Planting: Gardener vs. Rock

Another weekend of putting plants into the ground started well.  Added three additional Variegated Aztec Grass (Ophiopogon jaburan 'Vitattus') to the existing three around the base of two of my larger trees.  Attempted this same planting back in October 2010 only to have the unanticipated severe winter hammer the newly added ones into extinction - but trying again (figure if they can just get established then they'll handle any extreme future cold just fine - the original three did).

My extreme planting struggles have been occurring in the highest point in my garden.  This area is presently a blank slate and I've finally started the process of developing it.

Just outside the picture's edges, several large trees have been able to establish themselves - as have several cedars behind the fence to the left.  In this area, I inevitably run into rock when I start digging.  It's not unusual to have to pull out one or more football-sized blocks to get the desired hole in the desired locale.

But lately, I've been running into extreme levels or sizes of rock - such as my recent Rusty Blackhaw (Viburnum rufidulum) planting.  And this time, my struggles to plant the first of two Evergreen Sumacs (Rhus virens) met with similar limestone resistance.  After several hours of work spread over two days, I was able to get enough rock out of the way and to break through any remaining layers to allow the Sumac a chance to send it's roots deep.

Additional excavated rocks

After back-filling with the removed soil and more purchased soil (got to make up for all the removed stone!), and amending with compost and peat moss, I was able to get the first Sumac planted.

But my back muscles and overall body ache informed my that it was gonna be the only one planted today.  The second Sumac (and subsequent rock battle) will just have to wait.

Flower Power: GBBD July 2012

Sponsored by May Dream Gardens

Established Plants

Zephyr Lilies (Zephyranthes 'Labuffarosea')

Liriope (Liriope spicata)

 Variegated Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon jaburan 'Vitattus')

Blue Anise Sage (Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue')

Dwarf Mexican Firebush (Hamelia patens 'Compacta')

Rock Rose (Pavonia lasiopetala)

Mexican Honeysuckle (Justicia spicigera)

Aztec Arrowhead (Sagittaria montevidensis)

Chinese Indigo (Indigofera kirilowii)

Pink Rain Lily (Zephyranthes rosea)

Purple Oxalis (Oxalis triangularis subsp. papilionaceae 'Atropurpurea')

New Plants in the Garden

Pachyveria 'Exotica'

Annuals

Begonias (Begonia semperflorens)

Potted Plants

Aloe 'Doran Black'

Red Yucca's (Hesperaloe parviflora)

Ground Orchid (Spathoglottis plicata)

Flower Wannabes

Chile Petin's (Capsicum annuum var. aviculare)

American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)

Possumhaw (Ilex decidua) 

 Black Swallowtail larvae (Papilio polyxenes)

Casualties: Winter of 2010

Since some of my plants tend to push the climatic zone limits, I will always have a few winter casualties.  In terms of lengthy cold spells, the winter of 2010 was one of the more extreme I've experienced in central Texas.  With over 60 hours of continuous temperatures in the teens, many plants got hammered back to the ground and several were not able to make it back in the spring.

Bronze Dyckia

Serious damage:

• Dyckias: Dyckia brevifolia 'Moon Glow' & Red-leafed Dyckia (Dyckia 'Red Devil') certainly received some cold burns (of all the Dyckias, the Dyckia 'Cherry Coke' came out the best - receiving only minor damage)
• Manfreda 'Macho Mocha' (Manfreda x Mangave 'Macho Mocha'): all four plants got severely set back; plants that were over two foot across are now recovering from sprouts
• Soap Aloe (Aloe maculata): All but one of my large specimens got reduced to sprouts; and the one remaining large plant lost almost all its larger lower leaves.
• One Pale Pavonia (Pavonia hastata) got knocked back to roots and is recovering very slowly; another planted just fifteen foot away came through with almost no damage - go figure.

Marilyn's Choice Abutilon

Deceased:

• Cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum): though primarily sold as a winter annual in these parts (disappearing with the heat), they couldn't handle our unusually low temperatures this winter and didn't even make it through winter
• Dyckias: Pineapple Dyckia (Dyckia brevifolia), Dyckia platyphylla, two of three Bronze Dyckia (Dyckia fosteriana 'Bronze')

Dyckia platyphylla

• The largest of my three Marilyn's Choice Abutilon
• Salvia van houttei: I will miss its magenta blossoms.
• One of seven Mexican Petunias (Ruellia tweediana 'Colobe Pink'): usually recovers from the roots but the cold got one of them
• Transplanted Variegated Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon jaburan 'Vitattus'); but three that had been in the ground longer survived
• Palm Grass (Setaria palmifolia): my one potted specimen never returned
• Ground Orchid (Spathoglottis plicata): not surprising; a considerable gamble to leave two in the ground (still have my potted one)

Salvia van houttei

 Planted in the Ground:

• Bella Red Abutilon (Abutilon x hybridum 'Bella Red') & pink Bella Mix Abutilon: Two of the Mix & four of the Red; my single Bella Red survived the harsh winter with only a towel thrown in its direction - so hoping these others do as well.

Garden Tour: January 2011

Have seen several other garden bloggers post a series of pictures creating a tour of their garden or beds.  I have never done so, and I figured its about time - if for no other reason than to provide a baseline set of pictures of the garden's present status (guess this will also have to do for my tardy December Quarterly Report).

Front Yard

• Three Tiers Garden: This narrow bed lies between my driveway and the neighbors (my yard is to the right).  Dominant plants include Cast Iron Plants (Aspidistra elatior) & Soap Aloe (Aloe maculata).  A few medium-sized Live Oaks provide the shade.

• Front Left Garden: Small border bed that wraps around the base of a large Red Oak and goes from the driveway to the front door entry steps. Dominant plants include Cast Iron Plants & Autumn Ferns (Dryopteris erythrosora).

• Front Right Garden: Small border bed that continues from entry steps and wraps around the corner of the house.  Dominant plants include Cast Iron Plants & Boxwood (Buxus microphylla).  Plan on adding a row of Autumn Ferns in front of the Cast Iron Plants (similar to the left side).

• Front Side Garden: One of the forgotten beds.  Located on the left side of the house near the back yard entry gate/stone path.  Dominant plants include Nandina (Nandina domestica) & Dwarf Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria 'Nana').  Shade provided by Live Oaks and Yaupons (and privacy fence on two sides).

Back Yard

• Side Garden: This is the "working" aspect of the yard - that side that tends to get ignored because its where all the unattractive stuff sits (i.e. AC units, garden shed, stone piles, etc.).  No windows look out upon it, so typically only seen when one happens to walk through it going from the front yard towards the larger, primary backyard area.  There is a bed that borders the fence on all three sides, with another island bed containing a bird bath.  Dominant plants include Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon japonicus) & Dwarf Chinese Hollies (Ilex cornuta 'Rotunda').  Shade provided by a several medium-sized Live Oaks and Yaupons (plus the privacy fence on three sides and the house on the other).  But, since the large Hackberry fell this past spring, this is still considered my "sunny" garden spot.

• Pond Area: Leaving the side garden, one enters the backyard proper by rounding the corner of the house through a narrow area, stepping onto a multi-level deck that begins at ground level and extends the length of the house (ending six foot off the ground at the other corner).  The first garden area one reaches is around the pond with its dual waterfalls.  Dominant land plants include Dwarf Buford Hollies (Ilex cornuta 'Burfordii Nana') & Mahonia (Mahonia aquifolium); the dominant water plant is Water Poppy (Hydrocleys nymphoides).  Shade provided by a very large Red Oak and some medium-sized Live Oaks.

• Path Area: A series of stone steps rise from the lower deck up to the back of the yard.  Much of my energy is spent (and recharged) in the backyard garden.  A considerable mixture of plants can be found in this general area, so even though there really are no dominant plants, one can find Manfreda 'Macho Mocha' (Manfreda x Mangave 'Macho Mocha'), Lily of the Nile (Agapanthus africanus), Mexican Petunias (Ruellia tweediana 'Colobe Pink') and a few Dyckia species.  Shade is provided by medium to large Live Oaks & Red Oaks.

• Top of Path: The stone stairway leads one up to the highest level in the backyard.  Here are some views of the top and looking back down the path towards the deck.  

• Around the Bend: From the top of the steps, a path (combination decomposed granite & stone steps) bends around the corner. This back area of my garden is the least developed with most of the plants having gone into the ground in 2010.  I am still pondering the possibilities for the large empty area - it receives only a small amount of dappled light during the day as it is bordered on two sides by a privacy fence (which has tall cedar growing on the other side) and sits under the canopy of several large Red Oaks, Live Oaks and a large Black Cherry tree.

• Stepping Stones Path: The path bends around and leads into a series of stepping stones that go through the middle of another large bed and lead back down towards the deck.  Dominant plants include Liriope (Liriope spicata), Variegated Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon jaburan 'Vitattus') & Amaryllis 'San Antonio Rose' (Hippeastrum 'San Antonio Rose'), however, this garden is another that contains several  different types of plants.  Shade is provided by large Live Oaks, Red Oaks & Black Cherry tree, plus several Possumhaw trees

 

• End of Stepping Stones:  The path is supposed to lead back to the deck, completing the circle.  But presently it ends a few steps short as I continue to try varying "steps" (thus explaining the scattered flat limestone pieces).  Once completed, more plants will need to be placed around the path and extending out towards the side fence in a new bed.

Continuing to circle the house, one would cross the remaining side yard (home of the compost pile; very shady and consisting of only grass), exit the gate and return to the front yard.  Big plans abound for numerous undeveloped areas, but the large empty areas in the existing beds still cry out for attention - so any further expansions will have to wait (likely quiet a while) until I can fill in the bare locations.

Experiment Status
Zephyr Rain Lily (Zephyranthes 'Labuffarosea') seeds: A couple still going strong.

Mahonia (Mahonia aquifolium) seeds: After sprouting and transplanting, they faded away; thinking inital germinating mixture was too heavy
Bronze Dyckia (Dyckia fosteriana) seeds: Deceased; tiny plants had difficulty rooting in loose mixture (each watering caused them to float free of soil); will have to try different mixture in future attempts
Oakleaf Hydrangea 'Alice' (Hydrangea quercifolia 'Alice') cuttings: Stayed green until last month, then dried up without ever producing any new leafs.  Will have to burrow to see if any roots established.
Silver Squill (Ledebouria socialis) seeds: A couple doing really well.

Jade Plant (Crassula ovata) cuttings: Well, not cuttings - more of "oopsie, broke-offies"; started