If I’d gnome you were coming: February Foliage Follow-Up
Can it already be mid-February and time for Foliage Follow-Up? Here in Austin, winter may yet drop in for a surprise visit, but spring has already stepped inside and hung up her coat and hat. She’ll be putting her feet up on the ottoman soon. I saw a Mexican plum in full bloom today, as well as a row of yellow daffodils. Primrose jasmine is flowering too.
But Bloom Day was yesterday. Today we’re giving foliage special recognition. As is so often the case in my garden, succulents are stealing the show. The little gnome is surrounded by ghost plant (Graptopetalum paraguayense), Sedum acre ‘Elegans’, and coppertone stonecrop (Sedum nussbaumerianum). All three make it through our winters with only a sheet for protection. In the red pot is a Yucca desmetiana ‘Blue Boy’, which I got at Annie’s Annuals a couple years ago. In winter it regains the purple coloring I bought it for (it turns green during our hot summers).
In the cinderblock wall planter, the succulents have held on through winter very well — so far. After last year’s deep freeze, I had to replace many of them, but in mild winters most survive. One is even blooming.
Every time I show the cinderblock wall, people email to ask how the soil stays in the pockets, so here’s my wall-making tutorial. All mystery is revealed there!
‘Blue Elf’ aloe’s blue-green, spear-like leaves are always attractive. As a bonus, at this time of year it sends up asparagus-like bloom stalks, whose tubular orange flowers are just beginning to open. This aloe benefits from a heat-holding wall in winter, and I throw a sheet over it when a hard freeze is expected. Sometimes its flowers are killed by a late freeze, but most years it gives a good show.
So what sort of foliage is making you happy in your February garden? Please join me for Foliage Follow-Up, giving foliage plants their due on the day after Bloom Day. Leave a link to your post in a comment below. I really appreciate it if you’ll also link to my post in your own — sharing link love! If you can’t post so soon after Bloom Day, no worries. Just leave your link when you get to it. I look forward to seeing your foliage faves!
All material © 2006-2015 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
If I’d gnome you were comming – You crack me up! Your succulents look great! Most of these have to come in for the winter here because of that moisture/cold thing. My FFU post is here: http://outlawgarden.blogspot.com/2015/02/foliage-follow-up-february-2015-mystery.html Hope your V. Day was wonderful!
And now you have that big, lovely greenhouse to keep them warm — lucky you! I’m popping over to read your post. —Pam
Too funny. I always had a love for succulents and yours look great!
It’s just a little more chilly here. Here is my frosty garden post: http://landscapedesignbylee.blogspot.com/2015/02/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-foliage.html#.VOH_6_nF98E
It’s the last gasp before spring, right? Thanks for joining in despite the cold temps, Lee. —Pam
I just read your post, Lee, and wanted to leave a comment here since I’m unable to on your blog. Your foliage pics for your Long Island garden are fabulous, showing how even in a snowy winter climate foliage can carry the day. And a big congratulations on your 5-year blogiversary and on the publication of your new book! —Pam
You have Burro Tail sedum outside with Ghost Plant? I may give my Graptopetalum planter with the bare spot at the top a bit of Burro Tail to see if it survives next winter.
I save every little bean that breaks off, so there will be some to sacrifice.
Foliage follows but not today.
I don’t think it’s exactly burro’s tail, Nell. Isn’t that Sedum morganianum? My trailing sedum is Sedum acre ‘Elegans’, and it does survive Austin’s mild winters.
I look forward to seeing your foliage post when you have time. Please come back and share your link then so we don’t miss it. —Pam
Your cinder block wall is looking lovely — the varied shapes and textures are so pretty. Your gnome is sweet, too.
Thanks, Diana. The cinderblock wall has been pretty fun, and I haven’t tired of it yet! —Pam
Love your little gnome. And, all those succulents.
It’s been an interesting winter, for sure.
Here’s my foliage report. Happy Foliage Follow-Up.
http://patchworkgarden.blogspot.com/2015/02/february-foliage-follow-up.html
Thanks for joining in, Linda! —Pam
Love your cute little lime green gnome. We’ve been having a warm, dry winter here, so strange. My FF post is here:http://bonneylassie.blogspot.com/2015/02/foliage-followup-feburary-2015.html
Alison, your greenhouse is holding so many leafy beauties. That begonia may be my favorite. I have a few ‘Macho Mocha’ babies coming up too. —Pam
Great pics! Love the succulents and how they are showing off right now despite this crazy yo-yo weather!!! I love that ‘Elegans’. Enjoyed the post!!
Thanks, Katherine. By the way, my ‘Nabob’ abutilons I got at Vivero are looking fantastic. I need to post about them soon. —Pam
Love the gnome! Your succulents look wonderful- makes me want to divide and propagate all of mine..
Too early, Toni. Hang on another couple of months until it’s consistently warm. 🙂 —Pam
I love that you have a gnome and flying pig in your garden. My post is a drive-by I pulled off at the last minute just this afternoon. Enjoy!
http://rockoakdeer.blogspot.com/2015/02/foliagefollow-up-february-2015-agaves.html
LOVE that little known gnome and ghost plant is my new favorite plant I think! I just saw a huge drift of it at the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens in Gainesville FL. http://thevioletfern.com/2015/02/17/day-2-kanapaha-botanical-gardens-part-2/
One of these years I WILL have a block wall full of succulents. Love it! Not much interesting on this end this month, so I decided to gaze into the future with the one little nugget of interest I found outside. https://flutterandhum.wordpress.com/2015/02/17/foliage-follow-up-day-february-2015-a-sneak-peak-of-good-things-to-come-and-a-homage-to-marty-feldman/
I was wavering as to whether or not to order Yucca ‘Blue Boy’ from Annie’s until I saw yours. Annie’s now has my order! Here’s my belated foliage follow-up post: http://krispgarden.blogspot.com/2015/02/february-foliage-follow-up-bronze-tones.html
I enjoyed your foliage pics this month, Kris. And I bet Yucca Blue Boy will be happier in your garden than mine, with all its sticky summer humidity. —Pam
Leave it to you to find a gnome I can love. Here’s my late entry:http://bannersbyricki.com/archives/4360
He’s from Potted in L.A., and I’ve yet to see anything from Potted that I didn’t love, gnomes and all. —Pam