'Queen of Elegance'
Good: the roses.
'Julia Child':
Fall Project 2020 was a small one: reworking some of the plants in the Acer palmatum 'Oshio Bene' bed. All done gradually over several months, as various plants went dormant or awakened.
Abutilon 'Souvenir de Bonn', gone. Itoh peony 'Misaka' and Hydrangea 'Endless Summer', moved (they survived). Three small volcanic stone boulders that had been sitting around, Fatsia 'Spiders Web' too long in a pot, a bit of 'All Gold' Hakone grass, three Alcantarea imperialis, and a small clump of Sedum makinoi 'Ogon', planted. A rooted Fuchsia cutting that languished in the shadow of the Abutilon has established, quadrupled in size, and looks healthy. All fairly minor changes, but the area looks less random now. Less random--good.
The Itoh peony 'Misaka', managed to produce a flower in each of its two new locations. More good!
Next, alas, a towering hunk of Bad. Aloe ferox out on the front slope--its central growing point died due to pests--either mealies or woolly aphids. Arrrrggghh!
Center collapse
This A. ferox 'Candelabra Form' in Proteana needs more sun...it's pretty big, though. Heavy to move, but not impossible.
Somewhat bad: one of the Calylophus purchased recently got eaten to the ground by a blankety-blank rabbit. None of the other Calylophus has ever been touched--why that one? Grrr. Perhaps it will grow back--there is a touch of green left. I gave it a protective hoop of hardware cloth.
Super good, (and also in Amaryllidaceae) the Boophone bulb is going to flower for the first time. I moved it into more sun, all the foliage died, and I thought I'd killed it, but, no.
Loved plants, for the most part all good, make the trickier and needier ones more tolerable. Gardening is life, a mix of good and bad, of tedious work, happy surprises, small successes, pain, unsolvable problems. It can be an examined, thoughtful life. Good.
Such a shame about the ferox. I have the same problem too and use insecticidal soap when the infestations become apparent. Not so easy for you to do on your slope, but mine are easy to access. But so cool about the boophone!
ReplyDeleteCould not see down into the center of the plant--sadly, had no idea it was being attacked. It bloomed beautifully just a few months back...
DeleteThe quality of your photos are absolutely outstanding. I could jump into everyone. As always your roses are show stoppers. With all the good there has to be a bit of bad. It's what keeps gardening interesting.
ReplyDeleteHappy you liked the pictures--thank you! A bit of bad does keep things interesting--but in the garden, I'd be okay withb all good
DeleteWith the notable exception of the Aloe ferox, your garden looks fabulous, HB! I can't even conceive of having roses blooming so robustly, nor getting my Itoh peony to bloom even once. And your Hippeastrums - a display like that would send me over the moon.
ReplyDeleteMulch sure makes a difference!
DeleteI had not fertilized any of the roses much since before the long drought--they sure responded.
Hope you have a beautiful weekend, Kris--tomorrow supposed to be cooler.
Your roses are fabulous, especially 'Iceberg'. I like the color of Aloe camperi.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jason!
DeleteI had the hardest time placing the three photos after the words "Less random--good" as being in your garden. They're gorgeous, but unexpected. And what do you know, we both have Itoh peony 'Misaka'in bloom! Or rather mine is trying. Maybe by the end of the day the first flower will be open.
ReplyDeleteThat's my "woodland area", all 50 square feet of it. T he view outdoors when I'm inside wasting time down the internet rabbit hole. It's finally become decent looking--only took 21 years!
DeleteA flowery plant in your garden, Loree? That's unexpected, too. ;^) Just kidding. Their foliage is beautiful.
What has amazed me is seeing something come into flower here at the same time as the same species of plant in the UK--such a different climate, so far away...how do they do it?
Those roses look fabulous! :D
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nikki! They are a joy.
DeleteI see lots of good here. It would be disheartening to find the center of a nice big plant ruined and the rabbits continue to exasperated gardeners everywhere. My garden too has its share of cages keeping rabbits away from some plants. Bah...
ReplyDeleteYes, those darn rabbits! Some of my roses are ruined--a hoop around one is bringing it back, need to do a couple more. I wish the bobcat that lurks in my neighbor's garden would come here for a meal every once in a while. The coyotes are slacking off.
DeleteHope your Springtime is beautiful nonetheless, Lisa.
Boophone is 'working as intended', it does loose its leaves.
ReplyDeleteYour roses are spectacular, but the peony is new to me.
I knew Boophone's dropped their foliage, just was not sure what season they normally do that, and did not know if it was connected to being moved or not.
DeleteItoh peonies are hybrids of herbaceous and tree peony species. I would not say they love Southern California, but they seem to tolerate it--unlike the species.
That Iceberg rose is nothing short of fabulous, and I love your newly edited bed under the maple. So sorry about your Aloe, though. I hope it will sprout a new center for you!
ReplyDeleteReally enjoying the 'Iceberg'. The long drought was tough on the roses.
DeleteThe Aloe--not sure what will happen. Can't see into the center--need a ladder to see into it, and a ladder on a slope is not safe. Always something...
Although not growing roses myself, I was oohing and aahing at the climbing rose! So romantic and picturesque. The 'Oshio Bene' bed is splendid; I love how the color scheme below echoes the one above.
ReplyDelete