Last year:
crapemyrtleupdate695
This year:
Lagerstroemia0520
Lagerstroemia 'Dynamite'. I never would have imagined a pair of trees could thrill me so. I rarely, if ever, do the Favorite Plant meme because honestly, I love them all, every day--there's never a favorite. But this week...wildly exceeding all expectations.
dynamite0541
Swoon, baby, swoon.
FrontJuly0519
Perhaps I avoid this meme because I can't stop at one plant. How can I not mention Graptoveria 'Fred Ives'?
First I probably should admit to deserving slaps with a wet noodle for keeping 'Fred' in a pot. Shame on me. Here he is rescued from the pot and placed in the ground where he belongs (in my garden). You are undoubtedly a better keeper of potted plants. I am--well, it's shameful.
Dear 'Fred' recovers quickly. Look at him in the ground for a few months, with his taupe-edged foliage of aqua and lavender:
'Fred' also deserves mention for cresting last week. I placed the crest in a pot of dry mix, and after just five days, look:
Roots!
So you see, I must also sing the praises of 'Fred Ives'.
But how can I not quickly mention that the Mexican Tulip Poppy, Hunnemannia fumariifolia, has come back after being smashed by the tree trimmers?
As sweet a plant as any in the garden.
Oh, and that after years of looking dreadful, yes, in a pot, Echeveria 'Arlie Wright' is finally recovering from all my mistreatment?
You see? I have no more discipline with a "favorite plant this week" meme than I have in the garden. Less, perhaps. I have not mentioned the roses--'Belinda's Dream', 'Firefigher', 'Easy Does It'--nor the hydrangeas, the begonias, the fig tree...
Hopeless. Plant discipline: hopeless.
crapemyrtleupdate695
This year:
Lagerstroemia0520
Lagerstroemia 'Dynamite'. I never would have imagined a pair of trees could thrill me so. I rarely, if ever, do the Favorite Plant meme because honestly, I love them all, every day--there's never a favorite. But this week...wildly exceeding all expectations.
dynamite0541
Swoon, baby, swoon.
FrontJuly0519
Perhaps I avoid this meme because I can't stop at one plant. How can I not mention Graptoveria 'Fred Ives'?
First I probably should admit to deserving slaps with a wet noodle for keeping 'Fred' in a pot. Shame on me. Here he is rescued from the pot and placed in the ground where he belongs (in my garden). You are undoubtedly a better keeper of potted plants. I am--well, it's shameful.
But how can I not quickly mention that the Mexican Tulip Poppy, Hunnemannia fumariifolia, has come back after being smashed by the tree trimmers?
Hopeless. Plant discipline: hopeless.
Thanks for sharing your beautiful garden. What's the Orange rose next to the crepe myrtle?. Beautiful all around. Everything looks better in California.
ReplyDeleteThe orange rose is 'Wildfire' (Zary, 2004). Very slow to get established, but now it's a bloom machine.
DeleteThat crape myrtle is indeed incredible. I've admired its foliage before but, in flower, it's over the top! Funny that you mentioned Graptoveria 'Fred Ives' - that's my own selection as favorite of the week (not yet published). I'm fixated on succulents this week.
ReplyDeleteYes it has beautiful foliage also. It's not all about the flowers.
Delete'Fred' is awesome! Looking forward to your post.
There are no rules to the meme I think, it can always be bent to fave plants of the week :)
ReplyDeleteIt's been bent quite a bit!
DeleteLagerstroemia 'Dynamite' is awesome! That foliage, those blooms - delicious! We don't get enough heat here to make them really happy so I'll admire yours from afar! Delighted to hear that your Mexican Tulip Poppy made a smashing recovery; it's as beautiful as Fred is handsome! Plant discipline; What's that?
ReplyDeleteYes they do need heat. They get barely enough here and no more--the pale stucco walls reflect some extra and that helps. A few miles further inland, they are even better.
DeletePlant discipline? Don't ask me!
Personally I see no reason why you couldn't pick 5 or more favs every week! If that many of your plants are making you happy then so be it, you're a lucky woman and you should share that news with everyone!
ReplyDeleteVery lucky indeed. You are right. But the posts would be 500 pages long!
Deletejust a lush and beautiful place you have!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I am very lucky and work never to forget that.
DeleteDynamite is definitely dynamite. It is very popular here and a stand out in the sea of crape myrtle blooms at the moment.
ReplyDeleteWe don't have so many crape myrtles here--though they are becoming a lot more popular. They are wonderful trees.
DeletePlaying favorites never got my grade school teachers anything but grief, so maybe you're onto something. I'd only be afraid the plants you left out might be planning a coup.
ReplyDeleteI'll cut their drip lines if they do! ;^)
DeleteSo many beautiful plants dear Hoover and yes, I too am guilty of leaving plants in pots for too long, they recover well once planted in the garden. The soil here is terrible, if you could call it soil, more like sandy talcum powder which does not hold any moisture. My land is on a sandstone plateau, all of the good soil has washed down into the valley. I have to build up garden beds with soil, compost, lawn clippings and all of this takes time to break down. The yellow Mexican Tulip Poppy is so beautiful.
ReplyDeletexoxoxo ♡
Well you have a very good reason! I am just disorganized. I'm sure your work has improved the soil considerably. Your garden should get better and better. All we need is more rain, right?
DeleteYour Lagerstroemeria Dynamite steals the show definitely, what a gorgeous lot of flowers. It's always interesting to see flowers and plants in a garden which won't grow in our gardens, jonly on pots or a greenhouse.
ReplyDeleteYes, I so enjoy your blog with plants that do not grow here, and rain, too, and sweet peas in the summertime, and your dog wiping his face on your pillows. I am still laughing about Snarf and the cake batter!
DeleteOh my goodness, your Lagerstroemias are absolutely lovely!
ReplyDeleteAnd I could never name my favourite plant either, how could one, it’s like naming your favourite child, hopeless!
Exactly. How could there be a favorite child, or pet? They are all loved.
Delete