Plants are like people. We all know this, right? They've got personality. They're fluid, always doing their stuff. I love this about gardening. You know? Each day brings a new discovery. Of course, not all discoveries are welcome. Like when you traipse out to check on your newly transplanted treasure to find it sitting horizontal beside a mound of fresh earth, thanks to some stupid mole that decided that this very spot seemed perfect for taking a breather. Or stumble over to find last night's wind knocked the bird feeder off its perch and in the process of its gravitational pull to earth, decapitated a goodly clump of just-ready-to-bloom Echinaceas. Oh yes. All kinds of discoveries. Most of which are pleasant and one might [emphasis on might] be prone to let out a little [or more] yelp when, say Clematis 'Josephine' has decided to descend from her lofty throne and actually bloom. Again. Two blossoms. In mid-October. Any neighbor without the need for ear hardware could detect my eccentric utterings.
In an effort to stave off [additional] hair-pulling episodes, I've been shuffling photos into some semblance of, dare I say, order? The enemy here is a short attention span. Knee-deep [figuratively] in a vortex of contemplative musing, I found it notable how new-kid-on-the-block, Pennisetum setaceum 'Fireworks' likes to deepen its ruby-ness as the season progresses. Since it isn't cold hardy, I'm going to try my hardest to over winter it. Take a look.
I was reminded by a savvy reader, [thanks, Jan] that I should identify the foliage in the collage from the previous post. So, here goes.
Left to right.
Top row:
Rhus typhina 'Tiger Eyes' Sumac
Nandina domestica 'Wood's Dwarf'
Abelia x grandiflora 'Mardi Gras'
Middle row:
Hypericum x moserianum 'Tri-Color'
Mukdenia rossi 'Crimson Fans'
Houttunynia cordata 'Chameleon'
Bottom row:
Canna 'Bengal Tiger'
Trachelospermum jasminoides 'Tri-Color'
Heucherella 'Stop Light'
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22 COMMENTS, Click here to add yours:
Chair as pot (potty chair?) Grace, you're a hoot! Your plants are not the only ones with personality.
Wow - just like a vintage red wine and what an appropriate name ! Will it overwinter outside with you Grace or will it need tlc during the colder months ?Must look this one up.
Gorgeous color, and texture.
Hair pulling? Definitely when you go out to shoot your prize Hosta, and find it looking holier than swiss cheese. Slugs, darn slugs....
Jen
Tell you what Grace, yours is lots nicer looking than mine. Mine got redder and less variegated....looked more like the Pennisetum rubrum. Maybe I will give it one more try.
ps- did we get answers to what each plant was in your previous post?
It really does. I hadn't noticed mine changing that much, but then I didn't plant mine until the end of summer. I like the chair you've planted your in. Are you going to try and overwinter yours?
Pretty in pink, so very you Grace!
beautiful pink! for a moment I thought it was a dracaena...
your coleus & the firework plant seemed to compliment very well in that colour. Hope they do ok in the winter.
Yep, you never know what discoveries you will find in the garden...let's say, like, more than a few broken coleus and mexican bush sage limbs...out comes one of those high pitched sounds that only a gardener can make...your looking everywhere trying to find animal tracks, cut worms something to help with the mystery and then........you see the children's football peeking out of the garden!! Love your chair!!
Wow Grace it is beautiful now.I admit that I have no plants like this which would add great texture and contrast to a garden but I love how this one keeps changing and gets deeper in color to match its plumes. It looks wonderful in the chair.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Ricki - potty chair ha ha ha ha!!!
Grace, the grass in your potty chair is gorgeous!!! I would definitely try to save that guy!
We all have our horror stories. My most memorable or should I say devastating was watching in panic as my adorable dog chased a ball under an overflowing climatis along a fence. As I held my breath(before the scream!) she quickly ripped it right out of the ground as she reversed from beneath the leaves. I actually cried. Seems kind of dumb now that my dog isn't around anymore, but boy that hurt! My gardening mother in law's words still ring in my ears..."You can always grow grass and plants but you can't always grow kids or dogs."
Hi Grace,
I like what you wrote about aging. You just reminded me of the new clematises I planted this summer, and was about to bloom for the first time, was cut off at the base, either by a rabbit, another critter, or Heidi, attempting to get to whatever critter it was that went under our deck. I am so sad about that, and don't know if it will come up in the spring.
Your plant sure is pretty, and I love the chair you have it in.
Wow, love the combination. I hope Pennisetum setaceum 'Fireworks' survives the winter for you. It is a fantastic plant.
FlowerLady
I love the chair used as planter. You always inspire me with your wonderful ideas and garden designs. -Jackie
That is a beautiful grass! I am just beginning to appreciate the use of grasses, and this year I grew Red fountain grass and Purple Majesty Millet. Hope you can overwinter it.
Absolutely LOVE the old chair planter!! Just my style. :-)
Thanks for answering my question over its hardiness Grace - I thought that it would probably be on the tender side. Have been scouring through the specialist grasses nursery websites but have yet to see it on sale over here :( Good luck with getting it through the winter xxx
Love this post, Grace. I honestly don't remember 'asking' you about id's but it's nice that you did so I can learn something new--as I haven't ever grown these types of plants! I also know what you mean about the plant/people relationship. I note in my blog that I see the metaphor between the garden and life in general. Birth, life, sickness, death (and lots in between, including premature killings!). Love your new blog...lots of character here to highlight YOUR warm personality!
I had to look up pennisetum... fountain grass! ;-) Grace, that was a wonderful progression of changes and how Beautiful it is!! It's not hardy here at all... do you think I could bring it indoors? I might try it...
What a gorgeous grass. So nice to see it as it grows and 'ages'. Nice display in the chair planter.
Beautiful color transition. I hope you are able to overwinter it successfully. It is a beauty!
Fantastic foliage there! That's a new one to me, I must find one of my own. Can't wait to see how your adventures in overwintering turn out.
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