Heat wave update

KrisK · Post by **KrisK** » Thu Jun 27, 2013 9:28 am

Here's a few midsummer photos. So far, we're way cooler than the last few years and I hope it lasts.

Alpinia variegated. This has came back the last three winters with just a mulch cover. It dies to the ground, and will never bloom here, but who cares about flowers when you have foliage like that!

Here's a view down one of my xeric beds. C humilis cerifera, Echinacea, Gallardia, Sedum, Kniphofia, and a green C humilis round this bed out. It's a Sabal McCurtain to the right.

KrisK · Post by **KrisK** » Thu Jun 27, 2013 9:36 am

These are dark leaved sun lovers. A Bonanza patio peach and crinum Sangria. That's the second flower spike on the crinum so far.

Here's one of the wife's pots. Ensete, sweet potato vine, and million bells. I overwinter the ensetes.

KrisK · Post by **KrisK** » Thu Jun 27, 2013 9:42 am

The old stand-by hardy hibiscus. Lady and Lord baltimore, Ol Yella, and Kopper King. Just now starting their show.

Back of deck planter with musa basjoo. Hard to see them, but there's indocalamus latifolius bamboo between the basjoo clumps.

KrisK · Post by **KrisK** » Thu Jun 27, 2013 9:54 am

Front of deck. Windmills and sabal minors flanking the steps. The trachys are putting out their 6th fronds of the season.

Shade beds are a premium here in Oklahoma. I maximized mine with Aucubas, camellias, coral bells and ferns. This theme is repeated on the other side of the pergola.

KrisK · Post by **KrisK** » Thu Jun 27, 2013 10:01 am

Finally, the sabal Louisiana. Put out 4 fronds after transplant last year, working on frond 3 so far this year. That's a Texas Redstar hibiscus to the left, and a tropical passionvine to the right. There's some stuttgart canna in there as well. Seems ok so far, gets about half a day of sun.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26394087@N02/9153101270/" title="photo by ricerocket962001, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3708/9153 ... 9737b3.jpg" width="500" height="373" alt="photo"></a>

Bonus: Found these jewels at a Home Depot in the big city. Vitex agnus- castus or Chaste tree. Way underused and waaay cool.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26394087@N02/9150877357/" title="photo by ricerocket962001, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3675/9150 ... 988d67.jpg" width="373" height="500" alt="photo"></a>

sashaeffer · Post by **sashaeffer** » Fri Jun 28, 2013 11:49 am

What is your location? zone?

KrisK · Post by **KrisK** » Fri Jun 28, 2013 12:42 pm

Oklahoma 7a
Hope we get this break in the heat that's being forecasted. This summer is cold compared to last few for sure, but it'll be a welcome cool down if it happens.

KrisK · Post by **KrisK** » Fri Jun 28, 2013 12:57 pm

Crinum opened up

Eucomis comosa can't remember if it's "oakhurst" or "sparkling burgandy"? Closest ill get to having a bromeliad in the ground!

Beneath the wisteria and passiflora covered pergola.

KrisK · Post by **KrisK** » Fri Jun 28, 2013 1:03 pm

Just a few more

Lord Baltimore hibiscus

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26394087@N02/9159731331/" title="photo by ricerocket962001, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5541/9159 ... abbe4c.jpg" width="373" height="500" alt="photo"></a>

Sabal Lou with size 12 flip flop for scale. Texas Redstar hibiscus and canna stuttgart keeping company in the background.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26394087@N02/9159733299/" title="photo by ricerocket962001, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2887/9159 ... 4cb0db.jpg" width="373" height="500" alt="photo"></a>

KrisK · Post by **KrisK** » Fri Jun 28, 2013 3:04 pm

More

Other side of pergola. Hedychium coronarium are the small ones and Dr Moy is the large ginger in between. Alocasia to the far left. Yup, that's our laundry air-drying. Gotta save somehow to be able to buy more plants!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26394087@N02/9160324739/" title="photo by ricerocket962001, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3747/9160 ... 66655c.jpg" width="500" height="373" alt="photo"></a>

Opposite side of the pergola. Ensete lasiocarpa - in ground hardy for me, flanked by potted asparagus fern on left, and our tastefully tacky flamingos! The eucomis is hiding between the banana and birds.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26394087@N02/9160325177/" title="photo by ricerocket962001, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5337/9160 ... 757006.jpg" width="500" height="373" alt="photo"></a>

More standard offerings under the oak.
Rosemary, achillea, dianthus, and daylilly.
Rose and variegated shrubs on the back.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26394087@N02/9162548060/" title="photo by ricerocket962001, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7363/9162 ... 224112.jpg" width="500" height="373" alt="photo"></a>

KrisK · Post by **KrisK** » Fri Jun 28, 2013 3:52 pm

More standard stuff, this time under a redbud. There's a chuck hayes hardy gardenia in there. Did ok thru winter, hasn't bloomed yet.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26394087@N02/9160472233/" title="photo by ricerocket962001, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3724/9160 ... 5f2652.jpg" width="500" height="373" alt="photo"></a>

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Fri Jun 28, 2013 7:49 pm

Love the garden, thanks for sharing.

miketropic · Post by **miketropic** » Fri Jun 28, 2013 7:57 pm

looks real nice..the rock surrounding the tree is that faux? way easier than moving all tat creek rock like I did.. where did you got it from? Everything is looking really really good.

KrisK · Post by **KrisK** » Fri Jun 28, 2013 10:05 pm

Thanks Aaron. I don't post much, but I read alot of, and enjoy, your desert blogs.

Mike, thanks for the kind words. I'm not sure which rocks you mean? If its the red brick you are asking about, it's continuous concrete curbing. It's stained concrete that goes thru an extruder machine while still wet. Once it's set up a bit, they tool the fake "grout line". Once it's dry, they paint the "grout" and then seal it. It's one of the only things in our yard that my wife and I didn't do ourselves. We're rabid DIYers. However, if you mean the rock wall under the pergola, it is a concrete pad and cmu block wall. We skinned it with mesh-backed flagstone (from Home Depot), grouted, then sealed.

miketropic · Post by **miketropic** » Fri Jun 28, 2013 10:51 pm

KrisK wrote:Thanks Aaron. I don't post much, but I read alot of, and enjoy, your desert blogs.

Mike, thanks for the kind words. I'm not sure which rocks you mean? If its the red brick you are asking about, it's continuous concrete curbing. It's stained concrete that goes thru an extruder machine while still wet. Once it's set up a bit, they tool the fake "grout line". Once it's dry, they paint the "grout" and then seal it. It's one of the only things in our yard that my wife and I didn't do ourselves. We're rabid DIYers. However, if you mean the rock wall under the pergola, it is a concrete pad and cmu block wall. We skinned it with mesh-backed flagstone (from Home Depot), grouted, then sealed.

yes I meant the curbing..looks alot better than my stacked creek rock and alot less maintenance. If that Dr. moy ever throws up a few new shoots Id be interested in one if you can part with it..im a variegation fanatic

Didn't notice the patio rock work till you said somthing..excellent work with that.

sashaeffer · Post by **sashaeffer** » Sat Jun 29, 2013 4:14 am

Kris, where is your ginger planted in the ground? (south, west etc) how much sun does it get where it's at. Have been thinking about planting mine in the ground as well.

KrisK · Post by **KrisK** » Sat Jun 29, 2013 9:16 am

Mike, thanks again. We love the curbing, and it is low maintenance - just repaint the "grout" and reseal every few years. Beats rotten landscape timbers for sure! We're not experts on anything but we research before we start any new projects. The flagstone was our first masonry project - turned out well, but there's a few "oopsies" here and there. I too love variegated plants. It's hard finding ones that'll make it here without frying because of the lack of chlorophyll. I'm trying the Dr Moy ginger, and Canna Stuttgart for the first time this summer.. The Dr Moy I have doesn't have a lot of variegation, but the Stuttgarts do. So far, so good. If it makes it thru winter and offsets Ill share a piece for sure! You should also see if you can find Alpinia zerembet 'variagata'. It's been winter hardy for me with just a mulch. I bet you could dig/store the rhizomes also. There's a Dr Moy variant called "vanilla ice" that has tons of variagation but I've only seen it offered at Plant Delights and I'm too cheap to spring for it!

Scott, my gingers face west. However, there's a six foot privacy fence 20 feet west, and a jungle lot (huge unmantained trees) just beyond my fence. So, I would venture little, if any, full sun. Probably 4-6 hours of filtered sun during the growing season. Cannas did ok in the same spot but I got bored with them and gave that patch away. I hope they make it thru winter, there's not much real world info about Hedychium in zone 7.

sashaeffer · Post by **sashaeffer** » Sat Jun 29, 2013 9:25 am

Thanks Kris!

miketropic · Post by **miketropic** » Sat Jun 29, 2013 11:02 am

KrisK wrote:Mike, thanks again. We love the curbing, and it is low maintenance - just repaint the "grout" and reseal every few years. Beats rotten landscape timbers for sure! We're not experts on anything but we research before we start any new projects. The flagstone was our first masonry project - turned out well, but there's a few "oopsies" here and there. I too love variegated plants. It's hard finding ones that'll make it here without frying because of the lack of chlorophyll. I'm trying the Dr Moy ginger, and Canna Stuttgart for the first time this summer.. The Dr Moy I have doesn't have a lot of variegation, but the Stuttgarts do. So far, so good. If it makes it thru winter and offsets Ill share a piece for sure! You should also see if you can find Alpinia zerembet 'variagata'. It's been winter hardy for me with just a mulch. I bet you could dig/store the rhizomes also. There's a Dr Moy variant called "vanilla ice" that has tons of variagation but I've only seen it offered at Plant Delights and I'm too cheap to spring for it!

Scott, my gingers face west. However, there's a six foot privacy fence 20 feet west, and a jungle lot (huge unmantained trees) just beyond my fence. So, I would venture little, if any, full sun. Probably 4-6 hours of filtered sun during the growing season. Cannas did ok in the same spot but I got bored with them and gave that patch away. I hope they make it thru winter, there's not much real world info about Hedychium in zone 7.

thanks alot..Im with you about PD..if I could stomach paying those prices id have alot more plants than I do..vanillia ice looks really nice..but not that nice for the price.

KrisK · Post by **KrisK** » Sat Jun 29, 2013 3:26 pm

I've never purchased from PDN, but everything I've read is good. Yes the plants are small, but everyone says they do well. Maybe one day...
Have you ever ordered from Brian's botanical's? I got the Stuttgarts from him, and was very pleased. I received 7 huge rhizomes for 18$ plus 12$ to ship. It was two orders worth, $9 per order but they were huge.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sat Jun 29, 2013 5:20 pm

Really enjoyed your pictures and your selection of plants.

Stuttgart can take a lot of water,some have suggested
a pond like set up for best leaf formation/color.

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Sat Jun 29, 2013 8:19 pm

Love, love, love the Lou!
May I download the photos for my Facebook?

miketropic · Post by **miketropic** » Sat Jun 29, 2013 8:34 pm

KrisK wrote:I've never purchased from PDN, but everything I've read is good. Yes the plants are small, but everyone says they do well. Maybe one day...
Have you ever ordered from Brian's botanical's? I got the Stuttgarts from him, and was very pleased. I received 7 huge rhizomes for 18$ plus 12$ to ship. It was two orders worth, $9 per order but they were huge.

Im friends with Brian..at the nursery every few weeks.I have stuttgarts out of that same mat and there doing well..some have more variegation than other but thats just nature.mine never pup much but I wish they did. its a very tricky mix to give them the right amount of sun without burning them but when you do there so beautiful. good luck with yours.

KrisK · Post by **KrisK** » Sun Jun 30, 2013 6:13 am

Thanks Jim. Means alot coming from such a pioneer as yourself. I always enjoy seeing how well your plants do, and think about how much heart you put into everything and it shows. Appreciate the tip on the Stuttgarts.

Erik, you bet! We're supposed to enjoy some way below average temps the next few days. We'll get to feel sort-of what it's like in early summer again. Hope y'all's trip is goin well.

Mike, thanks. Brian's got an awesome looking set-up. It'd be a neat place to visit. How does he protect some of those big in-ground palms over winter?

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sun Jun 30, 2013 7:51 am

miketropic · Post by **miketropic** » Sun Jun 30, 2013 9:00 am

KrisK wrote:Thanks Jim. Means alot coming from such a pioneer as yourself. I always enjoy seeing how well your plants do, and think about how much heart you put into everything and it shows. Appreciate the tip on the Stuttgarts.

Erik, you bet! We're supposed to enjoy some way below average temps the next few days. We'll get to feel sort-of what it's like in early summer again. Hope y'all's trip is goin well.

Mike, thanks. Brian's got an awesome looking set-up. It'd be a neat place to visit. How does he protect some of those big in-ground palms over winter?

It is a very neat place you find somthing new every time you go..ALWAYS take a large sum of money of you will leave sad

. The palms are his fathers, some of them stay out with just plastic over them..some of them are dug up each year and taken into the big greenhouse. You have to remember we are almost a zone 7 here so our winters are not as bad and being right on the Ohio river it helps a bit..I have to go back over next weekend so I might take some pics if its nice out.

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Sun Jun 30, 2013 11:55 am

Kris,
thanks! It's on my Facebook wall now.
Back in Oklahoma for a few days and loving the weather. Actually cooler here than in Portland today!
By the end of the week I'll be in Belize, surrounded by palms.

PalmsNorth.com

Heat wave update

Heat wave update

Lou!

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