Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Blooms Continue....



Brittlebush and Penstemon grow where they want to in my garden. For several years, I had only one Brittlebush shrub, but last year, several more came up, and this year, there are about ten growing in one area. They look good in spring and sometimes in fall. The rest of the year, well, it's hard to look at them. They dry out in the center, and become woody. They do last several years if left alone, so I just turn my head when I walk by them except in spring.







The few Bush Morning Glory shrubs left in my garden are now in full bloom. They are quite a standout among all the yellow each spring. When I established my garden in May of 2005, I had 18 Bush Morning Glory shrubs, and each summer, I lose a few more. They are not long-lived perennials, and I although I love them, I haven't replaced the ones lost. I like to try new plants when I have an open emitter, but I'm going to go back to Bush Morning Glory now that I'm down to only six.



Although this Lilac Vine flowers for a only short time in early spring, its green leaves break up the expanse of the unpainted walls of my garden the rest of the year. Although I said in my last post that I don't want to spend any more money on this property, the unpainted concrete block is not attractive. I would like to have it painted a Sangria color. Or maybe a shade of orange. Or, maybe a deep sapphire. Folks from other regions may think this would be madness, but it's fairly common here in the desert to have brightly hued garden walls, usually in colors that have a Mexican flavor.  The walls quickly fade in the bright sun, so the shades become more subtle within a year or so. On second thought, maybe I'll just stare at the gray walls. The initial cost is quite high, and then there's the ongoing maintenence. Fading is ok for a few years, but after awhile, they just look tired. Another concern is resale. Repainting undesirable block walls is usually not high on the list of remodel jobs for new homeowners!

10 comments:

Julie said...

I really like the gray color of your garden walls! Maybe you could do sections of color? Sections that would go well with gray...like maybe a little of the sangria color, and a little of another...I am trying to envision it...I think it could be quite pretty kinda broken up like that...I'm sure with your artistic eye it will be great no matter what you decide! Hey...I hear a bit of optimism in your voice regarding replacing a few of your lost plants. Your garden must look so pretty right now with all of the colors! I just love that purple lilac vine on your gray wall...very very beautiful!

BernieH said...

Your lilac vine is superb ... my favourite colour! That Morning Glory is such a brilliant white ...I'm trying to add more white to my garden.

henry@phoenix arizona said...

The pictures are really nice as well as writing

Chris said...

How old is your Lilac Vine?

Aiyana said...

Chris,
It went in last year from a 5 gallon container.
Aiyana

Unknown said...

I agree with Julie.. gray looks good!

What might make it look better is.. more climbing plants! *Ehm*.

With that said, awesome blog, and awesome pictures. Been a lurker for way too long.. time to come out of the woodwork. >:3

Jean said...

Love the bush morning glory and the lilac vine! We feel like sgring here but could still have some snow. I'm starting Bloomin' Tuesday this coming Tuesday and look forward to your lovely cactus blooms. Jean

Lythrum said...

I'm glad to see that you have a respite from the rain and have some flowers. :)

kate smudges said...

The Lilac vine is gorgeous. It looks great on the grey wall. I quite like the grey, although I can quite imagine painting and stenciling it. It's such a huge job though and hardly worth it if the sun fades the wall so quickly. I imagine it is quite a long wall as well. The Bush Morning Glory are beautiful. Do they bloom into summer?

The Brittlebush and Penstemon look great together.

Aiyana said...

Hi Kate,
Yes, the walls surrounding my back yard are quite long as they enclose close to 3/4 acre. My house sits somewhat close to the street, so the front yard, although long, is not wide compared to the back. Having so much grey when nothing is blooming depressing to me, but to paint them would be really expensive. I'd really like to get them stuccoed and then painted, but that would double the cost.
The Bush Morning Glory bloom for about three to four weeks, depending on how quickly temps rise. The blooms get fewer and fewer, and then they're done. Right now they are at their peak.