden, and then another looking closely at a few plants. Bukiniczia cabulica where have you been my whole life?

"Varieation on a color, fabulous texture" ... Linda Weiss
I only know Linda through Facebook, she gardens up on Vashon Island so maybe someday our paths will cross in real-life. Her entry does have me thinking back to summer with all those bright greens...

So, those are our entries...give them a big round of applause!

As I mentioned the judges put their heads together last night to come up with a winner. A lively discussion ensued and three names kept coming up. In the end there had to be a winner though (somebody I could send that Starbucks gift card to so they could celebrate with a grande Pumpkin Spice Latte)...

and 

that 

winner

is...

Susan!

With runners-up Bridget...

And Evan...

Thank you so much to everyone that entered, wanted to enter but couldn't due to lack of OC&K (I'm looking at you my California friends) and to our distinguished panel of judges: Heather, Wes and Nathan. Now get your creative pants back on because we're doing this all over again in December!

Subject: the much maligned poinsettia

To be continued...

All material © 2009-2015 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

Wishing you a thrilling Halloween!

Halloween is the carefree, act like we're all kids again, holiday. How can you not enjoy that?

And to celebrate naturally I had to send the Ornamental Cabbage and Kale Challenge out on a high note...remember tomorrow is the deadline to send in your entry photo! (spiky plants at gmail dot com)

Colorful leaves scavenged from nearby trees...

Accent the purples...

...and greens of the OC&K just right...

Upon bringing it all inside though I realized some light was needed, hence a few Lunaria seed pods were added.

This is a new vintage addition this year. I just now realized we should have named him, but haven't.

I adore the fact he sits atop a tuft of pleated crepe paper.

May you all have a thrilling Halloween!

All material © 2009-2015 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

Operation Embrace Autumn, it's been easy

The back garden, last week...

This was going to be the year I stopped mourning the loss of summer and fully embraced the beauty of autumn. Well honestly I feel like a bit of a faker because this autumn has been nothing short of wonderful.

Up until last Sunday things had been dry, very dry - it felt a little crazy to be watering at the end of October - but the temperatures have been mild and we've had lots of moody foggy mornings followed by sunny afternoons. Appreciating the season, and the garden, has been easy.

Isn't it odd, the different color changes on the same plant? (Solomon's Seal)

My fellow blogger Grace (Gardening with Grace) recently wrote these words on her blog: "My Garden Looks Like Crap. Contrary to most people, I'm not terribly fond of autumn. It's not that I don't love the brilliant foliage and the golden, slanted sunlight. It's that fall is a messy season. I mean, come on. I spend months trying to keep my pathways clear and my beds and borders free of unnecessary detritus. And then it all goes to hell in a hand basket in October, reinforcing the futility of this thing called gardening. It's like splattering paint all over my canvas and it's depressing."

I'd never really thought it out like that, but she's got a point about the mess. As you've all probably figured out I am a tidy gardener, the mess is contrary to my nature.

The fall of Clifford's leaves is just beginning. There will be days where they blanket the garden.

Some of the Syneilesis aconitifolia leaves managed to briefly color up nice and buttery, but most of them went right to the brown phase.

Mr. Big, my largest Agave americana 'Variegata' has been pulled from the tall green container and put into the shade pavilion greenhouse (he just sits in there, cachepot style). The large A. ovatifolia has a custom hut to keep him dry on wet winter days.

The stock tank pond is looking rather sad, but it's still serving a useful purpose as the local bird population is desperately seeking out water sources. They love perching on the sturdy branches of the Aeschynomene fluitans that coils around the tank.

The Quercus dentata 'Pinnatifida' is another plant that doesn't really color up much for fall.

Instead the leaves just turn a crispy brown and fall from the tree.

Look, a tiny bit of color on the Persicaria runcinata 'Purple Majesty' (or is it actually P. microcephala 'Purple Fantasy'?)...

I love this view of the back of the house. It's random and a little Jarmany.

This is the time of year where I can finally see all the places the Virginia Creeper has creeped to. No more hiding behind its green camouflage.

Evidently I'm mostly drawn to plants that don't do great autumn things, the Hibiscus syriacus 'Red Heart' just kind of gives up the ghost.

Of course it has ideas that maybe, just maybe....

Staring at this vignette one could almost believe it's still summer...

I picked up this pair of Dodonaea viscosa 'Purpurea' at Garden Fever's fall sale for some ridiculous price like $3. It's been fun watching them color up, they weren't nearly so vibrant when I bought them.

You might remember mention of a hanging planter being stolen off the front of the garage. I left the hooks empty for a couple of weeks but decided I just couldn't let the bad guys win. Of course I did take the precaution of wiring these in place. A determined person could still steal them but at least it would take more effort than simply walking up and grabbing them.

In each container is a Sedum ternatum 'Larinem Park'.

A tiny Trachelospermum asiaticum 'Ogon Nishiki'.

And a Adiantum venustum, which for me has always been evergreen over winter.

Out front the neighbor's Dogwood leaves decorate my garden.

I must remember to lift this Agave americana var. medio-picta 'Alba', as it's pretty wimpy when it comes to winter cold. Oh and notice all the Cerenthe seedlings in with the Sempervivum. They've gone crazy!

Oh! The Echeveria needs to be removed too. I'll just cut the stems off even with the ground.

Keeping up with the falling Dogwood leaves is nearly impossible. I do try to keep them away from the succulents once the rains start up - which it appears they've done.

The color of the Cotinus always catches me by surprise.

This year it's got a pumpkin to balance out the brightness.

I like that it doesn't all turn fiery at once.

This combination is currently making me very happy. Leucothoe fontanesiana ‘Rainbow’ with Yucca gloriosa 'Variegata' and Blood Grass/Imperata cylindrica 'Red Baron'. Oh and that's Daphne 'Briggs Moonlight' in the back.

And speaking of Yucca, the 'Bright Star' is ever so slightly coloring up with pink tones. It's time I be deciding what I'm going to do with this over the winter.

The cabbage and kale I planted back in late September are holding up quite well.

I'm happy to say that I'm enjoying them all immensely.

And the colorful Amsonia hubrichtii too.

Even the yellowing Tetrapanx leaves aren't annoying me.

I came home late the other night and this one was lit by a streetlight, it was quite the amazing thing to see.

The stupid Styrax japonicus are in the season of dropping their leaves and seeds. A car parking in front of our house, or someone walking down the sidewalk, results in a pop pop pop sound, as the seeds are smashed. I could sweep daily and not make a dent.

From this view everything looks pretty much the same as in August, except for the blazing Amsonia by the front door.

There are at least five Echium wildpretii looking gorgeous in the front garden - if we have a kind and mellow winter just think of all the blooms next spring!

All material © 2009-2015 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.