October 21 , 2010
Psycho garden lighting & structural evergreens
Light is where matter get tough in the garden .
We can amend our soil or build up mounds , but generally , we ’ve got what we ’ve beget . Blackland Prairie is never going to be the Hill Country .
light , however , changes continually : not only by season , but by how fast trees and shrub grow and how you prune them . Just when you ’ve got it figured out , you lose a Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree or gain one . And if you do n’t pay attending to lighting , you ’re doomed . you may fertilize all you want , but if a plant want sun , it wo n’t work in shade . tone - lover cower when they get a spotlight good afternoon attack .
In shade with spats of sun , I planted inland sea oats , pictured above , recommended only for the hardy who do n’t listen stab up a billion seedling every year . Recently , I finally find a pink Turk hood ( no ID other than “ pinkish ” ) to add a place of color to that region .
The toughest “ design ” situation are where you get Lord’s Day in one spot and tint in another in the same bed . How do you create a cohesive appearance when you ca n’t have the same works within 8 feet of each other ?
In my island French pancake myrtle layer , sun mildly hits the back side in good morning , then goes to shade . The front side is funny until recent good afternoon when it gets a infiltrate blast of western sun . This twelvemonth , when we pruned up the crepe that crowded our path , some plants simply fry .
The various winner here is evergreen variegatedDianella tasmanica . Annual Salvia coccineas attend it , since they ’re pucker away from the most intense attack .
I did lose my original dianellas in last wintertime ’s 14 ° . But I expect that wo n’t happen again shortly , so I planted afresh last spring . They take sunup shade , blast of good afternoon sunlight , are n’t water hogs , and do n’t need much attention .
For the now - blank front edge of the bottom , I ’m considering pink skullcap ( Scutellaria suffrutescens ) . The bi - colour salvia ( Salvia sinaloensis ) roasted , so I ’ve move them to the back side of the bottom , hoping they rally . My experimentation with white Mexican heather was a entire bankruptcy : they want morning sun , not a bang in the afternoon . Formerly , pink skullcap withered because they did n’t get enough light . I ’ll hear again and see what chance !
At the back side , Agave celsiigets a little morning sunlight and a touch of the afternoon fire that strike the dianellas directly on the school principal .
Last spring , I strain one variegated Japanese sedge(Carex morrowii‘Aurea - variegata ’ ) in the back side . It ’s done so well with the psychotic light and weather that I added three last weekend .
The tiny thing against the rock music is a newfangled Artemisia ‘ Powis Castle ’ since I lost the original to the rains . Hence , I ’ve go forth blank quad since it get quickly . I ’ve added more coneflowers , and sparge in some poppy and larkspur seeds for spring until everything fill up in . I move a fewLycoris radiatabulbs in the summons , and various springiness bulb are peek up .
In those quirky areas , consider Daphne’sfeatured plant this week on CTG : oakleaf hydrangea ( Hydrangea quercifolia ) fromRobin ’s Getting Groundedgarden . It ’s one that wish shade but appreciates gentle Dominicus for best flowering .
And on CTG this week , Tom meets with Adam Diaz fromPlantEscape Gardensfor that easy - care evergreen structure we all want . Along with his trend - setting greenhouse that features local art , he designs asStonecrop Design . Here he ’s using Fernleaf bamboo ( Bambusa multiplex ) .
Here it fall in Sweet olive ( Osmanthus fragrans ) .
Here ’s waterwise Candelilla ( Euphorbia antisyphilitica ) in a minute walkway .
Here’sAdam ’s CTG plant lean .
Canning has made a serious comeback , since gardener need to preserve their homegrown food . This hebdomad , check outTrisha ’s latest tips and a few recipes to render , like for jalapeno jelly . I ’ll never blank out my first experience with canning . It ’s herculean !
Until next week , Linda
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