For Christmas, my husband gave me 3 ceramic fish for the garden. I've been trying them in various locations in an effort to find the best spot for them. I remain undecided. Here are some of the options I've tried so far:
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| Swimming through Stipa tenuissima (aka Mexican feather grass) near the back patio |
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| Wading through Lotus berthelotii (aka Parrot's Beak, not in flower at present) alongside the side patio |
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| Drifting through Limonium perezii (aka Sea Lavender) and assorted succulents along a path |
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| Lost in Aeonium arboreum on the front slope |
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| Exposed in a mix of small succulents and grasses in the newly planted front slope |
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| Twisting through Acacia cognata 'Cousin Itt' and succulents in the backyard border |
Do you have a favorite? Of course, I suppose I could just move them around as the mood strikes.
Note: My fish came from
Fish in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2016 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
What a great gift! I love them moving through Cousin Itt, especially with the varied height. I think they look great with the lotus, too, but I'd want to see at least one nestled down in among the foliage.
ReplyDeleteFor what it's worth!
Love your sunny garden.
We've been enjoying the sun here, Tim, and the warmer temperatures that accompany our Santa Ana wind conditions, although I'm still hoping that rain arrives as forecast on Friday.
DeleteA wonderful gift! I'd say swimming through the Stipa or the Acacia, because they look the most like water.
ReplyDeleteYou're thinking along the same lines that I've been, Eliza. The fish are currently hanging out with the Acacia.
DeleteMy pick at the moment would be swimming around Cousin Itt, especially as some of the nearby succulents may also have that ocean look. And the fine texture of the acacia seems to let the fish show up well. How fun, whatever you choose! :-)
ReplyDeleteI was going for an ocean floor look around that Acacia, Amy. As the succulents grow and spread, I hope the effect will come closer to what I envisioned.
DeleteI love the second one in the Parrot's Beak...like a sea of green....what a great gift!
ReplyDeleteThe Parrot's Beak is taking over in that corner of the garden but it'll be interesting to see if it's as effective of backdrop once the blooms appear.
DeleteCousin Itt (just for the name) or the Stipa grass.
ReplyDeleteThose 2 are the most undersea-like backdrops, I think, although I don't know if these particular fish are ocean, lake or river fish. The maker didn't specify.
DeleteWith the Lotus or with Cousin Itt--some uniform planting so the fish stand out.
ReplyDeleteThere's a group of fish similar at Fashion Island in a mass planting of Ophiopogon, near the Bebe store, as I remember. It was quite effective.
I'll have to check it out the next time I'm down that way. I'm still in mall avoidance mode...
DeleteMy default mode!
DeleteI'm in the Cousin It camp Kris !
ReplyDeleteThat choice seems to be in the lead thus far, Kathy.
DeleteI like them nestled in with the larger Aeoniums, but my favorites are the Stipa and the Acacia. I think I like the Stipa a little better than the Acacia, but that may just be the lighting. I'd recommend positioning one so it's partly obscured, too, like it's peaking out of the foliage or swimming through it.
ReplyDeleteIt occurred to me that it would have been better for comparison purposes if I'd have optimized the light conditions under which each setting was photographed but I didn't take the time. The setting with the Stipa was the first one I set up and the photo I showed was taken once the light was right in that area. The viewing angle is also a factor - 3 of the settings are along paths that don't allow the viewer to see the fish from a distance, which I think is a drawback.
DeleteFun! I'm also in the Stipa or Acacia camps...
ReplyDeleteThose 2 are in the lead by a long shot, Loree.
DeleteOh yes, swimming through the seaweed lookalike Acacia 'Cousin Itt'? What a curious name I' ve never seen it before. Lovely fish.
ReplyDeleteYou're perhaps unfamiliar with the now ancient American TV show, "The Addams Family," Chloris. It included a very odd ensemble of characters, one of whom was Cousin Itt, a short character covered from head to foot by a shaggy cascade of hair. As the Acacia is similarly shaggy, some breeder co-opted the name.
DeleteIn the tall grass suits them excellent !!!
ReplyDeleteWishing you a happy new year
Mariana
Thanks Mariana! Best wishes to you too!
DeleteLove your fishies! I like them best in the Stipa or Cousin Itt, and with no stick showing. What a great present.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could say my husband came up with the gift idea on his own, Alison, but he requests specific directions when it comes to gift-giving.
DeleteI love Fish in the Garden! I only have a couple and tend to move them around. My vote is for Cousin It.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear from you again, Sue! As to the fish, I expect I'll be moving them about some too.
DeleteWhat a great gift, I like them amongst the Stipas but then also Cousing Itt. If it was me, I'd probably move them around from time to time for fun.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm thinking that's probably the way to go, Alison.
DeleteCute fish and a sweet husband to find such a great gift! They're perfectly wonderful in any of the spots but I like the Stipea placement best.
ReplyDeleteI've been smitten with "Fish in the Garden" since I first saw them on display at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. I have my eye on a school of the stainless steel variety to swim through my Serenity Garden. In your garden, I also found the "Cousin Itt" setting most appealing -- I think its they way they pop against the color of "Cousin Itt" behind them and the way the smaller succulents in the foreground give a fish-tank feel. Great gift! -Jean
ReplyDelete