Friday, July 1, 2011

Holy Smokes, it’s July 1st! Here's what my garden is looking like...

July…wow. I can't believe it, maybe it’s the fact we’ve only had two or three days in the 80’s that has me feeling like its still early June, or May. While we aren’t yet enjoying the heat of summer we’ve definitely entered our dry season. June ended with .74” of rain, well below the 1.59” average (normal for July and August will fall to .53 and .75 respectively). Some of the neighbor’s lawns are starting to turn gold, a fact that only makes me enjoy our front garden all the more! I am really enjoying watching the plants that are new to the garden as they change throughout the season. For example I thought I would be sad to see the leaves appear on my Poncirus trifoliata, hiding the thorns, but that’s not the case at all. The Opuntia and Canna are having a battle for the same spot. Short and prickly vs. tall and leafy…who will win? More photos from the front garden… In the back garden Clifford the big leafed magnolia (Magnolia macrophylla) has been a blooming super-star this year. Previous years we had two, and then one, blooms but this year we’ve got at least nine of them. Go Clifford! The best part is I can see the blooms from the bedroom window when I open my eyes in the morning. The tall Tetrapanax that I was most worried about has finally kicked it into gear. We cut off the top 2 ft or so of the trunk, down to where the new growth started. The other back garden Tetrapanax is putting on a healthy bunch of new leaves. In other exciting bloom "news" look!… My foxtail lilies (Eremurus) are blooming for the first time! It’s been so long since I bought them I couldn’t remember what color they were supposed to be, looks like orange(ish). They aren’t exactly sturdy looking things but maybe with age they take on more size? These next four images are all of the same planting area, but I loved the look of each slightly different frame. (and thanks to Hoover at Piece of Eden for the Aeonium schwarzkopf cuttings!) Across the steps different plants maintain somewhat the same color palette… More images from the back garden…

24 comments:

  1. Looking MORE dangerous and lovely every day. Don't you love waht summer does to a garden?

    ciao from Newport BEach

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  2. Wow, beats Abq dehydration!

    Just a few more of your 80's and little rain, and we KNOW who will win in your garden's battle of leafy Canna and spiky Opuntia.

    Peligroso! Espinoso!

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  3. The garden's looking great Loree! A feast for exotic (and not so exotic) and 'edgy' plant lovers :)

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  4. I love it...everything looks so happy! So glad you Tetrapanax are recovering (and looking to be better than ever). Oh, and BIG congrats on the Eremurus...I've killed several, so think I'll just enjoy yours for now!

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  5. That rose is looking more dangerous by the day! :)

    I love how your plants pop against the new house color. Awesome.

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  6. Loree, I love the meticulous, disciplined upkeep paired with your love of wildly exotic plants. Looks like a fabulous summer is shaping up in the Danger Garden. Our temps are heading for over 100 this weekend.

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  7. Your gardens look fabulous, Loree. Each photo is like a woven tapestry of interesting shapes and colors. Just divine. BTW, did you know Costa Farms is having a succulent photo contest? You've got several photos that are worthy entrants. Do you do Facebook? If you'd like more information on the contest I'd be happy to direct you to the announcement on Facebook. Just email me. Happy 4th!

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  8. The little splashes of red with all variations of green against the newly painted house: dynamite! Oh, those pteracantha thorns...be still, my heart.

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  9. You have one of the most interesting gardens I have ever seen. Your back yard is so tidy, I love it!

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  10. Fabiana, in a word...YES! Summer is the best time of the year.

    DD, ah yes...the poor Opuntia will have to deal with a little shade for the remainder of the summer. Not such good siting from the gardener.

    Mark and Gaz, thank you!

    scott, glad to know I'm in good company there! If the three in the front garden that I planted this spring ever decide to bloom too look out! I might just feel like I accomplished something.

    Meg, me too!!! I am so happy with the color...and that rose, well, I just love its glowing red thorns and the way the sun lights them up!

    Denise, over 100!? Is that good? I mean do you like the heat? And trust me...you wouldn't think it all is so meticulous if you were here. The camera can select what to show and now show.

    Grace, thank you, and thanks for the heads up about the contest! I will look into it. I can't say I really "do" facebook, I just don't have the time!

    ricki, glad you like the thorns! I got pretty lucky with the placement and it's right where the morning sun lights it up and you can see it from the couch while you sip your morning coffee. You should get one!

    Thank you Darla!

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  11. Danger garden is looking superb! I have a "clifford" as well, mine is only 2ft . with no leaves yet ( a stick ) the dogs knocked the top off.

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  12. Super shots of a happy garden! Thanks for the tour.

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  13. Your garden looks great, but your weather baffles me. I wrongly assumed you a goodly amount of rainfall there.

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  14. wow Loree! everything looks really good, and unlike my garden, it looks nice and tidy. I hope you are taking some time to sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor!

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  15. linda, I think ours was about 2ft tall when we got it too. Ours did have a few leaves though, huge in comparison to the rest of the plant. Which of course is why we got it!

    Anytime Mr. Shoe.

    Les, oh we do get a lot of rain, definitely! Just not in July and August. Our second summer in our house I think we actually went 7 weeks without a drop. I'm sure it's interesting phenomenon from a plants perspective. Most of the year you're swimming but then for 2months you're begging for a drink.

    Ryan, thank you, and I am! Evenings on the patio are lovely now that's a tiny bit warmer.

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  16. Splendid Loree ! I must tell you I showed my BILS who live in the SW hills, your post on the bamboo-stock tanks and by the time I came back from Washington they had bought two and were fixing to plop in their Black Bamboos in. Inspiration from the Danger Garden !

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  17. Your garden looks great and I can see that you'll be having some great days this summer enjoying the outdoors. I really like your two groupings of rectangular and rounded pots. The different pots you've chosen play nice with each other, but they also play nice with the plants you've placed in them.

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  18. I really like both your front and back gardens. Maybe if the weather holds, your neighbors will take a cue from you and xeriscape for next year.

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  19. Everything is looking so lush, verdant and yet so tidy, Loree. You get the July Portland garden neatness award for sure! Good going on Clifford and the Tetrapanax, and the Eremurus look lovely and promising. Plus your small vignettes are a lovely tapestry: I love the packed-in-but-not-overwhelmed look of your beds and strive for the same (with limited success but dogged determination.)

    Nice to think of you sitting back and enjoying it all in the evenings!

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  20. I love the gravel garden! WANT! What a fine idea for the front yard too. In a fevered moment a couple years ago I bought a couple bags of gravel and used it as mulch. Looked good, but it didn't last long.

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  21. Very nice indeed. You must be pleased with the progress.

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  22. this house looks familiar....

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  23. Stunning! So many plants that I love! Tetrapanax is on my list since I visited the Lewis & Little garden, but I can't find it! The red thorns are gorgeous! My Eremurus is getting yellow leaves and doesn't look good... Yours is great!

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