Annuals – Page 2

Beauty for the Balcony in Valencia, Spain

July 5, 2012 by Lacey Leave a Comment

Near my apartment is Valencia’s Mercado Central. It’s a huge farmers market that’s open from about ten in the morning until the early afternoon when everything gets packed up and taken down just before siesta. Vendors set up their booths inside a gorgeous old building just across from La Lonja {Valencia’s ancient silk merchant market}. Ever since we happened upon the Mercado my husband and I have enjoyed wandering through the market, experiencing all the different sights and smells.

The market is definitely a shock for the senses. There are stacks of farm fresh eggs in white and speckled brown. Huge containers of pickled sardines sit below dried squid strung on large hooks from the ceilings of the stalls. Tall, narrow bottles of locally produced olive oil catch morning sun streaming through the arching entrances, causing the amber liquid to sparkle. Baskets of warm, freshly baked bread, bunches of dried herbs and spices, and crates overflowing with picked-this-morning lemons and oranges crowd the narrow walkways. The other day as we finished picking out a watermelon and some freshly baked baguettes we stumbled upon a garden stall. That’s when I saw her…

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Bougainvillea has long been one of my favorite plants. I remember the first time I noticed its incredible hot pink color absolutely enveloping an arbor near Disneyland’s Rancho del Zocalo restaurant. Ever since then I’ve been hooked on this climbing vine that’s suited for more tolerant climates than my own. So when I caught a glimpse of this one as I walked past with my baguette, I couldn’t help myself. I gave my husband my best Marcus pleeease eyes and for just €8 it was mine.

Our apartment happens to have the perfect exposure to support this blooming beauty: full and hot southern sun on our balconies. Bougainvillea is a wonderful container plant because of their love of hot sun and preference of dry soil. Also, container planting of Bougainvillea allows you to winter the plant in a sunny spot indoors {if you live below zone 10}. They’re great for smaller spaces because they aren’t aggressive growers and provide a ton of color for minimum effort. Go out and grab one for your patio or balcony!

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Plant of the Week- Agapanthus

June 26, 2012 by Lacey 1 Comment

Alright, I know there has been a little gap in our plant of the week posts. I blame a months worth of European travels. But now that I’m settling into life in Valencia, Plant Of The Week will once again be weekly! Its easy to be inspired in this ancient city. I had to look no further than the plaza in front of our apartment, where I found this beauty…

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Flowers for Beth

June 14, 2012 by Lacey 5 Comments

I have a wonderful friend named Beth, and we have a yearly tradition. Every year in late May or early June {depending on our varying Utah weather} we head to the garden center to design her pots. We meander down the rows of plants and flowers admiring blossoms, and picking out color palettes while chatting. Beth is great to chat with. She is one of those women, so easy to talk to because she really does care about the new recipe you tried or plans for your upcoming Disneyland trip. The combination of flowers and Beth makes for a wonderful morning of shopping. But our tradition will be absent this year since I’m in Spain. In leu of a visit to the garden center I’ve decided to write this post and dedicate it to Beth. Its our virtual shopping trip. All that’s missing is the great conversation, the smell of dewy,freshly watered blossoms, and the almost tangible humidity of the greenhouse. Well actually, not the humidity. I’m about 15 minutes from the Mediterranean Sea and learning to live with frizzy hair and slightly soggy potato chips. It’s okay though, the Bougainvillea and palm trees are worth it : ) But I digress… Beth has five pots that we design. She has two north facing on either side of her front door, two south facing for the back patio, and another south facing pot that is usually placed on the patio table as a centerpiece. So let’s take a look at the pots and Beth, don’t forget the red geraniums for the beds in front of the porch.

Let’s start with the shade pots on the porch. North facing doorways are the perfect canvas for continuous summer blooms. Without overwhelming southern or western sun, plants never experience that parched,dry look.

For southern facing pots, especially those on patios or decks {where they tend to get even hotter}, proper plant selection is crucial for blossoms that persist through August.

When using containers as centerpieces on tables make sure to check the tags and keep the mature height of the plants in mind. Avoid aggressive trailing plants like potato vine.

There’s a mandavilla in my bathroom

May 11, 2012 by Lacey Leave a Comment

Three years ago I indulged in a frivolous plant.It was in a harmless little one gallon container at the local garden center and as I walked by it nearly sprouted legs and hopped in my already practical plant laden cart. This plant loves a more, shall we say, reasonable climate than the one in which I live. But…it was staring up at me with deep green foliage and a couple of promising fushia blossoms along with a measly little $8.99 price tag and I did the only thing a self-respecting-die-hard gardener would do. I waited until my husbands back was turned and I slipped it in to my cart between two rational and hardy hostas! I planted him (not my husband) in a lovely little pot on the patio next to my pergola and I spent a happy summer training tendrils of vine up and around my patio haven, while all the time it was winding its way into my heart. It was summer love affair that fall was determined to end. As things cooled off I had a decision to make, should I harbor this new love inside over the winter?

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The answer was a resounding yes, so in early October I took it to my bathroom which has a fair amount of natural winter light and the most humidity in the house. There it stayed for 6 long months and I have to say that by the time early May rolled around I was tiring of it’s presence. Outside it went and it sprang to life and began to wind it’s way around my heart again…so much so that once again when cooler weather came I took it back to the bathroom. We have been together three years now and I can tell that the relationship is tenuous this spring. The leaves are a little sad looking, but the winding tendrils of vine are renewing their effort to climb the pergola column, the least I can do is meet it half-way. Out comes the tropical fertilzers as I gently apply what therapy I can. It will may take a full season to revive it’s natural beauty but true love is worth it.

USDA Zones: 10-11
Exposure: full sun (at least 5 hours direct light)
Height: twining stems 10-15″ long
Bloom time: all summer
Soil media: prefers well drained soil
Water requirements: regular watering, more in extreme heat

For constant blooms, fertilize every week with a bloom enhancing fertilizer like Miracle-Gro’s Bloom Booster.

Great varieties:
Sun parasol- red
Alice du pont- pink
Stars and stripes- pink and white striped

English Garden Style

May 8, 2012 by Lacey Leave a Comment

I’ve just spent a few days in London. Amid the beauty of Westminster Abbey, Parliament, and Buckingham palace, I couldn’t help but admire the presence of English garden style. English gardens are renowned for their splendor. Deep shades of green and dashes of bright color. Sculpted boxwood and long expanses of velvet lawn. Most envision large English garden estates or majestic city parks, but the beauty of English gardens is alive and distinct in urban England. Container gardening is a wonderful way to adorn your garden with English style. First, begin by selecting a few plants in different shades of green. Consider plants of varying heights, including trailing or vine-like plants. Remember to mix different textures together to add interest. Pick one color or one blooming variety to add to your container. The green shades of foliage create a wonderful backdrop for bloomers. Remember to keep it simple. English landscapes are formal in appearance and limiting your plant selection to three or so plant varieties will better achieve this style.

Must haves for an English garden container: ivy and boxwood. Ivy can tolerate part sun, but if your location is too sunny (usually more than five hours of direct sunlight a day), consider an alternative like potato vine. Here’s a few other plant suggestions. Trailing Vines for Sun Potato vine-chartreuse, variegated, or dark purple TrailingVines for Shade/part-sun Wire vine-dark green English or California ivy-dark green or variegated with light green and white Silver falls Dicentra- grayish green Medium height Licorice plant- either chartreuse, gray, or variegated green Tall Plants for the Center Tru dwarf boxwood- medium green Italian cypress- blue green Lemon cypress-bright chartreuse green. Find your inner Brit!

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