Becky's MGs and Other Plants Part 9

Oh pooh! This is the photo today of Keiryu. That other one was taken two days ago. Sheesh!

I did something that was probably very, very stupid. I picked up the concrete bird bath that was in the front garden bed and place each of the two pieces in my little Fischer Price wagon. I don't know how much each piece weighs, but I know it is a lot. I should've gotten someone to help me lift the base especially. My back is hurting tonight because of lifting it. It was heavy!!! I am walking a little slower and hobbling a bit. Hopefully tomorrow I will feel better. Dumb, I know.

Anyway, I have been wanting to put a bird bath in the backyard near the bird feeder area. So here is where that bird bath found a new home! It's perfect! Front garden bed is perfect with the fountain and the backyard is perfect now with the Birdbath! :-)

It was a good day! :-) :-) :-)

I am a water sign (Scorpio) and I think that is why I like living near the ocean and like the sound of a water in a fountain or a waterfall. It seems to soothe my soul. I can't imagine my gardens without the backyard waterfall and now the front yard fountain. All is in balance now! LOL! I know ... I am probably crazy, but that's what I like in my gardens... the sound of rushing or trickling water. :-)

Here is a photo looking out into my garden bed along the back of my house. The waterfall is right out there too so that I can hear it right next to me when I am sitting out there. I could literally sleep out there with those sounds. It is my sanctuary. My dh has come to love sitting out there as well when it is a little cooler. He too finds the sound of the waterfall very serene. I catch my kids out there talking on their cell phones too. This area gives off good vibes.

But ...

as you can see ... I have the table loaded with potted plants. LOL! Every now and then, I manage to clear it off and it can once again be used as a table. But then I start stacking stuff on it again. I think what I need is a potting bench out in the yard somewhere. That is something I don't have that I would really use! I could move all the junk out there under the bench. Maybe I will be able to talk my dh into making me one at some point in time. :-) That's the plan anyway and I am sticking to it! :-) He just doesn't know yet. LOL!

This message was edited Jul 15, 2009 6:59 PM

Here is the other area that I need to tackle with clippers. This area has several Passiflora vines growing along the fence. In the beds in front of it are Lantana and a variety of other Butterfly nectar plants. It's all about the butterflies and the hummers! That is the main reason I plant what I have in my yard. It's to attract them. There is just something about the sight of a butterfly. It's ALL good!

And here is the Necklace Pod bush with blooms and you can see the seed pods in the background. That is why it has this name. The pods turn brown when the seeds are ripe.

Here is another photo. The seed pods look like strings of beads. And the leaves are so soft. This is really an interesting plant! I will save the seeds as I know some of you here want some! ;-)

I've never grown one from seed. This was a tiny plant that I actually purchased a couple of years ago. One of my rare purchases vs. growing plants from seeds. I hang my head in shame that I actually spent money to purchase it, but is was worth it. This is a great bush and very drought tolerant! And the hummers like the blooms! :-) Many good attributes!

Here is the I. indica that I swear is trying to reach up to grab ahold of my telephone line which is about a foot above it! I hope it blooms soon! :-)

This area photo and the next photo are my favorite spots in my entire garden. Though I do really like the front garden bed now that there is once again a working fountain there. :-)

The MGs in the tipsy pots are still going strong under this Cape Honeysuckle trained as a standard. It makes the best shade tree! :-) All the Caladiums sure add a lot of color to what was once a very drab area of my yard. It is now one of the prettiest areas. :-)

Becky, I love your jungle! But I especially love that water fountain. That is a bargain! And you should not feel guilty spending it because it's your Mother's Day present, so you need to spend it on yourself. That is what the kids intended for you.

I used to have a fountain in my old house. Oh, how I missed it. I will have to find a picture of the old house fountain and scan it. I had this small ranch house. It was probably 1100 sq ft total. It was built in the late 60's or early 70's. It has so much charms. I missed it so much. Anyway, the dining room had french doors that opened out to a slate circle patio with a circle fish pond on one side. In the middle of the pond, it has a 3 tiers water fountain. You can pump fresh water into it or you can recycle the water. I had some koi fish in there with water lilies. There is a short boxwood hedge around the pond. Oh, it was soooo pretty! We had to move cause I had 3 kids and we couldn't all fit in there!

Becky I luv the fountain area!! GOOD for you!! You deserve it that's for sure!!

Oh I love that fountain! I also love to be by the water.. I spent the first ten years of my life with the beach in Oceanside, California for my backyard...
I love the sound of my water fountain when i am outside.. I really like the caladium corner too.. well, heck, I love all your areas:D

Beautiful yard Becky. Love the new fountain.

Second bloom on the Calystegia hederacea vine.

I have a rose bloom on my Pink Blush rose bush. Smallish rose blooms.

Interesting comparison of a rose bloom to the Calystegia hederacea bloom. I can't grow Peonies here, but I imagine that the blooms from that bush would really look similiar to the False Japanese Bindweed blooms. :-)

Streaked out Kohkan bloom. Very large, colorful bloom with variegated foliage! I am sure happy I got this volunteer! It is another of my favorite MGs! I am honored to have it bless me again this year!

Blooms seem to be winding down and leaves are dropping. I think these vines are on the decline in their life cycle. Blue Shibori bloom flush and a single bloom of Fuji no Sora cross.

This one came in a Japanese packet labeled Sazanami.

Nicole - Glad you like my Jungle! It's my little slice of paradise. :-) I would love to see scanned photos from your old house. It sounds beautiful!

Thanks Ronnie, Debra, and Jackie! :-) That fountain was a great bargain and my whole family is enjoying it! :-)

Debra - I didn't know you lived near the ocean in CA at one time. I lived in Alameda, CA near San Francisco back in the early 70's. What a beautiful city back then. Haven't been back since, so I have no idea what the area looks like now. I hope it is still lovely. I loved San Francisco. What an interesting city! So much history there! :-) And sooooo much to do! I got to see Steve McQueen and Ali MacGraw in person during the premier of The Getaway. I was surprised at how short Steve was. Everyone looks so tall on the big screen. lol

I love the way your big beautiful JMGs have their dresses folded up at the top all neat and graceful instead of all twisted to a tight point the way my beloved I. purpureas do.. I have noticed that on all the beautiful jmgs posted here in the MG forum..
Your Calystegia hederacea vine is indeed lovely like a peoony.. was it all wrapped up in bud? or twisted ready to unfurl? .. Didn't get to see the bud I guess I missed it..

Becky, Love the Sazanami. Am I the only one that thinks it looks a lot
like Blue Silk?

Debra - The large I. nil blooms are floppy! I have to carefully unfold them sometimes in the early morn to get a good photo. They are not perky like the I. purpurea blooms!

Jackie - I've been told it looks like Blue Silk, too. What name would come first? An American name or a Japanese name? That is the Million Dollar question! lol Is this a true Japanese cultivar or an American created one? That's a good question ...

The Sazanami seeds came in an unopened Japanese packet from Onalee's:
http://www.onalee.com/catalog.php/onaleeisrael/dt66287/pd1741908/Sazanami_1__Ripples__on_the_beach__Japanese_Morning_Glory_Seeds_Ipomoea_Nil#IMAGES

The photo does look like my blooms.

Yours is identical to Onalee's pic. I wonder if
Blue Silk is one of it's parents.

Or is Sazamani a parent to Blue Silk? Maybe an American cross created Blue Silk using Japanese vines! I guess we will never know! ;-) All I know is that I love the way the blooms look! Beautiful!!!

none of my vines are blooming yet. my mg bush has a bud but none of my vines are yet. guess will by some bloom boost and try it.

ok you two i will tell you i lived in riverside California for about 2 years. that was back in the late 70s early 80s

Good point Becky. It is a beauty, that we're sure of.

The Sazanami you're growing is enchanting, Becky, nice one!

Thanks Joseph!

To complicate things further, here is the "other" Sazanami #2 sold by Onalee:
http://www.onalee.com/catalog.php/onaleeisrael/dt66287/pd1912761/Sazanami_2__Ripples__on_the_beach__Japanese_Morning_Glory_Seeds_Ipomoea_Nil#IMAGES

Now given the description by Onalee's site, I quote from the page on Onalees: "Saza" means small, tiny. "nami" means wave. Sazanami is not big waves but small and calm waves near the beach. The waves that are breaking near the beach and they make white bubbles at the edge of the waves. The flower color, blue with white margin, represent the small waves and bubbles.

I live near the beach. When the smaller, gentler waves come in, I don't see a lot of bubbles. Just the edge of the water coming up. The Sazanami #1 looks more like what I see at the beach. Not lots of "bubbles" as seen in this one.

I see bubbles and sea foam when the waves are stronger. So that is a personal interpretation for the bloom that "I" think looks most like the description of the name. And perhaps that cultivar is really Blue Silk. But my guess is that it is a Japanese cultivar first. So I would bet that Blue Silk is possibly a cross of Sazanami #1.

But ... that is just MY perspective on these two different vines named the same.

AND ...

Blue Silk listed in PlantFiles:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/77673/

Ron mentioned that it is Akatuski No Tsuyu, but the only entry is from EmmaGrace:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/103762/

And this is Onalee's seed pack photo:
http://onaleeseeds.bizhosting.com/japanese_morning_glory_seeds_akatuski_no_tsuyu_the_dew_at_dawn_blue_silk.html

So ... hard to really determine from photos. Has anyone purchased or grown out seeds for Akatuski No Tsuyu, 'The Dew at Dawn'? I would love to see your bloom photos. :-)

This message was edited Jul 18, 2009 8:35 AM

And here is another photo of mine taken today. Love the color, the pattern, and the variegated leaves. :-) It's all good! :)

And another of Kohkan Blizzard! Yummy! I just want to eat this one right up! LOL!

I love the Sazanami, mine is coming along. Can't wait to see how
mine will turn out.
The Kohkan Blizzard is a fantastic color.

Thanks Jackie! They are about the only ones blooming now. Most of my other vines are winding down. Time for me to start some new vines! :-) :-) ;-)

I do so love both the Kohkan and the Sazanami cultivars. They are some of my favorites, both of them! I look forward to seeing your Sazanami blooms, too! Who did you get the seed(s) from? I am wondering if they will be like my blooms or the other Sazanami (true?) strain. Both are gorgeous! And I did pinch my pennies (and that is NO joke) and bought the Sazanami #2 strain of seeds from Onalees. I want to see what the blooms on that one look like. I am really smitten with this cultivar (both strains)! :-)

Just thought I would quickly post a few new photos from this morning. (And then it's back to work for me!)

Here is Blue Star tricolor. My second season growing this pale blue beauty! :-)

Another of my favorites: Keiryu. It doesn't get any sky bluer than this one!

Two of the 3 Clematis I have are now blooming for a second time. I was told I should get two sets of blooms from them. But it is still early in the season, so I am going to PUSH it and see if I can get it to bloom in the Fall as well! ;-)

This is Jackmanii. These vines are still very young. Only the second year. So next year outta be really great! :-)

And here is the other: "Viticella Venosa Violacea".

Nice Clematis Becky. I miss all of mine I moved off and left at my former home. The President, Belle of Woking, Nelly Moser and Jackmanii.
I love the Blue Star, the dogs broke the top out of mine. Think I will try
one more time and include the Pearly Gates if I can find my pkt.
Running out of time for the tri-colors.
I love the Keiryu so I'll be begging later for sds of that one. lol