What still looks good in your garden?

Not that the worst of the summer heat and bugs are over, I took a brief check on my garden to see what still looked good and what needed replacing. I've had a few surprises in both directions. My salvias, both the Black and Blue, Mystic Spires, and East Friesland have stood up well this year. Did have one bout of mealy bugs that they struggled with, but once those were eliminated, they bounced back. My begonias and Blue Daze have really outdone themselves. The Confederate Rose is in continous bloom and the morning glories and moon flower are still blooming like crazy. My hibiscus all seem to be liking the cooler temps and the plumbagos have gone nonstop since spring. My brugmansia is still blooming. It was slow to start, but hasn't stopped since. The cannas are loaded too as are the Knockout Roses. My only disasters were some pansies that I probably planted too early. Anyone have any ideas on a low growing perennial, preferably evergreen, that doesn't mind sun and damp feet? I'm about to resort to iris because I can't think of anything else to put here. It's a spot on either side of the entry sidewalk and everything I've tried has died from wet feet. Any ideas?

Here's the Mystic Spires

The Confederate Rose, Copper Plants, Plumbago, Impatiens, and Blue Daze.

And the Princess Di dwarf cannas. Picture really doesn't do the color justice. They are a beautiful blend of pink, creamy yellow and coral that is spectacular.

Glad all the brugs I read about are blooming. I think I have a non-blooming one to go w/my non-producing avocado. I didn't expect the avocado to do anything but provide shade but the brug........ I have cut all my plumies way back so they look like sticks but the alyssum and other seeds are sprouting. The hibiscus are now toping 8' and blooming their blooming heads off. The MIL's tongue and aloe vera are bursting their pots, the red cypress vine is thru for the year. Mr President, the clematis, has forgiven me for all the water and is putting on new growth about midway up the plant altho the very top is brown. The Pride of Barbados has been cut back as have the tall ruellas but both insist on putting out new growth. The Bird of Paradise has its last two flowers on it but I noticed yesterday there is another flower stalk is forming so maybe... I still haven't gotten the onions and garlic chives we rec'd at the RU planted in their pots but that is a small job. It's time to fertilize the Christmas Cactus w/super bloom for December flowers which I know I will do. So, I guess I'm ready for dormant time.

Ann

Low growing Wet feet evergreen in zone 9... Frogfruit Stellaria media is the only thing I can think of, but it might take over the whole bed.

Only thing looking good at my house is one of my Canna's, which just had two blooms open. Of course I still don't have much in way of perennials planted though. 2 of my neighbors have rose bushes that still look fabulous. They are both low growing varieties that have bloomed non-stop since spring. I really need to find out what variety they are. One is a single pink and is about 2.5 feet tall and the other is a small double dark red, about 2 feet tall.

I love that Mustic Spires!
My garden is winding down, I'm trying to get some annuals going but it's still so hot here, supposed to be 85 today.
Here's some alyssum that is slowly taking off.

My Angelonia is still going strong, this year it didn't flop, I'm not sure what has been different.

Pine Cone Ginger

Hibiscus 'Mrs Jimmy Spangler' (I think)

Last one for now....I promise

Oxalis

Hello Fellow Houstonians!

I still have coleus that are deep wine red, vinca, and pink, purple and white wave petunias that just won't die! Also, I have an ixora and a tropical hibiscus that are loving this cooler weather. My rabbit's foot fern and Australian ferns are standing up, too! There's a Mexican Firecracker? plant that's sending out those red thingys and the hummingbird loves them!

My hostas aren't doing well at all in the shady bed they're in. All the caladiums are dying back, too. The Marguerite SPV is creeping all over in brillian chartreuse green. I dumped a Blackie SPV out on the back edge and threw some potting mix over it a couple months ago, and it's spreading just where I want it to!

My Bird of Paradise (that I almost destroyed by dividing it at the beginning of the summer and before I knew anything about it) is holding it's own.

All my Sago Palm puppies are establishing themselves well, and I have the leaf scale on the run. Need to put down a little more fertilizer while it's still warm enough, just before the winter sets in, so they can have a nice root system for next season.

After taking assessment on my first garden EVER, I've decided that I want to continue specializing in the Sago Palms in the spring. I've found them to be challenging and fascinating, and will attempt to self-pollinate a male and a female next spring. Also, I love the ferns and the caladiums, especially the green striped caladiums, so they will take a premier place next year. And, I was beaten down by two Persian Shields (one of which was very expensive!).

My move prolific garden pest this year had to be the white cottony stuff that attacked almost all the coleus and the Persian Shield (mealy bugs?), and any other tender leaf it could latch on to. I sprayed and washed, and used the Q-tips and alcohol, and finally let it go. They didn't clear up until all the rain stopped and things dried up a bit in the garden...

The rain was another nemesis, although when it did rain the plants took off. But the humidity stayed so high from all the rain, it gave the mealybugs a smorgasbord!

I like ixora and will put more of them in the garden next year, too.

Finally, I have a camelia bush that is absolutely FULL of tight white blooms, which WILL NOT OPEN! Any suggestions on forcing them open would be much appreciated.

I'll be a first-time VEGGIE grower in the spring and am preparing earthboxes for tomatoes, bell peppers, green beans, squash and okra.

I live a few minutes from Hobby Airport in Houston. Ya'll keep me posted on your garden plans for next summer!

Linda

This message was edited Nov 9, 2006 11:15 AM

Linda, Camellias usually don't start blooming until late January. My 'Kramer's Supreme' is covered with buds that are still light green and will bloom in about 3 months.The buds start developing months ahead of time, but are slow to pop. Be patient and you should have a beautiful showing in late winter.

Hi,

The Confederate Rose is blooming well, all the Cuphea's look good, The Blaze Climbing rose has a few blooms and the foliage looks better after a summer long battle with black spot..The Cecile Bruner roses are blooming nicely..
A pink Sasanqua has a lot of blooms, the Melampodium blooms well all Fall but is invasive,a dark maroon native Hibiscus looks good..Also pretty invasive..
The Angelonia look good and the Impatiens look better than they have all year..
.I planted cotton in Pots just for fun and it's into it's second yield. I have seeds if anyone else likes to see it grow..

Lynn

Thanks Sweezel!

How long should I continue fertilizing the bush and do I need to do anything special to protect it once winter dips? I truly want this thing to bloom as I have been paying particular attention to it. It was attacked by something eating the leaves early in the summer and I fought and won that battle. Then, the rains came and kept washing away all the NEEM I was using on the bugs. Now, it's just toying with my emotions, cause there are all these tight white buds and I see what I think is a centimeter of an inch opening every morning as I leave for work! AAARRRRRGGGGGHHHH!

"Open!" "Open!" "Open!" (sound familiar?)

P.S.S. The OTHER reason I desperately want the blooms is because my newbie DH says, "Oh, it does that every year, but it never blooms!" I desperaterly, desperately want to show him I can make it happen!!!! Help me, PLEEEEEZZZZEEE...

Now. I'll go back to being patient...

I only fertilize my Camellia twice a year. Once in March after it blooms and once again in August. Not sure where I heard that schedule from. They aren't really heavy feeders.

One more thing about your Camellia. I could be wrong about it. Lynn's post above reminded me about Camellia sasanqua. They actually bloom in late fall. They are not as common around here so I just assumed yours was a Camellia japonica. Do you know which one you have? The C. sasanqua have smaller leaves and a more spread out habit than the C. japonica.

As soon as I clear out my camera memory, I'll post a pic of the camellia!

As soon as I clear out my camera memory, I'll post a pic of the camellia!

I think mine may be a sasanqua! I researched the plantfiles and looked at the leaves. But we'll know when I post.

My Toad Lilies look good.

and my Brugs- these are Dr. Seuss

And this is Ecuador Pink

Your Toad looks awesome!

Any more pictures?

Well I was going to post the photo of Brad Pitt because he always looks good in my garden but I am not allowed to call him anymore...something about stalking...

This was taken on the 5th and though by now some of the flowers have fallen this is my 'Fireman's Cap' aka 'Coral Tree' aka 'Cry Baby Tree'- I love this one so much. My daughter tells me that they are grown in some places to provide shade for the coffee plants - guess I will have to get a coffee plant!

Oh and this is the 1st time that I have had both light and dark toad lilies. Not sure why that happened, somebody who knows more about them must know why they turned out so beautiful and interesting.

Fly you have plenty of shade and should be able to grow toad lilies up there in The Woods-LOL

That's pretty, I've never heard of those, it has unique flowers.

I bought one recently and we'll see.

I am in awe of all of your lovely photos. Gorgeous, I say, absolutely gorgeous.

Most of my plants are loving the fall weather. I will say that I think I have been overworked lately and haven't been able to give them the proper watering they need, but they still are performing well. I can only imagine how nice they would look with the proper care.

I was introduced to several plants on DG in the spring and now have new favorites. I went crazy with bougainvillea and now I LOVE them. I have a huge Barbara Karst that is just an outstanding performer for me. She always looks magnificent. Then I also got some unique bougainvillea that just take my breath away. I have a Blueberry Ice, Imperial Delight, and California Gold. I learned that bougies like to be watered thoroughly and then left to dry out in between waterings. They also have a blooming cycle followed by a growth cycle. Once the blooms start to fall off and start to fade, I prune them way back and find that it does really well.

Cupheas - a few months ago, I had no idea what these were. Love them, very happy to learn they are perennial. Does fantastic here in the hot and dry summers.

Lorapetalum - gorgeous foliage bush. I haven't seen the beautiful fall color yet that I read about, but am anxiously waiting mine that I planted this spring to bloom.

I also found many, many plants that I don't have and can't wait to have next year. Vitex trees. Fell in love with these this summer. Beautiful purple blooms and fragrant scent. I can't wait to get a beautyberry and esperanza, pride of barbados, and americrinums.

Finally, this year was my first hand at growing vegetables and I am hooked. I found a true hobby, stress reliever and something that brings me great joy.

Thanks MM......I love the bougies too!

Nice Bat Faced!
The squirrels get my beautyberry berries so fast I hardly get to enjoy them.
I bought a Pride of Barbados this year too, it hasn't bloomed yet, love their blooms.
I also bought a Jacaranda tree....it's close to the house on the southwest side so it should make it through the winter. They are gorgeous.

The Toad Lily I have is 'Blue Wonder', the picture of it looks like yours April. And, I found a piece of one at a plant sale, on the ground, put it in my bubbler and it got roots fast. I don't know which one it is.

I love bat faced cupheas! Beautiful picture.

It is a wonderful hobby isn't it. So much fun, so creative and you meet the nicest people!
My neighbors all have Vitex and they are gorgeous! I lost my California Gold this summer...I am not ready to talk about it yet...

Glad you are enjoying all of this.

Fly I have that one in the photo- my daughter gave it to me, and I also have the one w/ the gold edge to the leaf.
Easy care aren't they.

Hmm....my Copper Canyon Daisies did really well this year, along with all of my salvias except my Blue/Black Salvia. THAT one I still have a hard time with. They start out great...but look bare, spindly and yellow by this time of year. I fell in love with my white and purple vitex all over again, along with my Desert Willow and just recently planted a Burr Oak seedling that I got at our SA RU. I also finally bought a Pride of Barbados and even tho it was small, it put out some incredible blooms...which the seed pods are just now ready to pick since they have dried. My assorted lavenders are showing off their spikes and have turned into huge bushes. And my Fairy Duster has seed pods all over it from all of the many pink bloom tufts that arrived after our late summer rains. (finally!)

My Bat Face looks great too. Isn't that just a wonderful little bloom? :) And my wee Senna Trees are covered in seed pods from all of the beautiful yellow flowers that they put out this Summer. My yellow Bird of Paradise was incredible this Summer...tho some dadgum worms nibbled all of my late season blooms. *grrr*

What a wonderful thing indeed...to be able to put your muddy garden shoes on...grab a hat and pruning shears, and lose yourself in your own private eden. :)))

Melanie

A photo of my Mexican Dagger with assorted flowers. :)

This message was edited Nov 9, 2006 8:43 PM

Another shot of the back corner... :)

Melanie I had those same little worms eathing at my BOP g.

Very pretty! I have tried and failed growing Lavender, I try it every spring, in a pot, in sand, doesn't matter, it dies, what's the secret Melanie?

My Esperanza is still blooming, just remembered it....all your yellow reminded me. I can't find the picture.

My triple yellow and purple daturas are doing extremely well.

I'm not sure about the lavender...fly_.....the one bush that I have in the front is huge. It survived our Winter just fine...and grew so large that I had to cut it back this Summer because it was laying on my red pentas. A female wolf spider w/ babies made a home in it, lol....and I've been making wonderful lavender braids with it to lay in drawers and in baskets. :) Such an incredible aroma...one of my favorites. :) Try to find one that isn't real difficult to grow, like a Spanish lavender. I think French lavenders are a bit more pickier when it comes to growing conditions.

lovely photo, lily :)

Melanie

I have lots of my plants still looking really good. In fact, I "rescued" 9 from a dire situation at Lowe's about a month ago(my first rescue btw!! been gardening for less than a yr!) and they are all just doing great! I am posting a few pics I have of some of my faves. My Hibiscus are just wonderful...as is the Mandevilla, Jasmine, Tai Plant(red sister), heartleaf ice plant, snapdragons, salvia, and redbird cactus!

Here is a closeup of my Mandevilla!

Redbird Cactus(variegated?) I cant wait til spring. I am so looking forward to the blooms. I got this plant as a seedling back in August..I had no idea they grew so fast!

This a night pic of my favorite Hibiscus! This plant was ravaged by Cut Ants. It literally looked like I had planted sticks in my yard!! The color is just awesome..and I was so heart-broken over what the ants had done. I asked questions on DG about how to nurse her back to health..and after much love and time, I just got my first blooms again 2 days ago!!

Just one more, if yall dont mind..It's a generalized shot of our water garden..We are still working on it...but I just love it! It is sooooo relaxing and soothing!!!