From my last post, David and Ivan brought over 2 massive Furcraea macdougaliis and got them into the ground for me. We moved some things around to make room.
They are a little worse for the wear, they've been sitting in David's driveway for a while. Plus the van rides :). But I have faith they'll recover nicely. Sitting next to them, the 2 Aloidendron 'Moonglow' cuttings
Gerhard and
Kyle brought over from Gerhard's garden. When I saw Gerhard carrying these to the front, I didn't realize how heavy they were. Until I picked them up to carry to the back!
The large plants in place, it really gives a more "established" air to the garden. Then I looked down at the bed in between the two. What am I doing here? Well nothing, it's boring. I knew I needed to revamp this while I was putting the other 2 beds back together.
All big and messy on one side, and smaller plants with zero cohesion on the other. Like a bad haircut. Not to say the plants themselves are awful, there is some good stuff in there - it's just not being showcased.
So, I started by taking almost everything out.
I hemmed and hawed on this Protea, it hurt a little to take this out. It's been a repeat bloomer. However, it is so FLOPPY. I pruned it back and have it settled in a pot. The roots weren't very established which surprised me. As soon as I got it out of the ground, I was glad I bit the bullet.
This guy, he did check on my digging then proceeded to take his 4th nap of the day.
I picked up big boy Moonglow again and got the cutting placed - I propped it upright with some larger black lava rocks.
And Ivan had suggested moving this Aloidendron Hercules from the slope, to repeat with another Hercules near the fence- I love some Aloe repetition, so yes. Plus I will not miss dealing with all the pepper tree crap that gathers on his poor head.
I added several bags of soil to build up the bed, and drug some rocks over to create levels. I knocked off around 5:30, dinner and wine time!
Removing plants was worth it, there were plants in there I pass by and don't "see".
I still have this side to fiddle with, topdress.
From massive to tiny, I added this Raoulia tenuicaulis by a craggy rock. Willing it to fill in those crevices.
This was my favorite photo of the day, Leucophyta brownii.
As I was going in I noticed the Eryngium pianum 'blue glitter' is beginning to color up.
So on it goes, I need to move a few more things around and add top dressing. Hope you have plans for a fantastic weekend, or a relaxing one :).
My furcraea mac now has an elephant-leg size trunk, and I've been able to strip the lower leaves as it trunks higher -- much safer to garden around! Big specimens have such presence, very cool to get two fucraea. That's one of the complications of training your eye to "see" compositions and balance, there's always plant shuffling involved!
ReplyDeleteElephant leg sized trunk! Your advice matches what David recommended, strip the lower leaves off and keep it growing column-like. You are so right, about compositions & balance. I was my own worst enemy in this area -it was getting the "plunk another thing in" treatment. And it showed.
DeleteFurcraea do get BIG! Even with the help you had with the new installation, your energy never ceases to amaze me. I look forward to seeing your new plants flourish.
ReplyDeleteWell, you are a fellow firecracker so that is a big compliment. :)
DeleteThe cat is adorable, checking on your digging! 😄 I find this so interesting, especially since I live in Latvia—our winters are cold and summers are refreshingly mild, so gardening here is a bit different.
ReplyDeleteHe is my garden buddy, lol. I enjoyed your post about your cycling friend - how impressive!
DeleteA gardener's work is never done. You put so much time and work into it and deserve all of the joy that it brings to you.
ReplyDeleteThank you Anvil. My husband once asked when the garden would be "done" hahaha, never!
DeleteCrazy! I was there just a week ago and it already looks so different! The Moonglows are flowering size so much you should have a nice display in the winter.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't believe how HEAVY they were, I'm delighted to have such mature specimens! Right from Davis, I'm looking forward to the bloom. :)
DeleteTrue, I'll never seem to put it all together correctly the first time- that's ok!
ReplyDeleteGardening is contending with an ever-changing canvas. In a newly planted a bed everything looks balanced but as plants grow in different rates, two years on it's may be time to shuffle, add and remove. It's good you are able take fresh perspective every so often: it can challenging to look at your own garden objectively.
ReplyDeleteWhile I just put a shovel to a plant, you have some spiky beasts to contend with... you make it look easy.
Excellent shot of the Doctor: he definitely has the right idea :-D
Chavli
You nailed it, and sometimes I just don't get it "right" from the get go. I'm also guilty of hastily adding a plant without pausing to consider if it's a good idea. Dr. Feelgood lives up to his name in every way :)
DeleteOh my gosh are you busy. It makes me nervous when it's just part 1
ReplyDeleteYour editing is one of the adult decisions that I'm still not good at. To pull up a protea like that? Insane, and yet it looks so much better for it!
Editing, the perfect description! If only my planning was a bit better, I wouldn't have to do this. Thanks for the kind words, Frank :).
DeleteHa, the 4th nap of the day... oh the life of a cat. :-)
ReplyDeleteI do love your garden.
Thank you Carla :)
Delete"As soon as I got it out of the ground, I was glad I bit the bullet"... yes! I know that feeling. It's a good one.
ReplyDelete