Inspiration from Brookgreen Gardens

You hadn't heard from me in the past few days because I was in South Carolina -- a little beach time and a great visit to Brookgreen Gardens.  If you haven't been to Brookgreen, be sure to add it to your "gardens to visit" list.  While it was established as a place to exhibit large sculptures, the grounds of this old rice plantation is so beautifully landscaped that it looks and acts like a botanical garden.  The alee of massive live oaks festooned with billowing curtains of Spanish moss is worth the visit by itself.  Everywhere a sculpture is displayed the grounds have been landscaped with flowers and shrubs -- I even fell in love with a massive bed of ordinary begonias because of the arrangement.  

The day I visited it was exceptionally hot so it was with welcome relief that I spent lots of time in the shade gardens where huge beds of caldiums were nestled at the base of hydrangeas and gingers. 

Unfortunately this garden doesn't provide the names of the "color" plantings, just the trees and shrubs so I didn't learn which caladiums they were but I'll be on the hunt for them.  I can see lots of uses for caladiums in our shade containers and the Welcome Center garden.  Check out some of these beauties:

This white with rose colored splotches absolutely lit up the area

......and can't you just see this green with pink center caladium paired with a large pink mophead hydrangea -- and Japanese Painted ferns nestled at the base.

I haven't lost my mind and thought we could have water plants in our containers -- I just had to share this beautiful plant with you.  Large sculptures stood in the center of ponds where water lilies like this one floated gracefully at the base.



Tomorrow is fertilizer day for the city containers so I'll be back with info on how the plants are doing after my absence.  Hope you are all giving your containers regular feedings --- a weekly diluted solution goes a long way to keeping them robust and blooming well into the fall months.



Plant and They Will Come

Just had to share these pictures with you -- human visitors aren't the only ones happy to have the City containers filled with colorful plants.  As I was grooming the containers I had to work my way around these two little visitors.  The bee would not move -- may have "drunk too much of the good stuff". 

All of the lantana are attractors but this particular one is 'Spreading Sunset'.  It has been a great bloomer.  Predicted to have a 2-3 foot height but in the container it isn't getting anywhere near that.  This particular plant is paired with a yellow coleus and yellow and orange portulaca and you can find it on lower Jefferson across from the Town Park.

You can count on the vinca to attract the butterflies....this one would hardly stand still long enough for me to capture his image.  These are welcome visitors....not true with the caladiums in the Welcome Center Garden.  I need to find out who is munching on them....they are having a feast.  I'm all for sharing with Nature, but half a leaf seems mighty greedy to me. 

A "Georgia Peach" of a Heuchera

I stopped by the Welcome Center Garden today to get some pictures of those coleus from the Under the Sea collection that I keep teasing you about.  Got the pictures, but you'll have to wait until next time for the full story.  Instead I had to share this photo of one of the newest, neatest coral bells (Heuchera) on the market.  What respectable garden in Georgia could do without a 'Georgia Peach' Heuchera.  If you didn't get it just for the name, you would have to have it for its exceptional and versatile color. 

Heuchera 'Georgia Peach'

14" tall x 24" wide

Zones 4-9

Partial shade to full shade -- heat and humidity tolerant

When the plant came out of the covered nursery house it was a more uniform rose color.  Right now it is sitting in a spot that gets shade until mid afternoon when it gets full sun for about an hour, then back to full shade.  Not sure which aspect is creating the mixed colorations, but I kinda like it.  The veining is very pronounced in any of the colors.  Haven't seen this in fall/winter but I'm told it will turn to a deep rose/purple with a "frosted veil" look. 

I can see this paired with hardy ferns, at the base of hydrangeas, and mixed with hostas.  Because it is a H. villosa hybrid it is supposed to be very tolerant of heat and humidity.  Not sure about how much sun it will take.  This one was down right mad when it got that afternoon sun after being in a sheltered greenhouse -- a few of the leaves even crisped up.  If it would be happy with considerably more sun then the list of companions is a lot bigger. 

Right now it can be found through catalog sales but I'm told that next season Thomas Orchards & Greenhouse will have it.  Check it out in the Welcome Center garden and start planning a spot in your own garden to showcase this little "peach" of a plant. 



A "New Look" Dusty Miller

I told you I would comment on the successes and failures of this project and here I am with a "sort of failure".  I have to admit that I created this problem for myself.  When I found this "cool" looking dusty miller I was sure that it would be a great companion plant in the containers.  Dusty Miller 'New Look' has full, lush leaves with that perfect silver color that goes with anything.  The mature size is 8 inches wide by 10 inches tall -- making a solid impact in an arrangement. 

Dusty Miller 'New Look'
Senecio cineraria

Pretty isn't it?

Loves the sun - never seemed to mind the intense heat and drought conditions

8 inch x 10 inches
















What I didn't keep in mind is that I fertilize the containers once a week with a liquid solution that encourages growth and blooms, so the vigorous companion plants for this Dusty Miller just took off and left it behind.  'New Look' is doing great but it just couldn't keep up with the Cora Vinca and Wave Petunias. 

You can see it tucked in amongst the vinca, working hard to hold its place....but it just isn't going to win this race.  Great plant and will use it again, but I'll have to be more vigilant about its companions to give it a fighting chance to shine.

As a side note, the friendly showers we've been getting along with the regular fertilizing is making for happy containers -- they are filling out with lush leaves and heavy blooms. 

Cool Coleus With a Hot Name - Wasabi

Those of us who use coleus in our gardens and containers love to find one that works in the sun AND the shade....having great color and leaf texture is icing on the cake.   The bright green of Coleus 'Wasabi' is perfect for adding some spice to your containers and gardens.  In the full sun it tends to lean more towards a yellow-green but in the shade the crisp green color is nearly fluorescent.  Besides its versatile color the scalloped leaf edge adds a lot of texture to arrangements.   

When I first saw Wasabi sitting on the bench at the nursery I was not impressed but since it was hanging out in the blazing sun and doing okay I thought it was worth a try.  I had a row of Coleus 'Dipped in Wine' that really needed a companion to set off its darker colored leaves.  And boy did Wasabi do it right.  The lime green on the leaves of Dipped in Wine came to life next to Wasabi....a perfect marriage. 

Coleus Wasabi

18-30" tall
16-20" wide

Full sun or shade

Excellent in containers or in a garden bed






This combination is in the shade and really happy there at the corner of the Welcome Center Garden, but I plan to get a couple more and try them in full sun to see how they compare in growth, color and plain ole survivability. 

I guess I better tell you a little about Dipped in Wine too.  This is a tried and true shade coleus that I've used many times in the past.  It mixes well with a lot of color combinations and in this grouping I've added some yellow portulaca to give the bed some sparkle at the base of the taller plants.  Late day sun allows the portulaca to bloom okay although it is stretching a bit.   

Coleus Dipped in Wine

24-36" tall -- 12-18" wide

Shade or morning sun

Tucked in between the coleus are some lantana -- "In the shade" you are asking.  Right, it doesn't work well.  They were extra plants and I wanted to see what they would do with minimal sun.  Lush green foliage and little flowering is all I'm getting, but they provide a nice bit of texture to the mix.  

It is getting late in the season to be finding choice plants at the nurseries so you might have to put these on your list for next year, although I know that Thomas Orchards & Greenhouse still had some Wasabi last week....with a marked down price at that. 

I know I promised to showcase the Under the Sea collection of coleus -- they had to grow a little more to look like anything in the camera lens -- coming soon though.

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.  

Town Park Urns - Bright New Look

I was going to write about the collection of coleus around town but thought I'd introduce the two newest members to the container collection.  There are two beautiful black metal urns just inside the Jefferson Street gates of the Town Park and the original plantings done by the City didn't survive the intense heat we just had so I added some new plants that are a little tougher and can withstand all day sun.  Just like the other containers, I added some moisture beads, then slow release fertilizer and a thick layer of mulch -- the basic recipe for success.   Let's check out what went into the urns......

The Skypencil Holly (Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil') was original to the urn and is in the center; on either side is Euphorbia x martini 'Ascot Rainbow'; in front and back is Asparagus densiflorus 'Sprengeri' (commonly referred to as "Asparagus Fern" although it is not truly a fern); with one Lantana 'Chapel Hill' tucked in the center for a pop of bright yellow color that will echo the yellow in the euphorbia. 

Euphorbia x martini 'Ascot Rainbow'


20" tall x 20" wide
Reddish stems with green/yellow variegated leaves
Heat and drought tolerant

Easy to care for plant although watch for mealy bugs.

Lantana 'Chapel Hill'

16" tall x 24" wide
Heat and drought tolerant
Deer resistant
Butterfly and hummingbird attractor

Is considered a perennial in Zone 8
Blooms reliably from June until frost











Although the asparagus fern likes some shade, it can do fine in the sun.  This will be a great test for it in these urns -- not a bit of shade.  The Skypencil holly mature size can be 10 feet tall by 2.5 feet wide, but it is such a slow grower that there is no concern about it overtaking this pot. 

The asparagus fern, lantana and holly are easy enough to find in most nurseries.  Euphorbia 'Ascot Rainbow' is a little harder to find but you can get it at Thomas Orchards Greenhouse in Bishop, Georgia. 

Next time -- the "Under The Sea" collection of coleus -- a great array of colors and leaf shapes. 

Cuphea - Cute as a Mouse

I've had a few people ask me what that cute little flower is in a few of the containers.  Lovingly called the "bat face" flower, Cuphea llavea 'Totally Tempted' is a fun plant to include in a container.  Its red and purple face works well with a lot of different color combinations, especially as a linear accent.  While it is heat tolerant it can get mad if allowed to totally dry out.  It is fairly easy to find at nurseries and some times at the box stores early in the season.

Cuphea llavea 'Totally Tempted'

10-12" tall x 12-18" wide
Full sun
Heat tolerant
Attracts hummingbirds
Fertilize regularly for best results

                                                  

You can see it in the container on Main Street by Perk Avenue Cafe and also in the one by Whidby Jewelers on lower Jefferson by Town Park. 

Soon I hope to have all the containers numbered so they will be a little easier to find, but in the meantime we'll use local landmarks to help you locate them.  Just think of it as a little treasure hunt.

In this container Totally Tempted is combined with Vinca Cora White, Coleus Henna and Bronze Sweet Potato Vine -- the purple of the flower echoing the purple tints on the coleus and the SPV - with the red adding a pop of color. 

I'll be back next time with pictures of some great coleus. 

Hot, Hot, Hot

Record breaking temperatures do not make for happy plants.  It was even too hot to water the poor things.  The regular Monday/Wednesday/Friday waterings -- along with the moisture beads in the soil -- were not enough for a few of them.  I'm happy to say though that most of the containers did okay with the 107+ days.  Those in the shade naturally did even better.  But, the Sunpatiens and coleus looked liked wet rags on Saturday, June 30.  An emergency water run was called for just to get the near death plants back to life.  It was with welcome relief on Sunday morning to see that they had all revived with minimal damage. 

This is the recovered white Sunpatiens Sunday morning.  It had a few burned leaves and shriveled flowers but did come back after a big drink of water. 


One amazing plant that truly looked like it was a goner but bounced back in mere minutes is the Lysimachia 'Persian Chocolate'.  The ones around the Welcome Center garden were flat, gray and curled up -- but a few minutes with a hose and they bounced right back.  These will be used in more places next season. 

The true color is definitely more "chocolate" than this photo reveals, but you get the idea.  It is a great ground cover and an even better spiller for a container.

But let me tell you which plant didn't miss a beat in this heat -- the Lilac Wave Petunia.  It almost seemed to thrive on the duress.  Just take a look at this pretty little gal.

This is paired with a deep pink Cora vinca and Victoria Blue salvia.  The vinca and salvia drooped in protest to the heat but the trio recovered quickly.

Hopefully, that was the worst they have to go through -- and me too -- that wasn't much fun checking on 42 "children".  But it was rewarding to see them still standing proud.  I'll feature the caladiums next time around.  There are some great looking ones in the containers and the Welcome Center garden....check 'em out.