February,
2011
Late winter or early spring, now is the time to prune
roses and design plantings at Horsetail Haven, Ann Marie’s home garden in
Austin, Texas
Salvia discolor
This plant, also known as Peruvian or Andean
sage is not well known but is a favorite in the garden. It is native to a small geographical region
in Peru. The light green leaves with
woolly white undersides and stalks of almost black flowers held in pistachio
green calyx provide serene interest to the garden. Planted in a deep blue
ceramic pot, this tender perennial is brought inside for the winter. The plant has a lax growth habit that allows
the white, wiry stems arising from the base of the plant fall gently over the
side of the pot. It is drought tolerant
and blooms during the heat of Austin’s summer and fall. It also blooms sporadically while inside
during the winter. One interesting
feature of the plant is that the flower stalks are sticky to touch, making it a
popular plant in children’s Five Senses Gardens. In Texas it grows best with afternoon
shade. Cuttings have been rooted to
plant as a summer annual in the shady beds lining the sidewalk to the front door. Current plans are to place it adjacent to
curly sedge with native Aristolochia
underneath.
The
Tasty Garden
The new supply of garden catalogs and
magazine full of horticultural temptations spur creative planting
thoughts. Veggies aren’t just for the
backyard anymore! Last year Silvery Fir
Tree tomatoes decorated font yard beds with ferny foliage and bright red tennis
ball fruit. Edgings of hot peppers added
edible color between perennial beds and lawn.
This year there is a two phase plan, first a mixture of purple and
yellow podded bush beans will be planted as the edging, then when production
declines, the legumes will be replaced with peppers. Ann Marie will be trying Rocoto
peppers from Seed Savers for the first time.
(An added benefit of growing colorful beans rather than the tradition
green is that they are easy to find at harvest, they turn green when
cooked.) Also in this spring’s garden
plans are areas of purple flowered Agastache foeniculum surrounded by Pingtung
Long eggplant bearing skinny lavender fruit.
Now, if only it would rain….
The
Big Freeze
Central Austin experienced several days
of below freezing temperatures in early February and even saw snow! The kale was barely touched, but many plants
that had been blooming were frozen to the ground. The two aloes in the front beds have turned
to “mush” but hopefully will still have life at the base. Warm weather returned and plants began
springing to life within days. Spring
pruning began on Valentine’s Day, first the roses, then the salvias, then the
rest. The roses are already beginning to
recover from the freeze and have new growth.
Did the caper plant survive, will the ramie plant come back, is the
natal plum gone (probably), come back for a full report next month.
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