Honeysuckles

Everyone is familiar with honeysuckle. For many of us, this relationship began in childhood, when we first encountered that flower's intoxicating fragrance. They say that smell is the one sense that can stimulate total recall of an event from our past, elevating it above even our dominant sense - sight. Gardens are a great laboratory in this regard, offering us a cornucopia of different fragrances. Next to roses, honeysuckle plants may be many a person's most familiar olfactory connection. The one we're most familiar with is Lonicera japonica, with its intoxicating white and butter yellow flowers. Less common and still interesting are species such as L. hildebrandiana (Giant Burmese honeysuckle), whose flowers are indeed spectacularly large. Or L. sempervirens (Eastern honeysuckle), with its bright coral, yellow-throated flowers. Curiously, this and a few other honeysuckles aren't fragrant. Lonicera fragantissima earns its species name by producing extremely sweet smelling creamy-white flowers. There's even a shrubby honeysuckle, L. nitida. Commonly called Boxleaf Honeysuckle, it forms a dense shrub comprised of half inch ovate leaves and can reach 10.' Although many species are native to Asia, hybrids have made their way west and are now a staple in the American gardening world. They're in bloom now so whether you're adding one to your garden or just encountering them on a neighborhood, make sure to stop and smell the ... honeysuckle.

My durable Crassula falcata (Propeller plant) is once again in bloom. The bright red flowers contrast nicely with the smooth bluish-gray surfaces of the leaves.

Abutilon thompsonii. I love the closeup view of this flowering maple, as it suggests a forest of 'painted' leaves. The flowers are lovely but it's the foliage that drew me to this species. 

Though far from an impressive photo, I wanted to share the charms of Calamintha nepetoides, better known as Catmint. Funny thing about this plant. Even though cats are irresistibly drawn to it, they don't generally eat it. My cats used to love to just roll around in it. 

Here are the first flowers on my new Bidens Hawaiian Flare Drop Orange. It will soon be smothered in these cheerful little  solar flares.

Snapdragon Chantilly Bronze. The Chantilly series, most readily available From Annie's Annuals, seems to be especially vigorous. I keep cutting it back, whereupon it proceeds to flush out new flowers. Love that color too!

Most gardeners are familiar with the fluffy seedpods of Asclepias curassivica (Mexican milkweed). This morning this photo suggests an exploding seedpod and then that explosion captured in time.

A friend gave me a piece of Aloe plicatilis last year. I let it harden off then stuck it in a pot of soil. Lo and behold it rooted and here's the result. It will eventually go in the ground but for now it's keeping company with other smaller succulents in the bed to its left.

I've been trying to think of a book I could write, something I could pitch to Timber Press. They've published everything under the sun so that proposition is a difficult one. Here's one idea, a book featuring photographs of "dying" plants (or flowers). Nature photographers are naturally after the most vibrant flowers or the photos of interesting foliage. I have however begun to take an interest in how plants/flowers look as they are fading. Here it's my Cotinus 'Royal Purple' and its fading flower heads. Incidentally, there's a great film called Drowning by Numbers by the creative Welsh director Peter Greenaway. He is perhaps best known for The Cook, the Thief, his Wife and her Lover and Prospero's Books. Drowning by Numbers is a visually sumptuous meditation on decay in nature.

Lilium 'Black Beauty.' I love how the flowers seem to hover in space, like giant floral hummingbirds. 

I was after the contrast of light and shadow with this shot of my Alpinia Zerumbet (Shell ginger). The flowers look especially blindingly white (they are in fact pure white on the outside) and the dappled sunlight on the leaves only emphasizes their patterning. 

Ditto on the shot of my Cistus 'McGuire's Gold.' It's a more interesting shot with some shadows, especially since the leaves are a monochromatic yellow. 

I haven't had much luck photographing my purple and pale yellow Torenia so this is about as close as I'll get. BTW, Torenias are often sold as shade or part shade plants. In my experience they do much better in a good amount of sun (in more temperate weather).

Rhipsalis. Just a simple shot of this unique plant. Note how multi-branching it is, a common characteristic for this epiphytic member of the cactus family.

There is simply no other hydrangea that matches the exquisite blue of H. 'Nikko Blue.' Not only that but its flower heads are especially large and abundant. They are also the best at holding onto their blue color, assuming one gives them acidic soil. If neutral, one can always add some Aluminum sulphate (True Blue) to accentuate the blue tones. 

Scabiosa 'Black Pom Pom.' Okay, the flowers are small and they look an awful like those on S. atropurpurea 'Black' but in this plant's defense it does have interesting curly leaves that disguise its genus's usual look.

Here's a closeup of my new Dianthus x superbus 'Bearded' flower. It's quite an interesting look. Curling tips at the end of each petal; 'runway' lines on each petal; a delicate look that belies the usual toughness of most Dianthus. Seen in full bloom, the flowers look like a storm blew through and kind of 'shredded' the petals. Unique and charming.

Caryopteris 'Hint of Gold.' The flowers on this vigorous shrub are surprisingly delicate. And it brings to mind one of my favorite plant name jokes. What would be the offspring of a Stephen King heroine and a dinosaur be called? A Carrie-opteris of course ("I'm in town all week ...")

Finally, a look at one of my favorite hellebores. This is one you buy as much for the foliage as for the flowers. It's Helleborus argutifolius 'Pacific Frost.' Snow in summer?

Fall preview

I know it's only mid-August but it already feels like fall is just around the corner. Kids are getting ready to go back to school, fall sports will be returning to the tube and our recent cool weather, especially the occasional nippy morning, brings on feelings of fall. Our gardens might argue. They're still enjoying summer, thank you very much. That said, autumn staples are already showing up in nurseries, such as Rudbeckias, Salvias, Heleniums and even the first Violas. Of course for those of us lucky enough to garden in milder zones, the transitions between the seasons are more of a continuous progression than a more sharply delineated end and beginning. And of course our warm Septembers and Octobers here in the Bay Area only extend the summer for certain plants.
After the glut of photos in last week's post, I have just a few to share this week. I try not to repeat photos of the same plant more than on an occasional basis so, even given the diversity of my garden, there aren't always a lot to share from week to week.

Although I couldn't get the contrast I was after in part because of the depth of field, I wanted to share just how sweet the slender purple flowers are on this Tillandsia. They're kind of like little purple shooting stars.

Here I was able to achieve the look I was after, isolating this Helichrysum bracteatum flower. With that vivid red color, yellow at the base, it almost seems like this 'paper flower' is on fire.

I was worried that my Gazania 'Nahui' had died off (foliage turned all brown) but it did revive with some careful attention and here is the first flower of the year. 

Justicia fulvicoma. As many of you know, I love Justicias. This unusual one is hard to come by so thanks to Susan Ashley for keeping it alive in the trade. It gets to be about 2' tall and a bit narrower and in the late summer and fall produces these colorful plumes. Love it.

You don't see many yellow salvias but this is one. S. 'Lemon Light' is a greggii type, so gets about 2' x 2.' It's a bit difficult to get an accurate representation of its color when shooting it in the sun but this gives you an idea. I'd describe it as a butter yellow. Lovely!

Hibiscus 'Cherie.' Hard not to swoon over hibiscus! Although it isn't immediately apparent, hummers love hibiscus.

I haven't shared a photo of my Bouvardia recently so here's one. It was looking ragged at the end of the year last year so I pruned it back hard. I was a bit nervous but it did eventually sprout new growth and soon it had budded up and burst into bloom. 

As I've mentioned, I'm trying to remember to include the occasional shot of a whole planting bed or area. My garden is dissected by a series of walkways and driveways, leaving the modest-sized back yard as the only non-interrupted space. Here's the house wall bed as one walks back to the studio apts in the rear. This bed is only 30" wide so it limits what I can plant there.

Another shot of my amazing Evolvulus. Not sure why I had trouble with this plant before but it's now in year three and going strong. If the flowers look a bit like morning glories there's a reason for that. This genus belongs to the Convolvulaceae family, which contains several morning glory genera. 

Hydrangea 'Nikko Blue.' One of the few reliably blue hydrangeas, mine has proven vigorous and long blooming.

Begonia 'Irene Nuss.' Everyone's favorite cane begonia and the large scalloped leaves are a main reason why. Incidentally, there really was an Irene Nuss. But unlike professional plant breeders, Ms. Nuss was an amateur with a keen interest in begonias. It's fitting that she will be remembered by this outstanding selection.

A Garden Bounty

Sometimes the words can easily get in the way of the images, in much the same way that analyzing one's garden or while out there constantly thinking of what needs doing rather than just being can take away from the enjoyment of such beauty. I'm certainly guilty of that. So here are some photos of my garden with just a few words to identify the plants.

Passiflora Lady Margaret. I love the color on this vivid passion flower and here I was shooting it at 'surface' level for a different experience of the flower.

Papaver atlanticum, the double form. Crinkled petals and that unique orange make for such a pretty flower.

Pavonia missionum. Simple but with that intense color, this member of the Malvaceae family is a one of a kind.

A new addition, this Delasperma 'Jewel of the Desert Ruby' should be happy in its sunny location, ready to spill over the container.

Shell ginger, as this Alpinia Zerumbet is called, owes its common name to the shell-like white flowers. As you can see, they open up to reveal intricate gold and red throats. Also, a delicious fragrance.

No need to explain that bees dig Campanula primulifolia flowers. Here's one foraging.

Here's my red Mimulus hanging out with the more subtle purple and pale yellow Torenia. Both are favorites of hummers.

Yes, that pink frilly flower is a Dianthus (D. x superbus 'Bearded'). I'm not a big fan of pink but these flowers are just so unique I had to have one.

Here's another shot of my Helenium 'Mardi Gras' in all its glory. Another bee magnet.

There might be a better background for photographing a Mandevilla laxa but this is what I have. The white flowers do really stand out.

My succulent and tillandsia display rack.

Here's another new addition, a Calylophus drummondianus. It's in my 'Yellow' median strip bed.

I've discovered that my Cunonia capensis (Butterknife tree) really does like regular water. Since I've complied, it's filled out more lushly.

Tis the time for lilies. Above it's a Lilium Shehezerade, with its rich blood reds outlined in yellow. Below is a Lilium Black Beauty, a use of the word 'black' that is, umm, artistic license.  Finally there's the pure white beauty of Lilium philippinense, looking all the world to me like L. regale.

My Calibrachoa Superbells Spicy continues to flower and spill and to my eye acquire even bolder colors. 

Another shot of the Lilium philippinense, here catching a bit more sun and showing off its outer pink ribs.

I'm really enjoying my new Ipomoea Jade Masquerade. This sweet potato vine variety is new on the market and will be, I predict, a most popular selection.

Lotus jacobaeus. The so-called Black Lotus does indeed have flowers that are a blackish-burgundy. It's proven to be especially vigorous.

I grow this Canary Creeper nasturtium every year and in this same place. I love the way it scrambles in and around the lattice.

Scrophularia may have tiny flowers but the lovely foliage more than makes up for that deficiency.

Black bamboo. Amazing what a little cottonseed meal will do ...

Clethra alnifolia. Better known as Summersweet for its sarsaparilla-scented flowers. 

And please welcome the newest addition to my collection of houseplants. If a glance makes you think 'That's a rubber plant, right?' the answer is yes. Only in this case it's a variegated variety called Tineke.

Teucriums

It is especially rewarding to discover, or in some cases rediscover, a familiar genus of plants. That happened recently to me with the genus Teucrium. Known as Germanders, this tough, often utilitarian genus often flies under the radar. T. chamaedrys (Wall germander) is often the first species that gardeners discover. This occurrence hides the fact that this Mediterranean shrub contains over 100 species.
Most Teucriums are lower growing perennials but one exception is T. fruticans and it was a new variety, T. fruticans 'Gwen' that reawakened my interest in this genus. This variety offers especially silvery foliage, to go along with this species' bluish-lavender flowers. Entries in this species can easily reach 4-5' in height, making it a great vertical accent in your garden.
New varieties keep appearing in the T. chamaedrys species. One particularly eye-catching selection is T. 'Summer Sunshine,' which features golden foliage. Pretty showy for a species that's usually chosen more for practical reasons.
Then there is the unique, shade-tolerant Teucrium scorodonia 'Crispum.' Looking unlike any teucrium, or any other plant for that matter, it possesses weirdly crinkled edges on green leaves, stays low and spreads. If anything, the leaves remind me of the crinkled flowers on the South African bulb Ferraria.
Germanders are great plants for attracting bees and a few of them have medicinal properties.
So, I say "Welcome to my garden, Gwen." Now I just need to find room for her.
Here are this week's photos.

Here are two shots of my Echeveria 'Red Velvet.' I love everything about it. The red-tinged leaves; their fuzziness; the orangy-red flowers and how exuberant it is.

Crassula alba v. parvisepala. I must be in my 'red period' as I'm attracted to that color recently. Here it's the red spotted leaves and yes, the red flowers.

It's a little hard to get the perspective here but this is my Aloe rupestris. It's a tree aloe that can get huge (it's now 10' tall) and when it does flower it produces Banksia-like cones that are very striking. Still waiting on mine to bloom. That's my scrambling Asarina 'Joan Lorraine' that's wandered into it.

Abutilon palmeri. This SoCal native is gradually making its way into our Bay Area retail nursery trade. It features distinctive felty, grayish-green leaves and intense golden flowers. I've noticed that it produces a copious amount of seed so I may collect some to share with friends. Like other Abutilons it blooms over a long period.

Okay, here is what all the fuss is about with the Campanula primulifolia. As you can see, it's sent up a great number of flowering spikes, each sturdy and smothered in purple flowers. Impressive. The bees certainly seem to think so.

File this photo under the title "Did I mention that mine is not a manicured garden?" This is my Median Strip #2 (I have three). The main culprit is the overgrown Plumbago bush (which I'll eventually remove) but also planted is a Puya, Cotinus, Halimiocistus, Asclepias, Melianthus pectinatus (smaller African honey bush) and a well established Beschorneria alba. All this in a 3' x 6' bed! In front of it, in larger pots, are a Callistemon bush, my Digiplexis, a Tecoma 'Bells of Fire,' a new Isopogon, the Campanula above, a Justicia and a Protea 'Pink Ice.' Whew!

Last week I shared a picture of the front of my Aussie natives bed, which contains an ever increasing range of succulents. Here's a shot of the main part of the bed. That's a Wooly bush (Adenanthos) on the left, a Melaleuca incana to its right, a Cunonia in a pot to its right (not an Aussie). Behind the Adenanthos is a tall Grevillea 'Moonlight,' a red Mandevilla and a Laburnum tree. There used to be a Chamelaucium  in there too but something killed it. Needless to say, I'm regularly pruning this area.

Here's a close-up of my Aloe strioata (Coral aloe). Love its form, texture and colors.

Okay, it hasn't begun blooming yet but my Bidens Hawaiian Flare Orange Drop is already off and running, proving that it is indeed an effective cascading plant.

Tempting but no. These berries on my Amorphophallus kiusianus are not edible by humans, though they are visually tempting. Birds like 'em though. 

Lonicera sempervirens. This East coast native honeysuckle has done a good job of scrambling over this arch. Though the flowers aren't fragrant (strange for a honeysuckle) the coral with yellow throats blooms are exceptionally pretty.

Though the flowers on this Eriogonum giganteum aren't entirely in focus, I was concentrating on the bee, this photo nonetheless has an eerie charm to it.