On Saturday I drove down to Rare Plant Research for their open house, and didn't make time for Foliage Follow-up on the day it is usually held, the 16th of every month. I'll be writing a post about my trip to RPR, and a couple other stops I made on the return trip, but first the foliage. Pam of Digging hosts this meme to remind us of the importance of foliage, something I agree with wholeheartedly.
First up is one of my new plants, Elaeagnus pungens 'Maculata'. At $14.99 for a 4-foot tall plant, I couldn't leave this at Lael's Moon Garden. Even though I'm not quite sure where I'm going to put it....
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Of course, variegated plants are subject to reverting to all-green growth, but in the case of this elaeagnus, I consider this reverted branch a bonus. The variegation interferes with the spectacular silvery color of the new growth. It's pretty, but I also love the pure silver of the non-variegated new growth. I'm going to root it as a separate plant so I can enjoy both!
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Molinia caerulea 'Variegata' is always a favorite. It looks especially nice with a few blades draping themselves over stone.
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Though a weed, Verbascum thapsis, or common mullein, has big, beautiful leaves covered in a dense woolly fuzz. It's exceptionally good at holding water droplets.
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Aconitum 'Bressingham Spire', Saxifraga stolonifera, and Hakonechloa macra 'All Gold' make a nice combination of different textures and colors.
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The initial flush of growth on Acer metcalphii has matured to a deep, semi-glossy green with just a hint of dark purple. New leaves emerge lacquered dark red. I've also been watching the bark closely and yesterday I think I noticed fine red lines forming where the new white stripes will appear. Sorry, not especially photo-friendly at the moment, so no picture.
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The bright blue needles of Cedrus atlantica 'Pendula' are particularly striking now.
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I've been endlessly entertained watching the big, scaly buds develop on Callistemon pityoides Mt. Kosciusco Form'. Now they've broken open to reveal fuzzy new leaves!
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And that's my short but sweet foliage follow-up. My garden redo projects are kind of on hold for now until the fence is completed. The contractor only came two days last week, and then his truck broke down (I'll give him the benefit of the doubt) but he is supposed to return today. I'm hoping a lot of progress will be made this week so I can get to planting!
First up is one of my new plants, Elaeagnus pungens 'Maculata'. At $14.99 for a 4-foot tall plant, I couldn't leave this at Lael's Moon Garden. Even though I'm not quite sure where I'm going to put it....
Of course, variegated plants are subject to reverting to all-green growth, but in the case of this elaeagnus, I consider this reverted branch a bonus. The variegation interferes with the spectacular silvery color of the new growth. It's pretty, but I also love the pure silver of the non-variegated new growth. I'm going to root it as a separate plant so I can enjoy both!
Molinia caerulea 'Variegata' is always a favorite. It looks especially nice with a few blades draping themselves over stone.
Though a weed, Verbascum thapsis, or common mullein, has big, beautiful leaves covered in a dense woolly fuzz. It's exceptionally good at holding water droplets.
Aconitum 'Bressingham Spire', Saxifraga stolonifera, and Hakonechloa macra 'All Gold' make a nice combination of different textures and colors.
The initial flush of growth on Acer metcalphii has matured to a deep, semi-glossy green with just a hint of dark purple. New leaves emerge lacquered dark red. I've also been watching the bark closely and yesterday I think I noticed fine red lines forming where the new white stripes will appear. Sorry, not especially photo-friendly at the moment, so no picture.
The bright blue needles of Cedrus atlantica 'Pendula' are particularly striking now.
I've been endlessly entertained watching the big, scaly buds develop on Callistemon pityoides Mt. Kosciusco Form'. Now they've broken open to reveal fuzzy new leaves!
And that's my short but sweet foliage follow-up. My garden redo projects are kind of on hold for now until the fence is completed. The contractor only came two days last week, and then his truck broke down (I'll give him the benefit of the doubt) but he is supposed to return today. I'm hoping a lot of progress will be made this week so I can get to planting!