PURPLE, BLUE & SILVER IN A TEXAS COTTAGE GARDEN

Rather than buying refugee plants in a myriad of colors, I actually have a PLAN for this year's cottage garden.

The foundation colors will be lavender, blue, and purple along with silver and gray foliage plants making up the bulk of the foliage.

I REALLY like these combinations and plan to use them throughout the cottage area.

At times Mother Nature smiles and provides both the lavender and the silver foliage on the same plant. This is one of the few lavender plants that can withstand Houston's high humidity. I would gladly buy more if I could find them. And the foliage smells delightful.

Buddleia is another great plant. This variety has some gray green foliage. It does not usually grow well here, but this one doesn't know it's in Houston.

This is Blue Hill Salvia and it will definitely be welcomed back.

I am finding that the Salvias are a world unto themselves and that there are actually Salvia websites and collectors. I can see why, judging from the couple that I've grown. They are delightful!

Ruellias grow wild here and pop up in odd places. Isn't it nice when your weeds are the right color? LOL

Blue Daze loves heat more than most flowers and can even grow amidst rocks. They do great here in the South.

There's that silver Lavender with a lime green coleus. The delicate light blues of a plumbago are in the foreground.

I'm dropping the reds this year, but using yellows as an accent color. More on that later.

This an older variety of lime green coleus that can take a bit of sun. It contrasts nicely with dark greens and blue flowers.

I have always enjoyed coleus even as a kid back in the 70s!

Finally, I must rave about Lantana 'Fruity Pebbles'.

Just get it for the name!

It's an upright Lantana and the stems are not as scratchy as our native L. horrida.

I use it as a background plant.

Well, that's it for today. I'll show you some of the yellow and gold flowers next time.

Happy Growing!

David/:0)

Our native horsemint  (Monarda) will also be back if it reseeds!



GARDEN TRIALS~ RESULTS: NEW PLANTS SUMMER 2010

This post is like Survivor TV: many of the plants start out with high hopes of 'making it' to that final A+++ rating, but first they have to survive. I tried out a LOT of new plants since I redid the front beds. The front beds are in a brutal situation: near the street, on a slope, lots of sun, sandy loam soil, and that occasional dog that decides to mark his territory. I also do not fertilize except with compost once a year. In other words, they'll live the life of a wildflower.

I also did NOT want to water these plants endlessly, so here goes:

THE LOSERS:

The white angelonia did not do well (the other colors of Angelonia did splendidly), the cilantro bolted after a week, the Ruby Star got eaten and decided it did not like it here, and the creeping thyme, well, here's the picture:

Creeping thyme got the dreaded two thumbs way down award. It will be a long time before I try Thyme again.

(I was hoping for more Thyme in the garden, guess not..ha ha)

NEXT:   THUMBS UP PLANTS

I really was hoping for something with small, delicate foliage and lots of endless blooms to soften the hard edges of the agaves. Angelonia is FANTASTIC for this purpose. I highly recommend this plant for Houston gardens.  The dahlberg daisy is a sweet little plant and a native to boot. The salvia is an old friend along with the sage. The cleome is taller, and currently suffering a bit from the high temps. Still, it gets a thumbs up.

AND NOW~ THE COVETED DOUBLE THUMBS UP:

These plants have beautiful foliage, are compact, and add interest to the dry, rock garden.

Most varieties of lavender cannot stand our high humidity, but Goodwin Creek is the exception. I LOVE this plant. The white licorice plant is from South Africa, and has a low habit with nice, silver foliage. It can recover from a wilted condition in an hour.  The rosemary is another old favorite, but it comes in so many varieties that it can be very confusing. This one has a larger leaf and used for culinary purposes. I like it.

And finally, the ultimate award goes to blue daze (Evolvulus) It blooms endlessly, honey bees LOVE IT, it takes drought well, it stays low, and has a small, intertwining habit. I wish the flowers would last all day, but they fade by noon.

Blue Daze and Angelonia are great together.

I have a few other wonderful plants that passed with flying colors, but that will have to wait 'til next week.

BLUE DAZE is the winner!