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| Lonicera heckrottii 'Goldflame' |
Showing posts with label xeric. Show all posts
Showing posts with label xeric. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Wednesday, July 09, 2014
Monday, June 16, 2014
Conservatory Gardens at Castaic Lake
After my visit to the Santa Clarita Community Gardens, I headed over to the other side of Central Park to see the Conservatory Gardens and Learning Center at The Castaic Lake Water Agency. I have visited numerous xeriscape display gardens in Colorado's Front Range communities and was curious to see what this small, desert community had to offer.
up through terraces of roses and daylilies,
and finally back to the water agency offices and entry plaza.
It's a beautiful site for a garden and an asset to the community (as I was arriving, a school bus full of children who had been on a tour was just departing), but it looks like a victim of not only the drought, but a bad economy as well. More plant identification labels, some fresh designs with herbacious plants for infill, and more attention to general maintenance (pruning! fresh mulch!) would bring this garden up to its true potential.
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| this view greats you from the entry plaza; a classic California vista |
Though not a true botanical garden — very few plants had identification labels — there is educational signage and welcoming pathways that lead you through both formal and informal gardens.
The emphasis is on water conservation, and the plantings are most heavily geared towards trees and shrubs. Native plants mingle with introduced favorites such as palms, cypress and especially, roses.
The palm trees, above, mark a cross-axis that follows a rill and then terminates with a grouping of cypress and a fountain, currently not running due to the drought.
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| The presence of water here would have been welcome on the hot day I visited, but I get it and applaud it; a good example being set for consumers during a prolonged drought. |
A more informal path leading through fields of sage and gaura,
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| A mass planting of Gaura with no explanation...? |
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| I was interested to see these retaining walls; adobe or rammed earth? Sadly, starting to deteriorate. |
It's a beautiful site for a garden and an asset to the community (as I was arriving, a school bus full of children who had been on a tour was just departing), but it looks like a victim of not only the drought, but a bad economy as well. More plant identification labels, some fresh designs with herbacious plants for infill, and more attention to general maintenance (pruning! fresh mulch!) would bring this garden up to its true potential.
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Monday, February 24, 2014
Design Decoded 2.24.2014
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| sarah price landscapes via Pintrest |
This modern take on a prairie or meadow garden is a brilliant combination of structure and softness. The formal, clipped hedges of evergreen boxwood (Buxus spp.) add just the right amount of contrast and stability to a very loose and organic perennial planting. Although shown flanking stairs on a moderate slope, this design style would be equally effective on a flat ground plane. Many of these native plants would work well here but, for our dry, sunny climate I'd switch out the boxwood with green lavender-cotton (Santolina rosemarinifolia) or English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia).
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Wordless Wednesday 1.29.2014
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| Have you visited Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield lately? It's a lovely place for a winter stroll. |
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Monday, June 10, 2013
On the Street . . . Yates Street, Denver, Colorado
Which came first, the Buddleia alternifolia 'Argentea' or the house's color palette?
Regardless, it's a striking combination! Silver Fountain butterfly bush differs from the more common Buddleia davidii in that it blooms on new wood in mid to late spring (no need to cut this shrub down each year). The slender, silvery leaves are a nice asset that make an attractive contrast with the foliage of the lilac shrub that it's paired with here.
Left to its own devices, Silver Fountain butterfly bush will grow up to 12'x12' in size ---- so give it plenty of room in a sunny spot with well drained soil. Hardy to 8,000 feet with low water requirements, once established.
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| Buddleia alternifolia 'Argentea', Silver Fountain butterfly bush |
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| Buddleia alternifolia 'Argentea', Silver Fountain butterfly bush |
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Meet . . . Sedum middendorffianum!
That's a darn big name for a sweet little sedum! The common name, Chinese mountain stonecrop, is just as long, but not quite such a mouth full. This low growing evergreen is fairly new to my garden; I planted it in a tough spot between the street and driveway just a few years ago. It's flourished on neglect, crummy lean soil, and little water.
The color show is spectacular in late spring when red stems emerge from the rich green foliage and explode with bright, yellow flowers and red bracts. The overall effect is a multi-colored WOW!
The succulent foliage hangs tough during the summer, looking fresh and green. Don't you love those cute serrated edges?
And if you leave the flowers / bracts to ripen, you'll be rewarded in the fall with this beautiful star-like texture.
Sedum middendorffianum is hardy in USDA zones 4-8 and needs full sun to thrive. Plant it in a well draining, infertile soil. Mature size is 4" tall by 12-18" wide. The plants I've chosen to partner with this sedum include Penstemon pinifolius 'Mersea Yellow', Helictotrichon sempervirens (blue oat grass), and 'Hidcote' English lavender (not shown).
Yucca, Hesperaloe, Russian sage, and blue mist spirea would also work well with this sedum. I hope you'll give it a try!
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Wednesday, November 07, 2012
Monday, October 29, 2012
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.
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.
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Welcome Fall!
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| dwarf rabbitbrush, Chrysothamnus nauseosus nauseosus |
One of my favorite shrubs is in full bloom right now. It says "fall is here!" to me like no other plant. I profiled rabbitbrush, also known as chamisa, here a few years ago. I'm heading out soon for a road trip through Wyoming and Montana, and I hope to see plenty of this cheery fellow along the way.
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