Tuesday View: Late in March

small sunny garden, desert garden, amy myers, photography, south border, tuesday view, words and herbs,

This is admittedly a very, very late post.  I'm struggling with slow internet again, so will keep this light!  But the South Border deserves its due as March comes to a very lavender-y close.  Lavandula stoechas "Blueberry Ruffles" is now in fine form, looking better than it has ever done before.  Although I have mentally cavilled at its slower growth (compared to "Madrid"), I do love that rich blue hue in the flowers. 

small sunny garden, desert garden, amy myers, photography, south border, tuesday view, words and herbs, lavender, blueberry ruffles, lavandula stoechas

Between the two miniature roses, Salvia x "Summer Jewels" is flowering.  This would normally be considered a bedding annual, but it is turning into a nice little perennial here, so far at least. 

small sunny garden, desert garden, amy myers, photography, south border, tuesday view, words and herbs, salvia, summer jewels

I now have two new plants of Penstemon parryi tucked in next to Eremophila "Valentine".  I am hoping these will settle in as well as my first, which is still languishing in too much shade.  I don't want to move it till next autumn; and I have so many qualms about the probability of success that I decided to buy new plants first, ensuring I would not go entirely without.  Which says a great deal for how much I admire this plant!  The newbies are still looking a bit fragile; flowers should have more substance and stronger color, I think; but hopefully it is all a matter of time.  My first was planted in autumn, so it had a whole winter season to establish before blooming.

small sunny garden, desert garden, amy myers, photography, south border, tuesday view, words and herbs, penstemon, parryi

In the middle of the border, I am happy to report robust new growth on Lagerstroemia indica "Rhapsody in Pink".  It seems quite a slow grower, but it is such a gorgeous thing that I can only wait on it and try to keep my complaints to myself.  It is difficult though, as I am anxious to see it become one of the focal points of the border.

 

Burgundy new growth is a beauty it shares with L. i. "Dynamite" in the Central Bed.  Rhapsody's color lasts much longer, as I recall - more or less throughout summer. 

small sunny garden, desert garden, amy myers, photography, south border, tuesday view, words and herbs, lagerstoemia, rhapsody in pink, crape myrtle, crepe myrtle

Lastly, at the top of the border, foliage of one of m new irises is sharing place with last spring's Ixia.  Both will soon be crowded a bit by the returning Catharanthus roseus.  In this part of the border, I clipped the Catharanthus back rather than jerking it out, and I am being rewarded with strong growth.  Something to plan for in future...

 

Thanks to Cathy at Words and Herbs for hosting the Tuesday View!

small sunny garden, desert garden, amy myers, photography, south border, tuesday view, words and herbs

Weather Diary: Fair but windy with red flag warning; High: 88 F  (31 C)/Low: 51 F (11 C); Humidity: 9%-56%

Previous Post: In a Vase: At Twilight

Next Post: Farewell to March


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Comments: 8
  • #1

    Diana Studer (Friday, 31 March 2017 09:17)

    just seen an indigo bush on Town and Country Mouse.
    Would that, does that, grow in your garden?

  • #2

    Amy@smallsunnygarden (Friday, 31 March 2017 11:12)

    Yes, Diana, and I would love to have one! There are a number of Dalea species with good reputations here (most are natives, I believe), but I've had a difficult time locating them for sale. Someday I hope to find a reliable source for such plants.

  • #3

    Kris P (Friday, 31 March 2017 18:44)

    Oh, I must find 'Blueberry Ruffles'! The plant does look good enough to eat!

  • #4

    Brian Skeys (Saturday, 01 April 2017 12:25)

    Blueberry ruffles is a gorgeous deep blue.

  • #5

    Cathy (Saturday, 01 April 2017 13:19)

    You have some gorgeous colour in that border right now. Especially the lovely pink Lagerstroemia. :)

  • #6

    Amy@smallsunnygarden (Saturday, 01 April 2017 18:35)

    Kris - It's a very tasty blue-purple ;-) It stays a little smaller than my other Spanish lavenders, so it might not be too hard to find someplace to slip it in...

  • #7

    Amy@smallsunnygarden (Saturday, 01 April 2017 18:36)

    Brian - It definitely is that! :)

  • #8

    Amy@smallsunnygarden (Saturday, 01 April 2017 18:39)

    Cathy - I'm in hopes that the seasonal color transitions are improving... ;-) Thanks!