Welcome to my zone 9 garden. My roots are deeply planted in the sandy soil of sub-tropical central Florida, where the summers are long and hot, but the rest of the year is paradise!

Sunday, July 15, 2012

The Foliage Garden

It's been a two year process for this garden bed to come into its own. I call it 'the foliage garden' and yes, there are flowers in my 'foliage garden' ...at least these Jacobina pink flamingo shown below. They add a touch of pink to this area in summer. As you can see it's impossible for me to go totally flowerless, but this area is made up of predominantly foliage textures, shapes and colors of different types.

Lately I've had a fascination with strappy-leaved plants like these two cordylines below. I just love the look of their upright spiky foliage.

The colors in this garden are predominantly burgundy and varying shades of green foliage. I think it gives the garden a very relaxed and calming feeling.

The pink flamingos look pretty against the variegated foliage of the Chinese privet.

 I love looking through the strappy-leaved foliage. This 'red sensation' cordyline has a new pup emerging to the left of it.

There's that new pup alongside the variegated cast-iron...a must-have plant for a shady garden.

Here it is up close. It definitely adds a spark of brightness in the shade.

Leaves of all shapes and pretty colors.

Ferns are another must-have plant in the shade. This soft foliage of this native Florida tree fern...which readily seeds itself in my garden...looks wonderful next to the spiky leaves of red sensation cordyline.

Another softer variety of red cordyline (don't know the name) has a rich deep burgundy color and looks pretty next to the tri-color stromanthe.

The spotted leopard plant was an impulse buy that turned out in my favor. Don't you just love it when that happens? She really loves this shady...somewhat damp area and I love the shape of her leaves and of course, the yellow spots.

And, guess what? She even blooms! 

It's so much fun to play around with different leaf textures and varying shades of foliage...don't you think?

4 comments:

africanaussie said...

I love those justica blooms - I have been seeing it more and more - I guess that means I really need to go and get one for myself! those spots on the leopard plant look like speckled sunlight - so pretty! I love foliage and you have some really great ones there in excellent combinations.

Roslyn said...

I love the colour combinations in this garden. Burgundy and the pink of the justica with the various shades of green. It's perfect. You must be so pleased with the result.

daisy g said...

Love the variety of textures and the muted colors in this area!

Susan said...

African Aussie...It is a great shade plant...with so little care.

Missy...It really did take some time for it all to grow in before I really liked the look of it. I do love burgundy and green together.

Daisy...They are definitely very relaxing. I can see this area from my kitchen and I catch myself looking at it many times during the day.

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