The Magical Calla Lily

I've always had a thing for Calla Lilies (Zantedeschia spp.). They're native to central and southern Africa, so of course they're not hardy here. For many years, however, I've cut them back in fall and brought them into a dark corner of the sunroom for the winter. They only get light watering until late winter/early spring when they start to re-emerge. They always come back, and the foliage is full and lush.



I don't get flowers every year, though. When I do, it's a thrill! I'm especially taken with the salmon/coral blooms.



The bulb mix I purchased many years ago offers a nice variety, but I think mainly white, coral, and yellow blooms have appeared in this mix. They prefer sun, and while they get plenty of it during winter and early spring, my garden is mainly partial shade from May through October.



Calla Lilies are great cut flowers, but with just one, I might simply keep it on the plant until it fades.

Such a beautiful bloom!

On the Bright Side: Pots of Plenty

Several personal and professional activities have kept me away from gardening and blogging lately, and the garden and my lack of blogging activity show it.

Fortunately, the potted plants are doing pretty well with heat, sunshine, and plenty of watering. The old standbys—potted English Ivy (Hedera helix), Purple Shamrocks (Oxalis triangularis), and 'Red Threads' Alternanthera (A. ficoidea)—are happy to be outside after overwintering in the sunroom.

They're part of a grouping around the fish pond on the patio that creates a happy little outdoor "room" during the growing season.



It's always pleasant when the groupings work better than expected—this one includes New Guinea Impatiens (I. hawkeri) 'Magnum Magenta,' a pot of 'Supercal Premium Bordeaux' Petunias (Petchoa cross), and 'Splish Splash' Coleus (C. scutellarioides). Surrounding foliage of Gerbera jamesonii, Chasmanthium latifolium, Lamium maculatum, and ferns frame the flowers. (Also, blooming Spigelia marilandica in the background—although it clashes a bit).

The big pot also includes Marigolds (Tagetes spp.) and scallions (I need to trim them back!) around the edges to discourage squirrels and chipmunks.

For some reason, I had trouble getting Coleus going this spring/summer, which has never happened to me before. I'm not sure why, but this pot worked out, with a variety of Coleus and some bright pink Impatiens (I. walleriana). 'Splish Splash' Coleus, by far, has performed the best for me this year, and I'm adding cuttings of it to other locations.



Not the best stage for the 'Super Cascade Pink' Petunias, but there will be more in this pot as they bloom until the first frost. I like them surrounded by the Impatiens, which also have many months of flowers and foliage to share. Calla Lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica) foliage in the background.

This pot is mostly Coleus, including 'Vino,' which struggled at first but came back, and more 'Splish Splash.'

This is probably my favorite pot, although rain damage has it looking a little ragged. I like the idea of combining native plants and annuals in planters. In this case, I added a native sedge (I think it's Calex lurida) that I found in the yard and a tiny sprig of Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata) that I found in the sunny garden. This pot gets dappled sunlight all day, since it faces south and has the benefit of bright sun for a portion of the day. Hopefully, the milkweed will survive the winter in the pot and expand next year. Again, more 'Splish Splash' and Impatiens.



Next to the sunny garden, I have a pot that's hard to photograph as it's surrounded by fencing and the air conditioning unit. But it certainly brightens its spot, filled with Marigolds, 'Bandana Rose' Lantanas (L. camara), and 'Angelface Blue' Angelonia hybrid.

I couldn't capture it in the above photo, but a volunteer of Borage (Borago officinalis), from last year, seeded itself in the pot. I'll cut it back after it's finished blooming, but I like it here. That blue!

I hope you're all doing well in spite of the strange times. Gardens are always good therapy—even when we wish we had more time (or more quality time) to spend in them.

A Wordless Seasonal Denial

Garden Coping Skills

I was feeling a little depressed about the garden recently.

It's been a wet, messy, overgrown growing season. Everything looks lush and full, but for many reasons it's not "normal" and I haven't had the time to address all my garden problem areas.

So, I decided to focus on the positive: the plants that are performing well...the happy surprises...the basic, simple discovered joys.



Starting in dappled shade: Fuchsia 'Marinka' (first photo) has successfully overwintered for several years now. It took a while to get going this spring, but it's blooming like crazy now.

The potted plants by the pond (above) are happy, too, anchored by an AAS Winner Canna 'South Pacific Orange.' It may never bloom in the shade, which is probably a good thing because the foliage looks great with the other plants, and the flowers would clash.



The Naked Ladies, aka Resurrection Lilies, aka Assumption Lilies (Lycoris squamigera), seem to magically catch the limited dappled sunlight in a back corner of the garden. They survived a major neighborhood digging project for upgraded cable access. That entire back area was a mess, and I've simply let the plants repopulate and find their way.



Here's another plant that really should be in more sun, but it's stunning in dappled shade: AAS winner Begonia 'Viking XL Red on Chocolate.' I mean it's flowering even in the shade, but the foliage is incredible! The leaves are huge and waxy and they really do look chocolaty and good enough to eat (but don't!).



The Spotted Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) is blooming and attracting hummingbirds and other pollinators.



In spite of its pot tumbling over several times in heavy storms (long story), this combination of Coleus 'Colorblaze Lime Time' and New Guinea Impatiens 'Sonic Light Pink' is still going strong. I love the color combination.



I'm happy to see that the new Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) I planted a few weeks ago seems to be taking off and filling in its areas. The rabbits don't seem to be eating it, as they've done with just about every other plant I've tried in this part of the garden. It won't bloom this year, but if it survives the winter and the rabbits, maybe it will bloom next summer.



Now to the sun: The potager garden is a sloppy mess, but it's full of butterflies, bees, and other garden friends (and adversaries).





I could spend hours watching bumbles hugging Cosmos (C. bipinnatus). There's just so much to like about Cosmos, and they just keep on giving throughout the growing season.



The 'May Night' Salvia (Salvia x sylvestris) is on its fourth or fifth (or more?) bloom cycle after repeated deadheading.



The Calamint (Calamintha nepeta) is blocking the rabbits from an uncaged part of the garden. Because it's a mint rabbits tend to stay away. Plus, the pollinators love it.



It's nice to have a late-season flush of color from the Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa). I found quite a few monarch eggs and caterpillars on the buds of this plant this season. The goldenrod soldier beetle blends right in, (probably hunting for eggs...oh well).



The Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata) has really filled in this year, and I like the way its "fingers" of seeds are reaching for the sun.



This tiny assassin bug is waiting for a pollinator meal. Should I interfere with nature?



'Goldfinger' Tithonia, grown from seed, took a little longer to bloom this season, but the flowers will open very soon (scratch that--they're blooming today, but I didn't have a chance to take another photo and upload it).



'Zowie! Yellow Flame' Zinnias (also grown from seed) always brighten my day, and soon they'll have companion Blue Mistflowers (Conoclinium coelestinum) blooming by their sides.

It might be a messy, sloppy, overgrown season, but there are always garden surprises and successes to celebrate.

Austin's Awesome Container Plantings

Stock tank plant display area at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

At the Austin Garden Bloggers Fling last May, I learned that the soil in the Austin area varies widely, depending on the location of the garden. I also learned that Austin gardeners are incredibly creative with their container plantings--often dealing with soil challenges, but sometimes simply because they're talented folks.

Stock tanks, like those used at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center to showcase native plant species, are a common vessel for plants in Austin.



Terra cotta pots set on gravel and surrounded by beautiful rocks are a great way to showcase a little corner of Jennifer Stocker's (Rock Rose) impressive plant collection--in this case, a sampling of succulents.



Metal planting beds edged along a stepped walkway with matching caging seem elegant, and blend well with the natural surroundings at this private garden.



Designer Colleen Jamison's whimsy with pots and plantings includes this delightful stacked display leading up to the door.



A colorful ceramic pot filled with blue marbles suggests water and floating succulents.



Creative window boxes always catch my eye, and the colors in this one are dramatic, but complementary to the structure's paint colors.



Pam Penick's (Digging) stock tank pond is really something special--it fits the surroundings, and the brick pavers framing it.



A totally different style and use of potted plants awaits at the garden of designer B. Jane.





The collections are expertly arranged around the foundations of the buildings and the pool.



Traditional designs are wonderful, too, like this one at a private garden. I love the look of this old-fashioned well-surround, planted with Daylilies, Daisies, and other plants, along with the Celtic cross.



Author/designer Lucinda Hutson certainly works magic with her colorful planters. I love the bright colors of this pair.



This little courtyard on her amazing property is filled with potted fun.



Her unique use of pastel beauty really makes a statement.



Another private garden makes a nice use of echoing potted succulents on the table with a complementary arrangement on the patio. The warm earth-tone colors of the pots set off the beautiful limestone brick.



Succulents spilling over the edge of a metal pot, framed by Salvias in the courtyard--very nice.



Talk about creative--I love everything about this grouping--from the face sculpture to the metal door/trellis to the bright blue pot.



Sometimes pots are so vibrant, the best plants for them are angular and green, like this Pencil Cactus Euphorbia.



Designer Diana Kirby has some unique planters, too, like this vertical planter with succulents, reminding us of the important things in life.



This vibrant blue pot with a tasteful collection of plants spilling out all sides is simply lovely.

The Garden Bloggers Fling is always inspirational and fun. This year we're meeting in Denver, Colorado, June 13-16. To learn more about The Fling visit this link: https://bit.ly/2I7l5ao.