Friday, September 28, 2012

New Containers

Here's one of our new containers for the fall. The lighting in this picture is just awesome.

Gaura ‘Crimson Butterflies,’ Heucha ‘Citronelle,’ a variety of Begonias, Lysimachia 'Persian Chocolate,' Synadenium grantii, and Streptocarpella 'Concord Blue.'

Cuties.

Friday, September 21, 2012

Fall annuals part 2

So my last post covered what went in our main bed display. Let's see what went into the smaller beds.

A combination of Violets and Pansy's were added around the playground. The four sides were configured to match the four suits of a deck of cards. I'll take another picture when they're all in bloom. I'm not sure the picture is going to be as successful as I would really like.

Japanese blood grass, Imperata cylindrica 'Rubra', gives great fall color. It's been in the park for a year and so far no reversions or invasive tendencies. If anything I think the original stock was sort of weak. =/


We played around with some standards this year. Here we have a Coleus and Abutilon pruned up making everything super formal. Its an interesting change. The Euphorbia 'Blackbird' looks great in the bottom picture.


Sunday, September 16, 2012

Finally an update

I suppose it should be time for reflection, now that summer is coming to a close. I can't believe fall starts next week. I have no idea what I've been doing all summer. I just don't know where the time went. Maybe some photos will help jog my memory or something.

Unfortunately all that is coming to mind right now is the million shades of coleus I just added to the fall display.


 

 yep.. its still going..

 

I've spent the last two weeks putting in the fall annuals at work. In some ways I think the fall displays are always the most interesting and creative out of all the ones we do. For the most part I can thank industry standards for that. Mums, asters, and cabbage have dominated fall displays for as long as I can remember. Maybe sometimes someone throws some grasses or millet in there but for the most part, all fall displays usually look the same. This makes my job easier really because there are hundreds of fall flowering plants that are uncommon in annual plantings. If you throw in some brightly colored foliage plants and consider how large your material will be because of the lateness of the season, you can have a kick ass fall annual display with little effort. I'm far enough south where I don't have to worry too much about early morning frosts before bulbs have to go in but far enough north where fall is still a very distinct season. It's an awesome combination.


This bed has been going all year, but check out this Solanum quitoense.

 
I think we're getting fruit soon.


My job requires that I install four seasonal displays and realistically, the fall one is the least necessary. Fall material always comes at an awkward time between when the summer material is finally fully established and thriving and bulbs are almost ready for installation. Everything needs to look good when it goes in because it really doesn't have any time to grow before it needs to be pulled out. =/ what a waste.

In any case, this is what it looks like this year.





It's certainly bright enough. I can't wait to see the Nemesia and Diasciain bloom. It's going to be so full of color.


Here's some close ups on those Euphorbia 'Ascot's Rainbow.'







The rest will have to wait for now. I can't be including too much eye candy all at once. =)