Wordless Wednesday 11.12.2014

Geranium sanguineum

Wordless Wednesday 11.13.2013

last of the apricot leaves and the blue, blue Colorado sky

One more time...

I couldn't resist sharing a couple more photos of spectacular fall foliage color.  This is Geranium sanguineum (bloody cranesbill) in my front garden today.  I wanted to capture the color before the snow arrives tomorrow...

Have a great weekend!

Super Red

You can keep your burning bush pink and your orangey-red Autumn Blaze maple (the "it" tree for fall color around here these days); I'll take the dark, luxurious reds of fragrant sumac, Rhus aromatica, any time.

The glossy foliage catches the low autumn light and adds depth and complexity — plus a touch of glamour — to this Rocky Mountain native.

Hands down, the best shrub for full sun, poor soils, and dry conditions when your goal is super red fall foliage.

October means Orange!

The last few days I've been seeing orange everywhere!  From soft, pale coral to intense, almost red (and I'm not even talking pumpkins!). . .

'Autumn Brilliance' serviceberry. This Amelanchear may morph into red.

Engleman ivy.  Parthenocissus may run rampant, but fall color never disappoints.

St. Johnswort.  Hypericum is not known for its fall color, but it's always showy.

The plumes get the press with maiden grass, but Miscanthus foliage color is terrific.

An unknown hawthorn, Crataegus spp., gets orange right.

Orange sand cherry, Prunus besseyi, plays well with the blue berries of Oregon grape holly, Mahonia.

Wind delivered beauty: leaves from a neighbor's 'Autumn Blaze maple, Acer x freemanii 'Jeffersred'.

Little bluestem grass, Schizachyrium scoparium, has luscious color that will hold well into winter.   

Orange you glad it's October?

Wordless Wednesday 3.07.2012

Sedum rupestre 'Angelina'

 Sorry for the blurry photo, but I wanted to share this wonderful winter color. A great succulent for a sunny, dry, and windy site.

On the Street . . . Stapelton neighborhood, Denver

Lonicera japonica purpurea

 Today  I spotted this purple-leaf honeysuckle vine thriving - and evergreen - on a south facing house facade.  The deep purple foliage is a welcome blast of winter color. During the growing season the foliage will revert to green, as seen in this old photo from my own garden:

Foliage Follow-Up 1.16.2012

Perfect timing for Foliage Follow-Up this month as I've been astounded to see the lovely lush greens of . . .

. . . string algae!  Although the water temperature is so cold that the koi are in hibernation mode, the algae is thriving. Did you know that giant sea kelp is also a form of multicellular algae? 

 Unicellular algae is what creates the "pea soup" conditions that our pond commonly suffers through in the spring.

Lots of winter sunshine here allows the algae to photosynthesize and grow, grow, grow!

Thanks to Pam at Digging for hosting Foliage Follow-Up each month! Read more here.

Wordless Wednesday 11.16.2011

 Freeze-dried:  Amelanchier x grandiflora 'Autumn Brilliance'

Wordless Wednesday 11.02.11

despite last week's crushing snow: Glaucium flavum and Schizachyrium scoparium

Photo Friday

first snow of the season

WordlessWednesday 10.19.2011

sea lavender, Limonium latifolium

Wordless Wednesday 10.12.2011

Ginormous Colorado Asparagus!

Not!

This beauty is the flowering stalk of Agave Gracillipes, Guadalupe Mountains century plant. Although native to Texas and New Mexico, this specimen is growing - quite happily! - in one of the rock gardens at Timberline Gardens in Arvada (Denver metro), Colorado.

Timberline Gardens carries several varieties of agave, including the two that I profiled in an earlier post here. 

These beautiful, sculptural plants are wonderful assets to the garden, as long as you can provide them with the right growing conditions: sun, heat, and dry soil (especially in the winter).

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day 9.15.2011

Instead of plant portraits this month, I'd like to show you the bigger picture: my September garden is lush and full of color!

View of the west border: Cerastosigma, Aster, Gaura, Oreganum and Sedum in bloom

A closer view shows how foliage plays an important role in this garden, too.

View to the east and south side of the bluegrass/clover lawn; Perovskia, Sedum, Ceratostigma, Aster and Chrysothamnus!

View across the south border, looking east: Buddleia still blooming! Sculpture by Mark Burton.

View to the "vegetable" garden: a bit of formality tames the chaos of the grass garden.

View from the patio: water lilies and water lettuce starting their slow decline.

Oh, and Lightening says "Hi!"

Thanks for visiting my garden today, and a special thanks to Carol at May Dreams Gardens for hosting this monthly extravaganza - visit her site for links to gardens all over the world!

Wordless Wednesday 8.17.2011

Canna sp.

Wordless Wednesday 6.01.2011

Kashmir sage, Phlomis cashmeriana Read more about this beautiful, xeric plant here.

Warm vs Cool

Warm season grasses versus cool season grasses, that is.

left: buffalo grass, Bucheloe dactyloides -  right: Kentucky bluegrass, Poa pratensis

In this photo from my yard you can see the distinct difference that characterizes the growth cycle of these two categories of grass.  At the end of April the cool season bluegrasses and fescues typically used for residential lawns in our region are actively growing and bright green.  The warm season native prairie grasses such as buffalo and gramma are still mostly dormant.

Photo Friday 3.18.2011

Ahhhh, Tulipa!

Foliage Follow Up 3.16.2011

Foliage plays a big role in every garden, and mine is no exception. In March, the emphasis is on emergence, and I'm always thrilled to see the forms and colors that appear as plants thrust themselves out of the ground.

Here are a few favorites:

Allium sp.  I love the little hair -like structures along the edge of the leaves. Details, details...

Galium oderatum (sweet woodruff) These fresh green rosettes are so sweet.

Tradescantia occidentalis (native spiderwort) Isn't that royal purple color fantastic?!

Tulipa sp (perhaps 'Red Riding Hood'?) Who needs flowers with stripy foliage like this?

Doesn't look too exciting now, but these leaves herald the arrival of the bright red species tulips to come.

What's emerging in your garden today?
Please be sure and visit Pam at Digging for more fabulous foliage from gardens near and far!