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Tetrapanax papyrifer
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With ground-soaking rains in April, summer-like sunshine in the first half of May, and now back to rain, the garden seems to be changing by the hour.
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Gunnera manicata
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Just when I started to panic about the ground drying out this early in the season from all the warm sunny weather, the reality of living in Seattle came to the rescue: rain is forecast for six of the next seven days. That at least makes the gunneras happy.
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| Fatsia polycarpa |
This is my new toy.
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| Strelitzia reginae |
Strelitzia reginae or Bird of paradise is a really good reason to have a greenhouse. It started blooming in March and should last into July. I bought this one a couple years ago and is now blooming for the first time. It doesn't have any major pests that I know of, although sometimes spider mites or aphids will feed off its leaves in the greenhouse, but a monthly spraying of neem oil solves that problem. I keep it outside April-October.
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| Brugmansia |
Brugmansia or Angel's Trumpet is another great subtropical plant that is unfortunately not hardy. But that's no reason to not grow it. The foot-long trumpet-shaped flowers are visually stunning, but even more stunning is their fragrance, which is only released in the evening. They root easily from cuttings any time of the year.
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| Azalea 'White Lights' |
Speaking of fragrant plants that are in bloom right now,
Azalea 'White Lights' is a great one. I've never been a huge fan of azaleas but this one has won me over.
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| Clematis x cartmanii 'Blaaval' growing on the trunk of Trachycarpus fortunei |
The day has come when the 30
Trachycarpus fortunei (Windmill palm) specimens I planted four years ago are big enough to have vines growing on them. I just planted this
Clematis x cartmanii 'Blaaval' (aka avalanch clematis) a few months ago.
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Schefflera delavayi
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Now that my hardy schefflera count is up to five different species (all surviving this past winter no problem), I'll have to consider joining the hardy schefflera society...
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| Schefflera taiwaniana |
