By mid July, things are hot in the back yard.
Adding some 'fire' to the cottage garden
I've been tempted by Godzilla while browsing Buggycrazy's site; a real beauty! Pics of Scheherezade do the same thing- the yellow looks white.
The trilliums do seed themselves, but they're growing wild, so the conditions must be just right for them I guess. It seems like things seed themselves here that never did when I've gardened elsewhere, like astilbe and salvia (that I can think of off hand).
I don't collect from the wild, but I have a nursery bed where I move all the trillium that show up in the lawn (I can't stand the thought of mowing them!). If you'd like some more let me know- I always have plenty, lol.
Cosmos Politor
Thanks for the offfer, but I think my conditions must not be very good for them. I really have very little shade or even semi-shade in my garden. My Godzilla came from Buggy Crazy and the bulb was cabbage sized. Surprised me that the stems were not all that large this first year. Also got King Kong from her and it is great.
Most of my Helemiums are hot colored. Flammendes Katchen is in the Burning Bed.
This message was edited Nov 21, 2006 10:27 AM
This annual Rudbeckia was one I bought in a pot this fall and I hoped to get seeds from it, but it died before I got any. I left it in the pot and didn't water it enough. Sure was a pretty one.
I have 3 or 4 kind of gaillardia, all in hot colors that bloom all summer and into the fall.
And yes, I even like some of the marigold that are red and orange.
And red zinnias and verbenas too.
Profusion Fire zinnia
And to end the season, some hot mums. Sorry to post so much, but it's fun looking over last season's photo to see how many hot things I do have. The last couple years, I've really developed a liking for the bright, hot things. I did order a white Ice Berg climbing rose from Parks to cool things down, but it may be too late.
Don't be sorry Susan, your pics are always welcome! :)
How about freesias? Always one of my favorites. I'm surprised more people don't grow them here in Northern CA, since they don't need winter chill they always reliably return, every year.
One of my friends described the flower of Senecio confusem vine as "like warming yourself before a fire." Here it contrasts with Abutilon 'Savitzii' variegated leaves.
I planted "Black Cherry", a floribunda rose, this year. I haven't been pleased with its performance, though. It has really struggled to establish itself. It's from a reputable local nursery and so far I haven't really like any of the 3 roses I got from them. Think I'll stick with J&P from now on. But this one is pretty when it does bloom!
Dwarf canna "Lucifer" is always good for warming things up.
Just occurred to me that cannas are not normally found in cottage gardens, but out here in the West Coast, they're evergreen perennials so perfect for our CA or a FL cottage garden bed! This is 'Tropicanna' aka 'Phaison' or 'Durban'
This superb sun coleus flourished for a year next to a black-leafed pepper plant. It finally gave up the ghost when a few frosty nights hit us (as cold as it ever gets, but cold enough). Gorgeous combination, but I was never able to find it again in the nurseries.
Clivias are all warm colors -- orange, yellow or red.
I loved the double flower on this "Flame" calla. I hope it returns for me! I've had trouble getting the Z. rehmanni colors to return.
Nasturtiums will reseed and bloom as long as the soil is cool enough, so around here in coastal Northern CA, they're really only dormant in high summer, and even then will pop up in shaded spots. Here an "Alaska mix" variegated nasturtium contrasts with the cool blue of an Echium
You can't beat a combination of 'Ladybird' poppies and CA orange poppies (our state flower).
Another bulb that doesn't need winter's chill, and in fact most gardeners consider it a pest because it multiplies ferociously -- Watsonia
Wow! Fabulous flowers to brighten up the gardens!!! Sure makes me realize that I need to add some fire to mine next year.
Great choices, wonderful color!
I'm taking notes on all your posts gang. Don't stop.
I want Watsonia!!!
I have a few pictures to add, I just can't seem to find them. LOL! I have camera dfficulties and also harddrive difficulties, so I peel pictures off and put them on CDs. They're around here somewhere, but I have to get ready for Thanksgiving, too. By that I mean put my seeds and seed cleaning equipment away and get my bulbs planted.....oh, and I suppose I could try to find the tablecloth and cook, butt hat can wait until Thursdaymorning. I moved the dinner up by an hour because I realized the western sun coming through at 4:30 shows how dirty my windows are. If I can get people out of that room by 4:00, though, I'll be safe. How's that for avoidance?
Suzy
Gemini sage,
I'd love to see a closer view of your trillium. Can a woodland garden be a cottage garden? I always think of sun when I think of cottage gardens. I have alot of shade in my garden and enjoy woodland natives.
LOL Suzy! I like the way you think!
jkom, Thanks for the warm zone contributions! We have so many widely varying climactic conditions in this country, but an Americana spin on the traditional cottage garden is a fun challenge. Love that sun coleus! All great suggestions.
sempervirens, while I have removed quite a few trees to open things up for more sun, I've found a lot of plants I thought needed full sun do just fine with partial shade. About 6 hours of direct sun is the most any part of my garden gets. Clever DGrs can have a cottage garden almost anywhere :) , so sure- I think a woodland area is great for a casual cottage garden. I can't find a single close up of the trillium. Its T.grandiflorum and is in plant files.
don't know how I missed this the first time, but wow! jkom that ladybird poppy is sure unique, & I would love to have a pest like Watsonia in my garden. I think cannas are a natural for cottage gardens, have not seen Lucifer but want it now! LOL
Neal your garden sure is a hot little tamale, just like you, LOL. I never knew there were so many lovely lilies.
lincolnitess 'Gardener's World' lychnis was a bust for me, it rotted over the winter, make sure yours has perfect drainage, same as a dianthus I think. Hope you have better luck, cause I never got to see mine bloom.
jkom51, I love all the tropical things you are able to grow. The Flame calla is wonderful and so are the poppies. Coleus have sure come a long ways in the last few years. I seem to grow more and more of them each year now that there are so many nice Sun ones. Hopefully my cuttings will make it through the winter this year. Last year they got white powdery mildew. Sure hope the 'Gardener's World' lychnis will make it through the winter. Perfect drainage is something I just don't have. I did mix in some sand when I planted them, so hopefully that will help. I had another lychnis that did not even make it through the summer.
Susan
If you want a "back-up" for your rose campion (lychnis), you might wintersow some seeds... While 'Gardener's World' is sterile (and double! I want one! LOL), you could start a few ordinary magenta ones... Their color is definitely "hot," and I think their loose habit -- with flowers shooting everywhere on long, somewhat floppy stalks -- is very suited to the "cottage" style.
jkmom, is that a purple pepper plant growing with your sun coleus in that photo? What a dramatic combination!
I love all the photos and great planting ideas in this thread! Thanks!
Neal,
Getting back to the Gloriosa Lily pictured on Nov 20, 2006 at 5:45 PM. Is that a special hybrid? There is huge difference bewteen yours and the ones I've seen offered for sale.
I was looking at the one B&B offer and the petals are not even half as wide; naturally, I want the one that I can't find.
http://www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com/summer/productview/index.php?sku=75-02
Suzy
I think I got those from Dutch Gardens in '05, who I no longer like to buy from. It is Gloriosa Rothschildiana (sp?).
Take a look at the flower in that link I sent -- it is supposedly the same thing!!!
"superba 'Rothschildiana' - bright 'fire truck' red with small, lemon yellow edge; 1902."
Suzy
I think it must be a seed strain that shows a lot of varient coloring. Interesing that mine seems to have wider petals too. I realized when the growth was no longer present on mine that I'd forgotten to dig them for winter. I have too many other things planted in there to go digging blindly, so I've mulched them very deeply and will hope for the best. I'm kicking myself for not keeping some growing in containers!
Oh, man! I hope it makes it - it shore was purdy!
Suzy