Razzle-dazzle reds
Other regions have razzle-dazzle reds up high, among the autumn leaves. Mine are much closer to the ground. The Knock Out ‘Radrazz’ rose I moved from my old garden is settling in and opening the first of a dozen buds. I love this clear red flower and the bluish-green foliage, and I don’t care if this rose is overused in commercial plantings. I love it.
I found this sempervivum hen-and-chicks, with a wine-red blush on its blue-green leaves, at Home Depot of all places when I went there to get mulch. I had to have it, so I wheeled to my car a teetering pile of bagged mulch on a cart, with the little hen-and-chicks perched on top.
This is one of the new plants in my new garden: ‘Marilyn’s Choice’ abutilon (click on the link for ‘Marilyn’s’ history). I’ve wanted an abutilon since I saw ‘Candy Corn’ growing in Lucinda Hutson’s garden. I haven’t found a source for ‘Candy Corn’ yet, but I liked this one, from Barton Springs Nursery, so I’m trying it out in a partial sun location.
Here it is in bud.
I know I titled this post for my reds, but here’s a bright yellow golden thryallis I planted recently.
And the seedheads from a division of the dwarf Lindheimer’s muhly grass I brought with me from the old garden.
Speaking of grasses, here’s one last image from Peckerwood Garden—a spectacular Gulf muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris ) in full bloom.
All material © 2006-2008 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Razzle dazzle reds indeed Pam and a great sight for sore eyes. Here the days are drawing in, it’s mostly wet and grey so a splash of colour and a bit of sunshine is very much appreciated.
Love that muhly grass, I hope it does well in your new garden too.
Your reds are razzle-dazzle, for sure. The yellows and grasses are beautiful, too. LOVE the muhly grass! I think it’s my favorite “new to me” plant.
Your new stone beds seem to appreciate the pop from the red Salvia greggii and that cool single, Knock Out ‘Radrazz’, Pam! I love that little hens and chicks. It won’t replace the Whale’s Tongue agave as a signature plant, but the color and shape make it a lovely accent.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Sometimes commercial plantings get it right, such as they have with knockout roses. They may be overused, but there’s a good reason for that: they’re care free, beautiful, and oh yeah, beautiful. Love the blog.
Simply stunning photos!
Hi Pam, I have several Knockouts also, they can’t be beat for ease of care and non stop color. The foliage becomes quite reddish when the weather is cold, another red addition. I can imagine you with your bags of mulch and the little hen and chicks riding like a princess at the top, so funny.
Frances
You have some gorgeous reds in your garden Pam. I bet the abutilon does well in your partial shade. I have a lot of shade in my back garden and they do well for me. I like the color combo of this one.
Very nice selection…pretty.
Pam, it looks like your new garden is coming together already. The stone beds looked mighty fine in your previous post, and Manny Mocha looked happy to be settling into that stock tank. Someday I’m going to find a way to incorporate one here. I’m also reminded by the last picture that I simply must make room in my garden for some Gulf Coast Muhly grasses.
I have 7 of the KO ‘radrazz’ roses and love them, too. They are in full bloom in spite of frosts and a freeze. I agree…if they perform well, who cares if they are overused (I feel the same about my crape myrtles).
That abutilon is beautiful!
Cameron
I need to pick up some hen & chicks. Haven’t had it in awhile. That outline of red is striking on them. Been raining like crazy here in Tyler. This muhly grass I’ve been seeing on blogs lately really has my attention. I must check into that one also. Good luck with landscaping your new home. I know it will all turn out beautiful, as you have such an eye for gardening and color.
Brenda
I have nothing but good things to say about the “Marilyn’s Choice” abutilon. I started off with four, and lost only one over the summer due to too much sun and not watering it. I’ve found that the ideal site to keep it happy is shade in the summer under a deciduous canopy, so the leaves fall just in time for it to get enough sun to flower in the winter. Mine flowered until May last year, and they’re starting up again right now. 🙂
Hey Pam, I love the abutilon…a fantastic looking flower. The hen and Chick with it’s red tipped edges is like a little agave. It will fit in your garden quite nicely! Gail
Everyone will be rushing off to Home Depot to get one of those hens and chicks-it’s lovely.
So wonderful to see your photos of all those brightly coloured flowers. Even our fall leaves are gone for the year already and we’ve had two snowfalls in the past week.
Hi, everyone, and thanks so much for taking the time to comment. It sounds like the Knock Out roses are as popular with home gardeners as with commercial landscapers. I’m envious of Cameron, who has seven of them. And special thanks to you, Lori, for sharing your experience growing ‘Marilyn’s Choice’ abutilon here in Austin. —Pam
Great selection, great pictures! I absolutely love that sempervirens too… was just at the Mission San Juan Capistrano gardens and they have a whole bed of them, casting pups everywhere… but i was good and kept my sticky fingers in my pocket…