Growing Rapidly

Tetrapanax papyrifer

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.

Gunnera manicata

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.

Fatsia polycarpa

This is my new toy.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Schefflera delavayi

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...

Schefflera taiwaniana

Big Leaf Central

We've had a little over an inch of rain over the past couple days in Seattle.  That's more than 12,000 gallons of water falling across the half acre of the garden.  After two weeks of dry and warm weather, I have to admit the rain is a welcome change.  It also gives me an opportunity to blog, since I would otherwise be doing something outside right now.

Magnolia macrophylla

And, yes, lots of rain is required when growing lots of big leaves.  Mid to late-May is generally the time when the big-leaved plants really start to shine.

Hosta 'T-Rex'

Hosta 'Sum and Substance'

Astilboides tabularis

Gunnera manicata

Although these hardy bananas (Musa basjoo) reach their peak in October, they are at least out of their ugly stage for the season.

Musa basjoo

Ligularia x hessei 'Gregynog Gold'

For those who don't suffer from the allergic reaction associated with this plant, Tetrapanax papyrifer is one of the coolest plants there are and everyone else should definitely grow it.  It does sort of spread so put it in an area where it can run and do its thing.  If you're lucky you'll soon have a Tetrapanax forest.

Tetrapanax papyrifer

Things Are Looking Up!

Polypodium glycyrrhiza (Licorice fern) growing on Sequoia sempervirens (Coast Redwood)

Tetrapanax papyrifer (Rice paper plant)

Now that the days are finally warming up a bit and the nighttime lows are above freezing, I've been taking a few of the subtropical plants out of the greenhouse and setting them out in the garden.  It has become an annual ritual to plant a red banana (Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii') in the front corner by the sidewalk so all the neighbors can stand in awe of a real, living banana growing in their neighborhood (OK, not technically a banana).

Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii'

Below, some succulents are basking in the intensity of some full sunshine for the first time this year.

This 3-year old Sabal minor is looking happy.

Sabal minor

The winter was mild, the soil is nice and wet, the mountains have plenty of snow so no worries of drought this summer...I think we are primed for a great growing season.

Camellia japonica covered in blooms

The End of Gardening Fiscal Year 2010, Part II

Some things are at their best when they are frozen - like this ice fountain.

And some things are at their worst. This Tetrapanax papyrifer was doing swell up until the time the scorching frost brought an end to its soaring umbrella of 5'-wide leaves. Not to worry - the temperatures weren't harsh enough to kill it to the ground.



The formerly green, now black leaves in the foreground and the background of this photo are those of Echium pininana. I'm not even sure if they would be able to make it through a zone 9 winter. But they make excellent annuals nonetheless and are only $3 at Jungle Fever Exotics in Tacoma. I am going to look into growing these from seed.



It's a bit hard to see in this photo - the "stick" in the middle is an Embothrium coccineum or Chilean Fire Tree. This is one of those mysterious plants you always hear about (evergreen tree, red tubular flowers in spring, hummingbird magnet) but never see in any nurseries. The reason is they are apparently very difficult to grow in pots. So when I finally stumbled upon some at Jungle Fever Exotics, I bought two. They are both doing very well - this one was 2' tall at the beginning of the year and is now 6'.