There Is Ugly Too

As I was redecorating a room in my home a friend told me "you can't ignore the elephant in the room".  The "elephant" was drapery that I didn't want to remove because of the cost - but it was UGLY - and trying to decorate around it was not working. 

And so, while I  tell you about the pretty pots around town I have to admit there are a few just plain ugly ones that could never recover from the heat of last fall and then had to endure the long, cold temperatures that sapped their meager strength. 

But this has been a great learning experience.  This is where garden diaries are a great help.  Write down the winners AND the losers - and the reasons for the success and failures.  The "why" of both is important to the success of your garden.

Every time I plant something in this container it struggles.  Why?  Too much shade!  Just maybe, I tell myself, these plants will work this time.  Violas need sun.  Snaps need sun.  And the hour or two the container gets in the morning just isn't enough.  There is an autumn fern in the middle but even it isn't happy.  Time to address the elephant in the room.

Wish I could just take out everything in this container, leaving it bare until the spring changeover, but that can't happen.  Unfortunately, folks seem to think a container with no plants is a giant ashtray or trash container.  So until the April changeover this will have to do and just maybe the violas will rally to the challenge and fill out more.  They are Sorbet Lemon Chiffon, one of the tougher ones I use, so stay tuned to see if they do meet the challenge.

Lesson to be learned!  Know the elephant in your garden. 

Little Leaves - Still a Big Impact

This is a side note before I start the blog.  Actually, I started this blog a few days ago only to find out that I had a serious software glitch and could not upload my photos.  Pure Panic!!  I have to thank my dear friend, Carol Brown, for patiently holding my hand and helping me find a solution.    Her patience with impatient people like me is incredible, her artistic and creative ability is sensitive and deep -- and last but not least, her technical savvy is amazing.  She has a new blog that you really need to check out to see just how talented she is.....click on her site - Inspirational Nature -- which you can find here in the right-hand column.  So back to the blog.........


In my last post I showed you pictures of the big leafed plants I've used in the containers.  This time I wanted to share the fine leafed plants I used.  What they lacked in leaf size they made up for in overall size and impact.  I used two euphorbias this year -- a burgundy and a blue-green.  My favorite of the two is probably Euphorbia martinii 'Rudolph' - and when you see the picture you will understand why it is called " Rudolph".

Does that not look like the red nose on Santa's Rudolph?  Although when I see it in the container my first thought is fireworks.  But whatever you choose to see, it makes an impact in the container.  All euphorbias exude a milky sap when cut, which can irritate the skin and eyes so keep that in mind when pruning them.  But they are so worth having.  

Rudolph can grow to 24 inches tall

Happy in zones 6-9

Produces chartreuse green blooms in spring









The other euphorbia I used is Euphorbia wulfenii 'Shorty'....with soft blue leaves and soon to have bright yellow flowers.  Notice in the photo the "nodding heads" of the upright branches, which indicates they are ready to strut their stuff.  

This one is so easy to pair up with almost any color pansy or viola -- great with yellows, blues, reds....purples are better left to hang out with Rudolph.  Check out the photo below of the "nodding head".   If you look closely at the plants you might be able to see the flower buds tucked in the leaves.

Shorty is true its name and grows only 12-17 inches tall.  Perfect for that middle section of your garden or for a smaller container.

A not so well known and little used plant that I really like for the winter arrangements is Erysimum variegated (there is also a cultivar called Bowles Mauve that has less variegation).   The variegated leaves alone would create a bright spot in the container but then the lavender flowers are a pleasant surprise when they erupt.  

18-24 inches tall
15-18 inches wide

Spring blooms attract butterflies

Needs full to partial sun














In anticipation of the heavy shade I'll have for a lot of the containers on Main Street where there are large trees, I've planted Autumn Ferns (Dryopteris erythrosora) -- my "go to" plant for shade.  Since they are evergreen they do well in winter, experiencing only some leaf aging which can be clipped off.  Come spring though they will reward you with awesome bronze colored new growth.  A mature plant can easily reach 2' x 2'.  Once it outgrows a container it is easily transplanted into the garden where it will thrive with little attention.  

Here it is mixed in with Carex 'Ice Dance' -- a perfect companion.  For that linear look 'Ice Dance' and Liriope 'Evergreen' are frequently used in my containers.  

While all these plants are used in the container design, they will do equally, if not better, in your garden beds.  Independent garden centers are your best bet for finding some of these, but the box stores will sometimes bring them in -- just be first in line when the truck arrives.

Low Maintenance Four Season Container

Here is an opportunity for me to share some of that "more" I told you about.  Just had to show you this container that is in front of the Madison Cafe on Washington Street.  I put this arrangement together for Sherry Clark last year to spruce up the front of her restaurant and gift shop (btw...great food and great gifts).  I'm not sure what she is feeding those containers but they sure are happy in their environment....which is mostly shade except for some morning sun. 

.

 

 

The plant on the right is one of my favorite shade plants -- which will take a lot of sun though -- Illicium 'Florida Sunshine'.  It is a bright spot in any situation.  Growing to about 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide it is a manageable size yet easily pruned to whatever you need.

 

 

Of course.....the fern in the picture is Autumn Fern....a standard for any of my containers.  It can withstand total shade and even full sun.  Tucked in amongst all that are a Carex 'Evergold' (the lighter one) and a Carex testecea.  The far left plant is a Heuchera, one of the lime colored ones, which tends to go to a bland green without enough sun...still the texture contrast is there. 

 

If you need an easy care container for a shady spot, consider any of these. 



Torenia - BetterThan Impatiens

Like a good mother, I need to tell you the good things about all my "children" before I mention any of their shortcomings....even if their shortcomings are really key to dealing with them.  This year, several of the containers were planted with Torenia Purple - Moon Series and, as I have said in the past, Torenia are the ultimate replacement for impatiens, those water sucking little critters.  

Getting a late start this season I could only get the purple and the white variety, and for some reason the white did not survive as well as the purple.  One never really knows what they are getting from the grower -- healthy or not?   Anyway, the purple are doing an outstanding job this year.  Check out these photos.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is no doubt that the perfect marriage of flowers is the combination of Dragon Wing Begonia and Torenia (any color).  They both love the same condition -- semi shade.  But, honestly, you could hand them more sun and they would both do just as well with a little acclimation.   Pop in an Autumn Fern and a couple Carex Ice Dance and you have one awesome container, both of which will handle some sun themselves.

 

So next year, when you are holding those impatiens in your hands and asking yourself if you really want to spend all summer watering them only to get home to find them pouting at you, think about Torenia -- awesome plants that ask for little and give so much. 

Kong Coleus - A True King Among Coleus

Kong Coleus stands out alone in the large field of coleus.  Everything about it is big -- the stems, the leaves, the colors.  Kong Rose is part of the Madison Container collection and you can find it on the corner of Main and Washington (near Merritt Law Offices), and in the Welcome Center Garden.  The container is getting morning sun but then goes into full shade, which Kong really likes best to maintain its bright colors.  Too much sun and the color fades then the leaf scorches.  Not a pretty sight, so keep it where it is happy and be sure to give it plenty to drink.  This is a big boy so it needs the moisture.  That said, be sure the soil has good drainage because it doesn't like to sit in soggy stuff either.  


Kong Rose Coleus

18-22" tall x 12-18" wide
8-10" wide leaves
Full to light shade - some morning sun

Pinch flower heads as they appear
Fertilize monthly with a liquid solution



This Kong is paired with Dragon Wing Begonia and Autumn Fern.  The flowers of the begonia echoing the rose color of the coleus; and the lacey foliage of the fern being repeated in the markings on the coleus leaves.



Kong Coleus come in a range of colors - most often with the bright green outer edges and rose, red, scarlet or pink in the center, but you'll find some that are light green on green and also a mosaic coloration.  I've seen them sold at the box stores but like so many of the good plants, you can find this one at Thomas Orchards & Greenhouse in Bishop, Ga.