Big Leaves - Big Impact

Went out to groom the containers -- thinking the pansies needed to be deadheaded -- and I was wowed by the growth of the big guys -- the kales and mustards.  They were taking over the containers and shadowing the poor little pansies.  Guess our recent cool weather made them very happy.  But no complaints here.  When the kales and mustards get happy they make a big statement in containers and in a garden bed.  Two of my all time favorites are 'Red Giant' Mustard and 'Lacinato' Kale.  Check out 'Red Giant' in the follow photo.

Forgot to mention that this shot was taken after I trimmed back half of it just to find the pansies.  Not to worry that there will be no more leaves -- lots coming back in the center.

I think it is absolutely stunning close up.  Just look at the texture of the crinkled leaf and then the striking contrast between the lime green of the veining and the burgundy of the leaf. 


I feel in love with this mustard at Calloway Gardens.  They had created a huge bed with 'Red Giant' as the back drop and burgundy and yellow pansies in front. 


With just an occasional trimming you can keep this gentle giant in check and get all the benefits.






My next favorite is the 'Lacinato' Kale.  What a work horse it is.  And you don't usually get this blue coloring in winter.  This is Container 7 outside the Welcome Center which gets different lighting than Container 10, located on the corner of Main and Washington.

 

 

Notice the difference in growth habit.  Container 10 is shorter and tighter.   Then look at the heavy crinkled surface in the following picture.  The light green viens also give you another color aspect to tie into your containers.

 

 

 

 

Two of my other favorite kales that provide lots of texture are 'Starbor' Kale and 'Red Russian' Kale. 

 

This 'Red Russian' Kale really needs to be trimmed back to give the poor violas a fair chance at the sun.

 

Not only is there great texture here, you get the added attraction of the purple tinted veins.  Another one of those connectors to your flowers.

And last, but not least by any means, is the 'Starbor' Kale.  This one might just win the "over the top" texture contest.

 

 

 

A single leave is exciting -- but a bunch is a "wow" factor.

 

 



 

There are lots of other kales and mustards on the market -- I've just found these to be proven winners every year.  And if you don't use pesticides in your garden -- you can even eat these!!!



 

 

 

 

 









Blue Crisp Fern Hanging In There

I told you early in the season that I loved the Blue Crisp Fern.  It is big, bold and bodacious and now it looks like it is also tenacious.  I intentionally left this "tropical fern" in a container to see when it would finally give up -- what low temperature would take it away.  Well, we've had low 30's in Madison many days and it still looks great......

.....but I do have to say that this container is situated on a busy street with lots of traffic and surrounded by brick buildings, so there is a microclimate created that probably offers warmer temperatures.  Stay tuned to see how it fares the remainder of the winter.

Also had to show you the heuchera that is in with the fern.  'Golden Zebra' is truly showing its "stripes" on the side that gets more sun.

 

 

Now look at the one which gets total shade.....

 

 

Still pretty but not as vibrant. 

 

The Golden Zebra heuchera will definitely be part of another season's containers since it is a perennial -- but I'm counting on Blue Crisp Fern to be part of them also -- we'll see.