I'm going to miss those Dahlias until they reappear next April:
Perhaps it is necessary to balance out the plant-nut population with people who want absolutely nothing to do with the green and growing. Can you imagine this as your front yard?
It hurts to look at it. Yes, that's a plastic boxwood, covering something up that can't be as deplorable as plastic boxwood.
Outdoors: plastic boxwood. Indoors: polyester sunflowers!
What do people who hate plants do on a beautiful Saturday morning? Sleep? What would Saturday morning be without a quick inspection of our green friends followed by a trip to the garden center for more? First, feed the Koi...
...then wander over to enjoy the Dahlias again...
...the morning's surprise was a flower on the dark potato vine. I didn't know they did that.
Then off to one of those plant nurseries that inhabit the space under high power lines. It's the only land in Southern California plant growers can afford.
Looks a little like Banksia speciosa. A very little:
There was a lot of new stock, freshly arrived. Always dangerous, new stuff.
Acacia covenyi, the "Bluebush" Acacia:
Love blue, but Grevillea 'Moonlight' stopped me.
The San Marcos website normally sticks to subdued and rational commentary about plants. Their comments on this plant were different. It made me regret not buying one. They rave--in a subdued, rational way, of course. How many of their comments use the word "stunning"? Not many.
Stunning?
Yep. Year-round flowers. Maybe I "need" one.
Are Phormiums out? Their stock dropped when succulents became the new-new thing, helped along by the New Zealand Flax Mealybug.
I did like the unexpected lavender tones of this 'Black Rage', though:
Salvia 'Pink Frills' looked appealing. A greggii hybrid of some sort.
The plant that came home with us was a Dianella, of all things. I yanked out Dianella tasmanica 'Variegata' with a little regret a year or two ago. Liked it, didn't love it. Monrovia was offering several small blueish dwarf versions--meh. This one, though, firmly attached itself to my hand when I touched its container, and would not let go. I was forced to buy it.
Dianella prunia 'Utopia'. (Also time to feed Koi again):
Blue-green and growing, with purple edges. How about nine of them, planted as a grid, three rows of three, in that grey gravel? Or a single glorious Aloe dichotoma, grown to tremendous proportions? Something, anything...
Please don't hate plants.
Perhaps it is necessary to balance out the plant-nut population with people who want absolutely nothing to do with the green and growing. Can you imagine this as your front yard?
It hurts to look at it. Yes, that's a plastic boxwood, covering something up that can't be as deplorable as plastic boxwood.
Outdoors: plastic boxwood. Indoors: polyester sunflowers!
What do people who hate plants do on a beautiful Saturday morning? Sleep? What would Saturday morning be without a quick inspection of our green friends followed by a trip to the garden center for more? First, feed the Koi...
...then wander over to enjoy the Dahlias again...
...the morning's surprise was a flower on the dark potato vine. I didn't know they did that.
Then off to one of those plant nurseries that inhabit the space under high power lines. It's the only land in Southern California plant growers can afford.
Looks a little like Banksia speciosa. A very little:
There was a lot of new stock, freshly arrived. Always dangerous, new stuff.
Acacia covenyi, the "Bluebush" Acacia:
Love blue, but Grevillea 'Moonlight' stopped me.
The San Marcos website normally sticks to subdued and rational commentary about plants. Their comments on this plant were different. It made me regret not buying one. They rave--in a subdued, rational way, of course. How many of their comments use the word "stunning"? Not many.
Stunning?
Yep. Year-round flowers. Maybe I "need" one.
Are Phormiums out? Their stock dropped when succulents became the new-new thing, helped along by the New Zealand Flax Mealybug.
I did like the unexpected lavender tones of this 'Black Rage', though:
Salvia 'Pink Frills' looked appealing. A greggii hybrid of some sort.
The plant that came home with us was a Dianella, of all things. I yanked out Dianella tasmanica 'Variegata' with a little regret a year or two ago. Liked it, didn't love it. Monrovia was offering several small blueish dwarf versions--meh. This one, though, firmly attached itself to my hand when I touched its container, and would not let go. I was forced to buy it.
Dianella prunia 'Utopia'. (Also time to feed Koi again):
Blue-green and growing, with purple edges. How about nine of them, planted as a grid, three rows of three, in that grey gravel? Or a single glorious Aloe dichotoma, grown to tremendous proportions? Something, anything...
Please don't hate plants.
You're right about the power lines at garden centers. We have them here in Florida too!
ReplyDeleteInteresting, did not know that.
DeleteThe raindrops on that Phormium look like jewels! I planted a Dianella this past spring, called Something Twist, or maybe Twist Something. Your Dahlias are so pretty, what a great color. I miss mine already too.
ReplyDeleteIt was THE summer for Dahlias. Hopefully next summer will be, too.
DeleteNeed? Of course you do!
ReplyDeleteThat plastic shrub is terrifying, but your new Dianella...beautiful.
Even more blue in person!
DeleteWhat a stunning Dahlia you have, the colours of apricot and off white....... Also in our country you see more and more gravel and stones, awful I think, but I have never seen before a plastic boxwood, haha.
ReplyDeleteGravel is okay, but a few plants would help.
DeleteI am glad you do not see plastic boxwood often. They are sad.
That plastic boxwood isn't a scratch post for neighborhood cats? Too bad.
ReplyDeleteThat 'Black Rage' looks fantastic!
Great idea, Alan. Cat toy! Okay, I knew they'd be good for something.
DeletePlastic not so fantastic...
ReplyDeleteExactly!
DeleteFake grass I can sort of understand - plastic boxwood, standing alone against a blank wall no less, no comprendo...
ReplyDeleteThe Grevillea is beautiful. I passed on G. 'Superb' this weekend and have been plagued with 2nd thought ever since even though I still haven't figured out exactly where I'd put it.
Where to put them. Yes, there is that small issue, especially for 'Moonlight', which gets 15' tall.
DeleteI have plastic grass myself, just for the puppies to use, out of sight of the rest of the world. It has its place...
And Grevillea 'Superb' looks superb!
DeleteThe vision of that Dianella attaching itself to your hand and refusing to let go made me laugh. I met a 3-year-old human that did the same this weekend, and as sweet as he was, I'd be more tempted by the Dianella for the long haul.
ReplyDeleteYes, plants are a lot easier to take care of!
Deletewhich power-line grower was this? I'm seeing Grevillea 'Moonlight' but only in expensive, large sizes. The LA Arb's Moonlights are clipped to about 8 feet, and I think it was bahia/David Feix who noted they tolerate pruning very well. I've already killed 'Black Rage' -- saw another dark one recently, 'Back in Black.' I really liked the smoky tones in Black Rage, very similar to the color of Yucca 'Blue Boy.'
ReplyDeleteThe Village in HB. How did the Arb's look? Pretty good?
Delete