MY LAST PROJECT...AGAIN!

Do we EVER have a last project? I guess if there's no more space to plant another single plant it might happen. But then we just start moving the stuff around! LOL

In my mind's eye, I can already see this project finished. I can tell you it will be dazzling as long as the weather stays NORMAL.

All of these plants were on sale for 70% off! I can do the entire project for $28.00!

It's been rainy and cloudy so I hope there won't be too much transplant stress.

These Gazania were on sale for 60 cents each!

This is a new plant for me and I'm pretty excited to grow some.

I have never liked Plumbago, but these were healthy, blooming and were on sale for $3.00 for a five gallon pot. Welcome home, Plumbago.

Crazy prices!

More crazy prices. 

These scarlet velvety Vincas were a dollar each. This is yet another new color for Vincas!

The photo doesn't do justice. This flower absolutely glows!

This lavender Salvia was on sale for $3.00 for a giant pot. This was the color I was looking for.

The Homestead Verbenas are the other color I was looking for! Things are starting to come together.

I had a wonderful visit with my garden friend, Cindy, at My Corner of Katy.

She gave me a start of this fantastic Rudbeckia triloba. It will blend nicely with the purples and violets.

There will be four little groups in this project.

This is the first vignette. It's near the street so it will feature low growing ground covers with shades of rose, purple, and lavender.

The second vignette will have taller flowers with that beautiful yellow Rudbeckia anchoring the set.

The third vignette will have more textures with the Mexican feather grass playing off the lavender Salvia and the large Windmill Palm. 

The last vignette will return to more lower growing plants that will frolic...yes, frolic in front of this Agave weberi.

The Gazanias will grow in the gravel.

This will complete the new section of the cottage garden.

Here's a recent shot of the first section I started in February.

What surprised me most is how much the lizards enjoy the place. I guess that goes with the higher butterfly traffic. Yipes!

Well, that's it for this time. 

My next post will feature Cindy's garden at My Corner of Katy.

You won't want to miss it!

The little lizard says thanks for stopping by, 

especially if you are a leafhopper.

David/:0)

A VISIT TO DEATH ROW (FOR PLANTS)

If you are reading this, I assume you like to garden. I also would guess that you don't like to watch perfectly healthy plants die. WELCOME TO DEATH ROW.

I've been to visit twice now. Local stores are glutted with plants that they can't sell. One missed watering out in full sun and it's off to DEATH ROW.

Most garden shops have a few plants marked down. But this year I'd say there were hundreds, perhaps even a thousand at this one store. Here's a view of another row of  poor plants. They might get watered once a day if someone remembers.

And here are four more rows of plants on DEATH ROW.

But...here is some good news. The really savvy gardeners in my neighborhood know that these plants aren't 100% dead. With a little tender care, they'll recover. There were 3 wonderful gardeners back there last time I visited.

So, who got to come home to my garden?  Let's see.

Coreopsis grandiflora 'Early Sunrise'

These were $1.00 each. Coreopsis is a tough little plant and I love their cheerful blooms. I bought a bunch!

Salvia greggii 'Lipstick'

This little native is so cute. I've grown them before.

I bought 6 for 75 cents each.

Osteospermum 'Voltage Yellow'

The Cape Daisies (Osteospermum) aren't perfectly suited to our climate, but I bought them anyway since anything's better than slowly wasting away on a metal shelf.

Lavandula stoechas

I posted bail for this half dead silver Lavender plant. ($2.50)

I've never seen one before except in garden books.

It's also not a great match for our climate, but since it was the last one and looking a bit sad

I decided to take a chance.

Lavandula inglesa 'Munstead'

There were tons of Munstead English Lavender for $2.50 each. I brought home one.

Coreopsis grandiflora 'Sunfire'

I bought this one at full price. It is an exquisite Coreopsis hybrid bred from our native coreopsis.

They'll probably be marked down 50% by next week, but I dare not wait and run the risk of a missed watering by the employees.

Their new home: LIFE ROW

Here's their new home. I think they'll be happy here.

I'll tell you a secret. We have two large garden centers side by side. The first has a Clearance Section and the other doesn't. In fact, the second store never, EVER has a single plant marked down.

So where do all their dead or dying plants end up? Answer: The giant trash containers out back.

No one there wants to take the time or effort to mark down plants.

So in a strange way, I'm very thankful to the manager of DEATH ROW for taking the time to set up a Clearance Aisle.

Perhaps we should call it HOPEFUL ROW!

Happy Easter!

Thanks for visiting Tropical Texana.

David/:0)