Having been working in the gravel area recently, I’ve been surrounded by pots of foliage that have to come into the conservatory for the winter as they wouldn’t survive outside. In adding to the pots some plants that are borderline hardy, I think that these will survive outdoors with a bit of protection. If I move them under the arbour and wrap them in fleece, then they should be ok.
Various Echeverias.
Echeverias and Ophiopogon planiscapus Nigrescens.
An assortment. Do you like my spherical pot which I bought at Hampton Court Flower Show 16 yrs ago.
Lavender, couldn’t resist buying this one when I saw that its name was Lavender Havana, after the trouble we had with the dining set!
The Ophiopogon was split from the large area that we have of this in the gravel area, I think it looks nice in its pale blue pot.
Convolvulous cneorum on the left, I have already killed 3 so now this one is in a pot and will have winter protection, the same for the purple Cordyline Torbay Red. The Chusan palm has lived outside for years and is hardy.
Melianthus major at the top and Astelia Silver Shadow.
A Speckled Wood butterfly on the Melianthus Major.
Astelia Silver Shadow.
Aeonium Zwartkopf and Echeveria
I used to call this mass of Ophiopogon my sheepskin rug, but it has grown so large it is now a bearskin, all from one little plant!
Of course I can’t ignore the little festuca that started the whole makeover!
The next few photos are of leaves that grabbed my attention the other day.
Acer Shindeshojo still putting out colourful new growth.
Is autumn round the corner, a cherry tree in the front garden thinks so!
Yes, this plant thinks summer is over too!
I was also inspired by a comment that Christina made on my offering for GBFD last month. I said that I had problems finding interesting foliage for plants in the sun. Christina told me that silver leaved plants had the most interesting foliage, but of course, they wouldn’t like my heavy clay soil. I had a “light bulb” moment and thought, yes, I can have them here, if I put them in pots of nice gritty, well drained soil. Thanks to you Christina, as well as the Festuca grass, you inspired the makeover!
Thank you also for hosting GBFD once more, do pay a visit to Christina at My Hesperides Garden to see other foliage from around the world.
I’m totally envious of the Southern English climate where you can grow such a wide range of plants. When I see Mediterranean plants at Hyde Hall or other dry gardens they invariably look better than they do here! I love your choices of silvery plants they will make the new area look very warm and inviting. I’m really pleased if I’ve inspired this new part of your garden. Thank you for joining GBFD.
No “if” about it Christina, you certainly did inspire me, I’m just amazed that I didn’t think of it myself ages ago!
In spite of rain all weekend, some of my hydrangeas are still looking sorry for themselves, so the bucket will have to come out once more, everything else has perked up though, thank goodness.
I had to do a double take.. the Ophiopogon does look as though it will start crawling at any moment!
One little plant Jessica, just stuck into the heavy clay, before I knew that I had to improve it, it’s unbelievable how it has spread over the years!
The ophiopogon does look like a bear skin or even, as Jessica says, a living creature – what a surprising plant! I can see the first signs of autumn in some of the leaves here, too. The first coppers are starting to appear.
The ophiopogon just doesn’t know when to stop Wendy, I’m having to take clumps off, before it gets too big and blocks the entrance to the arbour!
With the sun lower in the sky and a nip in the air some mornings, I think autumn is just around the corner, although maybe September will prolong summer for a bit longer.
What a stunning array of foliage. And your bear rug is making me jealous!
Thank you Linda, I’m very fond of foliage in the garden! The Ophiopogon just keeps on spreading, I can’t stop it!
You do have some lovely foliage plants! I noticed that fascinating spherical pot immediately, I covet it something fierce.
Thanks Alison, I can see that foliage is going to be important in this area.
I can remember carrying my little pot round Hampton Court Flower Show, it was so heavy, even though it was empty at the time!
Some wonderful foliage you’ve shared, Pauline! Even before you mentioned it, I though that your spherical pot was very nice indeed. One of these months I’ll remember that the 22nd is GBFD and participate!
It makes a bit of a change Peter, from the usual foliage that I show. From now on I’ll be able to show some interesting foliage from the sunny part of the garden.
Lovely foliage plants, Pauline. Lovely variety of texture, shape and colour. Who needs flowers!
How do you overwinter your Melianthus and Astelia ? I grew Melianthus Major from seed last year (dead easy!) and dug all the plants up, potted them and overwintered them in the greenhouse. They promptly died – the only one which survived was one I’d missed in the garden! I am hearing mixed messages about the hardiness of Astelia, so am keeping it in a pot overwinter, in the greenhouse. I have read anecdotal accounts of them being hardy to -5 degrees, however. but don’t want to risk it.
The Melianthus and Astelia are new plants this year. We had a Melianthus planted in the garden for many years but lost it in the hard winter we had in 2010/11. This one will be in a large pot which will be brought under the arbour for the winter and wrapped in fleece. I too have heard worrying tales about the hardiness of the Astelias and think they might be candidates for the fleece also. We usually have mild winters here in Devon, so I’m hoping all 3 plants make it through to next spring.
Wonderful variety of foliage in your garden. The Ophiopogon is impressive to say the least. Good luck with the Convolvulous cneorum.
A bit different this month Susie, the rest is looking a bit stressed due to lack of rain.The Ophiopogon obviously likes unimproved solid, hard clay, I didn’t know much about gardening when I planted it!
I’ve never seen ophiogon looking so good! Normally it seems to be planted under trees and always looks sparse and underwhelming. Yours is amazing. I love the pot as well, especially the little ‘fossil’.
Thank you Cath, I have taken pieces of the Ophiopogon and planted them in lovely improved soil, elsewhere in the garden and they never do very well. I just leave this group of them to get on with it!
I too was taken with the “fossil”, but the pot was so heavy even before it was planted up and carrying it round Hampton court Flower Show wasn’t easy!
Sorry, I sent my comment before getting all the details in. Here they are.
Thanks for sending your details Cath, now I can have a wander round your garden!
I love the photo collection, I’m always looking for suggestions for my own garden.
Thanks Charlie, these make a change from my usual photos. Most have to come in for the winter though, they won’t survive the frost.
You gave me a little chuckle when you mentioned why you bought the lavender. Funny how the stories behind some plant purchases play out 🙂
You would get a chuckle if you saw how small my little black ophiopogon is after decades in the same spot. Must be the colder winters since I doubt it’s become more than three small clumps.
I keep seeing more plants with the name “Havana”, I musn’t buy them all Frank!
I think the Ophiopogon must like really solid clay as it has spread so much, far better than bits that have been planted elsewhere with improved soil!