Except 'King's Fire' went all brown and dead on me, but eventually sprouted new growth and flowers. What's with that? Parts of it are beautiful, other parts awful. The parts I could cut off, the tips of the stems, are the beautiful parts. 'King's Misfire' is more like it. If I move it to a more obscure location--except, I can't. The thing about Grevilleas and other plants in the Protea family--you move them, they die. Keep or kill? I'd like to give it more time.
Besides 'King's (Mis)Fire', there are Dorycnium hirstutum seedlings, a Sideritis cypria seedling, two different Hemerocallis, an Aloe striata, a clump of Aloe 'Congolensis', Calylophus, two white dwarf Gauras, some bearded Iris fans, and just-planted Helianthemum 'Hartswood Ruby'. The little metal barrier and red flag were placed there to keep the remodel guys from stepping on Aloe striata. (One of them did, which is why I put up the flag and metal thing.)
Like this:
You might do better to have more plants of fewer species in that bed. Perhaps plant more of the sideritis to pick up the silver of the dymondia, and divide the clump of aloes and spread them out for the contrast of the different form and color., then remove the other types of plants to other locations. It's just too jumbled looking with all the different things in there at the moment.
ReplyDelete"Too jumbled" sums it up perfectly. Great ideas! Thank you.
DeleteCould you pull everything but the Grevillea and the Calylophus and plant some temporary annuals to hide the hopefully temporary ugliness of 'Misfire'? Some of the Grevillea I've planted from smaller (1-gallon) containers struggle mightily and take their bloody time becoming established. I've been contemplating pulling the Grevillea 'Moonlight' I bought on an outing with you, Denise and Kay 18 months ago as it's still small and sad. I'm hoping the miracle known as rain may give it a boost but, if it doesn't, I may cave and pull it. However, unlike your 'King's Fire' mine's in a less prominent spot.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a good idea, too. Thanks! Looks like we have a fairly dry day today, I'm getting out there to see what I can do.
DeleteFYI on Grevilleas, I got significant improvement Grevillea-wise on Robyn Gordon, Ned Kelly, and the Superb down in the gully the past few months via Gro-Mor Chelated iron/10% nitrogen watered in with extra rain water. Also more flowers on 'Peaches and Cream'. You might try that product or similar with your 'Moonlight'.
Your better area is outstanding. I can't wait until you show us what you might do to the area that is bothering you. I have to put little fences and other obstacles to keep Annie and sometimes others from stepping on certain plants. It works.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lisa. I'm glad I posted the mess--the kind comments are motivating me to do something!
DeletePoor aloe. I hope Big Feet was at least struggling to carry something large / heavy?
ReplyDeleteThey were very careful with the large/heavy stuff. It was a trip with something light that might have done it. The Aloe lost a leaf, but not the all-important center growth point. It will recover.
DeleteI know what you mean... I have had several areas full of "for now" plantings, just to get stuff in the ground until I can figure out where they will 'actually' go. The only one of the plants you mentioned that I'm somewhat familiar with is the Dorycnium (which does very well here) so I won't join in with the advice, but my gut sense is to give the Grevillea more time. Who knows - maybe all the rain you've just had will make a difference? Have fun as you figure it out - high power plant combinations are my favorite kind of riddles! I love the look in the last photo - it's fabulous!
ReplyDeleteComforting to know I'm not the only "for now" planter in the world. The Grevillea gets more time because the healthy parts of the plant (and the flowers) are so pretty. If only the entire plant was like that.
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