Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Fall Planting Frenzy - Part II

What constitutes a planting frenzy?  In my case, it means more than 6 hours in the garden in one day with scarcely a break, preceded by one or more expensive trips to nurseries or garden centers, and followed by exhaustion and painful joints.  It also means doggedly facing unplanned planting obstacles, which in my garden usually means digging out pockets of rock, apparently left over from the 1940s when this property was part of a large quarry.  Sometimes I think I should give up gardening altogether and just go into the rock quarry business.

The planting exercises I described earlier (in Frenzy-Part I) and now here were preceded by trips to 2 nurseries the weekend before last, another one this past Saturday, and a mid-week mail order delivery.  The buying is the easy part - reckoning with one's spouse about one's seemingly out-of-control spending habits can be another matter.  Arguments about the importance of fall planting and the value of planting prior to a forecast of rain don't seem to carry as much weight as they should.  I fully expect to receive one of my husband's infamous pie charts showing how much I've spent on plants this year any time now.

Annie's mail order delivery

My plant purchases from Saturday's trip to Rogers (minus the 2 Phormium and a few other things)



Many of the plants shown above went to fill vacancies in the backyard border created when I tore out a mass of lavender.  I'd also torn out an overgrown patch of common lamb's ear (Stachys byzantina) but, in that case, I'd like to note that no purchases were actually required to fill the area.  I managed this with divisions from Stachys byzantina 'Helen Von Stein' growing elsewhere in my garden and yarrow (Achillea 'Moonshine') relocated from an adjacent area.  (I can only hope the lamb's ear transplants take - they were looking a little bedraggled when I finished.)

Lamb's ear transplants up front with relocated Achillea 'Moonshine' in the upper left 


Nicotiana alata 'Lime Green,' purchased by mail order from Annie's, and Digitalis x mertonensis "Polka Dot Pippa,' obtained from Roger's Gardens, filled in the larger mid-border gap, along with some Euphorbia 'Dean's Hybrid' moved from another area of the border.   A Salvia mexicana 'Limelight' from Annie's was tucked into the back area (in front of the Agapanthus in parallel to the mint bush) just to try it out.

The mint bush is no longer obscured but I hope my new additions gain size quickly so the area doesn't look so bare


Phygelius x rectus 'Salmon's Leap' replaced a Chorizema 'Bush Flame' on the right side of the border; however, now think I could use 1 or 2 more to fill in holes created by moving the Euphorbia.

Phygelius 'Salmon Leap' complements the Abelia 'Kaleidoscope' on either side much better than the poorly performing Chorizema


For the most part, I stuck to my list in making my recent plant selections, at least as long as the Phygelius counts as the "orange flowering perennial" on my list.  However, spouses must forgive the occasional deviation to pick up plants you don't know you need until you see them.  Such was the case with Uncinia uncinata 'Rubra,' a low-growing grass-like plant grown by Annie's but purchased through Roger's Gardens.  Look at the pictures below.  You understand, don't you?

3 Uncinata placed near the front of the border, where they should get the moisture they need

Sure, it's small, but look how the sun already lights up the foliage


I still have vacancies to fill in both the backyard and side yard borders.  I need more Phygelius and perhaps more Euphorbia for the back border, as well as additional succulents and some low-growing grass for the side yard.  Oh, and I think I've found a good space for that Grevillea 'Superb' I've been coveting.  Luckily, my friend and I have rescheduled our nursery trip to Carpinteria for early November...

12 comments:

  1. Isn't it nice to be in a state of 'planting frenzy'?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, although I'm keeping myself awake nights at the moment wondering what I should move here and what I should plant there...

      Delete
  2. I never go plant shopping with my husband. Never Ever. We also have separate credit cards that are only accessed online. We pay the bill and keep our mouths shut. As long as we stay in our limit, it's all good. I blow my limit all the time but he's learned to keep his mouth shut. I work my butt off in my career and will buy plants if I damn well want to!

    As for all those plants, good for you! It looks great already! I love the feeling of having solved a garden problem. Your lamb's ears should be fine. They're pretty tough. :o) Love that bright uncinata.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, my husband never goes plant shopping with me. On the rare occasion I fly by a nursery to pick something up while on an errand run with him, he stays in the car and takes a little nap. He's learned some things about my "brief" nursery stops.

      Delete
  3. Oh yes I totally understand! Nice work indeed. If your husband dares to put a pie chart in front of your eyes just remind him that he gets to enjoy the beautified yard too, and you are doing all the work yourself, that ought to be worth something, right?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You'd think so but he has little interest in plants. I occasionally make him take a tour around the garden to show him what's new, however, I think this is an act of courtesy on his part more than one of appreciation. Oh well, he helps out with the heavy lifting without protest and that counts in my book.

      Delete
  4. I'm so glad I don't have to justify my spending to an OH - I'd be forever justifying my purchases.
    Nice selection - to think I just weeded out a whole lot of self seeded Uncinia! I'd have gladly sent you some.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Uh-oh. I'd never seen Uncinia before and wasn't aware it has reseeding proclivities, Angie. I hope it remains under control here.

      Delete
  5. Partners who take notice when you're buying in fall or spring seem to forget in December through February when you're not buying anything. Spread it out over the year and what we're purchasing is so reasonable. Your garden is going to look fabulous!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, I do buy less during the winter months but I have to admit that it doesn't entirely stop, Heather. We can get 80 degree days in December and January.

      Delete
  6. Det är så kul att se vilka intressanta och annorlunda växter ni kan ha / plantera.
    Hälsningar
    Mariana

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad to have you visit, Mariana. I hope you are feeling better!

      Delete