February 16, 2010

Foliage Follow-up: Feb. 16, 2010

To follow May Dreams Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, here’s for Pam Penick’s Foliage Follow-up!

There’s a new foliar look in my garden this February. All bets are out on whether my beloved Dianellas (flax lily) plan to return. A little larkspur is egging this one on.

This is the first time that I’ve seen butterfly iris (Dietes) freeze, but already they’re promoting a speedy recovery.

When I planted a foxtail fern a few years ago, I was encouraged when others said it handled winter just fine. Until now.

But the Angelica pachycarpa is cranking out new leaves every day.

My little Agave celsii didn’t make it.

The big one has some problems.

But it will be okay.

The daylilies got nipped, but they’re already getting ready for May flowers.

I love my ‘Helen Von Stein’ lambs ears. They’ve made it through drought, rain, humidity, semi-shade, and freeze. They’re hard to find, but look for them!  They don’t go mushy so fast on heavy soils and except some shade.

Poppies everywhere!

The columbines actually liked last summer’s drought. They hate wet, humid ones and wither away in disgust.

This year, I’m especially celebrating new foliage, like the Dicliptera suberecta that had me scared for a bit.

I love the foliage of bulbs coming up around cut back and dormant perennials. Especially, I love it when they bloom, because I can never remember what I planted!

I recognize the Leucojums without question, and regardless of weather, I can count on their lush foliage starting in January. They’ll disappear when the heat comes, but by then, various perennials take over the job. It’s a garden’s version of “time share.”

And what’s a better promise than this?

Happy Foliage Follow-up!  Linda

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