More Cool Stuff

Was out grooming the containers today.  Well, actually I was whacking back those wonderful 'Red Giant' mustards and cutting out the seed heads on the kales.  This warm weather is great for us humans but the cool weather plants think it is time to go to seed and take a long needed rest.  No can do, guys.  I need you to look good for another couple weeks.  While I was out there I took photos of a couple knock-out containers.  Take a look at the 'Starbor' kale in the big containers on Second and Washington.  

The center plant is Juniper 'Gold Cone' and the viola is Sorbet 'Sunny Royale'.  This is a 360 container so the plant run all the way around.  

If you look very closely you can see a pansy trying its hardest to show its face.  Delta 'Premium Pure Yellow' is a good grower but it can't compete with the aggressive kale and the hard working viola.

There are four black urns inside the Town Park.  They aren't very big and I had hoped the plants that were in them would make it through the winter.  While the asparagus ferns in other containers did well, these did not.  But some of the other plants did good and some did great.  Check out the pansy that is in two of them.

This pansy is aptly called Panola 'Fire'.  The colors range from a brilliant orange to a deep burnt orange.  They nicely filled the urns and covered the space where the ferns didn't do as well.

The other two urns did not get any color this time but the Euphorbia 'Ascot Rainbow' made up for that loss.  The flower heads are awesome.  Not sure how long they will last but I am hoping for a couple more weeks.

I know that I brag on my favorite viola all the time, and here I go again.  But take a look at Sorbet 'Lemon Chiffon' in this container.  

The snapdragons are trying their best to keep ahead of the violas and the poor autumn fern is going to have to wait until I change out the plants before it will get the sun light it needs.  Ah, but I'm not complaining....I love that viola.  

One last goodie to share with you.  I think I have mentioned the variegated erysimum before.  Well, here it is in bloom.  The foliage is interesting enough in the containers but that sweet little bloom is like icing on the cake.

There is is poking its head out among the viola Sorbet 'Delft Blue'.  Erysimum is a much under used plant.  Ask for it as your independent nursery now so they have it for you in the fall. 

If you are local to Madison, Georgia, be sure to walk around town and check out some of these neat plants.  They are at their peak.  Warm weather is here so they won't be as happy as they were in the cool weather of fall and winter.  

Checking In On The Pansies - and others

Sorry I have been away for so long and not sharing what is happening with the containers.  A sad, personal event has kept me from writing.  But the joy of the flowers is helping me, so I'll be back on track.

The cold weather has made the kales and mustards very happy.  They are busting out of their assigned spaces.  Every time I am in town I stop by containers and cut them back to give the poor little violas a chance to get some sun.   The common question I get is "do I eat them"....no can do...I put insecticide in the soil.  Yuck!

But I wanted to share one of the pretties with you.  The container that sits on Main Street by the Perk Avenue Cafe is so striking right now.  There are Liberty Yellow snapdragons in the center with Carex Ice Dance woven in between.  The pansies are Silhouette.  A neat combination of purple and yellow.  It is such a cheerful arrangement.  

Probably should have tidied this one up before the photo but it was darn cold outside I just promised them I would get back later this week.

The faces of the purple pansies are so striking. What a great contrast against their yellow companions.  

I braved the wind and went down by the Town Park and got this photo of the Red Russian Kale.  It is not only thriving but is so well behaved, not nearly as rowdy as the Red Giant Mustard -- much less pruning is needed to keep it in check.  

Okay, a little grooming on the parsley would have helped this photo too but it is also doing really well.  Another cold weather fan.  But check out this cute little viola that is poking its way through the foliage.....

Now back to the really cold weather issue....here is an update on that tropical fern 'Blue Star' that I have left in the container on Main and Washington to see how long it would last.  I'm northern by birth (but southern by choice) and I could not have withstood the latest frigid weather we have had.  Looks great -- still no frost burn.

I have "understudies" waiting in the wings if and when the weather finally takes this soldier away but I'm thinking it may be a player again this summer.  Stay tuned!

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!!!