"They" say the longer you garden,
the more you will appreciate the foliage in your garden.
A couple of years ago I created a foliage-only bed in my backyard. I'm not sure if that means I've finally "arrived" at some level of maturity in the world of gardening, or if I have just succumbed to the fact that my backyard is getting shadier and profuse blooms are no longer an option.
Yes, some of those plants in my foliage-only garden do bloom, but their luscious leaves of varying shades, textures, and shapes are their main claim to fame.
This garden contains various kinds of trees, perennials, and groundcovers sporting...
colors of:
lime green
dark green
gray green
variegated
burgundy
and textures of:
glossy
matt
fuzzy
smooth
crinkly
coarse
fine
and shapes of:
strapleaf/grassy
dissected
rounded
Wow, with all those options and combinations,
who needs blooms!
In honor of Pam at Digging's Foliage Follow-Up, I thought I'd do a post to show you some of the foliage that is looking "fabulous" (ahem...see post title) in my garden this month.
My plan is to post some foliage highlights each month, so that at the end of the year, you should be able to go to the "Cool Categories" section of my blog, click on "Fabulous Foliage" and see the "Peak Performers" for each month.
Annoying Alliteration Anyone?
So here we go with "October's Occupants" (Sorry...I can't help myself!)
Hymenocallis 'Tropical Giant' lives up to its name.
This large beauty does bloom in July, but if it never bloomed,
it would still be one of my favorites.
'Tropical Giant's' summer blooms are at least 6 inches across.
Ligularia, Farfugium, or Leopard Plant.
Even though Leopard Plant can't make up its mind what its botanical name is, I have made up my mind that this one is a keeper!
In Texas hostas can't hold a candle to this tough plant!
Here's a crinkly version of Farfugium japonica called 'Shishi Botan'
The large glossy leaves of
Japanese Aralia (Fatsia japonica)
contrast with the soft green fronds of Wood Fern
'Gold Dust' Aucuba (Aucuba japonica),
Japanese Holly Fern (Cyrtomium falcatum),
'Crimson Queen' Japanese Maple, and
Japanese Climbing Fern (Lygodium japonicum)
show Japan's contribution to the world of fabulous foliage!
The variegated version of
Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)
is tough as nails, hence the name
African Hosta (Drimiopsis maculata)
is another great substitute for regular hostas in the Texas heat
The blooms of the
'Alice' Oakleaf Hydrangea
(Hydrangea quercifolia)
have faded, but the foliage is worth a second look
Variegated Solomon's Seal
(Polygonatum odoratum 'Variegatum')
is a striking yet graceful addition to the shade garden
Another variegated favorite is Yellow Archangel or False Lamium (Lamiastrum galeobdolon)
Lamiastrum does have a small yellow bloom in the spring for a short time, but the silvery variegated foliage brightens dark shady spots the remainder of the season
Liriope muscari
'Pee Dee Gold Ingot'
has bright chartreuse foliage
Liriope muscari 'Evergreen Giant'
and
'Silvery Sunproof'
add indispensable evergreen texture to the garden
Elephant Ears add a tropical feel to the pond
In the burgundy foliage department we have Purple Shamrock
(Oxalis 'Triangularis')
The chartruese foliage of Creeping Jenny or Golden Moneywort (Lysimachia nummularia)
is a bright groundcover in a shady spot
The succulent gray-green foliage of this sedum works well in the ground or in containers
Adding more gray-green texture to the garden is the soft foliage of
'Helen von Stein' Lamb's Ear (Stachys byzantina)
And to bring a close to my Fabulous Foliage post for this month, here is a new addition to my garden
(planted with my left hand only, mind you)
Red-veined sorrel
I hope you have enjoyed your tour of my backyard's "Bloomless Beauties."
Until next time...
Happy gardening (sans blooms)!
Toni :-)
